Kumquats

Kumquat Pie

I had never heard of Kumquats or even knew what they looked like until a few weeks ago when Casey brought some home and announced he wanted a Kumquat pie. Everyone in the house was a little bewildered. Apparently you are suppose to eat these things whole. I didn't try it that way. I just couldn't get past the orange peel like texture I was going to have to swallow. All 3 of the kids thought it was a little odd as well. They were braver than mom and actually tried it but weren't too impressed. However, when the tiny fruits were pulsed and mixed into a yummy pie I really enjoyed the flavor. For me, it was a cross between a key-lime and orange flavor. It was actually really good. Here is the recipe if you are interested and happen upon any Kumquats to use in this tasty recipe. (Above photo courtesy of google search)

a photo of our tasty pie

Prep Time: 25 minutes

Total Time: 25 minutes

Ingredients:

14 ounce can sweetened condensed milk

8 ounce container whipped topping, defrosted

1/2 cup lemon juice

2/3 cup pureed kumquats*

9-inch baked pie shell or graham cracker crust

Preparation:

Combine sweetened condensed milk and whipped topping. Beat until completely combined. Stir in lemon juice and Kumquat Puree. Pour into prepared crust. Refrigerate Kumquat Cream Pie overnight or for at least 2 hours.

Makes one 9-inch Kumquat Cream Pie.

Pumpkins

Poor Ryan has been sick all week. It started with a headache and ended up with a fever and sore throat. After 3 days of being a couch potato, the doctor finally called in a prescription in hopes of getting Ryan back on his feet. In the meantime, we have been trying to keep up with our Halloween festivities around here. Ryan really wanted to carve pumpkins, so we gave him a dose of Tylenol and waited until he felt well enough to dig in.

We had to split up the carving and pictures into two different nights. Ryan was crying by the time he was done with his pumpkin. He carved through one of his spider legs, and with not feeling good it was more than he could handle. Poor guy. Thankfully for picture night he was feeling a little bit better.

Have a Safe and Happy Halloween!

Fall

This is my favorite time of year. I love the colors, the smells, the food and festivities, and most of all, the cool crisp air. It doesn't last nearly long enough, so I try to enjoy it as long as I can. This weekend we met up with Andy, Janelle, and Seth in the mountains. The colors were suppose to be at their peak, which made the drive up there a scenic pleasure.

We hiked up to the falls. It was a long/steep hike, 425 steps to be exact.

It really wasn't as bad as I thought it was going to be. Although, my legs are definitely sore today because of it.

We stopped for a few pictures along the way.

The view was amazing

And we tried to take it all in

Some of us more than others. Cody was upset we tore him away from his Football Saturday. Kaitlyn tried to cheer him up. We did make it back in time for him to watch his beloved Bulldogs win their game!

The view from the top

After we made it back down the mountain, we headed into Dahlonega - A quaint little town nestled in the North Georgia Mountains. We have been there before when the kids were younger, but it is always fun to go back.

They have some fun shops with treasures and treats.

The yummy fudge that only lasted a few hours.

It was a beautiful fall day in Georgia, and I am so glad we were able to get out and enjoy it!

Fair

Each year Casey has booth duties at the State fair for the University/Poultry Industry. All of our kids have had their turn helping at the booth. This year the fair happened to be on our fall break, so we decided to go with Casey and play while he worked.

Ryan wanted to help Casey. They had several groups of school age children come through that were excited to see, touch and hold the chicks.

Ry did really good for the first hour, but then started to become a little tired.

This is when he mouthed, "Help me" to Cody....

Andy, Janelle and Seth met us there and Seth was also able to help out for a awhile.

There were a few chickens that were just beginning to hatch or had just barely hatched out of the egg.

Besides touching and holding the chickens, this was the most visited part of the exhibit.

After their shift was over, we ate lunch. Fair food is one-of-a-kind.

We saw clowns

and Tree People

who talked and walked around the fairgrounds posing for pictures with anyone who asked. Although, he didn't like standing still for very long or he would start to make comments...might have been hard standing still for long periods of time on stilts. He was pretty popular.

