Happy Fall Y'all!

Happy Halloween from . . .

Anna of Arendelle

Toothless the Dragon
and Superman!

   

 And, some fun at the pumpkin patch!

Pickin’ Pumpkins

Yesterday we took the kids to the local pumpkin patch. The weather was absolutely gorgeous, and they had a great time. We let Ella and Troy each pick a pumpkin. Troy picked his right away; Ella took her time, searching for the smallest pumpkin she could find in the pumpkin patch. Luke slept the entire time. : )

Last year’s pumpkin patch trip

Fall Leaves, Finally!

Texas weather is always weird, and this year was no exception. Where we are located, it stayed generally very warm (highs in the high 70s, low 80s) throughout much of November. I suppose those warm temperatures delayed the falling of the leaves until December (which seems odd to me because I don’t consider December “fall,” but it is Texas afterall). However, once the leaves started to go, they really went, and the kids had a blast playing in piles of leaves.

I Heart Faces: Orange

Things have changed a lot since the last time I entered an “I Heart Faces: Orange” challenge.

Fun at the Pumpkin Patch

Happy Fall Y’all!

After finally getting back into a blogging groove, the stomach bug and a couple of trips out of town knocked me out of it again. Hopefully back soon, but, for now, kids in costumes.

 

 

And, a mention that kids grow way too fast!

Halloween 2011

Halloween 2010

Halloween 2009

Happy Fall Y’all!

Ella was not much in the mood for pictures at the fall festival (she’d been sick pretty much the whole week before, and was still very tired), but I loved her costume – it was perfect for her considering how much she loves her sock monkey. Troy went as a “mini-me” of my husband – do you think they look alike?

 

 

 

 

It is amazing how much changes in a year!

Happy Fall Y'all!

Pumpkin Spice Cheesecake

One of the reasons fall is my favorite time of year is my love for pumpkin. I love pumpkin bread, pumpkin donuts, pumpkin seeds, pumpkin pie, and, well, the list could go on! Last night I combined my love for pumpkin with my love for cream cheese desserts, and made a pumpkin spice cheesecake. I scanned many different recipes for pumpkin cheesecake, but I couldn't find one that fit completely with the quantity (and type) of ingredients I already had on hand, so I created my own recipe based on what I thought might work from looking at other recipes. My pumpkin spice cheesecake probably has a little more "spice" in it than most - but we love cinnamon around our house.

This cheesecake filling made enough for two cheesecakes - one with a crust (store bought graham cracker crust because I was in a hurry and it is easy) and one without a crust. We tasted the one without the crust, which is why there is not a picture of that one. :) However, I think if you made a true cheesecake (in a springform pan), this would be the perfect amount of filling for one cheesecake.

Ingredients

• 2 packages of cream cheese, softened
• 3 tablespoons of flour
• 1 1/2 cups sugar
• 3/4 cup pureed pumpkin (I only slightly considered using some of Ella's pureed baby food pumpkin before chickening out)
• 3/4 cup sour cream
• 1 tablespoon pumpkin pie spice
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 4 eggs

Mix cream cheese, flour, and sugar until well-combined. Add pumpkin, sour cream, and spices and mix well. Add eggs one at a time on low speed until they are just incorporated. Pour mixture into graham cracker crust (or pie pan if you are doing a crustless version).

Bake at 325° for approximately 45 minutes in crust, or 30 minutes without crust.

Add cool whip on top as an added touch!