365{is}alive

{i have been so busy and unable to update the blog,
but have kept my 365 up-to-date, so click the "365" link above
and see all our updated pictures, there's some cute ones in there!}

we have continued to live the fast paced life of a sports family.

soccer on saturday's

football on sunday's

practice 4 days a week in the evenings,

and trying to rest in between.

{peanut got to be captain for this game,

so proud! #22 babee!!!}

 we have one more week of practices and both boys final games

are this weekend.

however, peanut's football team made the playoffs and will be playing

on the autzen stadium {home of the oregon ducks}

on november 12th.

so that will be our last {and most epic} game!

{boys and neighbors playing friday night football}

 i started a new job this last week.

same type of work i've been doing

just with a different company.

it has been quite the transition because they want me to use their computer

so i have had my computer unplugged for a couple weeks now

{that's why no blog updates for a while}

we have a wireless modem, but until we can prove ourselves to be smarter

than all this technology

i have to continue to unplug my computer, plug my work one in during business hours

and then plug mine back in when i want to play on the internet, update the blog,

what.have.you.

 we'll figure it out though, we are 2 very capable adults after all.

i went for a walk the other day with monkey and threw gently set him

into the pumpkin pit at the grocery store for a rookie photo shoot.

he was so.stinkin.cute!

 the leaves have been changing color here,

so i know that it's fall of some sort.

however, we, like most of you

have been in the midst of this heat wave.

i'm not going to lie, i've been enjoying every last minute

of the shorts and tank top weather.

i'm not ready for the cold.

 but it will inevitably come

and with it, changes in the house.

blankets, snuggles, layers {all of which i can't complain}

hearty soups and stews, chilis and cornbread.

no more sports until april {yippie!!}

and the ever anticipated holidays.

oh yes people

no matter how hard you try

this is happening.

i say greet the new changes head on

with a smile on our faces.

bundle up and get outside as often as possible.

and enjoy the fall of 2011.

 ♥♥ loves ♥♥



nolan{ism}

little bear got bored

and tagged himself with a marker

again...

"go ducks" on his feet

{yea, he changed his favorite team from the beavers to the ducks now}

 duh, cause that's what month it is.

 this is the under eye makeup that football players wear

just a little lower and a little thinner.
i thought it was whiskers,
but was very sternly put in my place
followed by the eyeroll plus "phft" sound effect.
{moms, am i right??}

 this is a baseball

for God only knows why

because we are playing soccer and football.

but a boy can dream...

 this one was on his shins and says "drums rock"

because they totally do.

and this last one was in support of big brother's football game

it says "go emmett, yeah, go, go"

but this is all i could photograph.

something tells me this kid is going to be covered in tattoos when he's older.

guess we better get used to it now.

p.s. he had to go to his soccer game with all this on, as well as to brother's football game. so greatful that we have a sense of humor.

5 on friday

here's 5 things i'm digging this friday...

1. breakfast with friends.

{we got to have alden all to ourselves this morning and the boys had a great time}

 2. the playroom is back together again.

{we've had camping gear thrown in the garage since labor day}

 3. more paint swatches that i plan on turning into a cool halloween craft.

{hubby is convinced home depot is going to ban me from the store soon}

 4. i love pink and i love sparkles!

{i will be rocking pink nails for the month of october for sure!}

 5. how fun it was to wrap this.

{housewarming present for a friend of ours}

tonight is first friday art walk down town

and our friends the hardin's are having an opening of their new photo studio.

we are excited to go celebrate with them!

soccer in the morning.

football sunday morning.

and hopefully some sunshine.

happy friday, enjoy your weekend!

{list thursday} ♥ 12 ways to get a second chance in life...

"nobody can go back and start a new beginning,

but anyone can start today and make a new ending."

~ maria robinson

 this isn't a perfect world.  we're not perfect people.

getting a second chance in life is about giving yourself the opportunity

to grow beyond your past failures. 

Here's a couple ideas how:

{pictures from last night's birthday bash for hubby's big 33}

1. let go of the past.

{what's done is done.  we must recognize that difficulties pass like everything else in life. and once they pass, all we're left with are our unique experiences and the lessons required to make a better attempt next time.}

 2. identify the lesson.

{everything is a life lesson; the people we meet, everything we encounter, etc. never forget to acknowledge the lesson, especially when things don't quite go our way, it only means something better is out there waiting.  and the lesson you just learned is the first step towards it.}

 3. lose the negative attitude.

{negative thinking creates negative results.

positive thinking creates positive results. period.}

 4. accept accountability for your current situation.

{either you take accountability for your life, or someone else will. and when they do, you'll become a slave to their ideas and dreams instead of a pioneer of your own.}

 5. focus on the things you can change.

