Company Ready. . .

I finally am coming out of the fourth trimester. haha I've been so tired since before the move here, between being pregnant with Belle, the big move, nursing Belle and being pregnant at the same time, pregnant, triple digit heat all summer long, and then nursing RJ...well he's sleeping pretty well through the night now, and I'm starting to feel normal again! All that takes so much more out of you when you have diabetes, and are old (over 35) like me. Whew. I still want another baby, but am glad to finally start feeling normal again! I've been working on getting the house cleaned up with my new found energy. Also been having Vince go to the barn and bring in boxes for me to unpack. So it's starting to look like a home! Saturday I'm going to have him bring in a dresser my mom gave me for Belle, and clean it out, put all Belle's clothes in it and put RJ's clothes in Belle's current dresser. That should free up Vince and I a couple of more drawers, since right now RJ is sharing our dresser! haha

I've been making a ton of cakes too as I had a bunch ready to expire or just expired last month. The kids are really liking it, and frosting got so much easier to make once I found my electric beaters! Boy hand creaming with a spatula to make frosting is hard work! haha I can't wait to buy myself a big free standing mixer...some day...some day. Maybe another two years, I could have the money saved up.

I think I will be all caught up on laundry, and have the house presentable in two more weeks. Then I am inviting people over! The only company I have had is Julie and Raquelle as they are the only people I'm not ashamed to let see the house. haha So it will feel good to have some company over. I'm thinking about inviting the brothers and their wives over who are going to have our shepherding call as that is coming up, and since we live way out here in the boonies I thought maybe they could all just come and eat dinner with us. At least I'm hoping. Been planning a easy menu to have mainly in the slow cooker and ready after meeting for them to just follow us here after meeting since they don't know how to get here. Going back and forth with what to have. One of the brothers is not from here, and so I know some people from where he is from doesn't like mexican food, so that limits my menu items. Will have to just ask him what his family preferences are. Especially since I am going to invite his parents too since they live with him. But, it's fun tossing around ideas any how. For some reason I really like to menu plan. haha

A new peanut butter cookie recipe, after 30 years. . .

My LLL cookbooks came yesterday and spent all Ralphie, and Belle's nap times meal planning. I have 3 months worth of meals planned now, and almost a years worth of snacks for both the LLL meetings and the supplemental meetings, lol. I think I will go through my pintrest, and two other cookbooks I have here at home already and try to plan a few more months of menus, I would like another healthy crock pot cookbook though. It's so much easier when I schedule our menus. Especially cooking for so many people. And so many taste. I'm hoping every one will like the new recipes. Thank goodness the kids mainly eat what I cook with out much if any complaint. I think they are getting to really like quinoa. I'm glad cause as much as I like cous cous, I don't like the very little nutritional value, and the expense. With quinoa in the bulk section now in our local Krogers it's a bit cheaper and a lot healthier then cous cous. And especially now that I have discovered the joys of Bragg's dry seasoning! I am going to buy their aminos next! I also am going to start using coconut milk more often, I really loved the soup I made with it last week. Of course I love coconut period, and so do the little Haitians in the house, so that's a double bonus, as they are the pickiest when it comes to the food in the house. I can't wait to try to cook quinoa in coconut milk next!

Today I made a peanut butter cookie recipe I found on pintrest a few weeks ago, cause Lela was begging me to make more Rice Krispy treats I had made for the LLL meeting the other night. It's a adaption of the old peanut butter cookie recipe I've made since I was 7 years old. My old recipe was 1 cup pb, 1 cup sugar, 1 egg, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract. The adaption recipe I found on pintrest calls for 1 cup pb, 1/2 cup of white sugar, 1/2 cup of brown sugar, 1 egg, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, and I believe chocolate chips. But, I didn't double check the recipe, as mainly I knew it was the sugar difference, and I can't remember if I thought of the chocolate chips myself or if it was part of the recipe I found. Either way I love chocolate chip cookies because of the chocolate chips and the taste of the brown sugar in the batter. However, I rarely if ever have made chocolate chip cookies cause of all the ingredients. I have always fell back and made the old stand by peanut butter cookies cause of the very very few ingredients. I would sometimes add a few reeses pieces to the top or a hershey kiss, but it never dawned on me to stir in chocolate chips to the mix, or to do half brown and half white sugar. WOW this bumped my peanut butter cookie recipe up to a whole new level. I will never make them the old way again. The greatness of a good chocolate chip, mixed the ease of my reliable peanut butter cookie, what could be better? NOTHING! Even Lela and Vince my two who hate sweets, can barely keep their hands off these!

