Apple Orchard

Every year we go to the Apple Orchard here in Virginia, the kids love it and the apple's are great. I think we ate as many as we brought home. They also harvest their own honey with the comb in it. Avery thought that was just way too cool so we had to get some of course:) Lincoln loved the caterpillars and was sad when I told him they could not come home with us.

School Days!!!

Avery LOVES preschool and Lincoln can't wait until it is his turn to go:)

Digital Scraping

So I have finally learned how to digital scrapbook and I love it! It's actually kind of addicting, but hopefully I can now get rid of the bins of scrapbooking stuff that are slowly taking over my closet. Here are a few of my first pages:)

Home Made Bagels!!! Yumm!!!!

So yesterday was one of those days where you need to go to the grocery store but you just don't feel very good. Jared takes his lunch everyday with him and packs a sandwich, well we were out of bread so the kids and I made some bagels!! They were sooo good, and way easy. We made cinnamon and sugar and then some poppy seed ones. The kids were having root beer floats and wanted to take their picture with the bagels. They are so much fun to be with!



BAGELS RECIPE
2 c. warm water, 7 c. flour
1/2 pkg. yeast, 1 TBS. salt
2 TBS. white sugar, 1 TBS. white sugar
1 TBS. veg. oil, 3 TBS. poppy seeds (optional)

1.In a large bowl, sprinkle yest over warm water to soften; stir to dissolve. Add 2 TBS. sugar, oil, 6 c. flour, and salt (I added an extra 1/2 tsp.). Mix thoroughly wuntil the dough forms up and leaves the sides of the bowl. Turn dough out on floured board and knead, adding small amounts of remaining flour as necessary. Bagel dough should be pretty stiff. Work in as much extra flour as you can comfortably knead. Knead until smooth and elastic, 12-15 min.
2. Roll dough into a ball and place in large oiled bowl, cover and let rise for about an hour.
3. Punch down and cut into thirds, roll each piece between your palms into a rope. Cut eash rope into 4 equal pieces and shape into balls. Roll the first ball into another rope that is about 2" longer than the width of your hand. make aring with the dough, overlapping ends about 1/2" and sealing the ends. If the ends dont stick add a dab of water. Evenly place the bagels on 2 nonstick baking pans or very lightly oiled baking sheets. Cover and let stand until puffy, about 20 min.
4. While bagels are poofing, fill a 4 quart saucepan 2/3 full with cod water; add 1TBS. sugar (I added 2) and bring to a boil. When ready to cook, drop 2 or 3 bagels at a time into the boiling water. Cook only for 1 min. and flip once at the 30 second mark.
5. Carefully lift each bagel out with a slotted spoon and place on kitchen towl. Dip into desired topping and set evenly spaced onto a baking sheet.
6. Bake at 500 for 20 min. or until the tops begin to brown. It only took my bagels 11 min. to cook so keep an eye on them:) Let cool and enjoy

Dad Is Home!!!!

Ok so you all know that Jared is doing his OB rotation and is gone all hours of the day. Poor thing, when he gets home he is so tired and the kids just want to be around him. So, we do "a movie with dad" now so they can be with him and he can get a nap!

Rock Band And Friends

Saturday Jared and our friend Tyson took all the kids bowling while Alyson and I sat on the couch and watched Food Network! It was GREAT!!! Later we all played rock band, of course, and had a ton of fun. Alysons little girl, Ada, is 10 days old and Avery could not get enough of her!!! She is going to be a big help when this little baby gets to come home:)

Afternoon At The Park

Last Friday the weather was so nice so we decided to pack a lunch and go to the park with their cute friend Kyler! The kids love this park because it has a ton of toys that people just bring and leave there for kids to play with. Lincoln LOVES the bikes and just rides around on all the paths the whole time. Avery was watching some kids play for a min., just long enough to let me get a close up picture of her. Children are truely special and have so much love to give, I love to just sit and watch their little faces and try to think of what they are thinking about.