Saturday, December 1, 2012

Pancakes!

So I make pancakes all the time. Who doesn't if you have kids? Well, until today they have always been mediocre at best. I have tried both mixes and from scratch recipes, with no real standouts in the performance category. Well, thanks to Pinterest (insert angels singing) I can now make awesome pancakes! I found Gwyneth Paltrow's dad's recipe the other day and tried it today. SUCCESS! Now these may not be for everyone. I prefer a hearty pancake. All that fluff isn't worth much to me. It just tastes like air with syrup on it. These have more of a sourdough pancake flavor. Yummy! We went on vacation to Jackson Hole, Wyoming a few years ago and ate breakfast at Jedidiah's where they specialize in sourdough. These would probably fit right in there. I guess it is the buttermilk. In fact, both kids and myself ate two full size pancakes and a sausage patty this morning. That is pretty good for them! Anyway this is a recipe that I would give 5 stars!

Bruce Paltrow's World Famous Pancakes

I'm not sure if this link is working so here is the recipe just in case.

1 1/2 c all purpose flour
1 3/4 t baking powder
1 t salt
OR
1 1/2 c self- rising flour  (Most people with cooking experience already know this, but just in case.)

3 T sugar

3 eggs
1 1/2 c buttermilk
3 T melted butter, cooled slightly
*1/2 c milk for later
*I didn't need this since my batter was already the right consistency.

Combine flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt OR just combine your sugar and flour if that is what you are using. In another bowl, whisk eggs, buttermilk, melted butter together. Combine the wet ingredients with the dry ingredients until just combined. Cover batter and let rest overnight in the fridge.
The next morning, add the milk until you get the consistency you want. Then cook on a greased griddle or skillet until pancake is covered with bubbles. Then flip and cook until golden on the other side. Serve with syrup and enjoy!

Sunday, November 11, 2012

Thankfulness Day 11

Today I am thankful that I live in a place where I have access to good medical care. I am thankful that I have insurance to cover most of the cost and I am thankful that we can afford the premiums. Where we live we are 20 minutes away from not 1, not 2, but 3 hospitals. So luckily, we can seek out the best care for a particular situation. We don't have to take the one doctor in town's diagnosis and treatment because it is so far to another doctor. We have lived in places where this wasn't the case. I say all this to say that tomorrow Miss Lillie Claire will be visiting one of the doctors in the area. She has been sick for going on 3 weeks now. First it was a double ear infection. Got over that, then on our trip to the doctor to recheck the ears and get vaccinations, she picks up a bug  and has had a bad cold ever since. The cold is better but she just still isn't right. She got up again this morning, felt a little warm, and cried and fussed for 30 minutes. I finally gave her some more Tylenol, but it has gotten to where to make her feel better she has to be on Tylenol. This isn't right and I hope I can get her some help tomorrow.

Saturday, November 10, 2012

Thankfulness Day 10

On a lighter note today, I am going to write about my two favorite modern conveniences. I am thankful for both.
Favorite #1    Indoor plumbing- I love it. I know being a woman, it really makes my life easier and more enjoyable. I love not having to trek out into the back 40 to do my business several times a day. I love being able to wash my hands or dishes or clothes anytime I want without pumping or pulling up water from a well. That doesn't sound so bad, but think about having to do all that just to wash your hands when it is 20 degrees outside. Think about having to bundle up, to take a toddler out to potty in the middle of the night. On a related note, I am thankful that we don't have to use the Sears-Roebuck catalogue anymore, if you know what I mean.
Favorite modern convenience #2 - Air Conditioning  Don't get me wrong, I like to be warm in the winter too. It is just that I hate to be hot worse. You can put on more clothes, it is frowned upon if you walk around naked all day. Since I had my kids, I am extremely hot natured. Like I need strong deodorant and refrain from raising my arms if wearing a sleeveless shirt, hot natured! I wasn't like this until I had babies. Now three babies later, I barely need a coat in the winter. I never use the heated seats that my suburban is equipped with because I would roast! We don't even live in the south, (Central- which is really northern Kentucky, is not the real south) and I can't imagine how bad it would be to not have air-conditioning!  Actually, I can since I was around 8 or 9 when my grandparents finally got AC.
Thank you Lord for giving man the brains to come up with these two wonderful discoveries! I am very thankful! :)

