Happy Birthday & Christmas to me!
Friday, December 30, 2011
New Ovens!
Thanks love muffin for getting me some new kitchen equipment!
Happy Birthday & Christmas to me!
Happy Birthday & Christmas to me!
Friday, December 23, 2011
Thanksgiving Preschool-Style
My little Indian Princess.
Yummy rolls and...
too much firewater. (Just kidding-it was apple juice)
Shelby lines up for her big performance which included "God Bless America." I might have gotten a leeeetle misty-eyed on that one.
Dewberry Farms
Wheee.
Look Wyatt! We went to a really fun place w/o you BUT took a picture of a tractor for you to look at! How thoughtful of us!
I think this picture really captures the essence the preschool age.
Name one four-year-old that does not think feeding a goat is awesome!
Please note the color of the duck chosen by my firstborn.
Duck races!
Ready for their day of fun!
Sidenote: class chaperones (i.e. me) wore matching shirts. Shelby owes me for that one.
Shelby LOVED petting/poking the chicks!
What occurred on the drive home.
Pitiful. Just Pitiful
Have you ever seen such a sad sight?
Poor little guy with no one to swing him...
FALSE!
I HAD to stop b/c my wrists were aching and some of my other children needed attention too.
This kid would swing all day if I'd push him. Just thought I'd share this sad little picture of Wyatt crying on the swing by himself. Rest assured, he was pushed many more times that same day.
Poor little guy with no one to swing him...
FALSE!
I HAD to stop b/c my wrists were aching and some of my other children needed attention too.
This kid would swing all day if I'd push him. Just thought I'd share this sad little picture of Wyatt crying on the swing by himself. Rest assured, he was pushed many more times that same day.
Thursday, December 22, 2011
Mommy's Little Helper
Shelby loves to help.
(this is an understatement)
I wish I had pictures of her decorating the tree. Girl was on a mission!
I once gave her a container of Lysol wipes and she spent 45 minutes hand wiping the kitchen tile. I had to stop her b/c it was dinnertime.
With this level of enthusiastic helping you can only imagine her dedication level when sugar is involved.
Cookie Making Session:
"Why yes, mother, I would love to help!"
Her type A creeps out when making the balls.
"Not.Quite.Round.Enough."
The focus here is astounding. If we could somehow channel this to solving some international issues...
Do yall see those perfectly round and lined-up cookie balls?! I promise I didn't do any of them!
(this is an understatement)
I wish I had pictures of her decorating the tree. Girl was on a mission!
I once gave her a container of Lysol wipes and she spent 45 minutes hand wiping the kitchen tile. I had to stop her b/c it was dinnertime.
With this level of enthusiastic helping you can only imagine her dedication level when sugar is involved.
Cookie Making Session:
"Why yes, mother, I would love to help!"
Her type A creeps out when making the balls.
"Not.Quite.Round.Enough."
The focus here is astounding. If we could somehow channel this to solving some international issues...
Do yall see those perfectly round and lined-up cookie balls?! I promise I didn't do any of them!
Wednesday, December 21, 2011
Peachy Keen
Do you or do you not love this jacket?!?!
Still a little big but couldn't hold back any longer! It makes me think about when my sisters and I would fight over who got to wear my dad's old letter jacket to school.
"And he'll have fun, fun, fun 'till his daddy takes his T-bird...err..tractor awaaaaay"
Still a little big but couldn't hold back any longer! It makes me think about when my sisters and I would fight over who got to wear my dad's old letter jacket to school.
"And he'll have fun, fun, fun 'till his daddy takes his T-bird...err..tractor awaaaaay"
Monday, December 12, 2011
Walker's Room
I've said it once and I'll say it again.
It is veeeery convenient being related to talented people.
My mom painted the letters and helped pick out all the fabric for the crib.
I was just going to Babiesrus-it.
So good, right?
Sunburst mirror form Hobby Lobby and $5 trunk from a garage sale.
Ignore the empty shelves. I'll put something on them...someday.
