Friday, September 7, 2012

Happy Birthday, Ellie!!!

 On September 1st our baby girl turned 3 years old!!! She's not a baby anymore!
 We had a fun weekend celebrating our youngest. The day of her birthday we went to the farmer's market and painted our nails and just enjoyed some quality time together. And we finished off the day with Ellie's favorite dinner: pineapple pizza. Yum!
Sunday we had a party with family and a few close friends the pretty much are family. We barbequed hamburgers and hot dogs and had cake and ice cream. And of course, presents. Fun times!
 We are so blessed to have little Ellie in our lives! She brings such joy and sunshine to our family and is always overflowing with love for everyone!
 Looking forward to another year of watching her grow and learn and become the beautiful person that God has designed her to be!
 We love you, Ellie!!! xoxoxoxooxo

Monday, August 20, 2012

Zucchini Relish

Zucchini Relish
(from the Colorado Cache Cookbook)
 
12 cups coarsely ground zucchini, unpeeled (I shredded mine)
5 medium onions
1 green bell pepper
1 red bell pepper
5 tablespoons salt
3 cups sugar
2 1/2 cups cider vinegar
2 tablespoons cornstarch
1 teaspoon mustard seed
1 teaspoon turmeric
2 tablespoons celery seed
 
Coarsely grind onions and peppers and mix with zucchini and salt. Let stand for 3 hours. Drain and rinse well. Make syrup of remaining ingredients, boiling until sugar dissolves and mixture thickens. Add to vegetables and cook 20 minutes. Ladle into hot, sterilized jars and seal immediately. (After putting the lids on I acutally put the jars in a boiling water bath for 5 minutes as an extra precaution.)
 
I got 10 half pint jars plus a little extra. Can't wait to eat some hot dogs or burgers smothered in it! Or maybe some crackers with cream cheese and some relish on top. Mmmm...yummy! A great way to use up some of the ever abundant zucchini!
 
 
 
(I am hoping to begin writing some more on my blog again...I keep going thru these phases where I completely and utterly just forget or don't want to write even though I would have many things to write about.)

Blessings!
Amber
 

Sunday, May 20, 2012

6 years ago today...

 ...I married the most wonderful man in the whole world!!!
 The past 6 years have been amazing with ups and downs and all kinds of changes and adventures...and I can't imagine having anybody else by my side! God has truly blessed me with the best husband and I am so proud to be his bride. His girl.


Looking forward with anticipation and excitement as to what the Lord has in store for us in the next 6 years and beyond!

May 2012...on our anniversary trip to Colorado.

xoxoxoxoxoxoxo
"I am my beloved's and my beloved is mine..."
Song of Solomon 6:3



Blessings!

Saturday, May 19, 2012

Party Time!


The Cake!
 Just had to share a few pictures from Hannah's birthday party 2 weeks ago. She's really been into Angry Birds and plays it on Daddy's iPhone whenever she can, and so decided that this year instead of princesses or tea parties, she wanted to have an Angry Bird party. I came across some neat ideas via Pinterest and I had a blast putting it all together.
 My favorite thing about the whole party was the cake. I am still a bit giddy when I think about it. Not trying to toot my own horn here, but I am quite pleased with how it turned out...especially since it was the first cake I have ever decorated. Oh, I have smeared frosting on cakes before and maybe put on some sprinkles or written something with that gel stuff from the grocery store, but I have never actually seriously decorated a cake. It was so much fun and I can't wait for another opportunity to make a cake!!
Hannah wanted an ice cream cake and our neighbor, who went to pastry school and knows all about cakes, helped us out with making the cake. We just baked up a funfetti boxed cake, sliced it, and layered it with ice cream. Very simple, and can I just say, I think that should be the only way cakes are made! You get the perfect amount of cake and ice cream together and it is just splendid! :)
Then for decorating it I was so tickled to come across this freezer buttercream method here. You can make a fantastic image on a cake and it is as easy as tracing a picture! LOVE it!
 Moving on...I came across Martha Stewart's tutorial for making these adorable tissue paper pompoms for decorating baby showers, wedding showers, and whatever else. I thought they were just so pretty and wanted an excuse to make them so badly. So I was slightly disappointed that Hannah wanted an Angry Bird party because there is nothing frilly and froofrooey about that, and there would be no reason to have puff balls floating around. :( But then the more I thought about it and saw what some people had done to balloons by adding faces to make Angry Birds, I thought why not add faces to pompoms to make Angry Birds!?! So I did! And they turned out great! Hannah still has them hanging up in her room. (I printed out the faces from here. Scroll down to where she talks about her Angry Bird balloon game)

Birthday banner made using my Cricut.
 James decorated our chalkboard door with some of his great bubble letters and Angry Bird drawings. He also helped me out by drawing the angry pig faces on our stress ball party favors. He loves to draw angry pigs, and does a super job of it, so I was glad for his help.

