Christmas 2013

Baked Apples

Not much of a 'recipe' but just fun on a cold day:

Use a melon-baller to get top 3/4 of core out of apple (you don't want to go all the way through). Fill up w/ butter, sugar, & cinnamon. Pour water in bottom of pan.  Bake @ 375 for 30-40 min. (Or I used the toaster oven.) Num!

December - Baby it Cold Outside!

All smiles before beddy-bye time

Everything's better w/ polka-dots

 This has been a terribly cold month. -20 is for February, not December. Finally, the girls played outside yesterday when it was 33 (above), but again today, -16. Have to make our own fun indoors!

Rudolph, Frosty, Turban Santa & Holly

Chocolate Lasagna

INGREDIENTS

• 1 package regular Oreo cookies (Not Double Stuff) – about 36 cookies
• 6 Tablespoon butter, melted
• 1- 8 ounce package cream cheese, softened
• 1/4 cup granulated sugar
• 2 Tablespoons cold milk
• 1- 12 ounce tub Cool Whip, divided
• 2 – 3.9 ounce packages Chocolate Instant Pudding.
• 3 1/4 cups cold milk
• 1 and 1/2 cups mini chocolate chips

DIRECTIONS

1. Begin by crushing 36 Oreo cookies.
2. Transfer the Oreo crumbs to a large bowl. Stir in 6 tablespoons melted butter and use a fork to incorporate the butter into the cookie crumbs. When the butter is distributed, transfer the mixture to a 9 x 13 inch baking dish. Press the crumbs into the bottom of the pan. Place the pan in the refrigerator while you work on the additional layers.
3. Mix the cream cheese with a mixer until light and fluffy. Add in 2 Tablespoons of milk, and sugar, and mix well. Stir in 1 and 1/4 cups Cool Whip. Spread this mixture over the crust.
4. In a bowl, combine chocolate instant pudding with 3 and 1/4 cups cold milk. Whisk for several minutes until the pudding starts to thicken. Use a spatula to spread the mixture over the previous cream cheese layer. Allow the dessert to rest for about 5 minutes so that the pudding can firm up further.
5. Spread the remaining Cool Whip over the top. Sprinkle mini chocolate chips evenly over the top. Place in the freezer for 1 hour, or the refrigerator for 4 hours before serving.

I need this a few weeks ago for A coworker's birthday. They loved it so much they asked me to make it again for our Christmas party/recipe exchange. Now all I need is my ugly Christmas sweater and I'm ready to go!

Here's mama's little kitchen helper. 

Thanksgiving @ Gramma & Grandpa Brooks'

Will post more pics when I get my other camera pics on here. Here's just a few from that wkend !

Baby Mini Me

I will hold him & love him & pet him and name him George. This baby gets around. 

5 months for Thing 2

I cannot believe 5 months goes by so fast. Here's my 90%-tile baby bathing :)

My Girls

The Last Brooks/Bulinski/Maki/Schaefer Family Dinner for the Year

Mmmmm...Gramma's Pie

6 Grand kids & 3 on the way

Miss you already!

Checkups

Checkup & shots all around this past week. Elizabeth is 29# (32%-tile), 3'1"(41%-tile).
Felicity is:16#1oz (75%-tile), 26.25" long (95%-tile), head: 16.5" (75%-tile).
All three of us girls got our shots.  Elizabeth and Mommy got our flu shots & Felicity got 1 of her 4 mo. shots (we'll get the other 2 in 2 weeks--our dr is REALLY good about letting us separate them).


Elizabeth getting her BP taken, "I'm a big girl!"

SUCH a smiley baby!



Late pic: Daddy & Elizabeth made Mommy a yummy b-day cake!

"Cholake pokorn"

Elizabeth fell in love w/ this after a gal @ work made it for her. It's like a cocaine-addiction. Melt 1 pkg white chocolate chips & pour over 1 6 oz prepopped bagged popcorn. Stir, stir, stir. Pour over table covered w/ foil or wax paper. Allow to cool. Num num. (since I don't have a double boiler, I used a glass bowl in a pot w/ hot water in it. Put it on "low" & don't let water get in the chocolate or heat too hot, too fast otherwise it will seize up.)

