Fun Times with the Fam

This past weekend, we celebrated Matt's dad's birthday on Friday night, and then my mom's birthday on Saturday night! Matt's grandparents and cousins also came in town for the Friday celebration, so we had a family-filled weekend! Here are some pics from the visits:

Friday Night at Karen and Jay's

Matt's dad, Jay, and Karen

Nanna and Grandpa with Matt and his dad

Matt's Uncle Dave with his kid's, Rebecca and Blake.

Us with Nanna and Grandpa

Love this picture :)

I love this pic because you can see K's tiny baby bump! So cute! :) 

The girls :)

Saturday Night at My Sister's

Right when we walk in, Maddox says, "Uncle Matt, you play with me in my room a tiny bit?"

Croquet!

Love this :)

Noah has become quite the little photographer and decided to organize a little photo shoot in the back yard, hehe... precious!

Shot #1

#2- please look at Maddox's face- LOVES his Uncle Matt! 

#3 (Noah organizing: "Now I'LL get up in the tree with Aunt Heather")

hahah.... love this- for shot #4, he wanted Nonna up in the tree too, so he got her a step stool and was trying to help her up! hahah- my mom's such a good sport. I intervened and suggested she stand behind the tree. :)

Shot #4 :)

Love these boys!

Cake time! Noah got to put in all of the candles.

Recipe: Pumpkin Spice Cake

Guy time :)

Such a great weekend... I'm so glad both of our families live close enough for us to have fun get-togethers like this!

Pumpkin Spice Cake

Pumpkin Spice Cake

This recipe comes from Kraftfoods.com. Click on the link for additional suggestions and cooking tips.

Ingredients:

1 pkg. (2-layer size) yellow cake mix

1 pkg.  (3.4 oz.) JELL-O Vanilla Flavor Instant Pudding

1 cup mashed cooked fresh pumpkin

1/2 cup  oil

1/2 cup water

3   eggs

1 Tbsp. pumpkin pie spice

  PHILADELPHIA Cream Cheese Frosting

1/2 cup chopped toasted PLANTERS Pecans (I left these off)

Directions: 

HEAT oven to 350°F.

BEAT first 7 ingredients with mixer until well blended. Pour into 13x9-inch pan sprayed with cooking spray.

BAKE 32 to 35 min. or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool completely.

SPREAD with PHILADELPHIA Cream Cheese Frosting; sprinkle with nuts. Keep refrigerated.

Ingredients for icing.

There is also a layer of icing in between each cake layer.

Instead of pecans, I sprinkled Pumpkin Pie Spice and Cinnamon Sugar on top and then spread it into the icing.

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Recipe: Black Bean Burritos and Bacon-Wrapped Pork Tenderloin

Black Bean Burritos

Make Rice-A-Roni according to package directions.

Sauté sweet onion in EVOO and garlic. If the people you cook for like spinach, add one bag at this step and sauté with onions and garlic.

Add can of petite diced tomatoes, undrained. Simmer for a few minutes until sauce thickens.

Drain and rinse black beans and corn.

Add to tomatoes and onions.

Add Rice-A-Roni.

Pick your favorite shredded cheese to sprinkle on top.

Cover with lid to melt cheese.

Spread sour cream, salsa, queso, lettuce, or anything else you want inside!

Bacon-Wrapped Pork Tenderloin

Defat pork tenderloin and marinate in 1 cup of BBQ sauce and 1/4 cup of Apple Cider Vinegar for two days.

Wrap pork tenderloin in 5 pieces of turkey bacon.

Bake at 350 for 30 minutes or until center is a light pink color.

Serve with your favorite veggie and side. :)