Friday, November 9, 2012

Thankfulness Day 9

Since today is the 9th of November and my ninth day of Thankfulness, I will say that I am thankful to still be here and in good health. I turn 36 years old today. Just writing those numbers gives me anxiety and I have to take a deep breath! I never thought I'd be a person whose age would bother them....WRONG!!
Since the day after I turned 25 and realized I was then closer to 30 than 20 it has been an issue. I've never considered myself a vain person, but last year I hated that I had the number 3 followed by a 5 in my age. I dared my husband to mention it. He did anyway, but since then I think he has come to a better understanding! This year, since he is a smart man, he didn't mention the numbers involved!
That being said, I lost my mother when she was 51 and we lost my father-in-law when he was 43. Darrel got diagnosed with colon cancer 5 or 6 years earlier than that. So we "get" that we are lucky to be 36 (:-/) and still healthy. I would love to think that we will get to grow old together and see grand kids, but the truth is I just don't know. None of us do, which is why I am VERY THANKFUL that the Lord has blessed me with good health and another day on this earth.

Thursday, November 8, 2012

Thankfulness Day 8

Trying to get caught up today!
Day 8
Today I am thankful for my sweet, kind hearted, well behaved children. I have already mentioned that I am thankful for my kids, today I am thankful for their personalities, souls, behavior. I'm not sure how to describe it. I would likely love them just as much if they were holy terrors, but I am thankful that isn't the case.
They are so much more than I deserve! I believe in discipline, but that is only half of it. It is a lot of luck too. They are just so pure and innocent right  now. I wish I could keep it this way. They really don't ever do anything to be mean, or hurtful and have a hard time understanding when others do. They are the kindest little people I have ever known, and I've known a few. Remember I taught school for 5 years and have numerous nieces and nephews. So I realize not all kids are this way. We always get compliments on how well behaved they are. I encourage this because I have never been someone who likes to be embarrassed. I didn't want to be embarrassed by my students when I was teaching and I certainly don't want to be embarrassed by my own children. The Lord helps me so much with this. I need to take more lessons from them. Like Jesus said, we should become as little children. They love to go to church, although with the addition of LC, we don't attend nearly as often as we should or as I would like. They always think of others and ask others how they are and they genuinely want to know the answers. They both love doing things for others and for the most part want to make others happy always. I am so thankful for the way they are. Lillie Claire, you have a lot to live up to! ;)

Thankfulness Day 7

This is late, but I am not used to posting more than like once a month, so pretty good for me!

Day 6
I am thankful for my little sister! Well, she isn't actually little anymore, she just turned 33 a few days ago. She will always be little to me though! We have a great relationship now and have since we have been adults. This despite the fact that I fantasized about sitting on top of her and beating her half to death on a regular basis as a child! I guess it is normal to fight, but man could she push my buttons. As an oldest child, I blame it on the "baby" syndrome. She was always getting me in trouble and tattling on me. Thus why I couldn't stand her a large portion of the time when we were young. Anyway, we have been through a lot together and it has made our bond so much stronger. She is such a good person, creative out the wazoo, and a great friend. I love her dearly and am very thankful for her!

Tuesday, November 6, 2012

Thankfulness Day 6

I am thankful for growing up in a loving home. I had parents who loved my sister and I and each other. I saw firsthand that my father was crazy about my mother. They both worked hard to give us everything we needed and a lot of what we wanted. This isn't just in reference to material things although that is part of it. We had plenty to eat, nice clothes, a warm house - all the basics and then some. We took vacations and went shopping and went out to eat. They raised us in church and to know right from wrong. We knew the limits and what was expected of us. We had stability! This isn't the case for far too many kids today and even back when I was a kid. I am thankful that I didn't know anyone had a different reality. I am thankful that I didn't have to be the parent in our parent/child relationship. I didn't have to worry about the fact that my parents drank too much or took drugs. I didn't have to worry if my mom or dad was coming home at night. We attended church together and ate dinner almost every night together. I was surrounded with love and support. If only every child could be so lucky! I can honestly say that I had an awesome childhood, and although things wouldn't always be so peachy, I am forever thankful to the Lord that I didn't experience those hard times as a kid.

