Dishwashing!

James loves to help us wash the dishes!  

He thinks it is great fun to help "rinse" them and play in the water!  

I love that he is on tippie toes!

Yellow Flower

Annie's kindergarten class has been learning about the Indians this month.  They worked really hard and made paper teepees, flower paintbrushes, papooses and carriers, and their Indian Clothing.  They all made up Indian names and made Indian instruments.  The crowning event was a Pow-Wow where they all went and danced in each other's class room!  It was lots of fun and when it was over they ate an Indian meal of Venison, apples, and popcorn!  So much fun being an Indian! 

Annie makes a good turkey, too!

Random Items

Here are some random items that happened over the last couple of weeks

James playing in the ribbon basket!  So much fun!

David made his first loaf of bread by himself!

Court of Honor

We recently had our scout troop's Court of Honor. 

 David called the Flag Ceremony

David participating in the Scout Oath

David getting his Emergency Prep. and Personal Fitness Merit Badge!

James first year!

Our Sweet James is 1!

  His Birthday was on Thursday, October 29th.  

Here are some pictures from his first year of life!

Michael and James

James and Annie!

Jared and James

James exploring our front yard!

Mama trying to teach James to sit..

Big Blue Eyes

James' first haircut

James in the swing

James blowing out the candle! 

Happy Birthday, James!

A Good Day...

So far this morning (it is now 10:14 am), it is a good day.  It is a good day because for the first time in 2 weeks, I managed to get the kitchen floor mopped!  Yea, me!

11:21 am--By the time I managed to get the above posted on this blog, my boys got into the container of yogurt and spread it ALL over the living room couch and floor.  Than Jared managed to have 3 accidents in a row!  So good day???  Right now I'm not feeling it!  I guess I shouldn't have been so proud of myself for accomplishing something! 

Ode To My Jacket

We are studying poems in Literature, and we were making up our own Odes yesterday, and here is mine. I think that it is really cool.

Ode to my Jacket

Oh, Jacket, your're awesome, what more can I say?

You make it so I don't have to freeze today.

You are soft and warm while

the air-conditioned classroom is freezing.

Sometimes I wonder;

How do you handle it? 

Are you not cold?

Or are you a hot jacket?

You are a cute jacket;

ever so comfy.

I look so cute in you,

it's really quite stunning!

Backyard camping

One of the joys of Fall is that Dad is willing to camp in the back yard 

since the temperature isn't so hot and it's not humid!  

Everyone setting up the tent

Annie, Jared, and Kathleen exploring the tent

James figuring out grass on bare feet!

Dad reading a nighttime story to Annie and Jared

Kathleen, David and Peter ready for the night.

The campout was successful.  In the end, Kathleen joined James and I in the house, 

but Annie, Jared, David and Peter all made it through the night!

autumn leaves

Fall is just starting to finally come in Georgia.  My kids were feeling a lack of leaves to jump into, so they asked our neighbor if they could rake their leaves and tote them into our backyard so they could jump into them.  Of course, Mrs. Smith was very willing for them to do that!  

Carina, Jared, Annie, Peter, and David raking leaves.  

James checking out leaves and Kathleen climbing the tree.

James investigating this new phenomenon of leaves

Jared working hard!

David in the autumn air

Jared enjoying playing in the leaves after his work

All the joy of autumn leaves

Kids smiling for mom!

Mr. Penguin

I would like to introduce you to Mr. Penguin.  He is James new snuggly.  He fell in love with him at Kolh's store in St. George and has been enjoying his company since then.  

Mr. Penguin

James playing with Mr. Penguin

James sleeping with Mr. Penguin

Sweet dreams!

Candy corn cookies

The kids and I made fun Halloween cookies on Sunday.  

Minature Candy Corn cookies (recipe below)

Jared showing  how you first chill the dough in layers

The dough is cut out in strips than in triangles

Mom cutting out the cookies before they get sugared

The dough before baking

The finished cookie.  

(It is yummy and we think it smelled like popcorn!)

SPARKLING CANDY CORN COOKIES 

by Land o Lakes Butter

These bite-sized treats resemble candy corn and have a hint of orange flavor.

Preparation time: 45 min   Baking time: 7 min  

Yield: 15 dozen miniature cookies 

1		cup Butter, softened
1		cup sugar
1		egg
2		tablespoons orange juice
2		teaspoons freshly grated orange peel
1/8		teaspoon salt
3		cups all-purpose flour
1/2		teaspoon baking soda
		Orange paste or gel food color
		Yellow paste or gel food color
1/2		cup sugar

Line bottom and sides of 9x5-inch loaf pan with waxed paper or plastic food wrap. Set aside.

Combine butter and 1 cup sugar in large bowl; beat at medium speed until creamy. Add egg, orange juice, orange peel and salt. Continue beating until well mixed. Reduce speed to low; add flour and baking soda. Beat until well mixed.

Divide dough into thirds. Press one-third of white dough evenly onto bottom of prepared pan. Place another one-third of dough back into same bowl. Add small amount of orange food color; mix until color is well blended. Press orange dough evenly over white dough in pan. Place remaining one-third of dough into another medium bowl. Add small amount of yellow food color; mix until color is well blended. Press yellow dough evenly over orange dough in pan. Cover with plastic food wrap; refrigerate until firm (at least 2 hours or overnight).

Place 1/2 cup sugar in large bowl; set aside.

Heat oven to 375°F. Invert loaf pan to remove dough. Peel off waxed paper. Place layered dough onto cutting surface. Cut loaf crosswise into 1/4-inch slices using sharp knife, trimming edges to make even, if necessary. Cut each slice into 6 wedges. Dip each cookie in sugar.   Place 1-inch apart onto ungreased cookie sheets. Bake for 7 to 10 minutes or until edges are firm and bottoms are very lightly browned. Cool 1 minute; remove from cookie sheets.  Place cookies onto cooling rack. Cool completely. 

Store in loosely covered container.

Carina's chorus concert

Carina is in the Central High School Chorus.  She is really enjoying it.  Here are some pictures from her first concert

Carina in her Chorus dress

Jared happily posing with his beautiful sister

Another view of the dress.  It is floor length (and very comfy, Carina says)

Carina performing

Carina's chorus (as much as I could fit into the picture from my seat).  Can you find Carina?

Girls Weekend Pictures

I must admit, I forgot my camera.  Luckily for me, there were other cameras. These pictures were taken by my mother in law, Mary Aldrich.

This is my sweet nephew, Asa Ferguson

Asa and Susan Ferguson

Me!

This is my favorite picture, I actually took this one of Sue holding baby Sam.  It is so sweet

 

James looking around at Sam!

This cutie is Samuel Theodosis!

Smiling Sam!

Elizabeth holding Megan

Laura and Mom Aldrich made this adorable Peter Pan costume for Sam to wear for Halloween.  It turned out so well!

All the girls and related kids Sunday Morning before church.

Our gracious hosts, Mary and Harry Aldrich!

Thanks Mom and Dad, it was a fun weekend!