one year ago

Grandpa & Grandma at Lars baptism.

Mmmm, chocolate cake!

Sitting peacefully at Aunt Jan & Uncle Wes house.

Quentin's Christmas program 2007.

Two peas in a pod.

This was taken in the midst of a tickle fight.

We've been thinking a lot about our dear Grandpa Ole this month. It was Election Day last year that Ole was called home. I've wondered many times over the past year how he is spending time in heaven. No doubt none of us will know until we are there. I imagine he is able to play cribbage nonstop and is enjoying a good arguement with his sister about what the proper blood sugar level really ought to be. With Wisconsin Deer seson sneaking up on us quickly, I find myself thinking about him a lot. I'll keep sharing stories of fun memories with my kids. Quentin asks me about Grandpa Ole a lot and remembers his love of sharing a handful of Tootsie Rolls. We miss him. With God's grace and mercy, when my time comes we'll share a round of cribbage, a saltine full of limburger cheese, and a Johnny Cash song together.

Fun

Once again, I am astounded by the blessings we enjoy as a family. Quentin had a classroom party for Halloween. Lars and I were invited to join the class to help with Bingo, we brought an enourmous pan of rice crispy pars that were laced with gummy worms. The kids had a wonderful time. It was a fun morning, Lars felt special to pretend to be in Kindergarten while Quentin had fun sharing his brother with his classmates. We even joined the kids for school lunch!

Quentin enjoyed his Luke Skywalker costume! Seeing a smile like that makes the fun of the season a treat to share with them. Lars was a soldier this year. It was a special treat to be able to bring his toy gun along with him for his adventures. Until Quentin explained what Trick-or-Treating was about, he was not interested in joining his big brother. However, once he discovered how to ring a door bell and get candy he found the evening a lot of fun. This was the first year we haven't had the stroller along for a while. Lars walked for about an hour before he was exhausted and happy to be home!

Jamie and I are making some preparations to enjoy the WI Deer Hunting Season at the end of November. Lists are being made and blaze orange is coming out of storage. It won't be long we'll be enjoying a nice week of vacation time!

We've used the last of our garden squash this week. I always wish we had a few more when they are gone. The following recipe was in a flyer from our local co-op, yummy!

Three Sisters Soup

4 lbs acorn squash

4 quarts broth or water

2 small yellow onions

1/4 cup olive oil

1/4 cup garlic

2 teaspons thyme leaf, dried

1 teaspoon pepper

1 pound corn

2 15oz cans of cannellini beans

1 bunch green onion

1/2 cup white wine

1 large bay leaf

Prep-

Half the squash, scoop the seeds and roast in crockpot with 1/2 the broth. (around 1 hour on high) The liquid from the squash automatically stays in the pot. When soft, remove squash, allow to cool enough to scoop out the flesh. Smash with a fork. Return to the crock pot along with the rest of the broth and other ingredients. Allow to continue cooking on low for at least another hour. Remove bay leaf before serving.

October

The month of October has been as full as all the rest. The closer we get to Winter the more quickly they seem to be passing. Our family spent a couple of days at Grandpa and Nana's cabin in Northern Wisconsin at the beginning of the month. The colors were absolutely spectalar. The boys enjoyed spending time with Grandpa, they played outside, and picked apples. We returned home and had a great visit with a bunch of our family who live in Montana. It was wonderful to have a long weekend to spend so much time playing and visiting.

Quentin's class had a field trip to a local apple orchard a week ago. We had a good coating of snow and slush for the trip. The kids had a blast. Quentin picked apples, threw snowballs and picked a pumpkin out of a field of snow coated pumpkins. I was glad his snow gear from the year before still fit him that morning!

Our other great adventures this month have focused around the kids sports and lessons. Quentin has been playing Flag Football at the YMCA one night a week. He enjoys learning the about the game and has announced that the Vikings are his favorite team. He even watched part of a game with his brother and Dad this afternoon. Lars has been taking swimming lessons. He is a little fish, much like his brother. Lars is going underwater and kicking his little legs to retrieve brightly colored rings, and starting to enjoy floating. Quentin is amazing, he loves swimming the length of the pool. Having the blessing of watching them grow and being able to provide them with these experiences is amazing.

We finished up in the garden for the winter this past weekend. The plants are out, leaves mulched in along with compost and hoses are packed away for the winter. Quentin and Lars love digging in the garden boxes this time of year. They are able to dig and dig without anyone telling them to be careful for the vegetables. The boxes are essentially giant sandboxes, but with garden soil instead of sand. The worms never seem to get away quickly enough.

We've been using the CrockPot often to keep a meal ready and waiting with all the swimming, football and outdoor playtime this fall. One of our favorites, the kids even like the vegetables uses chicken.

