Friday, October 31, 2014

Sweet Little Pumpkin

A year ago Christin sent me a text: "On this day next year, you are going to have a little pumpkin to dress up!" (Christin and I are notorious for saving texts i.e. Maid of Honor Speech 2009.)

This year I do have a little pumpkin to dress up. What a cutie she is, too! She fought trying on the outfits with Grandma C, but we were still able to dress up as a cupcake/ice cream cone to pass out candy to the 112 neighborhood kids last night. I also had to make the ladybug costume work today.



First Beggar's night with the family. 
Photo quality not too great, but the fun was special!
An apple treat for our little sweet.


Friday, October 24, 2014

Blog Browsing

Just some of the things we've been reading online this month. These links are to keep you looking on the internet longer than you normally would. Enjoy!

Target, how I love thee? Let me count the ways. Don't we always come out of Target with more than we went in for? (Not to name names -- Stacie, Christin and Carrie) ... The Bustle

What is the internet doing to your brain? ... Lady Okie

Reading up on Baby Led Weaning (fancy name for letting the baby feed herself)... Hellobee

It looks like a conversation Keith had in 2010 is paying off... WGI Winds

My mom used to make an apple dip like this. It is a good way to use my fall apples... Bargain Blessings

DAR Leadership show Breast Cancer Awareness support. Oh, so many pink dress suits... DAR Blog

Pumpkin Ice Cream Cake? Yes, please. Now, where is my springform pan?.... Larson Lingo


And for your viewing pleasure...
I had an idea/inspiration for a photo recreation. On the left is a photo taken when I was 5 months old. (I am told it was taken in Arizona during a visit for Grandma & Grandpa Ritchie's 50th Anniversary.)Then, Keith helped take the photo of when Eva was 5 months old.

Monday, October 20, 2014

Oatmeal Muffin Apple Cobbler

I adapted a recipe I found while searching Apple Recipes on Southern Living. I had all the ingredients on hand, so this was an easy choice. With the abundance of delicious apples in the fall, I can't help that I love baking with apples.

Ingredients
3 large Granny Smith apples, peeled and sliced (about 1 1/2 pounds)* I used Gala apples. 
1 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1/4 cup butter
3 large pears, peeled and sliced (about 1 1/2 pounds) I used a different variety of apples... Honeycrisp. 
Oatmeal Muffin Batter
3/4 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup uncooked regular oats
1/4 cup sugar
1 tablespoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup milk
3 tablespoons butter, melted
1 large egg, lightly beaten

Prepare the Oatmeal Muffin batter as follows. Combine the ¾ cup flour, the oats, sugar, baking powder, and salt in a large mixing bowl; make a well in center of mixture. Stir together milk, melted butter, and lightly beaten egg; add to dry ingredients, and stir just until moistened. Set aside.

Combine apples, brown sugar, and 2 tablespoons of  in a large bowl, stirring to coat apples.

Melt butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add apple mixture; bring to a boil, and cook, stirring often, 10 minutes. Add pears to skillet, and cook, stirring often, 5 minutes. Spoon hot fruit mixture into a lightly greased 10-inch (8-cup) deep-dish pie plate or shallow 2-quart baking dish. Spoon Oatmeal Muffin Batter evenly over fruit mixture.

Bake at 425° for 20 to 25 minutes or until crust is golden brown. Garnish with pecans, if desired.
Look at this little sous chef.
She fell asleep on the job. 
*2 (21-ounce) cans apple pie filling can be substituted for apples and pears. Omit brown sugar and flour. Melt butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add pie filling, and bring to a boil; remove from heat. Proceed with recipe as directed.
Yum! Enjoy!
(I wish I had had whipped cream on hand, too).

Wednesday, October 15, 2014

In the 6th month...


"His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness." - 2 Peter 1:3
In the 6th month...

...I have come to tears several times just thinking about how much I LOVE this girl! It is funny to realize that God has given me yet another best friend to make my life more whole. He has amazingly done it with this happy little 6th month old.
...We had a wonderful day celebrating her baptism. Aunt Sara, Uncle Ross and lots of other friends and family helped welcome her into the Lord's family forever. Amen.
...Books we've read: Baby's First Prayers, Animal Orchestra, My First Counting Book, Pat the Bunny, Mr. Brown Can Moo.
...More football games AND band competitions.
...Eva enjoys watching a few minutes of Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood on PBS.
...Playdates with Hattie & Ruby and two meet-ups with Charlie & James.
...Eva successfully rolls from tummy-to-back and back-to-tummy.
...She practices balance by holding herself up on the coffee table (not pulling herself up yet, unless Daddy pulls her up with a 1-2-3 count).
...We have a little girl that can sit on her own! What a great sitter she is!
Hi! I'm 6 months old!
I'm 6 months old and
look at me sit!

Friday, October 10, 2014

Ten on Ten // October

I am not the most consistent blogger to begin with but I have been intending to get back on the Ten-on-Ten train. This little 6-month hiatus has been filled with everyday beauty, and so has today.
By 8am... checking out the view of Grand Lake St. Marys.
One of the presentation rooms was in a science lab! Interesting sights.
Apple trees on campus. 
A Sprite helped with some afternoon car sickness.
Playtime for baby. Resting for Mommy.
Tastes good, eh? 
Uncle Ross stops by. Can you see the love?
Bottles, all clean. 
Packed up for weekend adventures!
At 10pm... finally reading the daily calendar. 

Thursday, October 2, 2014

Baptism

"Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations,
baptizing them in the name of the Father 
and of the Son, 
and of the Holy Spirit." 
Matthew 28:19

What a beautiful Sunday we had to begin this week as Eva was baptized! She is now claimed as a child of God and her sin is forgiven. She begins her relationship with God and we are so excited to watch her grow more in love with Him. 

We had many loving, welcoming family and friends to share in this event. I was so busy enjoying this special day I did not get a good group photo of the loved ones, but we are thankful for each of them. All of Eva's grandparents and living great-grandparents were able to be there as she was welcomed into God's family. A few great-aunts and uncles with second cousins made the drive to Columbus.  Our dear friends, Stacie + kids, as well as Bob, Colleen and Kyle came to the share in the day. 


We love that Aunt Sara, Uncle Chip, and Uncle Ross agreed to be her sponsors by supporting her through prayer and teaching her about the Lord. 
On the way into church... no, that is not drool. It is a ribbon.
Sara, Ross, Daddy, and Mommy with newly baptized Eva.
Happy boy, Rhys, with tears still welled from Eva's apparent sin.
(She pinched him.)
Sleepy Eva with Grandpa Hallas