Home Made

Sebby and I decided to try our hand at making crackers.  So many crackers in the store have milk products of some sort in them.  Whew! I didn't realize that going to the grocery store for "vegan" food would be like going to the library.  I really have to read labels. I also need to carry my laptop so I can look up all the funny looking words in the ingredient list like "casein".   It is a protein found in cheese and milk. Now I have to plan my trips instead of just running to the store for a quick shop.

I looked on line for a cracker recipe. The one we did was really simple but I think I need to tweak it before sharing it with you.  I think the key is making sure the dough is rolled thin enough and the crackers are baked long enough but not too long.  I am at high altitude and so I am going to have to mess around with the recipe till I get something good.  Sebby like them when we tasted them.

Davy wasn't so sure about the crackers. He does like graham crackers though.  He also doesn't have to be on the vegan diet, but since Sebby is why not let them both be on it.  Then I don't have to cook so many different things at meal time!

If any of you have ever made crackers before I would love to hear your experiences with them.  Would love the recipes too!

Asthma, Colds, and Making The Most Of It

Poor kids.  Davy has a bad cold and Sebby has a cold that launched his asthma.  Fortunately we know how to deal with the asthma attacks now so that we don't have to take Sebastian to the hospital.  I am really glad because it saves us sooooo much money!  Maybe that is why God never sold my Oxygen and Medical business.  Now it is providing for my family.  The Dr. gave an RX for Sebby and I had immediate delivery of Oxygen.  Casey still has medicine from the last time and the Dr. upped his dosage for the first two days.  We have been giving regular nebulizer treatments and he seems to be doing better.

Unfortunately because they are both sick we can't go outside.  It can get cabin feverish.  The boys decided to play hide and seek.  Sebby got to be off his oxygen for awhile so we played.  They are creative.  Funny how they have to call me when they are hiding so in can find them.  Sebby asked me to put Davy in the hamper with him so they could "hide" together.  Very cute.

A friend suggested we try a vegan diet for awhile and see if that works to reduce the asthma for Seb.  So Casey went out and bought a few things and made a couple of really good recipes.  My first thought about going vegan is, no flavor diet.  But the recipes we tried are really good. We found them online by typing key word Vegan Recipes. I will share them in a future blog.

Hunkering Down and Chocolate Chip Cookies

It's getting colder by the minute.  I think it's going to snow again.  Sigh.  I really am tired of the snow and cold, but the nice thing about it is that I can snuggle with the boys.  Davy came this morning with this darling and very warm hat on.  He looks so cute in it.

Both of the boys have colds. So what's new.  They decided to get on Grammy's fluffy bed and wrap up in blankets to watch cartoons.  Sebby said, "Can I watch cartoons Grammy? That would cheer me up."  How can I refuse. 

We did make cookies today. They came out really good. 


Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe
Cream together:
1 pound butter softened, (four sticks or two cups)
1 cup white sugar
1 cup brown sugar firmly packed

Add to creamed butter and sugar
2 eggs beaten
1 Tablespoon vanilla
and beat till fluffy.

Separately  put
4 cups flour
3/4 tsp baking soda
3/4 tsp salt
in a bowl and stir dry ingredients together. Add spoonful at at time to mixture and beat on low till well blended

Add
1 cup of coarsely chopped walnuts
1 12 oz pkg chocolate chips

Stir till blended.

You don't have to grease the cookie sheet, but I either spray it a little bit or use parchment paper liner. I actually use a small ice cream scoop (about 1.5 inch) to shape the cookies.  They all come out the same size that way. Bake at 350 for 12-14 minutes or until golden brown.
This recipe is good for high altitude cookies.  I live at 7600 feet.

Warm Greetings Fun And Games

I flew into Albuquerque airport and was so excited to see my Sebby and Davy. Don drove up to the passenger pick up and I opened the door and grabbed my Sebby and hugged him tight.  He said, "We are picking up up at the airport!"  He was all smiles and giggles.  After hugging my wonderful husband ( he really missed me!) I slid in between the boys.  I gave Casey a hug and settled back into shear heaven. Davy was asleep in his car seat and I had to wait till he woke up before hugging him.  My heart was really full and I was so happy to be back with my boys.

Casey, Don, and I went out to dinner before heading back home.  Sebby sat by me and hugged my arm and kept saying, "We picked you up at the airport!"  It was exciting for him too.  We had a great dinner and then drove home. Sebby hugged my arm all the way home.

The boys came over the next day for me to babysit while Casey went to work.  We had a ball playing games and running round. Don fixed up a box and pull and put the boys in it and pulled them around the living room.  They both squeeled with delight.

Periodically throughout the day Sebby would say, "We picked you up at the airport!"  I was gone so long that he may have thought I wasn't coming back and he was so thrilled to see that I did!

Today Sebby and I are going to make cookies.  "M&M cookes" per request. Will let you know how it goes.

Snuggling With Abby

Andy usually gets up early with the girls so Callie can get a few extra winks.  She was up most of the night last night because Cate decided it was time to play around 10:00 pm.  So I went upstairs about 8 am as Andy was getting ready to head out the door for work. On his way out he woke up Abby and kissed her good-bye.

Abby come out into the living room saying, "Abby's awake."  She crawled up on the couch with me.  She likes the smooth feel of my satin pjs.  We got the blanket and snuggled together while watching the early morning news.  She sipped on a cup of milk and snuggled under my arm.  Content to have her there and she being content to stay there we enjoyed sitting together for half an hour.

I've been here almost a month and Abby is finally comfortable with me.  Sad that I have to leave in three days. I guess I just need to make the most of those days while I have them.

Posing with Abby

I set the time on the Nikon D40X and we took pictures for about 45 minutes.  We had a ball.  She kept saying, "Take it again."  I kept taking pictures until she got tired.  It was fun!

Applesauce

You would think when Abby says "applesauce" she is speaking about something that you eat.  When I went to the store I bought her applesauce.  I found out later that is not what she is saying. 

We were doing her letters on Starfall.com.  The O has an eight legged sea creature on one of the pages.  I asked her what it was.  She said, "applesauce".  I tried to correct her and said "octopus". She nodded her head and said "applesauce"! 

Okay.  Applesauce.