The Siebert Family

I'm taking...

2012-01-12T12:30:00.000-08:00

A ~~little~~ long bloggy break. I'm just not inspired, havn't picked up my camera in almost a month, and my preggo brain is already setting in. I have been forgetting SO many things...like this blog for instance. Don't worry, I'm still reading your blogs (who could give up that addiction?) and i'll be back...someday :o) AND because this is what my brain feels like, i thought you may need a laugh...

Christmas 2011.

2011-12-27T15:17:00.000-08:00

The girls were excited as always to dig into their gifts this year...but not before reenacting the Christmas Story little people style...

And singing Away in a Manger...

Guess what Collin gave me? 3 of my favorite things: coffee, starbuck's card, and target card.

And of course we couldn't end the night without singing happy birthday to Jesus!

OH BOY!...

2011-12-25T11:13:00.000-08:00

...OR GIRL!

My girls are so excited to tell you that they will be BOTH big sisters next August!

A little bit of a suprise, but a BIG blessing non the less.

What a wonderful Christmas gift to us this year!

Merry Christmas everyone!

Say Cheese!

2011-12-20T09:13:00.000-08:00

We had a little christmas photo shoot after church the other day. I have concluded that Ava is my little poser and Marin is my 'cheeser'. Her smiles crack me up! Merry Christmas!

Need a Pizza Recipe?

2011-12-17T17:37:00.000-08:00

I have perfected mine. This is my new perfection tonight. I doubled the recipe and folded over the crust with LOTS of gooey cheese sticks. Oh it was heaven in my mouth-except i could only eat one piece there was so much dough! Regrets? No. SO, i decided to share my recipe with you! I used to bring lasagnas to people, now i bring this and i always get compliments and request for the recipe, so here you go!:

Pizza Hut-Like Pizza

1 1/3 cups warm water
2 tsp sugar
1 1/2 tsp salt
2 Tblsp. Olive Oil
Seasonings of choice: basil, Italian seasoning, oregano, garlic powder (i go heavy on this)
3 Cups of flour
1 tsp baking powder
1 1/2 tsp yeast

Stick all ingredients in a bread machine in order shown and put on dough cycle.
I double this recipe to make the pizza above. I stretch the pizza out over the edge so i can fold it back over and stick some cheese sticks inside! Next add any toppings, sauce, etc. I always do 1 lb of beef and 1/2 sausage, some pepperoni, few green peppers-sometimes red.
Bake at 350 for about 25-30 minutes and ENJOY! The last 10 minutes i brush on olive oil on the crust-makes it so soft! This is almost an every weekend favorite here! The girls loved watching the dough rise!

Joy to the World~

2011-12-15T12:31:00.000-08:00

I read this in The Jesse Tree Devotional today and LOVED it:

Can't you feel it in the air this time of year? Can't you hear it in the wind, the whispering rumors of a new kingdom coming?

A world of Peace, where a leopard lies quiet with a goat, and the ravenous hunger of the lion is completely satisfied by a handful of straw-a lion just like a harmless cow!

Do you believe the good news of a new paradise coming, where a toddler plays happy at the hold of the cobra and a child will dangle his hand in the nest of the asp, and the enemy snake that once bit us with the poison of sin in the Garden of Eden will be nothing more than a playmate to the laughing? This time of year sings with hope!

But how do we go up this holy mountain where no one hurts another and perfect peace reigns?

He who is the Christ Child will lead us. The little Christ Child coming to Bethlehem will lead us in the way of Peace and into the new Kingdom coming and Christ Who is our peace, Who wears goodness and fairness like a belt, He will be the King that looks not on the outside but upon our hearts and He will free all the poor and never again will man be wolf to man.

Because Christ became our lamb.
Can't you hear it everywhere? JOY TO THE WORLD!

A Card For YOU!

2011-12-11T18:42:00.000-08:00

This year I really cut back on Christmas Cards...it gets pricey quick when you send to everyone. SO, since i know i have so many blog readers that are friends, here you go....

And because i may not have a blog post until after Christmas...Have a wonderful and safe Christmas celebrating Christ's birth!

Bells.

2011-12-11T14:27:00.000-08:00

Ava' Sunday School teachers Willis and Joan do such a great job teaching bells each christmas. This year I was able to get a good seat and capture it on video!

I Need Help.

2011-12-08T15:00:00.000-08:00

I just had these pictures of Collin and I printed on standouts (which i love!) but i feel like something is missing. Like a decal or vinyl wording...something. Like maybe moving the 'kissing picture' below and putting vinyl there? What do you ladies think? oh...and Marin says hi. She was super excited to walk into our room and see big pictures (which are big compared to what they look like on the screen) of mommy and daddy. i'd have to say she was a little more excited than I (since daddy wanted them there for all to see. lol)

A Few From....

2011-12-08T14:07:00.000-08:00

...Ava's Tinkerbell Bash.

6.

2011-12-06T12:13:00.000-08:00

Wow. My oldest is 6. I remember thinking it would be forever until my first born would reach that age. Next thing you know she'll be 10...then leaving the house...(sniff sniff), but i don't want to focus on that right now. I want to focus on what God has given me...the sweetest, smartest, girly-girl i know.

Ava is...

My model.

My super smart kindergartener...

A Musician...

A team player...

A WONDERFUL big sister.

A true born child of God.

A beauty queen.

A bookworm.

AND now a few of my favorites from the past...

Happy Birthday Ava! I can't wait to see what God has planned for your next 6 years...

8.

2011-11-22T19:54:00.000-08:00

I cannot believe its been 8 years! Love you babe!

Chill'n.

2011-11-19T11:01:00.000-08:00

Hello. We're just hanging out over here today. Reading books and chill'n. Hope you ALL have a great weekend!

The Cake.

2011-11-10T10:55:00.000-08:00

Marin loves frogs. SO, it wasn't too hard to figure out what to tell Julie to make for her birthday!

Thank you so much Julie for the cutest frog cake ever!!!! Marin wasn't so sure about eating a frog at first, but once she realized it was covered in frosting, she dove right in :o)

The 'Fur Real' Drama.

