Wednesday, December 29, 2010

Haircuts

...It had been since school started and E has never had more than a trim. I was so tired of fighting about pulling it up and combing through all the tangles. The new 'do' is adorable and makes her look so grown up. It makes me wish we would've cut it sooner.
Before
After
Posted by Picasa

Trying her hand at the Wii

Posted by Picasa

Tuesday, December 28, 2010

The view...

After finishing some chores upstairs this was my view on the way down...
On the bright side, at least the toys were all in one spot.
Posted by Picasa

Friday, December 24, 2010

myPod iPod

So In case your thinking it, I do realize I post way more pictures of Max than the other two or anyone else. To my credit though, he's the only one who will sit still...
We are trying very hard to keep and include Josh's parents in the rapid evolution of electronics and so they were gifted their first iPod (touch) today. Not bad for the first picture taken. Some how we captured Max in this awesome mid-movement candid.
Merry Christmas all!
Posted by Picasa

Thursday, December 23, 2010

Preschool Christmas...

This is mostly for the Grandparents that couldn't make it...
This is just a little snip it of Ellie's Christmas program at school. 
She is standing next to her good friend Madie. The part you don't see is when she so eloquently manipulated another friend to trade places so she could stand there. 
These next pictures are at the church Christmas program. Again, all the 3 year olds were supposed to be animals but somehow moments before the show Eleanor was able to weasel her way into being an angel along with her 4 year old cousins Kennedy and Hailey (E is in the middle). Maybe not a good thing, but that girl knows how to get her way.

Love the super fake smile.

Friday, December 17, 2010

Nativity

I love this picture Jack drew of the nativity scene.  It actually started off much simpler and before I had a chance to scan it he decided he needed to fill in the background. 
Both the kids love to draw and color...It's so fun to see what's in their little brains as it comes out on paper.

Monday, December 6, 2010

4 Months

I don't feel like much has changed about Max this month. He eats a ton and sleeps well. He's also starting to grab more at his toys and rolls from his stomach to avoid 'tummy time'. I think the thing I love the most right now are the smiles and pure excitement to see me when he wakes up :) At his 4 month appt. he weighed 15 lbs. 14 oz. and was 26 inches long. Both about the 85%.
Posted by Picasa

Sunday, November 28, 2010

Just because he's cute

Christmas Palooza

Loving the holidays, loving each other...
We had a lot of fun on Saturday picking out our tree (we got the best one!), decorating, and watching movies in our new Christmas pajamas.









Thursday, November 25, 2010

Santa Parade

How do you go 30 years in Grand Rapids and not even know there is a Santa Parade? My parents never took us growing up so when we took the kids last year I knew we'd started a new tradition. Last Saturday we bundled up and headed downtown...
We ran into cousins and managed to get a picture. Jack has his arm around my cousins daughter Maren who is town from Colorado



Posted by Picasa

Tuesday, November 16, 2010

Weekend with the Goads

It had been over a year since we've spent a weekend or overnight with Josh's family. The craziness of life had gotten the better of us. spent Thanks to some family friends we were able to stay the weekend at their home/cottage in Spring Lake. It was so fun to all be together! The kids entertained themselves and the adults were able to play games, catch up on life and cook. What would a Goad weekend be without a lot of good food?
We are so grateful for our family and the chance to "do" life together.
Thank you Lord for family that not only loves and pours into us, but above all loves you!




Posted by Picasa

Sunday, November 7, 2010

Cozy little weasel

Friday night Josh was out and after putting the older ones to bed Maxwell and I had some good snuggles. Three times in a row I had him asleep in my arms and then tried to put him down. I thought the third time was a charm so when I came back with my apple pie I was surprised to see these sweet little eyes staring up at me :) 
Cozy little weasel, go to sleep!


Thursday, November 4, 2010

Three Months

...and growing!
I love this the next few months because you totally see their personality coming out.
Max loves to smile (especially after eating) and also started giggling quite a bit.
Here's to surviving 3 months with 3 kids.
Lord, thank you for the gifts these little ones are and, do I dare say it, the challenges they bring every day.

