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Tuesday, October 25, 2011

Soccer...

I coached and Brittney played yet another year of soccer.  I would call the season a success.  We wrapped up the season Saturday.  We didn't win all of our games, but that doesn't matter.  The kids (and coaches) had fun while learning the fundamentals of soccer and that is all that mattered.


I feel like Kindergarten soccer should be more fun than anything.  We taught our kids the basics, but didn't drill it into their heads.  One thing I have learned from coaching, substitute teaching, and being a parent is that if you don't make it fun, the kids won't show any interest in it.


This was my second year of coaching and I have learned that most of the coaches in this age group are pretty relaxed and just want their players to have a good time.  This year we played a team that, let me just say, their coaches were a "peach" to play against.  They were die hards.  I have to say, I didn't agree with their coaching at all.  They were so hard on those little kids.  One of the coaches got so frustrated with one of his players when she kept trying to make a goal, and kicked it out of bounds multiple times.  He told her to go stand elsewhere and let someone else have the ball.  This same coach tried to coach our team.  B went to throw the ball in and threw it towards the wrong goal.  He got in her face and told her (in a nutshell) that she was wrong because she should have thrown it towards the other goal.  B hung her head low and was almost in tears.  Someone she didn't even know was criticizing her.  This coach made B, Miss J(the other coach), and myself look like idiots and I did NOT appreciate it.  Luckily, I was standing there when he was telling B all about what she did wrong.  Mama Bear came out and I told her that it didn't matter because she did a good job and she was having fun.  He quickly tried to cover up what he said.  Luckily we only had to play them once or I may not have been as civil the next time.


Any who, enough of my soap box.  The last game was awesome.  We won 4-0.  B scored one of those goals and I was so proud of her.  I may have had a few tears!  Lauren captured the celebration after she scored.  There we are in the middle in our little celebratory hug...




After the game the kids received medals...

B and Me...
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Friday, October 21, 2011

A Trip To Kelsay Farms...

Last Saturday the girls and I, along with Brad's sister Lauren, spent the day at Kelsay Farms.  We started the day off right with a little McDonald's.  Their happy meals come in trick-or-treat buckets for Halloween and the girls both wanted their photo taken with their new buckets...

They have these convenient wagons available for you to use once you are inside the front gate.  The girl told me about them and I thought, "The girls can both walk.  We don't need one."  I second guessed myself and turned around almost immediately and snatched one up!  So glad I did because Mel wanted to ride rather than walk. 
They have a nice play area set up with some slides and ride on toys.  This is for kids 5 and under only which was VERY  nice.  You didn't have to worry about the big kids stepping on the little kids... 
Our next stop was this... 
The "Moo-Choo Express".  The girls loved it.  They rode it twice!  Aunt Lauren and I took turns... 

B thought these silly things were hilarious and had to have her photo taken at each one... 
Then she made me have my picture taken at each one!...
The straw bale mountain was also a huge hit.  This is where we spent most of our day...
"Yippee!  I made it to the top!"... 



 Beside the Straw Mountain was this game.  I forget what it is called...
You are supposed to hop from stone to stone in a pattern of red, yellow, blue (or something like that) and try to make it from one end to the other.  Mel just enjoyed hopping from one to the other... 

Next stop was "The Corn Crib"... 
It was perfect for making corn angels... 


They had baby calves on display that were 21 days old.... 
They had some interesting facts hanging everywhere.  This was Lauren's favorite... 
We also ran into Liz and her hubby, Russ...


While waiting for the hay ride, B found another silly sign...


The rope maze... 


Another silly sign at the front of the corn maze... 
You could design you own "Funky Pumpkin"...

B even milked a cow!... 
Before we left we had to make one last stop at the Straw Mountain and The Corn Crib... 
B got corn down her britches so she decided it was time to leave!

I would like to thank the Kelsay family along with Liz and Amy from Two Maids a Milking for letting us spend the day at your farm!

Kelsay Farms is located in Whiteland, Indiana just off I-65.  They are open Friday, Saturdays, and Sundays in October.  For more information visit their website of Facebook page.  This weekend is their annual Fairy in a Dairy.  You can learn more about it here.


Kelsay Farms did provide me with a couple of admission tickets to the farm but the thoughts and opinions expressed in this post are my own.
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Thursday, October 20, 2011

Improv Cooking Challenge - Caramel Apple Bars

The lovely Sheryl aka, The Lady Behind the Curtain invited me, along with other bloggers, to participate in the Improv Cooking Challenge.  Each month Sheryl assigns two ingredients.  We have to compile a recipe that includes both of these ingredients.

The ingredients for October are caramel and apples.  It was fairly easy to find a recipe that included these things.  The only problem I had was deciding which recipe to try.  I decided on Caramel Apple Bars because the only thing better than caramel and apple together is caramel, apples, and oatmeal!

Cut butter into oatmeal cookie mix using a fork or pastry blender...

Stir in egg until mixture is crumbly... 
Reserve 1 1/2 cups cookie mixture.  Press remaining mixture into bottom of 9x13 pan.  Bake 15 minutes. 
Finely chop apples... 
Mix caramel topping and flour... 
Sprinkle apples on top of crust... 
Drizzle caramel over apples. 
Sprinkle reserved cookie mixture on top of apples... 
Bake and enjoy! 
Caramel Apple Bars

1/2 cup cold butter
1 pouch Oatmeal Cookie mix
1 egg
1 cup finely chopped apple
3/4 c. caramel topping
1/4 c. flour


Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Grease bottom of 9x13 pan.

In large bowl, but butter into cookie mix using fork or pastry blender.  Stir in egg until mixture is crumbly.

Reserve 1 1/2 cups cookie mixture.  Press remaining cookie mixture into bottom of pan.  Bake 15 minutes.  Sprinkle apple evenly over crust.  In small bowl, mix caramel topping and flour; drizzle over apples.  Sprinkle reserved cookie mixture over apples.

Bake 20 to 25 minutes or until golden brown.  Cool completely!

Enjoy!



Thanks for hosting Sheryl!  Click the pictures below to visit some other yummy recipes with caramel and apples.

  




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