2011-11-07T15:08:00.000-08:00

Marin's Birthday is at a hard time of year. We're always busy. Too many places to go, too many things to do, BUT we finally found a time to celebrate her 'Two Day' with family. A little late is better than never, right? So, have you heard of the 'Fur Real' Pets? They're cute little cuddly animals that bark when you pet them, purr when you touch their paw. Ok, so rewind. We started the evening out ok. Marin was excitedly opening her presents...

*this look is a classic 'stop taking pictures' look. Well Marin, too bad ;o)

SO, starts the excitement...what could it be?

A Fur Real Puppy...hmmm...wonder what this does...

Ok. It looks safe...i'll give it a kiss. If big sister can play with it, must not be so bad...

Mmmmm....hold on Ava, I'm not so sure...

Ok. I guess i'll touch it...its not like it will bark or move, right?

WRONG!....

Mommy, get that scary thing away from me! AND this is where the whole evening went downhill...

This is not a suprised look. It's a look of terror...

I try consoling, reasoning...who would have thought that doesn't work with a two year old?

So, don't be deceievd. It took a LONG time to get Marin to play with her other presents. She was absolutely terrified of that Fur Real puppy. SO much so that we had to put it OUTSIDE.

At least we had grandma there to run to...

AND by then end we were all laughing. It was pretty funny. Of course by then she was NOT a happy camper, so we quickly blew out the candles on the cake (those pictures tomorrow) and put her to bed.

The was some 'Fur Real' drama. lol.

Stay tuned for the cutest little Frog Cake you have ever seen made by the one and only Julie Johnson!

Photo Shoot [Part 2}.

2011-11-02T12:38:00.000-07:00

Ready for some sweetness? Literally. I came across these huge lollipops at Dillon's a few weeks ago for $1 and I knew they would be perfect for Marin's two year shoot. She was all smiles when i pulled these out! Enjoy this cuteness...

*My sister was here this weekend helping out, so of course we needed one of her and the girls!

Photo Shoot [Part 1}.

2011-11-01T20:22:00.000-07:00

Since Marin turned two last week, I knew it was time for another photoshoot. You can't tell by the pictures, but she is SO hard to keep happy while taking pictures. I of course don't show you those (because there is too many of them!) BUT even though i am physically worn out after i'm done, i NEVER get tired of seeing those big green eyes and those crazy facial expressions. Of course the second part of the shoot made Marin EXTRA happy, but I'll share that with you tomorrow....

The BIG TWO

2011-10-21T14:49:00.000-07:00

Guess what?

Marin turns two today...

...and she's pretty excited about it...

...can you tell?

...shocking huh?

I can't believe it either! Time has literally flown by the past two years. We love you Marin have a happy happy 'two day'!!!

It's Pumpkin Season...

2011-10-18T18:49:00.000-07:00

AND I have TWO great recipes for you. Try not to drool as you read it...:o)

Pumpkin Coffee Cake with Brown Sugar Glaze

⅓ cups Water

1 can Pureed Pumpkin (15 Oz)
2 whole Eggs
1 Tablespoon Vanilla Extract
2 teaspoons Pumpkin Pie Spice
1 box Yellow Cake Mix (18 Ounce Box)
1 tsp teaspoon Baking Soda
1 cup Brown Sugar, Divided
½ cups Flour
⅓ cups Walnuts, Chopped
4 Tablespoons Butter, Melted
¼ cups Granulated Sugar
1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
¼ cups Heavy Whipping Cream

Preparation Instructions
Preheat the oven to 350F.

In a large bowl mix together the water, pumpkin, eggs, 1 Tablespoon of vanilla, and pumpkin pie spice until well combined. Add the cake mix and baking soda and mix until just combined.
Grease a 9×13 pan with butter and pour batter into pan.

In a small bowl mix together 1/2 cup of brown sugar, 1/2 cup flour, walnuts, and melted butter. Use fingers to sprinkle over the top of the cake. Bake at 350 for 25-30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean.

For the glaze, combine the other 1/2 cup brown sugar, granulated sugar, 1 teaspoon vanilla, and heavy cream in a saucepan and bring to a simmer. Remove from heat and stir until all sugar is dissolved.

When cake is finished baking, poke holes in the top with a toothpick. Pour glaze over the cake, making sure to cover all surfaces. Serve cake warm or at room temperature.

Pumpkin Cornbread

Ingredients

1 cup Flour

1 Tablespoon Baking Powder

1 teaspoon Kosher Salt

½ teaspoons Ground Cinnamon

¼ teaspoons Ground Nutmeg

½ cups Brown Sugar

1 cup Cornmeal

2 whole Eggs

1 cup Pumpkin Puree

¼ cups Olive Oil

1 Tablespoon Molasses

Preparation Instructions

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F and grease an 8×8″ baking dish.

In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, salt, spices, brown sugar, and cornmeal.

In a small bowl, lightly beat the eggs, and then stir in the pumpkin, oil, and molasses.

Stir the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients just until combined, and then pour the batter into the pan, smoothing out the top as much as possible.

Bake 30 minutes or until a knife inserted in the center comes out clean. Serve warm

Pumpkin Patch [Continued...]

2011-10-14T21:50:00.000-07:00

And this was the beginning of the end for Marin...

When we got home the girls proudly showed daddy their pumpkins...

Every smile looks like this now...

Pumpkin Patch {part one}

2011-10-14T14:01:00.000-07:00

Last Saturday we braved the chances of rain and headed out with friends to Walter's Pumpkin Patch near Burns. It was a WINDY day, but that didn't stop us from having fun (but it did keep me from taking too many pictures-oh, or maybe that was the constant chasing of a near two year old...lol). Enjoy the first set of pictures. Blogger is being stubborn, so I'll post more later...

This is Jarod. What a cutie and so much fun to be around!

Meet Jamie. She is a SUPER friend and was a trooper helping Marin conquer her fear!

Some new favorites of Marin. How i LOVE her facial expressions...

The above picture was taken in 2008 at Walter's and is one of my FAVORITE shots of Ava at that age. My how they grow FAST!

Oh SO Easy! [ and good...]

