A Day At the Gardens... Oh! I Meant The State Fair

Here in North Texas most schools have what is called 'Fair Day'! This means there is NO school that day, and the students are given a free ticket to attend the Texas State Fair! I love the fair! The sights, the sounds, the food, the indigestion. Ahh... but so worth it. Our family managed to scarf down nachos, turkey legs, corny dogs, corn on the cob, ice cream, funnel cake and Soowan and I enjoyed ourselves a nice frozen margarita and mojito. They kids didn't have a sip, so don't worry!

Yesterday was also the first day of the fair, and we have decided we will go to the fair on the first day from now on. There is plenty of parking, NO crowds, NO lines (even for the Mouse Trap ride) and people are genuinely happy, which makes the day a lot more enjoyable!

By these pictures you might think we went to the Arboretum or to some garden. That's my fault. Each year we take the kids to the garden exhibits first so I can take pictures of them before they get all sticky from the food and sweaty from walking around in the sun all day. By doing this, the battery on my camera started running low while at the butterfly garden, so I mostly got garden shots. OOPS! But I did manage to get a good shot of 'BIG TEX' on our way in to prove we were at the fair this year. =0)

Fun Times With The Cagle Family

This weekend we were able to spend time with our friends Josh and Amber Cagle, along with their two boys Caleb and Cayden. It's cool how God puts people in your life, and even though the each person goes through several seasons in life, God is the glue that keeps them together.

I have known Amber since my freshman year in high school, way before either one of us became Christians. We were both on dance team together and have many fond (and not so fond) memories of our time in high school. After high school ended we saw one another on occasion while attending College, then we lost touch for a while after our time there over.

Soowan knew Josh from our church in California, Christ Church of the Valley. The two of them lived together at the 'Pink Panther' for a short time while they were in college (before I ever came into the picture). You may be wondering 'What the heck is the Pink Panther?'... Long story short, it was a pink house (and I mean PINK!) in Covina, CA that many college aged guys from our church rented.

A couple of years after I became a Christian, Amber gave her life to the Lord and started attending the same church I went to. Soowan and I noticed that Amber and Josh were getting close, but never said/pushed anything. A few months later, Josh and Amber attended our wedding as a couple!!! During our reception they told us they were dating. What a wonderful wedding present! Knowing that two people, whom both Soowan and I loved and cared for very much, were A COUPLE!!! A year and two months later we attended THEIR wedding!!! =0)

In the past 10 years God has moved in the Cagle's life in a tremendous ways, and it has been awesome to see all that He has done through their family. I know I'm leaving a lot out (like 10 years worth), but I'm excited to say that God has MOVED THEIR FAMILY TO TEXAS!!! YEEEE-HAW!!!! Josh will be starting a plant church in the Austin, TX area. A short, 3 1/2 hour drive from Dallas! If you want to check out their ministry click here... The Round Rock Project

As a couple Josh and Amber SHINE! Are they not only so darn cute together and have two GORGEOUS boys, they SHINE for the Lord in all that they do! I'm not kidding! We've seen it throughout their friendships, marriage, and ministry. They are an amazing couple!

This weekend we were finally able to get together with the Cagle Family since their move to Texas! They drove up to Dallas on Friday and we all went to the Angels vs Rangers game! Both our families are HUGE Angels fans! On Saturday we got up, ate breakfast and were off to Micah's first soccer game of the season! Our team won 2-1, and I will shamelessly brag that Micah scored both goals! That's my boy! =0)

The Cagle's had to get on the road and head back down to Austin shortly after the game, but the boys did have some time to jump around on the trampoline and share lots of giggles. =0)

Thank you Josh, Amber, Caleb and Cayden for an enjoyable time and we look forward to seeing ya'll more often now that you're official Texans. Well, maybe not yet... you need to get rid of those California plates on your car! =0)

Toddler + Puppy = EXHAUSTION

Needless to say life's been busy lately with these two! They keep me on my toes and have many surprises for me everyday. Some days they work together and other days they go solo with their little shenanigans. Either way I'm one tired Mommy!

