Oh Christmas Tree, Oh Christmas tree....

Our annual trip out to chop down our tree...

It was exhausting.

All of us were sick with a chest cold

(probably not the smartest idea to be hauling 4 sick people through the cold

but tradition is tradition...)

It was picture perfect.

Dusty finally broke down and got the toboggan of his dreams.

It definitely made the day more special.

He hauled his two rosy checked girls through the snow and trees

to find the most perfectest tree.

It was one of those moments.

It was challenging.

To get a two year old to agree to walking up "just one more hill"...

and to convince a four-year-old that,

"we are almost done"

when it seemed at moments that it was,

"taking FOREVER".

It was satisfying.

To finally find the tree.

It was memorable.

Despite being sick

we had such a good time

tobogganing and

roasting hot dogs and

drinking hot chocolate....

with
some wearing hot chocolate!

I'm ALIVE!!!

I thought that perhaps I should just post something to declare to the world that I have not died. I am still alive... in somewhat of a chocolate haze. We are still celebrating and visiting and doing all the merry festive celebrations. I am trying to absorb as much Christmas cheer as possible, in order to make it through the next 6 months of WINTER. Well, hopefully that gives Dusty enough time to repair the seadoo's before lake season begins!

Happy Holidays!

Puddin' and Pie (Nope just Cookies)

I almost cried when I realized I didn't save this recipe. These are the best "pudding cookies" ever. I had a bit of panic attack but after a couple of hours of sifting through blogs I sometimes browse I found it and now I'm posting it so I'll have it forever.
Thank goodness.

One more post... that's it I promise.

I know all I've been writing about is the flu BUT for the last 3+ weeks that's all I have been dealing with. Lucy got it then there was a 3-4 break and then I got it. Then there was a 2 day break and then Dusty got it and now the past two days Ellie has been "on the couch".
My laundry is piled up to an unholy level. The dishes are barely being kept up with (thank goodness for the person who invented the dishwasher.... they should surly get a spot in heaven). The whole house feels in disarray. I keep disinfecting but I've given up. I quit. Last night Dusty got home from work and was in a pestery mood. All night he poked me and tickled my feet and brought up subjects that NORMALLY would get a reaction. BUT he was disappointed. I wasn't in the mood. I just sat. I am so tired. I feel like I could sleep an entire day. A whole 24 hours of sleep. Okay. I'm going to try to move on.

I hid $300.00 dollars in my parents house. It's been in hiding for 4 weeks. I've given him a ridiculous amounts of hints but he has not found his treasure yet. At first he didn't really care and didn't try to find it BUT the last week or so my mom, my aunt, and my father have all been searching. They even pulled out the oven! This little treasure hunt has brought pure joy to my heart. It's like hide and seek only I don't actually have to hide and I get to sit on the side lines and enjoy hearing about the hunt. I may actually have to give in and just go get it for them. CLEARLY I won't be showing them the hiding spot! It was my old high school hiding spot. It hid all the things that I did NOT want anyone to see. Glad to see they never did know about it. In all the chaos of my life it really has brought some entertainment.

Hopefully this will be the last week and then I can get back to my Christmas festivities...

cold, flu, and fried food.

It's a cold one again today. Sometimes when it's cold I feel like soda bread and eggs and sausages and potatoes. yum. That's what I've been thinking about all day BUT Dusty is sick. Real ick. So that meals is out of the question. I think instead soup is on the menu (I'm sure my arteries will thank me). It's a quiet day. He hasn't gotten out of bed and the girls watched a movie this morning and now are off to their rooms for a nap. I think it may be my fault Dusty is sick. I was just going off the other day to a friend that he NEVER EVER gets sick. In the 5+ years we've been married I have NEVER seen him barf. EVER. He's never even complained of being nauseous. Well that sure changed and quickly. Last night he assured me he was going to die. I am happy to report that he is STILL living. I went in this morning to give him some gravol and check on him and he rolled over and said," I've NEVER been this sick. It sucks so bad.". UMMM yep, welcome to the flu! So Lucy's been hit this year, I got it, and now Dusty has fallen to it. Ellie is the only one left. She's been quarantined and sanitized and I'm hoping that in 3-5 days she is still symptom free and happy. Only time will tell.

Pie of the Turkey Variety.

