Pumpkin Muffins

The recipe of the season at the Long house has been Pumpkin Muffins. I found this recipe on Shay's foodie blog and it is so easy. 

Pumpkin Muffins

1 box spice cake mix

1 can of pumpkin

1 cup chocolate chips (I use mini's)

Mix cake mix and pumpkin. I have found using the hand mixer is best to get all the lumps out of the cake mix. Add the chocolate chips and stir with spatula.

Bake at 350 for 12-15 minutes. 

This recipe makes about 18 muffins and they last maybe two days at our house.

**I also made this recipe with a cinnamon quick bread mix and it was equally as delicious. Madalynn actually said they were better because they were lighter and more fluffy. The originals can be a little dense.**

The Drop It Game

There's only one thing about me that drives my husband nuts. (When he reads this he will laugh) I drop things, in the shower mostly but in the kitchen too. I don't try to, I just am not awake enough to have my normal cat-like reflexes. Of course when you drop anything in the shower it sounds 100 times worse than it really is. He will get out of bed to come check on me and then he can't go back to sleep. Well this morning he dropped something into the kitchen sink and it scared me so badly. I thought it sounded like someone throwing up, why I don't know, but I was asleep so logic doesn't factor in there. He thought is was hilarious that he had woken me up and said, " I finally got you back for all the stuff you drop."

~Tara

Madalynn

Here's Madalynn, snorkeling in the crystal clear water off Shell Island. This was a highlight of our Florida vacation this past summer. Madalynn had never snorkeled before, and I hadn't either, the big difference is she was able to do it and I was not. I am not very comfortable in the water so I pretty much freaked out immediately and called it a day. I had a lot more fun watching and taking pictures of the rest of the family doing it. I admire that Madalynn is not afraid to try a new thing, or not try a new thing, whatever the case may be. This week she bowed out of an audition for the lead role in the play Annie at her school. She had been anticipating this show for 2 years and felt sure she would get the part based on her red hair alone. But she backed out saying it was too much for her to take on. We talked about it and I gave her several chances to change her mind. But she stood by her choice. We discussed that saying no to one activity means you are available to say yes to another. We aren't sure yet what the "other" is but we'll be ready when it is. I love that my girl is fearless and confident in herself, I hope she always stays that way.  

Snorkeling~ Shell Island, Panama City 2013

~Tara