in other news...
the other night in family prayer, maiya prayed, 'please help the kids to go to bed nicely so that we don't have to here our parents complain..." nice.
my sister, {emma rose}, is trying to put together a portfolio and can't afford a real photographer so she asked me if i would take some pictures for her. we decided on a strip mall for a good location and then both realized that there would be other people there and how embarrasing the whole thing might be. but determined that we were going to try anyway, we decided that the best thing would be to pretend that we know what we are doing and then people would think that we are just a couple of professionals doing our job....hhheee hee. so off we went....and we had a really fun time and came back with some nice pictures....it helps when you have such a gorgeous and photogenic subject. i would also like to mention that this is redemption for the picture i recently posted of emma trying to shoot a gun. she deemed that picture the worst she'd ever seen of herself. anyway, here are some of the fruits of our pretend photo-shoot....
here's some of the strategy....
'did i leave the oven on?'
'shoot! i left it on!'
'no, no. i turned it off!'
see. it's no rocket science.
thanks, em. it was fun.
this morning, we got the news that eric was offered a job! we are so happy...and overwhelmed at our blessings....i know i haven't written much about our unemployment situation but these months have been really challenging in many ways...but we have also felt so blessed. this economy has been a nightmare as far as looking for employment and i know that the only reason we have been blessed this way is because of a merciful God who loves and knows us and for the many faithful people who have plead on our behalf. we have been overwhelmed by the family and friends who have diligently prayed on our behalf...we are so grateful for you! a special shout-out to sander for being the police about praying for "uncle eric to find a job!" i'm sure the prayers of those little ones count at least for double!
you might be wondering what the job actually is...his position is called the backcountry wilderness area coordinator. highlands ranch has been donated 8200 acres of backcountry wilderness for conservation. this land is just being opened now to the community. eric's job is to supervise the preservation of this land, create and maintain trails and fences and create programs to get the community involved...they want some trail riding programs, chuck wagon dinners...etc. the area is home to a large herd of elk, deer, bears and mountain lions. it should be an adventure.
i also want to just express how proud i am of my husband. he has tried diligently to stay upbeat and optimistic. he is the best husband. we all knew that this job would be perfect for him and i'm so glad that the people hiring would see the same thing! i love you so much and i am so proud of you!
i love the library. i love to read to my kids. maryn loves to be read to. caleb is not quite as patient so i have to work to keep his attention...so i haven't enjoyed taking him to the library quite as often. you see, caleb and libraries are kind of an oxymoron as libraries require kids to be quiet and sit still...two things caleb has a hard time with and then on top of that, there are other kids there that caleb doesn't know which means he becomes extra shy which results in me being the only mom sitting on a foam square on the floor with the kids..but i have a new resolution to try to help him get used to sitting and listening...well, it hasn't really been working out that way but we're trying. maryn LOVES reading group and we went to a puppet show last week ...she sat patiently waiting for the puppet show to start...
caleb occupied himself by browsing the isles.... 
it has been a really fun weekend. i have to say how much i love being with my siblings. because it was a long weekend, bryn, sierra & aury decided to come home. it was so fun to all be together!! i love the talking and laughing, playing games, watching movies, making fun of the movies....etc. we love being together.
my brothers and dad all got guns for christmas and so shooting is the new 'cool thing' around here. so today, we got to go out shooting. this was my first time shooting anything other than a pellot or BB gun and it was so much fun!!! here's a little documentation....
me & aury...you may notice my unusual earplugs...i had to improvise...the rest were taken...
eric is a hot shot with a gun....it was very inspiring...
sierra did an excellent job of manning the clay pigeon launcher...she's also a pretty good shot!
initially, emma was a little intimidated..but she got the hang of it.
this is me having a little lesson from dad...i look like i know what i'm doing don't i?
ahhh...
i like to call this shot 'charsley's angels'....it was funny to see how proud my dad was about all his girls having a 'natural ability'!
a little friendlier here.
we were out on a friend's place in sedalia (mine and eric's dream place to live!!!) this was the view of denver from their property...and the other direction, the stunning rockies!
so i guess there is just one thing left to say....
you better watch out jodi--because it would seem there is a little competition coming your way!
