Headbands and a Recipe

These are my niece's for Christmas...

and these are for you for breakfast.

Pumpkin Pancakes

yields 6 pancakes
Ingredients:
1 cup flour
1 1/2 Tbs brown sugar
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp ground allspice
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
1/4 tsp salt
3/4 cup milk
1/2 cup pumpkin puree
1 egg
1 Tbs vegetable oil
1 Tbs vinegar

Directions: 
In a bowl, mix together the milk, pumpkin, egg, oil and vinegar. In a separate bowl, combine the flour, brown sugar, baking powder, baking soda, allspice, cinnamon and salt. Stir into the pumpkin mixture just enough to combine. 

Heat a lightly oiled griddle or frying pan over medium high heat. Pour or scoop the batter onto the griddle, using approximately 1/4 cup for each pancake. Brown on both sides and serve hot with chopped walnuts and syrup.

Cinnamon Syrup:
1/2 cup white sugar
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
2 Tablespoons all purpose flour
1tsp ground cinnamon
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1 cup water

Stir all ingredients together in a small saucepan. Over medium heat, stir occasionally until boiling. Let it boil for a few minutes while stirring until it thickens. Remove from heat and set aside until needed.

Sewing Kick

I've been on a sewing kick lately.  I think it might be that everyone and their dog is pregnant (except me) and that makes me want to sew anything cute and baby or it might be that I finished watching the season finale of Project Runway.  

I've always been amazed watching that show that people can just whip up something without a pattern bought from the store.  I've always wanted to be able to do that and today I tried and succeeded. 

Voila, here is my baby girl romper.  I figure that if I make enough girl clothes Heavenly Father will give one to me. 

What do y'all think? 

The never ending project ended

When I found out I was pregnant with Grant I was convinced I was having a girl, no doubt about it.  I bought cute girl dresses, made flowered headbands, put together my first quilt (pink and purple of course) and I bought fabric to make a girly crib bumper set.
Well, turns out my girl was a boy. Oops.  While dramatically shedding many tears, I packed away all the dresses, headbands, etc., including the half put together bumper set, convinced I was doomed to be that lady that has 7 boys and no girls. 
I've since gotten over it after my perfect little Grant-o joined us and changed my mind.  The other day I pulled out the bumper mess and set to work.
 I am VERY happy to announce I finished it and no I'm not pregnant.  I just really wanted to get one thing pulled out of my unfinished project pile.  I'll probably just list it in my Etsy shop or wait to see what the next babe is.  What do you think? Should I keep it?

           

Grant lately

Lately Grant has learned to work and listen to an ipod.  He has learned which remote goes to the DVD player, the ipod dock and the TV and he knows that he has to point it at each and push a button.  He knows how to skip a song and turn up the volume on the TV.  He's definitely growing up in a different generation than I did; that makes me feel old saying that.

Grant loves to sweep and swiffer the floors.  The swiffer is arguably his favorite toy.  He also will take a piece of toilet paper, wipe of the toilet lid and then throw it away in the trash.  He's a pretty good little cleaner.  

He is obsessed with drinking water out of Gavin or my running water bottle.

Grant was recently introduced to sidewalk chalk and drawing.  Although he seems very interested in eating it, he's pretty good at drawing random lines, including on my couch.  Good thing he hasn't discovered markers yet or he could end up in the dog house with his name changed to mud.

Speaking of dog houses, Grant says "ruff ruff" and plays in Max's cage. 

Grant is also pretty cute in his jeans shirtless.

 

My sweet sister turns sweet sixteen

Miss Abby turned 16 on the 24th of September.  We celebrated with a surprise birthday party.  We had tea,  played croquet, ate really good food and dessert and made chalkboards.  Here's a few pictures of the festivities. 

Family Time in Canada

Grant and I had a wonderful time in Canada visiting and spending time with my parents and little sister.  We left from LA on September 11th and let me tell you I NEVER want a trip like that again.  Grant and I both had the stomach flu.  I was lucky and didn't have the pleasure of puking but I can't say the same for Grant.  The car seat, the flight attendant and I were covered in half digested bananas, applesauce and pretzels. Needless to say, I was very excited and relieved to get to Vanderhoof that night.

Mom and Dad picked us up at the airport in Prince George and we drove the hour to my hometown.  My sister Abigail had no idea that Grant and I were coming to visit.  We woke her up in here bed and her reaction was priceless.  I'll always remember her saying "what the freak are you doing here?!".  It was epic.

The weather was absolutely fabulous and the leaves all changed from bright green to yellows and oranges while we were there.  We ate out on the patio every night for dinner and took walks, which Grant was particularly fond of.  My mom is a fabulous cook so we certainly had some very good food.  I loved running in the mornings on the trails along the river in the cool crisp autumn air and playing with Grant on the lawn in the afternoons in the warm sun. We also celebrated Abby's 16th birthday and surprised her with a surprise birthday party, complete with tea and croquet.    

My absolute favorite part was watching my parents be Grandma and Grandpa to my baby. Grant got so attached to them and would cry at the door every time my dad would leave for work. He loved being outside with mom watering the garden or playing in the dirt. 

 The only thing better than having my mom and dad as my parents is having them as grandparents to my children.  I cannot express in words how much I love my mom and dad, I just well up in tears when I think about it. They are two wonderful examples of who I want to be like.  

While I missed Gavin terribly, the time to leave back to Ridgecrest came too soon and left me wondering when I will see my family next. Mom  dropped us off at the airport and with alot of tears we said goodbye;  I just keep telling myself thank goodness for skype and cell phones.

I will remember and cherish forever the time I had in Vanderhoof in September 2012.

this girl is a character.  She's my favorite 3rd sister.

Fall in British Columbia

Grant and I went to my home in British Columbia for 2 weeks in September and it was absolutely beautiful with perfect weather. All the leaves changed from bright green to a beautiful orangy-yellow. I hope these pictures show why I love my home and country so much. I love Fall in Vanderhoof.