RRRRobin Hood!

Jonathan got to watch the animated version of "Robin Hood" one evening. Now he's really into it. The next day, (while I was supposed to be sewing basket inserts for the Longaberger baskets Michael is sending out to 2008 customers), Jonathan asked if I could make him a Robin Hood dress. I looked all over the house for a big green t-shirt I could just belt for him. No luck! Then I spotted a pair of green sweat pants that was slated for cutting for rags. Perfect! So I cut off the legs, slit them up the seams, then sewed it all together, realized I had just made a perfectly good bag but NOT a tunic, ripped out what I had just sewed, bit back a few bad words, (said a few in spite of myself), made several other attempts, ripped out a few more seams, growled a few times at my sweet boy who was getting impatient for his "Robin Hood dress", made lunch, put Annisia down for a nap, then managed to finish the tunic in just under 4 hours! Yes, you read that right...4 hours of my life making this thing. Man was I stressed out! Sewing machines and I do not have a very good relationship. They have always been a source of stress for me. Just ask my mom and my home economics teacher! Seam rippers and I, on the other hand, have a very bonding relationship! Yep, we are like apples and pie. I really think I should have invested in an ergonomic handled seam ripper...
Here he is, with his quiver (a Basmati rice bag), and bow (handle off of a basket and shoelace). His arrows were raspberry stalks cut last spring so they were nice and dry.

He wore it the rest of that day, the next 2 days, and took it off (under duress) to go to Bible study. I think he likes it. He still wants a hat and shoes to look more Robin Hood authentic. We may have to wait until Aunty Leilani comes to visit to do those!

Thanksgiving

This is the sunrise we awoke to Thanksgiving morning. Wasn't it beautiful?

I made the dinner rolls...the recipe is at the bottom of the post...they were great! And my apple pie turned out pretty good. At least it was pretty...(heehee)!

We had the day with Michael's family.

Pumpkin Cloverleaf Rolls

“The herb flavoring is subtle, but the texture is rich. In fact, these pull-aparts are sweet and buttery enough to please even the most stubborn self-proclaimed vegetable hater – despite the fact that they’re made with (shhh) squash.” (Family Fun magazine, November 2008)

3¾ cups flour, plus more for sprinkling
1 package or 2¼ tsp instant or bread machine yeast
1 tsp salt
¼ cup milk
¼ cup honey
½ cup canned or frozen and thawed pureed pumpkin or squash
1 large egg
½ cup warm water
8 fresh sage leaves, slivered (or 1 1/3 tsp dried leaves)
½ cup (1 stick) butter

In a large bowl, mix together the flour, yeast, and salt and set it aside.

Pour the milk into a microwave-safe bowl or 4-cup glass measuring cup and microwave it on high for 30 seconds. Whisk in the honey, squash, egg, and water. (The liquid mixture should be less than 110°; anything hotter might kill the yeast.)

With a fork, blend the squash mixture into the flour mixture until you have soft dough. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 1 hour.

Two hours before baking, turn the dough out onto a floured surface and knead 6 sage leaves into the dough. Melt the butter and set it aside in a small bowl. Divide the dough in half, and then divide each half into 6 portions. Divide each portion into 3 pieces. With floured hands, roll each piece into a ball and dip it into the melted butter. Place 3 balls in a muffin cup. Continue until 12 muffin cups are filled.

Drizzle or brush each roll with ½ teaspoon of the leftover melted butter and then sprinkle them with the rest of the sage. Let the rolls rise in a warm spot (at least 70°) until they’re double in size, about 1 to 1 ½ hours. The 3 balls of dough will rise together to form a cloverleaf shape.

Heat the oven to 350°. Bake the rolls until golden, about 15 to 17 minutes. Makes 1 dozen.

24/7 MOMS

Hey all you moms out there! Check out this site. It's kind of neat for us 24/7 moms. They are doing a giveaway each day until Christmas.

Happy Birthday, Janice!

It's my sister Janice's birthday today. The video says it all...

Kenna and Mollie's visit...

Kenna and Mollie (Lana and Craig's kiddos) came to stay the night. First they had to get all the go vehicles out and ride up and down the driveway.

Then they all nicely posed for me...

And we returned to the warmth of the house. Mollie and Annisia are hamming it up in the loft...

...while Jonathan and Kenna play "kitty" and, er, pirate?!

Then Michael got home. Everyone loves Michael...he is fun to play with. All the kids got chair rides. First Kenna...

...do you see the glee?!

Then Jonathan...

...Mollie...

...and Annisia. A good time was had by all.

Fever and snow play...

Well, it was fever time again. Let's back up. Tuesday the 11th, I had the flu. Throwing up, etc. Michael stayed home from work, luckily, as I was in no shape to take care of the kids. Wednesday morning, I was still dizzy (no comments from the peanut gallery!) but by about 2pm I was feeling pretty good. So! Thursday morning, I took the kids to story hour at the library. Jonathan wouldn't sit on the cool rug they have for the kids; he just hung out on my knees. Then he didn't want the snack (Scooby bites...(shaped like bones!) and raisins which are a favorite) then said he had to go to the bathroom. I asked him if his tummy hurt and he said it did. Uh Oh! So off we hurried to the bathroom, me rushing, rushing the kids, in a sort of hurried voice, trying not to overdo the panic I was feeling (thinking he was getting what I had 2 days before) yet wanting to be in the safety of the bathroom if anything happened. False alarm...he just really had to pee. Whew! But he was sort of off...The kids went to Gramma and Papa's on the 17th and Gramma noticed he wasn't really himself. His eyes get droopy and red-rimmed when he doesn't feel well. Well, Tuesday night, the 18th, Jonathan came running into our room crying, "Daddy, I am so hot!" He had a temp of 102.3, so Michael ran a big bath and in they got. That was the cycle for the next couple of days. Tylenol, 3 hours later...Motrin, 3 hours later...Tylenol, etc. Baths in between whenever Jonathan requested them. The highest his fever got was 104.5. This time, he was really good about taking in liquids. Not like the last time. But, Ugh and Double Ugh...I hate fevers.

However, Jonathan surprised me Thursday morning (the 20th) by asking to go outside. Now, it had snowed a little overnight so he was excited. But it was a little windy (of course!) so I was hesitant. But into their snow gear they got, new helmet included for Jonathan, and out they went. Jonathan wanted to ride his bike, so he got it out of the garage. I went out to snap some pics and it was cold! I came inside and looked up the weather on the computer. It was 26 degrees (F) with a 21 mph wind bringing the RealFeel temp to 7 degrees! And my feverish kid really wanted to be out there! Crazy kiddo!




They had fun, along with some frustration with the slippery snow and its incompatability with training wheels, then came in.
My sweet Jonathan smiling for the camera. He took a pic of me too, but it wasn't worth posting. He's much cuter!!
This was taken Saturday, the 22nd. Jonathan wanted a "purple coffee" (purple gatorade slushie, basically. Do you think I drink too many iced coffees?!) But he was still feeling cold and had a low grade fever. So he was dressed in a turtleneck and sweatshirt and wrapped himself up in a woolen blanket while he drank it. Goofy boy!

Happy Birthday, Lana!

The title says it all! Renee and I drove up to Sheridan where Lana, Rosa and Lisa work. We then surprised Lana at work and 'napped her for dinner and a bit of shopping. I got a new trendy purse out of the deal. That's what happens when you have trendy friends!

This is the frame I decorated for Lana for a b'day gift. It turned out really cute.