Fall Gathering!

Last night we had our Bible study group over for supper. This year, we decided to join a "Dinner and a Movie" Bible study through our church and so far it has been really fun! There are four couples in our group and we rotate between each others houses every other week. We are already good friends with one of the couples in the group, and are looking forward to getting to know the other couples better as the year goes on.

We have dinner, then watch a movie, then discuss spiritual implications in the movie and how it relates to our faith. There is a book that goes along with the study, that has discussion questions and facts to help us along the way. We just finished our first movie, Big Fish, last night so we will get together again in two weeks to discuss it! The list of movies includes: Cast Away, Chocolat, Big Fish, Holes, The Importance of Being Earnest, The Treasure of the Sierra, Madre, A River Runs Through It, Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner, O Brother, Where Art Thou?, The Mission, The Mosquito Coast, It’s a Wonderful Life. I don't know if we will watch them all or not??? Stay tuned!! I had never seen Big Fish before but it was really good!

Of course I just couldn't resist combining all my fall colored Fiestaware for the get together! I also couldn't resist taking pics :)

I found this fun pumpkin dish at hobby Lobby!! soo cute!!

I may have spent 45 minuted choosing a color scheme! ha!

Broccoli salad, Cora's Cheesy Potatoes, fruit/caramel, and rolls.

And the Pièce de résistance...the Farmer's grilled pork loin...SOOO YUMMY!!! I also made Pumpkin Spice Trifle for dessert, but forgot to take a pic!


We had a great time and I'm looking forward to discussing the movie at the next gathering and looking forward to not having to clean my house from top to bottom before guest arrive!! hahaha!!

Chrystian is one year!!!

It has been soo fun to see this sweet little boy grow up through my lens!! He is always full of smiles and his one year shoot was no exception!! We even got some shots of his whole family decked out in their Iowa Hawkeye gear!! Here are some of my faves :)

Dr. Suess and Moose!!

Ok, we all know I am obsessed with Moose...it all started when my family and I were in Yellowstone five years ago, and I mistakenly identified an elk as a moose...ever since then I was hooked! I actually finally got to see a ton of them while Daddy and I were at the Tetons last year, so of course that was the highlight of my entire life!! hehe!

Anyway!!! I was at Khols the other day and saw the most amazing thing ever!! A display of Dr. Seuss books, and right in front was one called "Thidwick the Big Hearted Moose" ....I grabbed it a once!! How was I not aware there was a Dr. Seuss book about a moose..a big hearted moose no less!! After I calmed down enough to look at the rest of the book rack, I also snatched up a copy of "How The Grinch Stole Christmas" one of all time my faves!!

I suppose I should back track a little and tell you of my love for Dr. Seuss Books...we had them growing up, you know the standard...Cat in the Hat, Dr. Seuss ABC, The Foot Book, Fox in Socks, Green Eggs and Ham, Hop on Pop, How the Grinch Stole Christmas, One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish, and There's a Wocket in My Pocket! I loved to look at the amazing illustrations and have them read to me, but it wasn't until My Uncle Den and Aunt Betty gave me Horton Hatches the Egg, that I truly fell in love! This book was different, it was larger than all the other books and had a really fancy glossy cover! Not to mention it was green...yes even back then green was my fave!! I have no idea how old I was when I received this treasure, but I still make sure when I am home, that my niece and nephew know that it's MINE!! I'm territorial like that! ha! I also make sure that they are aware that the big, glossy copy of McElligot's Pool is MINE as well!!

I'm sure my Aunt and Uncle gave me more Dr. Seuss books over the years, but those two seem to always stick in my memory...On Beyond Zebra, I think was another but I just can't remember for sure. Wanna guess who is going straight to the hallway book shelves to check, as soon as she steps foot in her house when she goes home for Christmas!! :)

I almost forgot to tell you the best part about these books!! They are only $5 at Khols!! They also have "Oh Say Can You Say" and "There is a Wocket In My Pocket" but they must have been all out at the store I was in....or I may have just been blinded by the MOOSE!! ha! At any rate I am going to be stalking Khols until I find the other two....so this begins my collection of Dr. Suess books! And since I'm a sucker for a collection, I am going to get every one ever published...maybe I'll get one a month? ...mostly for myself, but perhaps a hypothetical child that might one day live at my house would enjoy them too!! haha!

The Farmer and I will definitely be adding a new tradition to our Christmas holidays this year by reading "How the Grinch Stole Christmas" ....I wonder what he will say about that one?!?! ...you should have seen his face when I told him the "elves" would be visiting us in Iowa this year!! I got the cutest pink and green Christmas buckets on sale at Hobby Lobby after Christmas last year...they will make perfect "magic boots!" After I explained to him that he wouldn't have to come up with things to put in my "boot" every morning (I am a much better shopper for myself!!), he seemed to like the idea!! ha!

Monster Eye Balls!!

I found this fun recipe on Pick Palate!
http://picky-palate.com/2010/09/27/reeses-puffs-crunch-monster-eyeballs/

The actual monster eyeball part creeps me out, but their yumminess makes it all better :)