Saturday, December 18, 2010

Cousins!! November 2010

Aaron got to spend time with his USA cousins when he came for a visit from Singapore.

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Here he is with Jack and Katie

and with Beniah



All the cousins had a good time playing the first day Aaron got here






When Beniah celebrated his second birthday, everyone wanted a piece of the cake...













Aaron, Donny, Evie and Beniah








...and everyone wanted to play with Beniah's new train track.

Sugar and Spice...


Here are some pictures of my sweet granddaughters -- taken in November 2010:
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Little Lady Katie


Little Miss Everlyn and her mommy, Kim.









Evie happy with her new mode of transportation. She's finally walking!










Now, aren't they both adorable?!!
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This grandma thinks so!

Thursday, December 09, 2010

October birthdays

We celebrated Joann's (9/30) and Kim's (10/8) birthdays together between the two days. Here are some fun pictures of the event.


Katie, Jack and Donny helped with the candle blowing. With all those candles, Kim and Joann could use all the help they could get!










Fun times remembered 2

Beniah loved helping Grandma water the plants on the deck.

...and speaking of decks, here he is on his double-decker chair!




Jack and Katie in the fall garden.














Grandma Marie with her precious little people.
Like Father, like son!






Evie loves the quilt rack. It's a great place for playing peek-a-boo!

Friday, November 12, 2010

Pumpkin Pecan Pie Bars

I don't normally post recipes here, but I made these this week, and they are so good that I wanted to share the recipe with my friends. I took the bars to a meeting and everyone loved them. I think you will too.


Pumpkin Pecan Pie Bars

Categories: Cookies
Yield: 48 servings

  • 1/2 c Butter or margarine; softened
  • 1 c Brown sugar; firmly packed
  • 1 1/2 c Flour; un-sifted
  • 1 c Oats
  • 1 tsp Baking powder
  • 1 tsp Salt
  • 16 oz Pumpkin
  • 1 can Sweetened condensed milk
  • 2 Eggs; beaten
  • 2 tsp Pumpkin pie spice
  • 1 1/2 tsp Vanilla extract
  • 1 c Pecans; chopped
  • Confectioners' sugar; (opt)

Preheat oven to 350~. In large mixer bowl, beat margarine and brown sugar until fluffy; add flour, oats, baking powder and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Mix until crumbly. Reserving 1/2 cup flour mixture, press remainder on bottom of 15x10" jellyroll pan. Bake 20 mintues. Meanwhile in medium bowl, combine pumpkin, sweetened condensed milk, eggs, pumpkin pie spice, vanilla and remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt. Spread over baked crust. In small bowl, combine reserved 1/2 cup flour mixture with pecans; sprinkle over pumpkin mixture. Bake 30-35 minutes or until set. Cool. Cut into bars. Sprinkle with confectioners' sugar if desired. Store covered in refrigerator.

Saturday, November 06, 2010

Fun times remembered

I just had to add some sweet pictures from a few months ago.... So cute!

































Monday, October 11, 2010

CHRISTMAS LISTS - 2010

Just added new lists for several....

AND THE PRIZE GOES TO TIMMY AND HEATHER FOR GETTING THEIR LIST IN FIRST!!!

Thank you everybody! All the lists are here. If you think of new things let me know so I can add them to your lists.

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Tim & Heather

DVD - The Office Season Season 6

Anything off of our baby registry at Target and Baby's R Us.

Wii console, with Wii Fit

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Tim

Gamestop gift card

Book: Towers of Midnight by Robert Jordan & Brandon Sanderson

DVD: Date Night

Microsoft LifeChat LX-3000 Headset (best price I found was at Amazon)

Beard Trimmer

Any used books you might think I'd like

Any new-to-me music, besides Country or Gangsta Rap

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Heather

Jewelry Box – It doesn't have to be this one, but I like this type from Target.

Watch – I like the thin silver bangle type. (Again, it doesn't have to be this one, but one like it would be fine.

Gift Cards from Target, Old Navy, Motherhood Maternity, Walmart (or anywhere that sells nursing wear)

Photos of my family in a black frame.

2 under the bed storage containers

Just about decorative thing that is wrought iron - please no chandeliers :)

Candles

Handmade gifts are always awesome.

Used books are also welcome (I like just about any type except the ones with pictures of anorexic but voluptuous women on the front)

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Beniah

The Jesus Storybook Bible: Every Story Whispers His Name [Hardcover] by Sally Lloyd-Jones (Author), Jago (Illustrator)

Anything Thomas the Train

Anything Clifford

Anything Sesame Street

Anything Martha Speaks

Anything Bob the Builder

Anything Arthur

*I think that covers all of the PBS shows that he loves. If you give us anything Wiggles, you will be disowned! :)

DVD's of said shows.

