Don't Judge Me...

I realized last week that I had a miracle movie! Maya never sits and watches TV, which makes it hard for me on those days when I can't get out of bed except to throw up. (Take yesterday, for example) So, going through my movies I decided to try a movie that was not animated to see if that would work. Wonder of wonders, she LOVED it! She has watched it quite a few times and can repeat a few of the lines. (kind of embarrassing) But this week my morning sickness has seemed a little worse, so I am grateful I had something to keep her entertained. (as lazy as that sounds)

There is one part of the movie where Elf drinks a whole 2 liter of Coke and then does like a 2 min. long burp and then says, "Did you hear that?" She says that all of the time! It cracks me up.

Because we've been watching this Christmas movie, I am getting excited for the holidays! I totally know that I'm pregnant because I've cried at the end of Elf every time I've seen it. So pathetic, I know.

How My Garden Grows

After posting this morning that I had nothing to post about, I went out to my garden and realized that I had a lot to be excited about. This is the first year that my garden has taken off. We can't wait to try some of the produce that we've grown.
I never realized how complex planting pumpkins could be. After reading about all of the things first time gardeners do wrong, I have determined that I have just not been observant enough. I had no idea that there were male and female flowers on a pumpkin plant and that usually you have to pollinate the female yourself to ensure that your pumpkin will grow. Who knew? Since we only have two small female flowers at the moment, I am not risking it. We will have a pumpkin this year no matter what. Look how cute the little bump behind the female flower is. A little baby pumpkin.
Our chickens are laying 3-4 eggs a day. One of our chickens is a super layer and has laid as many as 3 in a day by herself! So, we're averaging about 21 eggs a week! Who needs that many eggs? I am giving a lot of eggs away and making a lot of German pancakes and cookies. Gotta use up those eggs! It is really fun for Hayden to go outside every morning to see how many eggs we have. He gathers the eggs, and feeds and waters the chickens. I don't have to do anything for the chickens anymore! Easiest pets ever!

We have crookneck squash! We have at least 5 growing and there are about 5 more female flowers (just like the pumpkins) waiting to open. They are so cute, if you can think of mini-produce that way. I think they are adorable. And I planted them!

The green beans will be ready to pick this week! Yummy! Our corn is growing so well. There are at least 10 ears growing at the moment. I planted a hybrid seed that is called triple sweet corn. Doesn't that sound so tasty? I can't wait to try it!


































I also tried three times this year to make fruit leather and after three failed attempts, I now know the perfect way to make them! We made strawberry and they didn't dry enough and I just gave up. Maya, of course, had to help with every step. It made me realize that this is how she's going to be when the baby comes. Very "helpful". I'm going to have to be patient with this one. Anyway, the best way to make fruit leather that I will try next year!:

• Blend any type of fruit (apricot, peaches, strawberries, etc.) to a pulp. I used my mini-food processor.
• Add 2 TBS. honey and 1 TBS. lemon juice
• Place a piece of parchment paper on a cookie sheet and pour out the contents of the blender. (It will probably take two cookie sheets) Spread out the mixture to be about 1/4 inch thickness.
• Bake in the oven at 250 degrees for 4-6 hours. You can check to see if they're done by touching your finger to the middle of the fruit. It is done when your finger no longer leaves an imprint
• Let it cool and then cut the parchment into serving sizes and roll them up.

I won't tell you all of the mistakes I made, but it was definitely a learning experience. I tried it in the sun, but that didn't work too well. After three days of trying, I gave up. If any of you try and are successful, let me know!

Shortbread Cookies

For Enrichment night a couple of weeks ago, one of the women taught us how to make "Thumb print Cookies". I had never made them before, and they tasted SO good. I decided to try them with my kids and they were a huge hit! It's a basic shortbread cookie recipe and you dip your thumb in powdered sugar and push your thumb into each cookie. Then you fill the center with jam. We used our homemade Strawberry freezer jam. Then you frost them with a glaze of powdered sugar and water.

The kids loved them!! (And loved helping to make them.)

In classic Maya fashion, she only ate one bite and then licked the frosting off.

Two thumbs up! (Well, kind of...Maya's struggling with that one.)

Not Doin' a Whole Lot

My husband asked me why I haven't posted in awhile. Well, my answer is that I really haven't been doing much that's blog worthy. I have sat down a couple of times to blog, and I can't think of anything that's going on, really.

Hayden got two slivers in his fingers and it took three days for me to convince him to let me take them out. That's really been it. And...I am constantly battling Maya to keep her clothes on, but other than that... Yeah. It's been a pretty uneventful last couple of weeks.

I'll tell you what I'm not doing. I'm not running, I'm not doing my hair and makeup everyday, I'm not making wholesome meals (mac and cheese is about it), I'm not keeping a clean house...

But I am sleeping a lot, being sick a lot, running to the bathroom a lot (does that count as running?), craving chocolate and suppressing the cravings a lot, and missing my husband a lot. (he's gone 12+ hours a day)

So, this may seem like a sad post, but honestly I am enjoying not having a lot to do other than take care of myself and my kids. I know I am going to be feeling better soon and I will resume a busier schedule, but for now I'll let myself feel sick.

I do have one cute story about Hayden. Last week was a rough one. There were a couple of days where I couldn't keep any food down. Hayden came up and gave me a hug and said, "I know it's hard having a baby in your tummy, Mom, I know." He's been watching his Dad and learning. I'm glad that I have such sensitive men in my life that take care of me! I guess that's my blog worthy post!