Trick or Treat

Nara loved "sweeping" up the leaves at Grandma Great's with her broom.

Halloween was so much fun this year. Although we spent it without Chris, who was away on business, it was so great to take Nara around trick or treating. She was such a cute little witch this year in her handmade costume complete with hanging spiders and nylon sleeves. She loved running to the door, handing out candy, and telling the kids "Trick or Treat" and "Happy Halloween". Even when we were Skyping with family, she couldn't resist running to the door calling out, "I get it! I get it!" Here are some pictures of the holiday celebrations between Grandma-Great's, Kim's, a neighborhood parade, and trick or treating.

Happy with Daddy before he flew out.

Love the socks

Running around the yard

"Cheese"

At the Morgan Halloween Party. Everyone smile...ok, just look in the same direction...how about sitting down.....no, oh well. Happy Halloween!

At the Morgan neighborhood costume parade. The kids walk up and down the street trick or treating.

Nara was full of "oo's" and "ahs" when we pulled off the top of the pumpkin. 

She had a ball scraping the insides and telling me how it felt "gwose" and slimy.

Make a face like the pumpkin!

Where did all the seeds go?

All dressed and ready to go trick or treating.

Playing Dress Up

Hello All! I just wanted to post some pictures of Nara playing dress up the other day. I found this Snow White costume in the Foster Care box and thought Nara would love it. She did. She was twirling and whirling, running and dancing all over the house. I figured if I didn't try it on her now, before we pack up, then she will never be able to wear it. As you can see, it barely fits as it is. At least she got to try it once. 

Nara was given a bike from the downstairs neighbors. Although too small for it this year, she loves riding it. She would ride around saying, "Whee"! Here she is with Mykenzie.

• 1 cup onion, minced
• 1 cup carrot, minced
• 2 (10 1/2 ounce) cans chicken broth
• 4 tablespoons flour
• 6 tablespoons butter
• 1 cup heavy cream
• 1/2 cup cooking sherry
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
• 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• fresh chives, minced
• salt
• 1/2 lb raw lobsters, chopped or 1/2 lb lump crabmeat
Change Measurements: US | Metric

Directions:

Prep Time: 20 mins

Total Time: 1 1/4 hr

1. 1 Saute onion and carrot in 2 tablespoons butter until soft. Set aside.
2. 2 In 4 quart saucepan, melt 4 tablespoons butter and add flour, whisking constantly over medium heat until roux becomes light brown (about 5 minutes). DO NOT BURN!
3. 3 Slowly add chicken broth, whisking constantly to ensure mixture stays smooth.
4. 4 Add onions and carrots, cover, and simmer for 1/2 hour.
5. 5 Add cream, sherry, lemon juice, Worcestershire sauce, cayenne pepper, salt, and lobster or crab and simmer an additional 5 to 10 minutes.
6. 6 Garnish with fresh minced chives if desired.

Nara loved it too!

 

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Coming in Second

This originally started as a letter to my in-laws, but I decided to follow their advice and UPDATE MY BLOG!
In short we are moving and I have been getting ready and packing all day...every day...day after day... Here is the letter that I was writing:
So we've been packing today and I thought I would take a moment to rest and drop you a note. So I was packing Chris' shirts today, and may I say...Holy cow! When did his shirts start to grow and multiply? I would think they are trying to replenish the earth, something I thought not possible. I also  think that he alone could keep the entire cotton industry going by purchasing his shirts. Actually they are cotton/poly. I wonder if there is any worth in the stock?  His shirts (just T-shirts) took up an entire box. To illustrate, I am [posting] a few pictures four your pleasure. 

If Chris' shirt box and my were to get into a fight, who do you think would win?
 I do believe that I would come in second on this one. My cute little dainty box would be swallowed whole and destroyed by the ominousness of the Goliath towering over it. You know Chris, everything has to be big. 

While I was pulling out all the shirts from the closet, I laid them out on the back of the recliner. the weight was so much that the back of the chair actually reclined. Silly me, I didn't get a picture of that. Anyway, when I was finished I came out to see Nara in her chair reading a book. I love this girl so much. I love Chris so much too, I just have to give him a hard time about his massive T-shirt collection.

P.S. There may have been a little forced perspective used in this post to illustrate a point...   :D

Chicken Strips

I made tasty chicken strips tonight for dinner and thought I would share the result.
Combine
Smoked Paprika
Salt & Pepper
Garlic
Onion Powder
Crushed Corn Flakes (fine)

Preheat oven to 400o
Dip the chicken strips in veggie oil,eggs or butter.
Then dip into the dry mixture.
Place on a greased pan and cook for 25 min.

Serve with your favorite dipping sauce.

The hills are alive with the sounds of handbags

Recently, in a magazine, I saw a picture of a really cute hobo bag. I immediately had an idea of replacing my (way cool) Tinkerbell Diaper Bag with this new, mod bag. I figured it would be a little bit more hip than the previously mentioned.

 So I started doing some research on "Hobo" Bags. The price, for the ones I liked, were about $30. Yikes! For a bag! Okay, so it's not that bad of a price but it is one that I can't afford. Well, with times being what they are and money being what it is, I decided to make it myself. So viola! After $6 drape fabric and a little bit of time, it's done. Chris calls it my "Sound of Music" bag. What do you think? Not too bad for not having a pattern, eh?

Sunken Bread

Congratulate me, audience! I successfully (kind of) made a loaf of bread maker bread. Can I say that I made it? It did in fact come from the machine, so technically, I guess, the machine made it. Regardless, it wasn't bad bread. The crust was delightfully crunchy and the inside was soft and chewy. The most fascinating part was that the top, rather than rising, sunk. Therefore and verily it looks more like a dormant volcanic crater rather than a luscious loaf of billowing bread. Still, slather on some jam, jelly, and or butter and it's a fair snack. Next time I try it, hopefully I can make it the way it should be. Until then, I think I will stick to the old fashioned way, machine free.

Hey Look At That!

Ladies and Gentlemen who read my blog, I have some news! I POSTED!! Not only that I think I have finally figured out how to put videos from our video camera onto the blog. Let me preface that it wasn't that hard, I just figured out how to do it. Needless to say, a lot has been happening since I last posted about Nara's birthday. She has been having so much fun exploring and getting into everything. I love to see her reaction when she finds something new. One of her favorite things is to help me in the kitchen. I often find her in the drawer (yes I said IN the drawer) pulling out bowls or pots, and unloading the dishwasher. What a help she is!Yes I had a stuffy nose when I took this video.

She has also taken an interest in feeding herself. I have to include a video (check the next post) we took when she was having fun with 'Aunt Stacy'. She is such a funny little girl. I need to write all the things she is saying and doing down because she is saying and doing new things all the time. 

Nara found a new spot to hide and visits it often. I couldn't find her the first time because she was tucked so far into the corner. She came out with a big smile.

I am having some trouble adding the last two videos and am going to try to add them in a new post so be sure to read or see both. Enjoy the videos. More to come!