Natalie's Drawings

Natalie {age 11} loves to watch Jan Brett drawing videos. Here are a few drawings that she completed recently. 

"Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change." James 1:17

Recent Recipes

{new recipes we tried and loved}

Cinnamon Scones 

2 cups flour 

2 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup butter

1 egg, separated

3 Tablespoons honey

1/3 cup buttermilk (or 1/3 cup milk mixed with 1/2 teaspoon of lemon juice)

Crumb Topping:

1-2 Tablespoons sugar

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

Glaze Ingredients:

1 cup powdered sugar (you can make your own homemade unprocessed powered sugar)

1-3 teaspoons milk

1/2 teaspoon vanilla

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Combine flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Cut in butter until mixture is crumbly. Separate the egg white and yolk. Set the egg white aside. In a separate bowl, mix egg yolk, honey and buttermilk (or milk/lemon juice mixture). Add to the dry ingredients and stir until just combined. Form dough into a ball on a floured surface. Roll or pat out to half an inch in thickness and eight inches in diameter. Cut into eight equally-sized pieces. Transfer to a greased baking sheet. Whisk the egg white until froth forms and brush over the tops of scones. Mix sugar and cinnamon together and sprinkle over egg-white-topped scones. Bake at 400 degrees for 10 to 12 minutes.

Mix together powdered sugar, milk and vanilla until glaze forms. Drizzle over scones after they bake.

Pumpkin Pancakes 

1.5 cups of milk

4 Tbsp vinegar

2 cups all-purpose flour

4 Tbsp brown sugar

2 tsp baking powder

1tsp baking soda

1 tsp salt

2 tsp allspice

2 tsp cinnamon

1 tsp ginger

2 eggs

4 Tbsp melted butter

1.5 cups pumpkin puree

Mix all together and cook on hot griddle. 

Spaghetti Casserole 

I always make enough spaghetti that we have leftovers. The only thing we don't really like about leftover spaghetti is that after sitting the noodles always seem like it needs more sauce. I found this recipe on Pinterest and have used it with our leftover spaghetti recently. It is now our solution to making leftover spaghetti taste fresh again. 

16-oz. pkg. spaghetti noodles, cooked

2-24 oz. jars spaghetti sauce

1 lb. ground beef, browned

1 lb. ground Italian pork sausage, browned

1/4 c. butter

1/4 c. all-purpose flour

1/2 c. grated Parmesan cheese

2 t. salt

1/2 t. garlic powder

12-oz. can evaporated milk

3 c. shredded Italian cheese blend, divided

Garnish: chopped fresh parsley

Combine spaghetti noodles, spaghetti sauce, ground beef and sausage in a large bowl, set aside. Melt butter in a saucepan over medium heat; add flour, Parmesan cheese, salt and garlic powder, stirring constantly until smooth and bubbly. Add evaporated milk and one cup Italian cheese blend, stir until thickened. Pour half of spaghetti noodle mixture into a greased 13"x9” casserole dish and pour cheese mixture over top. Pour remaining noodle mixture into dish; top with remaining 2 cups Italian cheese blend. Bake uncovered at 350 degrees for 25 to 30 minutes. Sprinkle with parsley. Makes 12 to 18 servings

My Eucharisteo's {810-862}

810) snowfall 

811) waking up to snow still on the ground 

812) watching kids play in snow 

813) building snowmen 

814) snowball fights 

815) making snow ice cream 

816) Pastor Ken's sermons on living purposefully

817) comfort from word of God 

818) night out with friends 

819) Chick-FA-li 

820) Emmy & Annie babysitting 

821) movie screening about Rich Mullins life

{Can you spot us? I doubt it} ;)

{This was an incredible movie that is coming out on DVD this summer. If you love Rich Mullins then I think you would love seeing this film about his life} 

