Christmas 2014

Maybe it's appropriate to post Christmas pictures on the day that is the snowiest we have had since Christmas!

Catching Up

I streamed some of the presentations of Roots Tech.  It was motivating, but here I am two weeks out just getting around to following through.  I am SO behind with this blog.  So, an update of the family.

The weather has been very strange since November.  We had a very long, warm autumn.  A lot of the trees didn't lose all of their leaves.  We did some raking and they did some jumping.

Sharing

 

We pulled out the blocks today for something different.  There are lots of them and there was not a problem with sharing.  Emory likes to be right in the middle of the action.

 

 

After they were done we began to put them away.  I felt a little push on my arm and noticed that Emory had decided to share something with me.  Eww . . .

Mr. Curlilocks

 

I had my Tuesday visitors this morning.  We haven't done puzzles for a long time, but that was the first request for the day.  Cole's hair was falling in his face.  I asked him if he would like me to get something to hold it back.  So I got a clip and said it was a boy clip because it was copper.  He agreed and here is the result.  Much easier to do puzzles without hair in your face.

 

 

Emory asked for "my cell phone".  She picked out her shoes for the day.  One to match her top and the other her pants.

 

We broke out the marble works for the first time and that was a big hit.  Cole was hypnotized by the marbles going around and around in the red funnel piece.  The Coleisms for the day (after eating some dried apples) "Grandma, the apples are now inside my belly, not on the outside".  While we were looking for Waldo Emory wanted her blanket.  Of course, that means Cole did too.  He grabbed his blanket, stuck his thumb in his mouth saying, "I need to suck my thumb". 

 

October Fun

We have had the most beautiful October weather.  The only thing left in the garden is the baby tomato plant.  Pansies are planted.  The leaves and nuts are falling down.  It was fun to have Bonnie and her children here and to see Abigail's delight in finding the nuts.  They enjoyed a wheelbarrow ride and playing in the leaves.

Pumpkin Walk

Each year North Logan holds a pumpkin walk at the park.  I am always amazed at peoples' talents and creativity. 

 

 

 

The theme was children's literature and I think my favorites were the ones from Mary Poppins.

 

 

 

 

Off to dinner afterwards and look who loved the salsa!

 



 

 

Notice the shirt came off!  She was one dirty girl.

 

The Lickers

My front door is pretty clean six days a week.  But on Tuesdays, that is another story.  I haven't figured out why this is so appealing.  Cole has done it for a long time and now Emory likes to do what Cole likes to do . . .  Depending on their snack, it gets a little nasty.  Ick.  Time to go clean.

Emory's Take

Today was Tuesday and that means a morning with Cole and Emory.  Cole was sick last week and I missed having them here.  As usual, the morning started with looking for Waldo, or "Wah-doe" as Emory calls him.  She is pretty smart and sometimes spots him before Cole does.  I like to see what they remember from the week before.  Cole noticed the owls with the glasses - silly.  He could not remember that they eat mice, but when I told him he reminded me that his Dad does NOT eat mice.  Emory jabbers away and I understand some of what she says.  Cole's thumb is in his mouth and her binky is in hers.  Out it pops and she says "Bink".  Obviously short for binky, right?  No.  She let me know it was not binky.  Finally I figured it out - she was telling me pink - that her binky is pink.  And it is.  I asked Cole if his thumb was pink from sucking on it and he said, "no, it's copper".   We get a good chuckle when I relate their antics to Kevin as we visit about our days.

Mmmm . . .

I love fall - the changing trees, planting pansies for the spring, putting the garden to rest, gathering nuts.  And SOUP!  My methods of planning meals have changed with the use of technology.  Type in key ingredients, Google and voila!  This was Sunday dinner, and Tuesday dinner, and some other dinner later this week.  It makes a huge recipe and when I do it next time I will make a half batch.  Thank you Martha! http://www.marthastewart.com/318100/big-batch-vegetable-soup 

My alterations included:  Instead of using the canned chicken broth, I made my own with the remainder of a Costco chicken.  I had just the right amount of broth after pulling that bird out.  Pretty lucky.  Kevin asked if he could help so I let him do my least favorite task - deboning the chicken.  I used the meat in the soup.  I had a zucchini from the garden and used that as part of my 8 cups of veggies and cooked them all for 20 minutes as she instructed.  Next time I will add them after the rest have cooked for 10 minutes.  Some of them were a little too mushy for my tastes.

The Midwife's Apprentice

From "Brat" to "Beetle" to "Alyce", this young adult Newberry winner follows the story of a homeless girl in medieval England. Upon finding her in a dung heap to keep herself warm, the local midwife sees an opportunity for an assistant.  Though the midwife's motives are not good, the hardworking assistant learns quickly and find she enjoys the work.  It was very interesting to learn about medieval midwifery which was driven by common sense, herbal remedies and superstition.  There was no formal training and the job was a less than honorable profession.  Of course, germs were unheard of at that time in history.  The infant mortality rate was high and many mothers lost their lives in the process of giving birth.  Though her situation seemed grim, Alyce made the most of her situation.  The book also has touches of humor scattered throughout.  A quick and enjoyable read.

Over and Done for 2014

I finished the last of the canning today.  Just tomatoes in quarts for soups, etc.  It was a bounteous year.

This particular plant had between 20 and 25 very large tomatoes on it at this time.  It filled half of  my bucket.  This was not all of the apples.  Bonnie took most of them, but I did some applesauce and made some crockpot apple butter this year.  Very yummy.  Lots of pears as well. Luckily there were pauses in between and I was able to sew some skirts for Bonnie's girls. 

  

 

Evolution of Calpurnia Tate

Just finished a delightful book.  I was checking out some of the old Costco recommendations and came across this one.  “We had been so close to missing each other, he and I. He had turned out to be the greatest gift of all.” - one of the last quotes in the book which describes a girl's new found relationship with her grandfather, a grizzled Civil War veteran.  The story takes place in Texas in 1899, ending at the turn of the century.  Calpurnia is the only daughter in a family of seven children.  While spending time with her grandfather, a whole new world of scientific wonders is open to her.  I was certain the book was going to end a certain way and was pleasantly surprised when it took a different turn. 

Birthday Celebration

We were so blessed with beautiful weather yesterday.  We celebrated Abigial's 4th birthday with a bounce house, cupcakes and lots of fun. 

 

Emory was not quite certain about sharing her cupcake with her cousin Lily.

 

She loved her new camera and princess dress!