Wish List

This morning I asked Ellie what she wanted for Christmas. I should know better than to ask a question like that first thing in the morning since I will most likely be informed of her wish list all day long until bed time. These are the things she came up with in the first two minutes. Looks like I'm in for a day of giggles:)

• a polar bear who likes me
• red jammies
• purple jammies with polka dots
• a seal
• a purple animal
• pickles
• a new movie that's ice age
• a christmas halloween costume
• to climb a tree
• my toys to be real
• a sea star
• five more toys
• a trumpet with buttons and a long string
• a violin
• new princess shoes with bows
• polly pockets
• new pictures
• little kid hunting pants

*updated at 8:30pm tonight: Ellie said, "I jus' want everything for Christmas."

I think that just about sums it up.

Got It Figured Out

So yeah, I just turned thirty-one the other day. When the crap did I even turn twenty or twenty-five? It feels like I skipped over them completely and went straight into my thirties. Weird. Does anyone else feel this way? Like inside your head you're still in your late teens or early twenties?

When I was a teenager I always thought thirty-anything sounded old. Turns out it's not that old. Who knew? When I imagined myself as a thirty-something I knew for sure I would have everything figured out. That I wouldn't still be struggling with some of the same things I struggled with as a teen. That I would be confident and strong and perfect in lots of ways. Which is funny because I still struggle with all of the same things but it's okay - I'm working on it :) And I feel very happy about where my life is right now despite my many weaknesses. I actually love my life. At least I've got that part figured out.

Pickles

I can't believe how much this kid loves pickles.
Isn't she adorable?
Oh and this morning the wanted round pigtails like Red on Fraggle Rock. I think we nailed it :)

Oh. Yum.

My Mom makes the best apple pie I have ever had. I practically grew up on it. In fact - you know how most kids have a birthday cake on their special day? Well, I don't recall ever having a birthday cake. My brothers and I always asked
for our favorite pie on our birthdays.
So in honor of our fall time favorite, I made apple pie today. But I wanted to try something a little different so I tried this with my Mom's recipe. I know pie in a jar sounds cheesy but it is so yummy! There is something about eating it out of the jar that makes it taste so good. I seriously can't get enough of these little guys (with a side of vanilla ice cream).
I think I'll make these for my birthday this year.
Thirty one little pies.
All for me.
Yum.

My Mom's Awesome (full-sized) Apple Pie

Filling
6-8 apples, peeled & sliced
1 c. water
1/2 lemon squeezed (2 T.)
Cook until tender
(I like my apples a little on the crunchy side and not all mushy)

Add:
1/2 c. brown sugar
1/4 c. white sugar
2 T. cornstarch
1 t. cinnamon
Cook until thickened

Let cool while you make the crust.

Crust
2 c. flour
1 c. Crisco
1 t. salt
ice cold water as needed (1/4-1/3 c.)

Blend flour, Crisco and salt with a pastry blender. Slowly add cold water stirring until dough forms a ball. Roll out on flour covered pastry board.

Place pie filling in crust and dot with butter. Wet crust edge with water or milk and place crust on top, sealing edges. Cut air vents. Wet top crust with milk and sprinkle with sugar. Bake at 350 for 1 hour or until golden brown and filling is bubbly.

I've found that I can get about 8 jar-sized pies out of one filling recipe and 1 1/2 crust recipes.
If you try it let me know how it turns out.

Here's to gluttony :)

The Idaho Desert

A few weeks ago during archery season, Rob took the girls and I for a ride out on the desert to spot some elk. After a very bumpy ride we made it to the top of the butte. My parents came along and their friends happened to be there when we got there and we all had a wonderful time taking in the scenery and looking for elk. We saw one lone bull and it was such a thrill. It was so peaceful and beautiful there. I really could have stayed there all night. These pictures don't to it justice at all. We were much higher up than it looks. We were top of an old volcano so there is lava everywhere.
Oh and I don't hunt to kill. I like seeing the elk but I don't want to be there when when they get shot. Just so you know.

Rob helping Ellie with the binoculars

The view to the south

The view to the east

Ellie at the top of the butte

I love the desert here. There is so much to explore. I'm excited for when the girls are a little bigger so we can take them out hiking in the lava flows and caves and buttes. They are going to love it!

Delicious Quilty Goodness

I seriously love how Piper's quilt turned out!
Not too bad for my first real quilt. I tried to make one for Elliett when she was born but I was too chicken to do it by myself so my Mom ended up doing 90% of it and it turned out beautifully of course. The only bad thing about this quilt is that now I want to make a big one for myself and let me tell you - quilting is not cheap. You'd think it would be. What's a little fabric and thread? Well it adds up in a big hurry so now I'm totally hooked and thinking of things I can sell so I can buy more fabric. :)

In different news, Piper has found her thumb! My Mom and my Grandma would tell me what a bad thing it is but I say yippee! Not only is it cute but now she's content to sit in her bouncy chair for more than two minutes so I can actually catch up on silly things like vacuuming and organizing.

Juggling

Today's projects:

Taking care of a toddler who was sick all weekend
awesome giant pillow huh? it helps her breathe when she sleeps :)

Keeping this little grump happy
she insists on being held all waking hours of the day

And trying to finish this quilt
i'm thinking this one is going to have to wait
which is okay because the snuggles can't