Snacks and other random stuff...

It's almost 3 pm and that is when the afternoon munchies hit me. I love an afternoon snack. My all time favorite is hot tea and scones. I love nutella on graham crackers. And if there is any kind of leftover cake/muffin/cookie/pie/cobbler, well, the more leftovers, the better.

As you can see from the picture above, my children LOVE ice cream. I'm guilty there too. Very guilty. Especially at night. Moose Tracks. Yum. Mocha Mudslide. That was last night.

But, I am trying to be better at being healthy. Trying. I've been eating dried fruits...I really love dried apricots. (They're so good dipped in white chocolate...but I digress.) And if I just drink a big glass of water, my appetite is curbed...but not my tastebuds.

And I am so much more laid-back with Nathanael than I was with Hadleigh. Seriously, she just recently started playing at the park without me hovering near all the "open" areas. But if you look at my buddy in the picture above, he is climbing a ladder in a climbing wall that is at least six feet tall. He did great all by himself until he was almost at the top and declared he was "stuck". And I just sat to the side and watched him. Of course, Grampa was close at hand...and able to get him unstuck. But I must say I am becoming braver.

(These are pictures from our time at the beach while visiting Mimi and Grampa. More to come in the days ahead!)

Don't forget to share your snacks!

A Huge Blessing!

It's one of those days when I haven't blogged since the middle of January and feel like there is so much to say and share that it would be easier to never blog again rather than just jumping in. But that would be no fun...so here's a short post to get me started again!

While we were in Asheville (more on our trip soon!) we sold our house! A huge answer to prayer...we are so thankful, especially since we're about a month away from our new house being ready. We just finished packing up our stuff today...okay, not us but the nice moving company. A perk of the Air Force. We are back up to OK tomorrow. We're having dinner with good friends tonight and then leaving in the morning. I'm so ready to be settled...living out of suitcases is never fun, but I am hopeful that we only have one more month to wait.

And here's a picture of Madeleine with me while in Asheville...cause posts are more fun with pictures!

P.S. And it was SO fun to go over to Joanna's blog today and see pictures of some special friends from our church when we were stationed in NC...what a small world! Those boys sure do have beautiful eyes...

Words like empty.

For the last six to eight weeks, this guy has been making us laugh (and perplexing us) with the things that he says. For instance,

• "No-o. It's empty." This is basically how he tells us that he doesn't want or like something because it wasn't his idea. Example: He says: "No, yogurt's empty." when we are offering a very full container of yogurt. Now, you must understand that as soon as we say that he doesn't have to have the yogurt, he starts crying for yogurt. He really likes things to be on his own terms. (He's got lots to learn, huh?)
  
• "It's yuk." Followed by wiping of his hands on something (usually his face) in a "wipe it off" manner. This means that I don't like this right now. Example: "Mommy kisses is yuk." "Ice Cream is yuk." Typically, we hear this when he is either needing food or sleep.
  
• "Like dis. Like dat." He is oh-so-particular when putting things in place. It's fun to observe him saying this as he puts his cars in place on his road mat.
  
• "My blue." "My red." He lately likes to refer to his things by their color. Especially his sippy cups.
  
• And he will consistently repeat what he is saying until you acknowledge very clearly that you have heard what he has said. "Good" does not suffice. You generally have to refer by name to what he is talking about. Example: N: "Mommy, I see airplane. Mommy, I see airplane." Me:"Good, buddy." N: "Mommy, I see airplane. Mommy, I see airplane." Me: "Oh, I see that airplane too!" (followed by a finally content smile or nod.)
  

It is so fun to be at this stage in life with him...and his grandparents are about to enjoy it too! We are driving off tomorrow to Asheville to visit with both of our families for a little over three weeks. It will be a great break to not be in temporary housing while we wait for our house to be finished! I'd love to see "Asheville friends" while there...we'll be there until February 14, so get in touch with me!

Ya'll must be starving

because it has been ages since I've shared a recipe with you. Not much other than toast and soup and hot drinks sounds good to me right now because all three kiddos and I are sick...but I've been wanting to share this recipe for awhile now.

This one is fabulous...I made it for our Christmas breakfast. It only lasted three days in our house...and that's only because we showed some restraint! I hope you enjoy it too.

