Derrick’s team is OFFICIALLY undefeated with a 33-6 win over the Panthers Saturday.  Derrick scored a touchdown and later an extra point.  Saturday afternoon Xavier and I spent the afternoon at a baby shower.  Sunday we went to Gross Farms pumpkin patch and Corn Maze. The corn maze took about 1.5 hours to go through completely - it was really cool!  Xavier had a blast as you can see.  After the hay ride and having a slight incident with Xavier and the wooden train we picked out our pumpkins and headed home…

The bruise is the trains fault…

Then to top it off this morning Derrick found this is the doorway of our house. He knew exactly what it was since back in 1st or 2nd grade (he couldn’t remember which on exactly) he had to do a report on it…do you know what it is?!?!

A BLACK WIDOW SPIDER!!!! Here’s a picture on the internet I looked up…

So I’ve been asked by a few people for the recipe I use for peanut butter fudge.  Here it is - like I said it’s EASY!!

Peanut Butter Fudge Recipe

courtesy Alton Brown

1 cup butter, plus more for greasing pan

1 cup peanut butter

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

1 pound confectioners’ sugar

Microwave butter and peanut butter for 2 minutes on high. Stir and microwave on high for 2 more minutes. Add vanilla and confectioners’ sugar to peanut butter mixture and stir to combine with a wooden spoon. Pour into a buttered 8 by 8-inch pan lined with waxed paper. Place a second piece of waxed paper on the surface of the fudge and refrigerate until cool. Cut into 1-inch pieces and store in an airtight container for up to a week.

Man, this weekend went by so fast, but I think every day off does.  This weekend wasn’t all that exciting. Saturday, Derrick’s team, the Falcons, won their football game 33-0. They are 7-0 now.  Derrick scored a touchdown. He was bobbing and weaving, ducking and dodging.  The whole sideline was going nuts! Geno then took the boys for a few hours and I cleaned the whole downstairs. Of course, you couldn’t tell if you looked at our house now… it’s amazing how fast things get messed up. 

Sunday we went to this REALLY great country buffet out in the middle of NOWHERE!!!  We drove about 25 minutes down an old country road but let me tell you it was delicious!  We had to roll ourselves out of there. Then we headed to the commissary for a small list of groceries and then to the PX so Geno could get a couple board games for Iraq. He didn’t find anything so while dinner was cooking and Derrick was home to watch the stove we headed to ToyRUs and Joann Fabrics. Geno found Monopoly and Xavier got a couple sweatsuit outfits.  I got a glue gun from Joann’s woohoo!!! Then we went home, ate our bbq ribs and vegged out on the sofa. 

Here are a few pictures of Xavier cheesing for the camera.  He is such a ham at times. He needs a hair cut but we are trying to hold it off a couple more weeks…

Derrick’s school pictures were today but we received his football pictures this evening at practice. Wouldn’t you know DERRICK would be the one to start an uproar.  If you look at the team picture you will see what we mean.  NO he is not flicking off the camera - I would like to think we are raising him better than that so if you thought that - SMACK YOUR HAND!  He’s actually just wrapping his fingers on his right hand around his left arm but there are clearly TWO fingers.  It actually looks like a “peace” sign.  He does, however, have to apologize after the game on Saturday, to the parents and team members, for any misconceptions that picture made.  He does looks so handsome!

Last week was so hectic with the nurses and therapists computers down, I’m hoping that today proves to be a great start to a great week. After Saturday’s heartbreak, yesterday was nice and pretty quiet.  Saturday night we ended up going to Old Navy. Since all Geno’s jeans had holes we figured it was time to buy him a couple new pairs.  We also were able to find a nice sweater for Derrick to wear for pictures with the Lolli family.  Yesterday we went to Kohl’s and finished the outfits for Lolli pictures and actually NC Lolli pictures we will get done right before Geno leaves for Iraq.  So ALL outfit shopping SHOULD be complete for ALL upcoming pictures!!!

We were JUST about to make steaks here at home when Geno mentioned ribs - so we packed up the boys and headed to Smokey Bones.  Xavier LOVES BBQ pulled pork. He’s learning to use a fork REALLY well. He eventually gave up using it for his pork, fingers were more efficeint.

