4th Annual Kettering Karvin'! Happy Halloween to All!

The weekend before Halloween we host an annual pumpkin carving for family and close friends. It's always a blast and this year was no different just a bit more chaotic with out wine for me!

MK and I usually try to provide spooky treats to munch on..here's just one of this years delights.

We had around 22 people and roughly 9 of them carved a Jack O' Lantern. This is always the highlight, people become secretive and the competitiveness comes out! They are all wanting to take home the prize. Here's a look at some of this years beauties....Just to name a few.

Happy, Itsy, Hot Dog, The Headless Horseman, Square Eyes and Witches Brew

The carving winner takes home a door prize each year. By the end of this years carving guest and the hostess had become very tired so instead of voting on pumpkin carving winners names were drawn from a hat. Itsy took home the prize; knocking out the Crafty Pants Riggs Family who really brought their "A" game this year. Too bad there isn't a photo that does Hootie and Lil Hoot justice!

We really love having everyone including the kids and dogs over for this annual event and can't wait to introduce Baby Kettering to pumpkin carving next year.

We hope you all have a safe and Happy Halloween!!!

16 Week Belly

5 inches have been added to my belly and about 7-8lbs to the scales since week 5.

Not sure if it's baby or cheeseburgers but things are quickly changing in the mid section.

The Kettering Cottage is a bit quieter this week as the stand alone male in the house has gone fishin'. MK leaves today for a long weekend of tall tales and long nights in Atlantic Beach. I'm sure they'll be lots of male bonding going on with a bunch of "me time" going on back at home.

Go have fun and catch lots - you deserve a break; Daddy!!!

Da daa da da da...I'm Lovin' It!

McDonalds that is! Double Cheeseburger to be exact!

Lovin' it so much that I left my desk at 2:46pm to make a drive thru run at our local Hanes Mall location.

Was back sitting at my desk by 2:57...no cheeseburger in sight.

I inhaled it before I could even pull out of their parking lot.

I don't even like fast food...?

I also called my husband to tell him I've lost my mind.

Something has definitely possessed me & I think it's this baby!!!

God Loooouuurvvee it!

Photo courtesy of McDonald's :)

Random things ... Week 15

We went to Boone for a day trip on Saturday and saw our first snow flakes of the season.

I had a craving for Nerds candy.

MK said he may have to chew the umbilical cord into with his teeth after all is said and done.

(It was a big time funny, to me.)

Strangers routinely notice I'm pregnant.

We learned how to use bbm.

We made out first trip to Babies R Us without passing out.

I bought the baby it's first piggy bank.

I also bought myself a gift. New cowboy boots. Been wanting them forreevvveeerrr.

People say---Wow- your belly sure has popped!

I made an appointment for a painter to give us an estimate on freshening up the nursery.

I was very happy to find Philosophy 3 in 1 bath wash at TJMaxx. My new scents are Fresh Cream & Blackberry Sauce.

No much else happening....We'll be sure to keep you posted!

A Happenin' Tuesday Night

I am so thankful that Mike made dinner tonight. He said he heard me mention steak several times lately so he grilled steak and made stovetop. Steak & Stovetop- YUM, that's poor folk gourmet! Ruth's Chris ain't got shiiit on the Kettering Cottage.
(At least I know he does get my hints--good thing with a birthday coming! Ha!)

Meanwhile, since my man made us dinner I had a few extra mintues to accomplish one of this weeks goals. Organize this mess in our pantry cabinet!

Stuff was piled in there on top of everything else. A little bit of everything- half used and out of date. I now have a full belly (with my steak craving satisfied), I'm down for the count and 2 hour TV specials and our little pantry looks like this - labels and all! You may not be able to tell that big of a difference but it's great for me. We only have a little room to work with so I feel the need to make the best of it. I'm happy.

What we're doing.....

Last weekend we built a low landscape wall with palomino rock to make a defined edge between our stone drive and landscaping. Hopefully as we get new rock & pine needles or mulch it will help keep those materials where they belong instead of all through out the driveway. You can see in the photo how it used to just keep on going -thanks to the dogs and us walking there daily.


This week attention shifted to the yard. We have planned for years to rip out over grown brush that had never been taken care of along the property border--- well things are now in motion. We'll hate seeing the neighbor all winter but the greenery would've died back anyhow. Our plan it to put in all new plants in the spring after we work on killing undergrowth and removing stumps this winter. Here are some work in progress photos.









Unfortunately, Mike has been left to do most of this himself other than the rock wall. This isn't normal because any other time I'd be right in there with him. I really appreciate him manning up to work so hard in the evenings after his true "work" is done. Meanwhile... today I was barefoot and preggers in the kitchen!

Don't look close--no pedicure in weeks!

After an idea to bake some homemade cookies and a scavenger hunt thru our way to un- organized pantry I decided on Oatmeal Raisin. YUM! As I turned my back to my fresh made little bundles of warm heaven...Kia & Kadie made their appearance. Oh was I mad - they ate 1/2 the darn cookies. Nothing but crumbs under the cooling rack where they could reach! Oh well- Mike and I really don't need more than 9 cookies.


That's what's happening around here...What about you?

14 Weeks

The pants are getting tight; and I'm not quite as light...but it will all be alright!

Welcome to 14 weeks & the 2nd trimester.

The Dixie Classic Fair---YUM!

We ventured out to the county fair last night. Oh My ~ What good food! We met up with some friends and ate... that's it. Like 8 times! We didn't even make a trip around the midway.

Our list of items consumed goes someting like this:

Chicken & Dumplings

Foot Long Corn Dog

Roasted Corn on the Cob

London Broil Steak Sandwich w/All the Fixin's

Peanut Butter Fudge

Hot Dog

Funnel Cake French Fries

Deep Fried Brownie Bites

Deep Fried Cheese Cake

2 Candy Apples w/ Nuts

And are you ready for the kicker...
The BIG thing at the NC fair this year?

DEEP FRIED BUTTER!

That's right, you read correctly-

DEEP FRIED BUTTER!

I swore I wouldn't try it- it sounded nasty. Once I saw it I had to and...

It's was way yummier that I ever thought it would be, even MK loved it!

Salty & Sweet.

It's a "Southern Thing", I guess. Where's Paula Deen?

So....I hope you all have as good of time eating at the fair as we did. You should have seen the smiles and funny looks from all the people watching the pregnant girl chow down- it was great.

It's once a year so dig in and make up for it later - it's worth it!

Happy Eating!

Photo: online source

Mama is Resting...

It may have taken quite a bit to get me there (a bad allergy "attack", 2 Benadryl, a crying spell, pizza and no bake cookies just to name a few) but I DID IT!!! I slept from (get this...) 7:45pm until 6am this morning!!! I woke up only twice and actually went back to sleep in a timely fashion both times. Thank You Benadryl. I knew you had my back! I am now waiting on the doctors office to begin taking calls so that we can discuss allergy options. Happy Tuesday, People!