Books of the Bible

Adam's Sunday School class has been learning the books of the bible this past quarter, from Genesis - Psalms. I'm his teacher 1/3 of the time (we rotate) and i admit, at first i was very skeptical about 3 and 4 year olds saying words like Leviticus and Deuteronomy. But I can't believe these kids!! even the youngest one, just over 3 years old, can say these books, In order! I was encouraged to do more memory work at home with Adam, even w/ the twins. Kids love to learn and hear themselves talk so why not start now. It makes them feel good to recite things from memory. And it's rewarding as a parent. And they are learning the Word.

Here's Adam saying his books, forgetting Esther (sorry Gma) and Psalms. Still so proud.

I'm going to miss teaching Adam's class, after the baby comes. I like the group of kids, and while the boys get pretty hyper, they still have a desire to learn and it's so neat to see.

Grapefruit Goodness

Our family loves grapefruit! it's a staple for us in the winter. Rod's Grandpa so graciously gets us a whole case every other week at Roots market (we do pay him, g-fruit is none too cheap). And we easily go through that case in the 2 weeks. I don't know what it's called (sectioning?) but Rod's mom showed me how to cut them up, and makes it easy to eat and get the most out of them....

First, you peel the whole thing, leaving no rind.

Then you go into each "compartment" and section out the fruit with a serrated knife. After it's all gutted, you can squeeze the juice out too, into the container. This process does take some time, but i'm getting quicker at it. (or more tolerant, not sure). Then come the little hands to sample...

I'm glad the boys like to eat a variety of different things. Although they have their finicky foods, they are pretty consistent w/ fruits and veggies. They won't hardly touch spaghettios or mac & cheese, but give them grapefruit or broccoli and they will chow down. No wonder we're not on the charts for weight! :)

Anyway, i got side-tracked there. I'm thankful for yummy fruit like grapfruit in the off-season. Give this a try sometime, if you like grapefruit...

Thoughts on Winter

I was never a big fan of wintertime. It just seems like many of my interests get taken away from me....Gardening, flowers, sunlight, phillies, and so on. But this year and maybe even last winter a little, I've come to accept and even appreciate the season of winter. Downtime, with less work. More time to do crafts with the kids and book reading. Time to organize closets and cupboards. Naps. Crocheting. Trips to grocery outlets to stock the pantry full. A little fun shopping, like trips to AC Moore, Target, and the mall. I just don't make much time for these things in the summertime. So i think, maybe, i'm beginning to like wintertime. Just not as much as summer :)

"To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under Heaven." Ecc. 3:1

Train display

A month ago, i saw on the news a story of this man from York that opens his home in January for people to see his train display. I thought it would be a fun thing to do with the kids. You are supposed to call for an appt., and i called yesterday. The voice mail said they were booked this January and to try again next year. I left a message anyway and said if you happen to get a cancellation to please give us a call. Only a few hours later we got a call from them saying they got a cancellation! So we were able to go last night and it was amazing! The kids loved it, we were there 2 hours and could have stayed longer. He took time to explain everything, and since he takes appts only it was just us there which was nice. It was a blessing to be able to do this family outing.

The pictures don't do it much justice, there was so much detail and creativity involved.
The boys were taking it all in. He even let Adam push buttons to make all the different things things work. The main display was in his basement, but they also had a thomas-like (brio) display upstairs for the younger kids who got bored with the downstairs display. The twins came up here toward the end. Mr. Jack has blessed a lot of people by doing this (for free), I'm keeping his number for next January!

Photo shoot

A young gal from church is taking photography in school and needed to get photo shoots in for her portfolio. She asked to take pics of the boys and of course i was excited about that! She wanted a few candid shots and i made the mistake of telling the boys to wrestle. They didn't cooperate well after that, a tad too hyper. But she did a great job. Here's a few favorites..
Ben & Brad look so different to me...i don't know why people can't tell them apart!

