Linnea is Two!

Hard to believe that just 2 years ago we welcomed our active little girl into this world. From the crazy summer of moving and preparing for her birth on the other side of the country to settling down here in the sunny mountains, it's been quite an adventure.

It's been a delight watching her grow and become her own little person. She is very determined and knows her mind. She's always been very good at expressing what she wants, but now that her vocabulary is picking up it's even more fun hearing how opinionated she is!

*"Lellow" is her favorite color followed by "peenk" (pink) and "poopa"(purple) and "boo"(blue).

*She loves doggies and kitty cats. She has a little striped beany baby kitty that she sleeps with along with her most recent baby doll. And her blanket "banky", of course.

* She is very good at putting her shoes on the right feet and will change them when she gets it wrong, without me pointing it out to her. Henry and Evalyn are still working on this... ; ) And like most kids her age, anyone's shoes of any size are fun to play with. Even my kitchen gloves.

* She LOVES Blue's Clues and definitely watches more than she probably should. She's so dang cute and insistent when she comes up to me and says entreatingly "boo! boo!" (with a very faint "l"sound) and does the little open and closed hand signs for Blue's Clue's from the show.

*Tantrums: she has them at a higher rate than the older two, hands down. Hard to say if it's her personality or being #3. We're talking screaming, very loud protestations, throws her body on the floor, etc. over very slight provocations. She spends a lot of time in her room cooling off.

*When she's not throwing a fit she's very sweet and loving, often doing little errands and requests for everyone in the family. Closing the door, getting toys, putting dishes in the sink, etc.

*NeaNea loves balls, ducks, airplanes (BIG! Up High!!), BABIES, coloring, putting things on her head and doing everything her bro and sis are doing.

She's just one fun little girl and we're so happy to have her in our family. As I was going through photos for this post, I realized that I need to take more video clips!

Here's some pics of her, slideshow format, chronologically from last fall to now. Click the play button to view.

Apple Crisp

Okay, I had a few requests to post my apple crisp recipe. I've fiddled with it a bit because the single recipe amount is never enough in MY opinion. Plus if there's any extra I can always find someone willing to clean the bowl out (usually me). ; )

I use a pastry blender to get everything well blended. I used to use my hands, especially as a kid, but it's much more efficient if you have a pastry blender on hand! Another nice tool is an apple-peeler-corer. I use mine regularly all year long. Just rinse off to clean and pop it back in the cupboard. Great for picky kids' snacks. And makes for super easy homemade applesauce.

oh, and this pic from Martha makes me want to host some amazing fall party.... I LOVE the fall!


Holly's Apple Crisp

4 c sliced apples (peeled as well, if you prefer) about 4 medium sized

1 cup brown sugar
3/4 cup flour
3/4 cup oats
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
1/2 cup butter, softened (add a bit more if it seems too dry)

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Butter an 8x8 dish and place apples evenly in bottom. Mix dry ingredients together and then blend butter in with a pastry blender. Sprinkle over apples and bake for 20-30 minutes, depending on how soft you like your apples and how brown you like your topping!

Double this for a 9x13 w/ 6-8 cups apples

good luck!

It's Raining!!

The first precipitation we've had in MONTHS is pouring down! A delicious cold front moved in last night and we finally had some decent fall weather with temps in the 60's instead of 90's. Lovely.

There's something programmed in me about baking and cool weather. I went to bed last night with a clean kitchen and dreaming of pumpkin muffins in the morning. It took me awhile to decide on the recipe and I ultimately combined 2 or 3 recipes to make my own version. I need to make it another time after tweaking the spices and moisture content, but I will post it to be sure!

Other posts are forthcoming....

Sunday Afternoon

We have been overdosing on apple crisp this weekend. We ran out of the store bought apples so we tried our luck with the tree in our back yard. Henry and Evalyn helped pick about a dozen of the best looking apples. Holly and the kids fixed the dessert as I pecked away on the computer at the kitchen table. Holly exits to knit or read, or both at the same time.

And this is the scene that played out:


Scene:

Daddy, slouching at the computer. Evalyn and Henry going in and out of the house at leisure, keeping the door open throughout.

Characters: Evalyn, Henry and Daddy.

Evalyn: MMmmmmm! I smell something good from the oven.

Daddy: You do?

Evalyn: Yep! Daddy, is the apple crisp ready yet?

Daddy: Nope, not until it goes 'beep-beep-beep-beep."

Evaylan: Oh, awright!

...5 minutes later. Running in and out of the house.

Henry: Daddy, is the apple crisp ready?

Daddy: Nope, not yet buddy. The oven needs to go "beep-beep-beep-beep." Why don't you look for some more airplanes.

....20 minutes later apple crisp is cooling on the stove top. Evalyn sees the apple crisp cooling off on the stove top.

Evalyn: Daddy, it's ready! (beelining to the stovetop).

Daddy: No! Evalyn DO NOT touch it is VERY HOT!

Evalyn: I am just going to see if its done.

Daddy: It's DONE, EVALYN!. It just needs to cool.

.....Oblivious, Evalyn gets a giant spoon from the drawer and digs in.

Daddy: Evalyn!

Evalyn: It's okay, I am just testing it. I am not going to eat anytying.

.....Evalyn, procceds to eat without burning her mouth.

Daddy: Awright, then. (Evalyn walks outside.)

....5 minutes later -- Evalyn re-enters.

Evalyn: Daddy, I just cannot keep my mind off that apple crisp.

Daddy: Well, then! Should we have that for dinner instead of leftovers?

Evalyn: Okay!