Happy Halloweeeen!

 Its the bearded lady. Jeff worked at the pharmacy all day like this. Drag queen with a beard. hhhhhmmmmmm

 He thinks this is gonna get me feeling romantic..................EW

 Calvin left this laying on the counter. It looks like a skeleton of a dead toddler. creepy

 My little sister Mia and her daughter Lily and My little ninja Calvin

Mia creepin' in the corner.

I am exhausted! Feels like bedtime to me!

What day is it?

What day is it? It's the day the Red Sox won the world series at FENWAY park!
WE are so happy!
I seriously LOVED this last game. The whole series was so fun! They were evenly matched and we got to see some good baseball!
This game made me so happy for Steven Drew! He has made some amazing plays as a amazing short stop! He just couldn't get on base though :(
Then, tonight..... HE HIT A HOME RUN! totally deserved it!
I was bummed they walked Big Papi all night! LAME!
He did get MVP! TOTALLY deserved!
I think it was our punkin's that gave them what they needed tonight!
I love baseball! Thanks for all the talent and the entertainment MLB!
WE will all sleep happy tonight!
SWEEEET Caroline.......ba ba ba! Good times felt so good!
Don't worry! About a thing! Every little thing, is gonna be alright!

It's that time again.

 Kelsey's punkin'

 Mom's punkin'

 Kelsey's punkin' with a Red Sox Hat

 Calvin, Cameron and Kenady carving away!

 Jeff..............googling the perfect design. I just cut and go! Ain't nobody got time for that!

 hahaha Calvin is dressing them all up!

 Cam, Kels, Calvin, MOM, Ken, dad.

The Whole Gang!

Just a little Halloween Band Concert............NACHO!

Cam dressed up as Nacho for the Halloween concert. He is so cute.

 NACHOOOOOOO!!!!!!!! nice side profile :O

 BIG KISS. Little Hug. xoxoXOXOxOxOXoXo

 The girls had to get in on it too! Sisters..........total opposites :)

 Calvin and his best pal.

He rocks it, even with a costume on

So many RM's..........so many RM's never asking for a second date.........teehee

What a Lovely Day!

Jeff had 4 days off in a row. That NEVER happens. Today he and I slept in. Went to lunch. Picked out punkin's. And got a dirty drink. Then we came home and I am bottling him another batch of Toxic Hot Salsa. I cooked it on Saturday, but had NO jars. So today I grabbed some while he was rummaging through the punkin' box at Lins.
We saw one of his co workers at Lins. He says, with a lot of sarcasm "Isn't this a heartwarming sight. I don't think I have ever seen you two together before"
OF course he sees Jeff working and he sees me shopping. He just never sees Jeff and I together shopping. WE both had shorts and flip flops on. It didn't seem that cold when we left. It sure cooled down before we got home.
Tonight we are carving punkin's and having tacos while we watch the 5th game of the World Series.
He makes me laugh that guy. Isn't laughter the BEST medicine?
WE are so blessed.
Here come the kids and all the noise!
Giddy UP!

hashtag~Bring the beard home!

I've seen Big Popi slide into home twice now this week. Might be the best thing I have ever seen in baseball. Oh the Thrill of Victory and the Agony of Defeat!
I will be sad when this season is over. We had such a nice time last night and tonight watching the SOX play with Jeff here.
I sure do love my family.

Does every family have that one kid?

I have 4 kids. There is this little girl I have, that is now 13.  She always has her nose in a book. She is always in her room. She loves to be with friends and having fun, but when she is home, she is always in her room. I ask her what she is doing in there all the time. Heaven knows she is NOT cleaning it! haha
I worry about this. My other 3 kids tend to gravitate to wherever I am. Not clinging to me, but in the same room or vicinity! I don't know what to do with this kid. I worry about where this is going. I am worried she is spending too much time alone. Not to mention, I wish she was involved with all of us more. Not sure what to do.
If she is like this at 13, how secluded will she be at 15? 18?

Buttermilk Syrup.......