DVD's by Pixar

Books

Wooden Puzzles (He has mastered the 2-5 year old puzzles, so if you see a wooden one that is harder it would be perfect)

Anything to deal with learning shapes and colors

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Joann:

Alright! Here's my long awaited list: :)

Wii Fit Plus game & board (or gift cards to purchase one) - new or used

It's Complicated - DVD

The Fantastic Mr. Fox - DVD

Big Bang Theory - seasons 1 & 3

Friends (seasons 5-8)

30 Rock - any season

the latest Robert Jordan novel (ask Timmy which ones I'm missing)

Forever 21 gift card(s) or items

rotary cutter

rotary cutter board

other quilting necessities

zoom lens for my Canon (new or used)

wide-angle (fish-eye) lens for my Canon (new or used)

the rest of my high school shows on DVD :)

etc. - be creative, i like lots of stuff

That's all for now. :) Love you!

jo

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Matt B:

Books (gift cards to amazon.com and Powells are great); or:

  • NT Wright, "After You Believe: Why Christian Character Matters"
  • John Franke, "Manifold Witness: The Plurality of Truth"

Gift cards for clothing/running shoes (Target, JCPenny, Old Navy)

Coffee! Always need coffee beans (whole beans)

Dark chocolate is wonderful.

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Danny and Betsy:

OK, so here are a couple of ideas, will add more later:

DVDs:

How to Train Your Dragon

Karate Kid (the new one with Jackie Chan)

Alice in Wonderland (also the new one)

Amazon Wish Lists:

Danny: http://amzn.com/w/2UWNVEW8LNXK0

Family: http://amzn.com/w/26AVZYSAXIJFF

I plan to update the Amazon lists later.

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2010 Twist Christmas Wish Lists

Katie:

Magnetic pages photo album for sticker collecting

LeapFrog Tag Maps: USA (spotted at Fred Meyer for 19.99)

Age appropriate puzzles

Preschool Activity Books

2T jeans/sweats/leggings/tights

3T shirts/sweatshirts/sweaters/dresses/fleece footed jammies

2T socks (she is wearing a size 6 shoe these days)

Most girly/little mommy/nurturing/dress up toys would be loved, but she is also into building/stacking/tractors/balls/digging in the dirt type toys, and is possibly ready for some basic Preschool level craft-type toys, such as Shrinky-Dinks.

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Jack:

DVD- Thomas and the Misty Island Rescue

Magnetic pages photo album for sticker collecting

A Memory Game

Kindergarten or First Grade Level Activity Books

A grocery cart similar to Katie’s pink one, but in primary colors

6 or 7Husky jeans/sweats/camo pants

5-6 or XS shirts/sweatshirts/sweaters

12-1 socks (he’s wearing 12-12 ½ shoe these days)

Still very much in Love with Thomas and Friends, and any of the Take Along or Take and Play size engines would be welcome (please contact me first for names). He also loves the building kit that Grandma bought for him last Christmas, perhaps at IKEA, and could use some more pieces. I think he is ready for “real” LEGOS, so maybe a basic set to get him started.

Joint gift idea for the kids:

High Five magazine subscription (the younger version of Highlights)

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Matt:

Peppered Beef Jerky

DVD- It Might Get Loud

Oster Belgian Waffle Iron

Books:

The Double-Jack Murders: A Sheriff Bo Tully Mystery by Patrick F. McManus

The Huckleberry Murders: A Sheriff Bo Tully Mystery by Patrick F. McManus

Avalanche: A Sheriff Bo Tully Mystery by Patrick F. McManus

The Blight Way: A Sheriff Bo Tully Mystery by Patrick F. McManus

(are you getting the theme?)

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Beth:

Any item from or inspired by my etsy “Favorite Things” list

Books (new or used… in order of preference):

Honeysuckle Manor by Blackbird Designs

Comfort Zone by Maggie Bonanomi

The Art of Colonial America by Shirley Glubok

The United States of Americana by Kurt B. Reighley

Fraktur: Tips, Tools, & Techniques for Learning the Craft by Ruthanne Hartung

Samplers (Shire Collections) by Rebecca Scott

When the Cold Wind Blows: Quilts & Projects to Keep You Warm by Barb Adams

Woman's Day Book Of American Needlework by Rose Wilder Lane

Over the Knee or Knee High 100% wool socks

Clip on LED book light

Silver Solder Kit

Wire Binding Machine

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Kim:

feel free to improvise and guess. I love to be surprised.

