Bithday Girl

My baby, my girl turned "4" yesterday !!
I can't believe how fast the time has gone.

here is a look back over the last 4 years ::



1st Birthday






































2nd Birthday




Third Bithday- Minnie Party







Today



Photo Shoot



Cookbook Eye Candy

I love finding a great, new cookbooks. Here are a few of my current favs ::

:: Flour

:: Williams-Sonoma Familymeals

:: The Farm Chicks in the Kitchen

:: The Pioneer Woman Cooks

Yum....Yum.....Yum !!

Pumpkin Apple Soup

We love fall around here.

The cool, crisp weather.

The brillient colors.

The comfort foods.

Today I decided to try out a new soup recipe::

Pumpkin Apple Soup

Ingredients::     

                                                     

4 TB butter

1 medium onion

8oz. can pumpkin puree

2 tart apples

5 c chicken stock

:: melt butter, carmelize onions, add chicken stock, add pumpkin and simmer for 30 min.

:: Blend mixture and add back to your pot. Season with salt and pepper. Heat through and searve.

Fall Traditions

Apple picking has become one of our favorite family traditions. We started when I was 8 months pregnant with #3, and carried on the tradition the following year while I was 8 months pregnant with #4. Suffice it to say, it's a lot easier to trek up that mountain without a belly full of baby.


This is our 2011 trip and I love this family photo of the six of us. We were able to go with friends this year and share in the apple pickin' tradition.

Our favorite apple to pick are the Pink Lady's. It a sweet and cruchy apple that is perfect for apple pie and apple sauce.

Handprint Easter Bunny

Supplies:

White Paint

White Cardstock

Goggle Eyes

Glue

Scissors

Pink craft foam

Activity:

Cut heart shape from white paper and glue upside down to make face

Paint hand with white paint and press to make bunny ears

Add eyes, nose, whiskers, and mouth

Camera Love

I've been working on camera strap covers for weeks now. The first one I made too short and the second too narrow. Finally I think I got it right. :) And I love the addition of the ruffles to girly it up a bit more!

I'm in Stitches

Im branchin' out and trying my hand at sewing. I've wanted a sewing machine for years now and thanks to a little extra cash flow at Christmas I have finally got one. My first project was a Nursing cover that I sent to my Sis (Amy) back home who welcomed her first child at the end of November. Oh how nice it was to get my baby fix!! :) My next venture was a cute little apron to add to my collection.....aprons are addictive and so darn adorable.

here is the link to the nursing tutorial I used, found it years ago. Was super simple to understand. http://madebythemamamonster.blogspot.com/2008/04/nursing-cover-tutorial.html

Christmas Mix Mash

Finally finished with our Christmas Mix CD. I've been inspired by the idea of making a holiday music mix and giving as a gift to friends and family. We love our Christmas music around here and I'm always looking for new songs and remixes to mix in with the old classics. And here's our 2010 set list:

Christmas Mash-Up! Frosty the Snowman (2:10) Fiona Apple Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer (2:09) Jack Johnson No Christmas for Me (2:40) Zee Avi Christmas (Baby Please Come Home) (3:05) Death Cab for Cutie Happy X-Mas (The War is Over) (3:32) John Lennon Celebrate Me Home (4:46) Kenny Loggins A Warm Little Home on the Hill (3:27) Stevie Wonder Winter Song (4:26) Sara Bareilles & Ingrid Michaelson Here Comes Santa Claus (2:41) Doris Day Some Day at Christmas (2:50) Stevie Wonder Don’t Save it All For Christmas Day (4:35) Celine Dion Grown-up Christmas List(5:02) Amy Grant The Day Love Began(3:35) Stevie Wonder Winter Wonderland(2:40) Kate Havnevik God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen(3:31) Barenaked Ladies and Sarah McLaughlin The Christmas Song (10:53) Dave Mathews Band Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas(3:39) Colbie Caillat It Came Upon A Midnight Clear(3:45) Sixpence None the Richer *Bonus Track* Gary(3:49) MC Lars

Snowman Craft and Bits of Fun

Hope everyone is having a great December. The kids and I have been busy filling our calender with fun family activites and crafts. I love the holiday season and all the possiblities to create fabulous memories.

Here are a few shots of the fun we've been having along with a cute and simple craft.

Snowman Magnet: