In which the toaster oven goes up in flames (literally)

A few days ago I got a call from Alison asking if I could babysit Andrea so she could go to her sister Katie's Endowment. Absolutely! Since Dave told me Tuesday that he needed to bring a treat to work on Thursday, I knew I needed to get some baking done, so I decided to do the baking in the morning rather than in the afternoon when I had two babies. Wednesday is also laundry day, so I thought I could easily get this done while juggling two loads of laundry.

First I started some Rocky Road Brownies for Dave's work. We created the recipe last week, and just can't get enough of them! While they were baking, I started a batch of Samoa Bars (think Girl Scout Cookies). While in the middle of baking the cookie layer, I started mixing up a batch of Banana Bread (mini loaves to bring to neighbors with two other flavor breads). Then I remembered I needed to toast the coconut to go on top of the Samoa Bars.

And here is where I got overwhelmed... Logan decided it was time for a nap, so I put the coconut in the toaster over to brown, and carried him into his bedroom for nap time. As I was in the middle of telling him Andrea was coming over so he needed to rest so he could play later, the fire alarm goes off! Then the second one starts blaring and Logan starts screaming.

I run into the kitchen and the coconut had combusted, flames were lapping the glass door. So I grabbed the baking soda and dowsed the fire. Needless to say I spent the rest of what started as such a productive morning cleaning up my fire. And the Samoa Bars didn't even turn out! All that work for nothing.

We had fun playing with Andrea when she came over. She danced like a mad woman! With 3 teddy bears, but they weren't jealous of each other. Nap time for her was interesting. Mike said to read her a story, then wrap her up tight in a blanket and she would fall asleep. So I did so, walked out, and a few minutes later went to peak. She was inch worming herself to the edge of the pack and play I put her in, then she managed to stand up burrito style and peak out at me. So I laid her back down and we tried again until she fell asleep.

As for the Rocky Road Brownies, they're super easy, and well worth the work

Rocky Road Brownies

1 box brownie mix
ingredients to make brownie mix
1/2 bag marshmallows
1/2 bag semi-sweet chocolate chips
1/3 c slivered almonds

Make brownies according to directions, but remove from oven 5 minutes before done. Sprinkle with marshmallows, chocolate chips, and almonds. Put back in the oven for the remaining 5 minutes. Let cool most of the way before serving. To cut, use a butter knife and dip in water after each cut.

5 days until Christmas!

Dave finished his finals! It was a stressful 3 weeks or so, but we survived. There were three days in a row that Dave left before I got up and came home well after I'd gone to bed (try two in the morning). And with Logan being in a fussy phase (crying from 6pm to 10pm or 11pm), it was a hard time for the whole family!

But now he's home by 6:30 every night and can help me put this little guy to sleep... covered in toys. Suffocation hazard if I didn't find out this is Dave's idea of putting Logan down, but Logan loves to play with Dad before bed.

Friday night my parents babysat so Dave and I could go to dinner and a movie. It was so nice to not have to fight Logan for my plate of food or pause the movie to put him to sleep. When we got back it was well past bedtime, but Logan was laying on the floor with Mom, Dad and my cousin Emil all playing with him. Logan was in heaven with so much love and attention. I think it was a letdown to have Mom and Dad come home and put him to sleep!

Dave just loves to pick out what Logan's going to wear, and he always picks one of three super hero shirts we made before Logan was even born. So if you see Batman, Wolverine, or Venom, know that Dave dressed the little guy!

It's just been so nice to have Dave home! Last night Logan and I met Dave up at his work and we went over to Temple Square to see the lights. It was fun, and I think Logan liked it too. He certainly looked around a lot. We drove home and Dave surprised me by stopping to get some peppermint hot chocolate and a redbox movie. So a happy ending to a great FHE!

December is here!

Thanksgiving went by so fast! I can't believe it's already December! I've got most of our Christmas decorations up, and and trying my hardest to finish our stockings. I also have several ornaments my mom got for us last year after Christmas that I attached to a wreath for the front door. Hopefully I get that done in time too. I did complete the beanbag Nativity set I've been working on, and it looks too cute!

Joseph, Jesus, Mary

3 Wise-men

Shepherds & Angel

As for shopping, we're pretty much done. We aren't buying a ton for Christmas this year, so it was pretty easy. I just have to pick up a few gifts for our family gift exchanges and once Dave's out of school for the semester we'll need to buy about 2 more gifts to complete our little family giving.