I love pancakes! I just don't really love maple syrup. I just found a yummy recipe for Buttermilk syrup.  It was super yummy!
Here is the recipe~

Buttermilk Syrup~

1/2 cup butter
3/4 cup sugar
1/2 cup buttermilk
1 tsp vanilla
1 tsp baking soda

Brown your butter first. This is easy, cook it in a large saucepan on high just until bubbles and barely turns brown. DON'T burn it! Then whisk in the sugar and buttermilk and bring to a boil. Add the vanilla and soda. It will bubble up~ make sure you used a big enough pan. After it sits a minute, the foam goes down.
Serve it warm. If it cools down, warm it back up! SO YUM
I am sure this would be so great with french toast and waffles.

Hashtag- Get Beard!

WE are rooting for the Red Sox! We are loving all this post season playing! Cam LOVES big Popi~ David Ortiz. Calvin likes Jacoby Ellsbury. I do too! I have a special place in my heart for Jon Lester! Did you know he is a cancer survivor? He does a lot of fundraising for kids cancer research as well as inspiring cancer patients and cancer survivors. I love people that overcome and then give back to those who are also suffering. People are still good! Good luck tomorrow Red Sox
WE will be cheering for you!

 Jeff grew his beard with the Red Sox this year! What a dork

 Calvin is wearing Camerons Ortiz Jersey from 4 years ago. He needs a Ellsbury Jersey. Maybe for Christmas!

I love my Sox Fans! They are so cute :)

Super Stars!

 Donna was teary eyed. It was Koys last game for his senior year!

 This is my oldest and my youngest. Kelsey and Calvin!

 Here's My super star! Cameron playing in the pit! This is the Marimba he is playing! He looks super cute and oh so talented!
 

It was senior night for Koy

The Huxfords! I got into CV sports because of them!

 

 I am going to miss watching you play Koy! Our number 15 :)

Who are you?

 Kelsey and her friend Amanda were set up on a double date today. They came here to wait for their dates to pick them up. I said, "who are these guys? How old? names?"
They didn't know.

So, when they came, I answered the door and asked "What are your names? These girls don't seem to know!"
hahahaha
Kelsey says this is why she is a one date wonder. She only gets asked on one date from guys cuz her family aka her mother is a FREAK!
I am not about to let my most prized possession go out with someone who hasn't had the mother interrogation. I can tell you one thing I have learned. It does NOT matter who their family is, they as boys can still really be naughty!
Kids today! UGH!!!
Have fun girls! You both look lovely and I know you are both so very good and virtuous!

Oh.......... I love a good book!

A book I have been waiting for, for over a year came out today. Fill the tub! Turn on the kindle! I am so there! I love a good book!

On top of Spaghetti...........all covered in LOVE

WE had spaghetti and Meatballs for dinner tonight! One of my kids favorite. I baked the meatballs and then put them in the crock pot with the sauce to simmer for a few hours. Here's the recipe~

1 lb hamburger
1 lb Italian sausage
1 cup bread crumbs
1 cup parmesan cheese
2 eggs
1 TBL minced garlic
1 TBL oregano
1 TBL basil
1 TBL black pepper
1/2 cup water
1 Cup brown sugar.
Mix in your kitchen aid with the paddle. Scoop onto baking sheet. I use my large pampered chef scoop. Bake at 350 for 30 minutes.

SO YUMMY!

Serve with gravy, or spaghetti sauce. Simmer with either the gravy or the spaghetti sauce for the best flavor.
I like a cream of mushroom soup gravy mixed with milk instead of water and some sautéed mushrooms.

Wise Words!

"If we have faith in God and if we are committed to the fundamentals of keeping His commandments and putting Him first in our lives, we do not need to plan every single event - and we should not feel rejected or depressed if some things, even some very important things, do not happen at the time we had planned or hoped or prayed... Do your best on what is fundamental and personal and then trust in the Lord and His timing." Dallin H Oaks

Heavenly Father is trying to talk to you. Are you listening?

WE have a change of plans. With this new change has come true Peace. Isn't that what the Lord gives us when we make the right choice? I love my girl. She is going to make an amazing elementary school teacher. Heavenly Father was talking to her, was she listening? Eventually. Better late than never!
WE are truly blessed.

From a 10 year olds point of view.

