Memorial Day Weekend

Jared and I don't really like the beach. We would much rather hike in the mountains somewhere or sit under a shady tree and read a book. However, we do enjoy spending time with our family, especially down in Lewes and when it is only 70 degrees outside. :)

Saturday was my perfect beach day. It was sunny, but not hot.  And the water wasn't too cold. Also, the beach was quite empty and it was relaxing. After and before the beach, we were well taken care of and fed lots of good food, including Grottos Pizza!! 

Even though his mom and dad don't like the beach, someone in our family really does enjoy the beach. We built Martin several sand forts so he could splash in the water without the waves hitting him. He played for two or three hours before finally crashing for a nap on Grandma's shoulder. 

On Sunday, Aunt Sarah came to town and we went over to my parent's to visit with her and play some fun games and eat good food. 

And today, Monday, we have been hanging around the house. Martin and I made rolls, read books, banged on some pots and pans, and played in the sprinkler. The sprinkler wore Martin out; he fell asleep in his high chair while eating lunch. Jared finished putting up the fence in the back yard so Martin can't escape and run into the street. He just needs to paint it now. It looks good now still wooden, but the paint will make it look super cute. 

Did you do anything fun this weekend? It has been so long since we have had a holiday. We just enjoyed being a little family and spending time with people that we love. :) 

Strawberry Pie

You need to make the strawberry pie recipe that I posted last year!!! Look under recipes. I can't link things when I am using the blogging app. 

In case you need convincing... 

Martin Naps

This is how my baby sleeps. He falls asleep for almost every nap and at bedtime like this. I don't know how it is comfortable. He starts off covered by his blanket, but he usually falls asleep on top of it. We sneak in after he is asleep and cover him back up. 

This is how he wakes up. He sits in his crib and reads books. Sometimes he is so quiet I think he is still asleep. Normally, he reads quietly in a funny little voice, to himself. 

This is one of his favorite books.  I have it memorized. 

Strawberries

Every year I say I am going to pick 100 quarts.  One of these years I will make it. I have picked 30 so far this year. Strawberries are probably my favorite fruit, but it is hard to pick a favorite with peaches and blueberries around as well. 

I made strawberry shortcake for Jared's birthday last night (his favorite). Today I am making a strawberry pie, my favorite. 

Today is just a relaxing day around the house. Martin and I started the morning off by going to pick strawberries with Grandma Cindy. Then we came home and read a few books and played. Once Martin went down for a nap, I finished Til We Have Faces by CS Lewis.  I bought it for Jared's birthday and he said I should read it. It is unlike any other book I have read by Lewis, but it is really good. If Jared hadn't warned me that it was based on a Greek myth and a bit strange, I might not have enjoyed it as much. 

I am about to go make that pie (Google America's Test Kitchen and Strawberry Pie - it is super easy and more predictable than the jello recipe - I might have it listed under recipes) and then fold clothes. Hopefully, I will finish both before Martin wakes up. :)

What is your favorite fruit? Do you have any favorite strawberry recipes? Jared likes strawberry pretzel salad too (why is it called a salad?). I will probably make that this weekend.  

I also want to start back on my deep cleaning list now that I am starting to have a bit more energy. Are there any projects you hope to finish by summer? 

Birthday cooking

I used to love Acorn Market and then they were sold. I went for almost every business lunch and they catered my baby shower at work. I always get the chicken salad sandwich and it used to be amazing. Recently, it has been mushy and watery and not worth the money. The other thing that I love are their cookies. Well, I found online that the lady who used to own it had a blog and posted several recipes. :) One of those recipes, that she posted, was her cookie recipe!! 

So for Jared's birthday, instead of a cake, I made two batches of cookies. They were amazing. I didn't take a good picture, but they are fluffy and perfect. When I make them again I will post the recipe and pictures. I am selling a dozen of them at the silent auction at church tonight. 

