Definitely His Father's Son

Today Dillon's class had pajama day.  They are learning the letter P so they got to wear pajamas and bring pillows - highlight of the year for a lttle 5 year old.  Dillon decided on some footy pajamas, a pillow Michael made in Home Ec and a stuffed pig.  To top it all off, he wore his boots with his footies!  It was so cute.  Something that once again proves that Michael is the father of all of these kids despite what he claims!

Fried Pie Recipe

If you don't want to use apricot, I have also used cherry, blueberry, apple and lemon pie fillngs.  I have even tried chocolate pudding, just use the pie recipe when you mix it so it is thicker.  Also don't store in plastic, it will make the crust soggy.  Just keep them covered with paper towels and a light towel.

Apricot Filling:

1 pound dried apricots
1 1/2 c sugar
1/2 tsp. grated nutmeg
dash of salt
1/4 c butter
2 tsp lemon juice
3 Tbsp conrstarch, if needed

Soak apricots over nigt in enough warm water to cover.  Place the saucepan over medium-high heat and bring to a boil.  Reduce the heat to low and simmer the apricots, uncovered, for 30 minutes.  Stir occasionally, mashing the fruit with a wooden spoon.  (I use a handheld drink mixer to puree the fruit a little)  Add the sugar, nutmeg, salt, butter and lemon juice.  If the mixture seems thin, combine the cornstarch with 2 Tbsp cold water and stir into the apricots.  Continue to cook 2 or 3 minutes until mixture thickens.  Aloow to cool while preparing the dough for the pies.

Crust:

3 cups all purpose flour
1 tsp salt
2/3 c chilled vegetable shortening
1/3 c. chilled butter (can use 1 c. butter flavored shortening instead of shortening and butter)
1 egg

Combine flour and salt in mixing bowl.  Using a pastry blender or forks, cut the shortening and butter into the flour until it resembles coarse crumbs.  Lightly beat the egg in a 3/4 c measuring cup.  Add cold water to fill measuring cup to top and add to flour mixture.  Stir with fork until the dough comes together.  Gather dough into a ball.  Wrap in plastic wrap and chill for at least 30 minutes.

Assembly of Pies:

Divide dough into balls about 2 inches in diameter.  Roll out a ball between sheets of waxed paper into a 5 inch circle.  Don't let the dough get too thin or it will fall apart when you try to move and cook it.  Spoon 1 to 2 Tbsp of the filling onto half of the circle, leaving a 1 inch border at the edge.  Moisten the edge of the pastry with water.  Fold the dough over the filling to form a turnover and press the moistened edges together(I usually try to fold the bottom edge over the top to help it stay together even better).  Using the tines of a fork dipped in flour, crimp the edges of the pie to seal.  DON'T SKIP THAT PART!!  It makes a huge difference in the way the pies turn out.  Repeat the process for all the dough and filling.  Chill the pies while the oil is heating.

In a heavy skillet, heat oil to 375.  Oil should be about 1 1/2 inches deep or use a deep fryer.  Add the pies in batches and fry for 2 minutes on each side or until a golden brown. Remove pies with a slotted spoon or spatula.  Drain on a bed of crumpled paper towels.  Cover with additional paper towels and a clean towel to keep pies warm and keep them from collecting moisture.

Don't try to make the pies and cook them at the same time.  Make all the pies and then do the frying - trust me, I know:)

