My Favorite Time of the Year

Fall is my absolute favorite time for many reasons. One reason, a hot bowl of soup. I love potato soup and here is my new favorite recipe:

Black Angus Baked Potato Soup Recipe

4 large baking potatoes
2/3 cup butter or margarine
2/3 cup flour
6 cups milk
3/4 tsp salt
1/2 tsp black pepper
1/2 tsp white pepper
4 green onions -- chopped and divided
12 slices bacon -- cooked and crumbled
1 1/4 cups cheddar cheese -- shredded and divided
8 ounces sour cream

Wash, dry and prick potatoes with fork. Bake in 400°F oven for 1 hour or until done. Let cool. Cut into half lengthwise and scoop out pulp; set aside. Use skins for something else, such as stuffed potato skins. Melt butter in heavy saucepan over low heat; add flour, stirring until smooth. Cook 1 minute, stirring constantly. Gradually add milk, cook over medium heat, stirring constantly until mixture is thickened and bubbly. Add potato pulp, salt, pepper, 2 Tbs. green onion, half the bacon and 1 cup cheese. Cook until thoroughly heated. Stir in sour cream. Add extra milk if necessary for desired consistency. Serve with remaining green onions, bacon and cheese.

Enjoy, don't skimp on the green onions and bacon.

First Day of School

I know, these are several weeks old, but here they are. Alivia was so excited for her first day of preschool. She had been asking for weeks, how many more days? She was lucky enough to have her good friend Jacey go to the same preschool. However, the first day of school was a little sad; they didn't get to sit by each other. :)

Kayla is now a 3rd grader. WOW! Alivia came running out of bed to give a hug, right as Kayla was about to walk out the door.

Kayla wanted to ride the bus on the first day of school along with her friend Jayden. The bus comes at 7:15. Too early, but it is a nice change from our unscheduled, no hurry summer. Through first grade and half of second grade, we could not get her up, and she missed the bus constantly. Finally, she got her own alarm clock, and it actually worked. She gets herself up, dressed, and if I am being slow, she'll even get her own breakfast. However, on the occasion that we forget to turn on the alarm, I wake her up and she reverts back to dragging herself out of bed for an hour.

Alivia's Fairy Birthday Party

Little fairies far and near, gather together for games and fun,
we'll sing fairy songs, we'll play fairy tag, we'll dance and run
We'll celebrate the turning 5, of one cute fairy,
our sweet Alivia, bright and merry. (her invitation)

Alivia had a great birthday party. We invited over a few of the neighborhood girls and had a girlie girl party for our girlie girl. We made tutus and wings for each girl (thanks for your help, Mom). The girls had fun making their own wands. I think they all had so much fun - well, except we lost one for a while - she got upset and went and hid, and she was quite the hider. It took us about twenty mintues to find her! :)
The birthday cake - a big thanks to my friend Teresa for helping me make yummy fondant - much better than that ucky stuff from the store!