Boy Weekend all the Way!

 We celebrated Bridger's Birthday with pizza and the movie Goosebumps.  I was a little worried about it being too scary, but the boys all swore they were not that scared!  Tough guys!!  Although Cannon admited at bedtime that parts were a little "freaky".  No bad dreams, luckily:)

I ended up with a couple of extra guys for my date night!  Our family babysitters were both busy---it can be a little tricky sometimes with teenagers!  They have very important social lives to work around, you know?!

We went to our favorite pizza place Lupis and I must say I felt pretty lucky to have 3 handsome dates!  Brad treat the boys to soda (so exciting).  It was self serve and they had way too much fun mixing drink flavors. Powerade with rootbeer, anyone? YUK!

My little boys!

I love them so much.

I think having a son grown up and out of the house has made me especially tenderhearted about this younger years.  I now know how quickly little boys grow up.  

I definitely think this works in their favor, especially EVERY night when they want me to come up to tuck them in and "scrackle" (scratch/tickle) their backs.:)  

Fieldtrips and Caramel Apples

 

Last week I drove out in the country to meet Cannon's 2nd grade class at an apple Orchard. 

The drive was incredibly beautiful and good for my soul!

It was nice to have a little alone to think about all the good in my life and appreciate the beauty of Autumn here in Tennessee.

 

Then it was a JOY to be with my little Cannon who was thrilled to have me there. 

Which I know I need to enjoy while I can--pretty soon he will be too old and cool to want his Mom hanging around with him and his friends:)

Man I love this little boy!

 

Aren't 2nd graders just the cutest?!

 

We learned all about the orchard, went on a hayride, had lunch together and left with fresh apples and cider to share with his brothers at home.

 

I am so glad that I went even though I had a long To Do list waiting for me.  It was worth it! 

I left feeling a deep sense of happiness, I knew it was one of those days I will always remember!

 

We ended up making caramel apples--YUM!

I used this recipe below--

 

 

Homemade Caramel Apples

1/2 cup butter, cubed
2 cups packed brown sugar
 1 cup light corn syrup
Dash salt
1 can (14 ounces) sweetened condensed milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
8 to 10 Popsicle sticks
8 to 10 medium tart apples, washed and dried

In a large heavy saucepan, melt butter; add the brown sugar, corn syrup and salt. Cook and stir over medium heat until mixture comes to a boil, about 10-12 minutes. Stir in milk. Cook and stir until a candy thermometer reads 248° (firm-ball stage). Remove from the heat; stir in vanilla. Insert Popsicle sticks into apples. Dip each apple into hot caramel mixture; turn to coat.  Place on greased waxed paper until set. Enough for 8-10 apples.

 

oh these silly boys of mine!  Connor and his photobomb shenanigans--lol!

Can you tell Cannon is proud to share these yummy apples with his brothers?

 

And I have saved some of the cider to make these Apple Cider Caramels.

Hope you have a great week!

 

This morning I listened to this talk and was completely inspired.

(it was given at the mens meeting but I still found it powerful for me)

My Charming Nutcracker Date

I decided that I really needed to go the Nutcracker Ballet this year like I have every year with my Mom and sisters when I lived in Utah. Since my Mom and sisters are far away and my usual date was not super interested, I got to thinking... what if I really talk up dates with Mom, maybe throw in dinner at a restaurant of their choice, then maybe I could convince my boys to do all kinds of cultural events with me! I think their wives will thank me someday if maybe my guys can learn to enjoy events that don't involve a ball at least a little. So I presented my plan and it was accepted with enthusiasm:) Wooo hoo!
It was decided that TJ would be my date for the Nutcracker. He picked a local Southern BBQ place called 'Bones' for dinner. After we ate we headed into downtown Chattanooga to the beautiful Tivoli Theatre.

The ballet was so fun! TJ was a perfect date. He kept telling me how much fun he was having. I am not sure that he really loved the ballet, but he knew how excited I was to take him. He was so sweet. It is a night I will always remember!

After the ballet we walked around and enjoyed some beautiful Christmas windows before heading home. Thanks for the wonderful night on the town TJ!

I sure love this boy of mine!

Next date with Moms: Connor and I are going to the Chattanooga Museum of Fine Arts and Coleman wants to go to a play together. I am so excited that my plan to give my boys a little "culture" has worked:)