Pumpkin Muffins!!

Its that time again!!!! Time to make all the pumpkin muffins!  I make them at least once a week for various occasions: school parties, work mondays, neighborhood friendliness, fall festivals, because I like them, because my husband eats alot, and so on and so on.  I mean who can beat the simplicity of this recipe?!?!



So, I went to Walmart and stocked up on my ingredients.  Spice Cake mix is $1.28 at Walmart and the Great Value pumpkin is $1.43.  Chocolate Chips are the priciest ingredient........I go for the big bag that sales for $4.28.  This can be used for at least 3 batches.



I made "mini" pumpkin muffins this time because I thought they would look so cute!!  And they did of course!!



Here is your staple for all Fall parties.........You are welcome!!!



3 Ingredients:



Spice Cake Mix

Can of pumpkin

Chocolate Chips (optional)



Mix together and bake on 350 for about 10 - 15 minutes.  Look for them to kind of harden on top.

So, I have a question. How much do you budget for a babysitter? Do you use a babysitter? How much do you pay him/her? Do you take kids everywhere?

I have only had a babysitter a handful of times in the span of my kids lives. Only a couple of times were used for enjoyment and none were used for a date with my husband. Yep. No anniversary dinner since the kids were born, no rekindling the relationships, and def no non interrupted adult conversations. Let me give you an example..... My 35th birthday....i treated myself to a steak. Take out. I cant afford 2 steaks (the hubs) from my place of choice and I certainly cant pay for a babysitter on top of that!! Because they are EXPENSIVE!!

So Id like some feedback. Am I the only dateless mama? Do you pay for babysitters? Should it be a priority? Give up other extras to support date night?

Okay. Now we will switch gears and look at some other random stuff!!

I got this email and im stoked!!






And what about this email? They are getting really sophisticated with these scams. They even found someone I know to sign as the email send. Harpers kindgarten teacher (which is barely passed by the way). He failed 1st grade and then dropped out of school!


Jules

Kale chips

Ever tried them? Kale is such a "hot button" super food these days, that is has been on my to do list to cook with, but i just havent done it. I have purchased it a couple of times and then let it waste in the fridge. Probably out of intimadation.

Then i saw this at walmart.....



Already chopped and seasons ready. Only need to add EVOO


I served with fish and sauteed squash and onions.


So, how did they taste? Well....like kale. I dont love it, but i can certainly eat it for the value and its an easy and cost effective side dish.

Honey Mustard Chicken

I have been so out of pocket lately!! Traveling, working, parenting, golf carting, enjoying the weather and accidently sleeping in here and there!! There has been little time to catch up on my blogging.  Even when I don't blog, I am always snapping pictures with the intention to blog and then of course totally forget!!!



Today I wanted to share this yummy chicken recipe I made up the other day.  It wasnt gound breaking and I am sure it is written into creation somewhere, but in the Emory household it was created based on ingredients I could find.



I sliced up a chicken breast and cooked it in a skillet seasoned with your typical go tos.  For me it is pepper, garlic, and natures own.  Once the chicken is cooked I coated it with honey and spicy mustard.  Probably about a 1/2 cup each.  I simmered for a few minutes until it started to turn a little brown and sear into the chicken.







Supper yummy and super easy!!!!

Lets Talk about my Baby Boy

I am meeting with Ruddick's Early Steps team today to re-write his goals on his IFSP.  The IFSP is basically a plan of action so that the family and therapist have common goals they are working toward.  He is currently in speech therapy and doing great!!! At one point he had about a 6 months delay in communication, however, he is improving significantly.  I'd say at this point we are on a about a 4 months delay. The fact he has started to imitate consistently has become a huge stride.  He has showed interest in language (he did not do this at the appropriate age) which obviously helps to reach communication goals!!!!  He recently had an OT eval done and we will hear the results of this during the meeting as well.  He has 2 things that he struggles with on the OT side.  He tucks his thumbs in and clenches his fist (mainly in new situations).  This has caused his fine motor skills to be weak.  He also struggles with sensory processing when he gets upset or his needs are not met immediately!!! It is a huge challenge to reorganize himself and pull it together.  This may sound like a typical toddler fit, but it is not.  Its hard to understand unless you see it.

So today lets celebrate baby boy Ruddick.  We don't see alot of pics of him on social media because his sister's personality is so big but he is doing his best to keep up!!!














Jules

Checking in from st louis!!

So im off to a conference this week and learning tons of great information centering around children with special needs. I love love love learning and enriching my brain with new information when im passionate about the subject.

Yestersay i started off at a preconference workshop with the subject death and dying and children. Yes. I chose this topic. I know it seems strange and morbin but i am extremely interested in how children cope with death and dying a different developmental stages. I believe there is a right and wrong way to support and involve children in the process and will also leave lasting impressions on children. In a previous life (prekids and daniel), i worked in a childrens hospital and berevement counseling was one of my job responsibilities. I was pumped when the presenter was also a child life specialist!!!



Today i embark on a FULL day of learning. Started off with starbucks in the hotel. Whoop!!


And then received a complimentary smoothie at breakfast!!

Special Pageant Day!!!

My preacher asked me to write a blog for our church campus that describes the connection of the community and a pageant I recently coordinated.  Here is what I wrote.............

On September 27^th, I got to be a part of something I consider to be somewhat of a movement in this community.  Pretty girls dressed in pretty dressed on a church stage receiving a crown.  Don’t mistake this for a typical beauty pageant, it was anything but typical. It was loaded with volunteers with a passion to serve, it was uniquely planned to represent God’s given beauty, and it was a special pageant for children with special needs and challenges.

When I first heard of this pageant and the opportunity to serve, I couldn’t jump in fast enough.  I am yours to lead, tell me what you need and I will get it done.  The idea of a surging impact that branches into so many areas of need was overwhelming and exciting!  A young member of First West Fairbanks had the heart to serve others and expressed her ideas to her mom.  McKenzie is eight years old with cerebral palsy and wanted to help children with cancer.  Her mom listened and supported her by creating the platform she needed to serve others.  Day by day more church members joined the cast and then the word spread into the community.  Friends and families got excited and even the Junior League asked to be a part.  Sponsors were stepping up and putting their stamp on an effort to make a difference in multiple lives on one single day.

I couldn’t sleep the night before the pageant.  I was anxious, hopeful, over joyed and really a bundle of indiscernible emotions.  The church gym filled with spectators.  Some there to support the children, some the families or the volunteers, and then some simply there just to support the cause. 

We saw a little girl grace the stage with a pink ribbon in hand.  She jumped, twirled, spinned and guided the audience’s eyes to follow the ribbon to the beat of the music.  She was an image of pure joy and I barely noticed her prosthetic leg.  Finished, she ran off the stage and met her dad who handed her a bouquet of flowers with tears in his eyes.  I had tears in my eyes too.  I had never met this family, but I cried with proud joy with them.

This is what I think is so important.  You see we are all part of this community, Small in some ways, big in others.  It takes each of us intertwined in support to thrive at the highest level.  Someone has helped us along the way with a smile at the very least.  The children occupying the stage are a piece of this community.  The families that receive the funds from this event are part of this community.  WE are part of this community.  And because this community stood together, a little girl with a big idea was able to hand the Louisiana Cancer Foundation a big check just like she dreamed.