Brown Sugar-Pecan Coffee Cake

2 cups all-purpose flour
2 cups firmly packed light brown sugar
3/4 cup butter, cubed
1 cup sour cream
1 large egg, lightly beaten
1 teaspoon baking soda
3 tablespoons granulated sugar
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 cup chopped pecans

1. Stir together flour and brown sugar in a large bowl. Cut 3/4 cup butter into flour mixture with a pastry blender or 2 forks until crumbly. Press 2 3/4 cups crumb mixture evenly on the bottom of a lightly greased 13- x 9-inch pan.

2. Stir together sour cream, egg, and baking soda; add to remaining crumb mixture, stirring just until dry ingredients are moistened. Stir together granulated sugar and cinnamon. Pour sour cream mixture over crumb crust in pan; sprinkle evenly with cinnamon mixture and pecans.

3. Bake at 350° for 25 to 30 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted into center comes out clean.
Makes 12 servings

These things...

have been so helpful with a third baby! Thought I'd share!

Sara Bear Diaper Caddies...these lined baskets (I have the paisley one shown below) holds a bunch of diapers, a standard box of wipes, and much more! Since Madeleine doesn't have her own room (this is our first time without a devoted nursery) it has been nice to have a portable diaper changing station that goes from our room to the living room to vacations SO easily. The liner is divided into five main compartments and then has little pockets on the side for smaller items. Check out all their fun fabrics...but I think mine is the best!

Hoohobbers Moses Basket with rocking stand. The rocking stand turns a moses basket into a cradle...Madeleine has been sleeping so well in her basket. It's very portable and so sweet! There are tons of adorable fabric options, whether you are traditional, whimsical, or eclectic in your decorating style!
In the picture below, you can see Madeleine in her Moses Basket, as well as my third most helpful item...

her Swaddle Designs receiving blanket. This blanket is the perfect size for swaddling...Madeleine is our first baby who really loves being swaddled (except for her left arm...she loves that thumb!) and this blanket is perfect. Madeleine is almost 3 months old and at least 14.5 pounds...and we're still using this blanket with plenty of room still to go. Aunt Katy bought Madeleine a second one (white with pink dots) for Christmas because it is our favorite blanket...and it's great to have another to alternate with...for when one is in the wash! This will be my new baby gift of choice...it's really terrific!

These are just some of the options for the blanket.

And one of my favorite clothing items I discovered while looking for something to bring her home from the hospital in: a gown that snaps all the way down the front. But it also has convertible snaps in the back to form pants when you want them. Which is great for car seats and daddy's who don't particularly care for gowns ;) Sadly, I don't have the brand name with me because Madeleine has outgrown the gown, so no link...but look for them! They're great!

And this one I've used with all three children, but we still love Burt's Bees Diaper Ointment. I love having a baby that smells like lavendar instead of the medicine cabinet!

Hope you can enjoy or share one of these things with a baby that you love!!!

Before...

and after...

Welcome 2008!

As of January 1, 2008, we are officially residents of Oklahoma! Talk about a fresh start for the new year, huh?

We arrived here last night...Madeleine and I enjoyed a quiet drive while Brent towed the trailer with Hadleigh and Nathanael sleeping all of 30 minutes out of the 5-6 hours we spent on the road and making stops to eat and feed Madeleine. It's not often that I drive around, listening to music and enjoying the quiet time where I can think. I spent a lot of time thinking about this new year, our new home, making new friends, and what new things I want to focus on this year.

Here are a few of my thoughts.

1. I want to be the person who remembers to send a birthday card in time for the recipient to actually read it on or before their birthday. I'm usually good about getting cards out...but rarely on time. Brent's mom's birthday is in a little over a week, so I'm already planning a card-buying trip :)

2. I want our home to be a welcome place for Brent, our children, our extended family, and our friends. I'm excited about starting fresh (come March, when our home will be finished) and thinking of ways to make people feel welcome from the moment they first set foot on the doorstep. A lot of this has to do with attitude...I want to make sure I always have a welcoming, hospitable attitude...not just on the outside, but from the heart.

3. I need to find a balance with my time: time with Brent, time with our children, time to keep our home in order, time to seek God's Word, time for "me".

4. I want to make time to exercise...so that I can better do number 2 and 3! Okay, okay, and so that I can actually wear the clothes in my closet.

5. I want to be a better reader. Reading has always been an important and enjoyable part of my life...it's been awhile since I've read something cover to cover other than some magazines! I've got a few books on my list but I'd welcome your suggestions!

6. I want to be more purposeful in all that I do. (Is purposeful a word? I know, I know, I'm the English teacher...I think it is. Or at least should be.)

