Uplifting
1001 Words is a fun little series where I post one photo + one word.
More fun than galoshes in the rain.
Creation brought to you by Caleb – at our family reunion last summer.
{Adorable recipe card – soon to be used for waaay more than my toddler post 😉 – is available at Purdue Avenue. And comes in four different color stories. Beauty. Thanks Mandi!}
Chicken patties have a funny story in our family. Part of the funniness is that most of us were not there. My mom, dad and little sis Anna were planning menus. This was when Anna was the only one left at home. My mom decided they should have menus they all three liked – seeing as there were so few to please. They sat around discussing options when Mom had a flash of brillance. Something she hadn’t thought of for a long time. She slapped her hands down on the table and said Chicken! Patties!! The shock of it all caused Dad and Anna to erupt in giggles and it’s been a favorite family story ever since.
{Devoted Full Collection by Carta Bella, font: Traveling typewriter}
That’s right – a classic game made anew with the incentive of brownies.
Truth or Dare – what will it be?
Truths such as “You are an amazing individual with high quality muscles.” or “Laughing is good for you. So is water.” ?
Those are fun. But if you choose dare – those come with 2 brownies. 😉 And you HAVE to do the dare right away. Things like “Perform your best cheer – with a double high kick.” and “Act out your favorite scene from a movie. Don’t stop until someone guesses the show.”
So – what will it be? Either way you’re rewarded.
This was Jim Bob’s reward after Stake Conference today. He’s in charge of the online streaming to four church buildings. Everything went smoothly and he definitely deserved a large meal and a large nap.
And this was my reward for helping all the little ones get dressed and to the church by myself. Next time I may remember to take a photo before digging in to the pie… may. Raspberry and blueberry both… yum.
Yesterday was a sparkly tights kind of day.
It may have also been a Birthday Cake Oreo kind of day…
Love those sprinkles!
Living the dream one day at a time.
Planning… and wishing… and hoping… and dreaming. One book for each month this year.
Brown paper covers sewn with regular ol’ typing paper on the inside. And a smattering of embellishments…
{credits}
Smencils not required, but oh-so-fun. {And they have Smalentines. In mint chocolate chip, ch-ch-cherry, be mine, sweetheart and strawberry cream. I swoon.}
Autumn: *hand raised* Can I start?
Andrew: Can I go first?
Katey: I want to.
Daddy: No, I’m going to. (That’s how you settle an argument.) I love Meri because her smile is amazing and her eyes just light up when she’s excited or happy. She’s just adorable and so sweet.
Jacob: Meri Jane has a beautiful laugh. It’s amazing. I didn’t know anyone could laugh in that tone until she came along.
Josh: 2 words. Epic cuteness.
Daddy: I’m pretty sure cuteness is not an official word. Maybe you can get creative credit in a dictionary.
Autumn: I love Meri’s laugh. It is just so funny. She just giggles really funny. She also is really happy when she goes up high. I like that she likes to get around to places really fast. When she crawls, she crawls fast.
Andrew: I love Meri because she is so cute. I’ve never seen a baby cuter. And I also love her because her laugh is so cute.
Katey: I love Meri because she is so cute and has a cute laugh and is just so cute. I really wanted a girl baby when a baby was in mommy’s tummy and it was a little girl – Meri Jane!
Josh: I want to add on something. I forgot to say that the most fluent word she’s ever said was when Cali (our cat) brushed her tail on Meri’s chin and Meri said “Kitty!”
*Censored conversation – about poufs. Between our two oldest boys. We’ll leave it there.*
Caleb: I love Meri fighting with swords and with arrows. (um…??)
Daddy: What else do you love about Meri?
Caleb: None else.
Daddy: What does Meri do to make you laugh?
Caleb: Kangaroo hoping in a house.
Daddy: Did you do that? Did Meri laugh at you?
Caleb: Mmm Hmmm.
Caleb: Mom – are you working on mine?
(Oh yes.)
