Easiest Bread EVER!

Yummy Crusty Bread...  from Sarah!

Before you even get started know it takes 12-18 hours to rise!

3 cups flour
1 3/4 teaspoons salt
1/2 teaspoon yeast
1 1/2 cups water

In large bowl mix dry stuff. Add water and mix it up.

Cover bowl with plastic wrap and let rise for 12-18 hours.

Heat oven to 450 degrees. Put cast iron pot into oven and heat the pot for 30 minutes. If using Le Cruseat wrap the top knob with foil. Sucker will melt.

While waiting for the pot to heat, empty dough onto heavily floured surface. I highly recommend cutting board so you can easily drop the dough into the Hades hot pot.   Shape into ballish shape. Sprinkle with flour and cover with plastic wrap.

Remove hot pot from oven. BE careful! It is so hot. Drop dough into hot pot. Cover and bake in oven for 30 minutes. Remove lid and cook for 10 minutes. Remove and enjoy.

Happy Changes

I can't believe how long its been since I have blogged. Miss Shirley wasn't even born yet. Now she is 4 months old. Her birth was great. Loved my repeat csection. 

 

 

 and I am still getting back into my pre pregnancy size. 

10 more pounds.

Now I can't even imagine what it was like to not have her. 

She really is totally perfect. She hardly ever grumps and has the chubbiest little legs in the whole world. (93 percentile baby!) I do get some of the blame for that. 

She whimpers and she gets to nurse and get momma to herself.

And we are now in our own home. 

IT IS SO NICE. 

We picked out everything in the remodel so of course I love everything. I am decorating the walls slowly but surely. It's small and so perfect for us. I really appreciate the smallness. It makes me rethink everything I own and makes me purge a lot. The thrift store is always happy to see me. Its a two bedroom but its 1200 square feet so BIG bedrooms. I have been using the kitchen so much. I didn't have counters in my old house so its amazing all the things you can do with the littles on them. 

 

Summer is pretty much over and we spent a lot of days running around outside. The property is fenced so Sammy can basically run around and chase the dog to his hearts content.

 

 I have been working about 5 hours a week. Going up to 15 next week and watching two girls for some extra money. They are sweet and have a blast at my house even though I am always afraid they are bored. 

I am out of survival mode with the kids. Starting to feel like Samson and Shirley have a schedule I can predict. I go places with both of them. I have a double stroller so I have no excuses. I still dislike going grocery shopping with them both so I try to leave Sammy at his cousins house. Sammy is outgrowing his naps which is bittersweet since I LOVE napping. Casey is still not healing but we are learning ways to deal with it. We know his limits and try to stick to them. He helps as much as he can and for that I am so thankful. I am working on keeping the house more tidy. Having someones elses kids over REALLY motivates me. My momma told me its house KEEPING not mess it all up and catch up. I keep on telling myself that. I am so messy and I fight it constantly. I like it tidy so I need to keep it that way. My house has been tidy now for 6 days. Gold star for this momma.

Lost a love

As a christian I am supposed to confess my sins. So here goes over the past six months I have really lost my love of bible reading. I really have no one to blame but myself. I pooped out somewhere when I had completed approximately 33%. I am pretty sure it coincides with Casey's car accident but I am not sure. Which really is horrible. What now that the going gets tough I stop reading the directions god gave me to read? Horrible. Inexcusable. Now when I do any of my bible reading I have to really force and am just hoping its over. How awful is that? I am going to change this. Not really quite sure how yet. But I am thinking about trying using an actual bible and not my iPhone. Maybe that would help? I know prayer will help too. My paper bible is packed away but tonight I will do it on my iPhone and really relax while I read and hope my love comes back.

