Ringing In The New Year...

... Pretty Pretty Princess Style! Oh yeah - we are cool like that!

Christmas Morning

What was that...? Did you hear it?

L heard it

J heard it

Thanks Santa

Mema and Grandad were there too :)

Day 22

My Project 365 is more like a Project Random. I can't seem to keep up with it. But I enjoy posting when I can.

{Our VERY foggy and ICY day.}
This picture taken at 1:30 in the afternoon. I have never seen fog so thick before. When it is 18* outside the fog puts some awesome ice on everything!!

Creating New Traditions

This year is the first year that my parents have lived in the same state as us! Christmas Eve tradition was to go to my Uncle Bob's house and have an Italian family dinner. Since we all are in Colorado this year, Jeff and I decided to host the Italian family dinner. One of the menu items - homemade raviolis. My mom would make them in Christmases past, so we got together and she taught me how to make them. It was a fun time!

Day 16

{I'm not tired...famous last words}

Pizza Dough

What I love about this dough is you don't think about it. Most of the time when I make pizza dough at home is overwhelms the pizza. This dough is perfect. You don't pay too much attention to it. It is a perfect compliment to the Best Ever! Pizza Sauce :)

Ingredients:
1 cup warm water (110F)
1 (1/4 ounce) envelope active dry yeast/(I used 2 1/4 tsp of bread machine yeast)
1 teaspoon sugar
3 cups all-purpose flour, divided
1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
1 teaspoon salt

Directions:
- In the bowl of your heavy-duty mixer (like a Kitchen Aid), stir together the water, yeast and sugar; let sit until the mixture is foamy, which takes about 5 minutes.
- Add 1 1/2 cups of the flour, the oil and salt into the yeast mixture and, using the paddle attachment
- When smooth Switch to the dough hook.
- With the machine running at low, add remaining flour, 1/4 cup at a time; make sure each addition of flour is incorporated before adding the next.
- Once all the flour has been added, turn up the speed and let the machine knead the dough for about 3 minutes; it should be very smooth and perhaps a bit tacky. For me not all the flour took to the ball so I drizzled in a couple tablespoons of water and kneaded a little by hand.
- Grease a large mixing bowl with a little olive oil; form dough into a ball, and place into oiled bowl, turning dough over to make sure all sides are oiled.
- Cover bowl with plastic wrap or cover with towel and place in a warm, draft-free area to rise; the dough should nearly double in size, which will take about 60 to 90 minutes.
- When dough is ready, lightly punch it down and knead it a bit, still right in the bowl. Lightly flour your work surface and place dough ball on it; let it rest for 10 minutes.
- This makes one large pizza
- To stretch dough I used a rolling pin. Then I tossed it a little bit. Use your knuckles and not your finger tips or it will tear.
- I use a pizza stone and put the stone in the oven while it is preheating. Bake 8 to 10 minutes at 475F.

Recipe adapted from here

Day 15

{Playing Store}

These two play so well together (for the most part). Actually, any combination of the two seems to be a good match, but throw in the third kid and instant crying..

I'm working on it :)

And yes! that clerk is with no pants. He lives like that about 90% of the time. He hates pants... his sister hates that he hates pants.

Day 14

{In the WORD}

This was L's first time picking up a bible that wasn't a child's version and reading it. It started when he saw a verse printed on an ornament on the tree. We looked it up. Then he wanted to read the Christmas story, so he read me Luke 2:1-20. Then he asked about the letters in red. He asked to read more about what Jesus said. So he read me the Sermon on the Mount! Have to admit, one of the best experiences of my life. I love that boy.

Day 13

{Snack Time}

Project 365 - Day 12 (Playing Catch Up)

{What makes my house smell good}

I love scented pine cones.

In need of healing?

For the child of God all things work together for good. This truth is reality because God is the Great Redeemer. He redeems all your past and uses it to conform you into the image of His Son. He is for you, not against you. And if He is for you, who can be against you? Neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate you from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 8:28-39, selected verses).

God's love is an unconditional, everlasting, transforming love. A love demonstrated and received at Calvary. And it is at Calvary that you, Beloved of God, will find your Gilead--your city of refuge, your place of healing.

How like our "Americanized" Christianity! We have needed healing, but instead of running to our Father and asking Him what to do, we have turned to man's psychology, to man's philosophy, to our humanistic version of Christianity, or to our own understanding. Like the Israelites of old, we have turned from the wellspring of all of God's sufficiency to the cistern of mans reasoning.

Excerpts from: Lord, Heal My Hurts, by Kay Arthur

Day 7

{Playing with Daddy}

We let the kids play video games for the FIRST TIME EVER today!

It was love hate. So much frustration comes with using fine motor skills.

Day 6

{My Patient}

Today the little two have a stomach bug.

They can't keep ANYTHING down!
They have been so snugly and sweet.

I'm pretty sure J turns into the world's sweetest child when she is sick.

She smiles every time you enter or leave a room.

She says thank you for everything and we get to hear "I Love You" a lot :)

Hope they feel better tomorrow.. my poor babies.

Day 5 (Late again!)

{The stockings were hung by the chimney on the wall with care}

Day 4

{My Handy Man}

Whatever it was that needed fixin'... it was serious work.

