Let the Fun Day begin . . .

Here they are in their Halloween shirts for school today! Thank you Grandma (and Grandpa) Horn-sing for the great shirts with fitting messages for each child . . .

Dawson . . . Who Needs Halloween? My sister scares me enough.

Sophia . . . Just hand over the candy, and no one gets hurt.

Grace . . . My magical power is being cute.

Of course Brandon was also gifted a Halloween shirt; however, because he leaves for school before we all even get up - - - I have no idea if he wore it or not. :-)

Enjoy your day/evening and all your sugar hyped up children!!!

She cracks herself up!

No arrests were made

Well here it is the moment all of you . . . all 10 of you . .. have been waiting for . . . did I or did I not meet Kasey? Did I get my photo taken giving him a big hug? Did I get arrested while trying to get said photo of big hug moment? The answers would be not, no, and no. But am I disappointed . . . a little bit . . . maybe . . . but this weekend was too much fun to write off as a disappointment. And besides now we have the inside scoop and the "real" plan for next year to get our prize photos - it involves high heels, tight designer jeans, a plastic card, and attitude. This was our first time having pit passes and so we really had no idea whtat to expect. There are basically three layers to the infield - pits, garage, and drivers motor homes. We would have had to bust through two sets of security officials to get to the drivers.

We had a great time walking up and down pit road though. I know many of you non-Nascar fans are wondering . . .what are you mental? . . . well, maybe so. We were able to talk to a pit crew member that I went to high school with. He gave us the inside scoop on what goes down in the pits before and during the races, what some drivers were really like, and just all around inside NASCAR scoop. (Thanks Tom!) We also stumbled upon a prime standing spot as cars rolled out to be inspected and placed on pit road before the race. We were within inches of many of the cars. We made friends with the Security guard and thus got the inside scoop on the plastic card. All we kept thinking was . . . we couldn't have planned this any better. Which is why I am thinking that God was blessing us for attending His sport. I mean think about it - Sunday is his day of rest, races can take up a pretty good chunk of your day, and they are on for most of the year - I really think that Nascar is His sport that He had planned out for Sunday. (okay save all the theology commentary for someone else just go with me on this.)

Any-whooo . . . enough words about the weekend . . . here are the photos . . . and additional commentary . . .

This is Nick from New Zealand outside Victory Lane(cousin Jeff's friend). This is Nick's excited happy face. Really . . .he is having fun. We just couldn't get him to make a rock star face - believe me I tried.

Mel and Ryan at the back of the #24 pit stall. And Mel and cousin Jeff in the front of the #24 pit . . . And me and Mel in the #24 pit . . . you get the feeling Mel wanted many witnesses that she was there in the same pit . . . that Jeff would be in soon. :-)

Jeff and I in front of the #9/Kasey Kahne pit

Jeff, Ryan, and Mel in our special spot We wondered for a brief moment if Mel had paid for this . . .

Kasey's car that he raced on Sunday . . . it was a piece of trash in the end . . . UGH!
This is why people think only wierdo's are Nascar fans. I mean really, at least throw on a pair of jeans before coming to the track . . . too much. The picture cut off the #20 orange crocs that went with this outfit, and it doesn't completely show that the hair was sprayed orange also. The jury is still out on who her driver was.
This was our friend the security guard who gave us more authority than we could handle and almost got us beat up by a woman who would have taken both Mel and I (and maybe Ryan and Jeff too)If you look closely on the driver side of the #9 car, you will see a red suit and a head . . . that is Kasey . . . that is how close I got to him. I am in row 50 of the stands, he is on pit road getting ready to get in his car - the start/finish line between us. No real chance of arrest at that distance.

This is what I hope to see this weekend . . .