I also made these rolls for Jared's birthday dinner.  We had fried chicken, fruit salad, and green beans. I never make white bread anymore; these taste like cake. I suggest you look at the pictures and be convinced to make them. 

http://www.thefrugalgirl.com/2009/11/wednesday-baking-glazed-honey-pan-rolls/

And today, to use up the leftover rolls, I made mini hamburgers.  They are so cute. Again, no pictures.

 Martin had been on the move and I have been chasing him all over.  We have also been reading a lot of books lately.  I hope he loves to read when he is older. Jared is working on our new fence today on the sides of the house. We hope it will stop Martin from running into the street. I will post pictures when it is finished. 

And here is a picture from last night's birthday celebration, after Martin had put on his pajamas. He loves his aunts and uncles.  

Pillow seats

I am planning on making Martin a little playroom this summer/fall. More about those plans in a later post.  Jared and I bought new feather pillows (from ikea for only $10) and so our old ones have just been sitting in my sewing room. I knew there was something I could do with them.  It dawned on me a few weeks ago that they would make great little places to  sit for Martin while he played or read. As he demonstrates below reading, The Godly Man's Picture by Thomas Watson. 

It is actually one of his favorite books right now.  He sits down with it and flips back and forth in it for a few minutes.  Then he walks around and sits down again and flips through it again. It is very funny.  I have even started to put the book in different places on the bookshelf to see if he will find it. 

So, back to the old pillows.   They were a little flat and not the right shape.  I measured the width and found it was about 18".  So I measured off 18" in the other direction.  

I took my ruler and drew the line all the way across. I squished as many of the feathers as I could down into that end.  Then I sewed on the line and a second line close to it. Because there were still a few feathers in the end I was cutting off, I sewed a third line to keep them in the end that would be thrown away.  Then I cut between the 2nd and 3rd line. 

After, the cut I was left with these ugly pillows. 

Now to cover them... I used several tutorials online for envelope pillow cases. It took me about ten minutes to finish them. It was super easy.  I used some upholstery fabric from ikea that I bought on sale for $1.99 a yard. For both pillows I cut a 44"x18.5" piece to cover them. So, to cover both pillows cost me $2!!!! 

I am pleased with how they turned out.  Hopefully, the rest of the room turns out well.  I am debating what color to paint the room. Maybe I will just paint the ceiling... So many ideas.  

The above picture shows the envelope back. I have wanted to try to make pillows for a while, but they scared me.  Let me tell you, these type of envelope style pillow covers are so so so easy.  I am thinking about recovering my couch pillows now, but they don't really need it. 

Week 13

Who knows how many times I will do this, but I thought I would give a pregnancy update.  This is probably more for me to look back on with future children and have something to compare to.  I didn't write down anything with Martin. 

This is week thirteen and it is that awkward stage where your pants, all of the sudden, don't want to button closed. This happened gradually last time. This time around I was fitting nicely into all my pants until this week. Bam. Something changed this weekend. Now I feel quite squashed and am about about to start the rubber band trick because maternity pants don't work until there is a belly to hold on to. 

Otherwise, things are looking up. I have been much less nauseous and have a bit more energy.  I went to the gym last week and I walked the park with my dad today. It was a lovely day for that. 

Week: 13

Pounds gained: 8

Cravings: Until this week I was just hungry all the time, it didn't matter what I ate. This week and last week I have been wanting fruits and veggies.  It is a good thing our CSA box starts this week and that strawberry season is soon. I have eaten a bunch of apples lately. 

Projects completed: A stuffed animal elephant and a copy of our wedding cake (I was looking through my recipes for a bread recipe last night to go with dinner and saw the recipe for my wedding cake and thought, I should make that for our anniversary, no wait, I should make that now. About an hour later a 1/4th recipe of a beautiful peanut butter cake, with chocolate ganoche layers and cream cheese frosting was finished. I might still make the whole recipe for our anniversary). 

Books read: The Problem of Pain, The Abolition of Man, and Dietrich Bonhoeffer (542 pages).  I have been doing a lot of reading recently. I am almost finished a 719 page book on North Korea, but Jared is reading it too so I have to share with him in the evenings. 

