Welcome to our family Leo!!

A week ago friday, we adopted our little Leo from our local animal shelter and I wanted to share him with you!  He is a little cutie but at first he was a stinker!  The first two days, he was real good and never went potty in our house.  Oh, but that changed after that!! 
Monday and tuesday mornings we woke up to wet spots on the floor and monday afternoon and tuesday morning he decided to poop in the house!  Oh My Word.  I do not do pee and poop in my house.  I was so grossed out!!!  I started to rethink my decision about this dog but then I looked at it as a challenge.  I was going to teach this dog to go outside if it was the last thing I did! 
I decided there was 2 things I needed to purchase- a kennel and a stake/leash for our backyard.  I found a kennel on craigslist for a really good price (thank You Lord!!) and I went to Petco and bought a leash for our backyard (which is not competely fenced in).  I put him in the kennel at night and while we are gone and he stopped going in the house!
 And I used to take him in the backyard to do "his business" and I would stand there with him but he WOULD NOT go.  He would only go on our walks.  Since I bought the leash for the backyard- he goes all the time now!
So, for the past week, we have really enjoyed little Leo now that we got him "straightened out".  :)  And it didn't take as long as I anticipated!! 

The day H and I adopted him we stopped at V's school on the way home

and it happened to be her lunchtime. So, she got to see him and "show him off" to her friends!!

This is right after we got  home and he just walked around and sniffed everything. I was asking myself "what am I doing with a dog?!?"  I am a cat person but I really wanted the girls to grow up with a dog!  I can't say Chad was thinking the same thing I was but he let me get Leo because mainly I am the one who takes care of him! Thanks honey!!!  :)

The next day was Saturday so we all went to Petco and bought him a few things! 

Here he is after his shopping trip with a new bed and toys!

I think he knows he is loved!  :)

His new bed- no dog owner should be without one of these.  I discovered that the hard way!! 

It's also my new "time out spot" for the kids!  :)

This is the other thing that kept me sane- his leash for the backyard!  I love looking

 at him from the porch knowing he is enjoying running around the yard.

I think Leo wants his bed back!

H was sick with a fever and Leo had to let her know he cared!

Bath time!!

He did so good through the whole bath until he was being dried off.  Right after this picture he took

off and we chased him through the house.  It was so funny!!!

V caught him on the couch!

We sure love our little Leo.  I love watching H hug and kiss him, V running around with him and taking 

such good care of him and I love how I am "forced" to take walks daily with him!   He sure is a

great little addition to our family!

Did you think I forgot how to bake??

Sorry for the goofy title but I though it was a bit appropriate since I haven't baked anything in about a month!  When I started this blog back in October, it was mainly for baking/cooking and the occasional pics of my family.  Well, lately that has not been the case!  It has been more of family and no baking- but I'm back!!  :)
I was in a bit of a "funk", working through some things I guess you could say, but thanks to the Lord and His joy and strength- I am "up and running agan!!  :)
Yesterday, I decided I needed to make my family some good healthy snacks so I decided to make them Spiced Applesauce Bread.  It was very easy to make (as most quick breads are!) and very delicious too!

Spiced Applesauce Bread

In a large bowl, combine the "wet" ingredients.

Next, sift together the dry ingredients into the same bowl.

I don't normally sift my dry ingredients but if it tells me to sift- I figured I better!  :)

Now mix it together until it's nice and smooth. 

Now pour the batter into a greased loaf pan. The recipe doesn't call for a little

sprinkling of sugar on top but my family likes it so I do it.  Makes a nice little "crust".

Then bake it at 350 degrees for 60 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.

Mmm, doesn't that look so good?  Let me tell you- it is!!!

In fact, it's so good I am eating a piece while typing this!  :)

Spiced Applesauce Bread

1 1/4 c. applesauce

1 c. white sugar (I'm sure you could decrease this and it would still be good)

1/2 c. oil

2 eggs

3 T. milk

2 c. flour

1 t. baking soda

1/2 t. baking powder

1/2 t. cinnamon

1/2 t. nutmeg

1/2 t. allspice

1/4 t. salt

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Lightly grease a 9X5 loaf pan.

In a large bowl, combine the applesauce, sugar, oil, eggs and milk; beat well.  Sift in the flour, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice and salt; stir until smooth.  Pour batter into prepared loaf pan.

Bake for 60 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into center of the loaf comes out clean.

Enjoy!!!







April fools!!

I know this is late but I thought it was too good of a day to pass up and not write about.  Typically, we don't do much for april fools day- mostly because we forget!!  And this day started like any other year.  It was getting to afternoon and I still hadn't figured out a good april fools joke to play on my family.  So I thought I would let this one slide also.
That was before V got in the car after school.  She got in and told me she had a surprise for me and daddy.  She pulls out her folder and hands me a slip of paper.  This is what it was....

