Snow

The last 2-3 days has been pouring down rain. Today we have a snow and sleet mix. That means it's chili and hot cocoa time.

Little Man received a remote control dinosaur for Christmas. We couldn't get it out of the box. There were screws (we couldn't find the right sized screwdriver to remove the screws) holding it in. He ignored it until this morning. He couldn't wait any longer. I finally found the right sized tool and he was happily roaring when I left the house for work.

Not Dieting

We enjoyed Christmas dinner at Dear Hubby's aunts house yeaterday. I didnt eat one slice of pie, cake or any cookies. I did eat a piece of fudge.

Merry Christmas!

From our house to yours, Merry Christmas!

Instructions!

I cannot bake hams. I burn them. Bad.

So this afternoon Dear Hubby's aunt decided to teach me step by step how to bake a ham.

I see the errors I've been making. 1) not enough water in bottom of pan, 2) covering the whole pan with foil instead of just the ham.

I'll test this out and let ya know how it goes.

Mantle Scarf

I've discovered embroidery is soothing.

Last Minute!

It's almost Christmas!

I am nowhere near being ready. Nothing wrapped, nothing baked, nothing dusted... :)

So Far...

Dear Hubby came home one day a few weeks ago from work and was excited about a treat one of his coworkers spouse made. Puff corn with white chocolate aka Angel Poop.

Our church is having a Tasting Tea tomorrow evening after the children's Christmas program so I decided to make the treat that my husband expressed so much glee over. 

So, I gathered most of the needed items from the local market (ever thought you had all of what you needed then discovered you needed one important ingredient you really shouldn't substitute anything else for??) and... It went like this:

I started with 1 TBsp shortening in the bowl.  So far, so good.

Then I added the 1 square of white almond bark. So far, still good.

After that I discovered the recipe calls for white chocolate chips (WHAT??? I didn't know that... seems my eyes skipped that part when I was reading the recipe OR my brain didn't retain it- it could go either way :) ). I stared in my cupboard and dug around...not a white chocolate chip to be found.  So, I decided brown chocolate chips work just as well because that's what I have in my pantry. I added a cup full. Then I decided that wasn't enough and added another. So far, still cookin'.

Then I put the bowl in the microwave and pushed the number 1. So far, all's well.

It needed another 30 seconds so I added that. Pulled it out and started stirring. So far this was going really well. It was smooth and glossy and ready to go over the puff corn in the bigger bowl on the counter to be coated. My baking sheet was lined with wax paper. All I had to do was complete the steps.

Instead- I had an idea. I'm not sure why (other than I was still wrestling with not having enough white) I decided to throw in some big, fluffy, fat, white (all you experienced cooks, bakers, and candlestick makers out there know where I'm going with this, I'm sure... -I had no white chocolate chips, remember) marshmallows. But the thought took hold and in the bowl they landed. Back in the microwave it went. When it came out 30 seconds later and I started stirring I realized this could not be drizzled over Chester's puff corn. It was far past the drizzle stage. Instead of dear hubs sweet n salty treat I had......

FUDGE!!!

I broke the news to dear hubby as gently as I could and he said, "ALRIGHT!"  seems FUDGE is his next happiest treat.

So far, still good- but hanging close to the edge of that line.

I started over. Same steps but NO fluffy, white, fat marshmallows. I Iearned my lesson.

It was finished and spread out on wax paper to cool when dear hubby walked in the kitchen and asked, "What's that??" 

I'm still puzzled how 30 seconds and some marshmallow derailed my whole recipe.

So far I've learned:

1) Next time I will print the recipe and take it to the market with me

and

2) if it calls for white chocolate chips, then white chocolate chips it will be. ;)

Keeping Up

Its been challenging to take the time to update my blog, so my one and only new years resolution is to be better about keeping it current.

Right now I'm listening to Christmas songs on the radio and listening to Little Man play his game on the iPad. Dear Hubby is joyfully marking off items on his Christmas list with a hand full of 20-60 percent off coupons.

Little Man and I made homemade ornaments again this year but I won't post pics until after Christmas so it won't ruin the "surprise" for some of you.

Our Little Ladybug is walking now and talking. She chatters away to Little Man.

Chilly Weather

Today it's COLD. It was snowing early this morning :) but none of it stuck :(
We finished our grocery shopping for Thanksgiving and as we made our way to the car we were thankful for our warm coats and mittens.