Recipes

Every time i post a recipe, at least one person tells me they tried it and liked it, so i'll continue to randomly post things. This meal was a doozy if i may say so myself. Takes some time to make, but very good.....Dinner knots & Pasta Primavera. Both recipes make A LOT, so you could make it for company as well.

Here goes...

DINNER KNOTS(i got lazy with the knotting, so they look more like rolls)From: Taste of Home

Tender Dinner Knots

1 Package active dry yeast

1/4 c. warm water

1 c. warm milk

1 egg

2 T sugar

2 T shortening

1 tsp. salt

3 1/2 - 4 c. flour

In a large mixing bowl, dissolve yeast in warm water. Add the milk, egg, sugar, shortening, salt, and 2 c. flour. Beat until smooth. Stir in enough remaining flour to form a soft dough. Turn onto a floured surface; knead until smooth and elastic, about 6-8 minutes. Place in a greased bowl, turning once to grease the top. Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 1 hour.

Punch dough down. Turn onto a lightly floured surface; shape into 25 pieces. To form knots, roll each piece into a 10 inch rope; tie each into a knot and tuck ends under. Place 2 inches apart on greased baking sheets. Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 25 minutes.

Bake at 400 for 13-16 minutes or until golden brown.

PASTA PRIMAVERA - From: Cooks Country

Pasta Primavera

2 T butter

1 small onion, chopped fine

8 oz. mushrooms, quartered

1 garlic clove, minced

1 (14.5 oz) can diced tomatoes, drained

1 cup heavy whipping cream

12 oz. fettuccine

1 lb. asparagus, chopped

1 medium zucchini, chopped

1 cup frozen peas

1/2 cup parm cheese

1 1/2 T lemon juice

1 T dried basil

Bring 4 quarts water to boil in large pot for cooking pasta. Meanwhile, melt butter in large skillet over med heat. Add onion, mushrooms, 1/2 tsp. salt and 1/2 tsp. pepper and cook until soft and browned. Add garlic and cook until fragrant. Stir in tomatoes and cream, increase heat to high, bring to boil, and remove pan from heat.

As sauce cooks, add 2 T salt and pasta to boiling water and cook until just beginning to soften, about 6 minutes. Add asparagus to pot and cook for 1 minute. Add zucchini and cook for 2 minutes. Add peas and cook until pasta is al dente.

Drain pasta and veggies and return to pot. Toss in cream sauce, cheese, lemon juice, and basil.

Enjoy!

Need a laugh?...

Rod took this video last night while i was at the eye doctor (yes, another thing off my list!) The funny part is within the first 20 seconds, but the rest is just fun to watch. Turn up your volume so you can hear what they're saying..
(Brad's the one with "the hair")

Our property in 2003

I recently browsed through pictures of when we first got a digital camera. Oh my, i came across our property right after we bought it (2003). I can hardly believe it!! And to think Rod saw the potential in this place. He did so much work, countless hours on the backhoe. I helped some too. But who are we kidding, Rod did most of it. We moved in 3 years after we bought the place (April 2006).

Here's a pic of the old house. Look at all the overgrown trees and shrub! Our house was built just to the left of where the old house was.

from the back of the property, nothing was kept after. almost makes me sick!

close to the same view, after we moved...
We feel so blessed to be here, and want to use it to bless others as well. We've done different outdoor events here.. I'd still love to have a wedding here some day. Maybe my brother's wedding :) :0)

Pregnancy status

Wanted to give a brief update on how i'm doing thus far this pregnancy. I chose not to take the progestorone shots to prevent preterm labor. I'm almost 27 weeks now and everything seems 'quiet'. Other then the Braxton Hicks contractions. Which is a regular thing from all my pregnancies. I am so happy to have been healthy, after a bout of several colds the first and early second trimester. I was beginning to think it was going to last the whole pregnancy! i'm feeling very good. i'm one of those weirdos who loves being pregnant! I've even have been getting barely any headaches. I normally, when not pregnant, get a headache once a week or so. and i don't put up with them, i'm popping advil right away. so i was concerned after getting pregnant, that i'd have to 'suck it up' with my headaches. since you can't take advil. but i probably only had one that i had to deal with so that's excellent. I'm amazed at God's goodness so far in a variety of ways throughout the pregnancy and we continue to pray for a safe and healthy baby to arrive not a minute before April 16th :)

Some recent chuckles i've gotten from the boys. They are all at a funny stage with the things they say to one another, makes all the work worth it!!!