{stop wasting your time, talent, and emotional energy on the things that are beyond your control. invest your energy in the things you can change.}

6. figure out what you really want.

{don't wast your life fulfilling someone else's dreams and desires. figure out what's meaningful to you, and never give up on who you are capable of becoming.}

 7. eliminate the non-essential.

{you can't accomplish anything if you're trying to accomplish everything. concentrate on the essential and get rid of the rest.}

 8. be very specific.

{knowing the specific measurements of what you want to achieve is the only way you will ever get to the end result you desire.}

 9. concentrate on doing instead of not doing.

{by relentlessly trying not to do something, we end up thinking about it so much that we subconsciously provoke ourselves to do the exact thing we were trying not to do.}

10. create a daily routine.

{doing so will help you start each day on point, and end each day in a way that prepares you for tomorrow. it will help you focus on the important stuff, instead of the distractions that keep popping up. and most importantly, it will help you make steady progress - which is what second chances are all about.}

11. maintain self-control and work on it for reals.

{life is not easy, especially when you plan on achieving something worthwhile. you have to strengthen and maintain your self-control. be ready for it, no slacking off.}

12. forget about impressing people.

{so many people buy things they don't need, with money they don't have, to impress people they don't know. don't be one of those people, it's a waste of time, and probably one of the reasons we need a second chance.  just keep doing what you know is right.}

we all deserve a second chance at life.

today, do what makes you happy.

{october}welcome

See October

Sheets of crystal on morning grass,

Flannel shirts the color of leaves,

Sweaters the color of corn and pumpkin,

Wooly worms crossing the road,

Furry forecasters of a hard winter.

Hear October

Groans of hard men hauling hay,

Muffled report of rifles in woods,

Chainsaw promising winter heat,

Boughs breaking with weight of fruit,

Ripe prophets of a hard winter.

Smell October.

Smoke of leaves, oak, maple, tobacco,

Steams of soup, coffee, stew,

School bus fumes and Russian tea,

Whiff of cold in northern wind,

Clean composer of a hard winter. 

Feel October.

Weight of first blanket on the bed,

Distant warmth of retreating sun,

Thickening fur on an outdoor dog,

Firmness growing in the ground,

Heavy harbinger of a hard winter.

 Taste October.

Apples, crackers and sharp gold cheese,

Last grilled hamburger of the season,

Farm-ground sausage, pepper-laced,

Warm yeast bread from an old recipe,

Sure sustainer through a hard winter.

Come October!

Bring the security of a hay-filled barn,

A warming fire and goal made real.

Crown the end of a summer's work

With needs well met and hopes fulfilled

To carry us through a hard winter.

                                                                               {r.g.bell}

what are some of your favorite things about october?

homemade{tomato}soup

i've been trying to come up with new and interesting ideas for canning tomatoes.

while flipping through my better homes and gardens cookbook

{the red checkered one}

i stumbled upon this fresh tomato soup recipe. 

it turned out amazing

so i decided to make quite a few more batches and can them for the winter.

i've had a few of you interested in the recipe

so i figured i'd just blog it and everyone can enjoy!

this recipe only makes about 4 cups,

but i made 2 double batches and canned 11 pint jars of it the other day.

ingredients: 

3 medium tomatoes, peeled and quartered

1 1/2 cups water

1/2 cup chopped onion {1 medium}

1/2 cup chopped celery {1 stalk}

1/2 of a 6-ounce can {1/3 cup} tomato paste

2 tablespoons snipped fresh cilantro or basil

2 teaspoons instant chicken bouillon granules

1 teaspoon sugar

a few dashes of bottled hot pepper sauce

 1. if desired, seed the tomatoes {i did not}. in a large saucepan combine tomatoes, water, onion, celery, tomato paste, the 2 tablespoons cilantro/basil, bouillon granules, sugar, and hot pepper sauce. bring to boiling; reduce heat. simmer, covered, about 20 minutes or until celery and onion are very tender.  remove from heat and cool for 10 minutes.

{if you are canning it, while it's cooling

is when i prepared my water bath and jars}

2. place half of the tomato mixture in a blender container or food processor bowl. cover and blend or process until smooth. repeat with the remaining mixture. return all of the soup to the saucepan; heat through. if desired, garnish with additional cilantro/basil.

the first time i made it, the boys added goldfish crackers to the mixture.

i added a little cream cheese,

and hubby added sour cream and shredded cheese.

no matter which way you choose,

it's delish!

enjoy some with a grilled cheese sandwich

and your favorite snuggle blanket!

nutrition information: serving size about 1 cup: 54 calories, 0 g total fat; 0 mg chol., 744 mg sodium, 12 g carbs, 3 g fiber, 2 g protine.