I made Risotto tonight!

I had bought arborio rice a few weeks ago with high aspirations to make some tasty risotto with it. And...I never did.

So today, I decided I'd go ahead and make some. I've never made it before, I was scared off by people telling me how time consuming it is. I no longer had the ingredients needed for the original recipe I wanted to try

so I used this Red Wine Risotto with Peas recipe and just didn't add the red wine, the onions or the fresh parsley. LOL

it still tasted really good. Cutter loved it, Jade loved, I loved it...Jonathan liked it. hahaha! And, I found the 40min it took to cook, I was able to make Italian chicken and a tasty salad, and still spent my usual amount of time cooking dinner in the kitchen. I will be trying new risotto recipes in the future!

I don't think I ever really thought I'd be that Mom who could only post pictures of her adorable children and the life that only seems to revolve around them. And yet, almost all my blog posts are about something precious and adorable that they have done (or someone's birthday, lol). It's not a bad thing, I just am surprised when I see that I really am "that" mom. *grin*

So in attempt to show myself I can post about my children AND myself. Here is a picture of one the many activites that make my life so much fun. I am apart of "Christian Fiction" book club. We meet once a month to "talk" about the book we have read (or I have attempted to read) and play games and eat food. Back when we started this club (was it in May?) We started a tradition to cook food for our get together that was talked about in the book. In some cases it has made coming up with food difficult. This last book we read, "The Shape of Mercy" one of the only foods discussed (well...I guess there was some fancy brie and thanks to Julie we were served delicious baked brie at our party) were eggs. So our meal was devils eggs and baked brie and an egg casserole
I love that I have this group of ladies, who most of which, love books, love God and love to read. I haven't been a fan of all the books we have read, but it doesn't even matter. Just hanging out makes it all worth while. (Oh and this last book was really sweet. Sad, sweet, interesting...I liked it, very cute)

I'm still apart of a women's bible study that meets on Wednesday mornings. Our last study forced us all to analyze our hearts and lives and I found nearly every meeting either I was in tears or someone else was. While it was a very good study, I'm REALLY enjoying doing a bible study on the book of Hebrews. I haven't cried yet! LOL

Tuesday's I attend MOPS. Love my ladies!

Jade enjoys going to AWANA and I'm teaching her Cubbies class:)

So I can't post without adding pictures of my kids. Here is a picture of Jade from a few days ago playing with her "magnetic" wooden paper dolls.
Cutter, from a few days ago, crawling rapidly after me as I tried to snap his picture before he ate the camera
Mornings when we are at home (so maybe 2-3 days a week) I spend doing school with Jade. We have an hour from 9-10am where Cutter usually naps. We work on her AWANA bible study verse, we say the pledge of Allegiance then we spend 20min working on spelling words the alphabet and whatever else I feel we should cover. Next is Math. Jade LOVES math "One more page Momma? One more page?"

Thursday morning's Jade goes to a friends for science class. And Mondays or Tuesday I teach a little craft class. I'm changing the theme of the craft class to art. We'll start working on more drawing and painting skills with some crafts thrown in. I'm very excited about that!

My husband brought home some flowers for me on Friday. They are unique enough I had to take a picture. I'm not sure what they are, and neither was he. But I love that they are so unconventional. I wish I had more tables and shelf space, I'd love for my home to overflow with beautiful plants.
Speaking on plants, all my little tulip bulbs think that spring is coming early. While I'm sure it's not coming any time soon, I can't help but get excited with the thought.
I've planned out my planting schedule for my little square foot garden and I'm anxious for the months to change so we can get planting.

Today is just a laundry and cleaning and errand running day. I do love my Mondays:-)

Birthday fun

So my birthdays for this month were lots of fun. For Jonathan's birthday, on his actual birth day, we went to dinner and then a movie. Then yesterday (Saturday) we met up with some friends at Gameworks in Seattle and had fun playing like kids in an arcade.
Jade got to have a fun, monkey themed, party, where she got to invite "four" friends for her fourth birthday party. She also had a lot of fun...most likely a little movie of her special day will get posted on my blog:)
in other news, my homemade marshmallows turned out pretty yummy. They don't look like anything spectacular...but the pretend "foodie" in me, thinks I'm pretty amazing for having made them:-)

Jade is 4 today!

my baby girl is four today! (no, we didn't buy her a boy bike for her birthday, just a cute pic). She had a monkey party and got to invite "four friends".

