Halloween Fingers

This is our Halloween tradition...edible fingers. On the left near Brennen we have our mummy fingers, while Devin watches over the Frankenstein fingers and the Werewolf fingers are below. The kids love helping out with this project and sharing them with our friends and neighbors.

Ethan decided to taste test one of the werewolf fingers while we were not looking...I think he approved!

Fiesta Time!

When we had the Irwin kids over last week we decided to have a little fiesta dinner. Chris and I made some homemade tortillas and the kids LOVED them.

Here is everyone at the table devouring their dinner. Notice Devin to the left stuffing his mouth full of burrito, if anyone knows Devin they know that he does NOT like tortillas but we found out this particular night that he LOVES homemade tortillas!
Bree taking a moment from her food for a photo.
Ethan escapes from the table regularly, here he is getting ready to make a break for it...can't you see it in his eyes. Here is our tortilla in the making. Chris and I enjoy Mexican night, we always work on it together. One of us rolls the dough while the other cooks the tortillas. This is also a great recipe to get the kids involved, in fact we have 3 rolling pins especially for the kids in our kitchen because of this recipe, the kids just love making their own tortillas. Here is our recipe:

Flour Tortillas

4 c. flour

2 tsp. baking powder

2 tsp. salt

1 T. dry milk powder

6 T. lard or vegetable shortening

(we use shortening...don't have lard around the house often)

1 1/2 c. hot water

Mix all dry ingredients together and cut in the shortening. Add the water and mix until the dough forms a smooth ball. Cover with plastic wrap and let rest for 20-30 minutes.

Divide dough into desired size, roll thin and grill on a cast iron skillet over medium heat until golden, then flip.

Note: These tortillas are thicker than the store bought alternative and much tastier.

Malinda's baby blessing

We woke up Sunday morning to find a white blanket covering the ground, luckily Brian and Elaine are at a lower elevation, so there wasn't much driving in the snow. The Irwin Family:

Preston, Clellie, Elaine (with Malinda), Cecilia, Bree, Brian and Everet

Elaine and Brian with Malinda
Everyone:

Brother & Sister Brooksby are on the left in the back with Ann and McCall beside them, Elaine and Brian, Chris and Jen and all the kiddos in the front!

I just had to capture this photo. Devin and Bree were running around with one slipper on both feet...don't they make some very cute legs!

Everet was gently helping Ethan with his new baby sister, he is you know a big brother now with all of the experience that goes with it!
Here is the main attraction. Baby Malinda...what a sweet little thing. She is such a good baby, she seems to have a great temperament and very content.
Boo! Here is Malinda in her ghost outfit Halloween is just around the corner but she will be the cutest ghost that's ever been!

came across this and thought it was funny:

GOD CREATED CHILDREN

Whenever your children are out of control, You can take comfort from the thought that even God's omnipotence did not extend to His own children.

After creating heaven and earth, God created Adam and Eve.

And the first thing he said was 'DON'T!

'Don't what?' Adam replied.

'Don't eat the forbidden fruit' God said
'Forbidden fruit? We have forbidden fruit?
Hey Eve, we have forbidden fruit!'

'No Way!'
'Yes way!'

'Do NOT eat the fruit! ' Said God.

'Why ?'
'Because I am your Father and I said so!' God replied, wondering why He hadn't stopped creation after making the elephants.

A few minutes later, God saw His children having an apple break and He was ticked!

'Didn't I tell you not to eat the fruit?' God asked.

'Uh huh,' Adam replied.
'Then why did you?' Said the Father.
'I don't know,' said Eve
'She started it!' Adam said.
'Did not!'
'Did too!'

'DID NOT !

'Having had it with the two of them, God's punishment was that Adam and Eve should have children of their own.

Thus the pattern was set and it has never changed.If you have persistently and lovingly tried to give children wisdom and they haven't taken it, don't be hard on yourself. If God had trouble raising children, what makes you think it would be a piece of cake for you?
THINGS TO THINK ABOUT!

1. You spend the first two years of their life teaching them to walk and talk. Then you spend the next sixteen telling them to sit down and shut up.
2. Grandchildren are God's reward for not killing your own children.
3. Mothers of teens now know why some animals eat their young.
4. Children seldom misquote you. In fact, they usually repeat word for word what you shouldn't have said.
5. The main purpose of holding children's parties is to remind yourself that there are children more awful than your own.
6. We childproofed our homes, but they are still getting in.

ADVICE FOR THE DAY:

Be nice to your kids.

They will choose your nursing home one day;

AND FINALLY:

IF YOU HAVE A LOT OF TENSION AND YOU GET A HEADACHE, DO WHAT IT SAYS ON THE ASPIRIN BOTTLE:

'TAKE TWO ASPIRIN' AND 'KEEP AWAY FROM CHILDREN'!!!!!

before and after

I realized after I posted last that I hadn't put updated pictures of the kitchen, so here is the before picture...

and here is the after, well almost after there are still things that need to be done but you get the idea.

Great Morning

What a great morning for mommy! This morning I was able to sleep in. Apparently Chris snuck in from work and he and Brennen cooked breakfast for us all, waffles with blackberries, hash browns and even cereal if we so choose (Devin)...it was wonderful! Brennen made the waffles from scratch and boy were they yummy, keep up the great work Brennen.

Later in the morning we were surprised to see snow falling! I don't think we are ready for snow just yet...the leaves need to change first for crying out loud.