He also started saying his name, which is NOT easy!  It’s not perfect but he does try to say it.  He’s also been saying “my mama” and “my daddy”  It’s amazing how they change day to day…

Derrick had a good weekend. They won again so they are now 5-0.  Derrick even scored a touchdown which is rare for a quarterback in this league.  After the game the coach gave Derrick an extra football for his helmet saying “Derrick’s my coach on the field” and “I told him a play he said ‘coach that isn’t going to work, try this’ and sure enough it worked and he ran it in for a touchdown”. Geno and I are so proud of him.  It actually hit me this weekend that I’m in a world of trouble when he starts liking girls.  He’s already hinted that there is one girl in his school that’s “cute” but he doesn’t “like” her….oh boy!!!!

Not much for this week. Derrick has school pictures on Wednesday. I have a training class on Wednesday also so I will be in our new Dunn office all day - woohoo! (that’s sarcasm)

Have a good week!!!

This morning Derrick told me that Tazer seemed to be limping. I got him from behind the couch(he ALWAYS hides there - he was not a people cat) and took a look at his leg. I put him down and he wouldn’t put any weight on it. We made an appointment at the vets. Geno, Xavier and I went after Derrick’s football game. Since Xavier was asleep in the car I took Tazer in. The vet took a look at him and told us he would need an xray but to do it they had to sedate him.  I signed the consent and waited about 30 mintues in the waiting room with Geno(once Xavier woke up). The vet came out and led me back - Geno and Xavier were going to take a look at the dogs up for adoption. I took one look at the xray and ran to get Geno.  Tazer’s back right femur bone was fractured above knee. The only solution was to have surgery and put a pin in it.  That would have coted over $750+tax. Plus, after a few years it would have to be replaced since he was only a kitten (5.5 months old).  We had no choice but to put him to sleep.  I am devasted. The only thing we can think of that could have caused this is in our laundry room there are wire shelves and once in a while the cats jump up there. We think Tazer jumped up there, got his foot caught and tried to jump down.  Anyone who’s been to my house knows that Tazer does NOT liked to be touched or anything.  I was able to go back and say my “good bye”.  God works in mysterious ways, while they had him sedated I was able to pet him and talk to him without him hissing or growling.

I received a few emails that visitors were unable to post comments.  Thanks to Randa everything is up and going now and comments are working!!!  WOOHOO!!!

Well, another weekend has ended. I’m back at work tomorrow while Geno, Derrick and Xavier have the day off. They are taking Matt to the airport tomorrow morning. It was great having him here. We introduced him to Cold Stone and Red Robin.  I will say there was A LOT of testosterone in this house. They mostly played video games and Xavier didn’t waste time joining in.

Xavier really enjoyed playing with his Godfather.  He had a great time tickling him and being tickled back.

Not to mention Xavier got to wear his FAVORITE shirt

AND eat at his FAVORITE restaurant

All in all it was a great weekend. The boys went to the Airborne Special Operations Museum while I stayed home with absolute peace and quiet.  We watched a few movies, they played a TON of video games and just overall relaxed.

Oh, Geno and Matt took out ALL the garbage from last weekends garage cleaning day. So the garage looks AWESOME.  I will get some pictures (before and after) up here shortly.

One last picture of Matt and Xavier - this one is a favorite

After last weekends cleaning out the garage this weekend will be busy but in a fun NONcleaning way!  Matt Lolli is coming to visit us for the weekend from Ohio.  Geno picks him up about 9ish the morning and his plane leaves about the same time on Monday. Derrick’s looking forward to it since it means he gets to sleep on the couch - kids!  Not sure what the plans are yet for the weekend. I know that Geno is making spaghetti today for dinner - YUMMY!  Derrick has a by weekend for football so this Saturday will be the first free one in 4 weeks and the last free until November!  Geno has a four-day, Derrick has a three-day and I have a regular two-day weekend!  BLAH!  Well I will try to touch base thise weekend - have a blessed day.

Ok, the emails out and the site is up. There are a few small things that Randa’s helping me with.  This blog will be mainly for updating family and friends about what’s going on in this wonderful state of NORTH CAROLINA!!!  Also, once Geno’s blog get’s up and running (very soon) he will be able to post also, especially while he’s in Iraq.