2011-10-13T12:11:00.000-07:00

Chicken Pot Pie

1 package (16 ounces) frozen mixed vegetables, thawed

1 cup cut-up cooked chicken

1 can (10 3/4 ounces) condensed cream of chicken soup

1 cup Original Bisquick® mix

1/2 cup milk

1 egg

1.Heat oven to 400ºF. Mix vegetables, chicken and soup in ungreased 2-quart casserole.

2.Stir remaining ingredients in small bowl with fork until blended. Pour into casserole.

3.Bake 30 minutes or until golden brown.

Makes 6 servings

The Best Pancake Ever.

2011-10-11T16:36:00.000-07:00

I'm on a roll with new recipes. We had this one for supper tonight and oh my was it GOOD! Forget pancakes, forget cinnamon rolls, have a CINNAMON ROLL PANCAKE!

Cinnamon Roll Pancakes

Yield: 4 servings (4 pancakes)

Prep Time: 25 min

Cook Time: 10 min

An absolutely decadent morning treat...

Ingredients:

PANCAKES:

1 cup all-purpose flour

2 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 cup milk

1 Tablespoon canola oil

1 large egg, lightly beaten

CINNAMON FILLING:

1/2 cup butter, melted

3/4 cup brown sugar, packed

1 Tablespoon ground cinnamon

CREAM CHEESE GLAZE:

4 Tablespoons butter

2 ounces cream cheese

3/4 cup powdered sugar

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions:

1. Prepare pancake batter: In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder and salt. Whisk in milk, oil and egg, just until batter is moistened (a few small lumps are fine).

2. In a medium bowl, mix butter, brown sugar and cinnamon. Scoop the filling into a small zip baggie and set aside. You don't want this to remain super-liquidy. It's best if it becomes a consistency similar to toothpaste.

3. In a medium, microwave-safe bowl- heat butter and cream cheese until melted. Whisk together until smooth; whisk in powdered sugar and vanilla extract; set aside.

4. Heat large skillet over medium-low heat. Spray with nonstick spray. Scoop about 3/4 cup batter onto the skillet. Snip the corner of your baggie of filling and squeeze a spiral of the filling onto the top of the pancake. When bubbles begin to appear on the surface, flip carefully with a thin spatula, and cook until browned on the underside, 1 to 2 minutes more. Transfer to a baking sheet or platter and keep in a warm oven until ready to serve.

5. When ready to serve, spoon warmed glaze onto the top of each pancake.

Tips:

*Keep the heat low or your pancakes might cook up too quickly. Don't flip them until you see those bubbles starting to pop on top. Flip them with a wide spatula so you can grasp the whole thing without batter and filling dripping all over the place!

*It's best if you pour the batter onto your skillet, wait a minute or so and then swirl the cinnamon onto the batter. That'll give it a chance to set a little before you add the swirl.

*If your baggie of filling begins to get too thick, just pop it in the microwave for a few seconds to soften it up again. On that same note, it shouldn't be too runny. The consistency of soft toothpaste is perfect. If it's melty and runny, it will tend to run all over your pancakes. Once you micro it, let it sit on the counter at room temp for a while until it thickens slightly.
Source: RecipeGirl.com

I need help...

2011-10-10T09:38:00.000-07:00

Which style should i get for my girls from Sassy B Creations ?

A OR B?

Need a New Recipe?

2011-10-08T19:02:00.000-07:00

Chicken Bacon Ranch Panini

Added by Ree on September 29, 2011 in Main Courses, Sandwiches

Prep Time 5 Minutes

Cook Time 15 Minutes Servings 4 Difficulty Easy

Ingredients

8 slices Crusty French Bread

4 Tablespoons Softened Butter

2 whole Chicken Breasts, Cut In Half From Top To Bottom

Spicy Mustard

Ranch Dressing (homemade Or Bottled)

4 slices (thick) Sharp Cheddar Cheese

8 slices Bacon, Cooked Until Chewy And Cut In Half

Preparation Instructions

Fry the four pieces of chicken breast in oil and butter until done in the middle, about 10-12 minutes. Slice into strips and set aside.

To assemble the sandwiches, spread a generous amount of mustard on one half of the bread. Spread a generous amount of ranch dressing on the other half. (Definitely be generous; when the sandwich cooks, these will turn into more of a “sauce.”)

Arrange chicken, bacon slices, and cheese slices on the bottom half. Top with the top slice. Butter both sides of the bread generously, then grill in the panini maker. (If you do not have a panini maker, you can grill the sandwiches in a skillet, laying a heavy skillet on top of the sandwich to press it together. Turn to grill the other side in the same way.)

Slice in half and gobble it down immediately. Of course mine didn't look as pretty as PW's, but it was still oh SO GOOD!!!

My New Space...

2011-09-27T14:45:00.000-07:00

...isn't so new anymore, BUT i love it! I wasn't so sure about Collin's idea to build a desk in the back of our storage room. I said the furnace would be to loud and drown out too much noise, but you know what? that's my favorite part now. It's my own space and i become a little bit oblivous to the rest of the world (since i can't hear anything down here); however, its what i need if i want to get photography work done. I absolutely love my new space...even if it is in the back corner of the storage room :o)

My space...

My new computer (hurray!)

And oh yeah...I let Collin have a space too...

County Fair.

2011-09-16T12:18:00.000-07:00

Family Sessions: $25

15 Minute Sessions.
8-10 edited high resolution potraits for YOU to print.
Can you get a better deal than this?

AND, guess what...ALL of the $ from the Country Fair will go towards a sweet couple adopting a child from Russia! It's a win win so come out and have fun! I am so excited to be part of this day! Read more at Amanda's blog HERE and the Beverlin's blog HERE.

The Many Faces of Marin {Blog-i-sode II }.

2011-09-14T14:48:00.000-07:00

Marin has many facial expressions AND I love them. Here are a few of her many...

Her ornery look...

I'm cute and you know it look...

Marin's new smile ( i hope she doesn't do this for every picture)...

Her tired, thumb break look (this picture stuff is hard)...

Her innocent & sweet (yes, i said that) look...

Her 'leave me alone' look...