Kelsey and Calvin and I watched the 1st episode of Anne of Green Gables last night. I thought Calvin was going to die laughing!
"Carrots! Carrots!"
It is such a fun show. WE are all a little overly dramatic every once in a while I suppose.
WE put the 2nd disc in and all the girls and women had their hair up in buns with lots of curls around their face. Calvin says to me......"why are all the girls in this movie wearing afros instead of braids now?" LOL!
I guess to him they looked like afros!
"well I'm glad to see that your injured spirits haven't injured your tongue!"
~Marilla Cuthbert~

A spoon full of sugar...........helps the bitter cup go down!

That spoon full of sugar...........Is our knowledge of our Heavenly Fathers love for us!
It also includes the strength that we can draw from the companionship of the Holy Ghost. When times are hard. When heartache happens, we have to keep going and keep believing, we are not alone, all things happen for our good and that we have our agency, so do those whose actions affect us. We must keep trying! Never give up!

I will keep trying! I have eternity to get it right!

I am a homemaker!

I have spent my whole life making a home. Before I was married, I worked with my parents and siblings to make our house a home. Now, I have been making a home for my own family. All I ever wanted to be was a mom and a wife. Jeff made all my dreams come true! I feel sad for all these girls today that feel ashamed or guilty if they just want to get married and have a family. My own daughter thinks she needs to be a pharmacist. Do I think that would be great.........I don't know. Kelsey is sweet and tender. She is smart and beautiful. She is a woman. She will have kids someday and I know she will want to be home with them. She will want to give them the best of her. She will want them to feel love. Feel safe. Feel secure. I think of her having these goals to go to 6 years of school and I worry. I worry that she is getting sucked into the trap of success according to the worlds definition of success. She is stressed with school and worried how she will be able to provide for a family someday. Why is the world we live in putting so much pressure on a young girl? I put a comment on FB a few weeks ago teasing her that it doesn't matter what kind of grades you are getting in college. What matters is what your future husband is getting on his grades. I sure took some grief over that comment. People said "you can't get away with that these days." "it's not like that anymore" and "that's no longer good enough"
SAYS WHO???? says who??? I do believe in learning. I do! I just don't want us to forget that being a mother, a devoted mother, who loves and cares for her family, teaches them the gospel of Jesus Christ and helps them build a foundation of faith, is the most successful of all careers.
Conference a few weeks ago reminded us what women are, Sweet, tender, loving, nurturing, kind, priceless!
Oh be soft and tender Kelsey. Don't think you have to conquer the world. There is nothing like building a home and holding your sweet children through all the stages of life. They will need you! Heavenly Father needs you! Get an education........just don't forget what you are REALLY here for. It is what you really want! I know you! I know what my sweet girl wants for her life. Don't let the world make you think its NOT enough!
"Mother hood is NOT a hobby, it is a calling....... It is not something to do if you can squeeze the time in. It is what God gave you time for."
Elder ~Neil L. Anderson

Do husbands clean bedrooms?

My beautiful, smart, talented, spiritual daughter Kelsey has the most disastrous room I have ever seen! Sheesh! When she was younger I would get so sick of the giant mess, I would clean it for her a couple times a month. The last few years, I get so mad, I just shut the door and walk away. So I got to thinking today. Whoever that girl marries, better be able to clean a bedroom. He is going to have to hang up her clothes and get her many half drank glasses of water out of her room.  Her dad told her to keep her room clean after I told him I was so sick of the mess. He then whispered to her "I never have to clean my room or make my bed"
It's true- I always clean it. He works so hard.,...... I clean the bedroom.
Dear Kelsey, marry a  man that will clean your room.  Or one that won't care that you don't!

