Chores?? or Fun!!

One of the kids' chores is to switch the wash if it needs done when they get home from school. They do a great job of it, but I guess we never knew exactly how they did it! Thanks to their own video making, we all know now!!

Her Stage

Sorry for the sideways video!!

Teach Me, Gramma

This is where Brooklyn wanted to be, and Gramma was happy to let her help!

She went shorter!

It was painful for me to watch, but I had to let her have some control over her hair. She really wanted it shorter, but oh boy was it tough to let go. She loves it, Mom and Dad are still getting used to it, but we do really think it's cute. Only time will tell if she keeps it short or it goes back long. It does grow very quickly!
This post shows where her hair was the end of August. That was the first step of this journey.

BEFORE

 AFTER

Food Friday - Waffles

We love breakfast for supper around here. And I'm always looking for the "perfect" recipes! Walker requested waffles, and I was growing tired of the recipe I was using. So, back to google I went! I found this one of Alton Brown's and it was delicious! It had great flavor, lightness, but that little bit of crisp that I like in a waffle. And it was easy!

Basic Waffles
Ingredients

• 4 3/4 ounces all-purpose flour, approximately 1 cup
• 4 3/4 ounces whole-wheat flour, approximately 1 cup
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 3 tablespoons sugar
• 3 whole eggs, beaten
• 2 ounces unsalted butter, melted
• 16 ounces buttermilk, room temperature
• Vegetable spray, for waffle iron

Directions

Preheat waffle iron according to manufacturer's directions.

In a medium bowl whisk together the flours, soda, baking powder, salt, and sugar. In another bowl beat together eggs and melted butter, and then add the buttermilk. Add the wet ingredients to the dry and stir until combined. Allow to rest for 5 minutes.
Ladle the recommended amount of waffle batter onto the iron according to the manufacturer's recommendations. Close iron top and cook until the waffle is golden on both sides and is easily removed from iron. Serve immediately or keep warm in a 200 degree F oven until ready to serve.

Glitter Anyone?

Rylie came home with this great project for school, she was given a blank turkey and, as a family, we were to decorate it in any way we wanted. Rylie only wanted it to be sparkly! I do think we accomplished that. We broke out the glitter and glue and went to town. We even made sure to show Grandpa Richard when we were all done, because we know how much he loves glitter!!

Semi-Wordless Wednesday

Before

After! We're still getting used to this look!

Feeling Loved

Rylie was definitely feeling the love a couple of weeks ago. She had her oral surgery and came through with flying colors. Her surgeon told her she was a rock star and did better than many of his adult patients. She chose to not be "put to sleep" as she did not want the iv, but rather chose to have the happy air and local anethstetic. She said it didn't hurt at all and was very glad to have decided to go the way she did. She used her prescribed pain medicine the day of surgery and then didn't have ANY pain medicine from there on out. We could not have asked for a better outcome for her.
She was definitely spoiled and loved every second of it. Gramma Tamma came up and spent a week with us, we were all spoiled!! There were lots of cuddles and waiting on to be had!

Andrea and Darin's family sent her a beautiful flower bouquet and balloons!

Then on Friday, she got a package from Grandpa and Grandma Cave that contained a shawl. She loves to wrap up in it.

Thank you for all the prayers. We were blessed with great weather to drive to Fargo, a marvelous surgeon who make Rylie feel completely at ease, and a more speedy recovery than we could have even imagined. Come back tomorrow for before and after pics!!

Geese Galore

It would seem that our little Lake Alice is a pit stop for geese heading south. This is a typical scene in the afternoon and evenings. And boy are they loud!!

Food Friday - Becca's Ham

In honor of our favorite veteran on Veteran's Day, I'm posting a recipe from his beautiful wife! Mom came back from Tucson raving about the ham steak Becca had prepared for them. So, we gave it a whirl! YUMMMM!!! Walker announced he wanted to stick his whole head in the pot and Rylie had thirds! Thanks Becca! And thank you, Clint, for serving our country! We love you!!

Becca's Ham

Ham steak, piece to fit your family
Yellow mustard
1/2 cup orange juice

Please ham steak in pan over medium/high heat. Squirt liberally with yellow mustard and then pour on the orange juice. Just let it simmer and go until the sauce reduces and covers the ham. It's that simple!!

Reading Wizard

He loves to read! He can't wait for the next reading assignment or Our Big Backyard to show up in the mail. I love watching him and listening as he learns and flourishes!

Wordless Wednesday

Mall-O-Ween

Our local mall hosts a mall-o-ween each year. The stores all have someone handing out candy, they set up games, and local vendors can display their business. The kids really enjoyed themselves and are already asking to go back next year.

OOPS!! Rylie got the fishing pole stuck in the light. Had to shut the game down!!

This game cracked me up. Notice the guy's right hand. He'd stop the wheel so everyone was a winner. But no one ever noticed because they were watching the arrow by his left hand!!

15 months

 

She's growing and changing! She has a multitude of "words" she uses. She loves her books, her Rylie and her Walker, her kitties and her puppy, she loves to be outside and loves to leave a path of destruction. Brooklyn is becoming such a funny little girl. She can melt you with her smile and leave you laughing at her temper tantrums. She loves to go to the sitter's and doesn't want to be left out of anything. She can empty a cabinet or a drawer in the blink of an eye, but loves to help pick up her toys! We can't imagine life without her! Our baby is becoming a toddler and we can't wait to see what's next!

Food Friday - Cheese Curds

YUMMO!!! We had a fish fry/cheese ball night last weekend. Only you can't get cheeseballs up here, so we made our own cheese curds. So yummy and so much better!!

 

Deep-Fried Cheese Curds

Ingredients:

Vegetable oil (for frying)*
1 egg, beaten
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1 cup milk or beer
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon granulated sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 (9-ounce) package fresh cheese curds, room temperature

* Use enough vegetable oil to completely cover cheese curds while frying.

Preparation:

In a deep fryer or large pot, heat vegetable oil (375 degrees to 385 degrees F).

In a medium bowl, combine egg, 1 tablespoon vegetable oil, and milk or beer until well blended. Add flour, sugar, salt, and baking powder; mix until smooth. Drop cheese curds in batter. Using a spoon, turn cheese curds to coat thoroughly.

A few at a time, drop the coated curds into the hot oil; fry approximately 1 minute or until brown and puffed, turning to coat all sides (do not overcook, or the cheese curds will begin to melt and ooze through the coating. Remove from hot oil and drain on paper towels. Allow fried cheese curds to cool a couple of minutes before eating.

Trick-or-Treat

This was her speed all night!

Thanks Gramma!!!

Added Uncle Clint's Air Force patch to make it more our style!

She's QUICK!! Hard to get anything in focus when she's on the move!

This black cat brings all GOOD luck!

Another Season ...

...Another Sport!!
Walker started basketball this past weekend. Matt and I both agreed this is our favorite league so far. So well organized, run by the high school coaches and college players. They're teaching them skills from the very beginning, not just playing a game. Walker loved it!
My battery died shortly after they started, but we'll have enough time to get more pics!

Dribbling

Piveting

Carving Day

We were thrilled with fabulous 50 degree weather on Saturday and got to carve the kids' pumpkins on the deck. Makes for much easier clean up. Brooklyn got a monogrammed pumpkin this year instead of carving, plus she was sleeping!