Slow-Cooker Chicken Cacciatore
Makes: 6 servings Prep: 15 minutes Slow Cook: 3-1/2 hours on HIGH or 5 hours on LOW
Ingredients
1 package chicken pieces (about 4-1/2 pounds), skin removed, trimmed of excess fat
1/4 cup flour
1 tablespoon olive oil
2 cups thinly sliced mushrooms
1 large green pepper, seeded and chopped
1 large onion, chopped
1 carrot, peeled and chopped
2 cups canned diced tomatoes, drained
1/2 cup white wine
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil leaves
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1/4 teaspoon salt
Directions
1. Pat chicken dry with paper towels. Place flour on a plate. Coat chicken in flour, shaking off excess. Heat oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Cook chicken for 12 minutes or until browned, turning halfway.
2. Remove chicken from skillet and place in slow cooker bowl. Place mushrooms in skillet; cook over medium-high heat for 6 minutes.
3. Place mushrooms in slow cooker, and add green pepper, onion, carrot, tomatoes, wine and Italian seasoning. Cook on HIGH for 31/2 hours or LOW for 5 hours. Stir in basil, pepper and salt and serve immediately.

Pizza Art

Our family project this weekend was making pizza with the kids. This is a shot of Pepperoni Man, if you look closely the nose is made of dough and complete with at least two nostrils of its very own.

School started, where did the summer go?

Wow, the last half of summer went far to quickly! A short rundown of the 2nd half. We visited the Washington County Fair with our neighbors in August. The kids had a riot! We visited the 4H exhibits and saw more animals than imaginable. I was unable to get Quentin to be still long enough for a photo, there was too much to see! Lars however was facinated with the creatures he could touch.

Quentin used his allowance one week to purchase a monarch caterpillar from the local farmers market. He did a great job keeping it fed from milkweed we had in the garden. His efforts were rewarded, I think this was the largest monarch butterfly I've ever seen. The kids released it once the wings were dry.

We spent a few days getting ready for Kindergarten also. Thankfully Quentin is pretty easy to please in the shopping department these days, in fact he would rather that all clothing and necessary items magically appear. Shopping is one of his least favorite errands to help with. (If you haven't read the childrens book "Llama Llama, Mad at Mama" it would be great insight into what shopping with little ones can be like.) Quentin has a walk of only three blocks to school. He has enjoyed visiting with the neighborhood kids each morning as we stroll.

The tooth fairy has also been frequenting our house lately. Quentin lost his first tooth in church a week ago, his brother pulled it out for him. The second tooth came out on his second day of Kindergarten.

Over the Labor Day weekend, we had a small bbq with some neighbors. It was nice to have the time to visit with our friends. The kids all played well together and ran for hours nonstop, other than a break for an icecream cone or to cruise by the table of food for a handful of something yummy.

A few shots of garden bounty....

Pesto
4 cups packed fresh basil leaves, washed well

1/2 cup pine nuts, toasted until golden, cooled, and chopped fine

1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan (about 1 1/2 ounces)

2 large garlic cloves, minced

1/4 cup plus 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

In a food processor purée basil with remaining ingredients until smooth and season with salt and pepper.
(ps- Kids really like peeling garlic and pressing the buttons for food processors, with supervision)

Lars has named affectionately, or not so affectionately... pesto poop.... enjoy!

July

What a busy month! The Fourth was really fun with the kids this year. We rode our bikes a few blocks to the parade route and watched the parade. This was the first year the weather was not sweltering and the kids could be comfortable. Quentin enjoyed picking up the candy from the parade participants. He was so kind, to give Lars the very first piece he grabbed! Not everyone get a big brother that awesome! We are also lucky enough to be able to view the city fireworks from our own lawn. Lars fell asleep before they began, and Quentin was bored with them before they were finished. So, for this point in our lives watching from the lawn works the best for all of us!

The children have been happy to spend time

painting and coloring at the table this summer.

Quentin always loves a good mess! Lars has learned that green markers do not taste a great as they look.

We've been fortunate to enjoy a few trips the local state park for swimming and nature hikes this summer. Quentin also participates in an education program sponsored by the park. This past week he learned about honey bees, why they dance, and some of the different types of bees within a hive. We met a pal from school for class, had a picnic and played on the playground afterwards. It was a lovely day overall!

The boys and I have visited the Farmer's Market this summer to visit a few stands and find some treasures we aren't growing in our own garden. The sugar snap peas have been a favorite.

Summer Dishes I enjoy...

Lighter Potato Salad
1 cup cubed cooked potatoes
2 hard boiled eggs ( I removed the yolks)
1 cup cubed apple
1 cup peeled cucumber
½ cup diced red onion
½ cup mayonnaise
2 Tbspn light sour cream
Salt and pepper to taste

Mix together all together. Refrigerate for a couple hours. Eat within 2 days, tends to get a bit watery and cucumbers get soggy much past two days. Garnish with parsley, or fresh dill.