And here is a list of symptoms that people don't talk that much about (I may add to this, I am sure I am forgetting something). I think the first trimester is the worst. The last couple weeks are also pretty rough, but it is almost the end so it is doable. :) 

1. Random hiccups. I hiccup once or twice randomly throughout the day. I did it a few times while I was in labor with Martin and the nurse commented about how she had never heard of that happening. I must be weird. 

2. Being hungry all the time!! I didn't find that I was that hungry while I was nursing, but during pregnancy is another story.  I eat small meals and snacks all day long and still feel hungry all the time. Which is why I gain weight, but it all comes off with a little work afterwards. 

3. Waking up 2-5 times a night to go to the bathroom. This is the one that no one warns you about. It is exhausting. Thankfully, it goes away during the 2nd trimester. 

4. Heartburn when you eat too little or too much or garlic of any kind. 

5. Feeling so angry. Ha ha. This happens to me during the first few weeks.  I get mad about the littlest things and feel like stamping my feet and crying. 

6. Crying about silly things.  Jared asks when he will get his wife back because of this one. Although, I haven't cried as much this time. 

7. Everything smells. You will notice smells that are stomach turning.  Things that don't normally bother you suddenly make your stomach do flips. Coffee grounds are the worst for me. 

8. Being exhausted. I never nap, except during the first few weeks I am pregnant and the first few weeks the baby is born. When I worked, I would nap during lunch break, when I came home from work in the afternoon, And go to bed at 730. I am not quite that bad now, but I do like to go to bed early. 

But all in all, having a baby isn't that bad. It is exhausting and you wonder why you are doing this to yourself (again).  In the end, it is all worth it. I would trade a longer labor for a shorter pregnancy. Pregnancy seems to drag on forever. Labor is refreshing because you know it is about to end. Nine months is a long time, thankfully, I only have six more to go. Woohoo. 

We love this weather. 

And our picnic table that my Dad made us. :) 

Siblings

I happen to think having siblings is the best!!  I love all my siblings so much! They are all special and wonderful in their own way.  I am also happy that, in November, Martin will also have his own little sibling.  

He is pretty excited about it because I tell him that he will love it.  He watches the neighborhood kids playing basketball every day after school and looks so much like he wants to run out there and join them.  Instead, he settles for yelling (or maybe cheering) for them out the window.  

I would love to have a girl this time because dresses and skirts and doll clothes are fun to make. However, I want Martin to have a brother, so I am not as eagerly anticipating the gender reveal sonogram in about six weeks (well, not as much as last time).  

Martin will probably spend some time looking like this when he realizes he is not the center of our universe anymore.  Ha ha.  Cindy says you have to take pictures like this to remember the whole experience.  :) I have dubbed the ones, the whiney ones.  I don't know where he has learned it.  He will start this fake little cry and peer through his fingers to see if he has caused a reaction.  After about five or ten minutes, and no reaction, he stops and goes back to playing nicely.  

Often he whines when I have to take something dangerous away, I wonder if God feels the same way when he takes something away from us that is harmful. Having a baby has made me rethink a bunch of passages in the Bible. I will post some later.  

I want one

Look at this gorgeous little cabin (that is really an rv and can be used to travel around). I love Frank Llyod Wright's designs. I want to visit some of his houses.  I think it is neat that this is based off some of his designs.  

http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/this-charming-cabin-on-wheels-travels-with-you-design-news-203100

http://m.fastcoexist.com/3029935/this-adorable-cabin-has-a-secret-its-actually-an-rv#3

Banana Foster Monkey Bread

I have some bananas to use up and I wanted to try something different than banana bread or banana pancakes. I am letting the dough rise right now.  I will let you know how this turns out. I bet it would be even more amazing if it had chocolate chips in it.  Ha ha. 

Martin says hello. Look at all those teeth. They make eating food so much easier.  

