Thoughts

These are pictures from a few books that Gwen has that have amused me lately. This first one is a nice book of Bible songs and here it depicts Jesus and some kids. What cracks me up in this picture is the "girl" on his right. To me she looks like a really short 40 year old.

We got this book from the library this week. It's called "Family" and has many family members which is great...but look at Grandpa! Look at the second hand smoke. I mean, he could smoke later couldn't he?

Around the House

Ben got me these roses today. Aren't they a pretty color? I told Ben that I'd like to have an orange rose bush sometime. I am blessed with such a wonderful husband.

This is a video of Gwen showing and saying "belly button." She is really into body parts now and can tell you about anything you want to know. Her speech is exploding and she repeats almost everything I say to her. She is going to be so funny when she can talk... I just know it.

Meal Plan

It took me a long time to get through all of the plan I had before, so that's why I haven't posted a meal plan lately. Here's this week:

Russian vegetable soup

beef stuffed spuds

chicken and cornbread dressing

split pea and ham soup

pork chops, zatarain's rice mix, peas

Tuscan pasta, salad

Owl City

I'm liking this song lately. I have no idea what it means. See what you think.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aI4JLa0hbUw

Changing of the Seasons

I've had these two pumpkins at my door since mid-October. I decided with the Christmas tree up now shining through our window it would probably be a good time to bring in the pumpkins. This year I didn't carve our pumpkins because it was just too much effort and I kind of liked the way the pumpkin looked a la naturel. I bought this pumpkin at Aldi's because I thought it had character. (use your imagination to think about what I thought it looked like) Now I'm deciding if it is too old to cook and save the pumpkin. Any thoughts?

This is a picture I took of Gwen last night. Her hair in the back is beginning to grow now. She felt so much better yesterday than she has in the past week. I was surprised to discover that she has multiple teeth growing in at once right now. One molar and several canines. Yikes... no wonder she wasn't sleeping well.

The Bend In The Road

This poem encouraged me this morning after a hard night with Gwen waking due to congestion and teething. At 5:30 I finally succumbed to tears and the thought of what I am going to do with two little ones was overwhelming at the time. This one inside me was kicking, the other having a fit in her crib. Maybe one day I will look back at moments like this and if not laugh, then at least smile a knowing smile. The Lord sees the whole picture when we don't. That gives me hope.

When together we stand at life's crossroads,

and view what we think is the end.

Know that God has a much wider vision,

and He knows that it's only a bend.

For the road will go on and is smoother

And the pause in the song is a rest.

The part that's unsung and unfinished,

is the sweetest and richest and best.

So rest and relax and grow stronger,

Let go and let God share your load.

And have faith in a brighter tomorrow,

You've just come to a bend in the road.

-Helen Steiner Rice

Need a little chuckle?

This guy thinks he's singing 5 octaves. This made me laugh. I needed that... thanks Shane.

Odds and Ends

These are just some things that have been on my mind recently. Before you get too serious, just know not a lot of serious stuff crosses my mind.

This first item is some shampoo that I bought at Aldi, oh, say a month ago. I've been looking at it in the shower and it says it is "normalizing shampoo." What does that mean? What is abnormal hair? Sounds bogus to me and it bothers me. :)

This is our Christmas pinata this year. Last year it was Frosty...but this year it is a tree we will whack. I've decided to put homemade goodies in there and ask the neighborhood kids to join in. I'll be sure to film that and share at a later date. Right now it is residing in my closet away from 1 1/2 year olds.

This is a book we got for Gwen at the library. You know me and children's books if you read this blog. Well... I got to looking at this cover and noticed something different about the mouse on it.

I told Ben that either this mouse has its tongue out or it is smoking a cigarette. He confirmed it is indeed sticking out its tongue.

Tomorrow I will be 34 weeks... 8 1/2 months. I feel like I am carrying a hulk of a baby in there and I'm getting weary. I ask Ben for nightly encouragement that I can and will be ok. I watched this TV invention show a long time ago where this guy made up this little plush toy that velcros around your neck and when you squeeze it it says "everything IS going to be all right." The guy called it the "therapy buddy." Ben and I laugh about me needing a therapy buddy. Ben is my therapy buddy. I am more tempted this time to ask for induction, but Ben says it's better if I let nature take its course. When he says that I want to say "nature, shmature", but I don't cause I'm way submissive. :) Oh, and the doctor said on Wednesday that she thinks the baby is head down. Good news! We set up the Christmas tree. Hurray! I'll make pictures soon for the thousands of folks who read my blog... ha ha!