Well, it's off to get out one of those other cook books and see if I can get another months worth of menus planned up!

Updates. . .

Ok I've been horrible about updating my blog this month. A lot has happened. Although I must say I think they are much cuter in real life. She loves them. And they were on sale. They are supposed to be as good as Stride Rite. I guess we will see.

That same day we went to Yoder and picked up our haul-less popcorn, and went to the Amish restaurant for lunch. Mmm the best chicken and mashed potatoes ever.

We found out we are going to be welcoming a new little nephew into the world in May. So I've been planning his little baby shower. I went to the Cake shop today and bought flavoring and a new mold. I so want to add to my mold collection. I wanted some new teddy bears, but resisted and just bought diaper pins mold. I may buy the teddy bears later, I also want the double wedding bells. And also some graduation shapes. And, and, and! lol I over looked a cupcake book or two, as I got some ideas from others I browsed at Lowes the other day. Settled on making a lion cake, and hippo and alligator cupcakes to go with it. I ended up buying orange, and keylime flavoring. The keylime is soooooo good. I am going to make the frostings one of those flavors for at least one cake. Not sure which though. I want to try the pina colada flavoring too. But, I know the keylime one is soooo good.

After that we went to Talliano's for dinner with the kids. It's really cheap pizza buffet and oh so good. Then it was off to dollar tree to get some more ideas. I have a idea of which invites I want now, either girraff's which would go with the jungle theme, or blue and chocolate striped ones, which would be more contemporary and classic. I also looked at little favor stuff to put in snow globes I am making for the favors. Hopefully with a picture of little nephew in it. I also am working on truffle boxes like I made for Belle's shower, and I am going to make orange with blue rice krispy treats to put in them. I'm floundering between teddy bear ones, and animal train ones.

When we got home, Lela, Loudine, Belle and I made mints. Bennette helped me clean the stuff to make them though and find all the stuff. We made diaper pins, and baby booties. I just may have to go buy those teddy bears. haha We made them buttermint flavored. And only orange tonight. We will make blue ones later. And maybe chocolate brown ones too. But, not positive yet. The orange came out really pretty though. What was really funny is I bought the orange icing coloring to make the frosting for the lion cake at first. And I practiced making a lion cake. Lela seen my first attempt and said, were you trying to make it orange? Cause I didn't use much coloring cause I was afraid of making it too bright, however, it's prettier brighter like I made the mints. Any way, I said yes. She said, lions aren't orange mommy, they are yellow with brown manes. Maybe you should go to the zoo and look at them so you will know what they look like. It was hilarious! Ok Lela I will go buy yellow food coloring and try it with that! lol I also used toasted coconut for the mane, it was brown, but kind of blah. So I'm going to try to tint it orange and then toast it and see how that works.

I have also finally went to a really cute local shop, that I have known about for around a year just hadn't gotten to. It's called Sweet Cheeks. They are great. I have discovered the joys of nursing necklaces. And Ralphie has already figured out to play with it instead of pinching me like Belle does! Belle still likes to pinch me even though she hasn't nursed in months! ha So I hope I can nip that in the bud with RJ! Plus the ones I picked out are really cute too. But, I may go ahead and buy the chew beads too. To try to wean Belle from pinching me. She also says we can have the shower in her shop if we register there, so cool!

I've been trying new soups too. And discovered the joys of pintrest. I have tried a red lentil coconut soup and a cream cheese chicken soup so far from it. And they were both delicious! I also finally was able to order my Whole Foods La Leche League books, and a sister on my JWLW  group started a cooking club. So I can't wait to try even more new recipes healthy recipes. Oh and I also found out the Bragg's seasoning is great in quinoa! Also we have a great new health food grocery store, that sells quinoa, Bragg's, and hyland stuff, all at good prices. And has awesome hummus for only 1.99! I want to try the babaganoush next!

The other day we were puttering around town and trying to think of some place to eat. When I suggested we try Don's. Which I hadn't been to since I was a teen. So glad we went. Still get a ton of food for a good price. And it was still good as ever. It's not as nice inside any more since they added the gambling. But, the service is great, food is great, and not a bad price. So glad I thought to go back. I've been missing a good diner. And the few we tried since I moved back that I used to like had really really went downhill, nasty places now! So glad Don's had stayed clean and good!

