the Rockies

We still love them…

even when they lose – like, A LOT…

even when so many players are injured…

even when we vote approximately 17,386 times for Todd Helton to be on the All Star team..

and he doesn’t win.

even when we get the rare chance to attend a game. . . and.they.LOSE :)

My boys are so silly… never a quiet dull moment with those two! 

Two of my girls… don’t my daughter-in-law and daughter look a lot alike?!?

All together now:

The fourth

Why is this kid so happy?

Because . . .

He just passed his driver’s license!! 

Now begins the first level of our state’s tiered driver’s licensing system. . . accruing both daytime and nighttime practice hours.

Did you know this is the FOURTH time I’ve had a new driver in my house? 

Gulp. 

It’s kinda sCaRy,

but fUn.

Also: nerve-wracking.

p.s.  You may want to stay safely indoors for the next few weeks days :)

Indian Tacos

This is more of a construction method than a recipe :)  It will feed just a few or a crowd. 

(You’ll just need more chili and bread dough for the crowd).

INDIAN TACOS:  You will need: Bread dough – frozen or homemade
Chili (canned or homemade – I grab a bag of BIG BATCH chili from the freezer).  Prepare and keep warm while making the bread.

Toppings of choice: sour cream, shredded cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, salsa, onion, avocado, olives, and/or whatever else sounds yummy.

Prepare and/or thaw bread dough.  Allow to rise once.  Divide each dough “loaf” into 7-8 portions.  Use your hands to gently pull and shape into a flat round.  Poke 2-3 small holes in the center.  This allows the bread to stay flat. 

Make only a few at a time and don’t let them rise again.  Deep fry at approximately 390 degrees. 

See the holes?

Turn when golden brown, to cook the other side -

Drain on paper towels. 

Slap one on a plate and layer it up with chili and your accoutrements of choice. 

 eNjOy!

Linking to:

Delicious Dishes

swingers and climbers

Have you noticed there are two definite preferences, when it comes to playground play? 

You see.

There are swingers 

and there are climbers. 

                                Skyleigh Claire likes to swing.

Please.

DO NOT attempt to remove her from the swing.

Such efforts will be met with MUCH weeping,

wailing and

gnashing of teeth.

(She’s serious about her swinging).

                  Nolan Ryan is a climber

        and so is Matthew

                                     Lacey Brooke, too!

  Nolan tries pushing…

          But it’s WAY too hard

Which one is your favorite?

fyfyfyfyfyfyfyf

The summer of perpetual motion

Spring and summer flew by this year.  Busyness from dawn to dusk - there was little time for blogging and visiting all of you!  

Reason for perpetual motion #1:  Matthew played on a traveling baseball team this year b  

And by travel, I mean their league is actually in ANOTHER STATE!   

From March through July, we were privileged to drive back and forth to Colorado and/or Nebraska.  At least 2 and sometimes 4 days a week. 

He loved every minute and gained lots of experience. 

But it SERIOUSLY stretched my time management skills! 

Such as they are. 

It.was.a.struggle. 

Plus.  Until early June, game day temps were in the low 40’s.  Minus a few thousand degrees of wind chill. 

SIMPLY DELIGHTFUL, I tell you. 

By July, my fingers had finally thawed and I took a few pictures:

Swinging in Castle Rock       

The much feared lefty slurve pitch

Pitching at Highlands Ranch. Strike 3. Again.
 
Swimming between tournaments

Playing first base in front of the beautiful Rockies!  
Looking forward to next season!

(Remind me of that in March, K)?

qfqfqfqfqfqfqfqfq

FaLL BLeSSinGs FRieNds!

Paint your cookies

Or.  Eat your paint.  As the case may be. 

First.  Make your favorite sugar cookies.  I’ve posted my recipe for Grammy’s sugar cookies here.  For Easter this year we made crosses, eggs, tulips and bunnies: 

Now for the “paint”  

• 1 cup whipping cream
• 1/2 to 3/4 cup powdered sugar (to taste)
• food coloring

Pour whipping cream into your mixer bowl.  Add the powdered sugar.  Start with 1/2 cup and then add more if you prefer it sweeter.  Whip until it becomes the consistency of, well, paint ;) 
Pour into small bowls and add your colors.  I used Wilton gel colors: 

Put a clean child’s paintbrush or two in each bowl.  Make sure they have never been used for real paint, though!
Let the painting begin!
Matthew is so, so serious with his painting.  No smiling please.