Day 3 (a day late)

{My new manicure.. the reason I missed yesterday}

Yesterday ended in an impromptu girls' night for me. One girlfriend asked me to go get nails done for our husbands' Christmas party (which is tonight! Yay!), and then another asked me to go shopping with her for a dress. So I spent the evening out, had a BLAST! and completely FORGOT!

Geesh day 3 and I'm already cheating at this.

Day 2

{Our Little Manger}

Christmas decor is almost done. We have inside lights, stockings hung, manger out, garlands strung, but no tree yet. Colorado is a dry dry state, so we are holding off a little - we don't end up with a tree that bursts into flames on Christmas morning. Tomorrow we are doing the outside lights and hanging Christmas cards around the inside of the house.

My mom started my favorite tradition (you can see a little in the pictures here) - EVERY SINGLE card I recieve is dated on the back, attached to ribbon and hung around the ceiling of the house. I remember my mom's would go through every room in the downstairs and up the stairwell. So cool. Right now my measly collection will probably only fill my great room when hung.. but I look forward to the days when I will fill the house with the loving thoughts of family and friends from years past :)

Weaving

Today we learned about ancient settlers' weaving skills. So we decided to weave.

L agrees it is hard work.

Early Schooling

Usually while L and J school I let M "read" books, color, help with chores, or play quietly.

Recently he began asking to do school too. Hesitant, I put it off for a while, but he

continued to press me. I didn't think he was ready for seat work. I tested the waters by letting him doodle at the table for a week or two during school time. After seeing he was really eager to sit and learn, I went and purchased a small work book for 3-5 year olds.

Today was our first day whipping it out and I was amazed:

1.) M can hold a pencil

2.) He can trace a line very well

3.) He CAN follow directions

4.) He CAN sit still (really he can!)

5.) He loved it!

Looks like schooling around here has just become more fun!

Granola

Ingredients:

4 cups old-fashioned oats
1 1/2 cup sliced almonds
1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1/4 cup honey
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 1/2 cup raisins or dried cranberries

Directions:

Preheat oven to 300 F. In a bowl mix the oats, almonds, brown sugar, salt and cinnamon. In a saucepan warm the oil and honey. Whisk in vanilla.

Carefully pour the liquid over the oat mixture. Stir gently with a wooden spoon; finish mixing by hand. Spread granola in a 15x10 inch baking pan.

Bake 40 minutes, stirring carefully every 10 minutes. Transfer granola-filled pan to a rack to cool completely. Stir in raisins or cranberries. Seal granola in an airtight container or self-sealing plastic bag. Store at room temperature for 1 week or in the freezer for 3 months.

Recipe from here

Project 365: Day 1

My girlfriend Brooke has decided to pick up her PROJECT 365 blog entries and I have decided to join her. Basically it is just a photo from my everyday life, everyday. Sounds simple (I don't know that I will be able to keep up, but I hope so!) and fun. Besides I miss playing with my camera and this gives me an excuse to pick it up EVERYDAY!

{Reading time. L reads to J for a 1/2 an hr a day for part of their schooling. It is one of my favorite times of the day. They do it nicely and it makes my heart happy}

A New Tradition

Tiny Helpers! From now on I am going to let each of them be responsible for a dish. The older two loved it.. M.. well... he gave up after dumping in the first box :0).

Grace and Giving

Our Pastor asked our church to read the book, The Treasure Principle this week. It is truly a powerful book, but one line has stuck out to me above all others thus far:

"As thunder follows lightening, giving follows grace. When God's grace touches you, you can't help but respond with generous giving. ... giving is simply the overflow of joy."

I have experienced this truth in recent months. The more I become aware of the magnitude of God's grace the more I have an overwhelming NEED to give. Not only of finances, but of time, resources, and services - out of the abundant joy of experiencing God's grace and being able to truly appreciate it. What an amazing God we serve! He gives His grace so freely! I pray that I can accept it as I should and respond to it the way He desires.

Vanilla Bean Biscotti

(Taken from Better Homes and Gardens)

Ingredients:
1 Vanilla bean, split lengthwise, or
2 tsp vanilla extract
2 3/4c all-purpose flour
1 1/2c sugar
1 tsp salt
1 1/2 tsp baking powder

2 eggs
2 egg yolks
6 Tbs melted butter

Directions:
1. If using a vanilla bean, scrape seeds from pod; discard pod.
2. Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Lightly grease two of your largest cookie sheets; set aside. In a large bowl combine flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt. Make a well in the center of flour and stir eggs into flour mixture. Add melted butter and vanilla seeds or extract; stir until dough starts to form a ball.
3. Divide dough into three portions. On a lightly floured surface, shape each portion into a 14" loaf. Place loaves 3" apart on the prepared cookie sheets (make sure you give them enough space because they spread while baking); flatten slightly until about 1 1/2" wide.
4. Bake in preheated oven on two racks for 25 to 30 mins or until firm and lightly browned, switching pan positions halfway through baking. Cool on cookie sheets 15 mins (make sure you give them time to cool or they will crumble).
5. Using a serrated knife, cut loaves diagonally into 1/2" slices. Place slices on cookie sheets cut sides down.
6. Bake for 10 minutes. Turn sides over and bake 10 to 15 more or until crisp and dry.

L Turns 7!