Maryland Day

Once a year University of Maryland hosts an event that is free to the public. They have over 600 different booths and performances and tours and demonstrations.  I was on campus for three years and I never went.  I really missed out.  My best friend from college, Michelle, and I talk about going every year. We finally did this year. It was a wonderful day!! I can't wait until my kids are older and they can enjoy the activities as well. We are going to have so much fun in about five or seven years.  

We had so much fun that I completely forgot about my camera and didn't take any pictures.  I know, I am so mad at myself.  I did steal a few so that you can see what the day is like.  I highly suggest going. There is so much to do and so many free things.  Ha ha. 

We started off in engineering and looked around at a bunch of exhibits on different things they are researching.  We could have made our own silly putty and paint if we wanted to.  There is also a booth where you can build a Lego bridge and then test it on an earthquake shake table.  We then headed over to the Glenn Martin (of Lockheed Martin fame) wind tunnel where we sustained winds of 30 miles an hour for about five minutes.  Super hilarious and fun and we both wish we had taken pictures. Martin wasn't a big fan. Ha. Michelle and I laughed the whole time because it was so absurd standing in a wind tunnel having our hair and clothes blown around. We didn't look this crazy, but our eyes did get really dry. 

Next we went over to physics and math and the nasa tent where they gave us all sorts of free posters and stickers from NASA.  I can't wait to use them in home school some day. Ha ha.  They also had cannons shooting smoke rings and liquid nitrogen ice cream and the physics of pottery experiments.  We tried to get a pcture of Martin and the noaa mascot (an owl), but he was too scared. He was a little overwhelmed all day.   

We left there and wandered over through a bunch of kid bounce houses and games and past the computer science area.  I tested out my password strength and won a free beach ball and picked up a screen/glass cleaning cloth. 

Next stop the mall. They have so many tents on the mall with all sorts of things. You can fish turtle squeezie toys out if the fountain or watch a show on the main stage (dancing, gymnastics, black belt demo, etc). They have a tent for young children so you can change their diapers and get free water and juice. So much to do.  Free tooth brushes, dress up like a hobbit, take your picture as a magazine cover, build a structure with the architecture program, etc. We bought lunch and ate it while we watched some Jewish dance group. Martin was very entertained.  

We left there and headed to main campus where we stopped by the bookstore to look for some engineering school gear, but they don't sell any. Boo. So we walked around the football stadium and up to the performance art area to catch a Mardi gras parade and a symphony performance.  We caught a 45 minute long symphony performance of video game music. Apparently they were the first campus to have a symphony dedicated to video game music. Weird. I saw the Measiah here when I was in college. It was free.  I wish I had gone to more performances while I was there. They also had an instrument petting zoo and other interactive exhibits. 

After this we headed to the agricultural center and played a bee trivial game to win a plant.  Ha.  They had ice cream samples and a bunch of animal demonstrations all day.  They have a Cow with a window on the side of it so they can watch it digest food. I think I posted a picture on my blog of that many years ago. 

Back to more engineering to see the national buoyancy research lab. They test space equipment here and let astronauts train for outer space.  The tank is three or four stories high. They let you try to drive one of their robots around and pick up space rocks from the bottom of the tank. They also had a booth where you could build a boat and see who had the best design.  

We forgot to go to the fire protection lab and get the tour and we didn't get to race through the laser field either.  Those are on my list for next time.  The fire protection program is the only accredited  fire protection program in the country.  They have a fire tornado that is six feet high and give demos of new sprinkler systems they are working on.  You know you are an engineer when those things sound exciting. Ha ha. Maybe next time. 

We left the campus around 3:00 after doing another half loop around campus. It was such a beautiful day. The weather was perfect.  It was a lovely day and I look forward to going back again.  You should go too. It is only two hours away and completely free.  :) Plus, your kids get hands on experience to try out all sorts of different careers. 

Thanks to Michelle for spending the day with us.  We will take pictures next time we go. 