822) Rich Mullins music 

823) gathering with friends for Super Bowl 

824) Annie's chocolate covered football strawberries 

825) 5 new books to review 

826) fun with literature 

827) anticipation of Olympics 

828) free cheese bread and pastries from Panera 

829) grocery shopping for our family 

830) free biscuits and gravy from Jacks 

831) dark chocolate peppermint syrup 

832) bible journaling 

833) portable heaters 

834) Camden and his boat

835) screening of God's Not Dead movie with Annie 

836) play date with friends 

837) Emmy helping Bryan in W3 when I was not feeling well 

838) Bryan making me hot chocolate 

839) Annie's chocolate chip cookies 

840) movie watching with Bryan and older kids 

841) winter weather here in Alabama

842) watching the Olympics with the kids 

843) Olympic trivia 

{I found these Olympic trivia strips to print out and printed them on the colors of the Olympic rings} 

{We've been pulling one off each day during the Olympics and have learned some fun and interesting things from them} 

844) Natalie's drawings 

845) Camden and his puzzle 

846) 2nd snow of this winter 

 {It wasn't anything like the first snow- just a little in a few spots but it made us smile}

847) leftovers 

848) Cosby show 

849) sunset on Horizon 

850) celebrating Annie 

851) Anna's Valentine birthday dance 

852) my Valentine decorations 

853) hair appt. 

854) time together clothes shopping with Emmy and Annie 

855) car breaking down after tax return (sounds odd I know- but it was an answer to prayers) 

856) Owen's birthday party 

{Owen is one of my friends sons. He turned 4 recently. He adores Emmy & Annie. They were at the top of his birthday guest list which made us all smile. Here we are at Owen's party} 

857) gorgeous weather for party on the farm 

858) Owen's love for Emmy and Annie 

{I LOVE this picture!} 

859) new dance shirts 

860) clouds at sunset 

861) friends that check in when I don't make it somewhere 

862) weekends 

"Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect." 

Romans 12:2

Fun with Literature: Babar's USA

When I think back on the books I had and loved during my childhood years, Babar is at the top of the list. I love that fun elephant and his family. I found this one at our local book store this past fall. It mixes actual pictures from places around the U.S. with illustrations. Babar and his family travel around to major landmarks and cities here in the U.S. throughout the story. 

We played a fun USA game that I found over on Pinterest. I printed out multiple cards that had the names of the states on them and we put them all in a jar. The kids took turns drawing one card out at a time and whatever state they drew they had to color in on their map. The goal was to color in states that were touching from north to south or east to west. Whoever did so first, won. If you drew a state you had already colored in then you had to pass on that turn. 

The kids loved this game and have asked to play it again several times since. 

Camden's map. He was our winner with states colored in that were touching from north to south! 

Psalm 103:12: "as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us."

Happy 14th Birthday, Annie Caroline!

14 years ago this evening, our beautiful Annie Caroline was born.  One of the many precious blessings in my life each and every day is getting to be her mom and watch her grow in her faith and live out her love for our Savior. Happy Birthday, Annie girl! We love you! Your life is a blessing and encouragement to so many around you! 

"However many years a man may live, let him enjoy them all." Ecclesiastes 11:8 

Ally's 10th B-Day Celebration!

Finally getting around to sharing some pictures from Ally's 10th birthday celebration which was the 2nd weekend in January.

Ally loved the movie Frozen and decided she wanted that theme for her party. Annie decorated the entire house with snowflakes and they are still hanging, one month later. Ally loved it. They are so beautiful that we just can't bring ourselves to take them down yet.

This is one of the 3D snowflakes that Annie made. She found the tutorial on Pinterest. She made around 10 of these to hang along with the smaller snowflakes. 

Frozen movie posters on the fireplace. 

Frozen brand of bottled water for our guests. 

The singing Olaf on the table was our gift to her. 

Ally's cake. 

We served some mini sandwiches along with the mini quiche. 

And string cheese, a favorite of Ally's. 

Opening her gifts. 

She received this jewelry box, some Webkinz, a jewelry making kit, some books, and money. 

With her cake. She chose lemon this year. 

Ally and her best bud, Gracie. 

Singing happy birthday to her. 

Pin the nose on Olaf game. 

Her buds. 

Her friend Gracie spent the night that night. It was Gracie and Ally's first sleepover together and they had so much fun! 

"From birth I have relied on you; you brought me forth from my mother's womb. I will ever praise you." Psalm 71:6