More Baking

Mama mentioned trying to get a little more protein into Elijah's diet. So, we got into baking energy bars. Oat, walnut, peanut butter dough with all fruit jam between the layers. Mama and Anders went out while we baked with Grandma Kathy. See me, Eva, with my small container? Cherry pie - that's what I'm making too.

It's a big job. All Grandma Kathy did is chop nuts. We did all the dumping, mixing and tasting. But not raw eggs - we're learning about that. Don't eat the raw eggs - cook 'em first. Just in case you know?

Elijah has new sunglasses. He kind of likes them upside down sometimes. We tried really hard to keep the ingredients in the bowls, or at least on the table, where Grandma Kathy could scrape them back into a bowl. Even she spilled once. Grownups don't get it all right.

Grandma Kathy needed a strong boy to mix the peanut butter and brown sugar. I was not happy to have to give that yummy business up for the sake of the recipe.

The energy cookie bars were great. We had them after our nap - well, we didn't really nap - we had them after we got out of our rooms. More on that later.

Oh ummm...Grandma Kathy did clean the kitchen up while we watched Thomas the Tank Engine and the cookie bars baked in the oven.

Can you see me (Elijah) in the chair watching Thomas? I like Thomas.

Happy Birthday to Us

Oh, I've come home so refreshed. LK and I were away to Harrison for two nights. Only two nights, but it felt like four. I think God multiplied the sense of time and helped us to be smart in how we used to so we were both able to have fun and rest.

As far back as I can remember we have taken a fall holiday, usually in September which holds both of our birthdays. In fact, when the kids were in elementary school, we would sometimes take them out of school and head to Jasper. This is the best elk viewing time as the bulls are in rut. Around September 20th is best. Love and war. Love of the bulls for the cows, and war between the bulls for the cows. Drama for sure.

I digress. This fall has been pretty full with the addition of a family member and the work going on at the bookstore on that addition so we just kept promising ourselves we'd watch for a window of time and make a run for it. That window was this weekend. We dined, we danced, we enjoyed a great fall walk on crunchy leaves that led us to an art gallery featuring a sculptor named Don Riemer, who worked with mostly stone. We enjoyed a breakfast buffet, room service with pay-per-view movie "Swing Vote", swimming in warm pools and a couple naps and reading.

Perfect fall days. I just soaked up the beauty - tried to save it up inside me for during the monsoon season.

I came home feeling all is right in my world. And I am grateful.

Lutheran/Mennonite Girl Can Cook - Sometimes :)

At Aimee's - the post-supper kitchen counter - quick, before bedtime, while Aimee feeds Anders on the couch, Eva helps me bake muffins. First we transcribe the recipe Aimee is adapting from the Internet onto a pre-decorated recipe card. Eva writes also.

Two eggs, not 21.

Ewww. Burnt muffins.

Open window and turn on fan to let stink out.

Aimee told me her oven dial is unusual, but easy to understand "if you just look at it". This statement earned her a punch in the arm, followed by laughter. Yes, it is unusual in that there is a temperature range for bake and, further into the broil section, there is another temperature range. So, I had set the oven on 400 BROIL. After the burning smell, I reset the oven and finished baking the sad muffins. At bedtime stories the kids wanted their muffins "big" , but we had to cut the tops off explaining that that's the part that nobody eats.

The muffins were tasty enough to bake more the next morning - no burning. We used two different types of peanut butter. The natural organic peanut butter resulted in a richer peanut flavor. Eva preferred the originals.