Adam burps
Brad: "YOU BURPED!"
Adam: "Excuse me"
Brad: "There ya go!"

Sometimes while Adam is playing with or talking to a twin, he'll stop what he's doing/saying and say: "Who are you???" The twin responds with his name and Adam says: "Oh". I know how he feels, sometimes is hard to tell!

Brad: "Your funny looking Ben"
Ben: "No i'm not, i'm handsome!"
(Brad didn't understand the irony of telling your twin brother he's funny looking! Ben should have said - If i'm funny looking then you are too!)

I'm sure there's many other funnies that i either miss or tune out :)

Police car

the boys and i stopped in at Rod's shop last week and he happened to be working on a police car..so of couse we needed to play! The boys could have stayed in that car all day long.

we tried to make it look like adam pulled over the twins.

adam said anytime there's a car at daddy's shop 'with lights on it', to let him know and we'll go sit in it! guess he's referring to ambulances, fire trucks and police cars!

Thumb Sucking

Adam starting sucking his thumb regularly at 6 months old.....It was cute at 6 months old....and cute at a year oldeven a little cute at 2 1/2...BUT, not so much at 4 years old! He still does it quite often. I know i sucked my fingers until 1st grade, and i don't anymore so there's hope! i'd like him to start cutting back. He doesn't need a blanky in order to have his thumb, he doesn't even need to be bored or tired. During the busyness of our Christmas play he asked to take just his thumb out of his glove! hmmm, wonder why. I know habits are hard to break, so i want to be patient with the process! I'm glad the twins don't suck their thumbs!

Fried Chicken

I love this recipe for fried chicken. I think it came from Taste of Home. When i don't know what to make i think about what Rod orders at restaurants. When he came home tonight he looks at the meal and says "hey, this is what i would order at a restaurant!" It was funny, i never told him i do that.

Fried Chicken:
1 1/2 c. flour
1/2 c. corn meal
1/4 c. corn starch
1 T salt
2 tsp. paprika
1 tsp. oregano
1 tsp. sage
1 tsp. pepper
2 eggs
1/4 c. water

In a large bag, combine the dry ingredients. In a bowl beat eggs and water together. Dip chicken in egg and place in bag. Shake until coated. Heat oil in skillet and fry chicken on both sides for 2-3 minutes. Place in pan and bake uncovered at 350 for 45 minutes.

Twins room

We started off the new year redecorating the twins bedroom-to-be. They are currently still in the nursery but wanted to move them to the biggest bedroom since they will be sharing a room. I usually count on a painting project like this to take all week....2 days to tape and 3 to paint. Well Rod was home and helped and we did this in one day!! it took Rod 15 minutes to tape! And we just painted one wall so that didn't take long. I'm happy with the color, I'm so indecisive when it comes to picking colors. I was tired of blue and wanted to pick some other color. So i went with Red. Rod didn't want anything Bold and most reds are..so i picked a calmer red, hoping it wouldn't look pink!! i'm happy with it. It sure gives the room a different look. The twins are proud and happy with the airplane theme. We haven't moved them in yet, but will sometime in the near future.

Before: After: Still have a valance and little extras to add, but the main part is done....

Above each of their beds is an airplane wall sticker with their name on it. In case they forget which bed is theirs!And we also did other airplane and cloud stickers above their beds.

Nice to get that marked off the "before baby" list!!! Other items on the list are..... *Eye Doctor *Defrost freezer *Stock up at Sharp Shopper *Get twins circumsized (long story) *paint baby's room *wash windows (this takes me forever!)...etc......kinda a random list but i'd like to get that all done before the baby arrives (which isn't supposed to be until April so there's time).

Happy New Year!