I feel kinda like a slacker. I've been cooking and baking tons so it's not like I don't have some really good recipes to share BUT I've just stopped taking pictures. I did remember to take a picture of last nights dinner BUT it was after we'd eaten it and the pictures didn't turn out that great. Yesterday on Pioneer Woman she posted her recipe of turkey pot pie. I was excited because it's ALMOST the same as mine. I just don't fancy it up. I like my turkey pie simple. I was kind of nervous making it because Dusty has proclaimed to strongly dislike meat pies. I've never made him any meat pie because of this BUT I had a ton of left-overs in the fridge so I knew if he hated it he could always heat something else up. BUT he didn't have to. He didn't say much while eating it but asked for seconds and then thirds.

He officially revoked his previous dislike for turkey pie and has said it is one of the best things I've ever made.

Try it.

It's is really good.

Turkey Pot Pie

Ingredients:

4 cups of turkey
1/2 cup of butter

1 cup of carrots and celery

1/2 cup of roasted potatoes cubed small (you can use mashed too)

2 cloves of garlic minced

1 1/2 cups of flour

4 cups of chicken broth (I use oxo because it's cheap and I have it in my food storage)

2 cups of cream or whole milk (I've used everything but skim and it turns out fine BUT it tastes so much better with cream)

salt

pepper

Directions:

heat butter in pan over medium heat.

throw vegetables in

cook for a couple minutes until the celery is clear

Add turkey
(if you're using mashed potatoes add them when you add the garlic)

put in the garlic and cook for a minute or two

dump your flour in and mix it.

slowly pour in your chicken broth, stirring continually.

let thicken for a minute.

slowly add your cream, stirring continually.

add salt and pepper to your taste.

turn heat to low and simmer.

taste and adjust spices.

turn off heat and scoop into pie shells.

bake at 400 for 15 minutes

turn oven down to 350 and bake for 45 minutes.

You will probably have to cover the top of the pie to prevent burning.

Let sit for 5-10 minutes before serving.

For my meat pies I use the Crisco vegetable shortening recipe for pie crusts.

I always get a beautiful flaky and tender crust for these pies.

blue or green?

I turned on the football game to check the score. Immediately Ellie started chanting, "Green". As soon as Lucy figured out what was going on (like in 2 seconds) she began yelling, "blue" which then changed to, "Allouettes". Yikes.

Who knew football could muster such passion in a 4 and 2 year old!

They even asked to stop watching Ice Age to cheer on "their" teams.

In the Quiet

My house is really quiet. Ellie has been playing softly in her room the past two days. The dog has either been locked up or outside. I have just sat. Sitting and holding Lucy. Poor Lucy. She has the flu. She's fevered, restless, and sick. She's hot and whimpery. She says she's cold and wants "pookey"- (that would be pooh blanket). For two days I've done nothing but hold her. I can't wait until she feels better but part of me is really enjoying just sitting in the quiet.

Pumpkin Bread

For the life of me I CANNOT remember whose blog I got this recipe off of. It was someones. It is delectable. Seriously. I don't really love pumpkin or cinnamon and I could eat an entire loaf of this. So good.

Pumpkin Bread by Dixie

1. Preheat oven to 350F & grease and flour your pans.

(This recipe makes a lot of batter so you'll get at least 3 9X5 pans or 30+ cupcakes out of it!)

(I put it in a bundt pan and still had enough batter to make two smallish loaves)

2. In a large bowl combine the following until smooth:

3 cups of sugar

1 C vegetable oil

1 can pumpkin puree {15 oz}

2/3 C water

4 eggs

3. Blend in:

3 1/2 C flour

1 T cinnamon

1 t nutmeg

2 t baking soda

1 1/2 t salt

4. Fold in:

1 c chocolate chip

5. Put batter into baking dishes and bread pans and bake for 1 hour or until knife comes out clean. The cupcakes for about 20 minutes or so & the cookies for 12-15 minutes depending on how big you make them.

p.s. picture to follow

Frightful and yet, Delightful

Oh the weather outside is frightful,

But the fire is so delightful,

And since we've no place to go,

Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!

It is snowing here. It is snowing a lot. Not that it makes much difference, seeing how there was already snow on the ground, in trees, on the cars, and sidewalks to begin with.

It is cold and blustery.

It is the most perfect day to make pumpkin bread.

Normally once thanksgiving has passed, so has my desire to eat pumpkin. It gets packed away in my food storage until next year. This year I've decided to do 2 thanksgivings

(well maybe not the whole thing but at least some of it).

