Spotlight of the Squash

I have something of a love-hate dislike relationship with the tradition of pumpkin carving.  It's fun to go to the pumpkin patch, and pick out a seriously perfect, 'Great Pumpkin'. 

But then you have to open it and deal with the messiness.

 

My sentiments echo Natalie's.

Gross and cool at the same time....not many things get that distinction.

The real 'dislike' part of this relationship is new for me this year.  Now that the kids are older, I tried to purchase some pumpkin carving kits, so that they can help a little more with the carving.  Here enlies the problem.  Who decided to put those extremely complicated patterns with the kid-friendly kit?  Were they not thinking of the parents?  This backfired a bit and actually left me with more work.  I digress and sound incredibly negative, my apologies. It's just that I still love that easy traditional smiling, triangle eyed jack-o-lantern.

Each child got to pick out a pattern (although I admit I did try to encourage some of the easier patterns).  For Natalie's she picked out a kitty - I'm glad she stays so true to herself.  And Linnea's was supposed to be a web and spider...after the kids were finished and had left me with the real work, I decided to turn that webbed pumpkin around and give it the SMILE treatment.

In the end I think everyone was happy with the result - although I can say, I am not a good pumpkin carver, and perhaps next year is Joe's turn to spearhead this event.  In truth, this is my favorite kind of pumpkin....

The pumpkin isn't the only squash that gets some attention this time of year in our household.  Tonight was also our first batch of butternut squash soup....mmmmm.

Complete with pumpkin seed oil and jalapenos

Happy carving!!



Sweet and spicy

Some times a good deal comes around and it's such a good deal that you don't even think practically about the purchase. Many times it's a good purchase, something you'll use eventually, even if you didn't need it exactly at that time.  Other times, you purchase something and then you think - what in the world am I going to do with this??

The new job I have has a wonderful perk of a Farmers' Market every Wednesday.  It was here, a few weeks ago, that I picked up 2 pounds (!!) of jalapeno pepppers for just $2.  Knowing my husband as I do, I thought - what a steal!!  He'll just love me for the peppers.  I proudly brought them home, only to then hear him say - 'That's nice, what are you going to make with them?'  Hmmmm...I don't particularly love spicy food (extremely spicy that is), and if I do like a good spicy meal, one every once in awhile is fine for me. Which means that we would only use a small fraction of what I bought.  Thus, it was decided to make....jalapeno pepper jelly.

If you're intereted, here's the recipe:

1c. chopped red bell pepper

1c. chopped jalapeno pepper

5c. white sugar (extra healthy;) 

1.5c. apple cider vinegar

6oz. liquid pectin (tried with powder....let's just say, this is the second batch)

Any other ideas?  I still have some peppers left....

We did try and enjoy the weather a little bit too.

Loose Ends

Tying up loose ends or at loose ends. Which is it?

The latter when referring to our newest addition to the family. Tell me, who is walking who here?

But, she seems to enjoy our family and we seem to be enjoying her, at least 95% of the time.

The Hidden Loose End: Linnea got a hair cut (don't over analyze please)

As for tying up loose ends, well, there is that too.  We finally finished Linnea's room.

She seems pretty happy with the final product.

Natalie's room is fairly finished too - although not nearly as clean.  When will that organized gene kick in again?

The only pictures which did not capture the mess....

 Just another day. Let's see what loose ends get tied up tomorrow (or what ends get loose.....)

The Shocking Addition

For those who know us well, this may WILL come as a shock.

We have a new addition to the Norman household - and in a fashion true to ourselves, we didn't make the final decision until an hour before it was made.  Actually, not completely true - we had to 'take a 10 minute walk' to really decide (and to implore to the children that this would mean WORK), while at the old residence of our new addition.

The girls are ecstatic - they couldn't even sit still for a picture. Joe and I are pretty happy too. Actually, I think one of us likes the dog more than (he) would like to admit ;)

Of course, the first rite of passage to join our household is a bath - because, who wants a dog that smells like a dog?

What did we do??

Meet our Weimaraner - any suggestions for a name?

And the oldest turned 7....

Today was someone's birthday. Think she was excited?

It started with a sugar-filled cinnamon roll and store packaged brownies - a detail only put in because while I understand the rules of the school, can anything prepackaged be better than homemade?  Linnea actually declared it a great thing that there were extras she brought home.  I am not as excited - someone else will have to eat them.  The family birthday party then commenced.  We began with presents from the grandparents (all pictures are not shown for the sanity of those viewing).

Special Gymnastics Leotard

Willa....toy of the future who is HI-LARRR-I-OUS. Why do fish live in salt water? Because pepper makes them sneeze....and the girls laugh for about 5 minutes.

 And then we had a scavenger hunt for her presents from us....

I just love this shirt....

Leading up to....(drum roll please).....her new bike!

This was followed by Linnea's dinner of choice.  Which I just have to comment on, since my stomach is still in recovery mode.  Last year, she requested fish sandwiches and salad for her birthday dinner.  I was so proud - my child, wanting a fairly healthy meal - for her birthday dinner.  This year, let's just say, reality has hit...specific requests including Kool-Aid were made, AND the only healthy request is not currently available (cantaloupe).  This is a picture of a dinner filled with nothing but love - and a side of liquid sugar.

The birthday cake was my latest attempt to make the delicious, but impossible cake to make look sophisticated, chocolate-whipped cream cake.Luckily, it tastes better than it looks ;)

Birthday wishes were made.

I don't think Natalie had a bad time either.

And the final event was a special delivery from Nana and Grandad.

Followed by a movie. Whew....as I sit down....Natalie says, I can't wait until we do all of this for MY birthday. Well, some of us can wait, just a little bit.