Isn't she just the cutest!?! These are the pictures that the breeder sent us. She's a little schnauzer. Tom and I both had one growing up so we want one for our kids. :) This is technically their birthday present, so we're trying to decide to get her now or have them hold her until the end of December. She's just so little and cute... I want her now! :)
Gotta give a shout out to my peeps in Oklahoma! WOO HOO! Way to go Sooners! How are those words tasting now, Ness?? Everyone down in Ada gathered around to cry tears of defeat on each other's shoulders, I'm sure. So devastating. :::sniff::: Aunt Holly, Uncle Guy, and Shannon, with ya'll being the only true students/alumni, I offer you my deepest condolences. :) There's always next year.. (to get beaten!)
As you can see, this is a very big deal to my family. The one day a year when we are split down the middle... huge family rivalry... in short - it's war. We all want bragging rights for our team.
(Just as an aside - this is all in good fun. Exactly what I would have had to endure from the other side had OSU been able to pull out a win. (not likely) :) )
Common scene at today's game :)
Today was a monumental game, the 100th Bedlam. We showed OSU who's boss.
Final score: OU 42 - OSU 14
I forgot all about these until I came across them today. :P I didn't get many, but here's the best ones.
Visiting, drinking cider, and looking over all the pretty crafts and decorations at Deb's house.
Dana's little baby, Annabelle, loves to touch her mommy's face when she's eating.... it's so sweet to watch! :)
Yummy food at Beth's house.
Hanging out in Beth's living room.
My friend Heather and me. She came along to help me carry in all the food I made. lol j/k Heather and I worked together when I was at Barron's. She's a great friend. :)
This is the only picture I got of the day. It was dissapointing. I totally forgot about the camera in the car! But this a such a good one. I think this is one of the only picture of both of us with Brayden since he was very first born!
We had a wonderful day with Tom's family. Dinner was so good. I ate way too much. But I'm doing the happy dance because even after the party, all the baking I've been doing, and even totally stuffed from dinner, when I got on the scale (I always use theirs because we don't have one) instead of having gained at least 5 lbs like I thought would have happened, I had lost three lbs! I was amazed and encouraged to use this little bit of a head start I have and start my rigorous diet/exersize plan I've been putting off starting. I didn't want to start it because of the holidays.... but I figure if I stick to it all the way until Christmas, surely I'll have lost more by then. So on Christmas I can eat and enjoy it and noy feel guilty! At least that's how I justify it in my mind. :)
Anyways, enough weight talk. Though I do have to share one thing... lol.. my mom and I were talking about it and I was saying how I really want to get back down to a size 3 like I was before I had Chandler. But how even then I saw myself as fat and I actually feel better about myself now than ever because of how wonderful Tom is about it. He's always telling me that I'm the most gorgeous woman in the world and he doesn't think I need to lose weight. I just think he's the greatest, most awesome husband for that. I've always had (and probably will always have) issues about my weight... and I think it's just another awesome testimony of God blessing me with my perfect match, someone who would affirm me and build me up in that way! Thank you, Lord! I love you, baby. :)
Well, I guess that was sort of appropriate seeing as it turned out to be a thankful rant. lol
Sorry I didn't get more pictures. Hope everyone had great a Thanksgiving! 
Brayden is doing so good eating now. It took him awhile to get used to the spoon and the texture of the food, but he loves it now and opens so good!
He loves playing with his food more though! :)
Taylor loves reading her Thanksgiving chapter book. I got out of the shower this morning and found her curled up on the couch with her blanket just reading away. She's taking after Aunt Vanessa!! (I just looked this book up, and it's on the list of books for THIRD grade!) :)
As we walked in, Taylor asked sweetly to sit in the very front row. I remember when I wanted to do the same thing with my mom and she'd let us, but she never sat with us. I decided to be a cool mom and sit with my kids in the very front row. Oh, the wisdom of my mother! My ears are still ringing and my eyes are burning... literally. At one point during the slightly scary previews, Chandler jumped up and started running up the isle. Seems that front row for little kids can be a bit intimidating. :)
I hate to admit it, but everyone was right. This movie sucked. The funniest parts are in the previews and the story really is rushed. (Though just to be fair I feel like I might have missed some of the funny parts because of my ringing ears and burning eyes.) I kept waiting for something more to develop in the story. The quality of the CG was just pathetic. I knew Disney was going to suffer when they split with Pixar, but I didn't realize just how much.