Her 'yes, I'm still onery' look...

Her super excited look...

Peek-a-boo!

Hiding...

This is a genuine happy look. Love it.

Have you ever heard her say 'Hey you!' Well, it's pretty cute and this is the look for that....

This is her surprised look (I told her to act surprised and it what's she came up with!)

This is the look that says 'ok mom. put away the camera'...

So I did.

Read.

2011-09-14T14:18:00.000-07:00

I have some BIG readers in my house. One of them finds a little more creative way to use her space :o)

A New Laugh & Applesauce.

2011-09-11T14:54:00.000-07:00

Marin has the funniest personality. She is changing more and more the closer to two she gets (next month! yikes!). Every day at some point (because sometimes we have hard days) she makes me laugh. I love that about her. BUT with her fun personality also comes unpredictability. She can be moody. Defiant. Throw fits. And when its quiet...I mean that really really quiet kind of silence in the air, I know she's up to something. The other day it was baby powder all over the floor...today it was the crayon drawings on the wall...OR applesauce all over her hair. Luckily today has been a good day and the applesauce remained in her bowl...well, most of it :o) She also has a new laugh. This wasn't her best funny laugh, but the facial expressions make up for it...take a look...

More Family Pics.

2011-09-09T17:50:00.000-07:00

Thanks to my sister we have more great family pictures to hang on the wall...

At Grandma's House we like to...

2011-09-09T16:41:00.000-07:00

...torture Mocha...

...~~eat~~ play with rocks and dirt...

...eat apples from Grandpa's apple tree...

...VERY sour apples...

...Make silly faces...

....reminisce of past projects (collin made this trailer in Ag in H.S.)

...take pictures with Grandma (a must!)

...And love on MY Grandma...

Yay for G&G's house!

G&G's Pumpkin Patch.

2011-09-09T13:25:00.000-07:00

Who needs to buy pumpkins when Grandpa and Grandma have their own pumpkin patch? They kept and drid the seeds from last years pumpkins we bought and made their own patch! It was planted early enough that we were just in time for picking this last Labor Day weekend. It was so much fun trapsing through the old cow lot FULL different kinds of gourds and pumpkins.

Can you spot the spider in one of the pictures below?

*I stuck Marin in an old hay feeder because she kept tripping over all of the pumpkin vines. She didn't like that so much either...

Yay for Fall!

Family Pictures.

2011-09-08T12:11:00.000-07:00

Back in July (yes, i'm behind) I had Cassody Harder take some family pictures for us. She did such a great job and it was SO nice not to be the one behind the camera! Collin and I even had a few taken by ourselves, which never happens! Yay for update family pics!

Kindergarten.

2011-08-20T14:31:00.000-07:00

While i was hiding under the covers sick in bed Ava started...KINDERGARTEN! I cried tears of pain and sadness not just because she was growing up, but because i had to miss her first day of kindergarten. I however was determined NOT to miss her second day so I dragged my weary body out of bed and saw my baby walk down the school halls to her classroom. She has been SO excited and keeps asking when Monday will be here. In fact she told me the other day that she just 'loves getting up early.' I told her that reality would set in soon enough :o) The first week Ava had Mrs. Kirtley-she's a GREAT teacher, so Ava was sad when she learned she was being moved to a different class beginning Monday. I know she will learn to love Mrs. Werner and she will be in good hands! Yay for Kindergarten. Boo for early mornings ;o)

Ava's good buddy Margaret.

A big shout out to my dear husband for taking most of the pictures AND for taking me care of me this week. It's been a long one...lol

Rain.

2011-08-12T15:13:00.000-07:00

What do you do when it's rainy most of the day?

PLAY IN IT! Hurray for Rain!!!!

Iced Coffee.

2011-08-09T09:01:00.000-07:00

I love coffee. Surprised? I love it hot, cold, iced, frozen, in brownies, muffins...you name it! At the beginning of summer i knew it would be too hot for the hot stuff so i pursued the iced stuff. My goal was to make it as taste as much like starbucks' iced drinks as i could and you know what? I have almost mastered it. I just need one of those $2000 espresso machines...

SO, i thought I'd give you a little tutorial on how i like MY iced coffee.

First you need:

Coffee (i like starbucks the best) strongly brewed-like espresso.

To make a large glass i brew 3-4 tablespoons of coffee to 2 cups of water (in the carafe)

*a little tip for your newtoners:notice the price tag? $4 for this bag at Meridian Grocer.They usually have tons of starbuck's coffee marked half off even though they're only a couple of weeks past date.

You need vanilla flavored syrup (i've tried the sugar free stuff-in my opinion-not good). You can find this at Wal-Mart for $5.

Milk. Braum's 1% is what i use.

Caramel or chocolate syrup. My favorite? Caramel.

Ok. So here we go. Pour 1/2-3/4 cup of milk in your desired cup.

Add Two Tablespoons (or to taste...it needs to taste SWEET) of vanilla syrup.

Add 1Tablespoon Caramel. Stir.

Add your strongly (and i emphasize it needs to be STRONG-unless you like weak coffee) brewed coffee. I actually stick mine in the fridge or freezer to cool it off so the ice doesn't melt.

Stir it up. Add your ice (crushed is the best!) and drizzle more caramel or chocolate on top!

This is me super happy on a hard day (sick kids).

Take ONE...

Take TWO...

Take THREE (why is it so hard to get the camera to focus on what i want it to!)

Take FOUR...this one will have to do :o)

ENJOY!!! Thanks for tuning in :o)

Paint.

2011-08-08T10:26:00.000-07:00

Ava is quite the little artist. I love seeing her creativity come out on paper. Since we were cooped up inside yesterday because of the heat and a sick 'lil sister, she spent most of the morning doing this...

*Ava sends her love! *

Sad.

2011-08-07T12:02:00.000-07:00

My sweet fun loving baby girl is sick.

This is what she did all day yesterday. She wouldn't even get up and walk to me...

I found her just laying in her room. She seriously stayed there for 45 minutes.

Such sad sad eyes makes this mama so sad too.

Today at least she is eating a little and talking more.