I thought, "Why shouldn't I have thanksgiving, while all our American counterparts are being all festive and merry?".

I think to myself, "There is NOTHING good on the telly (but football, of course). There is absolutely no reason why I can't have turkey and stuffing and potatoes and pumpkin AGAIN."

So in my house I am having one more week of Thanksgiving and eating delectable pumpkin bread.

Because there really isn't much else to do.

It is snowing. IT is snowing a lot.

AND

it's cold and blustery.

AND

THAT

is the most perfect reason of all.

All tuckered Out

It has been a CRAZY week. It almost feels like there hasn't been a week at all. It's a blur. Dusty and I (and the kids... I don't think they are quite to the leave at home by themselves stage... is it wrong to secretly be counting down to that?) went to "town". We stayed at my parents. My dad is exhausting. There was oodles of running around to do and they are in the process of finishing some old reno's and starting on some new one's plus fixing broken quads and hunting season is in full steam soooo like I said, exhausting. and yet even in all the bustle it felt good to visit and to be of some use.

I am very happy to announce that our dog got spayed over our days down there. Bob Barker I'm sure would be proud that his little blips on 'The Price is Right' wasn't just in vain. After our last dog got spayed she died. Try explaining that getting run over by a car has nothing to do with the dog going to the vet. Lucy was VERY upset that my mom was taking Belle to the vet. I don't know who was more relieved to see one another, the dog or Lucy.

In all the chaos I did manage to finish ALL the Christmas shopping for the girls. The feeling is awesome. I also bought garland for the fireplace. I don't know why, but now that I have garland on my fireplace, I somehow feel like I've made it in the world. I feel like I'm living a small piece of the life of the Cleavers. So satisfying. Dusty thinks I'm crazy. I am a little. Who isn't?

I should go to bed. My eyes are heavy and my family is all snoring away.

I hope your week was as good as mine.
I love to see the extended family BUT I really love coming home. (I feel at this point it necessary for everyone to sigh and say, "ahhh home".)

Humph!

I am folding laundry AND looking for any ol' excuse to get out of it. It has been sitting in a basket for just a couple of days. It's been taunting me BUT I've been able to walk past it and say, "Nope not today. I am TOO busy." Well, Dusty is working, my friends all have their hubbies home or are working or are playing, and all my regular weekly chores are done. I thought that maybe I could be too busy working on Christmas presents today but I ran out of thread, yarn, buttons, and all other fabulous things that would of kept me busy.

Laundry makes me feel charitable. It makes me feel like giving away all these clothes to someone who needs them. Our little family has been very fortunate. We haven't had to struggle as much as most during the economic downturn. We have very supportive extended families that are very generous. I am looking at just Lucy's clothes right now. I've folded them and they are sitting here ready to be put away and I honestly don't know if I can fit them all in her dresser. She has AT LEAST

20 pairs of pajamas

12 pairs of good jeans and leggings

14 pairs of play pants

18 play shirts

23 good shirts

I'm sure, in fact, I KNOW that there are people out there that have that, if not MORE. BUT I don't like doing laundry. With that many clothes I don't have to do laundry for at least 26 days. BUT at the end of those 26 days I am left with a full days worth of laundry. That is what I am doing today.

Poser

Ellie during nap time with her

"reading spectacles"

Buckteeth with a cut lip.

The cut lip was courtesy of her mama's hip check into the

garbage can.

Chicken with Spicy Tomato Sauce

Supper last night was really good.

I didn't really feel like anything so I just started tossing stuff into the pan. I saw a similar sauce on Pioneer Woman but I didn't look at her recipe so I don't know how close it is.

Ingredients

bacon grease

5-6 chicken breasts

a carb. ( I used perogies (about 20) BUT it would be so good with rice)

onion

garlic

1 can of diced tomato's

hot sauce

dried chili peppers

salt

pepper

cream

cheese

Directions

Heat bacon grease

cook chicken in grease

set chicken aside

cook perogies in bacon grease

add 1/2 of chopped onion

set perogies in casserole dish

cook remaining onion in bacon grease

add minced garlic

add tomatoes once onions are cooked

season with salt, pepper, 1 - 2 Tablespoons of hot sauce, 1/2 - 1 teaspoon of chili peppers.

simmer.

add 1/2 of cream and green beans.

simmer.

put chicken on top of perogies in casserole dish.

