Easy come, easy go

Whew, Christmas is over. Not that it wasn't wonderful and lucrative. It's just that so much effort goes into getting everything "just right" and when all that work, stress and effort culminates Christmas morning it's just a huge relief to get the day successfully over and move on. From the standpoint of our children, it was a great Christmas.



Both Peanut and Walnut received digital cameras....yes, my one year old has his own camera. Not only does he know how to take pictures with it, he can also delete them and turn the thing on and off, I'm so proud. I don't think Walnut was very impressed with his new bike,

I think Santa decided to leave it in the box, so that Peanut would not be jealous, not sure that was the best idea, fortunately, once assembled the bike was a hit!

Santa definitely heard Peanuts pleas and delivered a sleeping bag, "not a bag you put things in" as I was reminded many times, but "a bag you can put your body in and lay there" glad Santa got it right!


The One Who Works also made out pretty good, although how can you not, when you pick out your own gifts, wrap them and put them under the tree yourself. All in all it was a great Christmas, nothing like spending time with my growing little family! Only 362 days till next Christmas.

Roll on

I made these for Christmas Eve dinner at my Aunts house this year. They were a hit. I'd like to claim the recipe but I can't, I found it in a book. I highly recommend them, they are best just out of the oven, with a big lump of butter smothered all over them. I wish I had a picture of them but as you can imagine making two pans of homemade rolls, and getting four kids to the Christmas Eve party on time was enough of a challenge. Enjoy!

Dinner Rolls
2 cups warm water
2/3 cup nonfat dry milk
2 tablespoons dry yeast
1/4 cup sugar
2 teaspoons salt
1/3 cup butter, shorting or margarine
1 egg
5-6 cups all purpose flour

In a large electric mixer bowl, combine water, milk powder, yeast, sugar, salt butter, egg, and 2 cups flour. Mix at medium speed for two minutes. Add 2 cups flour, and again mix at medium speed for two minutes. Add last of flour and mix again for two minutes. Dough will be sticky. Pour dough into a bowl coated with a tablespoon of vegetable oil, turn dough until completely coated in oil. Cover with plastic and allow to raise in warm place until double in size. Sprinkle counter with flour and roll out and cut rolls into desired shape. Place on greased baking pans. Let rise in warm place until rolls are double in size (about 1 hour). Bake at 375 for 15-20 minutes. Brush with melted butter while hot. Makes 12-18 rolls.

Time flies

I can't believe it's been six months since I won the baby lottery. Today my twins are six months old. They are growing so fast and I can't help but feel so happy and yet so sad every time I look at them. They both weigh just over 16 lbs and are just about average for babies of their age....a little small for what is usual for us though, our other boys weighed in at 20 lbs and 21.5 lbs at this age! Little Red has finally settled into a peaceful little personality, he found his thumb a few months ago and I'm sure this has helped him settle himself down considerably. He is very strong and although he weighs nearly the same as his sister, he is two inches taller than her. He still has his beautiful red hair, and the happiest smile you've ever seen. I definitely love all my children the same, but think Little Red is probably my most beautiful baby.


Sweetie is our chubby little princess, she's always dressed in pink and has full round naturally rosy cheeks, no matter the weather. Her hair is finally growing in a light brown color, although we're going to need a few months more growth before I can get use out of those adorable baby barrettes I stocked up on. Both babies are obsessed with watching me and are happy whenever I am in their line of sight, a feat not easily accomplished while running this crazy house of ours....my solution, I put the babies in their high chairs while I'm cleaning the kitchen, doing laundry or vacuuming and move them around to face me so they can watch my every move. Kinda creepy but, they enjoy it, and I just try to get my work done while ignoring those four little blue eyes trained on my every move.

Both babies sleep through the night and have for months now, which helps both my mind and body feel whole. It's amazing how much quicker you can take control of your life when you're working with eight hours of sleep in your pocket. All in all I have to say the past six months have flown by, and although I love to see my babies grow and develop, I miss those tiny newborn cries, and those miniature fingers and toes, it was all I could do not to cry, I as I packed away their beautiful little preemie clothes. I wouldn't exactly say the last six months have been easy, but it's been fun, it's been an adventure, and I've loved every minute of it, and look forward to every minute yet to come.

Thirty-four

My Mom told me it was her best year, she flew on an airplane for the first time in her whole life, she went to Hawaii with my Grandmother on an all expenses paid two week vacation and she wasn't pregnant or nursing anyone! I can only hope my thirty-fourth year is as good. I won't be able to have my first flight, since I logged thousands of sky miles in my former jet setting life, but maybe I could do some other "first" like run a mini marathon or something? I've been to Hawaii dozens of times (not that a relaxing trip to Maui isn't just what I'd love right now) but maybe I could find a new place to visit a little closer to home, like a bed and breakfast in one of the local canyons, it would be nice to talk to my husband again...without the dozens of interruptions we have in the form of children at our house. Lastly, I can say without a doubt that I have no plans to be pregnant in the next year, I think my sanity is a fine line that I'm barely tip toeing along at this point. I have grand plans to have the twins weaned by the first of the the year, perhaps my body will belong to me again soon. You know, thirty-four doesn't feel all that different than fourteen, the outside of me looks older but the inside of me feels the same, kind of scary, no wonder my grandparents got such a kick out of watching all us grand kids, they probably felt like us on their insides. All in all, I have grand plans for this next year of my life, I've only been thirty-four for couple of days and so far it's been great.