Mommy: Meri is an explorer. She loves to feel, touch, see and taste – everything. She is especially loving tam-a-dreams (tangerines) and a sippy cup full of milk that she discovered this morning. Her happy gulps were hilarious. She has huge bright eyes that reveal what she’s feeling. She’s always happiest when her daddy walks in the door. Bright eyes and huuuge squeals. 🙂
Meri is our sweetheart of an angel that loves her family. She is the Bear Scout mascot – a little bundle of joy and so very fun to have around. She is starting to stand on her own right from sitting and then waits for a reaction. Happy sounds and enthusiastic clapping (on her part – and ours) and then she falls over, stands up and does it all again. Thankful Meri is in our family! (She’s snoozing right now after an event-filled day and missed her spotlight. Sadly. She would have loved the attention.)
Part of our Thanksgiving feast…
Evidence of a blessed life cards ready to be filled out – thanks to Nisa for the fun-loving designs that only took slight adapting.
I just left a basket of cards nearby (journaling cards on one side and notes/frames on the other). Any family that wanted to fill one out could write/draw pictures and then clip it on the ring.
Made a file folder cover with my little guy and evidence all over his sweet mug. And just like that… this little album is ready to be loved and enjoyed often. One fun way to count those blessings. 🙂
{credits: Splendid Fiins: Evidence-notes and frames, Evidence-journaling cards, also: file folder, tag, clip ring, walnut ink, font: Artistamp Medium and my handwriting}
This little book is from last Thanksgiving. I realized I never shared it here… it was sure fun to take a peek at again this year. Handwriting and artistic skills have advanced a little, but it’s wonderful to see that many of our blessings counted are the exact same.
Thankful for so many blessings. Thankful for a Heavenly Father who is aware of each of us and our needs. Thankful for my family that keeps me smiling and giggling. Also, thankful for the yummy smells in my home.
That’s the short list. I was making pies this morning and that last one had to make it’s way on.
There are so many wonderful things to be thankful for, always. Another one at the moment is an amazing aunt that took the time to teach me how to make tortillas.
It started when her boyfriend came for a visit and taught her his mother’s recipe. The tortillas all the neighborhood children still talk about now that they’re grown. That’s the one.
It looks a little something like this:
“THE tortilla recipe:
it is 3 to 4 cups flour to one cube softened butter….mixed in well with your fingers…add about 2 tsp salt and a pinch of baking powder. Have 2 cups lukewarm water ready to add as needed. It takes most of it. Mix with your hands to a dough that feels about like pie crust dough..not too wet but not dry either. flour the area you will roll them out very lightly (the flour burns on the grill otherwise) and using a peice of the masa about the size of an egg roll it out (flipping it over and around after each roll) until big and thin. (they aren’t all perfectly round but still taste great) then on a hot grill (we used a skillet, a cast iron grill and a big electric grill and they all worked great) that is dry..not greased at all….put one at a time and turn with it bubbles nicely all over…it may puff up and that is fine..when done stack them up on a paper towel on counter to cool before bagging them up. Thats it!! I think I covered it all. The butter and the dowel for a rolling pin (the size of a garden tool handle) really makes all the differnce. And every single other recipe I have tried in the past called for too much baking powder. Eppy explained that more than a pinch makes it stiff and hard to roll. That pinch is enough.”
Love.
Now, tortillas and I go way back. My roommates in college used to tease me because I bought and ate way more tortillas than bread. I wish I knew how to make them back then.
Jenny’s daughter showed up at my door a few weeks ago with this:
Inside were these treasures:
Part of the original rake-handle-rolling-pin and masa made by Jenny. We ate that plus another batch in the first evening.
My first tortilla:
Not the prettiest thing, but it was sooo very yummy. I’ve made them 3 times in the last month and am working on perfecting the skill. My family doesn’t seem to mind.
The first photo is from one of my latest late night attempts. I’m getting there.
Here’s Jenny’s actual recipe card she also sent over:
Adorable. Those smiley faces and happy-go-lucky writing… she’s a lady in love. I love that she’s in love. I’m in love too. Thankful for her tortillas and her sharing heart.
I am Becky Pipes. Mother of eight little rascals, each one a blessing. I love finding joy in the everyday. Digital scrapbooking convert, ice cream aficionado and all around easy-going gal.
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