Pour sauce over top.

cover in cheese.

bake in 350 oven for 30 minutes

broil for 5- 10 until cheese is crispy.

6 to 9 months. 69 MONTHS! No, 6 TO 9 months

I love Madagascar. We watch it a lot. We play it a lot. I like to be Melman (I get to sit on the couch and be sick... I'm sure one day the kids will figure it out). This post has nothing to do with Madagascar.



Between the hours of 3 to 5 I get bord. It's before I make supper, the kids are either still napping OR they are playing (on a good day together), and I have just had an hour or two to catch up on my stuff. Between the hours of 3 to 5 the house is generally tidy and I am left wondering what to do. A "good" mom would think of a brilliant game to play with the kids AND sometimes I am a "good" mom BUT most times I just watch the clock and wait. I wait for Dusty. I wait for him and I hope. I hope that he comes home early. But that hope is futile. He ALWAYS gets home the same time everyday. It's not between the hours of 3 to 5. But it's 5 minutes to 5 and today I wasn't bord. Today I decided to trick father time. I put the girls down for a late nap and then I baked cookies. I baked lots and LOTS of cookies. It's 5 to 5 and I am just sitting down to do "my" stuff and in 1 hour I get to start supper. 1 hour is hardly enough time to even think of getting bord!

Where My Wild thing is.

I threw together this crown. I used 4 pieces of worsted weight yarn and knitted it on 6mm needles. I didn't knit it in the round so it is stitched together in the back. I LOVE it. I wasn't sure if I was going to post it yet or not just because it's not quite done. I want to go get some jeweled buttons and stitch them in the band part just to make it a wee bit fancier.

It fits so well. It stretches and it can't get broken (yipee for not having to glue gun it back together!!!!!!!!!) I know that both of them will love it. and they will wear them everywhere. Inside. Outside. Church. Home. Playing. Not playing. Everywhere.

Round

Today at church we had auxiliary leaders from our local stake come to talk to us for ward conference. It was THE most chaotic morning EVER.
It snowed like the dickens the night before. Dusty emailed the Young Men's president just to let him know that he might not make it to the leadership session. Good thing cause when we got up in the morning the hi-way report was yellow. ARGH. So after a discussion on whether we should even go we decided to get to the hi-way and see what it was like. So up out of bed we all got. We got dressed in our fab. duds and were out the door. OH wait. THE DOG. Where is the dog?? Gone. She RAN AWAY. Great. Dusty went to look for her. I decided to make more sauce for the salad and the meatballs that I made to take to the pot luck (oh I love pot luck.... seriously but that's another topic). So after more sauce and a found dog (1/2 hour later) we left. The hi-ways weren't too bad (for Dusty's driving). We got to Church and we were only 5 minutes late! Unload the truck. I take the girls and Dusty takes the crock pot full of meatballs (182 of them). I get the girls in and turn around just to see Dusty's feet over his head. Yup. A whole crock pot of meat balls over the head, down the white shirt, and all over the parking lot. Too Dusty's credit he did save the crock pot BUT he may have broken his arm (he won't go in to get it looked at... he says it's fine!). I got out to see if he's okay. I know not to mention the meatball on his shoulder. I say, "You can sit in the truck if you want.... there might be a coat..... do you want to go home...." He is grumbly and not happy.... and if I smelled like he did walking into a church full of hungry people I wouldn't of been happy either. I went to primary (only 15 minutes late) just in time to hear the kids sing a round of 'The Shepherd's Carol'. I'm glad I went to church today. The kids were amazing. I'm not exaggerating. They were amazing. The Sharing time lesson in Primary was also REALLY well done. I didn't want to be anywhere else but where I was.

What started out as a sketchy day turned out really lovely. I had a wonderful time at the pot luck and Dusty and I had a good chuckle about the meatballs on the way home. AND to top it all off I will be enjoying fresh buns for dinner and chocolate cake.

Life really can't get better than that.

Girl, Twirl, hurl?

I am avoiding. I am avoiding EVERYTHING. I have Christmas presents out that need to be finished. I put out some stuff to bake but even that seems like work. All I want to do is sit. Sit in the quiet. NO TV NO kids NO dog NO noise but the wind and the leaves and the whirr of the furnace OH and the washing machine. I need to hear that. I am out of unmentionables. It's an important sound. It is also the sound of success. Success that I actually DID do something on my "to-do" list.