Can't believe it's already been four years! To see the post from the day she was born go here

It's my husband's birthday today!! Oh...and I'm attempting to make homemade marshmallows

My man is 30 today. Look at him, all grown up. Just makes you want to look at baby picture albums doesn't it? Or post pictures in black and white? Here ya go
Look at us, our little family minus Cutter. This is us in Michigan at Christmas time...so long ago, back when my husband was only 29 *grin*

In other news...tomorrow is Jade's 4th birthday and I'm preparing some yummy snacks for the occasion. One of which is my first attempt at making homemade marshmallows. Apparently they have to sit overnight to dry out properly. So far I can tell you the batter tastes...A.MAZING!

You really should call before you come over...

...because you never know if my kids will have clothes on or NOT! hahahahaha!

do you wanna come over and eat them yet? LOL

My little bunny

Aunt Vicka brought Jade this adorable bunny hat, back from Russia with her. Gj and Vicka had a layover in Seattle for about 12hrs, and we were able to spend some time with them...and also be given some presents! At first Jade wasn't to keen on the hat...but now it's all I can do to keep it off her head! LOL
here my little bunny is outside near our little garden. Can you seem my garlic growing? I get to harvest it in March, I can't wait!

Work Christmas party

Earlier this month Jonathan and I attended the Freedom Foundation's annual Christmas party. I just recently recieved a few fun snap shots from the affair. Here we are during the gift exchange, I believe Jonathan was gifted with some books on the Communist party (hee, hee,)
not satisfied to keep my gift I decided to go ahead and steal a fabulous "Santa" coffee mug from a wonderful Gentleman a few tables across. He obliged, only to open yet a second coffee mug about three times larger then I one I just stole. LOL
There was a bit of dancing. Jonathan and I, being Fred and Ginger, were naturals, of course.
and if desired, couples pictures were taken. "Cheese"
It was a really fun Christmas party!

My first little video using my new UltraHD Flip camera!

What is this new life I have?

My son is crawling and crawling well. I've gone from blissful Mother of two (ha.ha.) to crazy mother of TWO! Not that I can't handle it mind you. I'm just near crazy, exhausted and a nervous break down...but I CAN handle it.

This past week was one that tested my breaking points from every angle. With my husband, my children, my friends, my family...well, maybe not my family. I think the hype of getting ready for our family Christmas, events taking place EVERY day, multiple trips, babysitting, activities, preschool and the onsetting thoughts of preparation for our trips out East...I started freaking out. Freaking out bad.

Cutter crawling is just one of the many things on my list of first for this past week. And I have to say, the blissful ignorance that was my first child (she never got into anything naughty. My only "bad" picture of her was when she unrolled a toilet paper roll while trying to wipe her bottom) is being gently peeled away by my second. His precocious grin and contagious giggles and constant "aaa's!" have me laughing, not yelling, when he pulls down my bathroom beauty stand...but good grief. I'm thinking about investing in a miniature straight jacket just so I can have short breaks throughout the day.

We installed locks on our bathroom and kitchen cabinets when Jade started crawling. But they were never needed. They just proved to be an annoyance for all the adults trying to get into the cabinets. I told my husband to leave them since we knew one day we'd have a second child (er...hope to have a second child) and perhaps they would be useful. They. are. Cutter tried pulling out all the cleaning supplies while I was loading up the washing machine, and I was grateful his pudgy hands and the size of the bottle he was yanking at, equaled to thick a circumference to fit through the small slit that the cabinet lock provided. hee, hee

Saturday morning was our family Christmas (since we will be heading out East to visit Bechtle Sr. and Mangione's and Ridley's for multiple Christmas's). Leading up to this week I haven't had much time to breath. Not that it's anyone's fault but my own. I have a lovely habit of planning something or somewhere to go every day of the week. But this week it all culminated to a climax and I found myself crying out to God and my husband for a much needed break.

I think we found the break in what looks to be some baby colds for my children. While the colds themselves I am not thrilled about, they are my excuse to cancel everything from today till our trip on Wednesday. No MOPS, no shopping, no babysitting, no play dates, just home, cleaning, laundry, preschool, reading and playing with my kids and creativly figuring out what meals we can make with our limited supple (I don't want to buy more since we'll be gone for awhile!). I am sure by tomorrow afternoon I'll be clammering for a trip out, library, gas station, ANYWHERE. But some much needed bordom and stir craziness is needed. For my stuffy nosed kids and for my own sanity. LOL

Why am I typing this all out for the world to read? Because this is my blog and I rarely get to do personal updates. But today, my husband is vacuuming the house, my baby is napping and my girl is coloring beautiful pictures on her new art easel. So I have time. And I have no plans for now:)

I'm really looking forward to our trips East to see my family!

