Beautiful

So this past weekend I went to Williamsburg for a Mother/Daughter shopping trip and apparently we were too focused on clothes and outlets to take any pictures, but on the drive home, the Bons and me decided to go the long way home (aka back roads) and we came across the beautiful cotton fields, so I had to snap a quick picture.  Enjoy!

Halloween Party

Well I have to say, I have great friends.  I said costumes and they came and were CREATIVE! Mad points to all!  We enjoyed a night of ghouls, booze, and fun!  I found this fantastic recipe for a punch online--a mix of 2 parts vodka, 1 part raspberry liquor to 4 parts sprite, Allison so creatively named it Vampire's Blood; and it was a hit!  Now, cause I know you are anxiously waiting....onto pictures!

Andy & Allison
aka Jesus and Double Dare contestant

Vinny and Brent
aka Construction Maven and The Sheik

Kevin and Osl
aka Jersey Shore dude (I do not know their names) and Preggers Snooki

Matt and Vinny
aka EMO (or no costume) and Construction Maven

Elizabeth
(being a trooper)

Erik
aka Eric Church

Allison, CJ, and Me
aka Double Dare contestant, Promiscuous Pirate, and Little Red Riding Hood

Dave, Brent, and Aaron
aka Mayhem, The Sheik, and Anger Birds

Aaron and Michael
aka Anger Birds and Michael PHELPS

obligatory sibling shot!

Mayhem and Allison

Lila and Patrick
aka Lucy and Charlie Brown

Me and Anna (aka Target)

1920s Flapper, Bumble Bee (Dana), Ms. Doubtfire (Lauren), Ghostbusters (Aubrey), and Rosie the Riveter (Brittney)

Award time: Sexiest--Snooki, Scariest--Will (Zombie Killer), Most Original--Double Dare, Most Creative--Anger Birds, and Best Costume--Charlie Brown and Lucy

She a'int afraid of no ghosts!

Kathryn as the Cat in the Hat!

Let's hope this Frankenstorm Sandy does not ruin Halloween for real!

Falling into Fall!

It seems like overnight that I woke up and the trees have changed from their lovely lush green to shades of yellow, orange, and red.  I go outside in the morning and the chill is in the air.  I can walk into any Starbucks, Target, or Grocery store and smell that famous pumpkin spice that all only comes around this time of the year.  It can only mean one thing: FALL IS HERE!

More and more I have been noticing the beauty of God's paintbrush on the trees as I drive to work in the morning.  I often find myself reflecting about the beauty and glory in His creation.  It is a nice reminder on tough days that there is a God that cares enough to turn one tiny leaf from green to yellow, orange or red; of course he cares enough to care for me--His daughter!

Believe me, it is a lot prettier in person, but I wanted a visual of all the colors!

This time of year would not be complete without candy corn and apple cider; pumpkin patches and apple pickin'; warm scarfs and cozy homes.  Well 4 out of 6 ain't bad.  I did not make it to the pumpkin patch and I am waiting on a scarf (this is a not very subtle hint, CJ ;) ).

Last night, I had like 90 minutes from the time I got home until when I was going to go to bed.  So what else would I decide to do but bake cookies....and not just any cookies, Candy Corn Cookies!  I found this idea online over a year ago and made them last year, they were pretty easy (just take a little time) and are so festive, I had to do it again.

First, you start with 3 equal size portions of sugar cookie dough and color them in yellow, orange, and keep one neutral.

Layer them with the orange in the middle and either color on the other side in a loaf or square pan.

I forgot to take a picture here but the idea is to them cut off long strips about 1/4 in thick and cut diagonally to create triangles.  Bake and then you end up with these:

They taste just as good as they look, I tested one last night!

Happy Fall, whatever your plans may be!  

King Family Reunion

After too many years, the King family finally reunited for a weekend of togetherness at the beautiful backdrop of Smith Mountain Lake!  With family pouring in at various hours during the weekend, I tried my best to capture the most people I could!  

Perfect weather for a wonderful weekend!

Our backdrop for the weekend!

Aunt Julia, Dad, and Uncle Coy--the first ones to arrive!

Mom and me out for a nice walk outside!