7. I want to stay in touch with friends, old and new.

8. I want to be more gentle, loving, kind, warm, compassionate, sincere, and more of a servant...especially to these people:

Happy Birthday Shawna!

I have been blessed with wonderful friends, and I am happy to celebrate Shawna today. I only wish we could celebrate together, dear friend!

Shawna is loyal, steadfast and true, caring, and compassionate. She is funny and laughs a lot and makes me laugh a lot. She makes her friends feel special and loved. She is always sincere and thoughtful...a terrific listener and the one to go to when you need advice! She is a devoted wife to David and the sweetest mommy to little Kate. She is an adventurous Texas girl taking on New York City! But what I treasure about her more than anything else is her passionate, sincere devotion to Christ. Her love for the Lord is evident to everyone who is blessed to encounter her. She is salt and light. She encourages me in my walk with Christ every time we are together or get a chance to talk on the phone.

I am blessed by our friendship Shawna...and so very thankful to have you in my life!

So happy birthday Shawna...and to everyone else, have a terrific New Year's Eve!

What is a blog?

That's on the first page of Blogger when you go to sign in: "What is a blog?"...an explanation for those who are new to the blogging world.

But I thought it was applicable to me too :) given the abandoned state my blog has been in.

So I guess it's time to get started again! (And what a perfect time, since it is Recipe Wednesday!) I actually have so many ideas for blog posts floating around in my brain...I just need to be better about getting them out on the computer. And I think it's time for a new design for this blog...but seriously, I'm barely making time to post, much less design. So I'll add that to my to-do list, which I humorously titled "My Overwhelming To-Do List"...I got a laugh out of Brent with that one!

One of the things that has been on my mind lately is Christmas traditions...This will be our first Christmas since we were married that we spend without any of our extended family. Just the five of us. In our own home. I am really excited about it. (Though I'd be lying if I didn't say that I am already a bit homesick for Christmas in Asheville...especially as I heard the sound of my pink china ballet slippers ornament--tied with the most beautiful pink satin ribbon--clink together as Mom hung them on the "kids" tree while we were talking on the phone. But that's another post...) As I was saying, I am excited about beginning our own traditions in our home and being together.

One of our Christmas traditions just arrived:

Every year since we moved to Texas, my Mom and Dad have sent us our Christmas wreath for our front door. It is such a special gift. The moment I open the box, it smells like my mountains. (You didn't know the Appalachian Mountains belong to me, did you?) I can close my eyes and almost imagine I am there, searching a mountainside for our own special tree. (An older family tradition from years ago.) And then I see the beautiful Christmas bow that Mom has tied for the wreath, and there is a bit of the home I grew up in here. A very special tradition. Thank you, Mom and Dad; it smells like home now.

In honor of Christmas traditions, here is a recipe tradition:

Mom's Chocolate Fudge Pie

1 9-inch pie shell, baked

2 cups milk

4 egg yolks, beaten

1 cup sugar

3 tablespoons cornstarch

1 tablespoon butter

1 teaspoon vanilla

2.5 squares semi-sweet chocolate

1. Combine egg yolks and milk in a saucepan. Mix sugar and cornstarch together and then stir into the egg yolk mixture. Cook over low heat, stirring constantly.

2. When hot, add butter, vanilla, and chocolate.Continue to cook, stirring constantly until thick and smooth.

3. Pour into baked pie shell. Let pie sit until room temperature. Top with freshly sweetened whipped cream and serve.

(The pie is definitely worth all the stirring!)

And a question for you faithful readers :) Do you have the same meal at Christmas as you do at Thanksgiving? Or is it different? Share what you do for your Christmas meal with me!

One month old

I can hardly believe this little girl has been in our arms for a whole month. What a blessing she is!

She is growing so quickly (she's already 11 lbs. 13 oz.) that she's almost outgrown all of Hadleigh's "newborn" clothes. I'm going to have to go shopping for warm onesies and pajamas :) But I won't complain about that! She is already starting to smile...little moments that I just treasure!

Last night was just the two of us...Brent took Hadleigh and Nathanael camping with some friends. It was nice to get to sleep in while Madeleine did...and spend time just cuddling her and focusing on her...time alone with Madeleine is definitely harder to come by than it was when Hadleigh and Nathanael were infants...so I actually don't mind when she wakes up at night to eat. That said, I will definitely enjoy a full night's sleep when she decides she's ready for it!