You know what else I did today? (while I was avoiding my to-do list)

I just sat. Sat and watched my girls twirl around with Angelina Ballerina. They were so happy. Twirling and falling and laughing. It made me laugh.

They aren't happy anymore. Their tummies hurt. I am hoping that this stomach aching situation won't turn into a vomit situation. I will be in trouble. Dusty does the puke patrol. He is a great dad. I hope the girls remember that. I hope they remember that he was the one that cleaned up the puke. That job deserves a lot of credit.

Hot chocolate and an Early Morning

We put up our Christmas tree yesterday. The kids were/are beside themselves with excitement... not just the kids. We sang carols, drank hot chocolate, and watched Shrek the Christmas movie. It was such a fun night. I didn't take any pictures. I wish I would of but I was a little preoccupied untying all the beaded garland.
As I sauntered down the hall this morning, wishing for one more hour of sleep, I got to say that seeing that tree made me smile just a little bit (not enough to damper the want of one more hour BUT a smile is a start).

One Witchy Two Witchy

OUr Two little Witches

Ellie was so excited to get her hair straightened for Halloween.

At first she was concerned that her curls would be gone forever but the idea of having Cinderella hair was too appealing to be worried for too long.

Lucy and Ellie decided to be witches for Halloween

BUT

Lucy made it VERY clear she was a MEAN witch.

She took her role VERY seriously.

The only time she perked up was when she got 'Andy.

Sorry about the red eye. I was too lazy to edit the pictures on my other computer.


The girls the night before with the pumpkins.

Sweet and Sour Spareribs

This is my Gramma's recipe. This used to be my FAVORITE thing she made. It was always delicious and perfect and it smells so good. Yum. AND as a bonus all the ingredients are normal use everyday kind of stuff (for us anyways).

Sweet and Sour Spareribs

Get one large roaster.

Put 1 Cup or 2 of water in the bottom.

Cut spareribs into smaller chunks and put in roaster.

Sprinkle salt and pepper on.

Cover and cook for an hour at 350.

While that's cooking, get yourself a bowl.

In the bowl dump

1 cup of ketchup,

1 cup of vinegar,

1 cup of brown sugar (or 1/2 cup with a can of pineapple),

1/4 cup of soya sauce,

and 2 tablespoons of corn starch.

When the ribs come out of the oven pour your mixture on top. Cover it up and throw it back in the oven for another hour.

Eat and enjoy.

My Position

I have heard and read and felt the back and forth from the controversy H1N1 vaccinations are causing. I have made my decision and I came to that decision based on a large amount of information, prayer, and talking to people I trust.

I acquired information from our Canadian Health Authority, Alberta and British Columbia Health Authorities. I read information released by opposing Doctors (most of which I found were in the US). I also read about the company producing the vaccine and what went into it. AND then I looked up each ingredient separately and researched it's KNOWN effects.
These are the links I went to:
http://www.interiorhealth.ca/H1N1.aspx

http://www.albertahealthservices.ca/658.asp
http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/index-eng.php
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M_rKKawZx0I
http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/dhp-mps/prodpharma/sbd-smd/phase1-decision/drug-med/nd_ad_2009_arepanrix_h1n1_132070-eng.php

After trying to find and read all the technical information I could, I asked myself;

Do I trust in the Canada's Public Health Agency?
Yes. I listen to most other drug recommendations. I also listen when something has been recalled. I will commonly look up drugs on their website to research them to decide if it's something I want my family to consider taking. I trust the information they are giving me is the MOST accurate, the MOST current, and MOST recommended by the doctors and other researchers they have that help make Canada's MOST IMPORTANT decisions in regards to Canadian Health.

The second place I looked for guidance was the Church of Jesus Christs Website. I believe that on Earth we are given a Prophet to help guide people. I typed in vaccinations on, http://www.lds.org/ and looked through all the articles that came up. It seemed fairly obvious to me that the church condones the use of vaccinations. They (the LDS church) donates and spends vasts amount of money vaccinating third world nations. There was no information specific to H1N1 BUT I did find this article. I BOLDED the words that helped me decipher what I was reading.

