Saying Goodbye to November

I had intended to blog a little more this month, but since I didn't...

here's a little wrap up of what our November was like!  It was a great month!

 

Three peas in a pod...

Taking one last ride in daddy's car, before he traded it in for a different one.

 Brothers... and a morning snuggle.

 Our Dairy Party!

You can't study cows without having a good dairy party!

 Yogurt, Cottage Cheese, Cream Cheese, Ice Cream, Butter, Cheese, and of course... Milk!

These three thought it was the best!

 Watching a Reading Rainbow episode for school...

I had to hold myself back not to curl up beside them and watch it too!

 Rainy days... Daddy's gone...

so Mama got brave and let them play in the rice!  They had a blast!

 My horse lover... and her horse, Penny.

 Yes, they are this crazy!

 History activity... making a Trireme

(An ancient Greek boat used in the Persian Wars)

 My letter boy... He wanted to see how many words

he could make with one alphabet.

 Daddy got to be Kallan's guest for his Thanksgiving feast at preschool!

The menu:  English muffin pizzas and Apple Salad.  A good feast for sure!

 Harvest time with Grandpa Dan.

 A surprise (and early) Christmas gift...

Tickets to a Toby Mac, Jamie Grace, Mandissa... and friends concert.

 They were SO excited!  How excited?  Ainsley's quote....

"Mama, do you know how excited I am?  More excited that when I get married!!!!"

Too cute!

The baby liked it too... it was loud, and I got lots of kicks the whole night!

He or she will probably come out jamming to a T-mac song!

And what would fall be without lots of time outside soaking up

the beauty of God's world?!?!

 Good-bye fall!  We had an amazing time enjoying you!

Come back soon so we can collect lots of pretty leaves and delight in God's glory of the season!

Baked Apple Oatmeal with Apple Cider Syrup

 

This fall I needed a yummy recipe for a breakfast I was bringing food to.

I happened to come across this one, and thought it looked good.

I actually combined a couple of recipes that I already had,

as well made it gluten and dairy free,

to come up with this delicious dish that

is super easy.  We have also now made this quite a few times and all my kids love it!

It's the perfect fall food to fill your tummy and make everyone in your family smile!

 

Baked Apple Oatmeal with Apple Cider Syrup

 

APPLE OATMEAL:

2 2/3 Cups Old Fashioned Oats

1/2 Cup Raisins

4 Cups Vanilla Rice Milk

(or regular milk, soy milk, or half milk, half water - we've done all of them)

1 teaspoon Vanilla

1/3 Cup packed Brown Sugar

2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon salt

2-3 medium apples, peeled and chopped

 

Directions:

Heat oven to 350°F. In 2-quart casserole, mix all ingredients together.                           

Bake uncovered 40 to 45 minutes or until most liquid is absorbed.

Serve with Cider Syrup.

                                 

SYRUP:

(I highly recommend taking the time to make this... it is amazing, and the perfect touch to this dish!)

3/4 cup Apple Cider

(I recommend getting the "good stuff")

1/2 cup brown sugar

1/2 cup corn syrup

1/2 teaspoon lemon juice

1/8 teaspoon cinnamon

1/8 teaspoon nutmeg

 

In a sauce pan, combine the ingredients.  Boil over medium heat stirring occasionally.

Reduce heat and simmer uncovered for 25 minutes.  Let stand for 30 minutes before serving.

Refrigerate leftovers.

 

I always make a double batch and sometimes use the leftovers on these....

 

PUMPKIN PANCAKES

1/2 Cup All purpose flour

1/2 Cup Whole Wheat Flour

1 Tablespoon Sugar

2 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

1 Cup Milk

1/2 cup pumpkin

2 Tablespoons Oil

2 eggs

 

Combine dry ingredients.  Beat eggs, milk, pumpkin, and oil.  Stir in dry ingredients until moist.

Serve with Apple Cider Syrup.  So yummy!



Fall Preschool Party

I always have so much fun going to the kid's parties at preschool. 

Usually I'm in charge of the parties (or at least in charge of games or the craft) but

this year I just attended and enjoyed myself! 

I figured I had a pretty good excuse... :)

 

We had fun...

Making Spider Doughnuts

 Doing a Scarecrow Craft

Playing fun fall games like, "Pin the Squirrel on the Tree" 

 and Pumpkin Bowling

and of course, playing with friends!

(this pictures makes me laugh... look who is kind of leading the pack here...)

What a special morning it was... spending it just with my little guy!

Fall Friends

Halloween 2.0.1.3

Dressing up her dolls in costumes...

* A Snowflake * A Zebra * A Swimmer * A Cheerleader *

Our pumpkin...

everyone actually helped this year!

My Hero!

 My 50's Girl!

 My Protector.

 Halloween 2013

 We even decided to dress up the baby!

The sweetest pumpkin ever!

 The neighborhood crew ready to hit some houses!

It's so much fun to enjoy this evening with our friends.

And yes... Ainsley is the ONLY girl in the bunch!

Happy Fall!

Faith for this Day

God,

Strengthen me with power so that Christ may dwell in my heart through FAITH.

May I know the deepness of Your Love, Lord...

And may I know that You are able to do immeasurably more than

I could ask or imagine in my life.

 

For You are the Lord, my God, who takes hold of my right hand

and says to me,

"Do not fear... I will help you."

 

Teach me to take up my shield of FAITH,

so that I can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one when they come.

Give me FAITH to trust what You say...

that You are good... and what You do is good...

and Your love for me is great.

 

I may feel weak, but Your Spirit is strong in me.

My flesh may fail day after day...

But You are my God, and you never will.

 

Lord, with every step forward that I take in this life,

teach me to have faith... and to say, "I trust You."

Something is Missing...

That would be tooth #3 for this girl!

Bits and Pieces....

Here are some bits and pieces of what's been going on in our days...

 

Heading to the pumpkin patch with our homeschool coop group and finding three cute pumpkins... 

The mama's were invited to join a ballet class with their daughters...

it was so fun to dance with my girl.

 Catching them reading together...

 Doing Kindergarten... studying Dinosaurs.

 Doing 3rd grade.... studying cells.

 Finishing his soccer season well...

 Hanging out with my camper friend, A... and having an October afternoon of

"All things Pumpkin..."

(Pumpkin pie, Pumpkin bars, roasting pumpkin seeds, carving pumpkins....)

 Checking on him before I head to bed and find that he's stuffed his jammies with

his stuffed animals... and his big belly is sticking up in the air.

It must be what I look like when I sleep! :)

 Smiling every time I see her face with these on...

They are a fun accessory to her Halloween costume,

but are being worn a lot because they are so fun and cute.

(but they make her look way too grown up!)

Happy days, busy days, hard days...

all bits and pieces from Him of what makes our days.