update

We have had a lovely Christmas holiday. We've stayed up late and slept in late most days. :) We've played lots of music and listened to lots of different types of holiday music; a Merry Axmas album, traditional carols, sung and or instrumental.
We've worked on some projects. Derek and I (mostly Derek) put together a quilt. I have done a lot of baking; cookies, candy and breads.
The kids have enjoyed having their favorite plaything around to clime on, ride on and abuse on a regular basis.(Derek)
I made the kids some play dough and they have been very creative with that again.
Also, We had a very nice Christmas day. We slept in (again). The kids were very excited about opening presents and thought they were all really great. Derek got each of them some sort of game. So, over the course of the day we played each of them. I really enjoyed playing games with all of them.
We also had friends over for dinner and had an enjoyable time visiting with them and laughing at our kids together.
Derek and Molly helped put the dinner together and serve it so I never felt at all stressed about it. We made mini apple pies that turned out really cute and yummy.
All in all We have been so very blessed.
Please keep me in our prayers as I will be having surgery on my neck in a week and a half. ( I still have a cough so I am concerned a little about that.)
God bless you in 2009!

My favorite artist

The picture.
The artist at work.
The Johnsons are so artistic! Keli took a really great photo and Derek painted a great picture from it.

Ouch.

My fingers have been a little sore lately from the extra stretching and exercise from playing the piano. I have been so enjoying being able to play though! I had really missed it.

My instrument

zzzzzzz

After a very busy day Lars slept on the couch and could not wake up for supper.

Monsters in my house!!!!

The other night there were lots of scary monsters running and roaring all over my house!! I was rather glad they were after each other and didn't really notice me!
The three little monsters kept asking the big one to scare them again. Silly things!

St Lucia Day

Last night before bed I read Kirsten's Surprise to the girls. It is about the Swedish celebration of St Lucia day.
This morning I made the st Lucia day bread and coffee and the girls dressed up as queens.


We also got a tree and decorated it last night.

Fashion

Don't these people have class? Loved it so much I had to share!

Sign spotted

This sign truly made me laugh out loud! It was posted over a little sink in a coffee shop in Vermont.

?

PT...MSE...ACU...BCU...HMMWV...M142HIMARS...
FRG...FA...MWR...BOSS...PX/BX...AAFES...ASAP...
ASYMCA...ACAP...ACS...AFB...SSC...NCO...LT...BC...AMIC....
PCS...
So yeah you get the idea. A lot of acronyms happen around here. Everyday, All the time. So why, when Derek gets an Army notepad, does it say memorandum on the front? Everyone else knows that if you just write "memo" it's okay.

project

Molly getting to use her multipurpose tool for the first time. ( a week or so ago.)

Toasted pumpkin seeds

For each 1/2 cup seeds boil in 2 cups water. For each cup of water add a Tablespoon of salt.
Simmer for around 10 minutes. Drain. Spread seeds on baking pan with a couple Tablespoons olive oil. Bake in hot oven until lightly browned.
Eat whole. They remind me of popcorn in flavor.

Boots

This fall we all got cowboy boots. Or at least us girls did.

Oh no!

This morning at breakfast Heidi was counting her fingers and all she could come up with was 9! We had her check her pockets to see if she had left one in there. she stuck her hand in and said no fingers in there. Then the next time she counted she had only 8!
We're hoping she finds them soon.;)

TODAY

I,
...Made a baked pudding for breakfast- and forgot the sugar!
...laughed- When we came home this evening as soon as we opened the doors on the truck the neighbor girl asked, "could we keep her."

Derek,
...Had to rush off to work but in civilian clothes so the kids were rather confused!

Molly,
...Bought knives with her own money. (And then miss used her privilege and I had to take them away for a few days.:( )

Heidi,
...Got to have a friend over to play.

Lars,
...Played duck, duck, goose- all by himself!

TOMORROW

Derek,

...Has to be at PT by 5 a.m.

I,
...Want to sew.

Molly,
...Will do science among other things.

Heidi,
...Should do science too.

Lars,
...Needs to be potty trained!

Some people seen around my house.

"nasty." (said through ones nose.)
My boys.
Pretty smile.
Cowboy eating breakfast.
Happy monopod.

We did go on a vacation!

Here is a small sampling of the pictures we took while on vacation!(I have posted many more on facebook!) The top picture is of us at my favorite place to visit. We hiked through the woods to a really cool mountain of fallen GIANT rocks.
At the WWII memorial in Washington DC.
Riding on our cousins pony. Lars and Heidi really loved to get to ride it.
We got to see family. What can be better than being with family in the great outdoors?
Some of us got to meet new friends. (One of us got to see old friends!)

My recent project

Today I made some little backpacks for Heidi and Lars. (I didn't make one for Molly 'cause she already has one.)
I made them from some denim pant legs from some old jeans of mine. then sewed on some decor from rags or scraps of materiel I had on hand. Than for the straps I used 550 cord.

Derek's recent project

This past weekend Derek made a Banjo type instrument from a coffee can and some wood we had in the garage.
Isn't it really cool?!

At last

This is Derek with his Fiddle! I am so glad we got it. It is so nice to hear him play it again.

Just like Papa

Not too long ago we bought a light weight hammer for Lars. He always likes to help make stuff and now it will be a little easier. :D

A Homemaker's Blessing

May you as a busy young mother,
Have these blessings all come true.
May the Savior's grace and love
Guide all you say and do.

And while you're working in water-
I hope your nose doesn't itch.
May you always have full bobbins-
Especially to topstitch.

May your pleats come out even,
May your drains never clog;
When you come in from the cold-
May your glasses never fog.

May your wringer never jam,
And your honey always flow.
May your toddlers always tell you
Before they have to "go."

May you never find a Lego block,
While walking with bar feet.
May your windows be full of finger prints,
Happy, sticky, and sweet.

May the wind blow all your leaves away,
Before the snowflakes land.
And may our heavenly Father
Hold you always in his hand.

And when your busy day is over,
In spite of all that's left to do-
May you smile up at your creator,
The way your baby smiles at you!
-EVC

He's Home!

~Caramels!~

1 batch makes 180-200 pieces. Pre-cut waxed papers can be purchased at Maid of Scandinavia .
Required: 6 quart sauce pan (bigger pan than I used!)
Candy Thermometer
Jelly roll pan
Ingredients: 1 lb. butter
2 lbs. light brown sugar
1/2 Teaspoon salt
16 oz. light Karo syrup (brand is important b/c of water in others)
2 cans sweetened condensed milk
2 teaspoons vanilla

Over medium heat, melt butter. Stir in sugar and salt until well blended. Add the syrup and mix well.Add the milk. Stir constantly! Bring mixture to a full boil. Bring to 245 F. on the thermometer.

From the time the mixture boils and reaches temp will take around 25 to 30 min. Depending on room temp and humidity, 245 is not always optimal.

Once the mixture reaches temp drip a little caramel into a glass of very cold water. Test to makes sure it is the consistency you desire.

Remove from heat and add the vanilla. It will sizzle.:)

Pour into buttered pan sitting on a cooling rack or wooden cutting board. As you pour move the pan around to prevent sticking.

cool thoroughly.

Peel the caramel from the pan and cut into desired sized candies. Cutting IS the worst part.

I made just a half batch and it turned out great.

A fun read

I just got this book from the library and I have been enjoying it a lot. It not only has some good recipes it tells all about the making of chocolate. It also has lots of really cool pictures of cocoa trees and even inside of their factory where they make their chocolate.

How my garden grows