On the other hand, my kids loved it. Even Brayden sat through the whole thing. Chandler walked out saying over and over "That Kicken Widdle movie was so funniest, Mommy!" I got my money's worth. :)
Oh and one more complaint... what's with the music montages every five minutes?? Come on Disney, you couldn't come up with a better way to drive the plot than this overused ploy?? Please, give us something original!
Tom is turning our storage room (read: my junk room) that's off the playroom into his office. Actually, he's only doing one end of it right now. He's the most amazing husband ever! He's so good at a plethora of things. I walked in after he'd started this project and asked him for the millionth time since we got married... "Baby, is there anything you CAN'T do???"
Here he's torn down the paneling, rewired the room, putting light switches and moving outlets... (how does he know how to do that??) and framed in a soffit to enclose the canned lights. Amazing.
Here he's "rocked the walls" (his words... construction worker lingo) It was such a turn on... I was thinking we'd have to play handy man and handy wife later on.... LOL .... Ahem, notice the canned lights. He's been wanting to put them all over the house ever since we moved in. Now he finally has some!
And this is where he's at now... he's rocked the soffit and just needs to mud and tape then he'll paint and put in the desk. (that he'll build from scratch) It's really cool. With his new job working for Rob, he need his own space to work. Oh, for anyone you doesn't know, Tom's been doing freelance work for this guy from church who owns a home automation company. Tom is on cloud nine! He gets absolutely giddy about home theatre and home automation. I'm just glad he's being able to have this outlet and a good friend in Rob who shares his passion. I was never a good audience for his rhapsodies about home automation! :)
Well, we need to get going. I have a lot to do today. I'm cooking for tomorrow, have to go to Walmart, pay my ticket (I promised a story about that.... hmmm), go to the bank and Blockbuster and then we're all going to see Chicken Little! The kids are so excited... they've been wanting to see if ever since the first previews came out. And I have to admit I have too. I know it's gotten bad reviews... not like it's bad morally.. just as in it's not very well made, story is rushed, etc... but I still think we'll enjoy it. :)
Have a great day! As Dana says, blog ya later! :)
I told Stephanie I'd post my pie recipes. Sorry it took so long, Steff! You'd have gotten the recipe by Friday one way or another though!
The ladies of our church are having a Holiday Helps Night -http://www.ccclongview.com/news.php?id=34&PHPSESSID=bd461b444c4e38a346cb6a7f47a51427 - and I'm bringing my pies and recipes for everyone. And also a few other things. I'll let you know how it goes and post pics later on!
This is long, so you may want to print it out. :)
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It all starts with the crust. This is my mom's recipe and it's the best pie crust ever!
Single pie crust recipe
1 cup flour
1/2 t. salt
1/3 cup + 1T. chilled Crisco (no substitutions)
3 T. ice water
Sift flour and salt together. Cut in Crisco with pastry cutter or mix with fingers until flour is all mixed in and pea sized balls begin to form. Be careful not to over mix. Over mixing will result in a tough crust. Add water and blend with a fork. Form into a disk and chill for 15 min. On floured surface, roll out to 1/8" thickness.
Place dough into a ungreased pie plate. Trim the edges so that the crust hangs over 2 in. from the edge of the pie plate. Roll up the edge and flute. (if there is NOT a top crust) Do this by making a pinching motion with one hand on the outside and pressing the index finger of the other hand into the groove from the inside. If there is a top crust, wait to flute until after the top crust is on and do the next step carefully with overhanging edges.
Add an egg white to the unbaked crust and swish it around to coat the bottom and sides. Discard any left over egg white. This will seal the crust and keep it from being soggy. Place in freezer and mix up filling.