Meet Abigail!

For a couple of weeks now we've been talking about getting another dog. Without a dog our house felt exactly that, a house. Not a home. Our home has always had a dog or two, a cat or two, and/or a fish or two. We even had a giant millipede as a pet at one time as well. As you can tell we are an animal loving family, and we were ready to add a new fur-baby to our home after the passing of our beloved Jethro a few months ago. :0(

With that said... We have a new family member to introduce you to... Abigail! She is a cute, four month old, German Shepherd/Pointer mix puppy (aka: mutt). We brought her home from the local animal shelter yesterday. Abbie is a sweet puppy, who is already house trained, walks well on a leash and understands a few simple commands. The animal shelter offers puppy training at a reasonably good price, so we will be taking her to obedience training starting next week.

Abbie did really well sleeping in her crate last night with only a few whimpers at first. Soowan took her out around 4:30 AM to let her relieve herself, and she went right back into her crate with no complaints! So far so good! The kids are having a blast with their new puppy, but our two cats are less than thrilled. Oh well... our finicky felines will have to get use to Abbie because she is here to stay!

Dear Mr. Carlos Martinez,

I'm writing this letter to you because I would really appreciate it if you would not be using MY cell phone number as contact information for YOUR creditors. In the past three weeks I have received 2-3 calls a day, ON MY CELL PHONE asking for YOU. No matter how nice I am to these incredibly intimidating, forth coming, somewhat rude credit collectors they don't believe that I'm not Carlos Martinez or that MY cell phone number is not yours. These aggressive men think you are related to me in some way, or that I'm hiding where you are at. Now it's none of my business why these men are so angry with you and why they want to get a hold of you A.S.A.P., but I have a feeling it's because you owe someone a whole lot of money. I'm sorry for your financial woes, but your circumstances are now affecting my daily life. I just got off the phone with one of your buddies, and now I need to go to my cell phone provider and get a document proving that MY cell phone number is under MY name and not YOURS in order to get this credit company to stop calling me. By doing this will not end all of the unnecessary phone calls I've been receiving because there are 5... Yes, 5 different collection companies looking for YOU! So most likely I will need to send all of these companies proof that MY cell phone number is MINE and not YOURS!

Hopefully once this all gets resolved you will learn how to spend your money wisely and stop using credit cards. I'm sorry if you have never been given the proper education on how to handle your finances, but there are many credit solution companies out there that can teach you how to balance a check book and how to use credit properly, FOR FREE!

Again, I'm sorry for your existing situation, but I would really appreciate it if you leave me and my cellphone out of it.

Sincerely,

Nancy S.

Good Times With Old Friends

This past weekend we were blessed to spend time with special friends from California. Steve Franssen flew in on Friday for a quick 36 hour visit. It was very sweet of him to make a stop our way on his way home from visiting family on the East coast. We met Steve many, many years ago at our old church's college group. When I think about it, Steve was still in high school when we first met him. Gosh I feel old!

Another friend from our old college group recently moved to the Dallas area. We have been trying to find time to visit with LaRue and her husband Dave for several months, but our busy schedules have prevented us from seeing one another. By chance, LaRue and Dave were available for dinner Friday night! It was so much fun to have Steve, LaRue and Dave over. We had a blast hanging out, playing poker, eating yummy food, laughing and reminiscing about old times!

On Saturday we took Steve on a driving tour of Dallas. We went by the grassy knowl where Kennedy was assassinated. It's rather odd but there are x's painted in the street where each shot struck the former President. Weird, huh? We drove him by the AA center, Texas Stadium and went by the Gaylord Texan Hotel for lunch and to walk through the hotel's atrium. We still had some time to kill before taking Steve to the airport, so we went and looked at model homes nearby. Steve was amazed what one could get for their money in the Dallas area. He was also amazed on how finished, unsold homes within the developments were unlocked for people to walk through and view. One particular house was our favorite by far! It is a 7800 sq. ft. home on a half acre lot with 6 bedroom, 8 bath, 5 living areas (including a media room) 3 kitchens (no joking!), and a 4 car garage. The sticker price was a mere 1.25 million dollars. Where Steve lives in CA, one may get a 1800 sq foot, 3-4 bedroom, 2 bath fixer-upper built in the 1970's for that price. ;0) Granted, neither one of us could afford this home, but it still blew Steve away at what you can get for your money out here.

