Trick-or-Treating at the Hangar

TJ's hangar had trick-or-treating for the kids and a static display of the P3.  They got way too much candy from all the shops in the hangar.  But, it was fun doing this at daddy's work.  This is the first time the kids had gotten to see their daddy's work spaces.

 Dressed and ready to go!

 I love this picture of the P3 with the American flag in the background.

 Going up the stairs to get into the P3.

 And they each took a turn in the cockpit.

Halloween festivities at school

I went to the kids' school on Friday to help them with their fun activities for Halloween.

 Brenalee at her table eating her snacks.

Brenalee doing the A Tootie Tah song.

 Tyler decorating his cookie.

 They also made masks.  That was my job to help the kids with the masks.

And Tyler's pumpkin won the cutest pumpkin award.  He wrote a story about a pumpkin named Veggie Boy who loved veggies.  He ate too many and woke up one day to see he had become a large veggie with broccoli hair, a carrot mouth, green bean nose, onion ears, and lima bean & corn eyes.  It was so adorable!

Maple Scotchies

We call my dad the cookie monster because he loves cookies.  I remember as a little girl whenever my mom was gone and my dad was in charge - we made cookies.  And we ate a lot of cookie dough.  I remember him telling us girls stories of when he was a teenager he would make cookie dough, put it in a plastic bag and keep it in his sock drawer to snack on throughout the next few days!  We have quite a few tried and true family cookie recipes from my dad.  This is one of them that we always made during the holidays.  I love these cookies.  They are so yummy!  They taste best after they have completely cooled.

Maple Scotchies:
2 cups sifted all-purpose flour
1 1/2 cups brown sugar
1/2 cup butter
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 slightly beaten egg
2 TBS milk
1/2 tsp maple flavoring
1/2 cup chopped pecans
2 TBS cocoa powder

Combine flour and sugar.  Cut in butter till mixture resembles fine crumbs.  Reserve 1/4 cup and put aside in small bowl with 2 TBS cocoa powder.  Add soda and salt to remaining flour-sugar mixture; mix well.  Blend in egg, milk and maple flavoring.  Mix to form dough.  Stir in pecans.  Shape dough into balls using rounded teaspoon of dough for each.  Roll in cocoa powder mixture.  Place 3 inches apart on greased cookie sheet.  Bake at 375° for 10-12 minutes.  Do not over bake!  Let cook on cookie sheet for a minute or two and remove to wire racks to finish cooling.

Jacksonville airshow

The airshow came to Jacksonville.  We couldn't go on the regular day it was scheduled.  But, of course because we are military we got to be there the day they were practicing.  We went up onto the roof of TJ's building.  We had a great view and no crowds!  We had to keep away from the edge though because the security guy would see us and start motioning us to get down.  It was a gorgeous day!

 P3's with downtown Jax in the background.

 F18 coming in for a landing.

Columbus Day!

TJ had today off because of Columbus Day.  We have been really needing to paint our house.  It came with this beige flat paint.  I'm sure you can imagine all the little dirty fingerprints I have all over my walls - especially going up the stairs.  And of course because it's flat paint - you can't wash anything off of it!  It was horrible!  It was a big undertaking and we spent the entire day painting - but we finished it!  We only have a couple of rooms left to paint now.

Touchdown for the Troops

I am so behind in my blogging!  A bunch of pro football players put on a football clinic for military kids a few weeks ago.  It was an all day event and Tyler wanted to go.  He had a great time.  He puked on the way home though!  I think he was over heated and a little dehydrated.  But, he was fine after a few hours of laying on the couch and recuperating in the a/c.

The best dad ever!

We got a knock on the door today and it was the postman.  I took the heavy package off the doorstep wondering who in the world it could be from.  It was addressed to Tyler and Brenalee.  It was from my parents.  When we opened it up we were so excited to find pears from the orchard and jars of jam, jelly and apple butter!  YUM!  The kids didn't waste a second in eating some pears.  Thanks Papa!