Pumpkin’s Birthday

I am just getting my programs working again and there are still some bugs to work out. But at least things are back up and running!

There is lots going on around here so plenty of blog fodder. However, there is not much time to post about it. Here is a highlight from last week.

My Little Man was born during harvest season, so we like to visit the pumpkin patch for his birthday. In fact, his very first birthday was celebrated at a farm. I hope he enjoys this tradition even when he grows up.

This year a local pumpkin patch added a pirate ship and my little swashbuckler was very happy about that! Some of my family was there to celebrate with us. I cant post pictures of them because some of them don’t like to have their pictures online. But my boy knows they were there and he has pictures for his scrapbook. Building memories for him, and for the other kids in the family, are most important.

We put our focus on the bountiful harvest rather than spooky things, so I appreciate the pirate fun and the opportunity for my kids to dress up if they wish.

I love how the ship looks like it is sailing through the fields of corn.

Ahoy there Mateys!

I loved how my birthday boy decided to wear mittens. It wasn’t even cold out.

There are four of my kids in this picture, including the peace sign.

Thank you God, for four wonderful and healthy years with this little boy.

Thank you for the seventy-seven birthdays I have been able to celebrate with my children, all total.

Happy Harvest!

Menu Plan Monday: March 2-8, 2009

When you read this, I will be gone. Well, if you read it Tuesday or later anyway. Vam-moose. Alph-Feeter-Zane. Hasta Luh Veesta Baby.

Sister Trip ~ Disneyland ~ Sea World ~ Beach ~ Sun ~ Bicycle ~ Book

Sisters+Southern California= ♥♥♥

I will be gone part of this week so have made things as easy as I can for my hubby and older kids to prepare while I am gone. I did not schedule lunches because I think there will be leftovers. If not, I have left several quick and easy lunch ingredients including sandwich stuff and salad and burrito fixings.

I am very proud of my kids. Even my little 7 and 9 year olds will chip in to help make meals. They did great learning with mom how to make their individual dishes and I am leaving very clear instructions. They each also have an older sibling who will be “coaching” them and helping with parts that are too hard or dangerous (i.e. dealing with boiling water, etc.). They are excited to be part of the success of the week and looking forward to their own “dinner night”.

And I am thankful that my husband has a good job and one where he can sometimes work from home. They will also have some fun times when dad takes a couple days off, gets pizza and makes pancakes!

Monday:
B: Oatmeal with Cranberries, Almonds and Cranberry Honey
D: Buffalo Chicken Party Sandwiches (made yesterday in crockpot and we went out to eat with friends instead)

Tuesday:
B: Cranberry-Apple Bread, Peanut Butter Apples

D: Macaroni and Cheese Add sausage (precooked and in freezer) (7yod)

Wednesday:
B: Yogurt Parfaits with Fruit, Nuts and whipped cream
D: Crockpot Cream Cheese Chicken (16yos)

Thursday:
B: Millet Muffins with blackberries

D: Poor Man’s Stroganoff (9yos) – I precooked beef and onions, Anthony drain noodles

Friday:
B: Leftovers from Rest of Week, or Peanut Butter, Honey and Granola RollUps

D: Spiral Pepperoni Pizza Bake (14yos) I precooked beef.

Saturday:
B: Blender Waffles
D: Pizza Night

Sunday:
B: Granola L: Taco Soup I precooked beef
D: Sunday Snacks and Popcorn, etc.

Spur Of The Moment Drive To The Beach

The Suburban was in the shop so only part of the family could go anywhere. We had planned to go on a more local hike. But when that trail was still closed for the winter, we just decided to keep driving west. By the time we arrived it was later afternoon-early evening. We played on the beach for a little bit then got to watch a stunning sunset. The Oregon Coast is so gorgeous.

(This post should be on our family blog. But the layout of this blog lets me post larger pictures so I put them here instead.)

It was fun not to tell the kids. Since the two oldest were not there, it took more time before Nathan was paying enough attention to notice what the signs were saying. It wasn't until the ocean vista was before us that Evan and Elisabeth realized. They were really confused at first, but it made it worth the drive!

We are so blessed to live where we do. Had we decided to drive east, we would have been up on the mountain in less than two hours or in the desert in three.

I love adventures!

Menu Plan Monday, Thanksgiving Edition

Especially with the economy being weak, I know I am blessed. My husband has a good job, we have a beautiful, warm home and plenty to eat. My family is healthy, I have a bounty of friends and family, my life is full of love and good things. Mostly, I have a Savior who knows me and loves me -- not only despite my many shortcomings, but He loves me just the way I am. I hope that, no matter what your circumstances this year, you too can rest in His abundant love.