STEVE'S DREAM HOME!

First Day Of The Fourth Grade

Honestly, it feels like yesterday that I took this picture. This is Micah walking HIMSELF into school on his first day of Kindergarten. He didn't want us to walk him in. It took everything within me to not follow him inside of the school that morning.

Baking Snickerdoodle Pie

The cooler weather we've been having and finding a yummy pie recipe in the September issue of Better Homes and Gardens, has inspired me to bake. I hate to cook, but I love to bake. Good thing my husband is an excellent cook, because if not my family would starve or be fat from eating only cakes, pies and cookies. I can cook for the record, I just don't enjoy doing it. Soowan enjoys cooking so he makes dinner about 70% of the time. The other 30% we eat out. ;0) Sad thing is there is a lot of truth in that last sentence.

Micah loves Snickerdoodle cookies! When I saw the recipe in the magazine yesterday I thought it would be fun for Micah and I to make one. Micah really wanted to try and do it all by himself (with Mom observing close by of course). Truly I didn't need to intervene all that much though. Micah did a really great job. Not sure how good the pie is yet, but it sure smells and looks good! We'll be eating it for dessert after Soowan makes dinner! I know... I'm spoiled!

Edited to add recipe.

*** Micah's Snikerdoodle Pie was delicious! It's more of a breakfast pie rather than a dessert pie. You would want to take this pie to a morning Bible study or brunch. ENJOY! ***


SNICKERDOODLE PIE Better Homes & Garden September Issue

*We used a pre-made frozen pie crust from the store. I may like to bake but not that much. ;0)

Prep: 40 min.
Bake: 45 min.
Cool: 30 min.
Stand: 30 min.


Ingredients
1 Recipe Single-Crust Pie Pastry, see recipe, or 1 rolled refrigerated unbaked pie crust (1/2 of a 15-oz. pkg.)
1 Tbsp. raw sugar or coarse sugar
1/2 plus 1/4 tsp. ground cinnamon, divided
2 tsp. butter, melted
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1/4 cup butter
3 Tbsp. water
2 Tbsp. light-colored corn syrup
1/2 plus 1 tsp. vanilla, divided
1/4 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/4 cup powdered sugar
1 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. cream of tartar
1 egg
1/2 cup milk
1-1/4 cups all-purpose flour
Directions
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Prepare pastry and line 9-inch pie plate. In bowl combine raw sugar and 1/2 tsp. cinnamon. Brush melted butter over crust. Sprinkle with 1 tsp. of cinnamon-sugar mixture. Set aside.

2. For syrup, in saucepan combine brown sugar, 1/4 cup butter, the water, corn syrup, and 1/4 tsp. cinnamon. Heat to boiling over medium heat, stirring to dissolve sugar. Boil gently for 2 minutes. Remove from heat. Stir in 1/2 tsp. vanilla. Set aside.

3. In mixing bowl beat 1/4 cup softened butter with electric mixer on medium speed for 30 seconds. Beat in granulated sugar, powdered sugar, baking powder, salt, and cream of tartar until well combined. Beat in egg and 1 tsp. vanilla. Gradually beat in milk until combined. Beat in flour. Spread evenly in crust-lined pie plate.

4. Slow pour syrup over the filling in pie plate. Sprinkle with remaining cinnamon-sugar mixture. Cover edges of pie with foil.

5. Bake pie 25 minutes; carefully remove foil. Bake about 20 minutes more or until top is puffed and golden brown, and a toothpick inserted near center comes out clean. Cool 30 minutes on wire rack. Serve warm. Makes 10 servings.