For those who don't know - the post title is in reference to a blog called Mennonite Girls Can Cook - which is a fabulous, fun and beautiful resource of recipes by blog friends. I was raised Lutheran and married a Mennonite. Just joking that this might be the problem :)

mennonitegirlscancook.blogspot.com

A Helping Hand

An important new role I have, as of late, is to head out to Aimee and Lance's to give Aimee a hand with the kids and house midweek on Lance's busiest school days. Did I say he is in graduate school studying to be a pastor? Anyways, I headed out on Wednesday intending to come home on Thursday. I keep my sleeping mat behind the couch. You can see the couch, but not the mat, so it doesn't hamper decor too much :) My parents came out for a visit while I was there and could play parking valet for them. Eva and Elijah had a go with the wheel chair while my mom made a trip to the ladies room. Elijah tried on my dad's hat, and new Thomas the Train and friends are being enjoyed fresh from e-bay - my new favorite toy store. These first pictures below are when all was well.

Then this happened.

Eva got the stomach flu. Aimee, Lance and Anders were headed out for a rare date to some sort of special dessert and life story telling with fellow students and their spouses. As Aimee was leaving, Eva threw up all over her, including inside her purse. Pink and cottage cheesy - beautiful eh? Well, I said you go on and I stayed home reliving familiar scenes and emotions now a generation later. Barf cleanup, laundry detail, tender loving care, DVD playing (what else do you feel up to when you're so sick?). Of course, DVD's weren't invented yet when my kids were little.
I stayed an extra night and day until Eva's fever was a little more under control and barfing turned into something requiring rushed trips to the toilet. Sparks of Eva's personality were resurfacing also. Aimee told me it would be OK to head to my home. Eva looked at me and pleaded - "No, I need my grandma. I need my grandma..." Cute. How could I leave? I stayed the day. I took her outside to cool off. I said, "Eva and I are stepping outside". This used to help my kids cool off and is rather fun compared to a cool bath. Throughout the day Eva would occasionally say, "Let's step outside", and I'd wrap her blanket loosely around her, careful to cover her feet as per her instructions, and we'd walk round the yard sometimes getting rain on our heads. When it came time that I truly had to leave she said, "Stay, I will miss you" and Elijah said he wanted to come with me. Ah...the life of a grandma. The parents said thank you and what would we have done without you? Well, that's what family are for.

Thankful for Family

Our main thanksgiving gathering was for breakfast at LK's parent's place. I really enjoy this tradition. We bring pancakes, fruit and farmer sausage and enjoy a great time together at the top of the day. Everyone was eager to meet the newest family member Anders.

The pictures in the collage of my parents, top two left and center, are actually taken at Aimee and Lance's place. My parents were passing nearby on the occasion of a doctor appointment and they found their way over. Mom was able to come right inside in her wheel chair. What a highlight. Look at her crooked fingers touching Anders perfect little hand.

After breakfast, Andy, Cara and Sarah stopped by on their way out of town.

Uncle Steven cleans Elijah up with a way to big paper towell. Anna observes.

Eva enjoys breakfast on my lap.

Making drinks with Auntie Cara.

Update

Thank you to my editors who reminded me to update my profile blip. :)

Playing in the Forest

Thanks for the captions! I even got an in person one. My favorite one is from Anonymous - "Are you sure it's guitar that makes the snake rise?" Very witty! I wonder who Anonymous is?

It's been a splendid sunny fall week. Aimee and I took the kids to a park nearby to play. We called it a forest playground. In the forest there were many "houses" to be found - Eva' s, Mama's, mine and Elijah's rooms too. Some houses had couches - rocks. One had a desk. Eva had a tiny bear baby along, all wrapped up, and everywhere we went she kept an eye out for a cozy bed for him. Aimee tried out her practice sling for the first time in the outside world.

Anders likes it.

Eva and her tiny bear.

We also found a big tree that was down that made a terrific horse for one Grandma and two kids. THEN we found the "drumming tree". We had been listening to Raffi cds at the house. Do you remember "Joshua Giraffe" with the part "Nothing can go wrongo, I am in the Congo"? Well, that's what we played at the drumming tree. Nothing can go wrongo, I am in the Congo! Obviously I really got into it. The next day, Elijah began drumming a blanket in the living room - nothing can go wrongo. Sweet.

