LET IT SNOW, SNOW, SNOW

Today was the first snow day of this fall/winter, 2010.  When Katie woke I showed her and told her that later (after breakfast) we'd call the boys (Dalton & Garrett-cousins). As I was finishing breakfast I got a call from Garrett, "would it be okay if we brought a slay over and play with Katie and Adri?" OF COURSE!  You boys are always welcome.  I then told him that I'd make lunch, so he said we're on our way.  A few minutes later Christie (sister-n-law) texted about how excited the boys were, I sent on back about the fact that Katie was too!  Everyone had fun, including Molly.  Then everyone came in for a HOT cup of chocolate (it's all about the hot chocolate).

After warming up and drying the clothes; round two was about to happen.  I told them to go ahead and go into the back yard which still had some snow on the deck and grass.  They had some more fun, pulling and jumping off the steps of the deck, all I thought was I'm glad their young cause it looked like it would hurt the backside a whole lot.  But it did seem like they were having soooooooooooooooooooooooooo much fun.
As beautiful as the snow was, I do hope tomorrow is NOT a white morning.  The girls and I need to get a few things done tomorrow  before Thanksgiving and Adri's birthday party.
Speaking of Adri's birthday, my baby will be officially two on Friday.  It's hard to image that it was just such a short time ago that I was awaiting the arrival of my second beautiful baby girl. She is such a joy as she never stops smiling (well except when she is crying) because she didn't get something she wanted.  Happy Birthday baby.

So much learning

My last few post have not been the most positive or information filled; so I figured it was time to pull myself up by the boots straps and put something up that was more positive and updating about our family.

I can't believe that in 1 week and 2 days (9 days) Adri will be 2 years old. She is so NOT a baby anymore.  About the only thing we have left to concurred as the baby part of her life is the potty training thing.  She is really making progress; this AM she told me she had to go potty so we went in and she did!!!! Oh, I guess you could say we are still working on the talking thing too.  It is funny hearing her try to say some words, at  least she understands what we are saying, even if we don't understand everything she is saying. hehehehehehe

Katie is doing really well in school so far; she can recognize all her letters in the alphabet; knows the days of the week in order (she's still working on understanding what day it is each day), and she can count all the way up to 30.  I just need to start working on writing the letters and numbers with her.  I'm sure Santa Claus is going to help with this issue (bringing her stuff to write with and on).

Speaking of Santa Claus, Katie is really getting into the idea of the big guy in red but I don't think she totally understand the WHOLE picture yet.  Last night on the drive into town she said, "mom you have to send him a VERY 'impotant' message; tell him I love him and thank you for all the presents he's going to get me."  All I could do was giggle, then when Jerry and I did the car/kid change I whispered it in his ear and he giggled a bit too. 

I really can't wait to take them to see and talk to Santa for the first time this year (hopefully they don't get too scared).  Plus I'm going to send them letters from Santa, I kept an article about how the USPS will mail your letters back to you post marked from the North Pole.  Jerry and I are going to sit down here in the next few weeks to do this.  It is really fun playing Santa;-)

Vertans Day

I have to thank ALL the brave and unselfish people I know that have or are serving in the Armed Forces.  It is because of them I sit in my warm, safe house knowing I live in a free country. I feel blessed that these men and women put their lives on the line so we could all have our freedoms, and to just say THANK YOU seems like so little....but       THANK YOU for your service.

On My Mind

There is so much on my mind I don't know where to start......
First, I am doing less & less on FB as I'm tired of having to "edit" what I say as I know there are people that some of my comments would just piss them off and cause problems down the road.  So I think that might be another reason I wanted to start blogging again. The other thing about FB is how I am starting to realize how discounted I am from the people that use to be so close to me.  Their lives are so different now than mine is and yet I feel bad for myself.  I have everything someone should want; a wonderful husband, two beautiful and healthy little girls, a warm home, and a fun new part time job.  So why do I still feel like I'm loosing something?
Next thing I've been thinking about is "what am I going to do with my time?".  I don't want to be one of these moms that overs books their kids in activities just so that when I talk to people I sound so busy/important.  Don't get me wrong I want my kids in different activities but only if they want to. So I keep asking myself what am I going to do when the girls are in school; that's only a couple years away.
I've also been thinking that I am having a harder & harder time feeling "normal".  I have been taking vitamin B complex, and other vitamins.  It is helping but it just feels like it's not enough.  I'm afraid to go to the DR as I don't just want them to Rx something that is going to turn me into a zombie, I want to feel normal again. I want to love each morning when I get up and right now that is just not how I feel. I've thought about seeing a Naturopathic Dr. as most of them are very willing to listen and then try to fix the problem.  Guess I'll have to make that decision soon, my family needs ALL of me.
There are still a lot of things running through my mind but it is getting late and I'm getting very tired.  More at another time.

Cooking- Dam I'm getting good!

Roasted Butternut Squash Soup

1 butternut squash (2-3 lbs)
3 cups chicken broth
1/8 cup minced onion
2-4 tbsp butter
1/8-1/4 cup brown sugar
1 tsp nutmeg
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 cup heavy cream
salt to taste

Cut squash in half & seed, place squash skin up on/in baking sheet or dish.  Roast 1 hour @ 350.  In small stock pot cook down minced onion with 2tbsp butter.  Add chicken broth when onion is almost clear, then remove from heat.  Remove skin from squash and place "meat" in skillet with 2 tbsp butter, 1/8 cup brown sugar, nutmeg, and cinnamon. While cooking squash, mash down (if you want a smoother texture put 1/2 mixture in blender and pulse 2-4 times) then add to stock pot and repeat with remaining squash mixture. Add heavy cream and simmer on low for 30min, if needed add remaining brown sugar and salt to taste.

Soup should have a semi sweet, nutty taste.  Serve warm with a thick bread to dip or "clean" the bowl.

Third times the charm!?

Alright this is the third time I have (we have) started a blog.  This time I am going to keep it going with all kinds of "stuff"; our family, pets, gardening, scrapbooking, cooking/canning, and any other things I might think about (and I think about a lot of "stuff").

So it was Halloween this last weekend and it was also a very emotional one, we layed to rest my step brother.  Arlie M. Hoefling was 46 years young.  I didn't know him really (a long story I may get into at another time) but from what I learned this weekend I missed out & so did the rest of our family.  He sounded like a very good man.  I decided that I was going to use this as a learning point (another reason to re-start the blog) and to get to know my sister-n-law & niece/nephews.  Also to live each day more foe filling and never let those around me NOT know how much I love them.  Ok, I'm getting pretty heavy now, lets get back to the other fun part....Halloween.

I was told that I should allow the girls to eat as much candy as they want, well I didn't do that as I don't believe they should "eat til they puke, they are only kids once".  I did let them have "treats" through out the day, AFTER they ate breakfast, lunch or dinner.  They LOVED it.  Katie had soooooooooo much fun last night just doing the door to door thing and Adri wanted to do everything her big sister was doing.  They were really cute too!