I sure love my cuddly baby, but i could do without 5 dirty diapers in one hour... :o)

The Plaza [KC Continued].

2011-07-31T12:40:00.000-07:00

While in KC we made room in our schedule for The Plaza...twice. It was so great just to roam around, do a little window shopping (most things are too expensive downtown!), eat and one of Ava's favorite...play in the fountain. It was great just to relax and dip part of our tired and sweaty bodies into the coolness of water. The fountain downtown was definitely one of the girls' favorite stops! My favorite stop downtown (twice)? Can you guess? Starts with an 'S' and ends with a 'S'. I know-an expensive habit when on vacation.

Another favorite of our trip? Seeing Ava's eyes light up while watching this balloon artist make her (by request) a unicorn. A $1 worth spent!

So, there you have it. Another vacation done. It was so fun but we were tired when done.

Science City, The Plaza, Crown Center, Children's Farm, Water Park, Legends. Wow. I'm tired just thinking about it! :o)

Deanne Rose Children's Farm [KC Continued].

2011-07-30T17:28:00.000-07:00

Day #2 we hit Deanna Rose Children's Farm. It was a HOT day but we had fun none the less!

Ava practiced her reading and writing in the old school house

Marin loved the cowbells...mostly because they were VERY noisy and that's what she's best at!

Played piano in the corner store.

There were fun barn slides...

We met a cute caterpillar...

...and a super cute butterfly!

...AND fed baby goats!

Definitely a highlight of the girl's day! If you ever head to KC, check it out. It's free admission during the week and $2 on the weekend...super cheap FUN! :o)

More tomorrow...

Cappuccino Muffins.

2011-07-29T17:21:00.000-07:00

Need another scrumptious recipe? I was craving chocolate today, so i made these.

I added twice the amount of coffee and 1/3 baking cocoa. YUM!

ESPRESSO SPREAD:

4 ounces cream cheese, cubed

1 tablespoon sugar

1/2 teaspoon instant coffee granules

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/4 cup miniature semisweet chocolate chips

( i didn't have cream cheese so couldn't make the icing)

MUFFINS:

2 cups all-purpose flour

3/4 cup sugar

2-1/2 teaspoons baking powder

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 cup milk

2 tablespoons instant coffee granules

1/2 cup butter, melted

1 egg

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

3/4 cup miniature semisweet chocolate chips

Directions

In a food processor or blender, combine the spread ingredients; cover and process until well blended. Transfer to a small bowl; cover and refrigerate until serving.

In a large bowl, combine flour, sugar, baking powder, cinnamon and salt. In another bowl, stir milk and coffee granules until coffee is dissolved. Add butter, egg and vanilla; mix well. Stir into dry ingredients just until moistened. Fold in chocolate chips.

Fill greased or paper-lined muffin cups two-thirds full. Bake at 375° for 17-20 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool for 5 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks. Serve with espresso spread. Yield: about 14 muffins (1 cup spread).

* i didn't add the nutritional facts because i figured you didn't want to see those. lol

Science City [continued].

2011-07-29T13:43:00.000-07:00

We dug for fossils...

Figured out hard (well, i guess not to Collin-i didn't even try!) puzzles...

Discovered tall tall dinosaurs...

Chased after runaway children...

Had daddy bonding time (LOVE this picture)...

Watched trains go by...(Marin is actually terrified and screaming in this picture. lol)

Got booked for not following the rules.

And played weatherman via green screen.

This was only day # one of our getaway so stay tuned tomorrow..

K.C. [Science City]

2011-07-28T14:22:00.000-07:00

Last weekend we hit KC for a quick family get away. Our first stop was Science City at Union Station-a great hang out in the Kansas heat!

We learned how to make music...

Marin hung out in stroller a lot because she kept trying to run away...

There were tall scary dinosaurs.

And long scary crocodiles.

A fun playground...

*this is what Marin does now when i say to smile*

Mocha Brownies & Coffee Frosting.

2011-07-27T17:00:00.000-07:00

These brownies are AMAZING.

You should make them, especially you coffee lovers.

One thing i would change though is making the coffee stronger and add more instant coffee. I love my coffee! And speaking of coffee...these are excellent for breakfast with coffee...i may or may have not eaten 3 already today, including one for breakfast :o)

Ingredients:
1/2 cup shortening
1/2 cup butter
1 cup cocoa
2 cups sugar
1 tablespoon hot water
4 teaspoons instant coffee
4 eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla
1 cup flour
1/2 teaspoon salt

Frosting
1/2 cup butter, softened
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 cups confectioners' sugar
1 1/2 tablespoons milk
2 -3 teaspoons instant coffee

1 Preheat oven to 350°F Grease a 13x9 inch pan.

2 Melt shortening and butter over low heat or in the microwave.

3 Remove from heat and add cocoa, blend well.

4 Add sugar and mix well.

5 Dissolve instant coffee in hot water and mix into creamed mixture.

6 Add eggs one at a time, beat well, by hand, after each addition.

7 Stir in vanilla, flour, and salt.

8 DO NOT OVER BEAT!

9 Bake 25-30 minutes.

10 Cool completely before frosting.

11 For frosting, cream butter and vanilla.

12 Add powdered sugar and mix in well on medium speed.

13 Dissolve instant coffee in milk and add to mixture.

14 Beat on high until light and fluffy.

Booked.

2011-07-27T14:00:00.000-07:00

This is what happens when you don't follow the rules at Science City (KC):

Have you ever seen us so upset? Lol.

More pics and info from our KC trip to come...

Bacon Avacado Burgers.

2011-07-16T13:49:00.000-07:00

Need to spruce up your burger? Then make this recipe..seriously. Make it. Its SO good and it is what's for dinner tonight at our house!

6 jalapeño chiles

6 slices bacon

3 pounds ground beef chuck

Salt and pepper

1/2 cup (about 2 ounces) crumbled queso fresco

1/2 cup mayonnaise

1/4 cup buttermilk

2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

2 avocados, pitted and thinly sliced

1 bunch cilantro, chopped

1/2 onion, thinly sliced

6 hamburger buns, split

1.Preheat a grill to medium and place a cast-iron skillet on top. Add the chiles and cook until softened and the skin is charred, about 10 minutes. Transfer the chiles to a bowl, cover and let cool slightly. Remove and discard the stems, skin and seeds; finely chop the chiles.

