Mommy's Little Helper

Tia finds great fun in "helping" load and unload the dishwasher.


Look Mom, I know how to do it...
you put it in here just like this.

Up Close with the Fire Truck

Much to Silas' delight, he was able to go on the fire trucks here in town last week. Great fun!

Beautiful Autumn

Autumn...the best time of year, beautiful colors, crisp air, warmer clothes, runny noses, apple pie, pumpkins, leaves, leaves, and more leaves. Praise God for the seasons and all the joys they bring!

The kids are excitedly watching Daddy blow leaves into big pile.Can you ever have too much fun?

Sorry for lack of color Throwing the leaves was Silas' favorite

Tia loves spending time with her Daddy

Out almost 3 year old come next month

Silas is getting better at winking, give him a wink next time you see him:o)

Fruit Tart

Here is the recipe for the fruit tart. The original recipe from an old Taste of Home magazine uses white chocolate and cream cheese filling but I'm not partial to white chocolate so I changed it to a sweet lemon filling instead. I don't know the exact amounts for the filling so you will just have to add a little more of this and that and taste as you go.

The Crust:
3/4 c butter, softened
1/2 c confectioner's sugar
1 1/2 c all purpose flour

Filling:
1/2 c whipping cream
1 (8 oz) pkg of cream cheese
juice from 1/2 lemon
1/4-1/2 c confectioner's or granulated sugar depending on your desired sweetness

Fruit topping:
1 can of pineapple chunks, undraind
Strawberries
blueberries
kiwis
1 can mandarin oranges

Glaze:
3 T sugar
2 t cornstarch
1/2 t lemon juice
1/2 c pineapple juice

In mixing bowl, cream butter and sugar. gradually add flour, mix well and press into an ungreased 11" tart pan or 12" pizza pan. Bake the crust at 300 for 25-30 minutes or until lightly browned. Cool.

In a mixing bowl cream together cream cheese, and whipping cream, lemon juice and sugar until desired tartness or sweetness is reached. Spread over crust.

Open can of pineapples, reserving 1/2 c of liquid for glaze. Wash and prepare other fruit and arrange over filling.

For the glaze, combine sugar, cornstarch, lemon juice, and pineapple juice in a small saucepan over medium heat. Stir constantly. Boil for about 2 minutes or until it is thickened. Let cool, then brush over fruit. Refrigerate for at least an hour before serving. Serves 12-14.

The Most Anticipated Farm Trip

Here we are again at Grandma & Grandpa Moo's farm. We were there for about 5 days and probably did more work/ play than we do here at home in 2 weeks. There is so much to see and do...I lost my 3 year old son to my little brothers for the week, he was gone most of the day except for dinner times. Tia enjoyed all the animals from a distance, I'm not quite sure she liked the dogs coming to lick her face. The chickens were her favorite.

Yup, this is how you make the truck noise!

Silas having fun in the big old, old dump truck with shale for the cheese house.

Being is normal goofy self.Smiling at the chickens.
The girl of many faces.

It was great fun driving the skid steer with Daddy taking round bales off the trailer.

We made a delicious fruit tart for Sarah's 21st Birthday. You will see the recipe posted soon.

Consulting to make sure there was enough corn put in the mixer.

There was hardly a moment when they were together, Silas was so busy following his Uncle's around.

Just for your amusement.

Helping Aunt Sarah feed all the hungry calves.

The new cheese house has been started, Phil helped to do the preliminary plumbing.

Silas is making sure those two cement blocks were put together just right.

Here Mom, you take it! A rock for you!

Esther and I with Eric and Tia's help planted two rows of lettuce.

I'm sure she had a nice clump of dirt in her mouth.Here's Moms woodworking, she was finishing a jelly cabinet for someone at the market this past Saturday. Place your order ASAP!

Making sure everything is square!

Looking at these cuties, I think they could pass as twins.

The Amish neighbors driving past in their buggy.

Silas making sure the cows have enough hay to eat.

Didn't take too long to get real acquainted with the dogs.

The END

All Aboard!

Mommy had to wash the dining room floor so out go the chairs into the living room. Silas was a big helper and brought all the chairs and made a special train. With just a spark of imagination from Mommy here it is.

The owner of the train himself!The Conductor!

Tia wasn't so sure about all this, but went along for a very short ride.Can't forget the basic necessities, blanket, piggy, and juice, they had a special seat of their own.A few of the other passengers.Silas declared that all the books and toys were being delivered to Judah.