Kenna's Birthday weekend

We spent all weekend celebrating Kenna's 8th birthday.  Friday she got to wear a new birthday outfit to school and we made cupcakes to take to her class. Saturday we went to Hendricks and spent the day with the Olsens.  It was so much fun!  The kids played and I got to spend the time talking with Pam.  There was no fighting or arguing or crying.  It was great!  We ate pizza and then had cupcakes and ice cream.  Then then Maddi, Makenna and I got to open presents. There was a lot of sadness when we had to leave but we get to go back this weekend so we are looking forward to that:)  Sunday Makenna opened presents before church.  Olivia was a BIG help!  We had our primary program in church that day.  The kids did a great job.  That afternoon Makenna got to talk to lots of people on the phone and we had macaroni and cheese for supper followed by more cupcakes and ice cream.  She had her interview with the Bishop and now we get to set a date for her baptism.  She is really exited for that.  Makenna has proved to be a challenge over the years, but despite the difficulties we have also been able to see her develop a kind heart full of tenderness and love.  Her capabilities to love are huge and we hope that she continues to develop in that way.  She is very smart and loves to learn.  We are so proud of her in so many ways. I hope that she can listen to the prompting of the spirit and follow her heart so she can have her life filled with happiness and contentment.  She has so much to offer.  I hope she finds confidence in herself so she can live life to its fullest.  We love her so much and can't imagine life without her!

Halloween

Here are a few pictures from Halloween.  The kids had a lot of fun.  We did some tic-or-treating on our own then we met up with our neighbors and went with them for a while.  I think we ended up with about 19lbs of candy.  Way too much, but it sure got the kids excited!  They get a piece each day after school and one after supper. We are also using it as bribery to help potty train Olivia. 

Fun Crafts

Yesterday at our play group the mom that was in charge showed us how to make these cute crafts. She has a cricket (I am very jealous) and she cut out the vinyl letters with that. We made the one that says joy.  It was so easy to make that I decided to make my own tonight.  I got pre-punched out letters and they worked just fine.  Tomorrow the kids want to make one. We will try it with stamping the letters on.  Anyways, all you do is cut out some 2x4's into different lengths and paint them what ever color you want.  Then you pick out different kinds of scrapbook paper and cut them to size.  After the paint dries, use modge podge and stick the paper to the wood.  Let it dry a little and then modge podge over the top to make it shiny.  If you are using vinyl letters wait until it dries to put them on.  If you are using paper letters , put them on as soon as you put on the top coat.  Then put another coat just on top of the letter. If you are stamping letters, put them on before you put the paper on the wood. Simple.  Easy.  Cute.

In Memory of Poopoo

After 9 1/2 years, my mom's cat, Poopoo, had to be put to sleep Monday.  She was very sad.  They had become buddies over the years.  She would always greet my mom at the door and roll over for a tummy rub.  Whenever my mom sat down, Poopoo would always jump up in her lap and rub against her.  In the mornings when the alarm went off she would jump up in bed with my mom.  She was always humming whenever she was with my mom.  She hated most people, but my mom, she loved.  Now, I really have no understanding of this.  I personally don't like cats - especially this one (I was on her hate list).  I have never had an animal of any type that I was attached too, so these kinds of emotions throw me for a loop.  However, in honor of Poopoo, I wrote a little something and I thought I would share it with all of you.  Hopefully it will bring a smile to your face:)

One day I lost my Poopoo. I was sad as sad could be. I looked and looked but with no luck. Oh where could Poopoo be?


I went into the kitchen where Mommy was cleaning and making lunch. I asked if she'd seen my Poopoo. Under the table was her hunch.

I looked but saw no Poopoo only crayons and some glue. Without my little Poopoo what was I to do?

I went in to the family room to ask my Dad the same question. "You might look under the couch for your Poopoo," was his only suggestion.

Under the couch was empty, except for a paper and a hat. I started to get upset. Where was my Poopoo at?
Next I went down the hall to my brother's room and asked him about my Poopoo. He said the last time he saw my Poopoo was in the closet by the shoes.

I looked in the closet next to the shoes but my Poopoo was nowhere to be found. I slowly walked out of the room with my feet dragging the ground.

Maybe my sister would know where my Poopoo was. I went outside and found her playing on the slide. She had not seen my Poopoo for quite a little while. She told me to look under the tree where maybe my Poopoo would hide.

I ran to the tree and fell to my knees hoping to find my Poopoo there, but only some needles and pine cones were lying under there.

