Wednesday, November 26, 2008

Statue Reports


So the kiddies are working on reports of famous sculptures and therefore famous sculpters.

Harrison was the first to complete his.

Here are two awesome links to know more about "Lady Liberty" Please check them out, you'll have a lot of fun reading about this American icon.





Friday, November 21, 2008

Muffins, as in Seasonal:P

I do enjoy changes in each season.........So it's safe to say I'm a very seasonal kind of gal.
Cooking is one vehicle I like to express and introduce new flavors and smells of the season's change. I can't help myself !!! EEEEK!!! I just get inundated with new ideas and my mind conjures up different tastes and textures the new season brings. So PA-LEASE try cooking seasonal. I'm sure you'll find fun, new, and season-inspired recipes!!! Just have a look as to what foods/spices are in season and start there.:D:D:D:D

We made Pumpkin Maple muffins today..........and soon we're going to make Cranberry creamcheese muffins. Julia says we need to have a filling so we'll try to make a cranberry cream filling. I think I'll use that chunky cranberry sauce instead of dried or fresh cranberries and see how that goes. We also made Double Chocolate Chip muffins the other day, which is nothing new, but always a special treat!!! I'd LOVE to make Chocolate orange muffins veddy veddy soon!!!

If you find yourself gazing in the oven hypnotized by the sight and smell of your new formulation cooking, and as you pull the steam-enrobed delights out of the oven as the warm waves of spice envelope your face, and just then you remember, with sickening stomach, you have: NO MORE BUTTER!! (eery music plays) How often has that happened to us!!!WAAAHAAA If it were warmer weather, I'd certainly and most assuredly stuff the kids in the van, scramble through the faster supermarket (namely Save-On) and purchase the "beloved" butter. But now, in the colder weather, it takes so long to get everybody dressed in warm garb and the van comfortably heated (which MUST be warm before I step a toenail into her) that I have racked my brain thinking of alternatives (which are usually lesser in taste). So instead of butter we try to come up with some form compatible syrup to drizzle on the "nude" muffin and plate. Or some fashion of a crumble topping ( not just the normal cinnamon topping, but go for something like orange or lemon crumble).



So again be imaginative!!!!!

Vocabulary : My new favorite word

Yes, I'm a sucker for vocabulary........I just watched a movie and a girl stated when referring to Shakespeare, "Why don't they talked like that anymore?" hehehe I'm not saying we have to go overboard....and describe everything to the Nth degree, but I certainly believe we have been dumbed down.
The kids are doing reports on famous sculpturers and sculptures and as we were reading on Harrison's sculpture of Lady Liberty they referred to her as the copper-clad statue. I love the word clad!!!!! hahaha There's just something about it I really like. So it's going in my favorite word bank.


Definition: Clad: To furnish with a covering of a different material.

Synonyms:
adorned, arrayed, attired, clothed, covered, dressed, face, garbed, robed, sheathed

Ewww, I also LOVE some of those synonyms, too ( adorned, arrayed, attire, robed, and sheathed)!! (Look out Fancy Nancy, right, Jen???:D ).
I LOVE thesaurusi ( or thesauruses).

Anyways, that's my new post!!!:P

Thursday, November 13, 2008

Jen, Remembe This?




I just bought this at a used/new bookstore from this sweet lady who sells books from her house. I just HAD to buy it for my kids b/c Jen and I had this growing up. As well as the Dr. Suess ABC book.

More




Cute, Huh?!?!?!?!!











Aren't these cute, Jen and Ann????

Wednesday, November 12, 2008

Good Gracious Me



Chocolate Peppermint Brownies

http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC93tuwCfaV66tLG5vJeYtwCFu6CxZdQRa8kMwDM-5WfsTj2l7j_CEpfrxsRDqurXQZjSRBAmBrih0C0O4OG9bnb7CN314EMSJpf443blwEPXHDeb08J6h6vLVfEfpiKmerGSnmA/s400/peppermint-brownies-su-1683593-l.jpg&imgrefurl=http://lainakay.blogspot.com/2007_12_01_archive.html&h=300&w=300&sz=21&hl=en&start=28&um=1&usg=__zyUe-qNiYVB37sKlm2Zsq179GAA=&tbnid=YfbzCgOGDP6chM:&tbnh=116&tbnw=116&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dchocolate%2Bpeppermint%2Bbrownies%26start%3D18%26ndsp%3D18%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26newwindow%3D1%26sa%3DN

This is a hard season to stay away from treats, MAN!


Peppermint and Chocolate.......It Certainly is Winter!!




I've made some with just sugar-free milk/dark chocolate but I think the white chocolate will add more depth to the flavor. I sure wish I could find sugar-free white chocolate chips. I KNOW YOU'RE OUT THERE!!!!







Thursday, October 30, 2008

Better late than never, I always say

It's still October, which means I'm still in the grace period ( I hope:P ).
But I wanted to post something for your birthday, Mom.
I wrote this about a week ago one morning before the kids got up.....

