Saturday, October 9, 2010

Glitter Hands

So as we were trying to get the boys homework done the glitter hand bandit struck.  If any one of you have ever had this mennis attack, you know the chaos that can ensue.  But in the end, the glitter bug fled the scene of the crime only to have a trail of glitter and we caught him.  Here is what we found...





I love my kids... :)

Friday, October 1, 2010

Party Time... Almost

So our littlest one turns 2 on Sunday!!!  We are celebrating tomorrow though and in honor of his new favorite movie, Cars, I made him a "car car" cake.  I think it turned out pretty good... you'll have to tell me what you think!

  Yes it is a 3D cake.  I think i did pretty awesome!

Thursday, August 26, 2010

Bagel Recipe

Here is the recipe for anyone who wants it.  I just googled bagel recipe and this is one that popped up!

Don't freak out, it's not hard, just a little time consuming.

Homemade bagel recipe
4 cups bread flour
1 Tbls sugar
1 1/2 tsps salt
1 Tbls vegetable oil
2 tsps instant yeast
1-1/4- 1-1/2 cups of warm water.

Mix all the ingredients in a bowl. You don't have to worry about soaking the yeast when you use instant yeast (most yeast sold these days is instant yeast). The dough should feel stiff, but add the extra water if it's really stiff, or you can't get all the dry flour incorporated.
Plop the dough down onto the counter, and knead for about ten minutes, or until the dough is uniform and smooth.
Cut the dough into 8 equal sized balls, and let rest for 10-20 minutes.
Pre heat your oven to 425.
Now, take each of the dough balls and using two hands, roll it into a little snake on the counter. When the snake is longer than the width of your two hands, wrap it around your dominant roiling hand. The dough rope should be wrapped so the overlapping ends are together at your palm, near the start of your fingers. Now take the two overlapping ends, and use your palm to squish/roll these two ends together. Once the dough is fused, you should have a perfectly circular bagel-to-be! This is the only part of the process that can take a little practice before your bagels will look really professional. Don't get discouraged if they don't look perfect, it just takes practice!
Let your bagels rest on the counter for about 20 minutes, and meanwhile, bring a pot of water to boil, and grease a large baking tray lightly. You can just rub a splash of vegetable oil and rub it around.
After the 20 minute wait, your bagels will start to look puffy, and it's time to get them boiling! Add them as many at a time as you can to your boiling water without crowding them. Boil for about a minute, turn them over, and boil for another minute. Take them out a let dry for a minute and then place them on your oiled baking tray. Repeat until all the bagels are boiled.

Add the tray to the oven, and after 10 minutes, flip the bagels over, bake for another ten minutes; and they're done!
Let them cool for at least 20 minutes, get the cream cheese ready, and feast on what's got to be one of the best weekend brunch treats possible!

You can add any toppings you like to these. To make sesame, onions, poppy seed, caraway etc. etc. bagels just have a dry plate ready with the seed or spice topping spread out on it. After the bagels have come out of the boiling water, place them face down onto the seeds, and then place the seed side up onto the baking tray. Bake and flip as for plain bagels.

Peek-a-boo!

So we had some friends come over to play and Ian had so much fun with his little buddy.  Here is how they spent a good portion of the day...

Bagels anyone?

So I got very ambitious today after I bought a bagel that I was less than impressed with.  There is a great Doughnut and Bagel shop not far from my house.  They don't have a huge selection, but I have been told how fabulous they are so I splurged and bought a bagel.  After eating it and feeling less than excited to ever go back, I decided to make my own.  I made a Blueberry, Onion and Italian.  Let me say, the Onion and Italian are FABULOUS!!  The Blueberry needed some sugar or sweetness, but it was still awesome!  Everyone should totally make their own bagels!  I will keep experimenting and let you all know just how many great and fantastic flavors I can come up with!

Monday, August 16, 2010

So Special!

So I have a few items to update on.  first, I have FANTASTIC children.  They may not always be the best behaved, but man are they AWESOME!  I love my kids.  They keep me on my toes and make me laugh.  Here are some funny photo's for you!

Ian eating taco leftovers that were left out over night!  EEEEEWE!




This is our awesome grill!  No one can hate on us for this master grilling machine!



This is just some random pics my kids took of each other.  Aren't they cute?!!

Friday, July 30, 2010

Term 2



Once again, I have finished another term of school at Westwood College Online and I am very excited to report that I got 2 A's and a B+!!  I know not quite as fabulous as last term, but Critical Thinking is NOT my strongest attribute.  Hence the B+.  But man I nailed Color Theory and thanks to Joe and Rik, I made it through Geometry with flying colors.  I think I might have actually learned something from these classes.  I am truly enjoying college and even though it's really hard, I am glad I am doing it.  Only 2 1/2 more years to go!!  I think I am going to make the Dean's list again!!!  I am pretty pleased and so is Joe.  Thanks everyone for your encouraging words and all your help!

-Chelle

Friday, July 2, 2010

There and back again

So over the passed month we have been on a whirl wind of traveling and having fun.  I will have pics soon and a big-ol-update!!!

Saturday, May 29, 2010

Dimples and Dumplings

Today as we were out and about running our errands, Matthew asked the most unexpected question.

Matthew:  Daddy, Do you have dumplings like me?

We laughed and were a little confused then we realized he meant Dimples.  What a silly boy we have.



We explained to him that he should have said dimples and thought no more of it until later tonight.  We were watching TLOTR part 3 and he calls out, Daddy, let me see your dumplings!

  
So now we have to ask, do you have Dumplings or Dimples?

Monday, May 17, 2010

Term 1


It's official.  My first term back in college is coming to a close.  I start term 2 next Monday.  Although I didn't get an A+ in all my classes, I was able to keep all of them over 90%!!  Three of my four classes were over 96%!  I can honestly say I never thought I could do this well.  I struggled all through high school just to make a B- and here I am getting A's!  I won't say I had it easy, but I did my best, handed in all my work, and it all paid off!  I am so happy that I did so well.  

Now, on to next term and we will see how it goes.  I actually have a math class and I have heard that math is a 70% fail rate.  I am determined to not be one of those 70%!  (I don't think I will be with Joe as my most fabulous tutor!)  

Thank you everyone who encouraged me and and helped me this term, I could not have done it without you!!