Life of a Plain Jane

Thursday, February 2, 2012

Six More Weeks

Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow today. Six more weeks of winter. I could have told you that since we're going to have a big snow storm start today.

I'm off to CostCo and Target to stock up. I love the idea of being snowed in and all cozy warm. But with my husband, we will never be snowed it. He LOVES to get out the Sequoia and blaze a trail through the neighborhood. Drives me crazy. The sledding should be good for the girls though. And I have books and movies from the library, lots of food (or will have soon), and craft projects for the kids.

Bring on the snow!!

(Yes, I know this post is in italics. No, I don't know why. No, I can't seem to be able to toggle off of italics. Just enjoy the change!)

Wednesday, February 1, 2012

Patience

They say that if you ask God for patience He will give you plenty of opportunities to practice patience. Today is one of those opportunities and I am failing.

Romans 5:3 And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;

Monday, January 30, 2012

I'm Back, Baby Doll!

Well it has been almost three years since my last post. Life just got in the way of blogging...and I didn't feel that I had anything of interest to post nor did I have the time with two toddlers.

But now, while I have even less time than before, I think this might be good for mental health. Even if no one ever reads my posts. That's fine with me.

In the last three years, I have started homeschooling my kids and had another baby. My oldest is now six, my middle is now four and my baby is fourteen months. How time does fly!

Now I have relearn how to use this blog site. It has changed a bit in three years - can you believe it?

Friday, March 27, 2009

Where Have You Been?

I know...the two of you that actually check my blog (or used to when I used to post stuff) are probably asking that question. I'm still here...Natalie turned 1, we survived the holidays, Elaine started a "ballet" class, Natalie's trying to walk...and Natalie and I have had strep. And Caesar had a giant ear infection (not too common for shepherds). Phil still has a job (thank you, God) and we're all still living life and having fun with each other.

Yesterday we had a blizzard here in Colorado - a nice change from the dry 60's and 70's we were having. We have a little over a foot of snow and it's beautiful. But snow days always keep me in the kitchen. Yesterday was no exception. We had Buttermilk Whole Wheat Bread, Vegetable Beef Soup, Cream Biscuits and cookies. Not just any cookies...my new favorite.

These cookies had me asking them - where have you been all my life?!? Chocolate-Covered Cherry Delights. Oh. My.Gosh. Basically a chocolate cookie, topped with a cherry which is then covered with a chocolate-cherry sauce. If you like those cherry cordial candies that you can get around Valentine's Day, then you'll like these cookies. And the recipe came from an unexpected source - a murder mystery. The Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder is the first in Joanne Fluke's cookie series. It's a fun series which I really like and each book has several recipes - usually for cookies but also other desserts and even some main dishes. I've only ever made one other recipe from this series - Red Velvet Cookies - and they were amazing too. I guess I need to start going through the recipes and trying more cookies. Boy, do I need to start working out.

Here are a few pictures of the cookies and the day of cooking and snow.

Wednesday, November 12, 2008

Pumpkin patch, Lincoln, Halloween and more

October was such a busy month. We visited a couple of pumpkin patches, traveled to Lincoln, Nebraska to visit our dear friends, the McHenrys, and of course Halloween (Natalie's first). Mostly we've had a month of sickness: Elaine, then Natalie, then Phil, then Natalie again, Elaine again... Someday everyone will be healthy again...someday.

In the meantime, here are some pictures from October. Enjoy!

Thursday, September 25, 2008

Milestones

Looks like I'm becoming a once-a-month blogger. So I have a lot to talk about - I'll try to condense it though.

In mid-August, Phil's family had a reunion in Estes Park. We had a great time visiting everyone but it sure was cold and rainy. Elaine got rainboots that weekend - Lightning McQueen, naturally.

Right after the reunion, Elaine started preschool. There are about 12 other kids in her class and it is busy! But she has so much fun. She likes to do the weather in circle-time, she loves chapel (once a month), and play time on the playground. Here she is on her first day of school.

Natalie turned 9 months old and time is flying with her. She can pull herself up, wave, take a couple of steps while holding onto a table or me, and she just started to crawl. She is the best baby!

Phil's company picnic was right after Labor Day weekend at a park close to our house. They had sno-cones (a first for the girls), face painting (another first) and a bouncy castle. The picture of Elaine with the unicorn on her arm is just my favorite - she's little tough-girl!

Then came the birthday madness. Since Elaine's birthday was on a Friday, I took birthday snacks to preschool on Thursday. Elaine got to wear a crown and the kids all sang "Happy Birthday" to her. She wanted frosted cookies so I baked...a lot!

Phil was able to take off her entire birthday from work so we took the girls to the zoo. Elaine loved the animals - especially the elephants. The Denver Zoo has been improved so much since the last time I was there (so long now I can't even remember). We rode on the train which was sort of boring and on the carousel (Elaine rode an elephant). She definitely had a good birthday!

The next day was her birthday party with mostly family and her best friend, Drew. She got so many presents but I think the highlights were: a Wiggles accordion, a microphone, a princess dress-up kit, a tool kit, a baby doll (she named Baby Sarah), and her princess bike (we got it used months ago - looks brand new - love it when that happens).