A little humor to end the blogging for today

I've been wanting to catch this on video for quite some time and I FINALLY got it.  So here's Gregory's performance debut!

http://s188.photobucket.com/albums/z273/rmcook75/?action=view&current=041_NEW.mp4

Thinking back to Missouri

Yes, I am having to go way back with these posts since life has been so crazy!  We had a great time in Missouri.  I feel like I didn't devote much time sharing about this trip.  So I am re-visiting it :-)  Like I had said before we wished Betty (my mother-in-law) had been feeling better when we were there, but she didn't start feeling better when we were there.  Also, as I had said before Gregory loved being with his cousins and the cousins loved being with him and Joshua, too.

Ok, so I can't think of anything else to add to this...sorry!  Here's where the pics are at...http://tomandroxannecook.shutterfly.com/3777

Baking and Cooking

Let me work backwards for a little bit about my recent recipes I've tried...today I made applesauce.  I love homemade applesauce!  It is so delicious and fresh.  I am using the same recipe that I used last year (in my crockpot) but this year I am going to make LOTS more and can it.  This first batch won't make it into the jars :-)

Here are a few pics of the process...since it's not done yet there is no finished picture yet.

The second thing I made today was chicken stock...this is a first for me.  I got some rotisserie chickens for really cheap, so I got all the meat off the bones I could (and froze that) and then I froze the carcasses for when I had the rest of the ingredients and the time to make the stock.  So today was the day!  I got out my NEW LARGE stockpot that I got from my mother-in-law (THANKS AGAIN!) and put the bones, the water, the veggies and a little pepper in the pot and followed the rest of the directions while looking at two recipes and kind of combining them.


A couple of weeks back I made some carrot zucchini bread which has been wonderful!  Gregory loves it and I love the fact that there are veggies in the yummy bread!  (even though it hasn't been a problem to get Gregory to eat his veggies)

I also made some chocolate chocolate chip zucchini muffins...a few of them are making their way into the freezer.



 These last two recipes it's been so fun to use our veggies we've "harvested" from our garden.

Our gardening season is coming to an end even though the temps are still pretty warm here...there are only a few items still producing...tomatoes and zucchinis (hopefully).  Oh and there are a few carrots still in the garden.

Joshua is 9 months!

As you all know the time flies by with our babies...life with Joshua is no exception.

He now has 5 almost 6 teeth.
He is pulling himself up and taking steps, trying to walk around things.
He is still loving food (as you can see from the pics) :-)
He has been for the most part healthy (had his first ear infection this past month).

Here are the comparison pics and then there are many other adorable pics at our shutterfly page.  Joshua's pic is first and then Gregory's.

Catching up

Wow, it's so hard to catch up when you've been gone for what seems like so long...over the past two weeks we've gone through strep throat, an ear infection, the flu, more teeth coming in, potty training and even more if you can believe it!

So today it feels great to have energy (which is coming to a quick end) and the motivation to get stuff done!

I've made chicken stock, applesauce, taken picture of the boys and working on blogging (catching up).

So this is the beginning of a few updates...enjoy!

update (with no new photos - if you can believe this)

This morning I was up and couldn't sleep and then thoughts started running through my head and now I can hardly remember them!  This past week has been a busy one - because that's what helps me get through times when Tom is gone...I guess it just exhausts us all!

We went to the zoo (got to see the tigers fighting) and had a blast!  Gregory's highlight was getting to play in the TWO play areas and feeding his favorite, the giraffes.  I just enjoyed seeing all of God's awesome creations! 

I got to go to MOPS and hear an AWESOME speaker in Jill Savage (Hearts at Home).  I was so encouraged by everything that was said...a few tidbits I took away...
-Put a Bible in each bathroom to "draw closer to God" whenever you get a chance (and read a Proverb a day)--yes there will be little fingers under the door, but I need this time!
-I need to figure out more of what refuels me so that I am not found by my husband broken down by the side of the road. 
-My children cannot be first in my marriage, my marriage must be first or there WILL be bigger problems with my children when our marriage isn't working.
-Jesus DOES understand motherhood - people always wanting to touch him; betrayal; disappointment; tiredness.
-My children's behavior is not what defines me; God is who defines who I am.  Children will do foolish things, they will do childish things.

We also went to a place called 'Lil Biggs and Gregory had fun riding the carousel while I enjoyed some delicious pizza (and of course all this was cheap since I had coupons!)

Then today I pulled some carrots from the garden and shredded them along with some zucchini to make some muffins and bread...I'll let you know how it all turns out.  I am so happy at harvest time!

still here

So this week I am needing a little break from blogging, not because there's nothing going on but because there's been so much going on.  We've all be sick off and on for a little over a week and then Tom left for MD and took the laptop so it's not very convenient to be on the computer.  So everyone hang on and I'll be back next week (with more pics and stories).