Colours

Little Man tells me he no longer has one favorite color, he likes them all. He likes blue slushes, red buckets, green apples and his new orange hat.

Mother's Day Art Work

 Caleb painted this picture for my daughter in law for Mother's Day.

Lions

 We were studying Daniel in the Lion's Den.  He painted a cute lion's mask we picked up at a local dollar store.

My Infatuation With Banana Bread...

 Why, Why, Why does it have to taste so good??

All those bananas had to be used...  Now I have a stock pile of banana bread in my freezer.  I will admit, I had to freeze it so I wouldn't eat all of it. :(

Blowing Bubbles

 Little Man loves to blow bubbles!

 And if you can see his artwork on the screen door it tells ya he really likes to decorate with side walk chalk too :)

Racing Cars

Little man and I are hanging out today taking it easy. We've had a very busy last 2 weeks. There was an appointment nearly every day and one yesterday. Little man is racing his cars. He made his own racer at church where they have a track that they can race against each other with their cars. Little man loves it!  fun times. I've taken a lot of pics of what we've been doing the last few weeks.  I will post those by this weekend.  Today is very nice outside so we are headed out to explore a few parks. Hope you all are having a great day!

13 Years

13 years ago today Dear Hubby and I were married. I locked myself out of my apartment that day and was late to my own wedding.
Happy Anniversary!
Dear Hubby is celebrating it asleep in his recliner "watching" the news- but I do hear the snores :)

Mac n Cheese Lesson

Today my mother in law, Mary, has crossed my mind a lot. She was a sweet person. She always believed the best in people and didn't seem to remember past problems with anyone. She would hug anyone no matter who they were. She always took the time to teach me, mainly how to cook, and she supported my hobby of quilting and tried to help me develop a green thumb (key word here is TRIED- I never did catch on and still can't keep live plants for very long).
 I remember the first time she came to our house for supper after DH and I were married. She was a little early, or I could have been late ;), and I was in the middle of still preparing the meal. One of the sides was Mac n cheese. I started the water and set the BOX on the counter. She looked at me and asked what that was. Now, at this point I was thinking, "ALRIGHT! She doesn't know what Mac n cheese is. Now I can teach her something." Well.... She taught me something... again. When I replied it was Mac n cheese she told me that wasn't Mac n cheese then she went on to fix homemade Mac n cheese... Without. The. Box.  It also taught me the lesson to never assume that a woman who has raised 3 boys wouldn't know what Mac n cheese is or not know how to fix it.
She wasn't disrespectful. She just knew her Mac n cheese- And I'm glad she knew her Mac n cheese because it was always so much better than what I would have put on the table.
She always had a way of helping me feel better just by being around her.  I miss her greatly. She never tried to get a "jab" in to remind me of my short-comings or past mistakes.  I didn't have to be "politically correct", she let me be who I am, loved me anyway and knew I didn't always have everything "straight". She accepted everyone for who they were. She loved people and genuinely cared for everyone.

Rain, Rain, Go Away, Come again another day....

This week Little Man and I have enjoyed the warmer weather. We walked 3 miles on the track at the park and enjoyed stretching our legs and playing in the sunshine. Today it's rainy :( so we are inside playing. Daddy took us to Little Mans favorite restaurant where they have a kids play area. 

Little Mans birthday is a week from tomorrow so we'll be busy with getting that planned. 

Painting

 

 He loves to paint.  His favorite color is red.  We studied the wise and foolish builders.  House on the sand versus house on rock.  In the end, he still got them confused but it'll take a few more times and he'll comprehend it.  He's doing great!

Book Work

He loves it.  He asks for more.  I started a binder for him and everyday he goes in and picks it up and looks through it for his work for that day.  If  he doesn't find it, he tells me he wants to do it. 
I'm hoping he will always love learning to do new things.

Mini Golf

What do you do when the weather is too nasty to go out and play?? We used a part of train track to play mini golf in the living room.  It was fun and kept us active for part of the day.  Little Man enjoyed it and we laughed a lot together trying to get that ball through the hole. 

Pajama/Blah Day

 The weather was blah.  We were blah.  Then we decided to just be blah and enjoy it.  And we did enjoy it- being blah, i mean... lol.

Even Romie dog got into the spirit of being blah :)

My "Robot"

 This is my "robot".  He's sweet, adorable and makes me laugh and smile!

