Our Day on the Bay

Across the street from us is a Bottle Beach State Park. We used to frequent it before it was officially turned into a park. The bridge my husband and kids are walking on wasn't there until about a year and a half ago. It was like our own private place to go. It is still so quiet and a place of solitude, even in the Summer.

It was 24 degrees outside. We have been shut in so much these past months that when the blue skies revealed themselves we had to make our escape.

As you can see, the bridge had some frost on it still.

Leah just didn't want to have any part of this. I think she was crying because momma was in front of her and she wanted to be held.

Elisabeth running ahead.

One of the views on the way to the bay.

Cattails I think these are called? Do you know you can actually eat them? We're not interested.

Our view from a little bridge we're standing on.

The first shot of the bay

Yes, that is ice... it takes a bit of wind and cold to make ice from ocean, salty water.

The kids walking ahead. You can walk out towards the left for a good half mile or more before you even hit water. Lots of little puddles and shells. We used to walk out there when I was pregnant with just Elisabeth. Matthew used to get sand shrimp and go fishing in the ocean later that day.

From farmer look to fisherman look. You sure look like a handsome fisherman here dear.

I love your new beard. Rrrrrr... and Leah, you look so cute!

Hannah playing in the ice.

Looking oh so cute!

Beautiful day

Oyster shell. These you can find everywhere.

Matthew trying to hold onto his collection of shells and walk at the same time.

Hi Hanni!

See how many shells there are?

Sitting on momma's lap after I walked her almost all the way back in the sand. She was cold and tired and I felt bad for her. With my early pregnancy I got so tired I took a nap right after lunch. Too much for momma.

Momma and Leah

Elisabeth looking silly. She finally tired and decided to rest in the stroller for a few minutes. What a good day!

My Little Finds

There's a good sized antique store in town I go to on occasion. I found these little special items one day while there:

A pretty bowl.

I want the kids to remember me making cookies and special things in this bowl.

It connotates "home" to me.

Beautiful cookie press.

Shhh, it might be a stamp but who cares...

I think it would be perfect for making beautiful cookies. Maybe next week.

A pretty, simple egg holder. Anyone who has chickens on their farm should have a pretty egg holder. Now if I find they have the other one there still the next time I go, I will have to pick it up for a friend.

Homemade Mayonnaise

I have been wanting to make a good mayonnaise for over a year now. I tried it using olive oil but it was too heavy for me. I decided to buy some refined (unflavored) walnut oil and I am a happy camper now. Rich in vitamin E and healthy with proteins and good fats, not to mention the delectable flavor... I am very well pleased. I can enjoy our good albacore tuna sandwiches once again. I will post recipe later tonight.

Collards and Sauerkraut

Good ole lactic acid, enzyme brewing and healthy collards and sauerkraut. It tastes even better than it looks.

Tucking in the Babies

Each morning when daddy heads upstairs to get the girls for breakfast, he walks into their room to find that they have been playing house. He wanted me to take some pictures of their little animals all tucked in for bed.

Always a New One Each Thanksgiving

We have always had a new one with us every Thanksgiving. Whether it be a new baby or a new life inside this mother. I thought for sure this would be our first Thanksgiving without a new baby or new blessing on the way but I was wrong. : ) God is gracious. Due August 5, 2011 but will most likely deliver by c-section around week 38 July 21st or so. May the Lord carry you through little one.

Happy Birthday Baby Chops

Our baby Matthew is two. Oh, I already miss you as a baby. I love you so much. I made you some Ga (anything that's super yummy in this family is Ga). I made you some oreo cookies. I think you liked them.

Mommy rolling the dough out between parchment paper

Making the frosting for the inside

Cutting out the little hearts

Num num Matthew. Here is your Ga.

Happy Birthday Big Boy!

Things I love about you right now: You kiss everything... you can look outside and see that it is dark and give the dark a kiss. You still grab your blue blankie and put your chops on it and so a little scream for fun. You are very serious about reading books... I think you are going to be very smart because you are so attentive. Lastly, you are so considerate and have such good manners. Goodness, you say "scuse me" about everything you do. You are such a good boy, love to be held and are such a joy in our lives.