 For activites we had some Angry Bird coloring pages printed out for the kids and then after cake and presents we made pinecone bird feeders. It was nice (and less stressful for me!) to keep it simple and mostly let the kids just play. Everyone had a great time!



 And for our party favors we just filled some red goody bags with some heart stickers in Angry Bird colors (since I couldn't find Angry Bird stickers), an angry pig stress ball (made from balloons and flour), and an Angry Bird cookie (which I made using the frozen buttercream method). We had little circles of paper for tags that Hannah stamped with a cute little "thank-you" stamp.
We had a wonderful time, and Hannah enjoyed every minute of it! It's amazing what you can do with some creativity and a little help from the internet. 
Next year, it's a Little Mermaid party! Yes, Hannah already has her parties planned out for the next few years! Hahahahaha!

Blessings!

Friday, May 18, 2012

Amazing and inspiring

Good Evening! I just had to take a minute to share about a wonderful, new blog that a very sweet, godly young woman that we know has started-- Conversations With God.
She is a much younger woman than I am, but she is wise beyond her years, and has a most amazing relationship with the Lord. Everything about her radiates Christ in such a beautiful way! I have been blown away by her writing after reading her first two posts on her blog
I definitely would encourage you to go check it out for yourself and I hope and pray you will be blessed as I have been from reading her words...God's words. It is truly beautiful and inspiring!
Have a wonderful night!

Blessings!

Tuesday, May 15, 2012

Hannah is 5!!!

 On May 8th our sweet, energetic Hannah turned 5 years old! Where does the time go??? It seems like just yesterday that she was a tiny baby in our arms. 
We have been so blessed by the joy and happiness she brings to our home each day and look forward to what each new day holds for her as she keeps growing and learning and loving Jesus.

 Happy 5th Birthday, Hannah!!
We love you!
xoxoxoxoxoxo


 "For You created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise You for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Your works are wonderful, I know that full well."
Psalm 139:13-14
(Hopefully my next post will be about the fun Angry Bird party we had for Hannah!)

Blessings!!!

Monday, April 2, 2012

Simple Woman's Daybook

FOR TODAY

Outside my window...it's all dark now, but we had a beautiful sunny day today which was such a blessing after many days of rain! I need my sunshine. :)

I am thinking...about my hubby. Can't wait to see him when he gets home in a couple of days!

I am thankful...for Mr. Sun!

In the kitchen...yogurt is in the crockpot. Well, atleast I hope it will be yogurt by morning. My last two attempts have not worked out so well. I've been making my own yogurt in the crockpot for quite a few months now, but for some reason the last two times it has not worked out. Keeping my fingers crossed that it works again.

I am wearing...my workout clothes...just got done doing a little evening yoga. I need to get back into a routine with some exercise and stuff.

I am creating...working on knitting a shawl/wrap thing. It's kind of a big project. Not hard knitting at least, just takes a looooooong time to make something that big. Need to get caught up on some sewing too. Haven't done any this year and here it is April!

I am going...to get ready for bed when I'm done here and curl up with a book and some tea.

I am wondering...if the sun will come out again tomorrow.

I am reading...just finished reading the Broadmoor Legacy series of books by Tracie Peterson. They were quite good and I could hardly put them down. They were based in the 1890's in and around Rochester, New York.

I am hoping...to finally try out the liquid hand soap recipe I found online.

I am looking forward to...library day tomorrow with my girls. We always have a great time!

Around the house...everyone is sleeping except for me, and I am sitting here listening to some music on Pandora.

A favorite quote for today...Faith is not the belief that God will do what you want. It is the belief that God will do what is right. -Max Lucado

One of my favorite things...quiet evenings listening to music, especially if candlelight is involved. :)

A few plans for the rest of the week: library day, hubby coming home, Easter egg hung this weekend, Easter at church and then dinner with Matt's family. Lots of fun!

I'm sorry I don't have a picture this week....
Share your daybook here.
Blessings!

Friday, March 23, 2012

What a start to Spring!

