Our Anniversary!

November 8th 2003- November 8th 2008

Happy Anniversary Michael!!

We have been married for 5 years and have 3 children.. 3 years and under.

We have lived in two States and have moved four times.

We will be gearing up for another move real soon....

It's How-wee-ween Time!!!!

THE BAT!!!

THE LADY!!!

AND THE BABY!!!

the How-wee-ween time meal the children really enjoyed. They loved eating this witches brew with pumpkin and leaf noodles

Trick or Treat

It How-wee-ween Time as Isaac calls it.

We started the morning early with a visit to the doctor. It was Lillie's 15 month appointment and Ari's 1 week appointment. Lillie is in the 90th percentile for heighth and 60th for weight. Ari is in the 60th percentile for heighth and the 90th for weight. At 6 weeks Ari weighs 11 pounds all those night feedings or snack times that last up until midnight have really paid off.. for her. Me.. tired of course.

10 am we left the doctor with Lillie and Isaac sporting their breakfast in their mouth.. a tootsie pop sucker. It's How-wee-ween Time.

We stopped on the way home for breakfast at IHOP. Kid and family friendly. Where the kids picked up more candy which they ate it and the wrappers on the way home. It's How-wa-ween Time.

The Late breakfast paid off because at a little after three I started making dinner and we were able to make a head start trick or treating after baths from dinner of course. We were ready at 5:30 and lasted one hour. The children were in bed by 7:30. It's How-wee-ween Time.. and it is over.

5 Days of Pumpkins

What kind of face should I carve a happy face or a scarry one?

I guess it doesn't matter since Daddy does all the carving anyway.


I thought I would try to make this week special by making something with pumpkin or some other type of squash each night . So far I have been able to keep to the plan. Monday night I out did myself by making a sweet potato casserole and a Turtle Pumpkin Pie among the main meal and biscuits. Tuesday we had spaghetti and spaghetti squash, Thursday I made those lowfat pumpkin cookies and we carved pumpkins which Lillie tried to eat the top off of hers.

Anyway, the Sweet potato casserole comes from the cooking light magazine which I am a total fan of. I love getting the magazine in the mail and dreaming about the meals that I might one day cook once we get passed the noodle and the peanut butter and honey stage. But, I do however try to make a meal once or twice a month out of the ordinary.. I usually end up substituting ingredients because I don't have them on hand but I have learned from the Queen of Improvising and Substituting (My mom) so many of these recipes end up tasting well.

This is a Vandersteen family favorite and has even won over my Grandmother's recipe of Yams and Apples.This one is now part of our Thanksgiving menu.


Sweet Potato Casserole (go to this link for a picture since I didn't take a picture of ours)

Yield
16 servings
Ingredients
Potatoes:
2 1/4 pounds sweet potatoes, peeled and chopped
1 cup half-and-half
3/4 cup packed brown sugar
1 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 large eggs
Cooking spray
Topping:
1 1/2 cups miniature marshmallows
1/2 cup all-purpose flour (about 2 1/4 ounces)
1/4 cup packed brown sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons chilled butter, cut into small pieces
1/2 cup chopped pecans, toasted
Preparation
Preheat oven to 375°.
To prepare potatoes, place potatoes in a Dutch oven, and cover with water. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat, and simmer 20 minutes or until very tender. Drain; cool slightly.
Place potatoes in a large bowl. Add half-and-half, 3/4 cup sugar, 1 teaspoon salt, and vanilla. Beat with a mixer at medium speed until smooth. Add eggs; beat well (mixture will be thin). Scrape mixture into a 13 x 9-inch baking dish coated with cooking spray.
To prepare topping, sprinkle miniature marshmallows over top of casserole. Lightly spoon flour into a dry measuring cup; level with a knife. Combine flour, 1/4 cup sugar, and 1/4 teaspoon salt in a medium bowl. Cut in butter with a pastry blender or 2 knives until mixture resembles coarse meal. Stir in pecans, and sprinkle over potato mixture and marshmallows. Bake at 375° for 30 minutes or until golden brown.

Our Turtle Pumpkin Pie

1/4 cup plus 2 Tbsp. caramel ice cream topping, divided
1 honey Maid Graham cracker crust (which I didn't have on hand I ended up making a nilla wafer crust)
1/2 cup plus 2 Tbsp of pecan pieces, divided
1 cup cold milk
2 pkg (3.4 oz.) Vanilla Instant pudding
1 cup of canned pumpkin
1/2 tsp of ground nutmeg
1 teaspoon of cinnamon
1 tub (8 oz) whipped topping
Pour 1/4 cup caramel topping into crust; sprinkle with 1/2 cup pecans, Beat milk, pudding mixes and spices with a whisk until blended. Stir in 1 1/2 cups of whipped topping. Spread into crust. Refigerate at least 1 hour. Top with remaining whipped topping, caramel topping and pecans before serving. Makes 10 servings.

Sunday's Fall Walk

Today is Sunday... a day that we usually go on our family walk. Today I decided to take along our camera hoping to get some candid photos of the children and possibly some with fall leaves for an Enrichment project that is coming up. I enlisted Mike to help me with this project.. he of course started to take pictures of this up on the hillside.
We did eventually get all the kids together for this one.
Lillie in the grass

Isaac in his cave

Books, Books, and more books!

What have you been reading for this season? I am addicted to scholastic and all their catalogs so I have got a collection of Halloween Books for the children. My ultimate favorite Halloween book is "Big Pumpkin" by Erica Silverman though I don't have it yet. I am still looking for the song that goes with it. Isaac's favorites are "Ten Timid Ghosts", "Big Green Monster", and "5 Little Pumpkins." Lillie's favorite is "Skeleton Hiccups." We also have favorites that need to be read everyday such as "Goodnight Gorilla"(5 times from me. I don't know how many times Mike read it for her), "We're going on a Bear Hunt", and "I am a Crane" :)!!!

We are gearing up for the big night... Halloween!

For family night, Mike worked on Isaac's Bat costume. It is really neat to see an engineering mind to wings for a bat costume.

Sycamore Canyon

A DAY AT THE BEACH

Friday Oct. 17th we all headed out to the beach. It was Mike's parents last day here. We thought we were going to go tidepooling but instead ended up at Sycamore Canyon State Beach. It was a beautiful day to go to the beach. If I planned the day better I would have brought the beach towels, a change of clothing for Isaac and Lillie, the beach quilt and of course.. lunch. Plans do happen to change suddenly but it was a good day at the beach.

Grandpa, Ari, Mike and Lillie

Isaac playing in the sand and trying to climb trees


Ari's first day at the beach and is 1 month old!

Isaac getting a ride from Daddy

Lillie caught eating the sand..again! Smug grin!

Lillie enjoyed her time with Grandma. She loved getting her feet wet and watch the waves crash.

What a beautiful Day! The water and sky were a beautiful blue.

Isaac preferred to find treasures in the sand rather than get his feet wet. I thought this pic was a real treasure. He got himself dressed that morning. Can you tell?