photo ChristyDunnamBlogheader_zpsf4f3d3a6.png



 photo about_zps1fce12d0.png photo emma_zpsfc50ef24.png photo FAMILY_zps58977a6a.png photo house_zpscf683387.png photo table_zps0d705bde.png photo thoughts_zps27be2b05.png photo fun_zps6d646c73.png

Thursday, October 27, 2011

Rainy Night

I love a rainy night,
I love a rainy night,
I love to hear the thunder,
Watch the lightning as it lights up the sky.
You know it makes me feel good. (especially after a several month drought!)



It's so funny how we all get so excited when it rains now. It has been a rough season of drought. So many fires, loss, dry ground, cracked slabs, parched souls, exposed lake bottoms. It's been a pretty harsh spring and summer, and now fall. The couple of times it has rained has been like manna from heaven. Thank you, God, for the rain.

We're looking forward to a beautiful weekend with cooler temps. Luke plays his first ever football game, and Carleigh is cheering. What more could we ask for? Sunday will be our church's first Trunk or Treat. My Yukon XL will be in the mix. Our theme is The Great Pumpkin. I'll project the Charlie Brown classic on the side of my vehicle and decorate with pumpkins galore! I've purchased some yummy chocolate candy treats, because what's the point otherwise?! I will have to get some candy corn though, as I just learned, or was reminded yesterday, that Luke loves candy corn! Who knew!? Apparently I should have!

Monday, October 24, 2011

Crash

You know how when you eat too much sugar and you're on a major high for a little while, but then you come crashing down when it wears off? That's what I feel like. Not sure if it's all due to the fact that I stayed up late into the night and woke early in the morning for more than a month preparing for Emma's Bayou Bash that has me completely worn out, or that some pretty rotten PMS is kicking my booty, or that I have been kinda down in the dumps missing my sweet girl, but all I really want to do is stay in bed...all day or all month would be great! I feel sort of like I'm in self-destruct mode by the way I'm eating and gaining weight. I'm hoping to be up early in the morning to get in some exercise before the day gets started. I think I'm ready to dive in and start taking better care of me and my household. I cooked a couple of times this week. I made some wonderful soup last night while the big kids and Kelvin carved some pumpkins. Our sweet friend, Dee, sent us the recipe...

Chicken Enchilada Soup



Brown 1 onion (finely chopped) and 1 bell pepper in olive oil
When onion is transparent, add 3 TBS minced garlic
DO NOT BURN THE GARLIC

Add 2 large cartons of chicken stock
2 cans of garbanzo beans
2 cans of zucchini or two large fresh zucchini chopped
1 large can of Glory brand seasoned green beans
1 large can of pinto beans (Ranch if you like or refried if u want a creamy soup) I added a can of black beans too!
2 cans of Rotel original
1 large can of white hominy
1 package of enchilada sauce mix
2 bags of Tyson grilled and cubed chicken breast (comes in freezer section precooked or you can use a rotisserie chicken)

Simmer and serve. You can top with grated cheese, sour cream and cilantro.

It was a huge hit! Hoping to make some more hits this week. I love fall...pumpkins, soup, cooler weather (well, sometimes. Forecast calls for 88 degrees tomorrow), football (Luke is playing flag football this fall), hayrides, smores, time by the firepit (if the burn ban ever lifts), and dreaming of leaves turning colors (because we don't have that here.)



Five little pumpkins sitting on a gate...


the first one said, "oh my it's getting late!"


*The second one said, "we don't care."

The third one said, "there are leaves in the air."

The fourth one said, "I'm ready for some fun!"

(Sorry it's so blurry. I still thinks it's cute!)


The fifth one said, "let's run and run and run!"

Then Whoooooosh... went the wind,
And out went the light!
And the five little pumpkins rolled out of sight.
*Yes, Luke is using crutches. He was chasing Cora and sprained his ankle. It's always something. :)

Wednesday, October 19, 2011

A glimpse into Emma's Bayou Bash

Here are just a few of the photos from Emma's Bayou Bash...



Some of our awesome cooking team


Carleigh and me at San Jacinto Harley Davidson...start of the motorcylce ride


One of our parking attendant volunteers

Wonderful food serving team


Auction tables
Cuddles and her friends

The kiddos' lemonade stand...they raised over $200!

Junction Jack paid us a visit!


Jack Saunders and Market Junction provided some great music for the day
Yummy cake!
 
It was a great day full of fun and a lot of good people. We raised over $57,500 between our sponsors and donors on the day of Emma's Bayou Bash. Thank you for your support!
 
If you didn't get to attend Emma's Bayou Bash but want to make a donation, please visit our website at http://www.emmashugs.com/, click on the donate tab and follow the instructions provided. Thank you for your consideration.
 
Emma's Hugs gave out several "hugs" at MD Anderson Cancer Center yesterday. All of the recipients were very grateful for their parking chip loaded with $115. Such a blessing to know our little one is still making an impact.
 
 



Wednesday, October 12, 2011

It was good

Saturday was a really good day. Emma's Bayou Bash was a Huge success. It was a success before Saturday even rolled around, really. We had an amazing support team helping us plan and execute, we had 33 sponsors who provided what we needed to make Emma's Bayou Bash a reality, and we had numerous people sign up to volunteer to work at Emma's Bayou Bash. Businesses donate time and services, individuals donate items for the auction, and a bunch of work horses came out to cook gumbo, set up chairs and tables, hang signs, lay out auction items and bid sheets, making the event a reality. We are still working on the financials, but on the day of Emma's Bayou Bash, we raised approximately $35,000!! Before the event kicked off we had over $17,000 in sponsorships. We are very pleased, to say the least. This was the first year Emma's Hugs was responsible for the planning and executing of the event, and it was a huge undertaking! We had some very big shoes to fill. The generous friends who gave their time and resources the past two years to make the first two Emma's Bayou Bashes successful are held in even higher esteem in my book now.

So, it seems we have our work cut out for us in the days and months ahead. We will be giving away lots of parking chips in the Texas Medical Center. If you know of anyone in our area interested in volunteering with our organziation, please send their name our way. Visit http://www.emmashugs.com/, and click on the contact us tab to leave a message or contact information. Thank you for the prayers and support from all of you out there in blog land. We love you.

Visit us on Facebook (click here) for pictures of the event. I'll post some here as soon as I can catch a breath.

Thursday, October 6, 2011

Counting Down

My oldest little darling came downstairs this morning announcing there are only 48 hours until Emma's Bayou Bash! Praying those hours are especially efficient and productive. Will you pray the chicken arrives in time? You know, the 600 pounds of chicken for the chicken and sausage gumbo! If I sound a little frazzled, you have observed correctly. I need a full time nanny, housekeeper and chef for the next couple of days. My poor kids and husband haven't had a meal cooked by me in I don't know how long. Next week, I plan on cooking every day! I appreciate all the prayers and well wishes for Emma's Bayou Bash. I can't wait to report back to you how successful the event was. We (our planning team) have prayed every day at 3:06 p.m. for God's blessing on the event. I really feel like it has made all the difference. Please join us today and tomorrow at 3:06. Why 3:06? Emma's birthday is March, 2006. Check out the Emma's Bayou Bash 2011 facebook page for photos of some of the incredible auction items!
01 09 10 11 12
Blogging tips