twinks in the kitchen

After storytime today, we came home and it was rainy and cold,

so we were craving something comforting and warm like cookies and milk! They have started to really love helping me in the kitchen. Usually i just give them the wooden sandwich making set, and let them pretend to cut on a cutting board, but today I decided to let them in on the "fun"

The first two pictures of Luke were taken one after the other....

he could not keep his hand out of that bowl : ) I could tell he was having so much fun

bc i was sort of just letting them have at it! How else can you bake cookies with kids?

Tis the season!!

Is that a hand full of dough!? ( I just now noticed that)

catching up soon..

Having breakfast on Thanksgiving morning...

What I get these days when i say "smile Isabel"

Tree tied on, ready to go!

JOY JOY JOY to the world, the stockings are hung!!

Here's a few pictures I took on Sunday after we got our tree!! It was so fun taking the twins to pick out our tree this year bc it was actually cold. Last year we were all sweating! : ) I think we found the best one we've ever had this year. I look forward to catching up on my blog soon, but for now...thought I would leave you with some from our quiet weekend at home after Thanksgiving!!!

Check back soon..I have so much I want to share, and I plan to blog a lot in December!!!

HAPPY HOLIDAYS !!

: )

cinnamon pumpkin waffles

Don't read this...just print it out, run to your kitchen to make them, and your family will gobble them up! We had them for supper : )

Ingredients

• 1 cup whole wheat flour
• 1/4 cup wheat germ
• 1/3 cup white sugar
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
• 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 tablespoon baking powder
• 3/4 cup milk
• 1/2 cup pumpkin puree
• 2 tablespoons melted butter
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
• 1 egg
• 1 egg white
• 1/2 cup chopped pecans

Directions

1. Preheat a waffle iron according to manufacturer's instructions. Combine flour, wheat germ, sugar, cinnamon, pumpkin pie spice, nutmeg, salt, and baking powder in a bowl. Set aside.
2. Beat together milk, pumpkin puree, butter, oil, applesauce, whole egg, and egg white. Stir flour mixture into the pumpkin mixture along with the pecans.
3. Ladle the batter onto the preheated waffle iron. Cook the waffles until golden and crisp, 5 to 7 minutes.

special bday wishes..

Some birthday wishes for some special ones....:)

Some are late, some are early, and some on time...

We love you ALL!!

Hi Isabel!

Just thought this was funny! I moved my kitchen table back and they got to see themselves in a full length mirror. Isabel was loving this! She was smiling at herself and just starring forever.

thankful for my fleas

These pictures have nothing to do with this post today, but i just thought the twins looked sweet before Mother's day out last week. {A little tired looking...but it was Monday!}

They were on their way to church for their Harvest Party! They were assigned to bring their favorite fruits to share with their class, and their teacher made a fruit salad with all the fruit. Luke brought kiwi's for his favorite fruit, and Isabel brought bananas : )

Sweet goodness are these two treasures to us!

Do you know the story of the fleas from Corrie Ten Boom's The Hiding Place?

Corrie ten Boom tells about an incident that taught her the

principle of giving thanks in all things. It was during World War II. Corrie and her sister, Betsy, had been harboring Jewish people in their home, so they were arrested and imprisoned at Ravensbruck Camp. The barracks was extremely crowded and infested with fleas. One morning they read in their tattered Bible from 1 Thessalonians the reminder to rejoice in all things. Betsy said, "Corrie, we've got to give thanks for this barracks and even for these fleas." Corrie replied, "No way am I going to thank God for fleas." But Betsy was persuasive, and they did thank God even for the fleas. During the months that followed, they found that their barracks was left relatively free, and they could do Bible study, talk openly, and even pray in the barracks. It was their only place of refuge. Several months later they learned that the reason the guards never entered their barracks was because of those blasted fleas.

I'm thankful for my fleas today, even though mine are vain in comparison to Corrie's...

I'm thankful for the mess after every meal because it means i've been surrounded by my children.

I'm thankful for my huge utility bill because it means we have heat!

I'm thankful for taxes because it means we have jobs.

I'm thankful for laundry and dishes and my never-ending honey-do list because it means i have a home.

Even though we dont always feel thankful...we can still give thanks.

Rejoice with me friends! God is GOOD!

His Rest..

Oh I truly do cherish these days.....these long, tiring, wonderful days.....

A dear friend shared these special words with me, and I hope you will read them and be blessed and encouraged, as I was. Our call as Mothers is SUCH an honor and a privilege.

~His Rest~

By Diane Head

If ever anyone needs rest, it is today’s mother. And I have great news, there is rest for us.....a rest more rejuvenating than a long and leisurely nap. This rest reaches into the depths of our souls and claims us from within.

This special promise of rest comes from Jesus’ words in Matthew 11:29: “ take my yoke upon you and learn from me.....and you will find rest.” The yoke spoken of in this passage is fashioned of discipline and discipleship; its lining is love. Rather than bringing restriction it brings refreshment. Through this yoke, He calls us to learn of Himself and find quietness and blessed rest.

Rest for the soul is the most desirable rest. It affects not only our spiritual health, but our emotional & physical health too. The only way to receive this rest is to sit at Christ’s feet and hear his word, Take time to learn more about who he is and what he is like.

Costume party #2!

My dear Buzz, please never grow up....I will miss you!

girls will be girls...always changing their outfit at the last minute : )....to

a sweet Ballerina named Isabel....we've been watching the Nutcracker!

Our neighbor always has such cute treat bags made up for the twins!

"No Luke, you can't go back for more candy...we already went to that house...."

said Isabel!

She opened every lolly pop and licked it once, then wanted to throw it away..

And my favorite part of the evening.....!!!!

Nina and Pops taught them how to dump the bag and see what they got!!

I had totally forgotten about doing that as a child. : ) My Dad always used to

ask us for some and we would always be stingy with it, and only share the mounds and almond joys with him. I guess that's why it's his favorite candy :)

THis was some crazy FUN!