It was pretty hot, so Seth was thirsty and always looking for shade

Trying to make his own shady spot-

It was a great day and brought back many memories of going to the fair with my own family as a child(pictures below). Each summer we would gather the troops and head to the Lane County Fair in Eugene Oregon. There are many fun memories, like the time I stepped in the water when I was getting out of the boats, so my shoes and socks were soaked the rest of the day. Or the time dad left the car lights on and our battery was dead when we came out, and it was raining very hard as dad attempted to get us going. There was also the time when we went to the fair and it was so hot. We had to make a stop for dad to get some shorts(dad NEVER wore shorts). The only shorts we found were Bermuda shorts with little sharks all over them, man I wish we had pictures of those - so many good times!

We didn't have any crazy experiences this year. Well, except for the $130 ticket Janelle got on the way there(sorry Janelle). All-in-all it was a fun day at the fair!

Flashback Friday

I had forgotten all about these photos, until they were unearthed recently while going through some of my photo boxes.

This was quite the photo session as I remember. They were being taken in a local scrap-book store that a friend and I frequented. The promotional photos looked cute and professional, so we thought it would be fun. However, what we ended up with were way overpriced, blurry photos. We weren't too happy.

Kaitlyn thought it was fun to dress up, but didn't appreciate seeing the shine on her forehead, Cody didn't care too much for having to shed his shirt, and we were all just hoping that Ryan was in the mood.

There were a few cute ones out of the bunch, but it sure shows how far photography has come in the last 8 years.

Birthday Boy

It's hard to believe it's been a decade since our Ry was born. I'm not sure what it is about the 10th year that has made me become so reflective of life - where it's been and where it's going, but that's where I find myself as we celebrate Ryan's 10th year. So much has changed/happened in life over the last 10 years, I cannot imagine where the next 10 years will take us. It has been fun, hard, exciting, joyful, tearful, and completely rewarding. Life with Ry guy is sweet and full of many smiles and happy days. I joked a lot after having Ryan that if I could guarantee 10 more like him, I'd have them!

I refer to Ryan as our little miracle baby, as I had mis-carried the year before and was very nervous the entire pregnancy. I was diagnosed early on with placenta previa(a complication of pregnancy in which the placenta grows in the lowest part of the womb (uterus) and covers all or part of the opening to the cervix.) and up until my 8 1/2 month was scheduled for a c-section. The doctors were very concerned and monitored me closely. They advised me to take it easy and be careful. When I went in for my last check up before delivery, my doctor wanted to do one last ultra sound to check the position of the baby before doing the c-section, and what we saw was nothing short of a mini-miracle. I showed no signs of placenta previa. My doctor was completely shocked, and told us that it never reverses this late in pregnancy. She had no explanation, but I knew I was given a tender mercy and would have this baby naturally. What a relief! He came without any complications and was the only one of our newborns to look up at mommy moments after birth with his big blue eyes and smile. I knew at that moment I had a sweet little spirit in my arms. What a wonderful little boy we have been blessed to love and to be loved by. We all love our Ry!!

Ryan's Top 10

1. Loves dry noodles more than cooked

2. Is totally obsessed with a game called minecraft, which he doesn't have

3. Favorite Subject in School: P.E./Recess

4. Favorite Food: Peanut Butter & Jelly Sandwich

5. Believes in Bigfoot

6. Finally is in a phase of going to sleep upstairs in his own bed - ALONE!

7. Loves to have his back scratched

8. Favorite T.V. Show: Adventure Time

9. Still loves to cuddle

10. Still has an irrational fear of helium balloons

Andy - loves his sweet personality, and how I can bribe him to do anything for a dollar.

Kaitlyn -loves his sense of humor and similar taste in food.

Cody - loves his sensitivity, and he's a good friend.

Dad - loves his sensitivity.

Mom - loves his energy and love for life.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY RYAN, WE LOVE YOU LOTS & LOTS!!

Pictures

“Pictures help you to form the mental mold” - Robert Collier

Yes, they do!

So, I can't wait to start learning to use my new toy. Mommy doesn't get many toys, and I have always been a picture taking junkie...so this mommy is very excited!

Anyone want to go on a photo taking adventure, Anyone?? Oregon, Utah, Hawaii - I'm game!