He is at it again

Sugar Cookies for all occasions

We love making sugar cookies and using cookie cutters to cut out our desired shape and then decorating them. We make sugar cookies for almost every holiday (at least the big ones). This past Saturday we made pumpkin cookies, yummy.

mine is the one off the plate, Sydney LOVES sprinkles!

Griffin enjoyed a plain mini pumpkin cookie, his first homemade sugar cookie

This is the Betty Crocker recipe we use:

Deluxe Sugar Cookies:

1 cup softened butter

1.5 cups confectioners' sugar

1 egg

1 tsp vanilla

1/2 tsp almond extract

2.5 cups all purpose flour

1 tsp baking soda

1 tsp cream of tarter

granulated sugar to sprinkle on top if desired

Mix thoroughly butter, confectioners sugar, egg, vanilla and almond extract. Blend in flour, soda and cream of tarter. Cover and chill 2-3 hours. Heat oven to 375. Divide dough in half, roll each half 3/16 inch thick on lightly floured surface. Cut into desired shaped and sprinkle with granulated sugar. Place on lightly greased cookie sheet (I use my baking stone), bake 7-8 minutes or until lightly brown on edges.

This was last December, it is amazing how much Sydney has matured.

February 2009, Valentines cookies

Sometimes we even have cookie decorating contests if we have a party or friends over and we vote on the cutest or silliest cookie.

Take time to make some sugar cookies and let the kids help!

Bike Rider

We bought Sydney a new bike for her birthday. Since we had a party earlier this month for both kids we gave it to her so she could have more time to ride before it gets cold. At first she was a bit nervous but within 20-30 minutes she had the hang of it and no longer wanted us to hang onto the back. We still run along beside her but she rarely falls. Most evenings when I get home with the kids she wants to ride so I pull Griffin in the wagon and run along beside her. I am sure this is a funny site-Griffin thinks it is fun to go so fast in the wagon so he laughs.

It is very hilly here in North Carolina so it is a challenge for little legs but she does super.

WALKING!

Yes, I am interrupting the scheduled post to tell you Griffin Sawyer is walking. Two nights ago he took 2-3 steps toward Bill and last night he took 5-6 steps toward me on several occasions. He is so adorable it is hard to believe. So he is walking at 1 year and 16 days!!

Wordless Monday

Tortilla Soup

This is so easy and very yummy!

Ingredients:
2 T olive oil
1 large onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 tsp red pepper flakes
1/2 tsp dried oregano
1/2 tsp chili powder
3 T fresh lime juice
1/2 tsp salt
1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts (I used 2 breasts)
1 can tomato sauce
1/2 ripe avocado
1/2 cup shredded monterey jack or pepper jack cheese
tortilla chips-all we had was the bottom of the bags, tidbits

1. In medium saucepan heat oil over medium heat, add onion, garlic, red pepper flakes, oregano and chili powder. Cook stirring for 5 minutes until onions are softened. Add 3 cups of water, lime juice and salt. Bring to simmer over med-high heat- add chicken and cook 12 mins. Remove chicken to cutting board and let cool. Add tomato sauce, cook 5 mins.

2. Shred chicken into bite sized pieces. Add chicken to soup, heat through. Ladle soup into bowl- top with shredded cheese, avocado slices, and chip crumbs.

We omitted the cheese and used a little sour cream. Mine was a bit spicy but so yummy!!!

Orchard

I really wanted to go to an orchard in the mountains this fall but after all the travel to Indiana it would have been too much driving and riding.

So we went to an orchard about 20 minutes from our house.

Sydney having a little snack

the tire swing!

Griffin watching sissy on the swing

Bill's daughter got Griffin this shirt for his birthday and I just love the orange

watching the lady weigh our apples, 1/2 bushel

this may have been the only apple she picked, she was too busy eating and goofing off with daddy

We had a super time until Syd had a tantrum because it was time to go. So far with our apples we have made apple pizza and also applesauce.

Can you tell them apart?

My nephew Henry was born October 4th, he is adorable. I think he resembles Griffin, what do you think?

Can you tell who is who?

One Year Old

This is the last month for taking a picture of Griffin in his crib. He was not happy for two reasons

1. we took his paci out of his mouth for the picture
2. he did not understand why he was in his bed and it was not bedtime
   
   

He loves his big car seat and facing forward. Sydney graduated to a booster seat and Griffin gets sissy's old car seat.
He loves to kick his legs.

Griffin is loving using a spoon. I have to put something on the spoon and hand it to him and then he feeds himself. Good luck getting the spoon back though.

This little man loves to eat but he truly is a peanut. At his 1 year check up he weighed 20 lbs 0 oz (15th percentile) and he was 29 1/4 inches tall (25th percentile).

Sydney at age 1 weighed 23 lbs (75th) and was 30 inches (75th).

my big deals

Monday I took the day off to go to Carolina Thift in High Point- I wanted to go on a Monday because everything is half off. A mom of one of my patients told me all about this place!

Here is what I found:

sweater (gap) 3.99 I paid 1.50

Janie and Jack shirt 2.99 I paid 1.50

Kenneth Cole shirt 2.99, I paid 1.50

landsend jeans 2.99 I paid 1.50
jumping jeans pants 1.99 I paid 1.00
no boundaries yoga 1.99, I paid 1.00

purple top 1.99 I paid 1.00, blue top (children's place) 3.99 I paid 2.00

red sweater (gap) 2.99 I paid 1.50, jacket (children's place) 3.99, I paid 2.00

I also bought a play pet carrier for Sydney- 2.99 and not on sale for a total of 19 dollars with tax

I only needed certain things so I did not even look at other items- I am all about bargains, everything is in great shape and I am so happy with what I found.

Have you found any deals lately?

Reading Cards

My mom gave Sydney these baby Einstein cards a few years ago. Each card has a picture and on the back it has discussion points for you to go over with your kids. Sydney enjoys playing with them and I have introduced them to Griffin.

I show him the picture and I tell him what it is and then hand the card to him. He jabbers all kinds of stuff I cannot understand (partly because of his paci) and then we go onto the next card.


I took a video but I still cannot find the time or patience to figure out why none of my videos will play. He is adorable!

Sydney and Coco

Meet Coco, Marcus' dog (Bill's oldest son)- isn't she cute!

We stayed with Marcus for a few nights when we went home for Bill's mom funeral. Sydney and Griffin (but more Syd) loved Coco.

Everyone knows I am not a fan of dogs (also allergic) but Coco really is sweet. She tolerated Sydney following her around, petting her, and hugging her.
Marcus has her trained so well and she is super gentle with kids.

Sydney hated to leave her but we did need to come home. She has been begging for a dog but it is a big "NO" at our house.

More birthday pics

Sydney Nicole, listening to everyone sing. We sang to them separately.

eating frosting only




licking every bit off the top, then she left the cupcake on the table

Griffin Sawyer not sure what to think of my colorful creation

also wondering why everyone is staring at him

mmm

trying some of the cupcake

enjoying every crumble

sampling the paper

5 layer rainbow cake. I followed these directions but left off one layer

it was pretty cool, but slices were too tall for the cake plates!

I was rather nervous cutting each piece and attempting to get the slice on the plate before it collapsed. Ellie was nervous too!