So these are not the greatest pictures (please go back an observe the sound machine on the floor by crib) but you can see overall what it looks like. What you can't see is how peaceful and calm the room is. I love to sit and rock as the sun filters in through the tree branches.
A special spot for my special boy.
It is veeeery convenient being related to talented people.
My mom painted the letters and helped pick out all the fabric for the crib.
I was just going to Babiesrus-it.
So good, right?
Sunburst mirror form Hobby Lobby and $5 trunk from a garage sale.
Ignore the empty shelves. I'll put something on them...someday.
So these are not the greatest pictures (please go back an observe the sound machine on the floor by crib) but you can see overall what it looks like. What you can't see is how peaceful and calm the room is. I love to sit and rock as the sun filters in through the tree branches.
A special spot for my special boy.
Thursday, December 8, 2011
Welcome Winter Weather
I have a problem.
A REAL problem.
I CANNOT stop singing "Baby It's Cold Outside."
There are multiple issues with this.
1. I only know the main refrain.
2. I only know the main refrain.
I wonder if my neighbors ever pop their heads out and question who is torturing the small animal next door (i.e. my off-key but extremely loud singing).
"Baby iiit's coooold OOOOOOUUUUUTSIIIIIDE!"
Walker wonders if the cold weather has caused a mental snap in his mom.
No son, that was the time change when we all were stuck indoors at 5:30 pm.
A REAL problem.
I CANNOT stop singing "Baby It's Cold Outside."
There are multiple issues with this.
1. I only know the main refrain.
2. I only know the main refrain.
I wonder if my neighbors ever pop their heads out and question who is torturing the small animal next door (i.e. my off-key but extremely loud singing).
"Baby iiit's coooold OOOOOOUUUUUTSIIIIIDE!"
Walker wonders if the cold weather has caused a mental snap in his mom.
No son, that was the time change when we all were stuck indoors at 5:30 pm.
Monday, November 28, 2011
Happy Thanksgiving 2011
"What's up, Mom?! No pics of Thanksgiving??
Ok, so Thanksgiving was at my house this year, and I got a little distracted and failed to capture it on film. It was super yummy though and not nearly as chaotic as I would have thought. We had the Reese family join us and partake in turkey! stuffing! ham! carrot souffle! cheesy mashed potatoes! cranberry sauce! basil green beans! parker house rolls! gingerbread! chocolate krinkle cookies! molasses spice cookies! bourbon pecan pie!
None of my kids had naps and held up surprisingly well (thankful for this). I think they were coasting on chocolate krinkle cookies of which my son may or may not have eaten "quite a few." When I say "quite a few" I mean something like more than three less than fifteen.
No clue how many Shelby ate. Her stealth skills are far superior to her brother's at this point. I know she had plenty based on the healthy coating of powdered sugar on the front of her shirt.
I also read the Thanksgiving book by Barbara Rainey (highly recommended) which gave me such admiration for those Pilgrims who risked it all to worship the Lord. Would I do the same? I asked myself as I read of their near starvation for two years in a row.
As my husband so aptly put it:
As Americans we are beneficiaries of the Pilgrim's sacrifice and as Christians we are beneficiaries of Jesus' sacrifice.
So much to be thankful for this year as our health and abundance overflows! May we use it to serve the God who has given it to us for His glory!
Chocolate Krinkle Cookies
8 ounces bittersweet chocolate, melted and cooled
1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup Dutch cocoa powder
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
8 tablespoons (1 stick) unsalted butter, room temperature
1 1/3 cups light-brown sugar, firmly packed
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1/3 cup milk
1 cup confectioners' sugar, plus more for rolling
Directions
1. Heat oven to 350 degrees. Chop bittersweet chocolate into small bits, and melt over medium heat in a heat-proof bowl or the top of a double boiler set over a pan of simmering water. Set aside to cool. Sift together flour, cocoa, baking powder, and salt.
2. In the bowl of a heavy-duty electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat butter and light-brown sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs and vanilla, and beat until well combined. Add melted chocolate. With mixer on low speed, alternate adding dry ingredients and milk until just combined. Divide the dough into quarters, wrap with plastic wrap, and chill in the refrigerator until firm, about 2 hours.