Lemon Chiffon Pie

Ingredients: 

Graham Cracker Crust & Lemon Curd Filling:

Chiffon Layer (whipped egg whites and half the lemon curd mixture): 

I can't wait to cut into this tomorrow. If it is delicious, you will get the recipe soon. :) 

Baked Cheesy Grits

If you have been down south, you will probably have seen or tried cheesy grits. I have. It is a bowl if slimy grits that has a handful of shredded cheese placed on top. It is gross. This recipe is not like that at all. I made this recipe out of a southern cookbook that a close family friend of the Sheltons gave us for our first anniversary. This recipe is incredible (if you love cheese and ham and deliciousness). 

Notes:

 I have made this with chicken stock and also with just water.  I highly suggest ham stock, but chicken stock can be substituted.  

I use chopped up ham.  The recipe calls for bacon bits. I am sure those would also be good. 

I usually use all cheddar cheese, but this time I made it with half cheddar and half velveeta. It was so creamy. I know, I just admitted using velveeta. I am not snobby enough to admit it was delicious.  I don't think it would be good all velveeta, but half and half seemed perfect. 

I use instant grits. But you can use regular grits. You will have to cook them longer. 

I boiled a ham bone yesterday and made ham stock.  The rest of it is going to be made into Cindy's ham soup next week. All the little bits of ham that fall off are perfect to throw in this recipe. 

Baked Cheesy Grits

1 onion

4 cups ham or chicken broth

1 cup grits

1 cup cheese (all cheddar or mix in some velveeta if you have it)

1/4-1/2 cup of chopped ham bits or bacon bits

1 tsp. black pepper

2 eggs

1. Sauté onion until soft, about 5 minutes. 

2. Add in grits, broth, pepper.  Cook 10-20 minutes until grits are cooked. 

3. Take off heat.  Add cheese and ham. Stir until cheese is melted. You can stop and eat them here if you don't want to wait until they are baked.  :) Beat eggs and then add in. Stir fast or they will cook. Some of the egg always cook each time I make this. 

4. Add to a buttered pan and bake for 50 - 60 minutes.  

Make these with your leftover ham and hambone this week.  You won't regret it!!!  They are so good. Martin tried his first bite today and he approves.  :) 

I couldn't take a pretty picture of the grits. Instead you can see a picture if a baby that is pleased with himself because he can walk. 

House in the Spring

My little house makes me so happy in the spring. I love all the flowers Jared planted in the yard.  They come up at different times. The purple creeping phloxes and hyicinith are the first to come up most years.  Soon there will be iris, roses, Black-eyed Susans, and lots more.  It is just so cheerful!!   I love it and my husband who spends his time making our yard look so beautiful. 

Easter Eggs

I am making these to bring to Easter dinner, along with cowboy cookies and a lemon chiffon pie.  I shouldn't have made them smaller; they are too easy to eat.  Ha ha.  I hope some of them make it until Sunday.  

They are a tradition in my family. We used to make them every year and give them to Sunday School teachers and friends. My Dad made them with his Grandmother when he was little.  I hope Martin can help next year or maybe the next year.  I would love to have pictures of Martin and my Dad making these.  Ps. We weren't allowed to do the chocolate until we were much older.  I remember how excited I was when I was old enough to chocolate them. It was such a treat. 

And sorry, no recipe for these, they are sort of a family secret.  I have looked online and seen similar recipes, but no exact recipes with our special ingredient. I am sure they would almost taste as good.  :)

Sweet Potatoes and Brown Butter Sauce

I made a brown butter and chives sauce to put on my fish last night, but then I decided to change the fish to brown sugar and mustard sauce instead.  So I had extra brown butter sauce and put I on the sweet potatoes instead.  :) It was so delicious!!!  The sweet potatoes are good in their own, however, the brown butter takes them to whole new level of awesomeness. 

Mashed Sweet Potatoes with Brown Butter and Chives

2lbs sweet potatoes slices 1/4 inch thick 

2 T butter

2 T heavy cream or half and half

1 T brown sugar

1/2 tsp. salt

Pinch pepper

Put everything, but the pepper in a pan and cook 35 - 45 minutes until potatoes fall apart when poked.  