Dave surprised me with the need for a monster stuffed animal over Thanksgiving. Fortunately I had picked up a book from the library on how to make toys, and there was a pattern I tweaked. I worked like crazy, but was able to get it done for the photo shoot he had "scheduled" for Friday. The book's called "Wee Wonderfuls" and I know Heather would just LOVE it! I plan to make a few of the other toys for baby gifts and presents for Christmas (so if you get the book Heather, I'm making some of the Mermaids for our Christmas exchange). Just one more project to complete, but it should be a fun one.

I scheduled Logan's 4 month immunizations this morning. I found a Government run clinic that's 15 minutes away and they only charge $5 total for all 5 immunizations he needs. That's better than the $20 copay when we were insured! We applied to get Logan into CHIP (government subsidized insurance), but haven't heard back yet. And since it's time for Logan's next immunizations, I figured it was time we took him in.

Ready for Thanksgiving!

It feels like we've been preparing for Thanksgiving for a week now! And I guess in a way we have. I went shopping last week for everything because I have no desire to go shopping this week at all. I hate shopping to begin with, and I don't want to have to deal with the holiday crowds. So I've got enough food in the fridge to last us a week, as long as the milk lasts.

Monday we cleaned the house and made the Sweet Potato Casserole. Not that the house will stay clean all week... but it was worth a try. Tuesday I worked on the beanbag nativity set I've been making for Christmas. My goal is to have it done by the end of Thanksgiving weekend. I also raked all the leaves in the back yard into a pile and couldn't help but take a few pictures of Logan in them.

Logan loved the crunch of the leaves, but loved to taste them even more! Dave took a homework break to come out and enjoy Logan's first romp in the leaves with us! He insisted in covering Logan in leaves, which only made Logan more inclined to taste them. It was so hard to get Logan to look at the camera because he was so enthralled with the leaves! He ended up with mud on his face, looking like this

Wednesday we'll bake an apple and a peach pie, go to the library, and do the three loads of laundry that's been waiting to get washed! Saturday I went with my sister-in-law Angela to a baby clothing exchange in Provo, and ended up with a huge pile of clothes that need to be washed before Logan can use them. It will be worth all the work, but it's daunting every time I walk into the bedroom and see that pile.

Other happenings this week: Logan discovered the baby in the mirror and has so much fun smiling and "talking" to his reflection. It's too cute to watch. Sometimes it even gets him to stop crying.

We also introduced him to the big bathtub. He's always hated baths, but he's more ok with swimming in the big one than the baby tub. Every time he'll whimper when I put him in, but after a few minutes he's ok. He'll play with his toys a little, but we don't get down to business until he remembers he can kick and splash. I know he is enjoying himself, but his face is such a serious/concentrating face. He'll kick and kick for about a half hour before he's done and we have to wash him up and get him out.

Pumpkin Waffles for Girls Brunch

The girls in my family decided to start up a Girls Brunch once a month since we're all home most of the time. So last Wednesday we had our first one at my house! I made some pumpkin waffles to share, and everyone brough something (fruit, home made granola, muffins, etc).

We chatted about books we've read, exercizing tips, our families, Thanksgiving and Christmas, recipes we've tried recently... Just about everything under the sun! It was tons of fun and I'm looking forward to doing this regularly. We're going to take off for December, but start it back up in January. 

I've been working on the Pumpkin Waffle recipe for a little while now, because I really wanted a good one to have for Thanksgiving breakfast. I might make this a yearly tradition. There were tons of recipes online, and most of them required a million ingredients and just as many steps to complete. I'm sure whipping my egg whites to hard peaks would make for fluffier waffles, but I'm not going to make them if they take way too long.

So I read about 15 recipes, combined ingredients from each, tweaked it a few times, and came up with an easy pancake waffle recipe that has a subtle taste of pumpkin and in my opinion is just fabulous. Especially for this time of year.

Pumpkin Waffles

2 1/2 c. flour

4 t. baking powder

4 t. cinnamon

1/4 t. salt

2 c. milk

1/2 15 oz can pumpkin

1/2 c. brown sugar

2 T. butter or margarien melted

2 eggs

Mix flour, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt. Add in milk, pumpkin, brown sugar, melted butter, and eggs. Mix until lumps are gone. Pour into preheated waffle iron and cook according to desierd crispyness. The batter can be refridgerated over night for easy cooking!

The pumpkin is subtle in this recipe, so if you're a major pumpkin lover, this might not be the recipe for you. Dave and Heather think it could use a little more pumpkin, but Mom and I both thought it was fabulous this way. And it will make your house smell so good for days!