For our family Christmas my fabulous husband bought me a pair of tall boots and a new video camera!!! I've been wanting a new, small, simple, camera for months now and didn't dream I'd get one so soon! I'm thrilled. Already taking new film and looking forward to editing it down a bit and positing it for the world to see. I love making little home videos! And can I say HOORAY for boots!!! HOORAY!

I feel spoiled rotten and I'm thrilled!

Saturday afternoon we got to take Jade to see the Nutcracker. I LOVE the Nutcracker so really we were going for me. Jade enjoyed most of it, with a few moments of bordem and wishing she could talk through the show. I only saw Jonathan doze off for a few moments once or twice...and he said he enjoyed it as well. hee, hee.

Anyway, I think this is a long enough post for now. Just needed to talk out some of my thought, regroup and gear myself up for this week. Can't wait to have a boring few days and then off to see my FAMILY!

p.s. for those who don't know...this past month my husband was promoted and is now CEO of the Freedom Foundation...I'm pretty proud of him;)

Gingerbread Houses

For our craft this week, still on a christmas and gingerbread kick, we tried our hand at making home made gingerbread houses. I used the same gingerbread dough recipe as I used for our gingerbread men last week. I didn't really let it cool in the fridge for very long, nor did I let the cut house pieces chill in the freezer for the recommended 15min (maybe 5) so if anyone tries this at home...don't skimp on that part. It helps to keep the dough from warping in the oven.

here is the first few steps, piecing the houses together. My icing was really watery but I had run out of powdered sugar. After the third houses third fall...I got the kids and we all ran over to a near by neighbors home and borrowed a cup of powdered sugar. That helped a lot!
perhaps there was more sampling going on then decorating, but the girls had a lot of fun. Ben (not shown) wasn't as excited. Perhaps it was because he had to share a house with his sister and didn't get his own to decorate:-(
here is Jade licking sprinkles off her fingers.
and poor Kyri was just adding the finishing flourish of sugar crystals when her house, once again, collapsed. Poor Kyrie!
Jade's stayed in place pretty well, but she didn't have as many candies on her roof (sampling ya know)

it was a lot of fun but also a LOT of work. I'm glad I'll only be attempting this once every year. LOL

Crafts and cookies

For craft day this week we painted glass ornament bulbs with glitter glue and tied stretchy plastic string through to hang them up.
Then we whipped up a batch of playdough and played around with cookie cutters and flour, like we were making actual cookies. A few of these treasures we attempted to dry out in the oven to make as playdough ornaments. I say attempted, because a few of them kind of exploded in the oven after I forgot I left them in there. hahaha

Then today, we had some other friends over and we made the most scrumptious batch of gingerbread cookies with royal icing ever!

after making a delightful mess in the kitchen/house, we went outside to burn off some of the sugar energy and Jade's friend, Tyler, let her try out his super cool "Toy Story" bike. However, this is a posed shot...she didn't actually pedal with it:) we are still working on getting her to ride the pink tricycle in the background. hahaha

We are all set for Christmas!

Jade found the tree

and Cutter added the topper! LOL

A story of Thanksgiving pie

...but first pictures of my kids. Here is Jade with her babysitter, Yumi, at the Taylor's home where we spent Thanksgiving.
and my little Cutter butterball rolling around while I attempted to make a....pie.
There once was a tricky ol' pie crust,

that I found on the website right here

it looked super tasty

this fabulous pastry

I thought I had nothing to fear!

but then I baked up this pastry

complete with baked weights and good cheer

It shrunk down quite sadly

and made me quite madly

I knew all my friends would just jeer
I baked it up twice and it failed me.

The pastry that took up my day

Now I feel like a failure

an old rugged sailor

I won't type the words I would say

But the caramel now ladies and gents'

Was delicious and worth 50 cents

the cream, oh how scrumptious

Made me feel scrumdidli-umptious

And turned out quite perfect, I'll say.

The pie when done was okay dear

I layered the bananas with cream

Then Jade helped drizzle

The caramel-lious fizzle
and this story is all but a dream.
The end.

hiccups, sounds, food

He is 8months old today!

snow day, cherrios and giggles

Jade playing in the snow

Cutters first time eating cherrios (and lovin it)

not so into the snow

Jade tickling cutter

Christmas PJ's from Grandma Bechtle

Grandma Bechtle sent us a Christmas box this weekend. We got some new Christmas socks, now PJ's and a really cool multiple mini bundt pan for making yummy cakes this Christmas.

Jade was VERY excited to wear PJ's that came with attached "Feet" she said she is the big version of Cutter's pajama's now.
Cutter wasn't as excited, but he won't turn down a photo shoot...so here he is in pj's and super adorable bib! LOL