Home Made Oreos Recipe

Wafers

• 1 1/4 C all-purpose flour
• 1/2 C unsweetened cocoa
• 1 t baking soda
• 1/4 t baking powder
• 1/4 t salt
• 1 C sugar
• 1/2 C plus 2 T butter, room temperature
  
• 1 large egg

Use a biscuit cutter to make into perfect circles. Bake at 375 degrees for 9 minutes.

Filling

• 1/4 cup room-temperature, unsalted butter
• 1/4 cup refined coconut oil
• 2 cups sifted powdered sugar
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Whip all together in a mixer and put in cooled cookies.

Marmalade With Enzymes

Here's Orange Marmalade from the Nourishing Traditions cookbook.

3-4 organic oranges

1 tablespoon sea salt

1/4 cup whey (made from straining yogurt for several hours)

1/2 cup Rapadura (sugar that still has the molasses in it)

I put this all in the food processor and placed in a quart jar and let sit at room temperature for 3 days before transferring to the refrigerator. The whey and salt allow the good bacteria and enzymes to develop but inhibit and kill any growth of any bad bacteria. I found this to be pretty good. I mixed some of this in with our cranberry sauce on Thanksgiving Day.

Making Sauerkraut

Momma with the kids

Daddy with the kids

We made sauerkraut for the first time a few months ago. I can't get enough of it now. It is so delicious.

Shred 1 cabbage
Add 1 Tablespoon sea salt
Add 4 Tablespoons of whey (derived from homemade yogurt)
1 Tablespoon of caraway seeds
Pound for 10 minutes and store in jars for 3 days at room temperature, place in refrigerator.

Hannah

Hannah, you are getting to be so pretty. You always want to be held and love to "hug" in the morning. I will miss that one day.

Reading The Bible Together

Daddy reading a Childrens' Bible to you kids

Mommy with Baby Leah

Homemade Bean and Pork Soup

I've been saving all the scraps of bone and meat from our pork in the freezer each time we have pork. Well, this day I made a bean and pork soup from the scraps in the freezer. I added some collards and spices and this is how it turned out. We are having some of the leftovers for lunch today with tuna sandwiches. Yum.

The New Bunkbeds

We bought some beautiful, used bunk beds from 2good2toss.com the other day for only $99.00. They included a built in desk and dresser and mattresses that are in great shape. While daddy was assembling the beds upstairs with the two older girls, I watched you two romp around on the mattresses downstairs. It was fun.

On another note, I am having such a hard time having bunk beds. You see, I really miss tucking both you older girls in the same big bed each night. It means a lot to a mother to feel like she's taking care of her kids even until the end of the evening. I had just bought you some fleece sheets to keep you warm up there at night and really felt like I was taking good care of you. I saw these bunk beds and thought they would be a good bargain but didn't think about what I would miss... : ( It's not the same not being able to tuck you in in the same bed. You both seem so far from me. Sigh.... I think I'm just too touchy on these things. Well, I hope you enjoy your bunk beds. I can't wait til you're out of them again, personally.

Leah's First Birthday

Oh, Leah you are already a year old. You have been born into a bit of a noisy family having three siblings not much older than yourself. I hope your life will be full. We love you sweetie.

We're all having num num cake. You kids all refer to anything sweet, fattening or good as Ga. Ga is good... especially this cake as I made it with some Lindt chocolate bars I found on sale.

One year old on this day

Enjoying that cake

Going up the stairs

Playing in Mommy's drawer

Getting a little grouchy!

Tired after a long day

Homemade Olive Oil Lamp

I came across something some time ago I've been wanting to try to make; an olive oil lamp. It consists only of a canning jar, olive oil and a piece of wire and string for the wick. My husband put it together fairly quickly and it looked lovely on our table. Olive oil burns very, very clean and if the kids tip it over or the glass breaks, it will extinguish itself so it's fairly safe.