I've also been able to finish making my coat. And learned to make baby legs for the kids. So things have been going pretty good in that regard. And I was able to get my new sewing machine out of layaway! I also found what I want for this years anniversary gift, haha I already told Vince. I found a place that engraves bakeware with your name and every thing. And it looks great. So that's exactly what I want! I am missing so much of my stuff. ARG!

My First Homemade Frosting. . .

Tonight I made my first home made frosting ever! I made a cream cheese frosting. It was pretty much made how I make cream cheese mints, but with butter as well, and less powdered sugar. I really really liked it! So much better then the canned stuff. Why would people eat canned stuff when home made taste so much better and really isn't hard at all to make!

Darla brought home some buckeyes last night from one of her nurses and they were soooooooo good. Now I have to be on the look out for a good buckeye recipe. But, in the meantime, I thought I would share one of my tried and true peanut butter cookie recipe.

1 cup peanut butter
1 cup sugar
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Bake at 350 for 10 minutes. They are a soft cookie and I have never been able to make the traditional peanut butter fork criss cross on them. But, they make a great thumb print cookie. Fill the thumb print with chocolate or peanut butter candies and they are even yummier! I've been making them for about 30 years like this, and yes it's true no flour at all!

Now I need to work on also making a home made strawberry cake. As I love strawberry cake, especially the Fish House in Queens NYC, made a awesome one, and their banana pudding was to die for. Mmm, I miss their free days! Their smothered chicken, and smothered pork chops were mmm mmm, as was their collard greens, and candied yams, I could go on and on! haha Hmmm, maybe smothered chicken should hurry and get on the menu for dinner! Yeah I think so. I'm out of collard greens so for sure need to add those to my shopping list this week as well. I tried to grow my own, but apparently the bugs really like them as well. Grrr....how do you keep the bugs from eating them all up? UHG!

We also made some pinecone crafts my sisters, and Lela, and Belle. Lela didn't want to stop. She loves arts and crafts. I have to do more with her. Maybe we will do some orange bird food next week. Will have to think about that.  We also have some more pinecones left, should make those in to bird feeders for the birds as well. We have plenty of lard and peanut butter.

Speaking of lard, the store in Yodar got our 50 lb bag of haul less popcorn in. It's soooooo good and we are popcorn lovers. So I can't wait to get over there and pick it up. How does this coincide with lard? Lard makes the best popcorn ever! That's how. Mmm a little lard in the bottom of the popcorn popper and hand crank till it's toasty and a few even burnt. And it's the best stuff ever.

It snowed today and Lela and Loudine had lots of fun playing out in the snow and then getting in the hot tub. Silly girls!

And more good news Anne said she got my Jalie pattern in. I can't wait to make it. On Freecycle I got a nursing sweatshirt made by motherhood, in the exact same style. And Jalie just came out with the pattern this October. I really would of never tried the style had I not got it free on freecycle but now it's my favorite casual shirt. So I know I will make a lot of them. I'm hoping to get over there and use my 50 percent off coupon on it too. hehe. And maybe buy myself some discount gift cards for Needle Nook too.

Floods and a coat. . .

I ended up with a chocolate brown zipper from Needle Nook it's really pretty with the print on my fleece for my jacket. It's a cool zipper too, I am love with it. I will never buy another one from Joann's! And my jacket is pretty much done. Except Needle Nook was out of a 24 inch zipper which I need for the baby panel. They are supposed to get some in on Thursday. I can't wait, then I can finish it completely. I wouldn't of been able to finish it with out Julie's help though. She did a lot of it for me. And really helped me while I had to nurse and care for RJ. However, I think it's came out about 2 sizes too large, even though I went down to a size large with it. And I'm supposed to be a XXL in it. So glad I didn't make a XXL! I think I just have to trust I am a size medium with ELD patterns and just go for it. Cause I keep starting with a XL or a L and then get a HUGE end product that is just OVERLY large. But, I get scared to start with a medium and waste fabric and it not even fit at all. I just don't know.

