Her Hillbilly Highness

There are many variations to this recipe but I firmly believe that the Rice Krispies made them ALL THAT!!

1 cup white sugar
1/2 cup light corn syrup
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup water
1 cup peanuts
2 tablespoons butter, softened
1 teaspoon baking soda

Grease a large cookie sheet. Set aside.

In a heavy 2 quart saucepan, over medium heat, bring to a boil sugar, corn syrup, salt, and water. Stir until sugar is dissolved. Stir in peanuts. Set candy thermometer in place, and continue cooking. Stir frequently until temperature reaches 300 degrees F (150 degrees C), or until a small amount of mixture dropped into very cold water separates into hard and brittle threads.

Remove from heat; immediately stir in butter or margarine and baking soda; pour at once onto cookie sheet. With 2 forks, lift and pull peanut mixture into rectangle about 14x12 inches; cool. Snap candy into pieces.

Where do I begin? This has been a crazy month. First, Keith (Alan's dad) was diagnosed with colon cancer and had a successful surgery to have the tumor removed, then Alan went to Northwest Arkansas to interview for a job, and then we were blessed with the sweetest and prettiest little niece ever from Kyri and Jeff.

We were supposed to have to wait until the end of the month to find out about the job, but they contacted Alan a little over a week ago and offered him a position to start October 6. We have talked about it and this is a great opportunity for our family and we just can't pass it up. Of course, we will be leaving my family here in Dallas and are really sad about that. We see each other so much and my parents really help out with the kids on the weekend so Alan and I can have some alone time. The good news is that we will gain lots of cousins and 2nd cousins in Arkansas and are hopeful that the healthcare and education system are closer to what we envision for helping Riley.

Please pray for our family and that we are doing the best thing for us and that we will have a successful move. Also, pray for my family as they cope with not seeing us each week. I don't know, it might be a HUGE relief for them! :) Lastly, pray for Keith and that they are able to control the cancer with treatments.

Thank you so much for supporting us in all we do! :)

Not to give away where Alan got a job but let's just say that I am going to have to say "Au Revoir" to my favorite store that starts and ends with a "T"!!

I used to love Friday nights! I still remember the first Pep Rally my mom took me out of school to go see. I asked, "Do I really get to go to the Pepper Alley?" From that moment on, I knew I wanted to grow up to be a cheerleader! The girls were flipping all over the floor and those skirts were to die for!!

Then, in 7th grade I tried out for cheerleader and made it! I think that was one of the happiest days of my youth. I was fortunate enough to make the squad every year and made so many friends and such great memories. Fridays were great because we got to wear our uniforms to school because of the pep rally. I was soon one of those girls that was flipping all over the floor. Then the Friday night game that everyone in town came to see. We had so much fun cheering at the game and flipping on the field. The best was when we went to playoffs and got to cheer at Texas Stadium.

That feel of Friday night games still stays with me and sometimes I really miss it. My dad coached football for many years and since he retired I have yet to go to another game. It's just not the same since our town now has two high schools and no one really goes back for Homecoming.

Hopefully some day one or both of my kids will want to be a part of the Friday night football experience in some way. I'm not holding my breath for Kylie to be a cheerleader, though. She's already told me that "Cheerleading is not my style!" Maybe she will change her mind. Here's hoping!


Me in 7th grade! Look at those wings on the Dorothy Hammil!!

I walked in the playroom to find this written on the whiteboard. I always go straight to Kylie and ask if she has drawn or written on the board and she let me know this time that she "did NOT do thayat"! 

Last night, we dropped by to see my sweet baby niece, Charlie. She is so cute and such a little cuddle bug- I wanted to take her home! I can't wait until the first get together at Nana and Poppy's house because we will get to spend more time with her.

Kylie held her and looked so sweetly at her. She is already ready to babysit! She's also ready for her to start talking, play barbies with her, do arts and crafts, and go on a Disney cruise. We're in for some great times with Charlie in the family now!

This weekend, the kids and I drove to Arkansas to meet Alan at Meemaw and Peepaw's house. Alan had some bizness in Northwest Arkansas and met us in Batesville late Friday night. That was the first time I had driven that drive since Harding days over ten years ago! The kids did great and one time when I looked at the temp, it was 68 degrees! The weather was really lovely the whole time we were there. I mean- open the windows and feel the cool breeze- type of weather!

One reason that we went was to see Peepaw. They found a tumor during a colonoscopy and he had to have surgery to have it removed last week. He's tough and we expect him to make a full recovery. We will also find out more details in the next coming weeks so keep them in your prayers. I can't tell you how important colonoscopies are. Yes, they are miserable- but they can save a life if something is found early enough. I had one a couple of months ago and I am urging my parents to do the same.

We also got to eat some great food and visit with Aunt Essie. She flew in from attending the RNC and was all fired up! Here's Kylie shucking corn- it was delicious- and a picture of Essie and Meemaw in the kitchen cooking.





We left on Sunday and stopped by Little Rock to get the Tahoe from Meemaw and Peepaw's house. They are kind enough to let us borrow it since Alan's car died a month ago. Kylie called it the "Tahoo" and then I chased her around the house screaming to yank her other top tooth out. I couldn't stand that tooth dangling and I wanted them both to come in before Christmas. Bad parenting or smart mommy? :)

Here's a picture of the happy family!! They are already home and assuming the role of Mommy and Daddy.

Our family went out of town this weekend so on the way out, the kids and I stopped by the hospital for a last minute look at Charlie. We were there Thursday night when she was born but had to leave without holding her. So Friday, we were really looking forward to holding Charlie and taking pictures with her. It's ALL Kylie could talk about!! Well, the Lactation-Nazi stopped us in our tracks and we had to leave town without seeing her. Kyri was kind enough to let Kylie come in and sneak a peek at her, though! Needless to say, Kylie left town a happy little cousin and that's all she could talk about the whole trip!

We are so excited around here! Charlie Shay came into this world at about 3:30pm today. She is precious, perfect, and pink!! Jeff and Kyri are doing great and just beaming. Hopefully I will have a picture of my beautiful niece in the next couple of hours. You know how new parents are!! :)

Today we celebrated Riley's 5th Birthday! It's really tomorrow, along with my parents' Anniversary, but Labor Day is a great day to have a pool party. Pretty soon Riley is going to have to share his birthday with a sweet little cousin who's going to be entering the world on Thursday but that's another post!