2.Meanwhile, cook the bacon in the skillet until crisp. Discard all but 1 tablespoon of bacon fat; chop the bacon.

3.In a large bowl, combine the chopped bacon, the reserved bacon fat, the beef and half of the chiles. Form into 6 patties; season with salt and pepper.

4.In a medium bowl, combine the queso fresco, mayonnaise, buttermilk, 1 tablespoon olive oil and the remaining chiles. Season with salt and pepper, cover and refrigerate.

5.In another bowl, toss the avocados, cilantro, onion and remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil; set aside.

6.Grill the burgers, flipping once, for about 10 minutes for medium-rare. Just before the burgers are finished cooking, grill the buns until toasted, about 1 minute. Place a burger on each bun bottom, top with some of the avocado salad, drizzle with some of the queso fresco dressing and set a bun top in place

*we don't do the chiles because i'm not a huge fan of hotness & i'm not usually a big fan of Rachel Ray recipes, but this one was a keeper. Enjoy!

Swimming Lessons.

2011-06-30T13:52:00.000-07:00

*this little girl was ready for swimming lessons to be over after 8 days...i was too :o)

Reading.

2011-06-26T12:51:00.000-07:00

The other day Ava wanted Collin to read to her. To his response ' i don't really feel like it right now.why don't you read' Ava said,'ok!' So we expected her to quietly turn the pages and 'pretend' to read, BUT to our suprise she actually began reading each word from the page outloud. This was a book she had never read before, so we knew she hadn't just memorizd the words. She has always been good with words and her mind a big sponge, but i didn't realize how much she knew! I was amazed so i tested her again today. I found her an easy reader chapter book that she had never read before:

...from there she read several more pages. I cannot wait for her to go to Kindergarten to learn more! Yay Ava! This mama is SO proud!

Marin's Favorite Song.

2011-06-21T12:41:00.000-07:00

Happy Father's Day!

2011-06-19T17:51:00.000-07:00

And now a special message for daddy:

*sorry for the bad quality*

Love Ava & Marin

A Year Later...

2011-06-13T13:13:00.000-07:00

...I decided a photo shoot was necessary. Remember this picture?

This is the last time I've done a 'professional' (although when its your kids and they aren't in the 'picture' mood, you don't feel professional! lol). SO, i thought it was probably about time to update. Of course i thought Marin would be an angel just like she was on the above shot. After all, she is a photographer's daughter, right? WRONG. She did NOT like me one bit. Remember the post below of those grouchy tears? That is what MOST of the morning was like. SO just know that even thought i got lots of these cute shots below, these are only a forth of them. The rest? A little miss grouchy 19 month old who wanted her way and ONLY her way! Boy was I tired when i was done. Poor Ava was a trooper letting Marin pinch her, hit her, climb on her, push her...and she still smiled through it all (after i told her she had too!). The rocking chair was the main point of my photo shoot (which I've had for like 6 months now) BUT Marin did NOT like Ava touching it too. Oh how very different these two are!!! God give me strength to get through age 2...

BUT I am THANKFUL that I captured a few. I love my girls. I love that I love to take pictures and that God has given me that gift. SO, i will keep snapping, well...maybe in a year :o)

*can you tell Ava is my model?*

* i eventually had to take Marin's shoes off so she wouldn't leave the bridge (there were rocks on either side). She did NOT like that.

*one of my favorites!!! I've learned that my favorite pictures happen when i'm not trying so hard!

*one of many!!!*

*sniffing her toes. what proper female ediquite!*

*does Ava look happy? ;o)

*at this point she was running away from me*

oh-and i must give a shout out to my sister, Amanda, who was here!!! If she wouldn't have been here i'm not sure i would have even attempted this shoot. Check out her etsy shop. She has some way cute girl accessories!!! All of her earnings go towards her mission in Namibia!

VBS.

2011-06-12T17:08:00.000-07:00

Last week was VBS. The theme was Kids of the Kingdom. There was lots of singing, laughing, wiggling, running, snacking for my group of 24 4 and 5 year olds-yes I was kept very very busy. It was a good thing we had lots of helpers! Ava of course had a blast again. Her favorite thing? The music, as i'm sure you can tell. We'll have these wonderful songs in our head for many weeks to come I imagine :o) We ended the week with a program and popsicles (i think this was Marin's favorite part). Love LOVE love VBS!

*you must watch the little girl to the right (Madison). She was so cute!!

Piano Recital.

2011-06-11T11:56:00.000-07:00

This was Ava's first piano recital. I think the pictures speak for themselves. SO cute.

*tiptoes...melts my heart*

Smile! (OR not)

2011-06-10T13:23:00.000-07:00

Wow. Here's a little glimpse of Marin's attitude today during our photoshoot at the Hesston Arboretum. Do you think i got many smiles? I tried bribing, loving, feeding, sitting, jumping, kissing, making funny noises (literally) AND she would just NOT have it. Wow. What a stubborn child she is. Ava on the other hand? The PERFECT poser of course. Stay tuned for more!

Tball.

2011-06-10T12:13:00.000-07:00

Ava had her first Tball game last week and i might be a little biased, but she has a strong arm! This little girl can hit! :o)

Give Marin a cup and fence to climb on and she was a happy camper!

Ava's buddy Margaret...to cute! (Her mom coaches the team)

Cheesey (literally).

2011-06-05T17:55:00.000-07:00

READY...

GET SET...

SAY CHEESE!

This is Marin's new smile.

So cute.

On the last day of preschool...

2011-05-25T17:14:00.000-07:00

....Ava was in TEARS. Poor girl just couldn't get over the fact that she would no longer be coming to preschool and seeing her favorite teachers and friends. Ms. Janet (left) and Ms. Norma made such a big impact on Ava this past year. I know they love the Lord and the kids and made me feel so good about leaving Ava there twice a week. BUT the good news? Ms. Janet lives right down the street from us so Ava will get to drop in and say hi. If you have a 3/4/5 year old that is needing a preschool next year, please consider checking out All God's Children!

