Smelling the Door

Late last night after much crying from the girls room Allen reentered our room and stated the following while chuckling:

"Would you please get up and be a good parent and see what type of poop you smell through the door?"

Yes, we have become door sniffers.

INTERJECTION FROM ALLEN: Steph had asked me to get up and see what the matter was (we had heard a noise from the girls' room). I told Steph I couldn't hear much (at that particular time), but that there was definitely a foul smell coming from the other side of the door. Steph then informed me that Lizzie and Ellie have different poopy smells and asked who was responsible. I retorted that I had no idea and asked her the above question...

1st birthday present

Papa and Nana

Thank you for the really great birthday gift! It rocks! But, next time you send me one, could you not put anything in it. I had to wait until Mommy pulled a huge carseat out of it to play with it. What a drag.

Love,
Ellie

Rice for Free

The other day on a couple different news stations one of the stories was on a website that asks multiple vocabulary questions. With each correct answer they donate rice to the hungry around the world (through the United Nations). Then yesterday a friend posted a link to the very same site.
It is called freerice.com try it. Test your word wisdom and feed someone!
(Note: In the news story a teacher was using it to help her students with vocab., so if you have kids or teach, try it!)

Colors

We also took a trip up to Maine where we took these beautiful shots of the fall colors.

Jordan's Furniture?

Bethany and Melissa watched the girls one night while they were here so that Allen and I could have some much needed us time.
Some friends of ours had talked highly of Jordan's Furniture...I know, really a date at a furniture store, but this isn't just a furniture store.
Anyhow, Allen and I loved it so the next day we left Allen at home studying and had some fun at Jordan's.

They have:

Trapezing....


And creations everywhere made entirely of Jelly Belly Beans...


And an ice cream shop...

And my personal fav. the waterworks show (which cannot be captured on film, you really just have to see it, but here is what we did get).

Fall Festival at GCTS

While Melissa and Bethany were still visiting we all attended the annual Fall Festival on campus here at Gordon-Conwell.

It was really fun.

They had cookie decorating...



And Face Painting...

And a Bounce House...



And balloons...



And a hayride...


And so many more things that made for a wonderful saturday afternoon!

Leaves Everywhere

With all these gorgeous leaves we decided to go out and get some good photos of each other and the girls.
Here are some of my favorites:

Too Much Fall Fun

Well, Melissa, Bethany and Heather have come and gone. It was a lot of fun.
Here are a few pictures from their visit:

We drove into Maine for some shopping and "exploring"

Ellie and I went with the ladies to Boston to visit MIT and Harvard
(Ellie loved the train sooooo much, she must get that from her Pa)

The women all went to the Wenham Teahouse (our nations oldest teahouse that is still going)
Pinkies Up!

More pictures to come
Stay tuned

Cookie Monster...

...that's me. I loooooooooooooove cookies! So when I was recently tagged to post a cookie recipe I began salivated over the many options and how maybe I should make sure they are still good recipes by trying them out. Unfortunately my waste line screamed "please no, please don't" so instead I will share this one "secret recipe" for my oatmeal chocolate chip cookies that I really just pulled from a cook book.

Oatmeal Cookies
Prep: 25 minutes
Bake: Approx 8 minutes per batch (I just keep checking them until they aren't glossy looking anymore)
Oven: 375 degrees
Makes: About 48 cookies (for normal people though we usually end up with around half that number)


3/4 cup butter (softened)
1 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1 teaspoon (heaping) baking powder
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon (heaping) ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 3/4 cups flour (we use whole wheat though the recipe calls for all-purpose)
2 cups rolled oats

In a large mixing bowl beat butter then add brown sugar, granulated sugar, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon and cloves. Beat until combined, scraping the sides of the bowl. Beat in eggs and vanilla until combined. Stir in the flour. Once combined stir in the rolled oats.

Drop dough by rounded teaspoons 2 inches apart (really I just make sure they are all the same size and have a couple inches between them).

Bake at 375 for 8 to 10 minutes depending on size of cookies, or until edges are golden. Cool on cookie sheet for 1 minute. Transfer to a wire rack and let cool (or just eat them like we do!).

We all like our oatmeal cookies with different things, so I usually do the first batch or two plain then I add 2-3 small packs of raisins and bake a batch. Then I add chocolate as needed, or desired :-) for the final batch(es).

Enjoy!!!

There is too much

There will be many posts to come, but my sister and a couple friends have come to visit for the next couple of weeks, so this will be brief.

Ellie took her first step!!!!!!!!!!!! It was adorable. Just after she did it we tried to get her to duplicate, but she was so excited over the ca motion that she couldn't even stand up without falling right back over (jumping doesn't help standing on wobbly legs).

Hope all is well for everyone reading!