3.Roll 1" balls in granulated sugar and then in confectioner's sugar to coat. Place the cookies 2 inches apart on a Silpat-lined baking sheet. Bake 12-14 minutes.
4. Transfer from oven to a wire rack to let cool completely. Store in an airtight container for up to 1 week.
Molasses Spice Cookies
2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons of baking soda
1/2 teaspoon of salt
1 teaspoon ground ginger
1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground allspice
3/4 teaspoon ground cloves
3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
1/2 cup dark brown sugar, packed
1/2 cup granulated sugar, plus 1/3 cup for rolling cookies
1 large egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/3 cup unsulphered molasses
Method
1 Preheat oven to 375°F. Mix together flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, ginger, cloves, allspice together in a bowl and set aside.
2 Use an electric mixer and beat the butter for 2 minutes. Add the brown sugar, and 1/2 cup granulated sugar and beat until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes with mixer set at medium speed. Add egg, vanilla extract, and molasses. Beat until combined, about 30 seconds. Scrape down sides of bowl with a rubber spatula.
3 Add dry ingredients and beat at low speed until just combined, about 30 seconds.
4 Place remaining 1/3 cup of granulated sugar in a shallow bowl. Working with 2 Tbsp of dough each time, roll dough into 1 3/4 inch balls. Roll balls in sugar and place on ungreased cookie sheets, spacing them 1 1/2 to 2 inches apart.
5 Bake until the outer edges of the cookies begin to set and centers are soft and puffy, about 11 to 13 minutes. Cool cookies on sheets for 2 to 3 minutes before transferring them to cooling racks .
Note: do not overcook. The centers of the cookies should be somewhat soft and spongy when you take them out of the oven, otherwise they will end up hard and dry.
Optional Glaze
When cookies have cooled, lay out over a sheet of wax paper. Sift 1 1/4 cups of confectioner's sugar (powdered sugar) and then whisk with 2 Tbsp rum until smooth. Dip spoon into glaze and dribble over cookies.
Ok, so Thanksgiving was at my house this year, and I got a little distracted and failed to capture it on film. It was super yummy though and not nearly as chaotic as I would have thought. We had the Reese family join us and partake in turkey! stuffing! ham! carrot souffle! cheesy mashed potatoes! cranberry sauce! basil green beans! parker house rolls! gingerbread! chocolate krinkle cookies! molasses spice cookies! bourbon pecan pie!
None of my kids had naps and held up surprisingly well (thankful for this). I think they were coasting on chocolate krinkle cookies of which my son may or may not have eaten "quite a few." When I say "quite a few" I mean something like more than three less than fifteen.
No clue how many Shelby ate. Her stealth skills are far superior to her brother's at this point. I know she had plenty based on the healthy coating of powdered sugar on the front of her shirt.
I also read the Thanksgiving book by Barbara Rainey (highly recommended) which gave me such admiration for those Pilgrims who risked it all to worship the Lord. Would I do the same? I asked myself as I read of their near starvation for two years in a row.
As my husband so aptly put it:
As Americans we are beneficiaries of the Pilgrim's sacrifice and as Christians we are beneficiaries of Jesus' sacrifice.
So much to be thankful for this year as our health and abundance overflows! May we use it to serve the God who has given it to us for His glory!
Chocolate Krinkle Cookies
8 ounces bittersweet chocolate, melted and cooled
1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup Dutch cocoa powder
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
8 tablespoons (1 stick) unsalted butter, room temperature
1 1/3 cups light-brown sugar, firmly packed
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1/3 cup milk
1 cup confectioners' sugar, plus more for rolling
Directions
1. Heat oven to 350 degrees. Chop bittersweet chocolate into small bits, and melt over medium heat in a heat-proof bowl or the top of a double boiler set over a pan of simmering water. Set aside to cool. Sift together flour, cocoa, baking powder, and salt.
2. In the bowl of a heavy-duty electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat butter and light-brown sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs and vanilla, and beat until well combined. Add melted chocolate. With mixer on low speed, alternate adding dry ingredients and milk until just combined. Divide the dough into quarters, wrap with plastic wrap, and chill in the refrigerator until firm, about 2 hours.