Preschool Graduate.

2011-05-19T11:58:00.000-07:00

Last week Ava's preschool teacher and another parent asked if i would take her classes 'Graduation' picture, so yesterday we had a fun little photo shoot in her classroom. Unfortunately i can't show you the others because i don't have written permission, but here's my little graduate! I am so proud of Ava and her accomplishments this year. I KNOW she is so ready for Kindergarten, but I am not ready to loose my little girl. Grade school will definitely bring changes in our household, but I'm excited to see her grow in her education and knowledge.

Congratulations Ava!

My 'Lil Bro...

2011-05-18T09:53:00.000-07:00

...GRADUATED! I can't believe he's all grown up! Since we're 10 years apart, that means i've been out of high school...gulp...10 years. My how time flies! It was so fun to be home (NE) with all of our family to celebrate his day!

*Do we look alike? Notice i'm the 'short' one.*

Happy Mother's Day!

2011-05-08T12:41:00.000-07:00

I am so BLESSED to have these girls in my life. I can't imagine life without them...well, ok...to be truthful there are days that I could use a HUGE break...like a weekend...lol...BUT even when I'm gone from them I love coming home to them. Even on the days i don't feel like being a mom. Even on the days of puke and nasty diapers. Even on the days when I questions if i really 'am' a good mom or not. At the end of those days I never regret holding them in my arms, smothering them with kisses and starting tickle fights because on THOSE days I'm reminded what being a mom is all about. Sacrificial love. I LOVE being a mom and watching my girls grow (but not too fast!) Happy Mother's Day to all you wonderful moms out there (you too MOM!!).

Enjoy your day!!

Mother Daughter Tea.

2011-05-07T17:17:00.000-07:00

This year I hosted a table for the Mother Daughter Tea at church. Ava was SO excited to be a part of it! The afternoon included light tea snacks & tea, a 'mock' fashion show (see Ava below), and a testimony and music by a gifted singer. It was a wonderful afternoon and so uplifting to be with women of all ages celebrating being a mom.

A good friend let me borrow her CHINA...it was so beautiful!

Ava's friend Chloe and her mom joined our table.

Ava's 'mock' fashion. She was such a trooper standing on stage in front of all of the women!

Mr. Frog...

2011-05-04T09:04:00.000-07:00

...has a new look...

Bunny Cake.

2011-04-26T19:23:00.000-07:00

Ava and I got a little creative the other day and made a bunny cake.

It was super easy and super fun!

*taste testing the sprinkles*

Africa Bound.

2011-04-22T10:37:00.000-07:00

Meet my sister Amanda.

She is off to Africa again in September (sniff sniff). This time she is going with AIM (African INland Mission) to Nambia. She will be there working with children in the mission field for as of right now 8 months. From there she will see where the Lord leads, but i know her heart is there!

So, to raise money/get support she is making these ADORABLE fabric rose headbands, rings, earrings...i love them and already have some on order for Ava. If you would like some super cute hair accessories for your girls, please get in touch with me OR you can find my sister on facebook HERE OR her blog HERE.

Headbands: $12

Earrings: $6

Clips: $10

Rings: $8

Happy Mail.

2011-04-19T13:10:00.000-07:00

Do you ever have 'happy mail' days? You know, the days where there are NO bills, but just FUN mail? Today was one of those days for me! Laundry detergent. Coupons. Ocean spray. A letter from our sponsored child. And the best of all...it was all FREE! These are the many perks to being a blog stalker i guess :o)

If you follow coupon blogs you may have run across Recyle Bank.

You don't even have to use their recycling program to earn points.

I think my time on their site was worth it...a buy one get one free admission to the zoo and two free mochas at McDonalds!

What kind of happy mail did you get today?

Goodnight...

2011-04-07T19:32:00.000-07:00

Marin found the perfect spot for a nap today. This NEVER happens so i let her be and just watched her precious face sleep so peacefully...and then i got out my camera...i couldn't resist!

* did you notice her bulging tummy? i stuffed an animal under her shirt while we were playing and i guess she was just to tired to get it out :o)

Playdough Cake.

2011-04-07T09:17:00.000-07:00

Have you ever had a playdough cake?

They're super yummy...so Ava says.

If you have any requests, I'm sure Ava would love to cater your next bday bash :o)

Quiet Moments.

2011-03-29T19:20:00.000-07:00

With busy days, lots of playing, a few tears and lots of temperments, its good to be reminded of the gentler, peaceful and quiet side of my children. Its moments like these i feel SO incredibly blessed to have such beautiful girls. Even if its just for a moment, i'll take it :o)

Sunny Days.

2011-03-28T08:59:00.000-07:00

We were loving the sunshine last week. The zoo. park. sand. chalk. bubbles. Frappuccinos (ok...that was me!) Now we're waiting for the sun to come back. Snow and cold go away, come again...NEXT WINTER! :o)

*someone fell off the swing when 'someone' wasn't watching*

2 Wheels.

2011-03-22T14:14:00.000-07:00

This 5 year old learned how to ride on TWO wheels this past weekend. Yay Ava!

She still needs practice and let's just say we were a little bit 'shocked' that she took off without training wheels. The problem now? Her toes can't reach the ground to stop... :o)

*we started on the grass*

*progressed to the driveway*

*and made it to the road!*

Thumbs up Ava!

*sorry for the really bad quality-the sun was so bright i couldn't see if they were focused or not! lol*

Wings.

2011-03-19T20:05:00.000-07:00

Enough said.

(*on a side note, Collin graciously gave me something to blog about...keep um coming honey!*)

Hello...

2011-03-04T19:12:00.000-08:00

Ok. So, I think i'm officially on a bloggy break. I feel unmotivated, uninspired, uncreative (is that a word?). It seems i don't pull out my camera much these days (yes-i know, shocking!)SO, don't worry about me...i'm still here...i'm still reading tons of blogs...just not so sure about my own! If you have any ideas to get me out of my 'blogger block' please do share :o)

Ava & Ollie...

