Merry Christmas Fun!

It's been awhile since I wrote in my blog. It seems like each of my kids have been sick and then I got the flu from my little miss Sierra! But now the worst is over and we are getting in full swing for our trip to Mexico over Christmas break. I am looking forward to the opportunity to serve others and to really appreciate the real meaning of Christmas. When I get back I will post about our trip and have pictures to share. Here is a picture of Sierra and I in full Christmas cheer.

Remembering Bama

It was a busy weekend for us and I told Todd that I really felt we needed to go and see Bama (Todd's grandma) at the nursing home. Her health was on the decline and she had recently been put on hospice. As it turns out on Sunday we stopped at his mom and dad's house and when we were there, the nursing home called and said that she was not doing well and if anyone wanted to see her now was the time. We went right away and saw her and I am so thanful that we did. She passed away that evening. I have so many memories of Bama as she lived with us for awhile. She loved babies - didn't matter whether they were a boy or a girl. She also loved plants and had a green thumb that would rival many. She enjoyed eating and one of her recipes that we thought was quite funny was mixing Slimfast and icecream together. Now that's my kind of shake! We will miss her and look forward to the day when Jesus comes and we can see her again.

Sierra and the Phone

Sierra loves to climb and I often find her on my desk. This series of pictures shows her having a great time. She loves to jabber. Wait till you can understand her well and who knows who she will be talking to!

Our Kitty

Unbeknowst to me, Todd and crew dressed "Morning Star" with some of Sierra's clothes. I don't think that Morning Star was that thrilled and was anxious to get away. She is a wonderful cat who puts up with alot and apparently not just from my two little ones!

Only a Face a Mother Could Love - Well a Daddy Too

Not long ago this past month we were eating a mexican supper and Sierra tried her hand at using silverware - her first real experience on her own. She loved the entire meal as you can see by the pictures. I'm not sure if she got more on her than she got in her.

Do You Ever Have Days Like These

Do you ever have a day where it just seems that you don't accomplish anything or not much it seems? This was one of those days for me and yet I had to laugh or I was going to cry. While I was on the phone with my mom the kids got out the cheerios and after eating some, promptly dumped them on the floor. Even the kitty got in on the action. Logan was pretty cheery about helping me "clean up"!

Donuts

Fall is in full swing and I can't believe how long its been since I have updated the blog. We have been really busy. I love fall and I really love fall food. That means applesauce - which I am presently working on and donuts! So far I have made three different kinds of donuts and they have all been good. My favorite so far has been Sweet Potato Sourcream donuts. They are good with applesauce and icecream on top or just plain all by themselves.

Sticker Fun - Thomas the Train Style

Logan had fun playing with his Thomas the train stickers - he even stuck them on his cousin Ariel and as I discovered a few moments later, on the house as well!

Pathfinder Camporee

This past weekend we went on the Pathfinder Camporee with our club from Charlotte. I helped Pennie Clements (another of the moms) to do the cooking for the group. In the picture above, Pennie and I are taking a break after cleaning up from a meal! Our club did very well that weekend - we got 191 points out of 200 and we took first place in fire making - especially since it was raining!!

Logan's 3rd Birthday

Logan turns 3! We celebrated his birthday with friends and family with a Thomas the Train theme. I took a chance on trying to make a Thomas cake - it wasn't professional but turned out pretty good for a novice - at least that is what I am told. LOL! We also had choo choo train pizza and carrots & celery. The kids enjoyed the pizza and helping Logan open up his gifts. He really liked his gifts and the kids all had fun with the train set.

