Trying pumpkin bread tonight for the season. I'm actually missing regular Amish friendship bread... guess I'll be making regular next time. I grew a full batch to give away two starters to people who requested, so on to baking!
I'm getting the recipe from here... http://www.momswhothink.com/bread-recipes/amish-friendship-bread-recipe-variations/Page-3.html
for those of you wondering about the Amish friendship bread, see my post here: http://lyttlehouseinthesuburbs.blogspot.com/2011/10/amish-bread.html
Thursday, November 3, 2011
Wednesday, November 2, 2011
Ta da!
Every day I work out either before the kids get up or at naptime. (Valerie thinks she is my personal trainer and likes to lie on my stomach while I do ab work.) but Wednesdays I have curling at night as my exercise and therefore have naptime to myself and Henri. Today I'm finishing the work I started last night while Paul was curling of editing and filing my digital photos. I realized I forgot to share these precious ones of Valerie. She was quietly doing her own thing. I swear this 15 month old had no assistance...
Monday, October 31, 2011
Happy Halloween!
What a busy day! Carter had Spanish class at 8:15, so we started wake up at 7:30am this morning. Dropped Carter off at school at 8:10, then plowed through cleaning the house. At 10:30, worked out, then 11am my friend, Sarah, dropped her kids off. Her two kids were born the same weeks as my two kids. They ate some lunch, then played a little before Valerie had to go down for nap, then she got back at 1:00, just in time for me to dress up, grab Carter's costume and join him at his class party while Sarah stayed with the little ones.
Carter is a Repeater from Plants v. Zombies (video game for those not in the know). I just threw on a dress I found in the Halloween bin and threw on a bunch of jewelry. I don't often get to go to Carter's functions because we have the two little ones at home. But I LOVE doing it when I can because several things happened.
First, several girls came up to me and told me I looked beautiful. I can tell from the photo I'm a little thick in the middle for this dress and I threw my hair up in a makeshift bun after a shower. But these sweet girls thought I looked like a princess! One of the girls asked to take this picture of Carter and I for me. Second, another mother that was there said she didn't dress up because her daughter said it would embarrass her, whereas my son had ASKED me to dress up! Third, Carter was THRILLED I was there. He smiled, hugged me, jumped up and down and made sure everyone knew who I was. I relish these moments where he's still thrilled to have me around because I know, sometime soon, he'll be embarrased to be seen with me.
After running relay races at their party, I headed home to rest for an hour before we had to pick Carter up, then we went to Paul's work and walked around to collect candy. Since Plants v. Zombies is played on Xbox, people loved Carter's costume, Valerie & Henri were just plain cute.
Then we came home and had dinner with our friends and went trick or treating.
Carter & his friends took the lead. Henri got a shoulder lift from their friends' dad, Valerie LOVED trick-or-treating and was adorable.
She didn't carry her bag, but went up steps, walked most of the way, went up to the door and picked one, single candy out of the bowl and walked away. She'd then put it in her mouth.
Carter is a Repeater from Plants v. Zombies (video game for those not in the know). I just threw on a dress I found in the Halloween bin and threw on a bunch of jewelry. I don't often get to go to Carter's functions because we have the two little ones at home. But I LOVE doing it when I can because several things happened.
First, several girls came up to me and told me I looked beautiful. I can tell from the photo I'm a little thick in the middle for this dress and I threw my hair up in a makeshift bun after a shower. But these sweet girls thought I looked like a princess! One of the girls asked to take this picture of Carter and I for me. Second, another mother that was there said she didn't dress up because her daughter said it would embarrass her, whereas my son had ASKED me to dress up! Third, Carter was THRILLED I was there. He smiled, hugged me, jumped up and down and made sure everyone knew who I was. I relish these moments where he's still thrilled to have me around because I know, sometime soon, he'll be embarrased to be seen with me.
After running relay races at their party, I headed home to rest for an hour before we had to pick Carter up, then we went to Paul's work and walked around to collect candy. Since Plants v. Zombies is played on Xbox, people loved Carter's costume, Valerie & Henri were just plain cute.
Then we came home and had dinner with our friends and went trick or treating.
Carter & his friends took the lead. Henri got a shoulder lift from their friends' dad, Valerie LOVED trick-or-treating and was adorable.
She didn't carry her bag, but went up steps, walked most of the way, went up to the door and picked one, single candy out of the bowl and walked away. She'd then put it in her mouth.
Then I'd have to make her scream by taking it and putting it in the bag. Until she saw another opportunity for candy and smile big, then head to the next door.
Halloween Partay!
We have a party at our church every year the weekend before Halloween. This year it seemed like there were less people. We took Etienne with us. He enjoyed himself so much he said, "if they have this party again next year, and there's some way for me to make it, I'd like to go again."
There's lots of activities, a limbo, a cupcake walk, some crafts, a pinata.