Thanksgiving Day

I have so much to be thankful for. First of all, my Savior Jesus Christ for saving me. How could I EVER get over being thankful for that. Second, for my wonderful family. I'm so blessed to have such a wonderful and fun husband and such a bright and sweet daughter and now with another on the way. Here we are today eating. I'm getting that pregnant lady swollen face I think... on second thought, maybe it's the plate of food sitting in front of me. HA!

Ben's Grandma Georgia MCing the talent portion of the Thanksgiving Day. She is wonderful and we all love her very much.

Ben and Gwen having a smile.

Before everyone eats a prayer is said and then afterwards everyone always sings the Doxology. I filmed it this year. Such a neat family. Notice how many people are there! Ben and I did a skit this year that went over pretty well I'd say. By the way, I made the Welsh rarebit and I didn't like it. :) Oh well... HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!

Cinnamon Bread

Today I made cinnamon bread for Thanksgiving guests that will be staying at Ben's Grandmother's house. I tried a bit of it and it tasted delicious. I thought I'd share the recipe with you all. The only thing is that my dough didn't rise as much as I think it should have. I'm not sure why. Maybe I'll try again sometime. If you are one that likes cinnamon rolls, but doesn't like icing oozing off of them, then this bread is for you.

1 C milk- heat to a very warm temperature

3 T butter, 1 1/2 tsp salt and 2 T sugar- add both to milk until butter is incorporated in

1 egg white- beat till frothy, add to milk mixture

add a cup of flour to above

Dissolve 1 pkg yeast in 1/4 C lukewarm water. Let rise a bit, then add to above. Stir in 2 C flour, one cup at a time, then add flour as needed. approx. 1/2 more if needed.

spray bowl with veg spray, put dough in bowl, spray top of dough. Cover with saran wrap and let double in size.

Mix together cinnamon and sugar (1 C sugar, a few T of cinn). Roll dough out in oblong strip. Spread with butter to about an inch from top. Sprinkle cin/sug mixture on butter. Roll up and pinch together at non-buttered end. Cut in half and place each loaf in bread pans, sprayed with veg spray. Cover and let rise until doubled in size. Bake at 350 for 25 min. Immediately after removing bread from oven and bread pans, baste with butter all over and let cool.

Fun With Daddy

Meal Plan

Whew... this week was hard deciding on what to make and there is a lot going on. I've been trying to do a little Christmas shopping every day and it is a chore for me. I am not one of those women that enjoys shopping and I find the whole task confusing. I was in the mall for some 2 hours today and did I buy anything? No... but I sure enjoyed the carousel ride with Gwen and watching her play with other kids. Oh, and my peach tea I bought. HA! If you are interested in riding carousels and getting peach teas then go shopping with me... because that's about all I can stand. Walking through the cosmetic department is always amusing to me. There I am, no makeup on, and looking well... rather... unkempt and they look at me and down to Gwen and say "you are so pretty." Is it a sin to look at their lined lips and think "why do you do that?" OK... enough rambling... onto the food! Happy Thanksgiving!

To bring to a pregnant mom to freeze for later: molten chocolate cookies (yes, I made them and I was disappointed. I was expecting them to be the best cookie I'd ever put in my mouth, but they were just ok), sausage balls, alphabet soup with beef and vegetables, cornbread muffins

For Thanksgiving: cinnamon yeast bread, Welsh rarebit (my exotic choice this year to bring), green bean casserole

Just our everyday meals:

spicy black bean soup, cornbread

Indian food- from last week... haven't made yet- time consuming

baked pretzel crusted chicken breasts- trying the same recipe except baking the chicken instead of frying this time, vegetable, salad

chicken quesadillas

creamy baked chicken breasts, wild rice, peas

chili and leftover cornbread

Modern Homesteaders

If you are like me, you can appreciate the desire to live simply. This couple decided to do just that by putting their house on the market and living in a tipi for a year while they build a cabin. They are in Missouri. I find their blog very interesting and thought you might too. Here's the link:

http://hickoryhollowhomestead.typepad.com/hickory-hollow-homestead/

Whew

I was reading a book to Gwen today that we got from the library last night. I have come to the conclusion that some people just don't think the way I do... but I felt I needed to share this one. This page says "Cecily Parsley is making cowslip wine for this gentleman. But who is that peeking in at the window?" Ok, a rabbit making wine... made me smile.

Next page... (and I know it is turned the wrong way.. for some reason blogger won't let me insert it the right way) it says "Benjamin Bunny is smoking a pipe of rabbit tobacco. The Flopsy Bunnies are playing. Can you see another face at the door?" Ok... a rabbit smoking. At this point I'm thinking the next page is going to have a rabbit shooting up some rabbit heroine.