~ Don't forget about my Saturday carnival "Soup's On!Saturday. You can now take my SOS button (scroll down in right side bar for code)

~ You can also put my Tiara Button on your blog (code also in sidebar)!

~ And tomorrow (afternoon) is Pantry Raid: Refrigerator Edition

Now for my menu...

I will be preparing for Thanksgiving most of the week, so have purchased a couple pre-made Costco meals. I know it's scandalous, but I do it on occasion:)

Monday: Hubby and 4 boys to Blazer game. It will be just Mimmers, Little Man and Moi. I think I will pick up sushi on my way home from doctor's appointment.

Tuesday: Costco Meat Pizza (these huge pizzas are only $9.99 each)

Wednesday: Costco Chicken Fettucine

Thursday: See below for Thanksgiving menu

Friday- leftovers, make bread for sandwiches

Saturday- Nacho Spuds (if there aren't enough leftovers)

Sunday - White Chili with Fixins (use turkey broth in place of chicken broth)

Thursday: Thanksgiving!!! Most years I make the dinner and we have friends and family come share the day with us. Many times they are friends or acquaintances who don't have anywhere else to go because family is busy or out of town. We wanted to make sure there is always a place where our kids can invite friends, where people we know (or don't know) have a place to go to share this special day. This year, many of our own families are busy with their own children or out of town. So we will get to enjoy four or five of my single siblings, some friends -- and whomever else drops in, of course!

On the proposed menu:

Homemade Cranberry Salsa served over cream cheese with crackers (Made Monday)

Hot Artichoke Dip with Tortillas (Make Monday)

Baked Brie in Puff Pastry with fresh northwest apple and pear slices (Make on Thanksgiving Day)

Buttermilk Brined Turkey (started to brine Tuesday night)(bird in at 7:30)

Turkey with rub, brined, stuffed with citrus peels, smoked on Traeger Grill (smoking instructions here) (put in to brine Wednesday night)(bird in grill at 7am)

Cranberry Sauce from Trader Joes (YUM)

A token and traditional little dish of olives

A token and traditional little dish of pickles

Parmesan and Black Pepper No Knead Bread (made Tuesday, baked Wednesday. Doubled and cooked in 8 quart Le Creuset French Oven)

and

Dilly Rolls - I make these every year (Make Thursday)

Sparkling Juice

Mulled Cider

Layered Basil Salad - This is one of my favorite salads. Have I mentioned that I love basil? I will not include the ham (made Wednesday)

Green Bean casserole (I use the good ole Durkee Fried Onion recipe)

Broccoli Salad - Will omit mushrooms and substitute cranberries for raisins. (Made Wednesday)

Awesome Sausage, Apple and Cranberry Stuffing (I have made this for several years and my family loves it. In fact this is what my sons say is the most important part of the meal for them! I usually use pork sausage) (make Thursday)

Mashed Potatoes and Gravy DUH! -- My mashed potatoes are made from real potatoes. I mash them and add butter, sour cream, cream cheese and then fresh cream to desired consistency. Then season with sea salt. Yu-Hum. (make Thursday)

Dessert: I just love cookies dipped in coffee. That's the "me" in the dessert menu:)

Caramel Apple and Pecan Pie (hubby's choice) with fresh northwest organic apples (using Tyler's recipe, but adding toasted pecans with each layer) Served with farm fresh whipped cream (made Wednesday)

Peanut Butter Pie (my sons and brothers love this)

Frostbite Cookies (find basic recipe here, I have adapted it)

Toffee Studded Snickerdoodles (Skor or Heath toffee bits with no chocolate is very hard to find around here the past few years. I have one bag set aside which my sister brought to me from California) Not making. Will make at Christmas. Too much dessert planned!

Spice Cookies with Pumpkin Dip - These are the very best gingerbread type cookies I have ever had. Moist and chewy. I have made this every year for probably 8 or 9 years. I make the dough and put in fridge overnight. Then, it has become a tradition for my husband to make it into balls rolled in sugar with the kids. It is a fun way to mark the start of all of our holiday festivities -- it also takes a fairly time consuming task off of my hands:) (made dough Wednesday morning)

Fresh Coffee brewed in a French Press served with real, fresh cream
(Starbucks Cinnamon Dolce syrup added if you want:)

May your heart be reminded this week of your many blessings,

Autumn Open House

My sweet blog friend Deena over at "Can I Be Pretty In Pink" is hosting an Autumn Open House from her home in The Singing Woods. Deena shares her story of surviving cancer on her darling blog. Please keep Deena in your prayers. She has three more brain radiation treatments to go.

So, for Deena, and for my other friends who have posted pictures of your fall homes, here are a few from our home in the country.