Ode to My Mother
Oh Mother of mine,
Created by perfect design.
How grateful I am,
For God's wonderous plan,
Of giving you to me.
Oh Mother of mine,
How your spiritual graces shine.
So many you've warmly wrapped,
With God's love-blanket so apt.
Will I ever match up to thee?
Oh Mother of mine,
So tender and so kind.
Even when we need(ed) your correction,
It was coupled with God's love and affection.
May I live up to your example of truth and honesty.
So Mother of mine,
When you're down and not feeling fine,
Know there is a family who cherishes you.
Eternally demonstrated, our Father does, too.
You are the Matriarch epitome
Now, hour after hour I could go on,
Explaining our love by dance and by song.
Day by day my family to encourage
By your example of faith,resolve, honor, and courage.
Needless to say her objections I'll hear
With that familiar and endearing voice, "Now, stop that, Dear."
But hear ye this
Every thought of her, Bliss.
And know ye well
Her life greater than tale.
As I come to a close
so that everyone knows.....
My last thought before this ode ends,
She is my mother, my mentor, and the bestest of friends.
All my love, Mamacita!! ("Rosita Chaquita")

Wednesday, October 29, 2008

Harry Connick Jr.

Jen is it time to pull this cd out over there? It sure is here!!!:D

Sunday, October 19, 2008

Oh What Comfort Divine

Faith's Check Book, Daily Entry
C. H. Spurgeon

October 19
Regulated Chastisement
I will correct thee in measure. (Jeremiah 30:11)
To be left uncorrected would be a fatal sign: it would prove that the Lord had said, "He is given unto idols, let him alone." God grant that such may never be our portion! Uninterrupted prosperity is a thing to cause fear and trembling. As many as God tenderly loves He rebukes and chastens: those for whom He has no esteem He allows to fatten themselves without fear, like bullocks for the slaughter. It is in love that our heavenly Father uses the rod upon His children.
Yet see, the correction is in measure": He gives us love without measure but chastisement "in measure." As under the old law no Israelite could receive more than the "forty stripes save one," which ensured careful counting and limited suffering; so is it with each afflicted member of the household of faith-every stroke is counted. It is the measure of wisdom, the measure of sympathy, the measure of love, by which our chastisement is regulated. Far be it from us to rebel against appointments so divine. Lord, if Thou standest by to measure the bitter drops into my cup, it is for me cheerfully to take that cup from Thy hand and drink according to Thy directions, saying, "Thy will be done."

Friday, October 10, 2008

Water color wonder




Julia and Beth went to two water color classes two Fridays consecutively.They learned how to stroke the brush back and forth and how to make a pallet so the colors work with each other in the same picture. These were painted in the first class, of which I'm going to frame and hang in my livingroom!!! Well done, Girlies!!! ( Harrison and Pierce will go in a few weeks, so more water color to come!!) The first pic. is Beth's and the second is Julia!!! Won't they look nice hanging in my LR?!?!?!:D

Saturday, October 04, 2008

Saturday, September 27, 2008

More Birthday Fun

So..........Pierce and Harrison have been saving their own money to go to WEM for Pierce's 10th Birthday. They have been saving and counting down the days.......and it's finally arrived. Daddy is taking them out, which is hard for Mommy b/c she does like to see her kids have some good fun!!! But she thinks of ways to see them have fun, so she sent along the cam. and gave explicit instructions on picture and video taking!!!!!! I'm so glad they get to go, b/c they are truly growing and shaping into godly young men. I LOVE this stage in a boys life, going from youth to manhood. Becomming the man, the man of God. Taking on responsibilies, facing life with fortitude, experiencing the world God has created for them, going from legos and toy cars to bow and arrow, pocket knife, hatchet, and pellet guns, from chapter books, to great Christian historical novels. The Christian world is opening up so many more oppurtunities for them. So wherever their interests lie, the sciences, history, mathematics, language, arts.............may they always seek to please the Lord and balance their life within the balances of Holy Writ. I LOVE my "boys"!!!! (and of course Warren and Mitch......I can't wait to see the two of you follow in the same footsteps!!!!:D )

I'll try to get pics up of the WEM adventure and birthday soon.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

Happy birthday Jackson and (Uncle) Larry!!!! We wish we were there, orrrrr, you here......(I'd take either) so we could do us some celebratin'!!!;) We do love you guys and miss you terribly!!!! All the best!!

Friday, September 26, 2008

Red Heads




I always thought that Julia had a similar look to this lotion add girlie.

Bye-Bye good, but childish ways




Warren has now given up his blanket!!!! I'm very pleased with him!!! Little or no whining......such a big guy!!! Love ya buddy!!!!
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Kennedy is such an interesting child, along with many other funny traits and characteristics. Here's a few things she likes to do.........
#1. Loves to look at books (heavenly chorus plays)
#2. Has a most unique sense of style
#3. Infatuated with buttons (to the bothersome point where she'll undo and do your buttons)
#4. Plays with knives
#5. Dabbles in Mixology (Josh, maybe you and Kennedy can have a mixology throwdown:P )
and
#6. Rebake Goldfish Crackers

Happy Baby






Playin' with the Beanie Baby. I just love how he holds on to the b.b.