Whew! the next page reads, "Meet old Mrs. Rabbit. she is making camomile tea for poor Peter Rabbit tucked up in bed." Don't you spell it chamomile? Anyway.. maybe this is a British book. Nothing against the Brits, but they do have different spellings of things. When I was over there I was amazed to see they spell tires like "tyres." At least we can depend on little old ladies (rabbits) to just be making tea instead of rabbit heroine.

My Favorite This Year

Joys Seven

This is a song my choir is preparing for Christmas. I've been thinking of the words lately and how all these things could be a joy to the heart of Mary. I asked the singer next to me how could it be a joy to see Jesus on a crucifix and she said to me, "He was defeating sin." Do you think Mary knew that then? See what you think.

The first good joy that Mary had, it was the joy of one;
to see the blessed Jesus Christ when he was first her son;
when he was first her son good man, and blessed may he be,
both Father, Son and Holy Ghost to all eternity.

The next good joy that Mary had, it was the joy of two;
to see her own son Jesus Christ to make the lame to go;
to make the lame to go, good man, and blessed may he be,
Both Father, Son and Holy Ghost to all eternity.

The next good joy that Mary had, it was the joy of three;
to see her son Jesus Christ to make blind to see;
to make the blind to see, good man, and blessed may he be,
both Father, Son and Holy Ghost to all eternity.

The next good joy that Mary had, it was the joy of four,
to see her own son Jesus Christ to read the Bible o'er
to read the Bible o'er good man, and blessed may he be,
both Father, Son and Holy Ghost to all eternity.

The next good joy that Mary had, it was the joy of five,
to see her own son Jesus to bring the dead alive,
to bring the dead alive good man, and blessed may he be,
both Father, Son and Holy Ghost to all eternity.

The next good joy that Mary had, it was the joy of six,
to see her own son, Jesus Christ upon the crucifix,
upon the crucifix good man, and blessed may he be
both Father, Son and Holy Ghost to all eternity.

The next good joy that Mary had, it was the joy of seven,
to see her own son Jesus Christ to wear the crown of Heaven,
to wear the crown of Heaven good man, and blessed may he be
both Father, Son and Holy Ghost to all eternity.

Quite Possibly the Best Ventroliquist Act You Will Ever See in Your Whole Life

For Fun

These made me laugh.

Meal Plan

meatloaf, corn pudding, green beans, banana bread- bringing to a friend and having it ourselves
aloo golby, dal makanee, chipati- Indian food
tomato and bean stoup
pretzel-crusted chicken breasts, sweet potato, broccoli
red beans and rice, hot dogs, cantaloupe, cucumber slices
tomato basil orzo soup, garlic bread

Turkey Hat Returns

The turkey hat has returned for another season and Ben and Gwen were playing. Gwen is actually wearing a little shirt on her head, but I thought it looked like a court jester. They have a lot of fun together.

Videos

I thought you all might like to see these videos. One is of Gwen in Alabama playing fetch with my mom's dog, Bonnie. The other one is of a sound puzzle that Grandma Barreth got for her. The sound of the guinea pig makes me laugh. Whoever thought of putting a guinea pig on there?

Some Mentionables

These are some roses I cut from our rose bush in the back yard. Aren't they beautiful? They are called "Julia Child" roses. :)


Recently I bought a body pillow. I have no idea how to even sleep with the thing. One of my friends swears by it. I know in this photo my bed isn't made, but I figure if I'm going to get back in it for a nap at some time why bother.. ya know? Anyway, Ben calls it the velveteen slug because I bought a velvety pillow cover for it. He wanted to call it "Larry the slug," but I didn't want anything in my bed having a man's name. :)


I mean, look at the size of this thing. I could sleep on just about anything right now and I would be uncomfortable I think. I'm 31 weeks now. 9 or maybe 10 to go... but who's counting? :)

Baby Bap Update

Well... yesterday I went to the doctor. My doctor was called out of the office for a delivery right as I got there, so I saw another doctor... Dr. Newby. I thought that name was funny. Who am I to talk right? Well... everything looks good with Baby Bap. She couldn't tell yet how the baby was laying and I've only gained 11 pounds. She said that's fine. I'm not gestational diabetic (praise the Lord!) and the baby is moving a lot. I'm looking forward to knowing whether it is a boy or girl. I thought I was measuring farther along, but she said yesterday that I wasn't. Oh well... I guess no December baby after all. I'm feeling fine, but that late pregnancy heaviness has definitely come upon me. I find standing for more than 30 minutes makes me tired.

Recipes

Here are some recipes that I picked up at home in Alabama looking through magazines.