Most scarecrows protect the harvest from birds. This guy is here to keep the goats away!



Antique bushel basket for prunes, and one of my favorite fall items.



Going down the stairway.


My Grandmother's old Fire King divided dish and two coffee mugs with tea lights in them. She said they came in Gold Medal Flour sacks. The wheat lap try is also from the 50's. And the Ultimate Muffin recipe is from The Lazy Organizer.


Our family started going through this book several weeks ago. Since then, the elections have become more intense and the "bailout" and banking crisis have come upon our country. We definitely see now even more than usual why we need to pray for our great democracy.

My great grandma's old cookbook and some mini fall gourds in a Plantation patterned Heisey glass candy dish.


My Little Man's ET finger touching one of the pumpkin lights I bought for his first birthday party last year. I cannot believe he will be two on Friday.


Painted in a warm tone of a butterscotch shade, our living room is kind of fallish year round.




Some friends got together last year and made these adorable placemats with our little girls. I don't usually like fake candles, but my baby has climbed up on the table a couple times lately. Better safe than sorry!



These are mercury glass pumpkins I bought several years ago on clearance. I love them in our entryway.

One of the best things about fall decorations is that, after you put a couple harvest specific ones back in the attic at the end of October and add a couple Thanksgiving items, you can leave them out until the end of November!

Wordless Wednesday: 10 Years Ago

Since this year is the tenth anniversary of when we lost our fourth baby boy, I thought I'd post this photo. Some of you may think this is sad. I think it is precious. Not exactly wordless, they never really are. But it does speak for itself...


July 4, 1998 Paul Christian, "Little Christian", was born. He was only the size of a Kleenex box but was perfectly formed. We pray God will continue to use his short life, and it's impact on us, to touch other broken hearts.

I have had ten years to work through this, the Hardest Thing in my life, and now mostly view the day as a precious time to remember but don't feel so sad. Some of you are newer in your grief. If you have recently suffered a loss, or are anticipating one, I pray you will be blessed with the abiding peace and profound grace that only God can give. Sometimes holidays, when everyone else is celebrating, are particularly painful. I'd love to lend an ear (via the written word) and to pray for you. Leave a comment or email me.

More Wordless Wednesday links are at 5 Minutes for Mom.

Wordless Wednesday: What Happens When You Blink

~ Before Blink ~


~ After Blink ~

I barely made it on Wednesday!
If you want to view other WW photos, go here.

Photoshoot

Andrew's senior pictures haven't been done yet, so I had to go out and take a bunch myself so we'd have one for his announcements. We had a fun time coming up with cool and also extra dorky poses. Some we thought would be cool but turned out dorky and vice versa.

It was pretty funny when his friend called to see when he'd be at the movie and he said (tongue-in-cheek) he was running a little late because he was doing a photoshoot.

As if him climbing that tree at the library wasn't scary enough for Mrs.Rule-Follower-Me (both because it was high and because I was sure the librarian would come out and scold us), a squirrel apparently was quite disturbed that Andrew had invaded her space, so she popped out and started growling. I am assuming she had a nest of little ones close by. She must have thought we were Jed and Ellie May or Granny Clampett and might eat them.

I didn't know squirrels could growl. Here is Andrew telling me that squirrels growl. He also mentioned that she might be about to bite him. Notice Mrs.Squirrel on left.



And here is my handsome son in a more relaxed pose.

A Dream Come True

I never dreamt
that tender blosoms
would be brown
Or precious angels
could come down
to live in the garden
of my giving heart
But here you are
brown angel
~Walter Dean Meyers


Yesterday was my daughter's birthday. My Daughter. Ahhh, those sweet words.

I think of the first moment I laid eyes on her,

Her newborn, yet wise-old-woman eyes...



Her first birthday...

Sitting on a beach in Hawaii with a floppy hat...


The "booty bounce" way she got from one place to the next...

Days in the sun swimming and sunning and playing...



Of loving and being deeply loved...


I can't believe it has been seven years!

I have a daughter. She is my constant companion, my cheerleader, mini-mama to my baby. She is still my baby girl, yet she is getting so grown up. I prayed specifically -- for dimples, for sweetness and spunk, and so much more -- and God came through abundantly over anything I could ask or think...

She is a Dream Come True.




Happy 7th Birthday Dear, Sweet, Precious Daughter

Prayer

Shout my name to the angels
Sing my song to the skies
Anoint my ears with wisdom
Let beauty fill my eyes

For I am dark and precious
And have such gifts to give
Sweet joy, sweet love,
Sweet laughter
Sweet wondrous life to live
~Walter Dean Meyers