Wheat Bread

The loaves just got made and below is just when I put them in the oven.

I finally decided to use some of the fresh ground wheat that my Mom brought up for me at Thanksgiving time. First, on accident I made the whole recipe which makes 4+ loaves. So I thought I'd go with it and test out my "convection" oven and see if I could cook all the loaves together. Sadly I was disappointed with that option. The biggest loaves that I made into cinnamon bread came out doughy in the centers. But otherwise they taste great. I sent the kids to the neighbors will the smallest loaves so hopefully those one were cooked better and I won't be embarrassed that I sent over bread. We had bread for dinner and it's still delicious if you eat around the dough! Next time I'm cooking them only on one rack. And probably only making half a batch. Now I just need to get some wheat in my food storage so that I can actually use the wheat grinder my Mom gave me for Christmas! Another thing on my to do list - stock up on food storage!

That's the finished product before we devoured it. I know you think I'm just so domestic!!

Our Frozen Lake

We are lucky enough to live by the lake and when we moved in the thing was frozen SOLID! We ventured out to test it and everyone had fun sliding on the ice and going on a nature walk. The boys had done this a few times before but the family spent a fun afternoon doing it together the day after Christmas!I took this one from above before I decided to be adventurous and join them. Check out everyone's sliding and some falling skills!

A little bit of posing for Mom.

And a picture just to prove that I was there.

And we have beautiful sunsets - hard to tell in this picture but Morgan and Mia are in it (hidden in the sage brush) and you can see the peak of Mt. Rainer off to the left in the skyline!

We enjoyed our walk around the deer trails from the lake to the pond and all around some of the undeveloped land in our neighborhood. You guys missed out - it's been a warm month of January and the lake is already melting. I don't think I would walk on it now!

I have to start somewhere!

Since I didn't send out a Christmas card this year I'll start with about the only picture that could be a possibility of a decent photo for the month of December. Pardon our very dusty stairs - we had just moved in two days before while the carpet was still being laid and the painters had just finished up the night before.Not the best picture but we were working on a time schedule and it was time to leave for our first Sunday in our new ward (ML 4th). So far we are loving the new ward. I was just called as Activity day leader for the 9 year olds which are usually combined with the 8 year olds so I'll get to be with Morgan too. The kids all have found friends both at church and school (some the same). And I have managed to get this house cleaned up that I'm not embarrassed to have people stop by now. My stairs are no longer THAT dusty although I'd have to say wood stairs collect a lot of dust and lint!

Back Online!!

After being without internet since December 18th . . . I am ecstatic to announce that I am back online today! I have so much to catch up on and the break has been good for me (to get some unpacking done). So I am hoping to do some good posts soon. I am planning to make the long drive to shop in Tricities tomorrow so I don't think I'll post then. But I just wanted you all to know that we moved, that we basically settled into our new home (although since we are "fixing" the place up it will be a while before I really feel settled), and we're getting used to our new ward, schools and routines. I'd love for people to come visit! So if you're ever in the area please let us know! Mia has had Barbie.com withdrawals and is begging for me to give her some time online!!