Red Sox Nation

We are Red Sox Fans. We are
Enjoying these postseason games
The Red Sox are playing in. Sunday night we were down 5-1 against the tigers. We were stressing.  The Sox lost Saturday 1-0!!! Yikes!! Then, the Red Sox line up went through 4 pitchers against 4 Red Sox batters. The bases were
Loaded when big Poppy- David Ortiz- Cams favorite player, hit a grand slam and tied it up! It was SICK!!! Bottom of the 9th......Gomes gets on, and Saltalamaccia gets up
And Gomes comes home and scores! The Sox win it, 6-5. Those
Red Sox were out of the dug out and chased him down! We were so happy! Talk about
A comeback! We wish we had endless money-- we would love to be at Fenway watching it all happen! Maybe someday! Good luck tonight in Detroit-- Boston! We will be cheering loud!
Cam loves #34. Calvin and I, love watching Jacoby Ellsbury........ He steals bases like a crazy man! Love it!!
We cheer for the Red Sox. When the Sox aren't playing, we cheer for anyone that IS NOT the Yankees. You just can't love the Yankees when you are a Red Sox fan.

Can I get a whoop! Whoop!

Friend. Good.

I got this idea off Pinterest. I made this card with a friend. It was fun. I love making cards!

This is where all the action happens!

When I was growing up, my parents room was off limits. NOT in my house. I love when my kids are hanging in my room with me. I love that we can all  be in there laughing and having fun. It's always a good time. Kelsey and Cameron are laughing. That is such a fun picture.

 I am in the background taking a picture of Kelsey. That is the picture I was taking below. Calvin with his dry lips and vaseline all over them. He is a nerd. haha

laundry issues!

I might scream. Wait, I am just going to scream! I am just going to let it all out!
A whole pack of chewing gum went through the washer and dryer! I am going to beat the kid!
Then after 20 years of marriage that man can't seem to put his socks in the laundry without unscrunching them! How can he be so wonderful in so many ways and yet always put his socks all scrunched up for me to unscrunch? These men I live with are causing me to twitch over this laundry lately!
Good thing I love them.
ahhhhhh I feel better now just ranting about it.

I can feel the burn! And taste it :)

I don't always make hot chipotle salsa, but when I do, it burns the nose hairs right off! I am choking and coughing with the spicy fumes! Jeff likes it hot. I put 12 jalepenos, 11 habeneros, 6 anaheims, 15 chili peppers, and 10 santa fe peppers to make it the right temp for JEFF! It will be labeled TOXIC! haha
Last week I made the medium version for the sane people that live here! tee hee

Kelsey's date picked her up right after I had run the peppers through the blender with the tomatoes! LOL his eyes were watering! I think it's funny :)

So wise!

"There is enough heartache & sorrow in this life without our adding to it through our own stubbornness, bitterness & resentment."
~ Dieter F. Uchdorf~

What do I believe?

I watched conference this weekend and I LOVED IT! I have made some decisions lately. I want to share with you all that I believe.

I believe in the gospel of Jesus Christ and all that it requires and all that it means. I love my Heavenly Father and My Savior Jesus Christ. I am so very grateful for the life I have been given. I feel so blessed that I was born in this day and age. I am blessed to be a woman in this country, at this time, in this community. I am so sheltered. I am so grateful that I am so sheltered.
I love my family. They are my most priceless possessions. I love my parents. I truly do. I dread the day they aren't here for me. I love my husband and all that he does for his family. My kids are my world. MAN!! I have learned so much from them. I have learned so much about myself from them. WE have the best time together. They make me so happy.
 I believe in forgiveness. I believe in forgiving and being forgiven. Our Heavenly father wants us to forgive! He wants so badly for us to not carry around hurt and bitterness. It tears our souls down. Sometimes we need to remove ourselves from relationships and situations that constantly tear us down. WE can't fix everything. In order for us to heal and to not get reinjured, it's okay to separate from those destructive things and people in our life. That is always a hard lesson to learn.
I know that my Heavenly Fathers hears and answers my prayers! I know he shows me tender mercies. I feel His love and Power in my life, EVERY Day!
I don't know what the future will hold. I do know what my hopes and fears and dreams are for this life.
I am tender, fragile, sensitive, caring, loveable and oh so very afraid. I get hurt so easily. I have so much love to give, but find myself pulling back when I get rejected. I need to give love to those around me to feel good. It is a need I have. I love that I can love. I hope I can always love.
I am so grateful for good people in the world that remind me of all the good in the world. I am lucky to have so many good examples in my life. I am so truly blessed!

Have a great day!