Trick or Treating Chicken!

This evening Moose went trick or treating at a city event with Mama, Da, and Grandma.  He was the most adorable little chicken riding his tricycle around!  It was so much fun watching him figure out that every time we knocked on a door, someone would come out and put something in his little bag.  He started off a little unsure, but by the end of it, he was all smiles and clapping!

2011 Spooktacular 5K Run/Walk

We had a great time participating in the Spooktacular 5K today.  For those (like me) who don't know how far a 5K is, it's about 3.2 miles.  We didn't do all that great in the overall ratings (we mostly walked, but did run off and on), but Branden got 3rd place in his division!  Moose was pumped up the whole time, doing his "so big" arms and laughing.  It was a very fun event, and we are looking forward to our next race!

The Wilson walkers! :)

Big thing!

3rd place in his division!

The course was beautiful!

Around mile 2.

Fueling up with a bagel before the start.

They will be here soon!

I am so excited!! My grandparents are less than an hour away!!  Moose is taking a nap so that he's all rested up to see them, and I'm impatiently waiting. :)  They will be here for the next 10 days.  Yay!!

Lovely day in the snow!

It was beautiful outside today, with a blanket of snow covering everything.  Moose and I went on a long walk through the neighborhood, checking out the pretty scenery.  It was a great day!

Looking across the street from our front door.

Moose on one of the neighborhood walkways.

I love this orange tree covered in snow.

The walkway through our small neighborhood park.

Looking out across the field where we live.

Another view with the mountains in the background.

Moose really loves the snow!

So pretty!

Ya like the socks on his hands? I couldn't find his mittens!

Practicing standing up, then he took off crawling down the sidewalk.

Something must be really funny about warming up in the tub!

Still laughing. :)

Quick snack after his bath.

Long, skinny, naked baby on the move with his bottle!

Moose enjoying his "snow cookie."  I had read several years ago about a lady that makes cookies for her family on the first snow day each year.  I thought that was a really neat idea, so now that we live where it snows I decided to start that tradition.  I made chocolate chip cookies today, and Branden, Moose, and I all enjoyed our "snow cookies!"

The first snow of the season!!

It is snowing!!  This is really exciting for us since we have never lived where it snows.  It was so cool to be eating dinner, looking out the window and see snow falling.  Of course I had to make a big snowball and throw it at Branden.  Then I gave the "I'm a girl!" excuse for why he couldn't throw one back. :)  We took a few pictures of the first snowfall of the year, and also went out on a walk in it.  Everything is so beautiful covered in snow.  The whole neighborhood seems soft, quiet, and dreamy.  I love this!  Moose was also really excited with the snow.  His eyes were huge, taking it all in, then he started laughing and smiling! It was adorable! :)

Da and Moose

Mama and Moose

Our best attempt at a "first snow" family picture! :)

Our front lawn covered in snow!

Brrr...cold pumpkin!

Mrs. Raven is freezing!

Snow is falling on our home!

Two easy, delicious meat pie recipes

A few days ago I made Ground Beef Pie from Mealtime Makeover.  It was surprisingly good, considering how few ingredients and how simple it was.  I wanted to share the recipe, as it's a quick weeknight meal that Branden and I both really enjoyed!

Ground Beef Pie

1/2 pound ground beef
1/2 cup of onion, chopped
10 oz can tomato soup
8 oz can peas and carrots, drained
4 oz package instant potatoes (I used Idahoan brand)
1 egg

Brown meat and onion; drain.  Mix with soup and peas/carrots.  Spread out into a glass pie pan.  Meanwhile, prepare potatoes according to package directions, then stir in one egg.  Spread potatoes on top of meat mixture and bake at 400 degrees for 20-30 minutes. 


Using the above recipe as inspiration, I revised my Meat Gravy recipe into Meat Gravy Pie.  We had it for dinner tonight, and it was also delicious and super easy!

Meat Gravy Pie

1 pound ground beef
1 can of cream of mushroom soup
1/2 soup can of milk
1 tablespoon A-1 steak sauce
3/4 cup frozen peas
4 oz package instant potatoes ( I use Idahoan Buttery Golden)
1 egg
garlic salt (I use Susie Q's seasoning)

Brown the meat and drain.  Mix the mushroom soup, milk, and A-1 together with the meat.  Add the peas, then put the meat mix into a glass pie pan.  Meanwhile, prepare potatoes according to package directions, then stir in one egg.  Spread potatoes on top of meat mixture, sprinkle garlic salt over the top, and bake at 400 degrees for 25 minutes. 

Meat Gravy Pie

Mindful Monday: Enjoy the Week!

Who:  All three of us.

What: Enjoy the wonderful week we have coming up!

Why: This is going to be such a good week!  Tuesday night/Wednesday we are going to get SNOW!  I am so excited about the first snow day of the year!  Yes, I know it will be cold, wet, and dark...but it's snow!  We are also going to carve our pumpkin on Tuesday.  I love the feeling of the guts of the pumpkin in my fingers! :)

Friday my grandparents are due to arrive, which is beyond exciting! I cannot wait to spend time with them, show them around our home and favorite places, and watch them enjoying all of Moose's new skills

Sunday morning is a benefit run/walk in the park that me, Branden, and Moose are participating in.  This can be a fun new Halloween weekend tradition for us.  Afterward we are going to a delicious breakfast with family, and then in the afternoon Moose is going trick or treating for the first time (and will be showing off his cute costume).

Monday evening we are getting take out chicken wings (!) with my grandparents, and staying in to hand out candy.  No one ever came trick or treating to our house out in the country, so this will be a first that I am really looking forward to.

How:  I plan to just enjoy each day as it comes.  No big accomplishments or tasks planned for this week.  Just fun and family! :)

Hiking with Moose and Grandpa

Today was very fun!  My parents came and picked me and Moose up, and we met Moose's Auntie Beth out at the pumpkin patch.  We picked out a few more pumpkins and checked out the animals.  Moose was also pretty fascinated by the tractor bringing more pumpkins.  I was more enthralled with the cool "pumpkin kabob" that we took a picture in front of!

After the pumpkin patch we all went to Culver's for lunch.  Moose had his favorite combo...grilled cheese sandwich and lots of Mommy's pumpkin spice shake!  There was all you can eat chicken on special today, so you can guess what I ate.  A lot of chicken, mashed taters, and green beans. I gave Moose a green bean (which he normally loves) and he spit it out.  Twice.  Apparently he was "too full" for green beans, but that didn't stop him from having a lot of spoonfuls of milk shake!  Little stinker!

After lunch my Mom and Beth went one direction to shop.  Dad, Moose, and I headed for my favorite park.  We started off walking on the paved trails, but ended up on the dirt and rock trails, and were able to see some beautiful scenery as well as two deer.  It was a very relaxing and fun afternoon!

A pretty golden tree at the beginning of our walk.

There was a family fishing together at this lovely pond.

I love the dark red and orange of this tree!

Here's one of the deer we saw.

And there goes the other!

We made it up to the top to see this gorgeous valley and lake!

A view over Fort Collins from up where we were.

I want to walk down in here soon.

Grandpa and Moose back at the park.

Just a view from inside the park.