I feel very well rested this morning. Even though we had an incredibly busy weekend, we were in bed pretty early each night. I think I got around 9 hours of sleep last night. I even woke up once thinking it was the middle of the night…and it was only 10:30 pm! How’s that for having more time to sleep than expected? 😀

Would you believe that I still have even more to share from our busy weekend? If you’re catching up, here’s what we did on Saturday:

• Donut breakfast, walk, and making Halloween candy (“recipe” included)
• Fall Party (recipe included), upsetting dinner, and frozen yogurt

Now, it’s time for the fun we had on Sunday – Oktoberfest! Although not really in the traditional sense of the word since Peter doesn’t like beer and I can’t drink beer, being pregnant and all. A trip to the little “alpine” town of Helen was still in order though as part of tradition.

After church on Sunday, we hit up Subway for lunch as the easiest thing before getting on the road.

My stomach is so squished lately that I felt ready to explode after just 2/3 of the sandwich. I guess the persistent heartburn from the squishing doesn’t help either.

After lunch, we made a short pit stop to bum some free wifi in a McDonald’s parking lot (oh yes, we did) and then hit the road! I love driving up this time of year. Looking out the window with all of the fall colors passes by calms me so.

Wouldn’t you say Makenzie agrees?

After a bit of driving, we made it! Welcome to Oktoberfest and the little German town tucked away in the North Georgia mountain region.

The town has so many things to see. You can walk around and enjoy all of the beautiful details of the streets…

…visit the stores for lots of interesting crafts – wood, classic Dutch items, glass-blown products, handmade candles, traditional music boxes, jewelry, creepy dolls. You name it, they got it. I hate those dolls, though.

You can go on a horse and carriage ride…

…or grab a seat in the biergarten for an afternoon refreshment. Next year, my friends, next year.

You always, always, must make a pit stop for the fudge though! Always.

We got some plain chocolate and maple walnut to come home with us. Then, did the other obligatory part of Helen – cheesing it for the camera.

Then, we had to call it a day! Like I said, we had an eventful weekend, but all in the name of good, laid back, family fun. 😀 How was your weekend?

• Do you like beer? I do but only if its a high quality, specialty one. Nothing will compare to the beer I tasted at the Hofbrauhaus in Germany, though. I don’t love it like wine or margaritas though.
• Do any inanimate objects creep you out? Seriously, those porcelain dolls give me the heebiejeebies. I loathe them. They look like they stare right into your soul!!!
• Don’t forget to ASK ME ANYTHING for the November Q + A series.

Ever have one of those days that includes a lot of goodies? And you enjoy each and every one that calls to you? Then go home that night overly full and wake up hankering for a bowl/plate/cup full of health? I just ask out of curiosity. I have absolutely no experience in that scenario. 😉

Yesterday after our donut breakfast, outdoor walk, and Halloween bark production, we had a fall party to attend with a group of friends.

I could not ask for a better group of friends to spend a Saturday afternoon with. Many hours can quickly pass while just hanging out, sharing a meal, and playing with all of our (many) kids. That is exactly what we did yesterday. We started off with lunch.

I had about 2/3 of the hamburger, plus some veggies + spinach dip, and a scoop of Apple Butter Sweet Potatoes (recipe below). I think I would have been happy with just a large plate of those sweet potatoes and the spinach dip! I can’t forget the few pieces of Halloween bark that made it into my mouth as well.

We spent a good chunk of time doing crafts with the little ones. Makenzie created a handprint spider and a field of palm-print pumpkins from finger paints. Then, she decorated some pumpkin shaped sugar cookies with icing.

We finished our time at the party watching some SEC football action before heading out to Babies R Us. We wanted to get an idea of what we will need before he arrives. I don’t think we will need too many things for Braedon. He’ll look cute in Makenzie’s old pink clothes, right? 😉

Based on the title of this post, you can probably figure that we ended the night with more food. We were in the area of an old favorite Chinese food restaurant that we haven’t been to in at least a year. It sounded so good. Sadly, something has changed over the past year and the meal totally let us down.

We shared an order of steamed pot-stickers, which lacked much of the taste and texture they used to hold. We also shared an order of black pepper beef. Disgusting. Normally, the meal contained way more vegetables and the beef was never fried. What came out this time was a mound of fried beef with a few carrots, water chestnuts, and baby corn thrown in. We both had a minimal amount before deciding we could not stomach anymore.

To make up for dinner, we broke out a Groupon for some frozen yogurt. Self-serve frozen yogurt is one of those blog crazes that I totally get. I chose a combo of cheesecake topped with toffee bits and pumpkin topped with graham cracker.

What could be better than yogurt and a wide choice of toppings? Definitely not black pepper beef, that’s for sure. 😉 Now, for that recipe I promised you. Thanks to my friend, Krista, for sharing!

Apple-Buttered Sweet Potatoes

• 3 pounds sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into 1-inch pieces
• 2 medium Granny Smith or other tart cooking apples, peeled, cored, and cut into wedges
• ½ cup dried cherries or dried cranberries (optional)
• 1 cup whipping cream
• 1 cup apple butter
• 1 ½ teaspoon pumpkin pie spice

In a 3 ½ or 4-quart slow cooker combine sweet potatoes, apples, and, if desired, cherries/cranberries.  In a medium bowl combine whipping cream, apple butter, and pumpkin pie spice.  Gently stir apple butter mixture into sweet potato mixture to combine. Cover and cook on low heat setting for 6 to 7 hours or on high heat setting for 3 to 3 ½ hours.

• What would be your dream frozen yogurt creation?
• Do you like arts and crafts? I’m not crafty but I love doing those things with Makenzie