someone to come deep clean my house while I'm out one day :)

someone to re-upholster a couple of my dining chairs

gift cards to IKEA or Target

cute clothes in size 18 or XL - XXL works better while pregnant so stay tuned for that sort of news

shoe size 11

home made aprons

18 gallon rubbermaid tubs

breadmaker

food processor

pampered chef peeler

Kitchenaide mixer attatchments for pasta and applesauce

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Andy’s 2010 Wish List

BOOKS

A DANCE WITH DRAGONS by George R. R. Martin

THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO, by Stieg Larsson

THE GIRL WHO PLAYED WITH FIRE, by Stieg Larsson

Honeymoon with My Brother by Franz Wisner

THE JOHNSTOWN FLOOD; THE GREAT BRIDGE; THE PATH BETWEEN THE SEAS; and MORNINGS ON HORSEBACK, all 4 by David McCullough

Isaac's Storm: A Man, a Time, and the Deadliest Hurricane in History by Erik Larson

Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln by Doris Kearns Goodwin

“The Worst Journey in the World” by Apsley Cherry-Garrard

“Into Thin Air” by John Krakauer

“Seven Years in Tibet” by Heinrich Harrer

“Home of the Blizzard” by Douglas Mawson

“Farthest North” by Fridtjof Nansen

“the Right Stuff” by Tom Wolfe

“Alone” by Richard Byrd

“The Long Walk” by Slavomir Rawicz

“Castaways” by Alver Nunez Cabeza de Vaca

“Touching the Void” by Joe Simpson

“The Oregon Trail” by Francis Parkman

“The Perfect Storm” by Sebastian Junger

“Carrying the Fire” by Michael Collins

“Journal of a trapper” by Osborne Russell

GIFT CARDS

iTunes

Game Stop

Home Depot/Lowes

MISSLE-ANY-YES

I like the T-shirts here…. http://store.glennz.com/

I like this one too…. http://www.threadless.com/product/2392/Dr_Swiss/tab,guys

Garden shears for trimming the shrubs and bushes and tiny tree like thingies...

Screwdrivers

Wrench set

Pliers

Wheelbarrow

WISHES

iPad 64GB WiFi only (No 3G)

Sony Playstation 3

40" HD TV (preferably Sony, Samsung, or Sharp

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Donny:

Loves character things from PBS kids and Sprout (Sesame Street, Angelina, Clifford, Wiggles....)

Loves letters and numbers

Loves cars

The book "How to teach your child to read in 100 lessons or less"

We like books as gifts - or more age appropriate learning toys

Wears 4T clothes and size 10 shoes

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Evie:

Loves everything... especially if Donny or Beniah are playing with it

Loves books

Mirrors and hair pretties make her smile

Wears 12-18 month clothes and size 4 shoes

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Mama Marie:

Banana-grams game

Socks

Pretty drinking glasses

GC for Joann Fabrics (or other fabric store)

Cloth purse like Kim’s

A day w/me to help sort and discard stuff

Kitchen Aide applesauce attachment

Boots (like Beth’s and Joann’s) – sz 9

DVDs: Little House (Seasons 6 and 7)
Showboat

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I don't really need anything. So don't think you need to spend lots of money on me. The things on my list are just ideas, and some of them are kind of expensive. If I think of other things, I will add them, but I will be happy with whatever.... especially if it includes time with each of you, the family that I love so much.

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Daddy Jim:

Here are some ideas for me for birthday (hint,hint :>) and/or Christmas:

BOOKS

(used are fine, as are paperback)

>Deeper Water (Tides of Truth Series, Book 1) by Robert Whitlow

>Higher Hope: Tides of Truth, Book 2 by Robert Whitlow

>Greater Love (Tides of Truth, Book 3) by Robert Whitlow

>A Lineage of Grace: Five Stories of Unlikely Women Who Changed Eternity by Francine Rivers

CANDY

Junior Mints or similar mint/chocolate candies

IMPORTANT REAL-LIFE GOODNESS

Donations to Real Hope Ministries (Heather would know more details since it is the ministry Heather’s sister Evie and husband Ravi have in India) – donations go through New Life Christian Center in Roseburg - they are currently raising money for special Christmas celebrations at towns they work with in India.

DVDs:

Extraordinary Measures

Letters to God

Letters to Juliet

No Greater Love

The Spy Next Door

OTHER

Gift cards to Fred Meyer, BiMart

Monday, October 04, 2010

Wedding gown memories

In April Donny and Evie got to help Auntie Jo pick out her wedding gown (for her wedding in August). It was a fun day!














Beautiful!
Adorable!







Evie had fun with Grandma... and Grandma had fun, too!

Sunday, July 11, 2010

Happy July!!

Happy July!! I just baked a pie!
...
and speaking of dessert, how would you like this in your ice cream dish?

Tuesday, May 18, 2010

Sugar and spice and everything nice....

...that's what little girls are made of!!
Grandma Marie enjoying her little sweethearts Katie and Evie. These pictures were taken in February, but are too good not to share.