3.Roll 1" balls in granulated sugar and then in confectioner's sugar to coat. Place the cookies 2 inches apart on a Silpat-lined baking sheet. Bake 12-14 minutes.
4. Transfer from oven to a wire rack to let cool completely. Store in an airtight container for up to 1 week.
Molasses Spice Cookies
2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons of baking soda
1/2 teaspoon of salt
1 teaspoon ground ginger
1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground allspice
3/4 teaspoon ground cloves
3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
1/2 cup dark brown sugar, packed
1/2 cup granulated sugar, plus 1/3 cup for rolling cookies
1 large egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/3 cup unsulphered molasses
Method
1 Preheat oven to 375°F. Mix together flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, ginger, cloves, allspice together in a bowl and set aside.
2 Use an electric mixer and beat the butter for 2 minutes. Add the brown sugar, and 1/2 cup granulated sugar and beat until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes with mixer set at medium speed. Add egg, vanilla extract, and molasses. Beat until combined, about 30 seconds. Scrape down sides of bowl with a rubber spatula.
3 Add dry ingredients and beat at low speed until just combined, about 30 seconds.
4 Place remaining 1/3 cup of granulated sugar in a shallow bowl. Working with 2 Tbsp of dough each time, roll dough into 1 3/4 inch balls. Roll balls in sugar and place on ungreased cookie sheets, spacing them 1 1/2 to 2 inches apart.
5 Bake until the outer edges of the cookies begin to set and centers are soft and puffy, about 11 to 13 minutes. Cool cookies on sheets for 2 to 3 minutes before transferring them to cooling racks .
Note: do not overcook. The centers of the cookies should be somewhat soft and spongy when you take them out of the oven, otherwise they will end up hard and dry.
Optional Glaze
When cookies have cooled, lay out over a sheet of wax paper. Sift 1 1/4 cups of confectioner's sugar (powdered sugar) and then whisk with 2 Tbsp rum until smooth. Dip spoon into glaze and dribble over cookies.
Friday, November 18, 2011
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
Allll byyyyy myseeeeelf
*channel Celine Dion but less melancholy.
Seth recently went on a men's retreat and I went solo w/ the three kiddos. Below is photographic evidence that we survived (but missed Daddy) AND made it to church on time!
Look! We are wearing clean clothes that match!
Look! Mommy has her morning smoothie!
Just glad I don't have to do it by myself every Sunday!
Seth recently went on a men's retreat and I went solo w/ the three kiddos. Below is photographic evidence that we survived (but missed Daddy) AND made it to church on time!
Look! We are wearing clean clothes that match!
Look! Mommy has her morning smoothie!
Just glad I don't have to do it by myself every Sunday!
Friday, November 11, 2011
First stage of letting go
At first glance it appears that Wyatt is casually sipping on his milk from Chick-fil-a.
This is a correct observation.
However, there is an element that can easily be overlooked in this seemingly innocuous scene.
The milk is chocolate.
You ask: Why does this matter? What possible point could this contain? How many waffle fries did you steal?
First, I must say that I am offended, truly offended, that you assume I would steal fries from my children's bags and somehow justify it in my mind that I was really helping them as if my consumption of their waffle fries was like me jumping in front of a bullet (a greasy, artery-clogging bullet). I won't even dignify your question with a response!
I will, however, point out what is going on here with the milk.
As young, first-time mom's, we tend to still hold on to the illusion of control. After all, if we wanted to sleep in, or go on a date w our spouse, etc. we could... BC (before children).
Then, we have our first child.
Unbeknownst to us, we are desperately clinging to our rapidly diminishing capacity to logically predict and plan how the day/night/week will go.
We begin by freaking out over all non-organic baby food (or shall we say poison puree?). I knew a girl once who (not exaggerating) FLIPPED OUT when her daughter was given a non-organic lollipop. Really you say? It's the same reason we disinfect our entire house weekly or play classical music or make the kids eat apples instead of fries or shun all TV in their presence lest their minds turn to mush before 2.
