Merry Christmas

From all of us to all of you, we wish you a very Merry Christmas!

Blue Jean and Flannel Lap Blanket

My latest creation is a blue jean and flannel lap blanket. This will be a Christmas gift for someone on my list.

My Brother is in town...

David, Cleo and her kids Cody and Adrienne just moved to town. Though they were completely exhausted from driving overnight, they came over for dinner, cake and ice cream to celebrate Charlie's birthday.


Dave and Cleo and the kids live just 10 minutes away. Even better news... in June I am going to be an Auntie again!


Dave and Cleo

Cody

Adrienne

Charlie's Birthday

Charlie turned 4 today. Where have the years gone?


Charlie blowing out his candles.

A happy smile and while looking at the camera.

Oh goodie, something to hit my brothers with...

Halloween 2008

Ocean Afghan Set

This afghan set is one that I am selling. The afghan is 4'x3' and comes with a matching hat and octopus. I am selling it for $50.

Shades of blue afghan set

This afghan set is one that I am selling. The afghan is 4'x3' and comes with a matching hat and octopus. I am selling it for $50.

Becky and Carolyn... Homecoming Night

Aunt Becky and Aunt Carolyn came to visit and it happened to be homecoming night. We all had dinner and then Patrick got ready to go to the dance. Of course we had to take some pictures.


Becky is reading to Michael.

Carolyn is reading to Charlie.

Patrick ready for the dance.

The whole family together.

Homecoming Float

Patrick and his friends worked on the Homecoming float all week long. Then they rode in the parade. We played the Trojans that night and both Patrick and Kurt were the unlucky Trojans. We also won the game!

Pumpkin Carving

After visiting the Pumpkin Patch, Michael and I went to the school for the Pumpkin Carving night. He helped me carve his pumpkin with all of his friends. The shirt he is wearing was made over at Ethan's house.

Pumpkin Patch

The Kindergartners and Preschoolers went on their annual trip to the Pumpkin Patch. This year both Michael and Charlie went and at the same time which was very nice for me. I went along and the three of us had fun. The boys got to pick out a pumpkin and go on a hay ride. They also played in the hay pile and with all of the tractors that were around the farm.

Cinnamon Pear Muffins

This is a wonderful recipe. The muffins are moist and the chunks of pear a delightful surprise! They were a hit with the kids.

CINNAMON PEAR MUFFINS

1 1/2 c. quick oats
1 c. packed brown sugar
1 tsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. soft butter
1 1/2 c. flour
3 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
1 c. chopped peeled pear (1 lg.)
1 c. milk
1/3 c. melted shortening
1 egg

Combine oats, brown sugar and cinnamon.
Remove 2 1/2 cups to large mixing bowl.
Combine soft butter with remaining oatmeal mixture; set aside.
Stir flour, baking powder, and salt into oatmeal mixture in large bowl.
Stir in pear.
Combine milk, shortening, and egg.
Pour into dry ingredients and mix just until moistened.
Spoon into 12 greased or lined muffin cups filling 1/2 full.
Sprinkle reserved oatmeal mixture over tops.
Bake for 12-15 minutes at 400 degrees.
Serves 12.

School Spirit

With winter coming and high school football in the middle of its season, I thought I would make the younger kids hats and scarves in their school colors. I had to make them all different so no one would fight over them.


Here are the little boys hats.

This set is for Alyssa

And here are the boys, ready for winter.

Yellow and Pastel Afghan Set

This set will be for my niece Leann and her husband Peter. They are expecting in January.

Play Dough

This week I had an assignment in my Early Childhood Education class to make playdough and the observe the kids in how they played with it. Michael and i made the playdough and later that afternoon the kids all played with it.

Sock Hop

The elementary school had a sock hop. Alyssa, Jonathan, Michael and Charlie had a blast dancing the night away. Michael won the best decorated socks for his age group. Alyssa and Jonny both participated in the hula hoop contest but neither won. All of the kids played the Limbo. All in all it was a fun night!

David and Melissa

They popped in for a surprise visit and we had to take a picture on the couch with all of this kids. This is becoming the thing to do when we have company.