Baked Beans
1 lb dried small white beans
3 ½ cups water
1/3 cup molasses
¼ brown sugar ( I don’t pack it)
1 white onion
1 Tbspn yellow mustard
½ tsp salt
Combine all ingredients in a crockpot. Cover and cook on high for 6 to 7 hours or until beans are tender. I have added at least an extra cup of water half way through the cooking process each time I have made these. Also removed the bacon from the recipe to cut fat, but feel free to add a few slices.

Summertime fun

This week started off really warm! My father-in-law described a hot day as "like a hot cup of coffee", I think I'll be working that phrase into conversations... what a perfect way to describe summer. In honor of summer and a visit from Grandma Sneen, the boys indulged in a banana split at the kitchen table. So much fun and joy was found in that huge pile of ice cream and whipped cream! I hope the boys remember the fun occasions as they grow and remember that happiness can be found with good company and loved ones around the kitchen table.

Quentin had the pleasure of hosting a garden tour for his Pre-K teacher and a group of summer school kids this past week. Quentin successfully described: the fruit trees in the yard, proudly showed off the bat and birdhouses he built with Jamie, explained the water collection system, as well as explaining that you may not eat rhubarb leaves due to them being poisinous. He also graciously explained to his friends that they may not walk on the soil in the gardens, because it would compact, making it difficult for worms to dig around and poop their powerful poop.

The kids and I packed up and visited the beach for the first time this summer! We had a great day at Willow River State Park! We arrived just in time to see thousands of tadpoles swimming in the shallows next to the beach. The boys had fun capturing and inspecting the little creatures, they were corralled into lovingly dug pools and channels. Quentin described them as a "marching band of tadpoles". The weather was great, and fortunately I was the only victim of sunburn on our expedition.

We have all been so pleased with Lars language development during the past few weeks. The little guy repeats just about everything he wants to and some he shouldn't. He has begun to hold his own ground a bit with his older brother, which has led to some heated discussions between the two small red heads in the house. Despite the bickering between the boys, Lars has develped a lovely appreciation for our four legged companion. Bryson is the object of many hugs during the day. Lars has discovered that kissing a furry beast is not always as pleasant.

Tonight as I tucked my little angels into bed the little angel said clearly enough to melt any heart within ear shot... " love you Mommy"... If only I had the pause button to freeze time and make those precious little bits of time last a bit longer....

And still trying to organize the mountains of recipes...this week, granola.

Granola
1 cup maple syrup
1 cup vegetable oil
3 tblsp cinnamon
Mix the first three together.

8 cups old fashioned oats
½ ground flax meal or flax seeds
¼ sunflower seeds
½ coconut
1 ½ cup walnut (or nut of choice)

Mix dry ingredients into wet until well coated.
Spread in 2 large baking dishes. Set oven to 225. Slowly toast for 30 minutes. Stir and rotate pans. Toast for another 10 minutes or until desired dryness is reached. Allow to cool completely, store in sealed container for up to two weeks.
Suggestions for additions after roasting:
Raisins
Dates
Cranberries
Dehydrated apple
Dehydrated apricots
Dehydrated pineapple

We like this granola mixed with yogurt or sprinkled onto a bowl of fresh fruit with a little milk.

Summer has finally arrived!

This week it feels like summer has finally arrived in Hudson! We have had some rain and humidity, the gardens are loving it! Most of the tomatoe plants have flowered, which after starting them from seed in February, seems like an amazing miracle! I love the smell of tomatoe plants, not the blossoms, the actual smell of the plant. If only I could purchase candles, room spray and air fresheners in that fragrance I could enjoy it all year long.
The boys started their summer session of activities at the YMCA, which appear to be a smash so far. They each have an arts/crafts class and we have one session of soccer a week. In addition, the summer reading program at our local library has officially begun! Watching the kids learn to love books and the public library is so much fun. They each sleep with their evening bedtime story tucked loving under their pillow.

My little sister, Jen, has been stopping by once a week to spend time with the boys. She has been such a lovely blessing. The children have time with a wonderful young woman who will undoubtedly be a very important infuence and adult in their lives as the boys grow. I personally enjoy the few hours out of the house, which are usually spent buried in a book.

This past Sunday, the children were invited to a birthday party for our neighbors Granddaughter, Sydney, who lives near Menomonie. The drive was beautiful, there is still sleepy farmland and homesteads buried in Wisconsin. I earnestly hope that sprawl, development and taxes don't force it into suburban strip malls. The party was wonderful, the children played outside in wading pools, slip and slides, with water balloons and a swing set. At one point in the afternoon, Quentin was completely soaking wet, happily eating a hotdog, turned to me and said, "This is just Heaven Mom!" This year he even managed to keep the Great Dane named Titan who lives there from swiping his lunch. Last year, there were a few teary and tense moments after Titan stole the hotdog and bun directly from Quentin's hand.