2011-02-25T14:08:00.000-08:00

are so funny together.

Take Ollie's creativity and Ava's fashion and here's what you get...

*yes-Ollie is in a dress and headband...lol*

Happy Valentine's Day!

2011-02-14T14:11:00.000-08:00

AND because Valetine's Day is all bout sweets, look what i'm making for our Community Life Group tonight...jealous? :o) Go HERE for the recipe (beware: this recipe takes patience!).

We Are Waiting...

2011-02-13T15:36:00.000-08:00

...for the snow to melt, but knew i needed to take the girls out at least once before it did. So, we headed out Saturday so this wimp (aka me) didn't have to stand the cold...playing in the snow in 50 degree weather is so much better than 25. This was Marin's first time IN the snow...she had a love hate relationship with it :o)

*don't make me go down ever again Daddy!*

Walking {finally}.

2011-02-03T08:42:00.000-08:00

At 15 months Marin FINALLY decided that walking is fun. Just when i thought she would take forever to walk across the room (instead of just 2 steps at a time), she proved me wrong and has been cruising EVERYWHERE this week. It is so fun to see!

Of course the other 50% of the time she's doing this...

Silly girl.

Marin Has Discovered...

2011-02-02T19:53:00.000-08:00

Spaghetti....

(a definite happy plate!)

...AND toilet paper (amongst other things...lol)

WATCH OUT! :o)

Book Info.

2011-01-24T11:02:00.000-08:00

SO, I'm actually amazed at the response about the book I made! It was actually SUPER easy. You can make a digital book through so many places today, but I went through Kodak.com because I had a coupon for a free 5x7 book...yes...i didn't even spend any money on this book and already it has so much value! I do have to give credit to Debby G. though for telling us about the handmade book she made for her kids growing up. I wouldn't want to take ALL of the credit...i just merely took that idea a step further. I had actually thought about making a handmade book too, but then after this idea popped into my head I gave that a whirl! I love pictures, as you know, so it wasn't too hard to find pictures of my girls to apply to this book. So, there you have it. If you would like to have the verses I used, email me (asiebert@andreasphotography.net) and I'll forward them on to you!

Gods Word In My Life.

2011-01-23T14:39:00.000-08:00

Lately, I have been working on become a better mom. In all areas. I never thought being a mom would have so many challenges! I think the biggest challenge I find is how I need to change as a mom. Be more patient, less angry, more loving, less picky, more creative, more organized...and the list goes on and on and on. Will I ever be perfect? Of course not, but i know God can change my heart IF I LET Him. That's a big statement right there. I have to be WILLING to take a step forward and keep going when it feels like i keep taking steps back. Since August I have been so encouraged by the Bible Study I attend Tuesday mornings. We are studying Entrusted With a Child's Heart. IT had been CONVICTING but WONDERFUL. One area Debby G. has been encouraging us is to incorporate scripture into our Children's lives. Incorporating it into discipline...which is so hard to remember to always do! SO, I decided to put this scripture into a book for Ava. I love how it turned out...here is a little peak...

*Rid yourselves of Anger, Rage, Malice, Slander and Filty language from your lipes. Colossians 3:18

Snowmen.

2011-01-20T12:56:00.000-08:00

When it comes to being creative, I don't score very high.

I see myself as more of a 'copier'.

SO, I love it when other blogs like Jill's talks about what they do to pass these cold winter days inside. Ava was excited to see their blog about bread snowmen. SO, we tried it out.

SO easy and Ava loved it! We didn't have very many decorative ingredients, so we used nerds for eyes and buttons, chopped up licorice for a mouth and scarf and leftover candy corns from Halloween for a nose. I think they turned out cute...and the best of all? I didn't hardly have to do any of the work :o)

Too Cold {to go outside}

2011-01-12T18:27:00.000-08:00

This week while Ava has been having fun playing in the snow, Marin has been stuck inside.

BUT she LOVES watching Ava. She adores her sister and if she can't play with her, she'll have fun watching her! Amazingly Marin sat on a chair for a full 30 minutes (eating fresh Zwieback...yum) the other day as happy as can be! Which is good because this mommy does not care to play in the snow...

*kitty even got in on the action :o)

Coolwhip.

2011-01-10T14:22:00.000-08:00

This is how you keep Marin happy.

(don't worry, it was almost gone...)

Tea Party!

2011-01-08T19:27:00.000-08:00

Love-y {AKA anything soft and fluffy}

2011-01-04T12:57:00.000-08:00

Meet Eeyore.

Meet Grrrrrranimal.

Meet Mr. Bunny Hop Hop.

Meet Kitty.

AND let's not forget Lady Bug (AKA 'Buppie')

These are all of Marin's Love-y's.

We had a Love-y photo shoot! Ever since Marin was born she loves anything soft. If i let her she would have even more love-ys, but i think her crib might be maxed out. I gave her blanket the other day...she could have cared less...

We have a bedtime routine of placing all of her animals around her and saying the sounds each one makes. She LOVES it.

BUT Buppie is still her favorite...

*kisses*

And when she can't get to her furry friends I 'll catch her standing up by the crib holding onto one of their legs through the bars and sucking her thumb.

Oh Marin.

*oh...and we still have Mr Froggy...he's always in tow, but be just needed a break :o)

Christmas 2010 {In Pictures}.

2010-12-30T15:42:00.000-08:00

Uncle Kevin & Aunt Traci (the order got mixed up, so we'll start with them :o))

The Family.

The Fun.

The Girls.

Silly Boys.

The Grandma

Aunt Lisa

Grandma & Ava singing Away In A Manger

Dum Dums in her stocking!

Aunt Mandy.

Testing out the ornament cookie.

Uncle Mark & Aunt Lisa.

Uncle Joe.

Eeyore meets the thumb for the first time.

Aunt Kendra

Crazy.

Did you know Ken now has REAL hair and is a brunette?

Again...crazy.

Time for guns (Collin's anniversary present)...

Time for a tractor photo shoot :o)

We had a wonderful Christmas with our family and didn't even get snowed in this year! The girls of course got too many new toys, so time to declutter!

Here's to a new year...