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. :)