No-Knead Bread

Over at Southern Spirit Hunters, Sarah has started a bread baking club. Here is the first recipe she posted and my finished product. I did make two loaves out of this recipe rather than just one and I baked mine on very well greased cookie sheets. This bread was served for my kiddos with honey butter and was gone pretty much instantly. They loved it and it is such an easy recipe. Enjoy!


No-Knead Bread

3 cups all-purpose or bread flour, more for dusting
¼ teaspoon instant yeast
1¼ teaspoons salt
Cornmeal or wheat bran as needed.

1. In a large bowl combine flour, yeast and salt. Add 1 5/8 cups water, and stir until blended; dough will be shaggy and sticky. Cover bowl with plastic wrap. Let dough rest at least 12 hours, preferably about 18, at warm room temperature, about 70 degrees.

2. Dough is ready when its surface is dotted with bubbles. Lightly flour a work surface and place dough on it; sprinkle it with a little more flour and fold it over on itself once or twice. Cover loosely with plastic wrap and let rest about 15 minutes.

3. Using just enough flour to keep dough from sticking to work surface or to your fingers, gently and quickly shape dough into a ball. Generously coat a cotton towel (not terry cloth) with flour, wheat bran or cornmeal; put dough seam side down on towel and dust with more flour, bran or cornmeal. Cover with another cotton towel and let rise for about 2 hours. When it is ready, dough will be more than double in size and will not readily spring back when poked with a finger.

4. At least a half-hour before dough is ready, heat oven to 450 degrees. Put a 6- to 8-quart heavy covered pot (cast iron, enamel, Pyrex or ceramic) in oven as it heats. When dough is ready, carefully remove pot from oven. Slide your hand under towel and turn dough over into pot, seam side up; it may look like a mess, but that is O.K. Shake pan once or twice if dough is unevenly distributed; it will straighten out as it bakes. Cover with lid and bake 30 minutes, then remove lid and bake another 15 to 30 minutes, until loaf is beautifully browned. Cool on a rack.

Yield: One 1½-pound loaf.

Veggie Tales

Grandma bought the kids tickets to see Veggie Tales live. Aunt Joyce, who was visiting from Michigan, along with Aunt Carolyn and I took Katie, Zackery, Alyssa, Jonny, Mikey and Charlie to the show.


Right from the start Michael was entranced. Charlie was scared and snuggled close to me but finally danced after the intermission. I know that we all had a really good time at the show.

Uncle Bob and Aunt Willie Visit

This week Uncle Bob and Aunt Willie came to visit. We had them over for dinner twice, once with fresh cod that Uncle Bob caught while deep sea fishing. The kids had so much fun getting to know them and so did I. Lots of pictures, lots of laughter!

First day of School

Zackery is in 8th grade.
Alyssa is in 3rd grade.
Jonny is in 1st grade.
Mikey is in Kindergarten.

Crochet Along

The Lion Brand Yarn website is hosting a Crochet Along.

I have decided to do my project as a baby afghan in shades of blues.
Not sure yet who will get this project but for now I have started.

First I worked up my test blocks. There are three patterns and while I only have two of the yarns picked out, I worked up all three blocks.
The green will not be included in this project.



There are a total of 30 blocks needed and so far I have done 5 of them. I will try and update my progress weekly.

Michael's Birthday

Michael had a wonderful 5th birthday. He only asked for a couple of things, anything from The Wiggles and a cowboy hat. Granny sent along the Wiggles shirt which he wore all day long and the cowboy hat came after dinner. I am pretty sure he slept in both.

Water Fun

This weekend the kids and I headed North to visit the family. We stayed a night at Van and Carolyn's place. They took us downtown to walk around and let the kids play in the fountains. We also took the kids to a place where they could make music. It was so much fun!

A New Venture

I have decided to start selling my craft items. I will be keeping a running slide show going of the items that I have available for sale right here on my blog.

If you see anything that you want, please let me know. And feel free to share my blog with anyone who you think may enjoy a home made item for the newest baby in their lives.

I am hoping that this will take off for me and with any money I make, I can help to put myself through college. More items will be posted just as soon as I finish them and I can also do custom orders.

Hot Pink Afghan Set

This set was originally made with my niece Melissa in mind. However when the time came to give it to her, she decided to choose the one that was in shades of lighter pinks and browns. This one went instead to her best friend Amanda who is also expecting a daughter within a couple of weeks of Melissa.