Mash potatoes with potato masher and sprinkle with pepper.  

Serve plain or drizzled with brown butter sauce.  

Brown Butter and Chives Sauce

Put 2 T of butter in a pan and cook 1-3 minutes until in smells nutty and turns a dark brown.  Add fresh or dried chives to butter off heat.

Mysterious Dress

So I went upstairs to find my white eyelet fabric today.  I knew I had bought some a few years ago and decided I would conquer my clothes sewing fear and it would make a cute top.  Well, apparently, unknown to me, it made itself into a dress.  I wonder if any other fabric is planning on sewing itself into a quilt?!?  

I am hoping I can still use this to make a top because my post pregnancy hips do not fit into this cute dress.  Ha ha. I don't remember making this and I don't think I pre-washed it.  I don't know what I was thinking.  I sort of remember trying on the top. 

Hello, mysterious dress.  

These are the patterns I have. I don't know why these photos are loading blurry.  They look nice when I take them, but they are blurry when I load them to blogger.  I will have to figure that out.  I am thinking the top left one.  Updates will  be posted later if I end up sewing anything.  

Raspberry Lemon Bars and Sewing Projects

I finished a sheep, bib, and burp cloth for a shower I am going to this weekend.  I made the burp cloth girlish on one side and boyish on the other side because they aren't finding out what the baby is. :)   The bib is from some of my favorite fabric. I bought three or four yards when I was pregnant with Martin.  I made his curtains out of some of it. 

I also made raspberry, lemon strudel bars for the shower. They are in the oven right now.  I will post the recipe if it is delicious.  

Martin played happily while I baked because I made him eggs and waffles for second breakfast at 9:00.  He woke up at 5:30 this morning.  That extra half hour has made the day seem so much longer.  

Sloppy Joes and Homemade Rolls

Here is just a picture of the rolls. I will post a recipe later.  They are delicious. 

 Sloppy Joes

From ATK of course (they added an extra garlic clove and used water and tomato sauce, I just added extra tomato purée)

Warming don't overcook the meat in step one.  You want it to be pink and then cook in the sauce. 

2 tablespoons vegetable oil

1 medium onion , chopped fine

1/2 teaspoon table salt

1 cloves garlic

1/2 teaspoon chili powder

1 pound 85 percent lean ground beef

Ground black pepper

1 teaspoon brown sugar

1.5 cup tomato puree

1/2 cup ketchup

1/4 teaspoon hot pepper sauce

4 - 6 hamburger buns

1. Heat oil pan. Add onion and salt cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until onion is soft, about 10 minutes. 

Add garlic and chili powder and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add beef and cook about three minutes. 

2. Add 1/4 teaspoon pepper, brown sugar, tomato puree, ketchup, water, and hot sauce. Simmer until Sloppy Joe sauce is slightly thicker than ketchup, 10-14 minutes. If it cooks longer, you might need to add more water to thin it out. 

Target

For dinner tonight I am making risotto with white beans and spinach.  It is pretty much amazing, melt-in-your-mouth.  I am serving it with some sort if chicken and green beans.  Yum!! 

I don't use a lot if coupons because I find it takes too long to match them up and organize them.  I would rather be sewing or reading or playing with Martin.  However, I do read hip2save (a deal blog) almost every day and when I see a group of good deals, I sometimes buy stuff. I forgot to give the cashier two of my coupons.  Grr.  But still I bought all this (and a four pack of play-duh) for $8. The spaghetti was 26 cents a box. 

One of my favorite quick way to say money at Target is to use their app, Cartwheel.  I get 5-10% off diapers whenever I buy them. I also text target certain words and they send back coupons (I read about which words to text them on hip2save).  And Target lets you combine Target coupons, found on their website, with manufacturer's coupons, found on other sites.  Normally, I just use the Cartwheel app.  

Hooray for Target.  I also got 5% off my diapers today and a $10 gift card when I bought two packs.