Pumpkin Weekend on Camano

Last weekend we had our annual Gibb/Lashley/Hughes Pumpkin Weekend. This year we spent the weekend at my parent's house on Camano. We had amazing weather (Mom claims it's ALWAYS sunny on Camano), played cards, went to the pumpkin patch, carved pumpkins (barefoot, outside in the sun - so strange for Washington weather!), had s'mores in the fire pit the boys made this summer, launched apples into the bay via slingshot (and almost launched Josh), played at the beach, and had one of the best costume debuts ever. It was a great weekend!

Another great costume debut!

Cousin Bailey

Three little Hughespoodles sitting on a tree...

Sisters!


The cousins

This is what we look like after a long day of kids and pumpkin carving...





Kaylie likes her marshmallows raw - on the stick, but no need to put them near the fire


Malia likes her roasted to a "dark white" with chocolate, no graham crackers


Josh likes his quick charred - just blow the flames out and eat!

Can you believe that this is how we carved our pumpkins? Looks more like summer!







SBK got into my purse and found my glasses and my gum. Can't you just see her as a teenager here? Y I K E S ! !

Marky Mark's Birthday Weekend

Mark turned 36 today, October 12th. We celebrated with a dinner party on Saturday with some of our favorite people in the world, then cake and ice cream with the Hughes clan on Sunday. Two cakes in two days... you can't beat that! Happy Birthday, Love!

What do you think he wished for?

Kaylie and "Uncle Crabby", who Kaylie told me today is "the oldest uncle!"

Mr. and Mrs. Lashley

Mark and his monkeys, waving the birthday pennant that Malia made. Malia wrote Mark a poem that said in part, "Columbus Day may be tomorrow, but you're more important than Columbus will ever be!"

Josh raking the yard (really, this isn't child labor - this was the only pile he raked!)

Peek-a-Josh
Us

The future ballerina (this is what we get when Kaylie picks out her "party clothes")

Baby Braeden is hardly a baby anymore!


Melinda, Ken & Mark

Josh and Baby Braeden cuddling in the yard


SBK at the end of the weekend, fresh out of the bath and ready for bed

Jammies and books in front of the fire... a perfect way to end the weekend. We wore SBK out this weekend, she was asleep by 6:30! Goodnight!

Miscellaneous

Three Little Hughesies

Sometimes, at the end of a long day, when nobody is looking, Josh and Kaylie stop picking on each other long enough to remember how much they really do love each other.

Our girl has a problem - and it's called Cheetos. Yes, she is actually sleeping, still orange faced & fingered, and not letting go of the bag. She is my daughter, isn't she?

Beautiful Malia

And just because... another self portrait.

My girl - what a ham!

Kaylie's eyes are getting greener and greener - just like both of her Grandpas!

New Addictions

It's funny because I always thought that Mark was the computer uber dork in the family. Turns out it may be me. I am newly, totally, addicted to Twitter and Facebook. I am spending far too much time on the internet, learning far too much about others, and enjoying it far too much. Let me know if you're on either! xoxo

Pear Mystery - S O L V E D !!!

Bryan and Tracy McConaughy, of the Gig Harbor McConaughys were officially charged today with Pear Larceny in the 3rd degree. Upon interrogation, they plead guilty to the crime. No plea bargains were made, bail was set at one bottle of wine, and a hearing for sentencing has been set for Tuesday. With no prior convictions, it is suspected that the judge will comply with a request for leniency. Their motive was stated to be "boys that really like pears". No futher investigations will be made at this time. This case is now offically closed.

Quote of the Day

"Please stop licking the car, Kaylie"

A Pear Mystery - Reward Offered!

Those of you who know us well have surely been given a bag of pears lately. Or maybe we forced them upon you, but in either case, we had more pears than we could eat. We finally gave away just enough so that we were left with a manageable sized bag. Our bag of well loved, perfectly peary pears lived on our front porch (sounds tacky, I know, but they were happy there - continuing to ripen in the fresh air and being outside meant that the fruit flies weren't in my kitchen.) So here we are... loving our delicious pears, the pears we kept for ourselves, the pears that we harvested with our own hands and guess what... today we came home from work and our bag of pears was gone. Just like that - gone. All that fiber, all that pear goodness, just gone. And really, it's not that the pears were taken that bothers me - I would have given them to anyone who asked. The fact that someone was on our front porch while we were gone is what bothers me. Weird, huh? Do you know anything about the case of the missing pears?

My Laugh for the day

Yes, I do realize that it's probably very wrong to post this picture, but I just can't help it. It makes me laugh too much. Kaylie is now very independent and likes dressing herself. Unfortunately pants are usually put on backwards (seems uncomfortable to me, but she doesn't mind) and panties are often put on... sideways. Somehow she gets the little tiny leg hole up around her waist. If that isn't bad enough, sideways panties seem to only cover one bunny. Who knew?

I will be in so much trouble when Kaylie learns to post pictures and starts getting me back for things like this. Ha!

Summer Cookie Challenge Winner!!!

This is the cookie that won our Summer Cookie Challenge. It was chewy, chocolatey, and just about perfect. Amazing with vanilla ice cream, perfect warm out of the oven. Enjoy!

Chewy Chocolate Toffee Cookies

• 1 1/4 cups butter or margarine, softened
• 2 cups sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 3/4 cup cocoa
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 5 Heath Candy Bars, crushed
  

Beat butter at medium speed with an electric mixer until creamy; gradually add sugar, beating well. Add eggs and vanilla, beating until well blended.

Combine flour and next 3 ingredients; gradually add to butter mixture, beating at low speed until blended after each addition. Stir in Heath Bar crumbles. Shape dough into 1 1/2-inch balls, and place on lightly greased baking sheets.

Bake at 350° for 18 to 20 minutes or until lightly browned. Cool in pan 1 minute; remove to wire racks to cool.

Cookie Challenge, Second Place

Lime Sugar Cookies

• 3/4 cup butter, softened
• 2 cups sugar, divided
• Zest of 2 limes (about 2 tablespoons)
• 1/2 cup sour cream
• 2 large egg yolks, at room temperature*
• 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
• 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 2 1/2 cups flour

1. Beat butter, 1 1/2 cups sugar, and lime zest on medium speed with an electric mixer fitted with a paddle until lightly creamed. Add sour cream, and beat just until blended. Stir in egg yolks and lime juice, scraping down sides of bowl. Add salt, baking powder, and flour, and beat until blended. Chill dough 1 hour.

2. Preheat oven to 350°. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper. Place remaining 1/2 cup sugar in a small bowl. Shape dough into 1-inch balls. Roll in sugar, and place on baking sheets.

3. Bake at 350° for 20 to 25 minutes or until edges begin to brown; bottoms will look light golden. (For crispier cookies, bake a few additional minutes.) Remove to wire racks to cool.

*Remove eggs from refrigerator, and place in a bowl for 30 minutes.

Raise Your Hand if You Like Candy!