Apple Annie's

Paul came to visit us this weekend, which was wonderful. We showed him around Jason's school, the town, and went to Apple Annie's. It's a tiny restaurant in PA with desserts the size of your head. Clara was so excited to take Paul there. We haven't seen him since Angela's funeral and we've missed him. I'm so glad he came to visit and that he's part of our family.

At Our House

Here's what's been happening around our house. My mom gave Clara this darling Christmas dress, which she calls her "ladybug dress." As I was trying to get a picture of her in it, she showed me the biggest yawn I've ever seen. Impressed?


We opened a couple presents from family, which she loved. Look at that face!

Snow Day

Last Saturday it snowed all day which Clara loved! She wanted to go outside and play with the other girls in our neighborhood, but she doesn't have any snow clothes. This is the first year she's wanted to play in the snow, so we improvised. We put a few layers of clothes on her, and then found a pair of shoes that are too big for her. Then we put on two pairs of socks and a small Ziploc bag over each foot, inside the shoe. I know it sounds strange, but her feet were warm and dry! (We are going to invest in some winter play clothes...don't worry.)



We made this mini snowman, which she delightedly kicked over. And kicked in the head.

Snippets

Clara loves to draw on "Daddy's (dry erase) board" and I love the little people she draws. She never draws them on paper, so I had to take a picture. She calls them "Mr. Potato" (Mr. Potato Head).


One night Clara wanted to carry her baby around stuffed in her shirt. It actually worked because the neck of her shirt was elastic. She tried to do it again for days after and would get frustrated that she couldn't cram her baby down the front of her t-shirts. She sure loves that baby.

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Bread

I found this recipe and thought I should share it because it's the perfect time of year for warm pumpkin bread and melted chocolate chips. This is super easy because you won't have to wait for the dough to rise and it is delicious.

3 C sugar
1 C cooking oil
4 eggs
3 1/3 cups all-purpose flour
2 tsp baking soda
1 1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1 tsp ground nutmeg
2/3 C water
1 15-oz can pumpkin
Chocolate chips to taste

1. Grease bread pans. In a very large mixing bowl beat sugar and oil with electric mixer on medium speed. Add eggs and beat well; set aside.

2. In another large bowl combine flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Alternately add flour mixture and water to sugar mixture, beating on low speed after each addition just until combined. Beat in pumpkin. Mix in chocolate chips.

3. Bake in 350 degree oven for 55-65 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean. Cool in pans on wire racks for 1o minutes. Remove from pans and cool completely on wire racks. Wrap and store overnight before slicing.

Pumpkin Time!

Last week we went to a pumpkin patch with some ladies from our ward and enjoyed the beautiful fall weather and lovely autumn leaves on the drive out. Clara especially liked picking up the pumpkins and tossing (rather hard) back onto the ground. We managed to play in the pumpkin patch before we were overtaken by the hoards of school kids. I love autumn!

Towel Bibs

I learned how to make these fabulous bibs out of towels at a Relief Society activity a few weeks ago. My friend Lydia made the green one and I made the red one at the activity. Kids can wear them until they're up to 4 years old. They are super easy and are so big and wonderful and I don't use any of our other ones anymore. I'm excited to make more of them!