Friends

It's been a while, hasn't it? Jason started his second semester of medical school, which includes gross anatomy. I've told him to ask me before he tells me anything he saw/did that day in the lab. So far, not so bad! He's really enjoying it. And he doesn't smell too bad...yet.

Clara and I visit our friends, and go to playgroup and storytime. She almost always wants Winnie-the-Pooh or Curious George books from the library, but finally she got some other kinds of books last week, which was a relief. One of my more recent favorite books is Three Cups of Tea: One Man's Mission to Promote Peace...One School at a Time by Greg Mortenson. It's amazing. You should read it!

It's been 9 months since Angela passed away. It seems unreal. Her friend put together a sweet book about her memories of Ang and gave a copy to my family. I love the quote she put in the front, which I wanted to share. I could say the same about the friends I've made here. And thanks to all my wonderful friends for your love. I'm so blessed.

'In friendship . . . we think we have chosen our peers. In reality, a few years difference in the dates of our birth, a few more miles between certain houses, the choice of one university instead of another, the accident of a topic being raised a first meeting - any of these changes might have kept up apart. But, for a Christian, there are, strictly speaking, no chances. A secret Master of Ceremonies has been at work. Christ, who said to the apostles, "Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you" can truly say to every group of Christian friends, "You have not chosen one another, but I have chosen you for one another." The friendship is not a reward for our discriminating and good taste in finding one another out. It is the instrument by which God reveals to each the beauties of others." -C.S. Lewis

Let it snow

It has been snowing and snowing since we got back from our vacation to Washington. We got a snowsuit and boots for Clara (remember when we put ziploc bags around her feet inside her sneakers?) and she was super excited to try them out. She loves stomping around on the deck, too.

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.