Q. What immunizations should my family have?

A. Immunization programs have done much to reduce communicable disease throughout the world. Poliomyelitis, for example, once a major killer and crippler in the U.S., is largely prevented today because of regular, scheduled immunizations. Smallpox, a disease dreaded the world over for many centuries, has recently been officially eradicated because of universal immunization.
The Church has encouraged members to obtain immunization against diseases that can be prevented by vaccine inoculations. This not only protects individuals, but such cooperation helps safeguard the health of the entire community.
Diseases against which children should be routinely immunized include diphtheria, pertussis (whooping cough), tetanus, polio, measles, rubella (German measles), and mumps. Inoculating children according to the following schedule will provide them with maximum protection against these diseases.

Parents should keep a careful record of immunizations and check them periodically to ensure that all immunizations are complete.
Other common diseases for which there are vaccines include typhoid, cholera, yellow fever, plague, influenza, viral hepatitis, pneumonia, and tuberculosis. If you live in or travel to areas where these diseases are common you should study carefully local recommendations and follow competent advice regarding immunizations for your family.

The questions included in this article were answered by the following Latter-day Saint authorities in the field of physical health: Winifred W. Bates, R.D.; Homer S. Ellsworth, M.D.; Isaac C. Ferguson, Ph.D.; James R, Goodrich, M.H.Ed.; John M. Hill, Jr., Ph.D.; Phyllis C. Jacobson, Ph.D.; Joseph L. Lyon, M.D., M.P.H.; Susan Mendenhall, R.D.; Alton L. Thygerson, Ed.D.; and Roger R. Williams, M.D.

http://lds.org/ldsorg/v/index.jsp?hideNav=1&locale=0&sourceId=24b0fc3157a6b010VgnVCM1000004d82620a____&vgnextoid=2354fccf2b7db010VgnVCM1000004d82620aRCRD


The third phase of my decision was talking to people I trust.
I talked to my doctor.
I go to my doctor when there is something MEDICALLY wrong. If I came in with questions about high blood pressure or diabetes or whatever else I would trust her opinion. She recommended going. I trust what she is telling me is the BEST medical opinion she has CURRENTLY.
I talked to my mom.
She told me to go and get it.
I talked to my sister.
She went to get it.

I was torn because there ISN'T a lot of information available about clinical trials. It is an unknown. I understand the fear associated with it. THIS was my mental clincher.

The TWO worst case scenarios.
1) I give the girls the vaccination and there is a horrible side effect. They have to live the remainder of their lives in either pain or with chronic illness or death. It would be awful to know I made that decision, almost unbearable.

BUT

2) If don't vaccinate the girls. They contract H1N1. They are sick for a week. They seem to be getting better but they take a turn for the worse. I take them into emerg. They die the next day. I am left with the guilt that I could of done something, that I should of done something.

I would rather live with the idea that I did what I thought was right, I did the best I could based on the information I had.

BUT

we all do the BEST we can.
Good luck, with your decision.

Christmas Confusion

This was about 2 hours into the snowfall yesterday.

We got lots more.

Dusty was on his way home from work and he saw two cars slide in the ditch. He said the bus barely made it up the hill.

It was a perfect day to stay home and have a fire and drink some hot cocoa.

Every time the girls looked out side one of them would ask,

"Do we still get Halloween?"

I would say yes.

Then Ellie would ask,

"But Santa might come early. Look at all the snow".

Ha ha.

Doubt it.

Santa still NEEDS the 58 days!

Ich mag das Kleid!

I like that Dress!

My Dad was in Germany for part of Oktoberfest. He had a ridiculously good time and even managed to fit in some shopping. He brought the girls back these gorgeous dresses. The pictures seriously don't do them justice. It was the primary presentation this Sunday so they wore their dresses to church. They loved them.

Thanks Dad!

First Snow

Sometimes I find a picture that reminds me of what it's like to be a kid.

The first sleigh ride.

The first snow.

How happy those two simple things can make someone feel.

She went again and again and again.

She went until her cheeks were as rosy as her pink cowboy boots.

Yes, cowboy boots.

She is her fathers daughter.

She won't wear winter boots.

Doesn't she look perfect?

I think she's a keeper.

Kitty Tuque

I've been working on some Christmas presents the last little while. Most of them I can't post for obvious reasons BUT some of the girls stuff I am going to post. I found some yarn on sale and I have a soft spot for soft super chunky yarn. This pink matches Ellie's snowsuit this year so I whipped up a hat. I didn't use a pattern from anywhere BUT it is SO SO SO easy to do.