My Deep Dish Apple Crumb Pie - Yield 1 pie
Prepare two pie crusts, put one in the pan and save the other crust for the top. Note: do not flute edges yet!!
9 medium apples (Jonathan are the best) peeled, cored and thinly sliced **add lemon juice as you're cutting up the apples to keep them from turning brown. Drain off any excess when you've finished, but make sure they're all well coated with the juice.**
2 T. flour
1 T. tapioca
2/3 c. sugar
1/4 c. brown sugar
3/4 t. cinnamon
1/8 t. nutmeg
1/2 t. allspice
1/8 t. salt
2 T. unsalted butter
3T. heavy cream
Preheat oven to 425 degrees.
Sift all dry ingredients together, making sure there are no brown sugar lumps. Toss apples with dry ingedients until well coated. Remove pie shell from the freezer. Place apple mixture in pie shell and dot with butter and drizzle with the cream.
Roll out remaining dough and cut into strips. Place in a very loose lattice pattern. You want lots of space between strips. Trim strips to be even with the bottom crust. Roll up and flute. Brush crust with melted butter and sprinkle with sugar. Bake in preheated oven on lowest rack for 20 minutes. This helps the bottom crust firm and not get soggy.
While the pie is baking mix up the steusel topping:
3/4 c. flour
1/2 t. cinnamon
1/2 c. packed brown sugar
3/4 c. quick oats
1/2 c. butter
Mix dry ingredients then cut in butter until mixture is crumbly.
Remove pie from oven and sprinkle with topping. (it won't take all of it)
Reduce heat to 375. Bake on the middle rack for an additional 35-45 minutes or until the topping is browned, filling is bubbly and the apples are tender.
Cool at least 30 minutes. Serve warm with vanilla ice cream. YUM!
A simpler way to do this is to leave off the top crust, flute the edges like normal and just top with the streusel. I like both so I don't mind doing the lattice.
Ok and here's my version of mom's Pumpkin Pie... her version of the Libby's recipe. :)
Yield 1 pie
Prepare single pie crust and flute edges. After washing with egg white, bake in a 425 degree oven for 7 minutes. This ensures a very flaky, not-soggy bottom crust. :) It might bubble up a bit... I just smoothed it down before adding the filling, but you might want to poke it with a for prior to baking so it won't do that.
Filling:
3/4 + 2T. sugar
3 loose very slightly heaping T. brown sugar
1/2 t. salt
1 t. ground cinnamon
1/2 t ground allspice
1/8 t. ground cloves
2 large eggs
1 15oz. can Libby's 100% pure pumpkin
1 12 oz. can evaporated milk
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Mix sugars, salt and spices in small bowl. Beat eggs in large bowl. Stir in pumpkin and sugar-spice mixture. Gradually whisk in evaporated milk.
Pour into baked pie shell. Bake 60-75 minutes or until the middle is very set and doesn't jiggle at all. You may have to form a foil ring to put around the edge crust to keep it from over browning.
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Well that's it.. it's taken me three days to get it all written down. :) Gives me a head start for my recipes cards for the helps night though!! Have fun and I hope you get as many great memories and stories about baking these recipes as I have!
These are some picture from our homeschool group's field trip to a authentic farmstead yesterday. I took Bronwyn and Brodrick with Taylor and left my boys with Deb. We had a good time. The only problem was that I dressed for warmer weather since it's been in the 80's the past week or so, and it was freezing in Pittsburg!! We left a little early because the kids were hungry and I was ready to get to my warm car!
I enjoy getting the kids together. They have more fun talking and laughing... it's neat to watch them.
When we got back to Deb's house, Dana had dropped by with her kids. Here's a cute picture of Taylor holding little Annabelle. She's just fascinated with baby girls. I hope we have a girl next so she has a little sister!
Please be praying for Brayden. He caught Chandler's cold and he's going down hill pretty fast. He's been running a fever since last night and is very fussy. With him being little still, I'm concerned about it turning into rsv. Pray that we'll be over all this sickness very soon!! Thanks.