Donna, Todd, Dad, and Carolyn

Aunt Anne loving up on Brutus and Uncle Keith!

Me and Meagan

Caden playing with Mr. Potato Head

Amanda and Rowan

Joe and Uncle Allen

We got to celebrate 5 years with Max and Amanda!

Caden and Me!

Mom and Rowan

Me and Dad

Cousin Keith!

Uncle Keith

Aunt Betty and Aunt Julia!

Margarita Fridays?!?!

Got some much needed girl time in on Friday!  What did we do?  Drank Margaritas, ate cookies, and chatted about all kinds of things!  Just what I needed!  Maybe this could be a new tradition!

Anna Banana drinking her Marg after a night of Crossfit--you go girl!

To say I am blessed....

is an understatement!  I pretty much have the best friends and family in the world, no really, I do!  My friends know when things are off and encourage me through hard times.  They pray for me during times of struggle, and love my unconditionally when I mess up!  These past few weeks have been interesting to say the least--with traveling, working, house stuff, family stuff, etc.  It has been hard to know what I am feeling between one day and another.  But those close to me know that what I need is a friend who is there to listen to me and to remind me that they are thinking of me!  

Last night I showed up at CJ's to get things ready for a Halloween Party we are having there next week (this was the ONLY free night I had until next Friday, so we had to get set up early).  When I arrived, CJ had a present for me.  It was Tulips, a green apple (my fav!), and candy!  What more could a girl want?  Ohhh what's that quality time?  Don't worry  I got some of that too!  

Aren't they pretty?  AND PINK--my fav!  I know that was not on accident :)

Someone knows i love chocolate and Swedish fish! YUM!

It is great to have friends that know and love me for who I am--as many of my friends know, I am a Quality Time and Gifts person!  That means that I send and receive love most through time with those I love and small tokens that let me know they are thinking of me.  Last night I received BOTH of those and felt super uplifted!

Thanks CJ and thanks to all my friends who go above and beyond all the time to let me know they care!

Jamaica Mon'

Our last port of call was the love island of Jamaica!  This made my third trip to Jamaica and I just fall more and more in love with the beauty of God's creation when I am there.  The beautiful blue water, the awesome rain forest, and the 'no problem' attitude of the people!  And in case you were wondering, we (obviously) got asked if we wanted some ganja, but we (also obviously) declined!

Highlights of Jamaica:
1. Being able to do our excursion even though we thought it was going to be rained out
2. Zip-lining through the rain forest!
3. Going on a Jamaican Bobsled.
4. Singing the Banana Boat song in the shuttle van.

What's that?  You want to know what the Banana Boat song is?  Well for all you kids that grew up in the 1990s, I am quite sure you probably all saw the movie Beetlejuice.  Well remember the random dinner when they break out into song?  If not, you will want to check it out here!  Okay, okay, even if you do remember it, you should check it out...it is awesome!  Well our bus driver all of the sudden broke out into song on the bus ride back to the ship from our excursion and THE ENTIRE BUS sang the chorus along with him.  IT WAS strange but AWESOME!

Anyway, on with the pictures....

The place where we had our excursion!

Just inside the rain forest---soooo pretty!

Big Trees and vines in the rainforest!

We had to take this sky ride thing up the mountain--it was like 15 minutes long--I was scared!

A view of the sky ride!

Bobsled Ride!

CJ and I in from of a big plant!

CJ and Kristi in front of the big plant!

Before the zip line....

Getting ready to go....

CJ goes "Wheeeee!!!"

I go "Wheeee!"

So excited!

So as we get to the end of the zip line, our only option was to FREE FALL, We all wanted another way down and hated this part....here is Kristi falling!

The view from the top of the mountain looking at the boat!

On the sky lift back down, we had a friend join us!

Our bunny towel animal in our room for the night!

The last formal night....Enrique made me a little birdie!

Me and the birdie!

Then I got a hat!

Then Allan (another waiter, not even ours) made us a swan!  I tried to take it to the other table so they could enjoy it and it fell apart so I tried to remake it.....

Not nearly as good as Allan's!  Here I am showing off my work!

Here Kristi is showing off her work! :)