Pumpkin Patch 2010

This past Thanksgiving weekend we went to Apple Barn farms. Our little family was excited to pick out a pumpkin with some of our dear friends and their kiddos. Apple Barn is the perfect place for little kids. Chase had so much fun!

Liv is such a dolly!

Feeding the goats

They have a bunny exhibit where the kids can hold the bunnies. They were so sweet!

The gang heading out to get our pumpkins

Daddy teaching Chase the art of picking the perfect pumpkin

Landon & JP

Froelich's

Lundgren's

Ta Da! The perfect pumpkin

Chad & I left the pumpkin patch so grateful for such amazing friends! It's so nice to raise Chase with such wonderful families. We love you all and are truly grateful to be able to do life with you!

Creamy Sweet Potato & Butternut Squash Soup

I just made this last night for dinner and it was a hit with Chase & Chad. Plus, it's a crock pot recipe. YEAH! I made roasted chicken sandwiches with smoked gouda, apples and lettuce to go with the soup. It went together really well!

Creamy Sweet Potato & Butternut Squash Soup

Ingredients:

1 pound sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into 1-inch cubes (about 3 cups total)

1 pound butternut squash, peeled and diced into 1-inch cubes (about 3 1/2 cups total)

***you can buy the butternut squash washed and cut at Costco. It's much faster that way***

1/2 cup chopped onion

14 ounces chicken broth

1/2 cup butter, diced

1 can coconut milk

1/2 teaspoon ground cumin

1/2 teaspoon ground red pepper, or more to taste

1 1/2 teaspoons salt, or to taste

3 to 4 green onions, green and white parts finely chopped (optional)

Prepare:

1. Combine sweet potatoes, squash, onion, half of chicken broth and butter in crock-pot slow cooker. Cover and cook on HIGH for 4 hours or until vegetables are tender.

2. Puree until smooth in blender. 1 cup at a time. Once well blended return to slow cooker. Stir in remaining broth, coconut milk, ground cumin, ground red pepper and salt. To serve, sprinkle with chopped green onions, if desired.

The BIG 30!

My awesome husband turned 30 on September 25th. The whole month of September was a celebration for him! I hope it was everything he imagined it would be. We spent the September long weekend celebrating Chad, Angela & Brooke's birthday up in Kelowna. All of us cousins love being together and we were thankful to make more memories! 5 days after we got home from Kelowna we were off to Kauai for a week with my family and the Carlson's.

When I sat down with Chad to discuss ideas for his party he asked for 3 things; good food, great friends and golf. So that's exactly what we did! We had all of his friends over on the Friday before his birthday for food and fellowship. The on his actual birthday he went golfing with the boys. He finished off the weekend heading down to Seattle for a Seahawks game with his friends. He was exhausted on Sunday night but I know he had a blast! Here's some pictures from his party...

More Kauai...

Every morning at 6:30 wild chickens would wake Chase up. Most of you are thinking "oh no, that's so early." You're right it was early but those chickens were the cheapest and best baby sitters a girl could ask for!

Working on his Hula

After every shower Chase had to be just like Daddy with a towel around his waist. ;)

Duke's

Elle had a flower in her hair...guess who copied?!

The wee family

My brother after a Mai Tai

Mom took us to brunch one morning and then we were able to get our picture with this handsome parrot named Rico. Brittany is afraid of birds but was a great sport!

Chase noticing a bird in the picture with us

Yes, I know I look stressed here. That's because out of the corner of my eye I can see my sons 'snack sizes' fingers coming towards the bird!!

Love him so much!

Nannie with Chase & Elizabeth

Elizabeth having fun with her Papa

Everyday without fail these 2 did this!

Chase is in a copy cat stage right now. After watching Elizabeth wear water wings for a few days he decided he wanted to also. He was SO excited to be independent in the pool!

Oh Joel...

Thanks you guys for the amazing memories! xx