A signed (by the teacher) demerit slip!!  For excessive talking and cutting class.  I was not too pleased and couldn't figure out how my precious little V could do something like this!  I said "are you serious?"  She finally caved in after a minute or so and said "April Fools"!!!  She got me good!!!  :)

Well, now we were on our way to pick up Chad (he was at the car dealer dropping off my truck) and we planned the whole way there how to get Chad with this april fools joke. So we met Chad there, got in the car and V was sitting behind him.  She said "dad, I have something for you".  She handed it to him up front, keeping her head down. He looked at it, was very quiet and controlled and said "V, how did this happen?"  She said "I'm sorry daddy."  
 I was trying to not to bust a gut because I could see he was seething inside but outwardly he was very calm.  Kudos to you babe!!  :) 
We let this go on for a couple minutes and I thought it might not be good for his heart to let this go on much longer so I said "april fools Chad!"  It took him a couple minutes for it to sink in- I think there was so much pressure built up inside his head that didn't get a chance to get out!  hee hee
Here it is a couple of days later and I still don't think he can laugh about it yet!  :)

Well, she sure got us but we got her back good!  That night we were going out and her and H were going to church for childcare.  We told her originally she was going to go out with us but we had changed our minds.  She was NOT a happy camper!!  Then we dropped H off and told her we were going to bring her to the youth room so she could hang out with the youth.  She was NOT at all happy about that, she said she just wanted to go and sit with H and the babies.  Boy, was she was a grump!!  So when she was getting out of the car to go up to the youth, I asked her for a kiss good bye and she almost didn't give me one. Then, Chad said "april fools!!!   You are going bowling with us tonight!!".  She immediately turned around and started crying.  I felt terrible but after a couple seconds of that she looked at me and said "april fools mom!!"  :)

So, I think I will have to start planning next years right now!  How am I going to top those???

my beautiful V

getting ready for some fun!

I sure love this girl!!!!

I think daddy feels the same way  :)

Notice the scores- Chad won, V in second place and me in third!

That was the first game.

Now notice the scores for the second game-

Mom first, Dad second and V a close third!  Oh yeah!!!

What a fun evening with our precious V- it was the first time the 3 of us went

out since H was born. I know she had a fun time too.  :)

 

Happy birthday Hannah!!!

Yesterday we celebrated a very special day- Hannah's 2nd birthday!!  It was a special and fun day but also sad as we thought of all our family back in MN and MI who couldn't celebrate with us.  We enjoyed a fun morning celebrating with her and then had a little party for her at home with a few friends.  We are so blessed to have this little girl- she brings us smiles and laughter, hugs and kisses and a few screams now and then when V likes to tease her! 
Both of my children are unbelievable blessings that I thank God for every day but waiting for H was not an easy thing.  I knew in my heart our family was not complete when it was the 3 of us. But I just didn't know what God was doing when I had to wait and pray for 6 years for Him to answer my prayer for another child.  The doctors had no explanations for why I got pregnant so easily with V but just couldn't get pregnant again.  And it was extremely hard to watch my friends get pregnant and especially when some of them weren't even expecting to. 
Now, as I look back, I know God's timing was best but that's not what I thought while I was waiting, praying and crying for 6 years!!  One of the most wonderful things that came out of it was that my sister was pregnant at the same time with her first child!  That was nothing short of God's timing- our babies are almost 3 months apart to the day!  So that made my pregnancy with H extra extra special (as if it wasn't already!!)- being able to share it with Sara.

Here we are at my baby shower!

Our mom couldn't be prouder!!

What a blessing to share this moment at our 2nd baby shower with my precious V.

Here we are right before I was induced.  This was a really special time for V and I because we were very close and at the end of this day, she would have to "share me" for the first time!

She was so happy to finally be a big sister!

I was ecstatic!  I was finally the mother of two children, the answer to my heart's cry for so long. 

I just could't believe it.  Thank You, Lord!!!  I kept thinking pinch me, I'm dreaming!!  :)

V loved having her little sister in the back seat with her!  

She was only a couple days old here but she loved to read to H in the car.  Too cute!!!

The proudest big sister in the whole world!

Here is her birth announcement picture.

This was the day V was baptized and I couldn't be happier!

H was 3 days shy of 3 months when she helped us welcome her little cousin Evie into

the world!  My mom, myself and H hung out all day with Andy and Sara and H barely made a peep all day but as soon as Evie was born, she cried and cried.  It was so precious, it's almost as if she knew what happened.

The proud aunt Sheri!

Grandpa holding the 2 new granddaughters.

(H 3 months and Evie 1 day old)

Ok, all that brings me to this day, March 26, 2011.  Hannah's 2nd birthday!

Here she is showing that she is 2!  Can you see her 2 fingers she is holding up??

We are on our way to the donut place for her birthday donut.  We've never done this before and it makes me shudder to think of feeding her a donut but I wanted to do something different.  Usually I ask who's birthday it is what they want for breakfast but not today!

Of course I had to bring the candles and we sang to her but I was so worried

about setting off a smoke alarm!  Thankfully nothing happened.  :)

And yes of course, I had to make sure she had some fruit with her very

unhealthy donut so she enjoyed a clementine with it.

"Mmmm, my birthday donut is soooo good!"

Next stop was Toys R Us for a little birthday shopping!

She was sick of having her birthday crown on but V was trying to push it back on!  Sisters!!

Taking a ride with Pooh for her birthday!

This was on the way home after we stopped to get her some balloons.  Uh oh, where is she??

This is the gift we got her- an easel!!  We thought it was the perfect

gift for a girl who LOVES crafts.  :)

V wrote this precious message for H.What a

wonderful big sister she is!!

Eating a little lunch before her party.

She loved blowing out her candles.

She barely made a dent in this huge cupcake cake.  (thank you Sara!!)

This is to show how big the cupake cake was!

A few of her guests.

Time to open the presents!  I loved how she got really into it this year!

Thank you everyone for her new toys/clothes!  She loved them all.  :)

What a happy day to celebrate Hannah and all that she means to us.  Thank You God for

giving her to us to love, to take care of and most importantly, teach her about You.

Happy 2nd birthday Hannah Joy Rose!!!