Our Little Bit of Everything: November 2014

Sometimes I just need to sit down and get a few things out. Today, I'm going back to my original format of "sections". Several years ago when I started this blog, I did "home cooking" "home styling" "home schooling" "home life" and "woody". Yes, "woody" like from Toy Story. That was fun. A few friends and family seemed to enjoy it. I enjoyed it. So, why don't I do it more? I'll tell ya...never mind, I don't know, I think I just get caught up in the rat race and forget some important stuff. For example, I really do enjoy blogging, writing about my wild donkeys, laughing, reflecting, just documenting about our little bit of everything, hence the name of this blog. Doing this helps me sift through photos, events, and thoughts to find sweetness. I need some sweetness. I'm gonna find some sweetness now....

Home Cooking

Lucy, my sister's third Princess baby.
I also make pancakes on demand

So this is what I'm gonna do for you. I'm going to walk to my kitchen and write out an easy, no fail, amazing chocolate chip pancake recipe that my sister and I use so much that she claims once her kids leave the house she will NEVER make them again. I don't believe her, that is, that her kids will ever leave the house. The reason? She will make these pancakes anytime any one of her five princesses request (even if she's already made eggs). That's the kind of on-demand risky pancake-making behavior that will eventually lead to a 25 year old in your basement screaming up for pancakes. Be careful with this recipe. Be careful Kristie.

Mix the dry ingredients:
2 cups flour
2 tablespoons sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
6 teaspoons baking powder

Mix wet ingredients then mix into dry:
2 eggs
6 tablespoons of vegetable oil
2 cups milk.

Add chocolate chips once the batter has settled into it's final circle formation but before batter firms up.

Boom, pancake mixture that didn't come from a box. Be careful not to get all puffed up that you are so awesome you don't use a box...that's pride people. Pride. Pancake Box people are cool too.

Also, this recipe feeds 10 kids. You can halve it, unless the Duggars are coming.

Oh ya, another important note, use baking powder without sodium aluminuum phosphate otherwise you risk a metal tasting pancake. I learned this from my mother-in-law who knows all things cooking.

That was a public service announcement.

Home Styling

I find that I feel like a better mother when I hang a "happy birthday" banner when my children have birthdays as evidenced by feeling crappy on October 15 (Sam's birthday (no banner)) and feeling not as crappy on October 29 (Presley's birthday (banner hung)). But, it's important to mention the banner isn't about me, it's not about you, it's about the birthday girls. Here they are...

Home Life

Sam turned 4. We clearly did not have a banner or friends or a surprise visit from a real life princess or balloons or a jumpy house. We didn't have any of those things for Sam this year. But, we love her and we bought a cake last minute, put 4 candles in it, and sang really happy-like in hopes that she wouldn't think of what she was missing. Hope you felt the love Sam. I would have liked to do a little more for you, but your family was really sick for 5 weeks straight and we needed a HazMat crew more than a jumpy house. Next year babe! Let's celebrate you with a few pics.

Totally appropriate time and place for yoga

You still have a way with little creatures and almost killing them.

Happy girl.

Tough girl

Lovely girl

I no longer consider myself the only "multi-tasker" in our family.

No words here.

Sam rocked the trick or treating this year. She got confused a couple times and upon knocking on doors would excitedly yell, "Tickle Tickle" most people didn't know that was synonymous with "Trick or Treat". duh.

Presley turned 10. Double digits dude. So again, no big whoop-ti party. But, we did have a banner and a grandma and some pumpkins to carve. Presley didn't seem to mind. She was in the moment.

Busted. I didn't have enough candles. But I did have a zero left over from Mark's 30th cake. Perfect 10.

Coca Cola thief.

I'm seeing that sweetness.

Not the best picture, but captures my precious princess Elsa. The tank gives her freezing powers along with the ability to breath. Presley has shed her enterovirus and pneumonia, but not the oxygen yet. Hopefully soon! I couldn't persuade her into an "old person" costume. Might have exploited her illness but would have been hilarious.

Zoe girl is gonna have to wait till December for a birthday blog. But, since it's been so long since my last blog I can't help but put in a few summer pics.