Fall Has Arrived!

Well, it's that time of year again and the GREAT PUMPKIN HARVEST took place at Grandma and Grandpa's.  In Grandma's pumpkin patch a good 20 or more good sized pumpkins were to be found, orange and ready for the pick-en!  Way to go Grandma!  

The pictures show all six cousins or grandkids, depending on, of course, how you look at it!  Ezra (4) and Owen (1 1/2), Spencer (4) and Tyler (1), Cameron (2 1/2) and Audrey (3 months). 

~Jeannette

Audrey's Three Month Letter!

Dear Friends and Family,

Today I turn 3 months old!  I feel like such a big girl now.  I smile and laugh all of the time and overall I am a very happy girl!  I love to drool and suck on my fist as I try to figure out just what finger(s) I want to suck on permanently.  Mommy has to change my clothing often because the drool leaves me wet and this is yucky!  

I sleep GREAT at night!  I also fall to sleep on my own very well!  Mommy puts me in my sleep sack (this calms me down like a "lovey" would), nurses me a bit, puts me in the crib, sticks the pacifier in my mouth and strokes the top of my nose.  This routine relaxes me and I close my eyes and fall fast asleep!   I've been sleeping about 6-7 hours and then waking for a quick snack and then I fall back to sleep for another 4-5 hours.  Mommy and Daddy like this routine and appreciate how well I go to sleep.     

I'm almost able to roll over onto my tummy!  I get as far as my side and stop.  I work really hard at this during the day.  While kicking my legs, swinging my arms and moving my hips I find myself doing 360's on the floor or in my crib.  Mommy puts me down and away I go in circles!  I also get a little "tummy time" each day and work on my back and neck muscles...ohhh soooo strong am I!  

Pretty soon I will be able to interact with my big brother more.  At this time I can only smile, drool and laugh at him.  Cameron and I have a great relationship!  He kisses and hugs me almost all day long and I can't wait to give him kisses and hugs right back!  We are working on our secret handshake which includes "high fives", "knuckle knocks" and the popular "elbow knock"!  

Well, I must go now.  Cameron needs me to play with him outside for a bit and soon it will be lunch time.  I will write again soon.  

I Love You, 

Audrey

Zucchini Bread

Well, today the kids were a little under the weather with stuffy/runny noses and simply a little "off their rockers" as I like to put it and so it was yet another stay inside, take it easy, lazy day!  While Cameron played with his cars and Audrey took a little snooze I begin a marathon baking session.  The goal: make as many loaves of zucchini bread as I could!  Cameron soon joined me and we were off!  This time around, however, we froze the bread for later and Cameron kept his little fingers off "Mommy's Bread"!!  

My goal was reached too!  We made 6 loaves of bread and they all made it to the freezer except for one loaf for which we all had to try warm and fresh from the oven!  

For all of you that have asked for this yummy recipe, ENJOY!

~Jeannette

Zucchini Bread

3 eggs

1 Cup oil

2 Cups sugar

2 tsp. vanilla

2 Cups shredded zucchini

1 (8 1/2 oz) can crushed pineapple (juice and all)

3 Cups flour

2 tsp. cinnamon

1 1/2 tsp. soda

1 tsp. salt

3/4 tsp. baking powder

3/4 tsp. nutmeg

1 Cup raisins

1 cup chocolate chips

Beat eggs.  Add oil, sugar and vanilla and stir together until thick.  Mix in zucchini and pineapple.  Combine dry ingredients in a separate bowel and then add to wet ingredients and stir until blended.  Add raisins and chocolate chips.  

Bake in 2 greased and floured bread pans @ 350 for 1 hour.  

Cool bread on a rack

Mommy's Bread!

Well, the thought of baking zucchini bread and freezing it did not last long last night.  Cameron and Daddy where doing a little plumbing job on the bathroom sink while Mommy was out picking blackberries when Cameron quietly disappeared for a while.  When found, he was "cutting Mommy's bread"!  Yumm, warm chocolate chip, pineapple zucchini bread!  Anyone up for a "chunk" of bread?  I can no longer offer a clean slice!  Oh...you've got to love him, he's too cute!  ~Jeannette

Something's not right?

After looking through a bag of hand-me-downs Cameron decided that these underwear were the thing to wear!  He insisted on putting the all time classic Elmo undies on himself (backwards of course).   Putting them on correctly and actually on under the jammies?  What was I thinking?  Crazy Mommy!   

Happy Girl!

Audrey is doing so well and growing like a weed!  She is a happy little girl and smiles often.  Her twinkly eyes and bright smile light up my world!  Here she is in the cutest knit had around, thanks Aunt Rebecca!  ~Jeannette