valentine's day is almost here and i can just here you thinking to yourself, 'self, i need to do something fun with the kids but something that i will enjoy the fruits of too!" and so because i know you are likely thinking this, i thought that i would give you a little gift. because i couldn't personally deliver some of these delectable treats to each of your homes, i'm giving it to you in another form...the gift that keeps on giving. to say that i LLLOOOVVVEE cupcakes would be the understatement of the century. and so i present....the best cupcakes of your life....and yes, these are 'from scratch' but i will tell you that anyone who can make a cake from a box can make these....easy-ka-peasy....
my momma's cupcakes
1 cup softened margarine or butter (i believe in butter)
3 cups flour
1 1/2 cups sugar
3 tsp baking powder
4 eggs
1 cup milk
2 tsp vanilla
combine all ingredients and beat until smooth. fill cupcake cups about 3/4 the way full and bake at 425 F for 15 minutes. you want these to brown a little on top as it seals the cupcake nicely.
now, you could use a nice homemade chocolate buttercream frosting....which we usually do and it's delicious but you haven't lived until you've tried this frosting. so if you want to take it all the way (and you do want to take it all the way) here we go....
chocolate fudge frosting
1/3 cup water
3/4 cup sugar
2 tbsp karo syrup
4 oz butter
2 oz melted chocolate (dove rocks but regular choc. chips are wonderful too)
1 tsp vanilla
cook water, sugar, syrup on high until it reaches soft ball stage* (235F). whip the mixture while you add cut up butter and then the melted chocolate and vanilla.
*if you don't have a candy thermometer, you can check for soft ball stage by getting a glass of ICE cold water--as in water with ice in it. then after a few minutes of the mixture boiling, take a spoon and dip it in and let the mixture drip into the ice water. stick your hand in the water and play with the mixture...if it forms a soft pliable ball, it's ready. if it falls apart, keep cooking a little longer until it forms a ball. if it forms a hard ball....oops....you probably want to start over. hint: it usually takes around 5 minutes-give or take-of boiling to reach soft ball stage.
happy valentine's day
many of you probably know....some of you may not...but i {love} food! i love everything about food...cooking it, smelling it, looking at it and mostly, eating it! i come from a family of AMAZING cooks as can be confirmed by anyone who has entered my grandma's, mom's or any of her sister's kitchens. along with the cooking bug, i think that we appreciate food probably more than anyone i know. i was raised 'from scratch' and that's how i roll! my babies have not been big gerber food fans--caleb wouldn't touch it with a ten foot pole (we're from the same mould) and so i have cooked my baby food from scratch for them most of the time. with joshua coming up on his 'real food' months, i've wanted to switch it up a bit and my sister-in-law shared this book with me...
it contains a lot of what i've already been doing with the freezing baby foods it portions but it includes a lot of foods that i didn't think to include in my baby's repertoire. it also incorporates fresh herbs to give flavor including curries etc. my point is looking over some of these recipes made me hungry...and i don't believe in feeding my babies anything i wouldn't eat myself! it also includes how to make your own rice & barley cereal etc. i love knowing what i'm putting into my baby's little body and knowing that it is all fresh and preservative free. if you have any inclination to do this, check out this book. it's really fun and simple. love it. more on food to come...
i have to say that i have one of the sweetest and funniest boys who has ever lived....i don't write about him enough....its hard to because it's not necessarily WHAT he says that's hilarious, its usually his expression and way of saying it that makes you want to just eat him up. he has such a beautiful boy (not only in his stunning looks) with an infectious personality. he is a big tease but at the same time is so sweet and can take it as well as he dishes it out. here are a few of his recent funnies...i hope i can do them justice...(by the way, the pictures are of caleb making faces through the shower door)...
this morning we luckily got to church early (hooray!) and as i walk in to the chapel, caleb, who went to church with my mom, turns and (in a taunting way) yells, 'i beat you, mom!' across the chapel. this boy is SERIOUSLY competitive. that's what i get for saying that i will never have competitive children.
last night, caleb was lying with my dad in his bed while dad watched fox news. we all know that he goes into such a trance but caleb kept saying, 'gwampa, i want cannie (candy)......gwampa, i want cannie...' over and over. he eventually just resorted to 'WOY! NEED TWO CANNIES!" (my dad's name is roy)
and my favorite....
the other day, i was holding joshie over my arm and caleb was in the room eating a cookie. caleb was passing by and walked right under joshie who spit up all over caleb. he was covered!!! spit up cascading off his head, down his face all the way to his shoes...not to mention his spit up-frosted cookie. he just stopped dead in his tracks and with his really deep dopey voice and expression mumbles, 'baby h-pit up'. and then non-chalantly takes a bite of his cookie.