I didn't use a pattern. I just CO 16 inches worth of stitches and knit in the round for 12 inches then used a 3 needle bind off.

It's that time of day

I thought for sure once fall came I would have oodles of time. Time to blog and craft and see friends BUT not so much. I have no idea what I'm busy with but it always seems like Dusty and I are gone. I have great hopes that November will be "slower" just so we can start some more reno's before Christmas.

Ellie and Lucy have been having so much fun playing with one another lately. They both got babies for Ellie's birthday so they've been pretending to be mommies. It's been so fun listening to them.

All of us are excited for Halloween. Ellie and Lucy have both decided that they wanted to be witches. Ellie is a good witch and Lucy is the mean witch. They tote their Halloween bucket around asking me for candy. Good try. I've been holding off on the baking but I think this afternoon I'll cave. They both want to make and decorate cookies and I thought I'd make some chocolates that look like Jack o'lanterns.

Ellie's primary presentation is next week. She is VERY excited for it. We had our first rehearsal yesterday and I thought it went pretty well. I was expecting much worse considering I don't even remember all the songs we learned this year.

It is my MIL's 50th birthday this week. We went down on the weekend and had dinner with her. It was fun. Dusty was hunting and didn't think he was going to be around so I was planning on just taking the girls down myself but he surprised us all by coming. It was nice. I was glad I didn't have to drive alone, especially considering only two weeks ago I vowed to never drive alone in a car with both the girls EVER. They get along so well at home and in public but as soon as you get them strapped into the car it is chaos.

I have to go. It's my favorite time of day. NAP time. I'm going to go and enjoy to peace and 1 and 1/2 hours of aloneness.

Thanksgiving

It's thanksgiving weekend. We ate turkey. Travelled to see family. Gained 5 lbs (not really but it feels like it). Watched football. and thought about all the Things we are thankful for.

1. The safe travelling of our family.
My parents both travel large distances to and from work. We are thankful that they have been able to do that safely. Dusty's dad also travels daily and has been blessed with safety.
2. Our families are healthy.
3. We have a warm house.
4. We are thankful for the work that has kept all our family busy.
5. We are grateful for our full freezer and pantry. AND for a MIL who planted enough garden to help fill our pantry and freezer.
6. I am thankful I live in a country where all I have to "complain" about is a government who spends more time bickering than solving problems. I don't have to worry about bombs or having to send my young children to work so that our family can eat or, as a woman, I can walk around where I please and say whatever the heck I want to.
7. I am thankful for working vehicles
8. Electricity and running water
9. Our friends
10. All Our family

There are so very many things to be thankful for. I love thanksgiving. I love the fall. I love that it means that we are that much closer to CHRISTMAS....

the 2 bowls

Well I'm finally done celebrating Ellie's birthday. After 1 week and 4 parties I am exhausted. I took oodles of pictures but alas none of them with my camera so I have nothing to upload (which I'm kinda glad about).
Ellie and I spent the afternoon watching General Conference addresses. A friend gave lent me her brilliant idea for getting her three boys to listen to all the talks and it worked like a charm. I got a two bowls of candy and in one bowl I put a picture of Jesus Christ and in the other I put a picture of our family. Every time a speaker would say either of those words she got to take a candy from the bowl. It was fun to see how excited she was about every candy she got.

I am really thankful that I listened to the messages of general conference.

strawberry shortcake

Our little girl has a birthday and she requested strawberry shortcake.
I found a really great cream biscuit recipe. It turned out well.

Cream Biscuit

This biscuit is tender and just a bit sweet.

It can be worked/mixed as hard and as long as you want without toughening, and in fact, it should be kneaded to make a biscuit that rises well.

This recipe will make about 15-20 biscuits 3" in diameter.

Preheat oven to 400.

In a mixing bowl, combine:

2 c flour

2 tsp baking powder

1/4 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

1/3 cup sugar

In a second bowl, mix well with a fork or whisk:

1 cup heavy cream

1 tsp vanilla

(1/2 tsp almond extract is optional)

1 egg yolk

Pour the liquid into the dry ingredients.

With a spatula, combine well, then knead for about 1-2 minutes.

Unlike most biscuits, cream biscuits are improved by kneading.

If the dough is too sticky, add a spoonful of flour; if too dry, add a couple spoonfuls of cream.

Knead the dough until it is smooth.

Turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface and roll or pat to about 1/2" thick.

Cut into desired shapes.