Monday, November 5, 2012

Thankfulness Days 4 & 5

Day 4
Since yesterday was Sunday, I thought sharing that I am thankful for living in a country where we can openly attend church and worship our Lord. I hope we as a nation don't fall down the wrong path and end up losing that right. We have turned away from what our forefathers intended when it comes to government and God. He is a necessary part of everything and trying to turn away from that principle is leading to the downfall of America. I am thankful that right now, today, we have that freedom. I pray that my children and grandchildren never know what it is like to live without being able to worship and follow God openly.

Day 5
We are made in God's own image. So I have to think that when God sent his son to Earth with the knowledge that he would one day have to die for others, he must have been heartbroken. I know people who have lost children and can't imagine the pain and torture that must be. I am thankful for a God that would allow his son to die that I might live and for Jesus and his willingness to follow through with God's plan.

Saturday, November 3, 2012

Thankfulness Day 3

#3 I am thankful to live in the United States of America! We are so blessed that we take it for granted in this country. I wish we all respected what others have sacrificed for us more. All those founding fathers who really risked it all to try to set up a better future for all of us. All the men and women in uniform and their families over the years who have fought and died so that we could be where we are today. Such a blessing that most of the world will never know! I pray that this country can return to a place worthy of pride and respect from the rest of the world. Go vote and vote for the person who will do the best job to try and uphold Christian beliefs! No one is perfect, but we as Christians should feel called upon to vote for the man who will most likely follow what is right, not what is popular.

Friday, November 2, 2012

Thankful Days # 1 & # 2

I'm not going to do a facebook post for each day in November, but I do want to take this opportunity to list the things that I am thankful for in my life. I try to be grateful for all the many, many blessings that I have been given and try to not take those for granted.

I missed posting November 1st and 2nd so I am going to combine those two days, for without one I wouldn't have the other. :)

#1 I am thankful for my awesome husband! I have loved him and only him, my entire adult life! We got together as seniors in high school and have been together ever since. We have been through a lot and had several struggles and we are still here. We have been together for 18 years and celebrated 16 years of marriage in May of this year. No small feat these days! I love him as much today as ever. He works so hard for our family and is a great provider. We are a team and I'd go to the ends of the earth for him. He is also a wonderful Daddy!

#2 I am thankful for 3 beautiful, HEALTHY children. We realize what a blessing good health is when we are sick for a few days. Think about what a blessing it is to have healthy children! That is why every time I am asked by the cashier in the checkout line to donate to a children's charity, I DO GLADLY! I am so thankful it isn't me sitting in a hospital room with a sick child, or in a waiting room anxious to see if one of my babies has survived some tragedy, or sitting at home wondering how much longer we have with one of our precious gifts. I pray we never know what it is like to be in one of these situations.

Sunday, July 22, 2012

Time Slipping By

Well I can't believe that summer is almost over! It makes me so sad. I don't know if all 35 year olds ( I hesitate to even write that number!) think so much about how quickly time passes, but it seems that is almost all I think about these days. My babies are growing up before my very eyes.

I have one that my husband is currently driving to the TN/KY line so that she can hitch a ride to the beach with her cousin. She will see the ocean for the first time without me. I hate that. I know it is the first time of many more to come, but I just want to cry every time I even think about it. She seems so big, so old, but she is only 8. Eight sometimes sounds old, but not today. She is such a big girl and helps me so much now with Lillie Claire. I will miss her terribly this week. She talks nonstop and got her daddy's penchant for telling long drawn out stories. It gets on my nerves so bad, but I know I need to do a better job stopping and listening to her. She is so sweet, kind, smart, and has so much potential. I need to do better. She deserves better.

I was afraid my husband was going to let the boy go for a week at the great-grandparents' house. I wish they were able to take care of him but they just aren't able. Jeremy's grandfather is Jack's best friend, too bad the best friend is now 70 something years old. I want to have him all to ourselves. We are going to Gatlinburg for a few days later this week and I want to spend some time with him because on August 13 he will go off to kindergarten! My baby in kindergarten, how can that be? I will be doing good to keep it together that day. I don't know why but it is going to bother me so much more than with Madalynn. He is all boy, but at the same time he is kind, sweet, thoughtful, helpful, and loves his sisters- especially the little one! I think he will have fun with us. We never said anything about the possibility of him going to the grandparents. I told Jeremy we needed to make sure and carry him to ride go-carts. We haven't mentioned that we are going to Gatlinburg so it will be a surprise. I was afraid if we did mention it, that Mady would back out of going with Mary Grace to the beach. She is bad to get homesick anyway. M & J stayed up until 11:30 pm talking. You would think she was going to be gone a month!

