The best little girl a mommy could ask for

I have the absolute best little girl a mommy could ask for. I had terrible neck pain the last few days, went to the chiropracter and was feeling better. Took the kids to the YMCA today, and while there it felt like I got a pinched nerve in my neck. My vision got all blurry and then came the headache.

We got home and everyone fed and I said let's go upstairs Soraya and get Jack ready for his nap. She said, then I can watch Sesame Street! I said, well actually you are going to go night-night when Jack does so that mommy can lay down too. I have a terrible headache. She said ok. Once upstairs she says, "mommy, if your neck hurts you should go back to the doctor. You know who will be there? Colin's daddy and he will make your head feel all better." (Our good friend Colin's dad is our chiropractor)

So I proceed to go in all the bedrooms (including mine) and shut the windows and close the blinds. I hear Soraya in her room say to Jack, "It's night night time buddy." She then starts cleaning up all of her toys. Jack pulled one back off the shelf and she got upset. So I went and got Jack and told him we were going to clean up his toys then he was going to bed. Then next thing I know I hear Soraya yell, "Night night mommy!" And she closes her door and hops in bed! I put Jack in bed then checked on her and sure enough she was in bed falling asleep.

What a darling! Some times I don't think I deserve such an wonderful daughter :)

BFF

Soraya's BFF, Willow is moving to Costa Rica in two days. We are having a farwell open house at our place tomorrow evening for everyone to stop in and bid the Hendersons farewell. Soraya is sad...but doesn't really understand what is going on and where Costa Rica really is. I am sad for her, but I know they will be back in a year or 5 and can resume their friendship.

I am sad for myself, as Jess and I are really good friends and spent a lot of time together...especially since she lived a block away. The dynamics of our relationship is changing drastically but the nature of our relationship will remain the same. We are partakers in the Life of Christ. We are members of the Body of Christ and therefore relate to one another in Spirit and Truth...a change in physical location can change none of that.

End of Summer

Well...frankly...I haven't felt like blogging much latley. Maybe it is because I feel the end of summer drawing near and am trying to soak up the last bits of it. So here are some summer fun pics...

Sour Cream Blueberry Cake

We threw a little graduation party for Chad this past weekend while at the lake. Chad picked the dessert he wanted me to make for him and he picked Sour Cream Blueberry Cake. Despite this being a healthy cake, it recieved rave reviews (and my mom asked me to send her the recipe) So here is the recipe:

Sour Cream Blueberry Cake

Mix, then set aside to sprinkle over top before baking:

1/2 c. sucanat

1 Tbs melted butter

In a seperate bowl:

1/2c. butter

1 c sucanat

1 egg

1 tsp cinnamon

1 tsp baking soda

1/4 tsp salt

2 c spelt flour

1 c sour cream

1 1/2 c blueberries

Cream butter and sucanat. Beat in egg. Add dry ingredients and sour cream alternately. Stir in blueberries. Put in a well greased casserole size of cake pan. Bake at 350 for 30-40 minutes.

I doubled the recipe and used a 9 x 13 pan.

From the recipe book: Wholesome Home Cooking by Katie Stoltzfus

My Baby Boy

Happy Birthday Baby Buddy :) My little man turned 1 today.

Incredibly good and easy pie crust

Here is a fabulous tastey and easy pie crust I have been using. I really like it because you don't have to roll it out then get it off the counter with out tearing it...you just press it in the pie pan :) This is taken from Wholesome Home Cooking by Katie Stoltzfus. Favorite cookbook ever!

This recipe makes 2 crusts.

2 1/2 c sprouted spelt flour
1/4 c sucanat or maple syrup
1/2 tsp celtic sea salt

1 c soft, but still cool raw butter
4 oz organic cream cheese

In a bowl, whisk together flour, sweetener and salt. In a mixer, beat butter and cream cheese together well, scraping sides of bolw once or twice. Add flour mixture to butter/cheese mixture in mixer bowl. Combine at medium low until crumbly, like coarse cornmeal. Scrape down bowl and mix at medium high until dough forms large clumps, about 30 seconds. Transfer dough to 2 greased pie plates, pat out with palm of your hand evenly.

The Gorge

Well, after a rainy morning and a cranky Jack, I decided we needed a post afternoon nap excursion. So we packed a picnic dinner and headed out to The Gorge in Cuyogoga Valley National Park. We had never been thre before and thought it sounde like a nice adventure. Well, as soon as we go here we realized the trail leading to the gorge was 1. 3 miles. We knew the kids would never make it round trip. So we headed down the trail to the fishing dock. It wasn't too long of a walk and we arrived at the fishing dock. Soraya loved seeing all of the water!

After looking around for a bit we decided to head back toward the car to set up our picnic dinner. Everyone enjoyed their food. Jack had his favorite food, custard, and he just couldn't sit still!

After eating, Soraya wanted to see the fishing dock one more time so we put Jack in the backpack this time and took one final stroll. It was a fun adventure and when the kids are a little older we will certainly take the long hike to the Gorge!