Last night I did I quick clean up of Aimee and Lance's place. Eva and I tidied the kids room, putting toys and laundry away. She hung some of the laundry over her bed rail calling it her 'rack' as in laundry drying rack. After they had fresh sheets with quilts folded at the ends of their beds and dollies and animals all lined up just so, Eva and Elijah had a great time playing in their room. Each of their beds became their houses and their was much visiting and cooking going on. Eva didn't want to come for real supper because she had cooked first sheep and then fish in her bed house. I asked her if she could bring her fish to the table to share with the eggs and she happily came bringing her invisible offering - which was quite tasty in an invisible sort of way ;-)

I also made Aimee a second sling - a cotton lined one of two contrasting prints. It's really cute. Today I came home and Lance's parents come for Thanksgiving weekend. I am so excited for them. I know what it's like to be the one living far away and coming for a visit. They are going to have a blast.

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Every Day

Every day is just so full of fun and excitement. Here are a few pics for this day.

LK met Anders yesterday - but here is the pic today.

Here's little Anders in full voice, which hasn't been very often yet. Today the midwife came and noted that Anders has already gained weight! What a guy!

Oma sent buns and cake. We all say thank you. Here are Eva and Elijah saying "Thanks Oma" as they enjoy their peach cake.

Just the guys hanging out. Elijah is very tender with his brother, ready to share and to encourage. Today when Anders was whimpering a couple of times, Elijah came and softly told him "It's OK buddy, it's OK".

Everyone had a bit more sleep today. Tomorrow I want to try a little baking and Aimee would like to make another sling with some really cute fabric she bought.

Visitors

On the first day home, visitors came already - Uncle Steven and Auntie Courtney.

Steven entertained with wild story telling. Eva and Elijah had particular trouble getting to sleep. Perhaps they wanted more and more.

Anders got his snuggle time in with Courtney. Pretty much the whole evening.

Aimee is doing great, but is very tired as Anders likes to eat most of the night. Pretty soon the milk will really come in and I predict he will sleep better. He's a great little sucker and is doing his best to invite that milk to come! Today Aimee had some quiet time as Lance and I took the kids out for an outing. LK came to meet his newest grandson and helped with the bedtime stories. Eva and Elijah are great listeners.

Look What Happened

While we were making forts and mountains with Grandma Kathy, Mama and Papa went to the hospital to have the baby.


Today he came home!! Anders Micah. 8lb. 4 0z. He was born at 6:16 yesterday evening.

He's perfect and he has soft dark hair. When he came home he was busy looking all around.

Here we are video conferencing with Grammy and Gramps Odegard and Auntie Jane, showing off our new brother.

Hi, Kathy here. Good times. Praise the Lord.

For Shannon!

Aimee's friend, Shannon, posted pictures and directions on her blog of how to make a ring sling. Here is Aimee making a practice one - laptop open, both of us reading directions and following along. After completion, Aimee pulled up another website for directions on adjusting and using the sling. Elijah proudly trys it out with Robert. Works good.

Thanks Shannon. Your directions were great!

Support Crew

I spent a couple days and one night at Aimee and Lance's supporting Aimee while Lance had a long school day and she had a midwife appointment. I've delivered my bag and a super nice foamy and down duvet so my accommodations are all ready when I get the call that Aimee is in labor. Could be today. I'm going for a nap in a minute here.

This is Elijah being a monster.

This is Elijah realizing he is bigger and can climb better on the playground. He says, "I bigger now". He even thought he might enjoy Frank's Hot Sauce at supper because he is 'bigger now'. How cute. Still waiting on the hot sauce.

You can't hear me but I'm belting out some surfer song - probably beach boys if I remember correctly. Make it move Grandma Kathy. I've got the moves baby.

Eva taking a rest in the tree. The branch was both a horse and a motorcycle.

New pictures on Aimee's blog of her ripe belly and the kids. Her blog has gone private, but if you're a friend and you'd like to read, don't be shy - just let her know on her old blog with your email address - or let me know.