This is the weekend! This is the weekend that I will meet Kasey Kahne! Okay, I am hoping to at least see him close up . . . maybe within 5 feet. I have promised many that I (and MW) will not be arrested in our attempts to get closer to "our" drivers. But we have the passes and we have four hours to find them . . . just maybe we will!
And then what I would like to see is Mr Kahne in victory lane!
Okay, for non-Nascar fans, you are bored. I apologize . . kind of . . . I am just pumped for my redneck NASCAR weekend in Hot-lanta! Hopefully Monday will bring a photo of Kasey taken from my camera and not a website!

Can I trade some stock for you?

I can't help it but I think Gracie looks like that little stock trading baby on TV in these pictures!

Fall Fun

As I have put the Kiss saga behind me, it is time to get back to talking about my kids and what they are doing. This weekend we did the required Fall thing to do and we carved us some pumpkins. We had a cook out with some friends and then dove into the pumpkin carving. The kids had a great time! I'll let the photos speak for themselves!

The Kiss Saga goes on . ..

So, I took those candy corn Kisses to the youth at our church Wednesday night and got mixed reviews. They all agree they are way too sweet to have more than one. My daughter Sophia and neighbor friend Rachel however loved them, and couldn't get enough of them. Rachel went home with a handful, a big handful.

I also had another local chocolate expert (and blog world celebrity) try them out . . . I give you Big Nanny and her reaction to the Candy Corn Kisses . . .

As you can see, Big Nanny agrees with me! :-)

Now on to the Pumpkin Spice Kisses. I bought a bag of them while visiting the Boro last night. They were actually on sale at Target so I only had to pay $2 to test them out. Needless to say, these Kisses will also not be being purchased again. It was basically really sweet pumpkin pie filling. I suppose there was white chocolate involved somewhere, but I couldn't get past the sweet sweet pie filling taste. Sorry Hershey's, for this chocolate lover you struck out on these two new flavors for Fall. Don't worry though I made sure to buy me a bag of miniatures to be sure true yummy chocolate was back in my life. (Big Nanny, if you haven't tried the Pumpkin Spice Kiss, I'll bring you one on Sunday.)

Until the next wave of Kiss flavors hits the stores, I am done experimenting with my chocolate. I am sticking to the basics.

What will they think of next?

Yesterday I introduced you to the thought of Pumpkin Spice Hershey's Kisses. I have not yet tried a Pumpkin Spice Hershey's Kiss . . . however, I did find this interesting bag at Kroger last night ( side note - I think only Tar-jay is stocking said Pumpkin Spice Kisses.). I thought to myself that it can't be that Hershey is trying two new Kiss flavors on us in one season. And what would this taste like . . .

First, let me tell you . . . I am a HUGE fan of chocolate. I have a shirt that says "I'd give up chocolate but I am not a Quitter". I like chocolate in about any form (outside of the liquid Yahoo form - nasty!). I like white, dark, regular . . . I love me some chocolate! Candy Corn Kisses however; Not So Much! I think they tried to make it as sweet as candy corn using white chocolate. It is just too much sweetness. That is something I never thought I would say. Too much sweet. But after one, you are done! If you'd like to try one, let me know. I am thinking of taking them to church with me tonight. . . you know teens will eat just about anything. I will have to keep track of their opinions on these Candy Corn treasures. After seeing Hershey's line up of Fall Kisses, I am wondering what will Thanksgiving and Christmas hold? Turkey Kisses, Green Bean Casserole Kisses, Christmas Tree Kisses, Sugar Cookie Kisses, Eggnog Kisses??? I will say they are cute looking if nothing else . . .
Okay I am off to find me some real chocolate. I will still get to Target to get me those Pumpkin Spice Kisses - or if you have one and you want to trade for Candy Corn - let's hook up! :-)

I must also take this blog to point you to BigNanny or A Little Bit of This and A Little Bit of That to see an amazing video that SHOULD help you if you have not decided who to vote for in this critical election! Check it out! And vote your morals!