I have a baby, the last baby, that is now 10 months old! I need to be planning a birthday party right now. It went by so quick even as I realized it was flying by. She is sick with a fever today, which is why I am not the one driving down to drop Madalynn off. I hope she gets better before our trip. I will give an update on her in another post.

Wednesday, June 13, 2012

The Summer List 2012



School is out for summer!!!
Yay!

Here is our summer to do list for 2012! I hope all these things are "do-able". The only problem is I am going to be doing good to accomplish all this and my daughter thinks it is her duty to add one thing to it daily!
Since our life is anything but typical, I try to make summer full of fun. We can't afford to go on a cool vacation, so we make the simple simply awesome!

We are doing pretty good.


We have signed up for the library summer reading program.

We did a picnic at the farm one day last week since the weather wasn't too hot.
We had a PJ day on Monday since it rained.
We attended VBS (at least Madalynn and Jack did) on Saturday and the kids caught fireflies!

We attempted to go to Raven's Run Nature Sanctuary. The only problem was I had it confused with the McConnell's Springs Nature Park. We still had a great time. I just can't mark that thing off my list!





We took about a 1 mile walk and actually followed some fairly steep trails with the ole' jog stroller.
The weather was great! That is why I wanted to get this crossed off the list. Maybe another day!
We walked for about an hour and stopped and had a snack and a drink.


Miss Lillie Claire getting a drink too!

The most interesting thing by far was the Burr Oak tree that is supposed to be over 250 years old!Amazing!

The branches themselves were as big as tree trunks!

We stopped for a lunch at Zaxby's on the way home. Not exactly where I thought I was going this morning, but a fun day anyway!

Wednesday, May 2, 2012

YAY - SUCKS DAY!

Yesterday was a YAY - that SUCKS day. Let me explain. I went to bed Monday night WAY too late.It was more like really early Tuesday morning. So I will take credit for starting Tuesday off badly.

So Tuesday morning I did not want to get out of bed which resulted in me getting up not at 5:30 but more like 6 am. SUCKS! In mommy terms I began the day behind. Then I didn't have time to pump- SUCKS. I didn't have time to feed Lillie Claire her cereal before leaving to take the big kids to school- SUCKS. I didn't have to get anything together for preschool or teach - YAY! So at least that wasn't a problem.

My darling daughter the previous evening had decided to get out one page of homework and do it. Only she had about 3 more pages she was supposed to do! So since we have really been on to her lately about her schoolwork, she tries to get it all done before we leave - but after taking her time eating 2 bowls of Fruit Loops! (As a side note, I tell her all the time she is a girl, she has got to learn to multitask!) So she helps make us nearly late for school because she is now in a panic trying to finish homework she should have finished the night before. This episode was complete with everyone except her in the car and me honking the horn! SUCKS!

My son decided not to get out of bed in time to eat breakfast- SUCKS. So I was supposed to put some cereal in a baggie for him to eat on the way to school. Only, I forgot- SUCKS. So I had to take time to go through McD's drive-thru which meant there was no time for my regular Starbucks run- DOUBLE SUCKS! This was also the last day of preschool, and I was supposed to already have teacher gifts bought, but I had forgotten! SUCKS! So I had to add that to my to-do list for while Jack is at school. Plus, since it was the last day of school, I should have taken my "real" camera so I could take a last day of school picture- except I forgot. Then when I went to take a picture of him with his teachers, my phone had so many pictures on it, that it would not work!!! SUCKS!

I was able to run in quite a few places and get some shopping done. YAY! Miss Lillie Claire didn't cry or fuss while shopping. YAY!

PS.  I found out later I had looked at the wrong day on the lunch calendar and I was supposed to pack Madalynn's lunch! SUCKS!

Friday, April 20, 2012

Pictures in time



Lillie Claire's first walk this spring.





After a bath, she had discovered Madalynn's lip gloss!


Wearing the t-shirt from her Aunt Jenna

Tuesday, April 10, 2012

Lillie Claire's First Shopping Cart Ride



Lillie Claire's first time riding in a shopping cart!


