busy

two

Happy Birthday, Maren! Here are some facts about you:

height: 33.5 inches
weight: 24 pounds
likes: singing, reading books, playing pretend kitchen and helping me in the real kitchen, polly pockets, playing hide, being chased, taking baths
dislikes: combing hair or getting dressed, wearing diapers...I find you naked at least three times a day, church/nursery, shopping, going to bed, driving in the car, being away from mom
things I hear you say at least 20 times a day: "no, I not" (your response to anything you don't want to eat or do) and "watch me, mama!"
favorite foods: cheese, toast, apple juice, waffles and pancakes

doll quilts

Maren loves stuffed animals and baby dolls and spends a lot of time wrapping them up in my laundry, dish towels, or whatever else resembles a blanket. For her birthday, I made her two little quilts. I made the log cabin a little scappy ( Denyse Schmidt style) and I have been hand quilting it each night while watching Freaks and Geeks with Chris.

The other is an Irish chain. This was really fun and quick (my first time using nine-patch method) and I am thinking of making a bigger version for Maren.

happy thanksgiving and a birthday party

We spent our Thanksgiving at Chris's aunt and uncles cabin. Thanksgiving dinner was wonderful and the cabin was beautiful. Aunt Syd gave Maren a new pair of mittens (Maren calls them "mit-mits") which she refused to take off during her nap.
We also celebrated Maren's birthday (her actual birthday is on Sunday).

ideas

I have been keeping an ideas binder since before I was married, filled with magazine and catalog pics, sewing patters, recipes, etc. Along with keeping me organized, it helps keep my piles of catalogs and magazines to a minimum. I usually do some cleaning out and editing a couple times a year (or the binder would be a series of binders). I recently added some new ideas and thought I'd share my ideas with the rest of you. (This blogger also did a cute job with her Christmas binder.)

in another's shoes

Maren loves to see things swing. She came up with the idea of putting my shoe on the step ladder and I thought a few wooden peg people would make great passengers for the shoe swing.

nine years ago today

Happy anniversary, Chris! Wish you were home to celebrate. As a little anniversary gift, Maren got a hold of my wedding ring last Wednesday and we haven't seen it since. Chris thinks she swallowed it (and yes, we have been checking). I really miss it!

pumpkin pancakes

At least once a week, Maren and I make pumpkin pancakes. She's finally getting big enough to start helping in the kitchen (and I mean that...she set the table for dinner). The pancakes are a great fall tradition.

Pumpkin Pancakes
1 1/4 cups flour (I usually substitute in a little whole wheat)
2 Tablespoons sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon nutmeg
pinch ground clover
1 egg
6 Tablespoons pumpkin puree (I like to add extra)
2 Tablespoons melted butter
1 cup milk
chocolate chips (optional)

Whisk all dry ingredients in medium bowl. In separate bowl mix egg, pumpkin, butter and milk; fold into dry ingredients. Heat in buttered skillet over medium heat. Add 1/4 cup for each pancake. Add a couple of chocolate chips if you want. Cook about 3 minutes per side. We like ours served with a little butter and honey.

Dry skin solution

A while back, I found a recipe to soothe baby's dry skin from this book. Last winter, Maren's skin became a little dry and chapped and I tried applying different oinments without much luck. This oatmeal pouch seemed to do the trick. I just added dried lavender flowers to oatmeal, stuffed it into the pouch and I'm done. Originally I used a pair of pantyhose, which works great but isn't very pretty. I tried a more aesthetic approach with linen fabric and I am pleased to say they work just was well and probably cost less.

Sew a piece of linen fabric approximately 4" square leaving one side open. Inside out, add oatmeal/lavender mixture and sew top together. Use in bath or shower for a creamy liquid that smells lovely.

her little corner

Maren requested a show on the "baby TV" today. I set up the portable dvd player in the corner and she brought over pillows, blanket and some toys. Pretty comfy nest.

wednesday

Maren dressed up in her fairy costume and came trick-or-treating to the laundry room. I couldn't resist giving her a few Swedish fish.

Read in BYU Magazine about the 365daysofcrockpot blogger. We tried her Tomato-Basil Parmesan soup and loved it! I also attempted to take a picture of my finished product but the photo made the soup look icky. I thought this professional photo would sell you on the recipe.

little conversations

The other night I was reading Maren nursery rhymes. During "Hey Diddle Diddle" she pointed out the cat with the fiddle:

Maren: Viowin!
Mom: That's right! Who plays violin?
Maren: Tay.
Mom: No. What does Taylor play?
Maren: Peano.
Mom: What does Annie play?
Maren: Viowin.
Mom: You are so smart! What does daddy play?
Maren: Teetar!
Mom: What does mommy play?
Maren: Toys.

yummy tatoes

Last weekend, our family went to Blue Ridge Grill, a new restaurant that some of our friends and neighbors suggested. One of the sides offered is a loaded baked potato. Maren and I both love baked potatoes (and I don't make them enough). We had them tonight and they were delicious! I think my loaded potato was even yummier than the restaurant's. A little side note: it's kind of embarrassing when you call the potato a "tato" to the waitress. Sometimes I forget how to speak in front of adults.

Loaded Baked Potato Toppings
butter
sour cream
chives
bacon
cheese
pepper

Enjoy!

A few other mundane events from our day...
Maren playing with her "manimals."
(Almost) finished quilt for baby Clark.

what i found

So, I have been doing a little thrifting and antiquing lately, attempting to find all the good stores. And I have been successful in finding a couple of great shops in the area. 1. baby patchwork quilt for $1.50. i'm not usually looking for old quilts but i couldn't resist this one...i love the fabric and the price was right. 2. chair for $5. had super ugly cushion attached but it came off pretty easily...thinking I will paint it black. 3. antique doll crib which I intend to paint (blue?) for Maren's birthday and vintage floral prints. took pics apart to clean and prints are very brittle...don't know if I should salvage frames or find new ones 4. sets of vintage dishes. a lot of my little ikea plates broke in move so I have been on the lookout for new (old) ones. found a few at antique stores but couldn't bring myself to pay $6 plus for a plate that Maren is sure to break. $2 for a set of six is a little more reasonable right now.
Maren has been sick. Darn! Chris and I both had our turn, so I guess she was next. After being cooped up all day, we finally bundled up at play outside. I found these crocodile creek balls half off a while ago and she loves to play "kick the ball."