He was getting tired of posing for me to take the perfect pic.... he's still cute!

Quilting Projects

I started these Sunbonnet Sue blocks after my first granddaughter was born.  I've been setting them in a quilt top to give her a quilt when she gets older.  It's not perfect by any means but I have invested a lot of love into them with her in mind.  I will post more pics of this as it develops into the finished quilt. In one of the pics you can see Little Man with his ruler lol.

My mom's favorite color is yellow.  I started these blocks for her when i first began quilting.  I'm hoping to add more to them and make her a quilt before the end of the year.  They are a little hard to see due to the light streaming through the blinds.

I've also been working on this multi-green and cream combo quilt top.  Again, the lighting is not complementing the photo but still offers a sneek peek :)

I love to hand quilt.  I do not like cutting the pieces.  So it takes me longer with pieced blocks.  I love to applique.  I have some more Sunbonnet Sue blocks started with different colored gingham materials that i have hand appliqued pears, strawberries, blueberries, etc. on.  I'm hoping to finish those sets and start another dolly quilt for my other granddaughter. 

Dentist Visit and Loving All People

I look at this and wonder where did the time go?!? Seems I posted yesterday but it says it's been longer. I'll try to do better and post more often.
We have been a little busy. We've had several close family members needing more help and attention so Little Man and I have been helping some there. We've also had a tummy bug and have been bundled up at home. The weather hasn't helped much with our being able to get out and about.
I took Little Man to the dentist last week and he charmed everyone. He now thinks the dentists office is where we buy new toothbrushes (they gave him a new toothbrush and tube of toothpaste as a gift) and wear red sunglasses ( they put red sunglasses on him to entice him to stay in the chair so they could clean his teeth- it didn't work but they still think he's cute lol). We went out to supper afterwards with some friends.  Little Man played a game of peek -a -boo with the people in the booth behind us, afterward he looked up at me, all smiles, and said, "I love all people" - then he crawled under the table and I had to tell him to get back up in the seat :)
I do have pictures of what we've been doing these last several weeks I will try to get them posted soon. We hope everyone is staying warm and well.

Toddler Gymn

I'm not liking the topsy-turvy weather we are having, but what can we do?? Friday and Saturday we were out walking the trails for much needed exercise and Sunday we were glad to get back in the normal routine of church and choir practice. Today I open the door and it's COLD! I want the nice weather back :(
So today we got the preschool exercise DVD back out and Caleb is now imitating a hot air balloon and a jabberwacky jellyfish :)

Garden Time!

Last year Little Man and I started a small garden. It didn't do very well. We did have an abundance of bell peppers and jalapeños. I froze the majority of those. We got a few carrots and tomatoes and some salad greens. This year I'm thinking we might try tomatoes, bell peppers and carrots again. I would like to try corn because Little Man LOVES corn on the cob. I'm hoping to use the bell peppers and jalapeños to make hot pepper jam and chow chow. I've never canned on my own before so this will be a new experience.  My MIL and I canned homemade grape jelly one year with grapes we stopped and bought from a roadside market on the way home on one of the trips we took together. Personally, I wasn't impressed with gardening in containers so anything I plant this year will be in the ground.

The Difference in Feet

We bought Little Man a ruler. He loves it. He especially loves to wave it at me. I overheard Dear Hubby telling Little Man that "12 inches makes a foot". Now when I overheard this I was in a separate room of the house and I chuckled thinking Little Man would be a bit confused by this. A few seconds later I heard Dear Hubby laugh and Little Man giggle, then I heard Dear Hubby say, "your foot is smaller than a foot on the ruler."  A few minutes later when Dear Hubby walked into the room, I asked him if he got it straightened out with Little Man on the difference in "feet"?  Apparently, Little Man had taken off his shoe and stepped on the ruler to try out this "foot" thing.

It's these little snippets in time that keep the joy a-comin' :)

Homeschooling update

This week we are working on the letter "M" and the number "8". I am also introducing the short and long sounds of the letter "A". I have pics but haven't had time to upload them, I will once life settles a bit.

It's over

Today is the last day of Christmas break for us. Caleb and I return to our usual routine for school. He's ready and so am I. I'm sure Dear Hubs is also ready :)
We have had a good break and enjoyed the resting time. The best part about it was just being able to rest and relax. Rejuvenate.
So how was your break? Did you have a break? If so, what was the best part of it? If not, what was the highlight of your holidays?