Random Ramblings

Pumpkin Flavored Chocolate? Okay, I saw these at Target the other night. And I can't get them out of my head. Kisses are meant to have chocolate involved. So, I have been trying to wrap my head around what chocolate and pumpkin and spices would taste like. And this I can't do. And the other night, I couldn't stand to pay the $3 for the bag of them. But today, I am thinking I am going to have to go buy the bag and try them just so I can stop thinking about them. I have heard from friends that they are all right. I just read some reviews that said it was more like white chocolate filling with a pumpkin tasting shell. That I might like. We will see! Stay tuned on that!
BUNCO! This is what Bunco of all 1's looks like! This is what I rolled last night while I was having a laughing good time with my girlfriends! It felt good to hide out from the world for a few hours and just laugh like a bunch of carefree sillies. I love these women and cherish each one of them. And did I mention they make me laugh! And a shout out to all the men out there that are wearing their All Spice today! :-) Laugh I tell you, laugh!

Touch A Truck! Yes, we too attended this weekends free event in our town. This is a pretty cool deal where your kids get to climb up in all sorts of trucks and honk the horns and steer the wheel. Dawson thought it would be lame . . . but he was dragging Sophia all over the place with smiles on their faces. This event used to be an unknown in the area so you could go and run from vehicle to vehicle. With our growing area, this year there were lines and you had to wait to get into the really cool stuff.
Grace! Haven't posted a pic of the cuteness in a little while. So what random post could be complete without a photo of this! Yes, she might just be sitting innocently eating grapes, holding the remote . . . but look closely at those eyes . . . there is a mischief a brewing there. There always is!
Here is to you my reader having a lovely random day!

In less than 5 minutes

Here is what can be heard in less than 5 minutes in the car with my sweet Sophia . . .

Do all people have moms and dads?
Do all mom and dads come out of their moms tummies?
Why can't dads have the babies?
Why can't I go to heaven now while I am alive and visit?
How can heaven be in the sky? Is it past all the stars in the galaxy?
How did God manage to keep creating stuff while he was dying on the cross?
Why are dads always taller than moms?

And my question . . .
Did this child not realize it is Friday?

Two Smart Cookies

We found these shirts at Old Navy on Saturday. And as I looked at them I couldn't decide which of my two daughters this described more. They are both truly "1 Smart Cookie". Sophia is so inquisitive, always asking the thought provoking questions. These questions range from "How fast does a horse go?" to "Why doesn't God just speak out loud to me anyway?" to "When I am 10, how old will the rest of the family be?". Every moment is a different question and we are always amazed at which way her mind will go next. Gracie is the 1 Smart Cookie in the way of using her "Oh-so-sweet-I'm-the-baby-gotta-love-me" look to get her ANYTHING she wants from ANYONE. But at the same she is smart enough to know what we are saying and do the exact opposite. The other day she had walked out into the street. I went and brought her back on to the driveway and told her to stay on the driveway, no street. She took one look at me, turned on her heel, walked to the end of the driveway, took the second look at me, and took one very small step onto the street and SMILED, BIG HUGE SMILE! Those are my smart cookies, aren't they cute too?

Update on Smart Cookie Grace: Her babysitter, Ms Lisa, just called me to say that Gracie walked up to her with a diaper and a wipe and layed down on the floor with her legs up. Yikes! I guess little Miss Thing didn't like what was going on down there.

Say it ain't so, Joe . . .

Man, if only I could figure out how to get that clip on here! If you watched the VP debate tonight, you know what I am talking about. I am talking about that shining star that is our next Vice President of the United States. Normally I would roll my eyes when Jeff wants me to watch Fox News, and no less a debate of all things. But not tonight, I sat in my living room with Sarah Palin. I mean it. It felt like her and I were friends, and she was talking to me. She talked at my level, and explained the big issues at my level, so that I can know that the McCain/Palin ticket is the one for me. I even sat through an hour or more of political analysts talking about the good and the bad of the whole thing.

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