Valerie wandered around perfectly happy and prefectly adorable. Her favorite thing was the hula hoops.
There's lots of activities, a limbo, a cupcake walk, some crafts, a pinata.
Valerie wandered around perfectly happy and prefectly adorable. Her favorite thing was the hula hoops.
She is getting very fast!
Henri was happy to win the cupcake walk.
Video of the kids Limboing: Click here
Saturday, October 29, 2011
Goals
Remember at the beginning of the year and you may have set goals for 2011? I did. I still have some to meet. I have a list of the books I'm reading, trying to do 1 a week. I'm at about 30. I need to read 22 books in 8 weeks over the holidays. Hmmm... I may have to revisit that goal, but I am reading more and loving that I am. However, I'm also in a bible study right now, so much of my quiet reading time goes to that right now.
I also wanted to be at my goal weight. Well, I've gained back about 5 of what I lost this spring, so I think I'll just be happy to have them relost and maybe a pound or two by the end of the year.
I also wanted to make stockings for everyone this year. Paul's may get done. I'm pretty sure I can do mine and Carter's (already started) by next spring (Henri already has one) so I'll try to get Paul's name on his and sewn. Do Carter's and mine in the spring and Valerie's by next Christmas. It will be good because we are headed to the north for Christmas, and it will be nice to have them done in time for our next Christmas in the NW.
Well, looks like I did alright on my goals, I just need to adjust my sights a little lower I guess as we get into the last (EEK!) 8 weeks of 2011.
I also wanted to be at my goal weight. Well, I've gained back about 5 of what I lost this spring, so I think I'll just be happy to have them relost and maybe a pound or two by the end of the year.
I also wanted to make stockings for everyone this year. Paul's may get done. I'm pretty sure I can do mine and Carter's (already started) by next spring (Henri already has one) so I'll try to get Paul's name on his and sewn. Do Carter's and mine in the spring and Valerie's by next Christmas. It will be good because we are headed to the north for Christmas, and it will be nice to have them done in time for our next Christmas in the NW.
Well, looks like I did alright on my goals, I just need to adjust my sights a little lower I guess as we get into the last (EEK!) 8 weeks of 2011.
Friday, October 28, 2011
Friday, October 21, 2011
Meal Swaps
I've been swapping meals like a crazy woman. This month for my regular group I made Country Captain from the Once a Month Cooking Cookbook
I haven't had mine yet, but I've gotten a good review on it already. I made it easily by putting out all my ingredients (this one was a dump in the ingredients in a gallon bag and it's ready) as well as measuring impliments for each. Then I just measured, dumped and was done.
I'm also doing a potluck swap with some friends. I made a fall pork roast out of the same cookbook. I wasn't as impressed with it, but hopefully my friends will like it.
I started on next month's as well and didn't realize how big the recipe was, so I ended up with 16 pans of Cheesy Penne, probably November and December. Oh, well, it looks awesome, but was a little more work. When, when will I learn not to do chopped onions for meal swap? It's bad enough when I'm crying my eyes out for chopping one onion, but 8????? Holy smokes, I had tears streaming down my face. I was going to try putting them in the freezer a few minutes first, but I had too much danged bread in there (see previous post) to be able to fit them. Oh, I also forgot until after shopping to pick up pans for them.
I still want to figure out the total cost for them, but... for the Penne, I had on hand noodles I got a great deal on last week and the diced, organic tomatoes were from costco, who had buy a box, get one free, so $7 for 16 cans of tomatoes, of which I used all of them. I'm trying to find sales for ingredients, which is easier now that Henri's in school, I can go to 2-4 grocery stores to get everything I need on sale.
I haven't had mine yet, but I've gotten a good review on it already. I made it easily by putting out all my ingredients (this one was a dump in the ingredients in a gallon bag and it's ready) as well as measuring impliments for each. Then I just measured, dumped and was done.
I'm also doing a potluck swap with some friends. I made a fall pork roast out of the same cookbook. I wasn't as impressed with it, but hopefully my friends will like it.
I started on next month's as well and didn't realize how big the recipe was, so I ended up with 16 pans of Cheesy Penne, probably November and December. Oh, well, it looks awesome, but was a little more work. When, when will I learn not to do chopped onions for meal swap? It's bad enough when I'm crying my eyes out for chopping one onion, but 8????? Holy smokes, I had tears streaming down my face. I was going to try putting them in the freezer a few minutes first, but I had too much danged bread in there (see previous post) to be able to fit them. Oh, I also forgot until after shopping to pick up pans for them.
I still want to figure out the total cost for them, but... for the Penne, I had on hand noodles I got a great deal on last week and the diced, organic tomatoes were from costco, who had buy a box, get one free, so $7 for 16 cans of tomatoes, of which I used all of them. I'm trying to find sales for ingredients, which is easier now that Henri's in school, I can go to 2-4 grocery stores to get everything I need on sale.
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