But he will show you his masterpiece if you ask nicely. 

More seriousness from Lacey. 

And dimples. 

Nolan.Likes.Blue.Paint.  And don’t anyone touch his blue paint, thank you. Except Uncle Matthew.  He can have some.  But no one else.  And that is final. 

Here he considers branching into the yellow. 

But remains true to the blue.  

Skyleigh loves all the colors.

As long as she can eat them! 

Aren’t they lovely? 

Let the paint dry before stacking your cookies.

Posted to: 
Tasty Tuesday
Tempt-My-Tummy Tuesday 
Works-For-Me Wednesday

Bavarian Torte

I might have mentioned approximately 22 a few times that we aren’t big fans of the cake family in general. Especially, the frosting that comes slathered all over the cake. Poor cake.

Chocolate Bavarian Torte is one of the lucky few to make the cut. The frosting. It’s all whip creamy and just a little sweet. Perfect.

So simple to make, it’s not even much of a recipe. Just instructions on how to fancy up an ordinary cake mix and make it purdy-like.

I feel like a baking genius every time I make it. Which is only reinforced by all the oohs, ahs, and wows. Just don’t tell them how easy it is!

Chocolate Bavarian Torte

1 package (18-1/4 ounces) German chocolate cake mix

1 package (8 ounces) Cream Cheese softened

1/3 cup packed brown sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/8 teaspoon salt

2 cups heavy whipping cream, whipped

2 tablespoons grated or shaved semisweet chocolate

Directions

• Prepare and bake cake according to package directions, using two 9-in. round baking pans. Cool in pans for 10 minutes before removing to wire rack to cool completely.
• In a large bowl, beat the cream cheese, sugar, vanilla and salt until smooth. Fold in cream.
• Using a long serrated knife, cut each cake horizontally into two layers. (You need four layers total). Place bottom layer on a serving plate; top with a fourth of the cream mixture. Sprinkle with a fourth of the chocolate. Repeat layers three times.
• Cover and refrigerate 8 hours or overnight. Makes 12 servings.

Oohs and ahs. Never fails.

Visit Tempt My Tummy Tuesday and Tasty Tuesday for more great recipes!

Birthday Eggnog

My sons’ birthdays are on consecutive days, 8 days before Christmas.  They are 6 hours from being exactly 10 years apart and have always celebrated their birthdays together, usually on the youngest son’s birthday, as his comes first :)   So far, they have celebrated 14 birthdays together and treasure each one.  Because their birthdays are so close to Christmas, they have a special menu for their dinner.  Every item on the menu is only made once a year, for their birthday.  And always this must include birthday eggnog. 

Here are the imps at their last birthday: 

 

This recipe originally came from Parents magazine.  A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away, as evidenced by the fact that it contains raw eggs.  The recipe simply advised to use very fresh eggs and we’ve been making it this way for more than 20 years with absolutely no ill effects.  But use your discretion, if this is a concern for you. 

Fair warning.  Once you try this light and delicious beverage, you’ll never be able to drink the icky thick stuff from the supermarket again.  Ever.

Birthday Eggnog

6 large eggs, separated
3/4 cup sugar
2 quarts (8 cups) milk
1/2 gallon vanilla ice cream, softened & cut into 1 inch cubes
1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg

Beat egg whites until stiff peaks form.  Transfer to another bowl.  Beat egg yolks and sugar until thick and pale yellow, about 3-5 minutes.  Gradually stir in milk, add ice cream and stir until completely blended.  Fold in egg whites and sprinkle with nutmeg.  Keep refrigerated and serve cold. 

Mmm.  Creamy and delightful. 

Visit JessieLeigh at Parenting the Tiniest of Miracles for more delicious progressive dinner beverages.

Boots to Fill

Three pairs of boots. Waiting for six feet...

I snapped this photo as the boys were getting dressed for my oldest son's wedding a few weeks ago. The biggest boots were, of course, Jared's. The groom. The middle boots were Matthew's. My youngest. He was so thrilled to be the best man. And the wee blue boots were Nolan's. He was ring security. And yes. Those are the same boots he wore to help Nan in the garden. :)

...and the two will become one flesh. So they are no longer two, but one. Mark 10:8

Brothers.... A Slightly Wordless Wednesday

God gave me a little brother to teach me about life.
He loves and aggravates me
And gives me strength and strife.
Little brothers are special as can be.
So don't mess with my little brother
Or you'll have to deal with me.

Please visit here and here for more Wordless Wednesday.