It's January 2010...

Actually, January 19th - if anyone's keeping track - and I have yet to do a lot of things on this here B L O G.

I've been harassed by my sister to get this thing up to date - you know adding things like Halloween, Christmas and, most importantly, the birth of our 4TH CHILD were on my list of things I would have loved to have blogged about at the end of the year and never got around to.

But lately I've been thinking about it and decided maybe I need to get around to getting up to date, partly because I miss documenting parts of our lives and sharing recipes or the funny happenings and partly because blogging is an outlet - something I need in the midst of the chaos.

So I'm going to work on it. I was attempting the upload a few pictures to whet your appetite for what's to come, but it's not cooperating so that's all for now. I'll be back soon.

The bread

Grandma's Pumpkin Bread

2 c. sugar
1 c. oil
3 eggs
2 c. pumpkin
3 c. flour
1/2 t. salt
1/2 t. baking powder
1 t. baking soda
1 t. cloves
1 t. cinnamon
1 t. nutmeg


Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Grease 3 loaf pans. Beat sugar and oil with mixer until blended. Add eggs. Beat until light and fluffy. Then beat in pumpkin.

Sift together flour, salt, baking powder, soda, cloves, cinnamon and nutmeg. Then with mixer at low speed beat flour mixture into pumpkin mixture.

Pour into pans. Bake 60 min. Cool in pans for 10 min. before removing to wire rack.

*The original recipe calls for the pan size to be 7 1/2 x 3 1/2. I used two pans that were 8 1/2 x 4 1/2 and then I made 6 muffins. The bake time on the muffins was about 26 minutes.

The sweet things they say...

Lately, the kids have said or done some things that have made me smile or even laugh out loud.

• The other night I took Hosanna and Judah to see some fireworks that were near our house. We had plenty of time, so I popped some popcorn to take with us. Hosanna would ask me before she took some out of the bowl that I was holding, "May I?" And then she would get some. Well Judah looks at me and says, "I may?" It took me a minute to understand what he was trying to say - may I backwards - but it was so cute because he said it like 15 more times. "I may?" All for a handful of popcorn.
• We were eating supper one night and Judah grabs a napkin and roughly wipes his face (like such a boy) and then he turns to Hosanna and asks her, "Do you need a napkin, Hosanna?" She said, "No thank you, Judah." That just really made me smile :)
• This morning when Hosanna got up at 6:45 am, she came and climbed into bed with me. She snuggled up against me and said, "I actually really love you." And giggled. That made me laugh out loud, it was so sweet.
• Little Zoe isn't saying much these days yet, but she is taking 5 or 6 steps at a time all around the house. She'll be walking soon!

We are enjoying these ages and stages. And look forward to the season of fall and the fun it brings!

As an avid cream cheese LOVER...

I find it extremely important to share this recipe with you.

PUMPKIN Cream Cheese - that's right, perfect for my favorite time of year, this is easy and delicious.

Here's what you need:

1 8 oz. block of cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup of canned pumpkin puree
1 1/2 t. cinnamon
1/4 t. ground ginger
1/8 t. ground nutmeg
1/8 t. ground cloves
1 t. vanilla
4 T. brown sugar

Beat together until smooth. Refrigerate.

We enjoyed this on a bagel and it was also wonderful spread on a graham cracker.

Simply UNBELIEVEABLE Cookies

I have a recipe that I must share. I have been on a quest to find a chocolate chip cookie that will satisfy everyone in our house (read: Jeremy). I have been unsuccessful, they get too thin or flat or whatever. Mind you a chocolate chip cookie is a chocolate chip cookie to me, but not too everyone.

We were recently camping and a friend had brought the perfect cookies. So I found a recipe that contained the important ingredient (a box of pudding mix!) and have since scored in the cookie making department.

The basic recipe is this:

2 1/4 c. flour
1 t. baking soda
3/4 c. brown sugar
1/2 c. butter, softened
1/2 c. shortening
1/4 c. sugar
1 pkg. (3.4 oz.) vanilla pudding mix
1 t. vanilla extract
1/8 t. almond extract
2 eggs
1 pkg. chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Combine flour and baking soda, set aside.

In a large bowl, beat sugars, butter, shortening, pudding and extracts. Add eggs, mix well. Beat in flour mixture.

Stir in chocolate chips. Drop by rounded teaspoonfuls onto cookie sheet.

Bake for 10-12 minutes.

SUPER SIMPLE and so versatile! You can combine different pudding flavors with different chips and have a completely different cookie. At this moment, I am making some with pumpkin spice pudding mix and chocolate chips. This cookie turns out soft and definitely not thin OR flat. You will LOVE it!

Z - O - E

Even though she's been one for over a week, it hit me today as I sat in the doctor's office. And I was in shock, it has been 12 months since she was born and I'm not sure where that time went to.

One day last August, she was born 7 lbs. 12 oz, 21 1/4 inches long.

Today a happy, clapping 23.4 lbs. and already 30 1/2 inches tall. She's big enough to take a car from Judah and crawl away super fast 'cause she knows she shouldn't have taken it!

I knew you would say...

it's about time!

I would like to end my extended break from the blogging world. We will see how that turns out. My absence started out from the 1st trimester feelings of our 4th pregnancy, but I'm way over that now and I can't say I have another excuse these days.

The lazy days of summer are nearing a close and we will soon begin the lovely days of HARVEST TIME. That's right folks, my favorite time of year is right around the corner. I can't wait! Thankfully the summer hasn't been unbearably hot. And we've enjoyed a lot of time outdoors. The park and the wading pool have been our best friends this summer. And the kids LOVE it when Jeremy has time to take them on a bike ride in his bike trailer. Sometimes he takes them to this little creek where they get to throw rocks and come home filthy dirty.

Hosanna has turned four years old, which is beyond all belief, I know. She acts so grown up and girly. Judah is 2 1/2 and his little personality is developing more everyday. Schedule and repetition are the name of the game for him. Zoe turned one last week and is into absolutely everything. If the pantry door is open even a crack, that child has noodles everywhere!

We are definitely enjoying the 'ages and stages' of right now and are looking forward to the fall months. That's all for this morning...I'm off to get ready for church. I promise you will be hearing from me later this week!