Trip to Traverse City & Black Lake

Over Labor Day Weekend we went up north to Traverse City and spent time with my Aunt Diane & her husband Greg, my cousins Amy & Steven and family, Grandma Righter, and also Aunt Diane's exchange student Calli. We had a wonderful time visiting and eating lots of yummy food - especially Greg's homemade Haloumi cheese. On Sunday after a wonderful breakfast we went to Black Lake and visited with my husbands relatives. We relaxed at the lake front and had a great baked potato and fresh corn supper. I had never gone kayaking before and my sister-in-law Julie took me on a short sunset kayak trip - it was beautiful! On Monday before we left, Uncle Ralph and Aunt Nor took us on a boat ride and Wyatt got to ride the waves which he thought was awesome.

Sierra & Wyatt's Birthday Party

Where does the time go? Sierra is now one years old and Wyatt is twelve. We celebrated their birthdays together this year. The theme was "Little Ladybug" and Wyatt was gracious enough to celebrate with his sister. We had little ladybug sandwiches, chips, salad, and a special ladybug cake for Sierra and a Reese Pieces Pie for Wyatt. Family and friends helped make this day special.

Wyatt's Baptism

We were so thrilled to see Wyatt take his stand for Jesus in getting baptized. He has been wanting to do this for quite awhile and specifically in Grandma's pond. We weren't sure if the weather was going to cooperate but the Lord blessed and although it was hot - there was a nice gentle breeze to go along with the heat.

Link to Vegan Dad

I want to add a link to Vegad Dad for you because I tried a new recipe from his blog that I really liked. It was a vegan creamy tomato pasta sauce recipe. You can reach it at: http://vegandad.blogspot.com/2008/07/rotini-with-creamy-basil-tomato-sauce.html

Apricot Lentil Soup

I just tried this new recipe tonight that I must share because it is just scrumptious! It is called Apricot Lentil Soup. I know it sounds strange but it tastes delicious - sort of a morracan flavor.

Ingredients:

3 TB olive oil
1 onion, chopped
2 cloves, garlic, minced
1/3 C dried apricots
1 1/2 C dried red lentils
5 C chicken stock - I used the McKay's vegetarian seasoning
3 roma tomatoes, peeled, seeded, and chopped
1/2 tsp ground cumin
1/2 tsp dried thyme
salt to taste
2 Tb fresh lemon juice

Saute onion, garlic, and apricots in olive oil. Add lentils and stock. Bring to a boil. then reduce heat and simmer 30 minutes. Stir in tomatoes and season with cumin, thyme, and salt to taste. Simmer for 10 minutes. Stir in lemon juice. Puree 1/2 of the soup in a blender, then return to the pot. Serve. Makes 6 servings.

More Windy City Pictures

Here are a few more pictures of our day in Chicago!

Wyatt's Surprise Birthday Trip To The Windy City

Yesterday we surprised Wyatt with a special birthday gift - a trip to Chicago by train. We left early in the morning and caught the Amtrak train out of the Battle Creek station. We arrived in Chicago at lunch time and we at pizza at Gino's East - it was yummy! Then we went to the Museum of Science and Industry and had a great time. Wyatt really enjoyed the tour of the German U-Boat. Then we took a taxi back to Union Station to take the train back home.

It was a great day!

Sweet Corn - Yummy Fun!

Wyatt is working on his Freezing honor for Pathfinders and

one of the requirements is to freeze sweet corn. We have a

wonderful farm around the corner from us who grow the

most delicious sweet corn I know. Wyatt has been a big help

in putting up the sweet corn. So far we have done about 2

bushels of corn.

Hamsters, A Bird, & Now A Kitty - Oh My!

When Wyatt first wanted a pet we let him get a hamster that he named "Golden". After Golden came two new hamsters called "Snuggles" and "Reepachief". Shortly before campmeeting, Wyatt rescued a morning dove he named "Sears". On the way home from campmeeting, we stopped by an elderly couple's home and much to Wyatt's and Todd's surprise picked out a lovely calico kitty that Wyatt named "Morning Star". She is a very good kitty and does well with Sierra and Logan who love her in their own way - we are still working with them both on being "gentle" with the kitty. Wyatt loves her immensely as well as his dad and surprisingly mom does too.