Dallin's Doodles

This is Todd, he is using soap. Then it falls on the ground. Poor Todd.

(or perhaps the soap is jumping into his hands, happy Todd.)

Better late than Never

Happy New Year and all that.

I recently realized that it is almost the end of the month. I have a strange feeling that this year is going to go by way too fast. Since my last post we have had Christmas and New Years and my Birthday. I still don't feel as old as I should, perhaps that is a good thing. The only thing I feel is rushed. My oldest wonderful boy enters into the double digit years the end of this month. Jared is going to be 10. Shocking I know. And my Dallin will be old enough to be baptized this year. Luckily I still have my little ones Shane is going to be 4 this year and Liam is technically not a baby but at 13 months I still like to think of him that way. I know that time is going to fly right by and soon it will be Shane entering double digits and Liam about to be baptized. How am I supposed to accept this? I do not know. For now I will just try to enjoy them as much as possible and take a lot of pictures. Pictures are something I am good at.

Christmas PJ's are so fun! I know these are not the best pictures of the boys but on Christmas morning there were other things to be worried about other than Mom saying "hey look at the camera for a second."

I love these days when Dad is home and willing to play with the boys. It takes forever to get them all dressed up for the cold but once we are out there it makes it worth it.

Love to you all! Who ever you are that reads my blog.

Gingerbread House

We decorate a gingerbread house every year, I think we are getting better at it. Aaron wants to try to reconstruct Minas Tirith from The Lord of the Rings next year, I am thinking we need a few more years practice before we attempt that. But it is always good to have a goal right?

Well this is this years model. The boys had a lot of fun decorating with and eating all the candies.

Skittles on the roof and for the flower boxes

Shane is being so patient waiting for the opportune time to snatch a piece off. :o)

It had to snow of course we are in Colorado.

The stars started out being a walkway and turned into a train thingy.

Those are penguins in front of the red fountain/weeping tree.

How did yours turn out? We had a great time.

Merry Christmas to you all and Happy New Year!

~ Christina

Liam is Walking!!

He is finally willing to try it anyway. It seemed that he hadn't the slightest desire for the longest time. I am really happy that he is wanting to walk but at the same time really sad that my last little baby is growing up.

So Sorry that you have to turn your Monitor on it's side to view these videos, I took them while turning my camera thinking I could flip them once in the computer. However it isn't as easy as that. Go Figure.

Love You all!

~Christina & The Boys

Basic Bread (just like Mom used to make.)

I have been baking bread at least once a week since we moved to Colorado. I have gained some knowledge and I think it is just about right. I have had a couple people ask me to share so first I will give you the recipe/formula first. You will need a scale. By using a scale you can make it exactly the same every time.

BASIC BREAD

20 oz. Warm water

3.3 oz Canola Oil

12 oz. Honey

12 oz Evaporated Milk

.7 oz Bread or Instant Yeast

4 large Eggs

.2 oz. Salt

1 lb. Ground Wheat Flour

3 lbs. Bread Flour

1. Combine Milk, Water, Honey, Oil, Eggs and Yeast into your Kitchen Aid bowl and Mix.

2. Add 1 lb. Wheat Flour, and Salt then Mix thoroughly.

3. Walk away! Let it sit for at least 20 minutes.

Look at all those beautiful bubbles. The Yeast is doing its job.

4. After it is done fermenting you then add 3 lbs. of Bread Flour.

5. Let your machine knead it for at least 10 minutes.

(If your bowl is not big enough then, add half of the flour in the bowl,

and if it becomes to much for your machine

you will have to do it the old fashion way.

Just make sure not to add more than 3 lbs of flour. It will be a little sticky.

6. Take your bowl off the machine and remove the dough hook.

Then cover with a damp flour sack or some plastic wrap loosely.

And walk away again for another 30~45 minutes.

Until you have at least a double sized ball of dough.

Scrape the dough out of the bowl gently, onto a wooden board. It isn't sticky anymore. Amazing isn't it!

7. Form your loaves or rolls.

Tip: When making your loafs try to make them even

and make sure they are touching the pan at each end.

Then Walk away again, for another 30~45 minutes.

8. When they look like this they are ready to pop into a hot 400 degree oven.

Bake for 20~30 minutes.

Until the internal temperature is 200 degrees with an instant thermometer.

9. Make sure to have some butter and jam ready for your fresh loaves.

I hope you enjoy! Its really easy, it just takes a little time.

Thanks Mom for teaching me how to make bread!

Magic

While I was scaning some old family photos this morning I can across this one of Jared. It was taken in February of 2003, he was just three years old.

Can you see the wonder and the magic in his eyes?

It makes me long for those simpler days with him as my little buddy.

Jared is now almost 10! He is a great big brother and a wonderful helper. Jared is an avid reader and loves nothing more than to be reading his favorite books. Mostly about bugs and animals. His biggest dream is to become a bug scientist. Jared is a great help to his Mom and Dad and rarely complains when we ask him to help us or his brothers.

I just had to share the treasure I found hiding in the shoe boxes of old photos.

Lots of Love!

~Christina

At the Pumpkin Patch

We went and picked out our pumpkins for Halloween. There is a patch just in town. It was nice and dry but a little chilly as the sun set. We chose three really big pumpkins to carve into jack o lanterns. As soon as we get them carved up I will post more pictures.

Of course Jared would pull a face when the others have good smiles. Oh well.

Why must Aaron always make such faces when I take his picture? Honestly! What am I to do with these boys????

Today it is snowing. I will have some more pictures of snow to post next. Then Halloween with my brothers family. We are so excited to have them near.

I wish I was a more creative writer, I suppose I will have to work on that. :o)

Until next time then. . .

All our love!