I started to cry and ran to the house. Could my Poopoo be gone forever? I went to my room and opened my door and guess what I discovered?

There on my pillow in a nice big heap was my Poopoo laying fast asleep!

Parent Teacher Conferences

Last night I went to parent teacher conferences.   I was very pleased to hear what all the teachers said about the kids.  Dillon is doing very well (he was the one I was most concerned about because he is so young).  Hi teacher says he keeps up with the class, is improving on his handwriting, listens and follows instructions very well, and is very nice to be around.  Zane is also doing very well.  He is learning to read and really enjoys it.  His handwriting is aso getting better and he is a good speller.  She says he is a good listener and very good in class.  Makenna's teacher says she is an amazing student.  She is an excellent reader. 2nd graders are supposed to read 50-60 words per minute and she tested at 159.  She is in 3rd grade reading and goes 3 times a week with one other student to a special reading class.  Her teacher says she is also good at art, story writing and math, and she is an excellent speller.  Maddi's teacher also had good things to say.  She enjoys Maddi and Maddi is a good student.  She too, is in a special reading group with advanced readers.  She also goes three times a week to a special reading group.  She said Maddi is good at art math, story writing, and english.  All the kids got A's on their report cards and they all seem to really like school and their teachers.  Anyways, it was all things a mother loves to hear about her children!  I am very proud of them and all the work they do.

Halloween Party Number ?

There is a Moms Club here in Sioux Falls that I have been looking into.  They had a halloween party this morning that I took Zeke, Olivia, and Sam (a little boy I was babysitting) to.  They had fun.  They got to dress up again which Olivia loves.  There was balloons, fun music, lots of kids, decorations, prizes on the tables, pizza, apples, cupcakes and drinks.  There was also trick-or-treating.  It was held at some fancy country club in which I felt totally out of place, but oh well.  I met a few people - not that I can remember their names.  Some were very friendly, others well... Overall we had a fun time and I would like to go to a few more activities to see what it's all about.

Trunk-or-Treat

Last night we did trunk-or-treating at the church.  They had games set up in the gym that the kids got to play.  They had a lot of fun.  At first Olivia was a little wary of playing the games but once she figured out that she got a candy afterwards she was dragging me all over the gym playing all the games.  After about an hour of playing games we got to trunk-or-treat.  It had started raining so we didn't actually get to go out to the cars, they just came in and lined the hallways and set up in the class rooms and the kids went from person to person.  The kids didn't seem to mind but I felt bad for the people who had decorated their cars and trunks.  Anyways, it was fun for everyone.  Last night as we were putting the kids to bed, I went in to Olivia's room to help her and found her in the floor with her bag of candy.  She was planning on taking it to bed with her!  She got very upset when I took it away.  Can you imagine - a little girl with a bag full of chocolates and sticky things in her bed!  Her problem would be that she had so much candy she would open one and take a bite or a lick and then put it down and want to try the next piece.  She would've been totally stuck to her bed the next morning - that and completely wired for the next week!  I love this age when they first figure out trick-or-treating.  Maddi's first time we went to one door and they gave her two big handfuls of candy.  Her eyes got huge and she said "I love you!" and went running off the porch.  That brought many laughs.  Zane would get a piece and then want to sit down and eat it straight away.  They have all done funny things and I love watching them figure it all out and get so excited.

Will it ever end?

This morning Zeke woke up with another fever.  Not too high, just over 100, but he just layed around complaining of his cheek and eyes hurting.  Eventually the Tylenol kicked in and he livened up a little, but still, I am SO sick of having people sick!  Olivia has now developed a cough and spends half the night coughing and rolling around in her bed.  Zeke started coughing during lunch and almost threw up.  I'm still coughing too.  Everyone else seems to be okay.  Makenna didn't feel good Sunday afternoon.  I gave her Tylenol and that seemed to perk her up and she's been fine since then.  It's going to be a long winter if this doesn't pass over us soon...