I need to get going on my day.... I'm all excited because my appt today got cancelled so I get to be home all day today! I think I'm going to bake some pies. :) Family Day got me going and I can't quit till the holiday season is over or we all gain 10 lbs... whichever comes first. :)
Have a great day, everyone!
It seems that some people have thought that I really did sabotage Tom's pie. In my sister's words, "I wouldn't put it past her. " lol I wanted to set the record straight: I DID NOT PUT A CUP OF FLOUR IN TOM'S PIE!! I was only kidding. It turned out dry all by itself... honest!
Just a quick note while dinner's cooking. I just got in from taking Chandler to the dr, so everything is thrown behind. Chandler's been stuffy for a few weeks now, but the past few days he's gotten short of breath and coughing a lot more. I've been worried about him so I thought this morning I should take him to the dr, but I was looking forward to having a whole day just at home and didn't want to go anywhere!! (it's the only one this week!) But after talking with Dana I decided to go, just to be on the safe side. Turns out, we caught a bad infection just in time ... it could have easily turned into pneumonia! Thank you, God, for prompting me to take him in today! And Dana for the nudge. :)
Last night was fun. Our lifegroup watched the kids of the Bradshaw's group so they could have a night out. We did it at the church so we could watch videos on the big screen and play on the playground... and Bruce surprised the kids by letting them get up onstage, each get a mic and sing Christmas carols. It was a blast! You should have seen the boys on the drums... we have quite a few budding drummers it seems - my son included. :) I wish I had pictures.. I had my camera in the car, but I lost my keys just when I needed them and didn't get any shots. :(
New episode of LOST tonight. I was disappointed with the last new one, but I guess there can't be big revelations on every episode. This week should be good.
I have an amusing story to share soon... it involves me, a warrant officer, and lots of stress!!
My apple pie. I was so proud of this thing. I made lattice top and then on sprinkled a crumb topping. Mmmm.. so crunchy and yummy. The filling was my own recipe I'd come up with, drawing from several that I'd found on allrecipes.com and what I remembered from Mom's recipe. The only thing I needed to change about the recipe was the apples I used. I used Granny Smith and they were a bit too tart. Next time I'll use Jonathan or Gala. But overall this was the best apple pie I've ever made... or tasted. That's in my very humble opinion, of course! :P The candied peel decoration was made by tossing strips of peel with sugar then letting them dry out on a cookie sheet in the oven overnight.
This one I can't take credit for - it's my mom's recipe and the very best! I HAVE to find a good leaf cookie cutter. Doing it by hand - as pretty as it is -NOT WORTH IT.
Tom's apple pie turned out too dry to win... But it looks really pretty! :) (I secretly sabotaged him by slipping in a extra cup of flour.... shhhh, don't tell)
Chandler was enjoying all the chocolate.... maybe too much. Too much to care about riding the horse anyways. :)
The rocking chair circle. Steff and Dana, this is us in about 15-20 years! Ha!
This was so sweet - they sat playing like that for a long time. I had to take it from far away and crop to get the shot. Brayden is such a ham... if he even sees the camera he starts grinning and won't look at anything else. :)
Swinging - whee!
Sack races!
It takes a lot of concentration to win a checkers competition!
Deb with their guests. Bruce talked Tom into playing this guy (can't remember his name) in horseshoes.... then he ended up winning the whole contest. Tom felt better after that. :)
Kids' hayscramble area... the decorations were so pretty this year!
Brittney Cavel serving the drinks and food. Loved the hat, Brittney!
Beth helping with the kids' games. Love her hat, too... I was really needing one with all the wind that day!
Taylor with Lydia Almeter. Lydia won second in the best costume contest! Go Lydia!
Bobbing for apples! I think she actually got one, too.
The Crowe's daycare - a fenced pen. lol Just kidding!
I believe these young ladies all made their own costumes! Very impressive.
Taylor and Bronwyn going fishing for candy. :)
My big strong hubby was the greased pig chase champion for the youth/adult division!! (That's him on the ground) :)
The 7-12 aged kids chasing the pig... and a good look at everyone around the pen watching. It's really neat.
