making the most of wintertime

We've been keeping pretty busy around here lately! I feel Spring coming, and it makes me so excited to think of being outside all day long, but it's not here yet, so we've been finding things to do in the meantime . . .

Yummy Saturday morning breakfasts with Daddy. It's so nice when he's home!! Annie has all kinds of things to say and catch him up on.

I ventured into the world of cheesemaking with my first attempt at mozzarella. It turned out beautifully . . . 

I made two loaves of Italian Feather Bread with the leftover whey from the cheese. 

Annie had her first partial-Sunday in nursery! Such a big girl!

I made this Garden Herb Loaf--my first time ever making a bread braid and all that. It was a load of fun. :)

Annie loved it, too!

Grandma (and Great-Grandma visiting from Utah, too) came over to color!

We pulled out my old bluegrass instruments to start up our bluegrass band--name coming soon . . .

Yay for Spencer and his crazy ukulele skills!

Another baking project: apple cinnamon sticky buns! Annie helped!

So, as you can see, I've been really into the culinary arts lately. I've always loved cooking meals, but only if they didn't require too much time and patience. But now I'm loving it all. The more complicated the better! And I'm learning a lot of new skills. Once I'm not having to spend all day every day cooped up in the house, I probably won't be creating new foods so much, but for the time being, I'm really having a blast! Brant never knows what he'll come home to in the evenings . . . :)

And now, some videos of Annie . . .
She's talking so much now. We don't really understand much yet, but we're getting there!
In this first one listen for her answering "yes" to questions. Pretty cute. :)

cookie day!

Annie and I were having a pretty frumpy morning. She's just getting over the cold that I'm just beginning to get sick with. So we decided to make cookies. She was soooo whiney and clingy that I popped her in her high chair and let her sit at the counter with me and watch everything I was doing. She was FASCINATED with the sifter, so I gave her a turn with it when I was done. When I turned around again, this is what I saw . . .

She noticed I was taking a picture, so she gave a coy smile :)

covered in flour!

yummy molasses, sugar, and butter . . . 

We both happily made it to nap time today :)

the rest of the snowy yesterday and a sunny today

Brant and Memph were diving into the snow at the same time. :) See Memphis's little splayed paws??

The snow kept falling later than we even thought it would. And then it was hard to tell when it had stopped because the wind was so strong and was blowing snow everywhere! By the end of the afternoon, Memph literally had to swim through our backyard!

It got sooo deep in our front yard! If Brant or I were heavy enough to fall to the grass below, it would have been up to our necks!

So, in between turns shoveling, I made some focaccia bread. It was delicious. :) 24 hours later, it is also no more, cause Brant and Annie liked it so much!

Annie woke up from a long afternoon nap and ate bread and watched the snow.

We stayed warm against (or sitting on) the radiator and watched it pile up outside!! 

Then Annie got a turn to play in the snow. We built yet another slide :)

Catching snowflakes on her tongue!

Then it was time to start trying to dig the car out . . .  It took me a while just to brush all the snow off. The snow was up to my chest as I walked around the car. Luckily we had a lot of neighbors out helping us. It was a fun afternoon, and we all went to bed blissfully tired. :)

This morning we woke up to sunshine and the news that Brant didn't have to go in to work until 11! So we danced and played all morning.

I went outside to shovel some paths and start building a snow cave for Annie. I had to take a few pictures first! :)

The Snow Kept on Falling

Second snowstorm in a week!! This is AWESOME!!!

Brant got up this morning and had to at least make an effort shoveling while waiting for his boss to call and tell him work was cancelled. She finally did. The shoveling was a losing battle anyway, as the snow just kept picking up speed!

Snow dog!! It's almost covering Memph!

Here's our brick grill . . .

And inside I get to be warm and play with people I love :)

When not battling the elements out of doors, Brant can be seen working out with the Wii Fit :)

Annie has discovered snaps, and when I wear a shirt with snaps, this is what she does . . .

Have a fun Wednesday, everybody!! We sure will! :)

greatest day