Happy Halloween!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!

Our family enjoyed an evening of games at our church! Cade went as a LION. Mommy made him a special mane hat, but since Cade doesn't like to wear hats it didn't make it on his head. But he has curly hair of his own, so that worked (it is a beautiuful mane!)

You can see Daddy and Cade trying to flip the frog onto the lilly pan. We could not keep Cade away from this game and the bowling game. I think that he killed the frogs quite a few times at this game hitting them with the hammer!

Cade didn't necessarily bowl with the ball, but enjoyed tackling the pins the most!

This past weekend we went to visit Curtis' grandfather who lives in Michigan. He has decided to not take his chemo treatments anymore, but stay at home at allow hospice to take over. He is happy with this decision. He told us that he is not afraid to die, but is afraid of the pain that it will take him to get there. Our greatest concern has been where he stands with the Lord. Curtis' dad, Curtis' mom, and Curtis all got to talk with him more than once about where he stands with his personal relationship with the Lord. He told us that he accepted Christ as his personal Savior a number a years ago. We have no way to judge this decision or not because it is his heart, but we have not necessarily seen the fruit from this decision. So we must leave it in the Lord's hands. I know that it was hard for Curtis' dad to leave because it was saying goodbye for forever, probably. So be praying for Curtis' dad as he deals with this trial, and pray for Curtis' grandfather as he goes through this dying process. Pray for his relationship with the Lord.

Four generations of Odell boys!

Reading a book with Great Grandpa Richard!

On our trip to Michigan we celebrated Pop's 56th birthday! To celebrate we ate cake and stopped at Bass Pro Shop to look and shop a bit for Pop's new hobby, bow hunting.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY POP!

We hope the deer don't see you in your new camo sweatshirt!

Fall Days of Leaves!

My has the weather been beautiful these last few days. We have enjoyed playing outside many minutes and talking long walks while listening to the wind howl through the leaves. Cade just looks up and smiles! God is so beautiful!

Cade has been growing up sooo much in these last few weeks. He is saying so many new words and trying to pronouce things Curtis and I say. For example, we will ask him if he wants cheese for a meal. He will say cheese, cheese! It is so cute! When Bev was babysitting him this last Wednesday night, she started to hum Twinkle Twinkle Little Star. Bev stopped in the middle of the song and Cade finished the tune - SMART! He also picks up on things that we do around the house. He loves to get into Wrigley's water bowl, so Curtis was cleaning up the water with a dish towel. after he had gotten in the water. Later that night, Cade intentionally went and spilled Wrigley's water, so he could get the dish towel and mop up the floor. Crazy kid! He also loves to help Mommy rake leaves. (And Mama is a definite word in his vocabulary!) He has his own Cade-size rake, but usually he has to being using a big one to help out, and he does!

This is Curtis' last week of football. It is a sad and happy time, but more sad because he enjoys coaching and the team so much. We lost last week in the last 4 seconds to a 30+ field goal. It was so sad. But we definately have a chance this Friday, so go TIGERS!

This was a solomn week for me because my grandfather died 2 years ago this last week. It is so good to reflect on wonderful memories, but hard at the same time. It is hard to imagine that my own son will never know my grandfather. Praise the Lord he is dancing with our Lord in heave and both kidneys are working wonderfully!!

We did visit Tanner's Orchard last week. This is a little (or BIG) orchard north of Peoria, and not far from us. It has wonderful food, delicious apples, and SO MUCH MORE! They have a play area for the children and Cade loved it. He was under 2, so we didn't have to pay the $7 which was nice as well! He loves to play and he is MR. RISK-TAKER! Notice Daddy and him running on the hay bails!
My Pampered Chef business has been really successful this fall! Praise God from whom all blessings flow! I have really been enjoying all of my shows and my hostesses. I have been demonstrating some great recipes. The Pampered Chef just came out with some recipes that you can use with our Deep Covered Baker in the microwave. I have been making a BBQ Pork Tenderloin for sandwiches or a salad. People are loving the meat done in the microwave - IT IS DELICIOUS! I have also been doing Power Cooking shows. These are shows where I teach my guests to prepare 12 meals in one day in ziploc bags for their freezer. I demonstrate how to prepare 4 recipes during the show. People are loving it - all about good food and saving money. Here is the recipe I have my guests eat at my Power Cooking shows. Try it out! DELICIOUS!

Teriyaki Chicken
2 lbs. frozen boneless, skinless chicken breasts or tenderloins
10 oz. bottle teriyaki sauce
1 T. vinegar
2-3 cloves freshly pressed garlic using Garlic Press
½ finely chopped onion using Food Chopper
1 zucchini, finely chopped using Food Chopper
Place frozen chicken and all ingredients into freezer bag, coat chicken well. Squeeze air out of bag and freeze. Chicken will marinate as it defrosts in refrigerator for 24 hours. Remove chicken from bag and place in Stoneware Rectangular Baker. Bake, uncovered, at 400 degrees for 45 minutes (30 minutes for tenderloins). Serve with stir-fried rice & vegetables.

I am going to being doing some really fun Christmas shows after Thanksgiving and into December. I want to demo how to make some HOMEMADE gifts from Pampered Chef recipes and products to give to people. Homemade gifts are soooo nice and heartfelt.

Come visit my website to see what is happening in my business. And if you are interested book a show or even talk with me about becoming a consultant yourself!

www.pamperedchef.biz/jessicaodell

Football!

FOOTBALL season is in full swing because the Cubs lost. I now can watch the Bears games and enjoy them a little more. My mind was so focused on the Cubs I couldn't enjoy the Bears. Curtis on the other hand could do both at once - amazing! But we have been MOURNING over the Cubs losses to the Diamondbacks . . . GO CUBS GO! (There is always next year, right!)

Not only are mommy and daddy in the swing of football season, but so is Cade! Cade loves carrying around any football he sees. We went to a garage sale this last weekend and he immediately saw a football in a box, picked it up, and walked on!

Not only does he carry the football, but he can throw the ball very well. He is a righty, but if he has a ball in both hands he does try it with his left too!

He can even defferentiate in his speaking between ball and football. He does say ball or football a good 100 times a day!

Oh but this is the best - he gets in a 3 point stance and then with the "magic" words of DOWN, SET, HIT he is off to be tackled by mommy or daddy!

Take note!! The Tigers won last week, but we did fall again this week. We are now 1-5! At least we got a win and the boys smile on every day except game day it seems!