Scraps can be re-kneaded, re-rolled and cut without toughening.

Lightly press 2 fingers into the center of each biscuit to make the centers thinner--this will ensure your biscuits bake to an even height, and don't have humps in the center.

If you like, brush the biscuits with more milk or cream, and sprinkle with (cinnamon) sugar.

Place biscuits on a baking sheet and bake at 375 for about 20 minutes.

Cool before splitting and filling.

I cut the strawberries the night before and sprinkled them liberally with sugar. I then let them sit in the fridge overnight to juice. About 2 hours before I served the shortcake I put most of it together, except the top spoonful of whipping cream.

They were really good. I'm glad she requested them.

Birthday

This little girl had a birthday.

She's incredible.

We love her lots.

Fluffy Chocolate Buttercream Icing.

This icing is THE best icing I have EVER eaten. EVER!

Chocolate Butter Cream
(Kristin's Version)

1/2 cup of margarine (I had imperial margarine in my fridge. I didn't have butter I would have normally used butter but I didn't have it so I used marg.)(oh and you want it soft I let it sit out for the afternoon)
a splash of extract ( I used almond and it was Divine)
2 or so cups of sifted powdered sugar
1/2 cup of cocoa (also sifted)
2 tablespoons of milk
2 tablespoons of corn syrup (white)

Beat your fat and extract together till fluffed.
add sugar and cocoa. Mix.
Add milk and syrup and mix till fluffy again.

This was the EASIEST icing I've ever made. It was also the only icing I've ever had the desire to just sit down and eat. It was lovely.

Chocolae Zucchini Brownies

I got the recipe from my friend Shauna. It is good. Really good. Try it.

Chocolate Zucchini Brownies

1 cup butter, softened

1 cup white sugar

1/2 cup brown sugar

2 eggs

1/2 cup sour cream

1 tsp vanilla

2 & 1/2 cups flour

1/3 cup cocoa

1 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

2 cups grated zucchini

In large mixing bowl, cream butter and sugars until nice and fluffy.

Add eggs, one at a time, beating well between additions.

Beat in sour cream and vanilla.

In another bowl, mix the flour, cocoa, baking soda and salt.

Add to the creamed mixture.

Mix it up.

Fold in zucchini.

Spread into a greased 9x13 pan.

Bake at 350 for 35-40 minutes or until a toothpick in the center comes out clean.

Cool.

Smooth frosting over top.

Cut into bars.

Original Frosting Idea

:2/3 cup semisweet chocolate chips + 1/2 cup smooth peanut butter

(Stir together in a small saucepan. Cook over low heat, stirring constantly until smooth.

Spread over warm brownies.)

Batter minus zucchini

Batter with zucchini

In the pan

Frosted and ready to eat.

Zoo

Lucy and her Tiger.

She LOVED the tiger.

The tiger may have loved her.

It looked like love at first sight.

Who am I to judge?

Every time the tiger walked by it would lick the glass in front of her.

I wish I could Have gotten a picture.

BUT

It was amazing and I was stunned.

Lucy and her Dad watching the Elephant.

Mesmerizing.


Picture perfect.
I had to bribe the elephant.
She was much more expensive than the kid.
Give the kid an ice cream and she's happy.
The elephant on the other hand.... well lets just say it cost more than peanuts.


Giraffe



Hip- hip hop anonymous.
You could of riden it.
Thank goodness for the glass.
I'm sure it would of been a rodeo.

friday

It's Friday. Fairly obvious, I know BUT don't you love Fridays? I do. I don't have a job that ends Friday (although sometimes I wish I did), my husbands job doesn't end on Friday, my wee children aren't in school (yet... soon though), I usually have no where to go, and yet I am always thrilled it's Friday. Maybe it goes back to a time when I did have fun things to do on the weekend and it was my last day of school for the week. Anyways, Friday is here and I am HAPPY.

Oh and on a side note. I have a new dedication to my wii fit. I'm actually going to figure out if it works. I've been on it 3 days in a row so we'll see. I still have my hypothesis that it's a lazy form of exercise and won't do much BUT since I don't really feel like REALLY exercising (on account I am not fond of the idea of being eaten by bear) then lazy-man exercising experiment is what I'm left with.

I bet your glad you checked the blog, huh?? wouldn't want to miss out on this beaut of a post.

bear Jam

I have only one word to say.... Waterton.

All that stink for a bear!