The Sophia Chronicles...

I just love this little girl! Here are some fun photos...

Just before she got sucked up...lol

My wind swept gal...

Cheeeeese...and, well, crackers...

You can't see me...

I'm cute...

Beautiful...



Blessings,

Storage...

Here is our kid's dressers...




Bottom drawer is for winter, top drawer is for summer. Once we're deep into summer, the winter things get stored in the garage and the bottom drawers store swimsuits and such.

I have another little 4 drawer storage area for their underwear and socks.

Blessings,

My Week in Pictures...

Here are some photos from this past week. It's been busy but a good one.

Sophia tackling her brother. Nothing stops her, not even one arm missing...


A box is a toddlers best friend...


Or maybe it's the sister on the other side?


Let's see. We took Allison to Lifeguard class on Tuesday and Thursday. Had P.E. on those days as well. Took Evie to her gymnastics on Wednesday and scouts for Jon on Monday. Today, we all went to the park. It was HOT. Who'd of guessed?lol Then I had my veggie co-op and also did some grocery shopping. Tomorrow, Allison has class all day. She'll be learning CPR. I'm guessing she'll really enjoy the class. She's really taken to Lifeguarding and I can see her being successful. Jon will be catching up on some work that he neglected, instead of skating. The rest of us will be having a nice relaxing day off.lol I think Sophia was telling me today that if she had to ride in the car one more time and then not even be able to get out at the end, she'd mutiny. I don't blame her.LOL

Well, that's it. We will be "rinsing and repeating" next week. I'm blessed that my kids are growing into such great young adults and I'm thankful that in August, Allison will be able to drive herself. :snort:

Blessings,

Jon's Birthday part two...

So when we left off, Jon was still trying to figure out what Grandpa got him.lol

Here's the next layer...


Oh, look! A box. Maybe this is it?


Nope.


He got so wrapped up in tape, we thought he might not have his hands free to actually open the gift.LOL


Success!


He was soooo happy! It was new barrings for his skate wheels. These are expensive and good ones.


Here he is showing his happiness...


What a blessing this boy is in our lives! Always loving, thinks continuously of others, and would do anything for anyone. I am truly blessed!

Blessings,

Jon's Birthday...

I know, this happened last Thursday but trying to keep up with "One-Armed Sophie" is proving to be quite the challenge.

Jon's birthday was a wonderful success. Here are a few photos from the night...

Jon's cookie cake...


I even found colored flame candles for him...


Sophia thought the cookie was quite good...


He loved the gift from Allison...


I don't know WHAT I was thinking buying him this...

He actually launched a balloon way farther than it said on the package. :snort:

The big gift was from my Dad who really knows how to wrap...

The first layer...


Can you see the tape on this?


Another cute photo of Sophia, she loved all the laughing...


I'll continue this on another post since I lose people when I have too many photos...

Blessings,

Project 365: My week in photos...

Sophia before...


Sophia after...


And a nice photo of Isaac displaying his picture of a rainbow...



It's been a long week! I know that it's only Wednesday, but it feels like it's next week already.LOL Just for those who don't already know, Sophia broke her arm on Saturday and it's one of only a few bones that they don't cast. We've had to try to keep her arm still since then and it wasn't until last night that Eric figured out how we could do it. Here is her new and improved bandage...


Look how happy she is! She's been in a bit of pain because she kept wiggling out of the bandage and then using the arm. Now she's happy and pain free. I'm happy too, since I don't have the spend the whole day either holding her or rewrapping that arm!



Blessings,

April Fools...

This is what greeted me when I got out of my shower this morning...



Those stinkers.

BLessings,

Recipe...

A blurry, chocolate covered toddler...



I got this recipe in my inbox a few days ago from MarmeeDear and decided that it'd be a fun project for the kids and I to do.
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Glazed Doughnuts

Into the BOSCH mixer bowl add:
2 cups warm water (115 degrees)
2 eggs (I warm my eggs before cracking into the water in a bowl of very warm water - just let them sit a few minutes in the warm water and it takes the chill off them - you want everything in your bowl nice and warm to help your yeast rise.)
1/3 cup sugar
1/3 cup vegetable shortening
2 heaping Tbsp. yeast (I use SAF yeast)
1 Tbsp. salt (we use sea salt)
3 cups unbleached all purpose flour (I like King Arthur)


Mix on medium speed until combined. Now add in up to almost 3 cups more flour until you have a soft workable dough. (Don't keep adding more and more flour as too much flour will make heavy and tough doughnuts! - just enough (right at about 6 cups total for the whole recipe-- to make it soft and just slightly sticky) Let the mixer knead the dough on speed # 2 for 3-4 minutes. Take dough out and put on a lightly floured surface. Roll out with a pastry roller and cut out with a doughnut cutter. Carefully place cut out doughnuts and holes on a lightly floured cotton cloth or tray. If you have little helpers it might be easier just to make all HOLES! Who doesn't love to pop a donut hole in their mouth? Betcha can't eat just one!


Let rise for 45 minutes in a warm spot. Use a large pot with cooking oil about 3" deep. Turn oil on medium / high and let it heat up. (Never leave hot oil unattended!) Drop in a doughnut hole after about 3 minutes. If the doughnut hole floats and browns quickly - your oil is ready to fry up your doughnuts. Add them a few at a time by dropping carefully into the hot oil. Turn once carefully as they brown. Do not overbrown. Drain each lightly browned doughnut on paper towels. While someone is frying the doughnuts have another helper stir up the doughnut glaze.


DONUT GLAZE:

Place1 bag of powdered icing sugar into a medium/large bowl. Add in milk, 1 Tbsp. at a time, until the sugar is smooth and the consistency of thin gravy. Sink each doughnut into the glaze mix after it is drained while still hot. Shake off excess glaze and place glazed doughnuts on a large tray. Serve while hot. Cover leftovers and reheat in the microwave just momentarily. But these are best served fresh and hot. Makes a big batch of doughnuts for lots of growly tummies! If you don't have a lot of them around why not take a tray of warm doughnuts to a friend or neighbor

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Yum!

Needless to say, everyone enjoyed them!




Jon did all the cooking...



Afterwards, Sophia played Lounge Lizard...


Poor Isaac missed all the fun. He's come down with a high fever and has been sleeping most of the day. I'm praying that he's the only one to come down with this. We've all had enough illness to last us a year!

Blessings,