We are doing all these things because all the stuffing is coming out of our box, and we are bouncing on the top while somehow trying to strap the flaps with clear tape to permanently close what refuses to be contained.
We are in denial that we cannot control future cancer (organic food), intelligence (classical music), social acceptance (insistence on matching outfits), heartbreak (borderline smothering of child until they begin to shove us away at approximately 2), etc.
Then, we have our second child.
For most, this is the point at which you go flying across the room as your box explodes. Denial over!
You can't give the second organic food because the first is hoovering all the food in front of him/her, and you can no longer afford it. Not to mention that your second child managed to eat multiple bugs in one week and drank from the dogs water. Organic seems a leeeetle pointless at that moment.
Classical music sends your oldest child into fits of whiny boredom. And, let's be honest, you too.
Matching outfits? Just throw on a headband b/c we need to "hurry" into the store for milk, bread, and eggs to survive the next two days.
And TV...
Well, I'll just say that after the birth of the second (and third) child things tend to loosen up a little bit.
None of the ideals mentioned earlier are wrong, but they tend to be rooted in the wrong idea. That somehow every minute decision somehow shifts the ever-changing path of our child's destiny is a ton of pressure for a mother.
The mind of man plans his way, But the LORD directs his steps. Prov 16:9
We cannot control the future. We can make plans and be good stewards of the kiddos that God has blessed us with but, ultimately, God directs our steps. This is not a call to eat pizza and nuggets every night w/ MTV on in the other room but, rather, a call to relax that ball of tension inside where your kids are concerned-the one that co-mingles heavily with Mom Guilt.
How freeing is this verse?
Yes, make your plans!
Have the occasional chocolate milk with a healthy diet!
Don't beat yourself up if you arrive at your destination to realize your child is not buckled into his/her carseat!(purely hypothetical)
Know the future does not rest solely on your shoulders. We make choices but our good God is bigger than our box.
In light of all of this new understanding, I say...
...CHEERS to a little chocolate milk with our nuggets!
***For those who are curious, I recently observed the aforementioned mother's third child eating Starburst at a party...with the wrappers still on. This child is still alive and appears very healthy and normal.
This is a correct observation.
However, there is an element that can easily be overlooked in this seemingly innocuous scene.
The milk is chocolate.
You ask: Why does this matter? What possible point could this contain? How many waffle fries did you steal?
First, I must say that I am offended, truly offended, that you assume I would steal fries from my children's bags and somehow justify it in my mind that I was really helping them as if my consumption of their waffle fries was like me jumping in front of a bullet (a greasy, artery-clogging bullet). I won't even dignify your question with a response!
I will, however, point out what is going on here with the milk.
As young, first-time mom's, we tend to still hold on to the illusion of control. After all, if we wanted to sleep in, or go on a date w our spouse, etc. we could... BC (before children).
Then, we have our first child.
Unbeknownst to us, we are desperately clinging to our rapidly diminishing capacity to logically predict and plan how the day/night/week will go.
We begin by freaking out over all non-organic baby food (or shall we say poison puree?). I knew a girl once who (not exaggerating) FLIPPED OUT when her daughter was given a non-organic lollipop. Really you say? It's the same reason we disinfect our entire house weekly or play classical music or make the kids eat apples instead of fries or shun all TV in their presence lest their minds turn to mush before 2.
We are doing all these things because all the stuffing is coming out of our box, and we are bouncing on the top while somehow trying to strap the flaps with clear tape to permanently close what refuses to be contained.
We are in denial that we cannot control future cancer (organic food), intelligence (classical music), social acceptance (insistence on matching outfits), heartbreak (borderline smothering of child until they begin to shove us away at approximately 2), etc.
Then, we have our second child.
For most, this is the point at which you go flying across the room as your box explodes. Denial over!
You can't give the second organic food because the first is hoovering all the food in front of him/her, and you can no longer afford it. Not to mention that your second child managed to eat multiple bugs in one week and drank from the dogs water. Organic seems a leeeetle pointless at that moment.