Thursday and Friday mornings of this week were spent at rummage sales! Our church organizing a huge event every year. There is something heart warming about the children finding joy in gently used or well loved toys and sports equipment! We were able to add two wonderful tennis rackets to our collection, along with some adjustable roller skates and an skateboard that we hope to retrofit into a customized scooter. Lars has particular pride in the straw "safari" hat we found along with a childrens 'batting hat" and "hard hat". Being particularly repelled at the thought of many trips to the emergency room this summer, we also increased our supply of bike helmets, knee pads, elbow pads and wrist braces. A girl has to do what a girl has to do! Recycling takes on a wonderful form when we can enjoy another persons cast offs with glee!

In an attempt to begin organizing my recipe staff, I have decided to start posting at least one a week.

Kidney bean and Corn Salad

16 oz can kidney beans

16 oz frozen corn

1/4 cup red onion diced

1 red, green, or yellow bell pepper diced

1/2 cup peeled diced zucchini

1/3 cup apple cider vinegar

3 Tblsp honey

3 cloves garlic, crushed

salt and pepper to taste

Rinse and drain corn and beans. Whisk vinegar, honey, garlic together. Mix all vegetables together, toss with vinegar. Salt and pepper to taste. Let marinate for at least 30 minutes, serve at room temperature.

Crock Pot Tomale Pie

1 lb ground beef, venison, or bison

2 cups frozen corn

2 cups salsa

1 cup coarse ground yellow cornmeal

1 egg

1 cup mik

2 Tbspn ground cumin

2 Tbspn chilli powder

Mix raw meat, corn, egg, salsa, milk and seasoning in bowl. Spray crockpot, pour mixture in. Set on High for 3 hours. Serve with cheddar cheese, avacado slices, sour cream, fresh sliced tomatoes. Reheats well also. (It tasts better than it looks!)

Rainy cool week

What a wonderful week of cool weather and rain! The kids enjoyed playing at the YMCA a couple mornings that they couldn't be outside. Our local library offers a wonderful story time we able to enjoy this week as well. The kids enjoy the puppets, singing, and of course the stories. Quentin was able to ride his bike to the library this week, Lars hesitantly accepts a ride in the stroller.

Lars is working hard at using the potty. This week he has been going into the bathroom by himslef and putting the seat on the toilet. He is trying very hard to take his pants on and off on his own. We took that as an indication Lars is ready for training pants. He is a very proud boy!

We all enjoyed a batch of homemade whole grain bread.

Whole Wheat Bread

6 cups whole wheat flour

2 Tblspns yeast

1/2 cup warm water

2 1/4 cups warm milk

1/4 cup honey

1 tsp dark molasses

2/3 cup butter

1 Tbspn salt

1/4 cup millet

1/4 cup coarse groud corn meal

1/4 oat bran

1/4 ground flax

1/2 cup cooked barley

Dissolve yeast in warm water. Add 1 cup whole wheat flour and honey, butter, salt. Add remaining ingredients. Knead (or mix in kitchenaid) until dough is slightly elastic and holds together in a ball. Cover and let raise until doubled. Punch down, put in bread pans. Let raise 2nd time. Bake at 400 for around 30 minutes, until sounds hollow when tapped on. Remove from pans and let cool on wire rack. Yield- 4 medium sized loaves

Rainy Saturday

Welcome to our new family blog! We are all enjoying a rainy Saturday. During the past week we have put in new sod, installed outdoor lighting and finished planting the vegetable gardens. The rain comes at a perfect time! The boys have enjoyed the first full week of summer vacation. There have been a lot of popsicles and muddy fingers and toes. The first set of squirt guns have already passed through the doors and been worn out. We don't consider the day a complete success if the kids don't need a change of clothes at lunch and a bath before bed. We are hoping to enjoy a rhubarb cake for dessert tonight. That is the first of our harvest every year.

Dad and Annette shared a piece of old shelving from the Hayward property with us a few weeks ago. We had initially planned to use it as a garden shelf, but plans changed and we used it in kitchen to store dry goods and canning equipment. Like usual, we find that the older the household item is, the more we love it!

Easy Rhubarb Cake

4 cups diced rhubarb

1 cup sugar

1 package strawberry jello mix

yellow cake mix

Preheat oven to 350. Spread diced rhubarb in bottom of 9x13 pan. Spread jello and sugar over top. Mix cake as instructed on box. Spread over top of rhubarb. Bake for 30 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean. Serve warm with ice cream or whipped topping.