Bittersweet afternoon....

This is one of my most favorite memories of my Granddaddy...air popped popcorn! Almost every time my brother and I would go over to our grandparent's house we wouldn't be allowed to leave without eating popcorn. Just when we thought it was time to leave, we would hear that familiar sound coming from the kitchen.

Nana would instinctively roll her eyes and say, "Charlie, they don't need popcorn. It's too late." But, despite her objections, he would bring us each a large bowl. Then Nana would pour us some diet Ginger Ale. We would be there another hour or so, eating our weight in popcorn! It was so good!

Even when Granddaddy's health was deteriorating, he would shuffle up the stairs to the kitchen. We may have not each had a bowl, but it was still wonderful!

After he died, Nana gave me his air popper and one of the bowls he used often. That gift meant more to me than anything!

I didn't use it very much at first. But, in the past year or so, I have made bowls and bowls of popcorn for Emma and TJ. They LOVE it!! I know Granddaddy would have loved to see them enjoy the popcorn as much as Rob and I did!

The other day I was making popcorn for the kids when Ed noticed that the cord was getting really hot. Not wanting to start an electrical fire, he unplugged it. Well, long story short, the Air Popper has seen its last day :( 

I placed it in the trash today and sobbed. I felt like I was throwing away one of my precious memories of Granddaddy. See, his popcorn was a way to keep his grandkids around just a little longer. He loved us so much and cherished every second he got with us!

I miss him so much and I cannot wait to see him again in Heaven one day...now that's going to be some great popcorn!!!

Dixie Classic Fair (Family Fall List, 6 of 22)

The Dixie Classic Fair in Winston-Salem is truly one of my favorite Fall activities! I have only missed 3 or 4 of my 29 years! Even when we lived in Indiana we would time our family trips out to NC around the Fair :)

It's so incredible to get to share this tradition with Ed, Emma, and TJ! Ed was out of town this year and he was greatly missed. We still had a wonderful time, though! My parents, sister, and brother were with us :) We ate too much (Fair calories don't count!!), rode rides all afternoon, and loved every second!!

I love this one!

 

 

The kids with my parents!

Rob and Emma must have done this slide 10 times!

<3

She loves her uncle!!!

Friday Fight Night...Cake Fight, that is!

Ed heard of this idea for a cake fight from Kurt at a Men's Institute meeting! We decided to put it to the test for the Hoolehan family!!

The kids look pretty excited at the prospect of having cake for dinner...oh they are so naive!

The first sneak attack victim was TJ. He flipped out! Ever since he was little he has hated getting anything dirty on his body. Well, you can just imagine the scream that came out of his mouth when Ed plastered orange icing all over his face! He loosened up a little when he learned he could throw cake at his sister!!

Emma started off laughing until she got hit. She went back and forth from laughing to crying!

Poor Deacon was following behind us eating all the cake! Whatever didn't end up in the drain of the washing machine was in Deac's stomach!

I wonder what in the world the neighbors thought we were doing to our children?!? Oh man!

 

Vika's Baby Shower

So I am taking a short break from all the Autumn happenings and posting some pictures from Viktoriya's shower!

Vika and Jon are such incredible blessings in our lives and we thank the Lord everyday for their friendship! I cannot wait to hold little Lydia! I know they will be awesome parents :)



The Pumpkin Cupcakes I made with Cindy Clontz's Ladybug
Cookies on top!



Vika and me!

Vika and Laura Hofeldt :)



Blackmail picture, Jon!!



Make Pumpkin Bread (Family Fun List, 5 of 22)

 I had so much fun making Pumpkin Bread with the kids! The only down side was we had to let it sit over night, but it was definitely worth the wait!! The kids did an amazing job and it tasted incredible!

INGREDIENTS


1 cup brown sugar                                             
2 eggs                                                                
1/2 cup vegetable oil                                          
1/3 cup water
1 (15 ounce) pumpkin puree
1 3/4 cups plain flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice

TOPPING

1 tablespoon butter
1/4 cup brown sugar
3 tablespoons milk
1/4 cup pecans, chopped

DIRECTIONS

In a medium size bowl beat eggs and mix with sugar, oil, water and pumpkin.

In another bowl mix flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, nutmeg, cinnamon and pumpkin pie spice. Combine wet ingredients with dry ingredients only until just blended. Do NOT over mix.

Pour into a greased and floured loaf pan. This bread fits perfectly in an 8.5 x 4.5 loaf pan. Bake in a 325 degree oven for 50 to 60 minutes.

For topping: In a small saucepan mix butter, brown sugar and milk. Boil only 2 1/2 minutes while stirring constantly. Immediately drizzle on top of loaf. Sprinkle with chopped pecans and press pecans lightly into topping.

Wrap and store until next day for serving. This will keep moisture inside. It is ok if bread "sweats" while wrapped.

 

Pumpkin Pancakes fo dinner! (Family Fun List, 4 of 22)

A little pumpkin, a dash of spices, and a whole lot of love :)

Yummy, yummy, yummy!! This is probably one of my favorite activities on the Autumn Fun list...the kids love it too! Ed was out of town that night, so he missed out.

I guess the kids and I will have to suffer through one more night of Pumpkin pancakes for dinner (hence the sarcasm!)

Even Deacon got a pancake :)

Picnic in the mountains! (Family Fun List, 3 of 22)

Carrots, Ham biscuits, apples, oranges, hard salami (for Ed), grapes,
 Lunchables (for Emma and TJ), bananas, and donuts for the surprise!
Oh, and can't forget the Chex Mix and Cheese Puffs!!

 We had a picnic in the mountains on Sunday. What a gorgeous day to drive up to Grandfather Mountain with Ed and the kids! Temperatures were in the low 70s and not a cloud in the sky. One of the highlights of day- we took Deacon for the first time!

He LOVED climbing on the rocks...not too crazy about the swinging bridge, though!! We actually had people stop and take pictures of him (he loved every second)!!

I love watching the kids get so excited every time we drive up there! They look forward to this time every year...and Ed and I do also!

Ed and Deac

Poor Deac! His legs were like jello!

Ed helped Emma climb Flat Rock! She was so proud to be up
there with her daddy!!

Love this picture <3

Hard to see, but they were holding hands :)

Taylorsville Apple Festival (Family Fun List, 2 of 22)

Caramel Apple Waffle Sticks

 We took the kids to the Apple Festival this past Saturday in Taylorsville, NC. It's always fun and we enjoy the family time together! This year was a little on the warm side, but it didn't seem to turn the crowds away :)

We told the kids that whatever they chose to eat it had to have apple in it. They chose a Caramel Apple Waffle Stick (which was very yummy!) and cold apple cider!

The hat we bought Emma (made by Callie Smith)