Hannah was very please with her "giant" snowball.
 Well, Spring may have arrived a couple days ago, but I think the weather didn't get the memo! We woke up Thursday morning to a couple of inches of snow all over! The girls were delighted and it did look pretty. The chickens didn't know what to think of it though, and I had to put some straw down in front of their coop so they'd venture outside. We had lots of fun playing in the snow while it lasted and now today seems much more like Spring. Sunshine and blue sky and 50 some degrees. Yay!
"Cheese!"

The ladies love to look in through the patio door and see what's going on inside.

The girls watching the hens enjoy one of their favorite treats...oatmeal.


What a difference from a couple days ago! The poor daffodils were drooping under the snow.



 Blessings!

Tuesday, March 20, 2012

Happy Spring!!!

 Hope you all had a great first day of Spring! Ours was cold and rainy, but I still got out for a minute to snap a couple of pictures of some of the springtime flowers blooming in our yard. Here's to a wonderful season full of new beginnings!
 "Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come." 2 Corinthians 5:17
Blessings!

Monday, March 19, 2012

Simple Woman's Daybook

FOR TODAY

Outside my window...it is cloudy and gray. We even had a dusting of snow on the ground this morning. I hope Spring decides to show up soon here!

I am thinking...about all I should be doing instead of spending time on the computer right now.

I am thankful...for my husband working so hard to take care of me and the kids so I can stay home with them. What a blessing!

In the kitchen...not much happening in the kitchen today. The guys won't be home for dinner, so I think the girls and I will do something simple.

I am wearing...jeans, a black t-shirt with sparkles and a print on the front and my new sweater that I got this past week when we were at the beach. I love it!

I am creating...working on knitting a shawl for my mother-in-law for her birthday, and going to start knitting a hat for one of the girls. I had so much fun with my first hat I want to make more! Anybody want a hat??? LOL :)

I am going...this week I get to go to my favorite coffee shop for a few hours with a book and just have a little me time.

I am wondering...what fun things the girls and I can do while hubby is out of town for work and James is with grandparents for Spring break...hmmmmm :)

I am reading...an assortment of books from the library, from child raising to being self-sufficient to books on chickens. So many books, so little time!

I am hoping...to get all my laundry finished today. We had quite a pile after our trip to the beach.

I am looking forward to...bed time...I am sooo tired!

I am learning...how important it is to think before you speak.

Around the house...Ellie is napping, Hannah is playing Mario Kart for a few minutes and the laundry is calling my name.

A favorite quote for today..."There is nothing like staying at home for real comfort." Jane Austen

One of my favorite things...watching the chickens run around the yard. This morning they were chasing the little juncos that come to our feeder.

A few plans for the rest of the week: library day tomorrow, maybe going swimming with the family, a playdate this weekend, and whatever else comes along.

A peek into my day...
The girls at the beach house feeding seagulls out the patio door.

The seagulls. :)
Hope you have a great week! Share your own daybook here at Simple Woman's Daybook.

Monday, March 5, 2012

Chickens!!!

 We have chickens!!!! After the past few years of dreaming and talking, hoping and planning, we are now the proud owners of 5 Buff Orpington one-year old hens. I am soooo excited!!! We brought them home Saturday morning and have been enjoying them so much already. Hannah and Ellie pulled up chairs next to the coop and sat and watched the "ladies" off and on all day long. They are thrilled to be chicken owners.
 We spent pretty much all last week building our coop with the help of our wonderful, amazing friend. He took some of the ideas I had and was able to turn them into plans and figure everything out for supplies, etc. And it turned out way better than anything that I had planned to attempt on my own.
 The ladies have a 4x8 foot penned space for pecking around in and a 4x4 foot cozy coop complete with 2 next boxes and a rustic roost. Plus, on nice days they can roam around the yard to their hearts content. They've had two days of free-ranging so far and have already torn up every single garden bed in the yard. (We'll have to figure out a plan to keep them out of the garden boxes when growing season arrives.) Watch out slugs!
Hannah and Ellie checking out the coop before the chickens arrive.

First egg!

 The ladies seem to be adjusting quite nicely to their new home and have already given us 10 eggs since Saturday! When the weather gets warmer we should be getting 5 eggs per day.
 Of course, we had to name the ladies even though they pretty much all look exactly alike. And since there are 5 chickens and 5 of us, everyone got to name one. Yay!

Matt- Sandy (short for Sanders...as in Colonel Sanders)
Me- Lindu (Finnish word for bird)
James- Nugget (I think the guys got confused on the purpose of the chickens!)
Hannah- Rosetta
Ellie- Rosie



Chicken Love


This girl is super excited about having chickens!

Took them 1 minute to flip all the bark chips out into the grass. :)
Thanks for sharing our excitement over the new additions to our family!

Blessings!