Classical music sends your oldest child into fits of whiny boredom. And, let's be honest, you too.
Matching outfits? Just throw on a headband b/c we need to "hurry" into the store for milk, bread, and eggs to survive the next two days.
And TV...
Well, I'll just say that after the birth of the second (and third) child things tend to loosen up a little bit.
None of the ideals mentioned earlier are wrong, but they tend to be rooted in the wrong idea. That somehow every minute decision somehow shifts the ever-changing path of our child's destiny is a ton of pressure for a mother.
The mind of man plans his way, But the LORD directs his steps. Prov 16:9
We cannot control the future. We can make plans and be good stewards of the kiddos that God has blessed us with but, ultimately, God directs our steps. This is not a call to eat pizza and nuggets every night w/ MTV on in the other room but, rather, a call to relax that ball of tension inside where your kids are concerned-the one that co-mingles heavily with Mom Guilt.
How freeing is this verse?
Yes, make your plans!
Have the occasional chocolate milk with a healthy diet!
Don't beat yourself up if you arrive at your destination to realize your child is not buckled into his/her carseat!(purely hypothetical)
Know the future does not rest solely on your shoulders. We make choices but our good God is bigger than our box.
In light of all of this new understanding, I say...
...CHEERS to a little chocolate milk with our nuggets!
***For those who are curious, I recently observed the aforementioned mother's third child eating Starburst at a party...with the wrappers still on. This child is still alive and appears very healthy and normal.
Monday, November 7, 2011
Pushing our kids
We all do it at some time or another. Sometimes it's healthy and sometimes it's ammo for the psychotherapy session later. Delicate balance people. Delicate balance.
Anyhow, in my defense his neck is really strong...
and he gets tired of laying around...
and he is my third so in my head he's practically crawling/graduating from high school and not just two months old...
and I needed to make dinner...
and I genuinely thought he would like the Bumbo.
He didn't.
Anyhow, in my defense his neck is really strong...
and he gets tired of laying around...
and he is my third so in my head he's practically crawling/graduating from high school and not just two months old...
and I needed to make dinner...
and I genuinely thought he would like the Bumbo.
He didn't.
Friday, November 4, 2011
I must be fair!
So, I showed pictures of Shelby's cutest M&M costume EVER! Yet, I failed to show Wyatt in all his glory.
My little lamb...
I'm sorry, but did I just hear a virtual request for more lambkins?
Who am I to deny the cries for more cuteness in the world?
Looks like Pappy had a drive-by "stickering."
At least it's not a happy face sticker...
discovered in an awkward place...
thirty minutes into grocery shopping.
Purely hypothetical of course.
My little lamb...
I'm sorry, but did I just hear a virtual request for more lambkins?
Who am I to deny the cries for more cuteness in the world?
Looks like Pappy had a drive-by "stickering."
At least it's not a happy face sticker...
discovered in an awkward place...
thirty minutes into grocery shopping.
Purely hypothetical of course.
Tuesday, November 1, 2011
Shelby strikes again!
Poor Walker! He never had a chance with Shelby as an older sister.
Flashback to Wyatt and you will see a pattern of behavior developing here.
Good thing the boys have each other. They'll need to harness all their man-power to combat their lip gloss-wielding sister.
Flashback to Wyatt and you will see a pattern of behavior developing here.
Good thing the boys have each other. They'll need to harness all their man-power to combat their lip gloss-wielding sister.
Pumpkin Patch & Carve-off 2011
"The Superman shirt will give me power to lift my nemesis, Large Pumpkin!"
"Ok. Take two. New hold."
Wyatt gives up on Large Pumpkin and instead decides to terrorize all the small pumpkins.
My perfect little pumpkin!
Not one to be left out, Walker makes his choice as well.
Landry vs. Landry
Carve-off 2011
Seth opts for an intricate pattern of a haunted mansion with all the fancy utensils.
I chose to go old school and free-formed it.
Good bonding time w/ the spouse (even though he totally manipulated our daughter into favoring his pumpkin by telling her it was a castle. I choose not to hold this against him.)
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