I'm trying this one this week:

Whole Grain Marshmallow Crispy Bars

Makes 24 bars, prep 15 min, cook 5 min, stand 15 min

3 T butter
1 10.5 oz bag miniature marshmallows
1 15 oz box multi-grain cluster cereal
1 1/4 cups dried cranberries, divided
vegetable cooking spray

1. Melt butter in a large saucepan over low heat. Add marshmallows, and cook, stirring constantly, 4 to 5 minutes or until melted and smooth. Remove from heat.

2. Stir in cereal and 1 C dried cranberries until well coated.

3. Press mixture into a 13X9 inch baking dish coated with cooking spray. Chop remaining 1/4 C dried cranberries, and sprinkle on top. Let stand 10 to 15 minutes or until firm. Cut into 24 bars.

and this recipe I'm saving for special guests or give away baskets at Christmas time. These are a little too dangerous for me to go ahead and make now. :)

Molten Lava Cookies

1 C (2 sticks) butter, softened
2 C sugar
3/4 C cocoa powder
2 eggs
1 tsp pure vanilla extract
2 C all-purpose flour
1 tsp baking powder
1/3 C dark or semisweet chocolate (at least 60% cocoa), roughly chopped
powdered sugar for garnish (optional)

1. Preheat oven to 350 F. Cream together butter and sugar with an electric mixer. Add cocoa powder, eggs and vanilla; mix until combined.

2. Combine flour and baking powder in a separate bowl. Gradually add to butter mixture.

3. Shape dough into 1 inch balls. Using your thumb, press a thumbprint into the center; fill with a piece of chocolate and fold dough over to cover chocolate.

4. Place balls 2 inches apart on baking sheets lined with parchment paper. Bake 9 to 11 minutes or until edges are firm and tops are soft. Remove cookies to a cooling rack; dust with powdered sugar, if desired. Store in airtight container at room temperature for up to 1 week.

Meal Plan

Ben helped me waddle into Aldi's grocery store tonight with Gwen. Man, is it getting harder to do stuff! So anyway, here is my meal plan for the week now that I'm back home.

chicken broccoli braid- minus the broccoli and inserting peas, salad

pork chops, rice a roni, broccoli

jambalaya with hot dogs in there, sweet potato biscuits

thai style roast, cous cous

spaghetti with salad

omelets, salad

Recent Happenings in Bama

I have been traveling all around in the past two days visiting friends. I visited my college friends and completely forgot to get a good shot of us, but here Gwen is at the piano enjoying all the children around.

Here is a stunning yard that I saw on the way to Jacksonville. Humm... he had a sign in his yard that read "Yard Sale". Just think, you could purchase some of these goodies.

Cotton fields. I love them.

I concocted a high school class reunion. It's been 14 years and we've never had any type of reunion. I was not a class officer, but I put it upon myself to give it a try. Many people said they could come and then didn't show, but those who came had fun. I knew it would be a hard task considering my class voted the class flower to be a cactus. That kind of gives you some insight into my class.

These are some friends not from the class of 95, but I hung out with them in band, so I invited them too. :)

Bizarre Home Front

Everyone needs a large statue of a Canadian goose in flight at their doorstep. What is with these Alabamians? :)

Halloween in Bama

Everyone knows that it is one of my missions in life to uncover all the odd things I can possibly find. Well, this certainly qualifies in my book. This is a photo of my mom and dad's neighbor's yard. Um, can anyone say overboard? There are some things that I will never understand. Today I saw a huge statue of a Canadian goose in flight in someone's yard. You can look for that little goody coming up soon.

Trunk or Treat

Tonight at church we had an event called Trunk or Treat where the kids (and adults) can dress in costume and get some candy and bounce in a bounce house. I decided to go as a pioneer and dress Gwen as my baby pioneer. Everyone pretty much thought I was little bo peep. Go figure!

I however, did meet another fellow pioneer tonight. She was dressed as Laura Ingalls Wilder. Isn't she adorable with that missing front tooth?


A family picture. Ben said our family theme was "gassy pioneers." We competed in the family costume contest and maybe one person clapped for us. :) See my belly coming out?


Gwen wanted to go into the bounce house SO bad, but alas, she would get squashed big time. We let her play on the step outside of the entrance.

Autumn Leaves and 7 Months

We are not professional photographers, that's for sure... but today we attempted to get pictures out in our back yard in the leaves. Here are some of my favorites from today. Getting a good picture of Gwen has really become quite hard because she is constantly in motion and not too happy looking when I stop her. She is definitely trying out her wings and thinks she can do everything.


She saw Ben throw leaves over his head, so she tried it out.





She goes into her little "house" and closes the door and looks back at me and waves and says "bye bye".