A Child's Prayer

After our recited prayers tonight, which Elizabeth is getting better at, we say for what we're thankful. Elizabeth ends hers tonight with, "and thank you for Mark & kitties & auntie Kitty & puppies & grandmas & papas & butterflies & ice cream & bumblebees & flowers & Babies & Patty & Doug & Arlene & cousins & ..." and she keeps going after we kiss her goodnight. 

E = 3 yrs, F = 4 mo.

My little pumpkins have matching shirts - one from each Grandma. Unplanned. 

This weekend I asked Felicity if she was hungry. She replied with, " num num," which is what we call nursing. Then during one of her nightly cries, she was crying, "maaa, maaa." Even David heard it, when u thought I was imagining things. I've heard the 2nd child talks sooner, but @ 4 mo?! Hehe

Totem Pole Pics

Happy 3rd Birthday Elizabeth Angel

To my dear, sweet Elizabeth: three years ago today you changed our world. You've changed so much in such a short amount if time. I am so proud of you. You're the first to call me "mom" and sweetest little 'angel'. You are a loving & generous big sister. God blessed us on this day. Happy All-Saints-Day and Happy Birthday. 

Future Garage Widow?

And so it begins: insulating the garage. Now he can be in the garage warm & toasty. Hmmm, he'll still have to come in to eat so I'll still see him often! Lol

No Daycare=Fun w/ Grandparents

Couldn't have said it better myself...

E's Rainbow

Elizabeth made a fingerprint rainbow by herself. She even knows the color order too!

Healing Powers of Breastmilk

Did you think that Breastmilk is only for feeding baby?  As breastmilk is “clean” and has anti-bacterial & healing properties, have you considered other great uses for it?

Here are some that you can try!  [Note:  Suitable for babies & children, and even adults!]

Eye infections / Conjuctivitis ("Pink Eye"):  Squirt into the eye.  Do this as frequently as possible until healed.  If the baby/child doesn’t allow you to squirt breastmilk into his eye, then do it while they are sleeping.  Squirt around the crease of closed eyes, then gently lift the lids to allow the breastmilk to seep into the eye.

Sore/cracked nipples:  Rub into nipples after feedings and air dry.

Scratches/Scrapes/Cuts:  Squirt & clean wound first with the breastmilk; then apply some more on wound and air dry.  This is really great when on outings where no ready water supply is available.  If the cut is on the lips or mouth area, healing will be especially easy for a breastfeeding baby or child.  Just the simple act of nursing the child not only calms the child from the pain of the injury, but the breastmilk that must pass the wound during nursing will close the cut rather quickly.

Mosquito bites / Ant bites: Squirt on bite and rub in.  Helps to stop the itching.

Ear infections: Squirt or pour into sore ear

Acne / Eczema / Diaper rash:  Wash skin with water, then apply breastmilk all over.  Air Dry.

Facial Cleanser:  Apply breastmilk on face & wipe clean.  Great even for removing eye-makeup!

Sore throats/Mouth Sores:  A baby/child that is still breastfeeding can benefit by directly nursing.  If not, drinking a cup of expressed breastmilk will help.  It certainly helped when my then 19-month-old son had mouth sores from a bout of Hand, Foot & Mouth disease.  His mouth was too sore to nurse directly from the breast, but drinking expressed breastmilk from a cup helped heal the sores in a day.

Stuffy noses: Squirt into nose and suction or squeeze out as you would with saline.

If you have an older child/spouse who is ill, give them some breastmilk.  It's a great immunity booster!

Yep...that's about right (motherhood cartoon)

Tummy Time for #2

This "tummy time" this is for the birds.

Hey, this isn't so bad.

Now I've got it!

Maki Family Gathering

2010 Babies

2008 Babies

Say "Cheese!"

Say "boogers!"

Vikes/Bears Game: 30-31.  Poo

Schaefer Totem Poles