Posted by Picasa

Saturday, October 30, 2010

Happy Halloween




Every year my cousins get together with our kids for a Halloween party. It's funny how all the costumes get passed around. I think there are costumes here that have been worn at least five times.
Also, if you look to the upper right corner you'll see my grandparents who now have 15 great grands with another on the way!
It's also been fun to compare Max with Jack in certain clothes and outfits since their b-days are just 9 days apart. It may not look like it here, but Max is now almost 3 months and the same weight  Jack was at 6 months.

Wednesday, October 20, 2010

Pumpkin Scone

Josh and I love Starbuck's pumpkin scone however very rarely do we treat ourselves in addition to coffee. Google here I come. I was on the hunt for a copy cat recipe and I think I managed pretty well. I've made these scones a few time in the past couple weeks and what should last at least 4 days end up disappearing in about a day and a half! If you don't like scones because they tend to be too dry, don't shy away. These are the perfect consistency (in my opinion). Hope you like!

Starbuck's Pumpkin Scones
INGREDIENTS:
2 cups all-purpose flour
7 tablespoons granulated sugar
1 tablespoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
1/2 cup canned pumpkin
3 tablespoons half-and-half
1 large egg
6 tablespoons cold butter

Plain Glaze
1 cup plus 1 tablespoons powdered sugar
2 tablespoons whole milk

Spiced Icing (this is actually enough for about 3 batches)
1 cup plus 3 tablespoons powdered sugar
2 tablespoons whole milk
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg
pinch ground ginger
pinch ground cloves

INSTRUCTIONS
1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees F.
2. Combine flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon, 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg, 1/4 teaspoon cloves, and 1/4 teaspoon ginger in a large bowl.
3. In a separate medium bowl, whisk together pumpkin, half-and-half, and eggs.
4. Cut butter into cubes then add it to the dry ingredients. Use a pastry knife or a fork to combine butter with dry ingredients. Continue mixing until no chunks of butter are visible. You can also use a food processor: Pulse butter into dry ingredients until it is the texture of cornmeal or coarse sand.
5. Fold wet ingredients into dry ingredients, then form the dough into a ball. Pat out dough onto a lightly floured surface and form it into a 1 -inch thick rectangle that is about 9 inches long and 3 inches wide. Use a large knife or a pizza wheel to slice the dough twice through the width, making three equal portions. Cut those three slices diagonally so that you have 6 triangular slices of dough.
6. Bake for 14 to 16 minutes on a baking sheet that has been lightly oiled or lined with parchment paper. Scones should begin to turn light brown. (I baked mine for 13 minutes and thought it was perfect)
7. While scones cool, prepare plain glaze by combining ingredients in a medium bowl with an electric mixer on medium speed. Mx until smooth.
8 When scones are cool, use a brush to paint a coating of the glaze over the top of each scone.
9. As that white glaze firms up, prepare spiced icing by combining ingredients in another medium bowl with an electric mixer on medium speed. Drizzle this thicker icing over each scone and allow the icing to dry before serving (at least 1 hour). A squirt bottle works great for this, or you can drizzle with a whisk.Makes 6 scones.

Sunday, October 17, 2010

The Green Machine

Well this year, Jack was finally eligible for some good old-fashioned sporting and we signed him up for the local Under-6 soccer league.  Of course, being a push over, I agreed to help out with the coaching.  Everything has been great this season, good kids, fun times, except for the fact that our team is brutal.  After a pair of 9-1 thrashings, my expectations for this season's success went out the window.  Regardless, I hope Jack has had as much fun as I have and look forward to many more years of doing the sports thing with him.
 Jack has fallen victim to the "follow the ball" mentality, but he certainly lacks in focus and aggressiveness.  
 My job is to manage the sideline...as you can see below, I have my own issues.
- Josh

Sweet Potato

I guess I didn't realize that Sweet Potato Vine grew real potatoes! I've used sweet potato vine in planters before but never found something like this. When I went to pull out all my plants this week to clean up for winter this is what I found! If you can't tell from the picture, the big one in the front is about 8 inches long and the size of regular large potato. It makes sense though...a potato vine growing potatoes. It just never occured to me I would find such large roots in my planters. Does anyone know if these are edible? I tried googling it but couldn't find a concrete answer.
Posted by Picasa

Friday, October 8, 2010

Smile

Max is all smiles all the time right now. I love it!
(Don't mind the spit up spot by his head)
Posted by Picasa