We got our teenage neighbor to try to take a family shot. She zoomed in pretty close, but at least we are all smiling. :)


On Sunday I will be 29 weeks. I am feeling pretty large these days and can feel the baby kicking all the time. This baby is much more active in the womb than Gwen. We shall see if that gives me any clue as to what I am in store for.

Pioneer Books

I really like to read about pioneer times. I just like how strong they are and how resourceful they are and I appreciate the wisdom they gained from suffering. If we think we have worries over our kids... well, when you read these books, it gives you a whole new perspective on things. I would like to suggest a series of books that I just finished by Jane Kirkpatrick. They are "A Clearing In The Wild", "A Tendering In The Storm" (I cried and cried reading this one), and finally "A Mending At The Edge." I loved them... and the great thing is they are based on real people that actually lived at one time 4 hours away from where I currently live.

I am now reading a book called "A Lantern In Her Hand" by Bess Streeter Aldrich. It is a fictional story, but I can tell already that it will be a good book. Here is a bit of poetry I found thought provoking.

"Because the road was steep and long,
and through a dark and lonely land,
God set upon my lips a song
and put a lantern in my hand." - Joyce Kilmer

Maybe I'm romanticizing the prairie life a bit... but I love living in the Midwest with all of the history of hard working people that made it through hard times with a song on their lips and a lantern in their hands. I hope I'm that way.

Bluegrass Singing

This is a longer video that Ben took during our latest concert with the Kansas City Chorale. We were singing bluegrass style stuff.

WOW

Ok... so my friend Leah sent me these plus others. I just had to post my two favorite balloon dresses. That's right, they are made with balloons!! Someone out there has some time on their hands!

Noodles and Funny

Cabbage Patches

Meal Plan

meatloaf, 3 bean salad, carrots
chicken corn chowder with turkey bacon, bread
quesadillas, salad
rice and stir fry with chicken
spaghetti and salad

I'm running out of creative ideas for my meal plans. Any new ideas?

Tantrums

I participate in this thing called "Parents As Teachers". This lady who has child development degrees comes to the house (FOR FREE) and observes Gwen and gives suggestions of toys she might enjoy and tells me about developmental things I should look for ect. I did not participate with this until Gwen was a year because I just didn't know if I could handle someone coming and giving some critique or some such. I thought I'd be a little overwhelmed or intimidated by it. Since then though, I've gotten tougher skin and I can pitch any idea that I think is contrary to what I want for her and take in the good suggestions. :) The other day she came by and gave me some papers about where a child ages 14-24 months usually is at. One of those papers was on temper tantrums. Here is the first paragraph that I read to Ben tonight as Gwen was having her bath. We both burst out laughing. We have kind of a quirky sense of humor at times.

"Almost surely at some point in your child's development, you will witness a particular behavior known as the temper tantrum. You will recognize it by its many colorful characteristics. Among them are the arched back (if you are holding your child or attempting to restrain her in any way), the ear-shattering screams coming from her wide-open mouth, and the writhing movements of her entire body. Remain calm."

Think that's a good description? HA! Cracked me up.

During Nap Time

Wanna see what I'm working on during Gwen's nap? This is called O Magnum Mysterium by T.L. da Victoria.

Here's the English translation:

O most awesome mystery

and sacrament divine and most wondrous:

that animals should look and see the Lord a babe newborn

beside them in a manger laid.

O how truly blessed is the Virgin whose womb was worthy

to bear and bring forth the Lord Christ Jesus.

Alleluia!

Now The Day Is Over

Now the day is over,
Night is drawing nigh,
Shadows of the evening,
Steal across the sky.

Now the darkness gathers,
Stars begin to peep,
Birds and beasts and flowers
Soon will be asleep.

Indian Cloth Diapers

I was given several small sized Indian cloth diapers tonight from my friend. I have personally never seen diapers like this, so I thought I'd post some pics. I know I said I'd cloth diaper with Gwen and then fell into the "sin" of convenient disposable ones... but this time I'm going to give it a go again with the cloth diapering at least during the day. Don't laugh, I might actually stick with it this time. :)

As you can see, the Indian cloth diapers tie in front. Neat idea if you ask me.


They looked rather thin to me, but my friend assured me they do not leak and that everyone uses cloth over there in India. It is unheard of to use disposable.


Here is the "monk doll" (as I like to call her because she normally wears a very long brown dress) modeling the diaper. Note that she is smiling and sleeping. Inspirational don't you think?

Song

This song has been a blessing to me this week. I especially like the line "I melt in Your peace, it's overwhelming." That's the kind of overwhelmed I want to be right now! Enjoy.