1st lost tooth

 This first picture (above) is of Hope this morning right after getting up.

The second picture is Hope after eating breakfast...minus a tooth on the bottom.

Since Hope is a little younger than is typical to lose a first tooth, she was a little more freaked out about the whole process than Kiyah had been.  It took some quick thinking after she told us last night she had a loose tooth, but we told her that it's ok if that tooth falls out.  It's a baby tooth.  And you are a big girl now and need big girl teeth.  She was ok with that.

My little peanut is growing up so quickly.  In just over three weeks she'll already be 5.  Where did the time go?

PS. Her second bottom tooth should be falling out any time now also.

Gingerbread Cookies

 Kiyah making sure her cookie cutter is in the PERFECT spot.

 Hope's classic smile...just love it.

 The girls felt the need to make sure mommy was photographed also.

 The cookies after baking but before the decorations.

After the decorating was completed.

We've never made gingerbread cookies before and I'd wanted to start a new holiday tradition with the girls. I found a super simple homemade gingerbread cookie recipe, we made it and were all set to make gingerbread people.  One slight problem...no gingerbread people cookie cutters.  That's ok the girls said.  We had a blast doing this cooking project.  They had more fun decorating than cutting them out though.

Pumpkin patch

After Kiyah's party, grandma cookie and papa keith came with us to Farmer John's Pumpkin Patch!

 Hope loves the hay bale tower!  She never wants to get off.

 Can you tell it was a tad bit cold that day?  It was perfect!

 The silo they converted into a kids play fort!  It's so cool inside. Yes, this mama has been inside it too.

 Papa Keith's first trip to a pumpkin patch ever!  Doesn't he just look like he's in awe?  This patch is an 8 acre field that you walk around to pick the perfect pumpkin.

The girls had to be able to carry the pumpkin if they wanted to get it.  You'd be surprised how big some of them were they tried to pick up!  The gloves are meant as hand protection not against the cold, but the prickly pumpkin stems.  More pictures will be uploaded to shutterfly soon.   After the trip to the patch, papa keith took us out for pizza at the new 5th Avenue Pizza Shoppe in Ellendale!  Excellent choice and they even sang happy birthday to Kiyah and she got a free mini dessert (mini cinnies).

She's 7

 just a little excited?

 pompoms from dad...

 my favorite cake decorating technique! so easy.

 new boots from papa keith and grandma cookie

new bike from papa larry and grandma meme

Check back soon...

for a blog post about a 7th birthday party and pumpkin patch adventures!

Morehouse Park (aka Goose Poop Park)

 So I'm really into the flora...

 Queen of the bridge

 One of my favorites!

 My next favorite!

Ever since I was a little girl, I've been going to Morehouse Park to feed the ducks and geese.  However, I have never called this park by it's correct name. I've always known it as goose poop park (this is the cleaned up title)...that's just my what grandma has always called it.  Probably because of how many geese populate this park...ALOT!

Terry and I have made it a point to get to this park at least once a month in the spring and summer.  We feed the ducks/geese and then go to the Blast for the best, cheapest ice cream around.

However on this day, the ducks weren't too interested in eating our hot dog buns.  Instead we explored a part of the park the girls had never seen...we went on an adventure.  They got to exlore new sights and bridges, I got to explore new functions on the camera...it was a win-win for everyone.

Hope pretended to be the queen of the castle while playing on the bridge.  Kiyah got to see a garter snake up close at it slithered across our path.

Shots of Summer

 A day in grandma's garden...after being told NOT to pick the flowers.  Can you see the attitude?

 After a day on the pontoon, playing on the playground.

 Oh so sneaky...this is the day Hope pretended to be a bear and snuck up on our elderly neighbor in the back yard.  Glad she has a sence of humor.

Steele County Free Fair 2012

 I had to do the spinning rides with Hope...Terry and Kiyah can't do them :)

Steeley, the Steele County Free Fair Mascot...he was on the Carousel with the girls.

2012-08-11 La Crosse, WI

Click here to view these pictures larger

Peach and Blueberry Cobbler-a healthier version!

 Fresh Colorado Peaches plus Fresh (frozen) Michigan Blueberries...

 combine in a hot cast iron skillet (or 9x13 pan)...

to create the most wonderful Peach and Blueberry Cobbler ever!!!

I've always tried to find healthier versions of my favorite foods..now it's even more important to add extra fiber to our diet. I found this recipe at www.eatingwell.com.  This is so good I've made it twice this week because my family has devoured it.

10 Servings
3 Tbls unsalted butter
2 tbls canola oil
1 cup whole wheat flour
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt (omit if using salted butter)
1 cup reduced fat milk
1/2 cup sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract
3 (or 4) ripe but firm peaches, pitted and sliced into eighths
2 cups (1 pint) fresh or frozen blueberries

1.  Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2.  Place butter and oil in 10 or 12 inch cast iron skillet or a 9x13 baking pan. Heat in oven until melted, about 5-7 minutes.
3.  Combine flour, baking powder and salt in large bowl. Add milk, sugar and vanilla; stir to combine.
4.  Add melted butter mixture; Stir to combine. Pour batter into hot pan.  Spoon peaches and blueberries evenly over batter. (make sure the berries get around the edge of the pan or their sink into the middle)
5.  Return pan to oven and bake about 50 minutes-1 hr.  Cobbler will be browned and puffed up around the fruit and will look set.  Cool on wire rack at least 15 minutes. Serve warm

Nutrition facts per serving: 182 calories; 8 g fat; 3 g Sat fat; 3 g protein; 3 g fiber

Cucumbers to pickles!

 My parents had an abundance of cucumbers from their garden.  My neighbor had an abundance of garlic.  I had Kerr canning jars in ample supply.  So I combined them.

 Slice the cucumbers...add a few more ingredients that are so simple to put together and viola...

You get Spicy Garlic Pickles.

Kasper the Horse

The girls, especially Kiyah, have wanted to take horseback riding lessons for quite some time.  They have only ever ridden the ponies at the county fair. This past Monday, my dad surprised the girls with riding!  They were so excited. Even though Kiyah was the one that really wanted to ride, she was a little nervous after seeing how big the horse was...she let Hope go first.  They both did an amazing job of listening to the trainer and having fun.

Beaver Lake

We are very fortunate to live about 5 minutes away from a neat little park and lake.  I grew up going to this lake...swimming, tubing, water skiing (yes, I used to do that), looking for fish and frogs and turtles....so it's neat to be able to take the girls and explore.

However, our girls are not ones to enjoy playing IN the water, but on the shore NEXT to the water.  The past two weekends Terry and I have made it a point to get them comfortable IN the water. These pictures reflect that.