We went to Meijer today and she is getting so heavy in the infant carrier that I decided to let her try out the baby seat. As you can see, she was too busy checking it out to look at the camera.



Tuesday, April 3, 2012

Lillie Claire Goes to Sunday School

This little lady finally went to Sunday school! Because of the scheduling that accompanies three children, one mama, and church, she had been out in the auditorium with me. I had to get her up to nurse about 6 am, then she would swing and take a little nap. I would pump so I would have a bottle in case of emergency. So that while the big kids were in class, I could go to the nursery and feed her again and not have to worry about dragging all three out to feed her and I wouldn't feel like I was going to explode after not nursing for 5 hours. After I fed her during class, she would then fall asleep during preaching.

Not anymore! She is now still nursing, but also eating solids, so our entire Sunday schedule is different. That means that she is awake from 9:30-10:15 and can go to the cradle roll class! This all happened on March 25, 2012! She was about 6 months old. I think she liked it! She was being held when I got back to pick her up, but not bad for a baby that isn't used to being away from Mama and sitting in the same place for 45 minutes.

Tuesday, March 13, 2012

Today has been beautiful! Too bad I was stuck indoors and running errands all day! The temps are in the 70's and it isn't raining. The big kids have gone to the farm with Jeremy. I wished Lillie Claire and I could have gone, but it was Miss L's dinner time. Nothing gets between that girl and her food!

We had preschool today and I actually got to prepare before 11 pm the night before. Nothing big, it just makes me feel so much better when I have kind of gotten myself together and am not in a rush.
We talked about Letter U, Number 20 (our last new number), and the theme was Music. I love getting stuff ready and I really thrive when I can give 100% to teaching. I plan every week to work on preschool stuff and it just usually never happens. I guess three kids, a husband, and a farm will do that to you.

I am gearing up to get my garden at the house going. I have a planter project I need to get figured out for the entrance to the farm. And my husband assures me that I will need to start mowing at the farm in a matter of weeks! Whew! Good thing there are only 5 weeks left of preschool and we have more daylight in the afternoons now.

Miss Lillie got to wear her first summer type outfit this afternoon. She had on a long sleeved knit pants outfit today and she was burning up and ill! I changed her when we got home into a cute little bubble outfit that my grandmother made for Madalynn. So cute!

Speaking of Miss Lillie, she is getting to be a pro at this whole solid food thing. I still only feed her baby food once a day, usually at dinner. I don't know how I'm ever going to feed the girl breakfast. It is all I can do to get up and get everything done and get everyone out the door most mornings. I could do lunch, but I am in no hurry since she is my last baby. She still nurses 5-6 times a day. She is still sleeping throughout the night even though we are on the verge of teething. She is drooling like there's no tomorrow, but strangely, only certain times of day!? She has tried green peas, green beans, applesauce, bananas, squash, prunes, and tonight, carrots. She really likes the squash and carrots.

Well, it is 9:30 pm and as I type this, I can hear the little princess squealing instead of sleeping, so I may need to investigate!

Tuesday, February 28, 2012

Time just flies! I keep meaning to do better and just can't seem to get my head above water. Oh well, it's just my season in life. I am considering a blog makeover to help me get motivated. I sure hate to waste money though.
Miss Lillie's 5 month update. I can't believe she is already 5 months! Time goes by so fast. She seems to be so big and then looks so petite sometimes too. I'll have to get on the scale tomorrow and see what she weighs. She has the cutest little bottom and chubby thighs! I could just eat her up. It has been so long since Madalynn was a baby and Jack never had a chubby stage. I am loving it. She is wearing a size 3 diaper though she could wear a 2. I just really like not having blowouts! Speaking of that, we have started solids. We started brown rice cereal February  and she tried applesauce for the first time on Monday, February 20. She seems to like the applesauce a little better. That or she is just getting a little better at getting the food in her mouth and not pushing it out. I am in no hurry. She is my last baby. I will miss nursing and the boobs that go along with it! Ha! She doesn't nurse as much. Not sure if she is just eating less or if she drinks quicker and gets more, more quickly. I read an article that says they used to think as a baby got older, that the mother would produce more milk and have since found out that isn't the case. They don't go on to say why or what does happen though. I need to look that up.