Christmas is coming!

Christmas is coming, and I can't wait to get home and be in the snow. Although I don't like the cold... there is something about snow that makes it feel like home, like winter, like Christmas! I can hardly wait. I would love to see all of you when I come home. I talked to Danielle and she gets in the same night I do. If you'd like to get together, I'd love it! I know things get busy, and many days are booked up with family, but I'd love to see you. Hope you're enjoying this fabulous time of year! Love you all....

Les

So I have never posted and thought I would. I was talking to les last night about Halloween and told her that I would post some pictures of my fam and our years of movie themed Halloween...

Halloween 2009 Toy Story

Me- Bo peep, Adam- Woody, Eliza- the slinky dog, Lauren- Jesse, Kate- the aliens in the vending machine, Jake- Buzz Lightyear, Mary- The piggy bank

The Padres as Mr. & Mrs. Potato Head (the mrs is slightly lopsided...)

Jesse getting her cowgirl on

Halloween 2008 The Wizard of Oz

Adam- Scarecrow, Lauren- evil monkeys, Kate-Glenda the good witch, Mary-a munchkin, Eliza-the yellow brick road, Me-the wicked witch of the west, Jake-the tin man, Mama T-Dorothy, Papa T-the lion

The evil ones

Self explanatory

Follow the yellow brick road

I don't have any pictures of 2007 Snow white and the 7 dwarfs (get it). I'll try and find some and post those as well. Love you all! Happy weekend!

miss you!

Hey girls!  I just wanted to tell you that I miss and love you all....  Gosh I miss the good old days where would either lay by the pool, go on a golf cart ride, make some crafty craft, or whatever the heck we wanted.  I seriously feel so lucky to have you each in my life!  love you.  Can't believe it's already the middle of November!

xoxo

Rach

Taco Soup

This recipe was forwarded to me from a recipe exchange. I was hesitant to try it, considering how many different kinds of beans are in it. But, it turned out really good. It was quick and easy, my kind of dinner!

Taco Soup

OPEN and POUR UNDRAINED:

1. 1 can corn
2. 1 can pinto beans
3. 1 can stewed tomatoes
4. 1 can black beans
5. 1 can garbanzo beans
6. 1 can chili beans

Brown 1 or 2 pounds of lean ground turkey (I used the ground turkey, we couldn't tell a difference), or beef and ONE onion (I used half an onion). Add to the broth.

ADD one packet TACO SEASONING MIX to the broth (I used a spicy taco seasoning, it wasn't too spicy. It gave it a little bit of a kick).

Serve with sour cream, grated cheese and tortilla chips.

HAPPY 25 Melissa!

Miss,

Happy, happy birthday! Enjoy your day!

Delicious Fall Treats

Hey friends. I'm sorry it's taken me so long to finally post (especially when I am unemployed and have no excuses), but I love hearing from all of you and seeing your posts! Keep them coming and I promise I will too.

So I love fall. Love the colors, love the clothes love the festivities and I love fall food. So I thought I'd share some fall recipes I've recently acquired.

Pumpkin Chocolate-chip Cookies

I made these amazing cookies this week and I am in love. My sister actually posted this recipe on her blog so I'm kind of cheating but I think she got the recipe from a friend so it's OK. They're delicious so whatever. Why not pass a good thing along?

This is all you need.
Combine these contents (spice cake mix, cup or so of chocolate chips, 1 egg and a can of pumpkin puree) in a bowl and mix. The mixture is slightly more runny than other cookie dough so feel free to add a 1/2 cup of flour if you want it more cakey (I didn't and they were great but you can if want). Then bake at 375 for 12-15 minutes. Voila! A yummy fall treat.
One more recipe I want to share is one I saw being made by this guy (Greg Atkinson) who taught it at a cooking class at the farmer's market but I haven't made myself yet. I did sample it however so I feel good about passing it along. I have every intention of making it myself soon.

Sweetmeat Squash Soup
Makes 8 servings

(I totally copied and pasted these instructions from the Queen Anne Farmer's Market blog)

1 2-pound Sweetmeat squash, or other winter squash (or half of a 4 pound squash)
1 medium yellow onion, peeled and thinly sliced (about 1 1/2 cups)
1/4 cup canola oil
4 cups chicken broth or vegetable broth
2 teaspoons kosher salt, or to taste
1 teaspoon ground white pepper
1 tablespoon Spanish smoked paprika
pumpkin seed oil or toasted pepitas for garnish, optional

Cut squash into wedges, scrape out the seeds, then cut away the peel. Cut the peeled and seeded squash into 1-inch dice. You should have about 5 cups of cubed squash.

In a large soup pot with a thick base, melt the butter over medium-high heat and cook the onion 5 minutes, or until tender and golden brown, stirring often. Add squash and broth and bring the mixture to a boil. Cover and reduce heat to low. Let the squash simmer gently for 15 minutes, or until tender.

Serve the soup as is, or dress it up with a drizzle of pumpkin seed oil or a sprinkling of toasted pepitas (green pumpkin seeds).

It was delicious so give it a try and let me know how it goes.

So what is everyone doing for Halloween? Any fun plans or particularly creative costumes? Bret is going to be Sully, The Hudson River Hero (you know that pilot who landed the plane in the Hudson River). As soon as that story broke and that guy was made a hero, Bret promised to be him for Halloween. I have no idea what I'm going to be. If you guys have any ideas please send them my way. We could totally be the same thing too and no one would ever know.

Love you guys!

Laura

Happy 25th!

Happy Birthday Rach! We Love you and hope you have another great year!

OOOOOprah!

The other weekend my sisters, mom and I took a girls trip and we went to Oprah! I don't know if you remember, but I LOVE Oprah! It was the most awesome experience...and guess who the guest was? TAYLOR SWIFT! The minute Oprah walked out, I felt like a 13 year old girl. It was such an adrenaline rush. And then to have Taylor there too, it couldn't have been better.

I'll post some pictures of the trip soon, but until then, tune in Wednesday!!

October's Book

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society 

by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows.

January 1946: writer Juliet Ashton receives a letter from a stranger, a founding member of the Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society. And so begins a remarkable tale of the island of Guernsey during the German occupation, and of a society as extraordinary as its name.

I sure hope you all enjoy it!  I know that I already have.  There are so many words I have read and have no idea what they mean so I have started a list of words I don't know but plan on looking up and making note cards to learn them.  I am guessing you all won't have to do this...just me.  HAPPY READING!  Post your thoughts as you read.  LOVE YOU ALL! 

Books, books, books....

Books, books, books...

Thanks Allie for such a fabulous book! Wish I had skype so I could have been in on the great discussion! Can't wait to hear what is next on the list...

Lesley

Some Pics of the Rigby Home

Hey you guys!  WEll sorry I haven't

really done anything but I thought I would post some pics of our house.  They are kinda out of order but I am not the best at this blogging thing.  So here you go!  Hope you are all well. xo

Our little laundry room....
Our backyard
The front...
Bathroom
Our room
The boys ripping out the porch so we can pour a new one
Our Kitchen-  we were painting in this pic