I also got my yearly coupons from them and can't wait for them to get in their Jalie patterns. I may go ahead and use my last years coupon though for another pattern as I didn't realize it was still good till the end of this month! I am going to buy gift certificates as well from them, I'm pretty sure. I'm hoping to be able to buy a few. hmmm. I think I am going to bring up to them this program where I got half price gc's for another local sewing shop a few years ago, the program gives the company their full price so they don't lose anything and they get more business. I will ask Anne if she signed up for them or not. Cause that really helped me a lot when they did that. Next on the list of things I want to sew is a Hot Patterns pattern I seen for free on Fabric.com I already printed it up and taped it together, now I need to trace it and cut it out.

The house flooded from the septic tank. The little girls stuffed too much rice and ramen noodles down the sink. And it was waaaaaay backed up. I didn't realize my closet was hit till the other day and every thing in there is now mildewed. I usually wear things from my dresser most. This is a huge hit to us as of course our dressier clothes are in the closet and they cost the most. Including my very expensive dansko shoes, UHG we can not get the mildew out. And it smells horrible. And so me and little buddy (RJ) are really sick from that. And to top it off, I now have a abscess on my ribcage. Just what I need. I'm on a antibiotic for it though and Darla is going to drain it tomorrow. It's huge, about the size of a golf ball.

I ended up going to the LLL meeting on this side of town last week as well. I'm so glad I went. I won a book for my SIL, I had been wanting to buy it for her but now I don't have to! The womanly art of breastfeeding. And I also got 20 dollars for Papa Murphy's. So that will help a lot. We also found a really good local pizza parlor by Dollar Tree the other night, and it's super cheap and really really good. We got the buffet as that was the cheapest way to go since the girls only cost 45 cents! And Vince and I were only like 4 dollars each. My favorite pizza they put out was a sauerkraut and ham one. I thought it was hawaiian was I in for a shock when I but into the sauerkraut but I really liked it. Who knew! haha

I found the Bragg's seasoning at Dillon's grocery store and we are loving it! I put it in the split pea soup tonight and loved it. Hmmm, you know I just sent Amber for lentils for it.....oops I was crazy apparently. I made split pea/lentil soup. lol Oh well. haha I wondered why they weren't very green. Apparently I was losing my mind when I sent her to the store. Oh well, it still tasted awesome. All the kids even liked it. I have found though we need a little broth in the water for the split pea soup or it just doesn't taste as good. So I am pretty sure I have now perfected my recipe of that. Even if I didn't use all split peas tonight. lol haha CRAZY ME! ha! Oh well even Belle and Lela had seconds later in the evening. It was so cute they shared a bowl.

Yesterday Julie came over and we worked on my coat to the point of needing zippers. I plan on going to buy zippers on Saturday. Then hopefully she can come over again sometime next week and help me a little bit further. What ever we don't get done then, I will take the rest over to Anne's Needle Nook Fabrics and finish as my "UFO". If I finish before that, I may take a new jacket or more nightgowns over to work on. Or a skirt. I want to make a flared skirt with some wool I bought. There's a independent pattern company that has the perfect pattern for it, but I don't really have the funds for new patterns right now, so I'm thinking on using a existing pattern I have and redrawing it the way I would like and see what happens. I'll use some of my 20 cents a yard fabric to test it out, so I may do that at the store. Will have to figure it out when it comes I guess. After Julie went home, I made another mock turtleneck. Man I love how fast the mothercovers whip up!

Belle is getting closer and closer to sleeping in the bunk beds with Lela. She's at least laying down with her and starting the night out with her, now if she will just stay there.

We went to Denny's tonight before La Leche League, and it was pretty good. Wish I had tried the red velvet cake puppies, but probably best I didn't! haha I'm thinking about visiting the other LLL meeting next week, since we won't have another meeting at the one I go to this month due to Christmas. Will have to see if Vince is up to it. Since I usually only go once every other week, and this time would be three weeks in a row because of the way the days have fallen this month.

Outside my window. . .freezing cold.

 I am hearing...my sweet babies sleeping.

I am thinking. . .all the sewing I'm doing.

I am thankful for. . .a toasty apartment.

I am remembering. . .how tiny my baby girls are and were.

I am hoping. . .that I get a lot done on the coat tomorrow!

I am creating. . .lots of turtle neck mother covers, and a coat.

On my mind. . .circuit assembly coming up.

Noticing that. . .I am really tired.

From the kitchen. . .roasted chicken, and mac and cheese.

One of my favorite things. . .hot soup.


A few plans for the rest of the week. . .getting a lot more sewing done, going to LLL meeting and going to the CA.


What I am reading. . .message boards.

Picture for thought I am sharing. . . 

Belle getting in cat bed