Two Post Sunday - Static Display

This will be a "two post Sunday." We were all up, showered and ready to hit the road at 0900. That's quite a feat with eight people sharing one bathroom. ::grin::  I offered our bathroom but some are "freaked" out by the glass and mirrors in our bathroom. 

This was one of my favorite glimpses of the day. When we have the other four with us, we'll need a second pew. LOL 

It was fun to be at chapel - and I'm still contemplating this babe in the manager with pages of names.

BUT before Chapel - on the drive in - Michael pointed out the Static display with the SR 71 and drone. As we drove into the parking lot he said, "You have time to take them for some pictures if you'd like." Well.....how boring would that be? It's a static display. We've seen hundreds.  But then again - do they want to sit in the chapel for an hour?

 So we asked...."Would you like to get some photos by the display?"

 Um - yes. In fact Izaak and Dakota were INTERESTED in the SR 71 and knew lots of fun facts. Score one for Pepaw!  I forget Air Force bases and such have become common place to us - but aren't to our visitors. Maybe we can get a tour lined up for a future trip.

We headed across the street to check out this baby too. 

Choosing Joy!
©2013 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Monopoly Kind of Day

There was FROST on the cover of the backyard onsen this morning - and this was a couple of hours AFTER I opened the lid.....

The steam was welcoming. The moon and sunrise was beautiful when seen from the backyard onsen. I had just gotten out when Krista came down and joined me. I didn't mind a bit longer. 

Michael had to go to the base to prepare for tomorrow. The rest of us busied ourselves with games, wedding prep, and more games. 

Krista and the kids headed to the park....what is this? A mugging perhaps? No.....just a new game....knots.

Michael got home. I made Yakisoba. We sat around the big table and enjoyed dinner and conversation. I do love the the family table.  Cleanup got underway...Michael  went to run through his sermon, Stacia played a computer game.....these kids played Monopoly Empire.

Yuuki is worn out from the park

Krista and Arielle enjoyed the backyard onsen. I was tempted to join them but 3x in one day seems a bit excessive. Krista had a hard time keeping her eyes open with the bright flash....I told them to keep their eyes open wide....

 Arielle's got wider and wider...

This is a unique solution 

Choosing Joy!
©2013 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Gooey Cinnamon Rolls (Vegan Option)

 I believe I first got this recipe in a Faith Academy cookbook.  Thanks to Barb I now know it was Peter Ford - dorm father - who made these at Faith. I've been making them for years - quit when we got healthy. I've now made them two times  this week. I have fond memories of discussing Cinnamon roll recipes with Twyla in the onsen so I now think of these as onsen rolls and think of Twyla each time I make them. LOL 

Ingredients:

Topping: 

1 C whipping cream 

1 C rapadura (brown sugar)

Rolls: 

3 - 3 1/2 C flour

1 T yeast (pkg)

1/4 C rapadura (sugar)

1 tsp salt

2 T butter

1 egg

1 C hot water

Filling:

1 1/2 C rapadura (sugar)

2 tsp cinnamon 

1/2 C butter

Mix sugar and cream topping in an ungreased 9 x 13 in pan. 

Blend 1/2 of flour and next 6 ingredients.  Beat 3 min. 

Stir in rest of flour - note with whole wheat it is important not to use to much flour. I find 3 C is enough.  Knead. 

Roll to 7 x 15. Spread filling on top - roll from long side. Seal and cut into 15 pieces. 

Cover and rise until doubled - 35 - 40 min. 

Bake at 375* for 20 - 25 min. Watch closely. Cool 10 min. Turn out. 

Vegan option: 
I made these and liked them. I wasn't sure the kids would but I woke to find only 1/2 of one left. So in the future I will play with this a bit more. Even healthier. 

Ingredients: 
Topping:
1 C coconut cream
1 C rapadura

Rolls:
3 C flour
1 T yeast
1/4 C rapadura
1 tsp salt
2 T oil (Coconut oil/butter or Earth Balance)
1 c hot water
(skip the egg)

Filling:
Date honey (enough to cover the dough)
2 tsp added cinnamon

Or I would guess Coconut butter/rapadura and cinnamon...but the dates are natural and SWEET.

Follow directions above.

Choosing Joy!
©2013 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Amazing (Title submitted by Zander)

We decided to open gifts today. I had plenty of time to make Cinnamon rolls and since BreAnne knows that it's a Christmas Morning tradition....I made some for her.  I think I would have even without her BIG hints. ::snort:: 

We had a leisurely morning and opened gifts. 

