My baby brother

I don't care how old he is, he will always be the baby brother.  Chris is the youngest of five and so he is the baby to all of us.  I am making him the star today, because October is Down Syndrome Awareness Month.  I have seen a few great blogs lately that are chronicling their family journeys with their own children.  You can follow those in the links below.

Oh how I wish everyone could know how Chris touches so many lives.  If you do know him then I don't even have to explain.  He is a true gem, great son, brother and Uncle.  

Everyone in the family, and I mean everyone is thrilled when on their birthday they get the "Chris call" (I usually selfishly let mine go to voicemail so I can replay it over and over) in the sweetest voice we get his birthday song.  The first words out of his mouth after you say hello is "are your ready"... and then he launches into the most heartfelt Happy Birthday song.  

Love you baby brother...

Introducing Chris

Wants to be in the center of everything....

Loves and respects nieces and their husbands...

Is game to pretty much play along with everything we ask him to do... 

Life just is so much more enriched with Chris along for the ride....

Not afraid to try new things....

Makes sure to wear a college shirt that represents where everyone has attended school on family outings.  Even if he has to change three times a day...

Baby brother Chris... he's one cool dude. 

Love ya, Chris!

To see two amazing young families and their life journies with DS, go here (Noah) and here (Nella) to visit Noah (Dallas) and Nella (Naples).   Nella's Mom has like 15,000 followers .... really and she is an amazing photographer.

Post update ~ Chris called me about 20 minutes after I posted this about him. He loved it so much and wanted to let me know.  My Mom had been on the computer and saw it and called him over to read along with her.

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Life in Grace

Louisiana Tech ~ Go Bulldogs!

I need to brag a bit on my Alma Mater, Louisiana Tech University.  They are silently beating some really big football teams.

Louisiana Tech is located in Ruston, LA.  Way up north.  I love college football and you will find me in front of the TV and following ESPN on my phone to keep up with all my favorite teams.

This was last Saturday night.

Since they are a smaller division one college, enrollment around 11,000.  They don't get much press.

They just might be noticed now.

Week 5

LA Tech 44 ~ Virginia 38 (BCS team)

Week 4

LA Tech 52 ~  Illinois 24 (BCS team)

Week 3

LA Tech  56 ~ Rice 37

Week 2

LA Tech 56 ~ Houston 49

Week 1

LA Tech/TX A&M

(Hurricane cancelled their game that will replay on Oct. 13th)

Thanks to all the loyal fans out there.  It pays to hang in there. This is the first time since 1975 that the Bulldogs have started off their season 4-0!  Go DAWGS!  Up next the University of Las Vegas.  I'll roll the dice and place my bet on the LA Tech Bulldogs!  

LA Tech graduates/one attending from my family.

Me, my sister Joanie, my daughter Ann Marie and attending now my niece Rachel.

Pumpkin Poppers, mini, sugary, pumpkin perfect

I have waited until October 1st to post this Pinterest inspired creation.  Yes, sometimes I do try the recipes I save to my foodie  boards.  I will always double this recipe in the future.  One can of pumpkin will make a double batch.  I froze the leftover half of the can I used for a future batch.  

Easy, smells great while baking, cool for just a few minutes before you roll them in butter and then sugar and cinnamon.  Welcome Fall!  Mom, I will bring these for Thanksgiving too.

Pumpkin Poppers
Makes 30 Poppers

• 1 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 2 tsp. baking powder
• 1 tsp. baking soda
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 1/2 tsp. cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp. nutmeg
• 1/2 tsp. allspice
• 1/8 tsp. ground cloves
• 1/3 cup vegetable oil
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 1 egg
• 1 tsp. vanilla extract
• 3/4 cup pumpkin
• 1/2 cup milk

For Coating

• 1 stick unsalted butter, melted
• 2/3 cup sugar
• 2 tbsp. cinnamon

Preheat oven to 350 F and spray mini muffin tins with non-stick cooking spray.

Combine flour, baking soda,salt, and spices in a bowl and whisk until combine.

In another bowl, mix oil, brown sugar, egg, vanilla, pumpkin, and milk.  Pour in flour mixture and mix until just combined.  Fill mini muffin tins until almost full and bake 10-12 minutes.  

Melt butter in small bowl.  Mix sugar and cinnamon in a separate small bowl.  After poppers cool for a few minutes, dip them in the butter and roll them in the sugar mixture.  

Try not to eat them all in one sitting.  Enjoy!

Found on Pinterest

and my tips....

I changed recipe to include baking soda, to cut bitterness of the powder.

I baked them for the full 12 minutes.

I didn't have ground cloves and excluded that, still yummy.

I used 1 cup all purpose flour and 3/4 wheat flour.

I used 2 % milk.

I filled each mini muffin spot with about 1 heaping teaspoon of dough, about 3/4 full.
Next time I might lower the Cinnamon amount with the sugar.

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Debbiedos Pinterest Party
Funky Junk Interiors
Welcome Home Wednesday

Wisteria Warehouse Sale

I wasn't going to go....but the last day came and I went!

Glad I did because I knocked five Christmas gifts out of the way.  Oh and three things for moi! Merry Christmas to me.

The tent is where all the accessory deals are and the warehouse has mostly furnishings.  I am already regretting not getting one of these baskets.  

I debated if Grandmother's house needed a time out chair/stool.  No way my grandchildren will be angels, right?

These bird candelabras would have been perfect for that nesting shower a few weeks ago.  It was rainy and dismal sorry these didn't photograph too well.

These trays are huge and this one will look great in my kitchen or on a buffet.  This lovely came home with me.

and.... two of these came home too.  I am going to Annie Sloan paint them and use them for food or flower pedestals over the holidays.  They are made to hang on the wall.  

Not too bad for a rainy Saturday morning.  Forecast rain all next week too.. Can you hear me screaming hooray!!

These girls are going to change lives

Little do they know that in less than a month how much they will change our lives.  Hadley and Layton will create Aunts, Uncles, Great-Grands and Grands.  Our lives will be so blessed to have them with us.  Today I got to help Ann Marie prepare.  We cleaned, sorted and organized.  Goodwill is getting a huge donation of "stuff" that needed to go to someone else's home and the trash pick up will be a little bit heavier on Tuesday.  We mainly worked on the guest bedroom and closet organization.

Here is a look at the nursery that I have promised.  Ann Marie is the creative genius behind everything. 

This is one of Ann Marie's baby dresses and rattle.  She attached burlap to the back of an old frame and pinned the dress and rattle to it.  

The changing table below has one of the two sweaters that my Mom knitted and gave to her at the last baby shower.  They also have matching knit bonnets.  I can't knit a stitch.  I'm going to have to have her give me some lessons.   

Another great idea, an old window frame filled with their monograms and a sweet saying.

The tree behind the hanging ladder will have cherry blossoms added to the branches on the wall.  A dear friend of hers came over and painted it.  

All little girls should start out with a chandelier in their bedroom, don't you think?  

Remember the bedding I made for the girls.  Here it is in the crib.  I can see Hadley  snuggled up with this soft blanket and lovie.

And this cute little crate hanging over the door as you leave.  YES, Hadley and Layton ~~ we loved you before you were born.   and forever and ever, Amen!

So let the count down begin.  October due date!  We will have two little kissable pumpkins by Halloween.


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 Inspiration Friday
Picture Perfect Room ~ Funky Junk Interiors
My Romantic Home

This post was featured
on Coastal Charm  ~ thanks Linda!
and
At the Picket Fence ~ thanks Heather and Venessa