Krista

Arielle and I decided an American Girl Doll and books would be the perfect gift for Stacia this year. I wanted to get one that would go along with the period we are studying in History. We quickly discovered most of the earlier dolls were retired. I turned to ebay and the results are this Felicity and a Kirsten doll (Arielle decided she wanted one for her collection too).

Stacia

Zander

Arielle

Nolan  - lots of new games! 

Dakota - Sonic Screwdriver

 I received these candle rings from my mom....of course they were too perfect not to take a run as Princess Leah!

I tend to get the girls a cookbook each year - usually a baking one for BreAnne. She likes to bake and she excels at it. Zander chose a  "food cookbook" this year for BreAnne as she's going to "have to learn to cook." Krista loves to cook and Bre loves to bake...it has worked.  Of course, Izaak has been on his own for a couple of decades and is proficient at cooking. BreAnne is a good sport...and I know she'll excel at cooking within months. Michael taught me how to cook. Zander picked out (with a bit of coaching) a Pioneer Woman Cookbook for Bre - hard to go wrong with Ree. Krista received the Eat to Live Cookbook (which will fit her eating style much better than Ree). 

BreAnne & Izaak 

Grandma T knows Bre

Stacia's handiwork for Krista

 Michael, Krista and I eventually headed out to bring home dinner - Papa Murphy's.  We came home to an empty home and evidence of an epic Nerf battle. 

Dinner was followed by more discussions, a movie and a trial run of Ticket to Ride. 

BreAnne and I ended the evening working on addresses for wedding invitations. Yep - wedding in 7 1/2 weeks. 

Is she texting Emily? We're excited to meet up with J family - soon. 

Arielle

Choosing Joy!
©2013 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Date Honey (Vegan/Daniel Fast Friendly)

I found this on The Ultimate Daniel Fast website.  It's sweet - but no sugar - just dates! I've frosted sugar free cookies with it, used it as the sweetener for cookies, added cinnamon and used it as the filling for cinnamon rolls and dipped my finger in it to lick. 

1 C pitted dates
1 C water
1/2 tsp cinnamon 

Put dates and water in a small saucepan, make sure dates are completely covered (add more water if needed). 

Bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce heat to low. 

Simmer 45 - 60 min. (Mine takes 45). 

Remove from heat; let cool 15 min (I forgot). Pour all into blender and puree until smooth. 

Sprinkle in cinnamon and stir. 

Choosing Joy!
©2013 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

"Parmesan Cheese" (Vegan)

1 Cup lightly-salted cashew halves
1 C Nutritional Yeast flakes
1/4 - 1/2 tsp  garlic powder (optional)

Note - discovered adding nutritional yeast flakes to this makes the flavor much more cheese like - start with 1/4 C and adjust to taste.

Add cashews to food processor or blended. Process about 15 seconds until cashews resemble the texture of Parmesan cheese.

I found this over at The Ultimate Daniel Fast.  T

Choosing Joy!
©2013 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

House Rules

They surprised me! They wanted to go to WALMART on the day after Christmas. ::snort:: They wanted to people watch AND buy any clearanced Chocolate Oranges.  

Before we left we put color and glitter in our hair. It is still my goal to make the "People of Walmart" cut while we live here. Arielle assures me I've probably already made the cut. ::snort::  We went to Walmart. Alas, no chocolate oranges for the greedy hoards of Gherkins.....but I DID get grocery shopping for the week done. I am acclimating to Walmart - slowly. 

Krista created Bridal Shower invitations. I added addresses. Zander stamped them and we mailed the bulk of the invites.

We settled in to visit and play while we waited for Dakota to arrive (and Izaak and BreAnne, but mostly Dakota).  They showed up in time for dinner and we had a fun evening together.

We sat around the tables well after the food was gone....adults were talking...youth and kids began a game of Thirty-one.

Dakota

Nolan has found it always helps to sing Opera to your cards

We have this "thing" known as "Gherkin House Rules." No game is ever played EXACTLY as written. This has perturbed some in the home - but it continues. It was no great surprise then when TWISTER became NINJA TWISTER.....

Nolan the human pretzel

Just before the crash of 2013

 

Somehow I missed snapping a photo of Bre.  I was cooking and everyone was visiting when she RAN IN THE DOOR and hugged Michael. It just all happened so unexpectedly and then we were "being" and I forgot.....I'll take care of that today.

Choosing Joy!
©2013 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...