I just don't think you understand

Warning. This is not a positive post. Its the 29th and Christmas decorations are put away. This is the earliest I have ever put away Christmas. Well away in boxes in my living room, that counts for something right? I can't actually lift them or the tree because every time I lift something my abs hurt. I guess this is a pregnancy side effect I don't remember from Samson. So whenever someone comes over I have them carry my laundry upstairs or the vacuum. Weird huh? Welcome to my home please carry this into my messy living quarters, also could you close your eyes so as not to see all the laundry and toys everywhere? K Thanks. Normally I love Christmas and keep it up as long as possible. I think this year I just want time to go by faster. I hate feeling that way. I want to appreciate every moment and day with my family and my pregnancy but I just can't keep this anxiety at bay. I got diagnosed with ppd in the form of anxiety and I am like 99% sure it is tied into my hormones because when I am breastfeeding or pregnant it really roars its ugly little head. And I used to just take that little happy pill but not when I am pregnant. Not too mention Casey's back isn't getting better. It just isn't. I just cry about it which I am sure solves absolutely nothing but hey I can cry if I want to, I am pregnant. When people say oh I have back problems etc. I can't do x y and z. I just don't think you understand. I just don't think you understand that if he picks up Samson he limps for two days. I just don't think you understand that if we go the grocery store on a Saturday he can't go to church on Sunday because he is in too much pain. Or everyday after work he can't move. He has to prioritize everything. My husband is not a wimp. He has done a lot of things in his life and not one of them is "wimpy." When he got a migrane a few weeks ago I basically had a breakdown because now he can't even sit up and keep an eye on Samson so I can get ready for work. I am not even going to get into the elephant in the room that is my husbands granny.  I don't want to dishonor her and talk about her on the internet. Plus honestly you just wouldn't get it. You have to really know her, like live with her, to get her. I think all people should have to take care of an elderly person one time in their life. I have done two. Its good for you. LOL! Hopefully she will be in a home soon or I am moving to a hotel room in my in-laws house. I have given enough and can't give anymore. I have a job, I am growing a baby in my tummy and I have a toddler. I haven't enough energy to go around. Plus I am only supposed to have one cup of coffee a day. ONE CUP! My new years resolution is to stop saying yes.  I think too highly of myself. I think I can do more than I really can. No, honestly I did pray about this decision. I followed where God was leading my heart. I thought God was leading me to stay here and care for Granny. I think I still do. Lesson in humility, forgiveness, patience maybe? Not quite sure. Maybe after its all over it will be clear. I am pretty new to this whole praying for guidance thing. Do I need more faith in Gods plan?

Baby Girl Names...

Casey and I found out on Sunday that we are having a baby girl. I am a little nervous because I feel like I know boys but also excited! Casey and I looked through the baby name book and  we like a lot more girl names than we liked boy names. With Samson we couldn't decide on anything so the first thing we both liked we went with. With baby girl there are so many we like. At first we wanted to only do bible names but then we feel like when we have a third baby we have to stick to that and only do bible names. That is the same thing with choosing another "S" name, would we have to stick to the "S" names?

 I don't know if we like enough "S" names.... HA HA! 

These are some names in the running for baby girl:

1.     Analiese

2.     Carolyn or Caroline

3.     Audrey

4.     Holly

5.     Claire

6.     Hannah

7.     Shelby

8.     Leslie

9.     Miriam

10.  Ruth (Ruthie when she is little)

11.  Sadie

12.  Shelley

13.  Adaliene

14. Annabelle  (Oops...sorry Steph, almost copied you.)

15. Brooke

16. Carleen

17.  Corabelle

18.  Leanne

19. Marabel

20. Marianne

21. Mirabel

22.  Caitlin

23. Rachel

The list

Lately I have had a pretty long and stressful list. You know like when you were in college and you have three papers due in the same week? Only my papers keep getting extended and new topics keep getting added. (I do like doing a lot of the things on the list) Here was my list:
-take care of Granny
-take care of Casey
-take care of Heidi
-take care of Cooper
-finish buying house
-various work projects that all end on the 17th
-take over finances for Moms group
-keep the house somewhat clean
-take care of myself because well you know I AM PREGNANT and hungry ALL THE TIME.
-some decisions that I have to make for our future
-some doctrine questions I have been having (specifically head coverings at church ( I don't think hair counts.) , modesty in every sense of the word(currently getting rid of all things that have logos all over them, and some other commandments regarding entertainment..I have a hard time being against legalism. I don't think following rules gets you anywhere vertically but I feel like if you are saved and you love God you want to please him. Just my two cents...) ))))) and some other thoughts.

My list has changed... We had to put my Heidi dog down. She had a flare up. The steroids weren't enough to keep her well. She got two massive blisters on both elbows and after the scabs fell off there was just bone. The vet said there was nothing we could do once the bone showed because of bone infection. So it was just a matter of time. We loved on her for a few weeks and gave her lots of yummy food. Saturday, November 5th was the last day she could walk by herself and by Sunday she wouldn't even eat bacon. It was time to let her go. We drove her to the emergency vet convinced them that she has the rarest auto immune skin disease known to veternary medicine, pemphigus and two types at that. Told them we had invested serious cash into her already not to mention her suffering. Said our good byes and Casey held her as she drifted to sleep. First they gave her a really sweet sedative and Casey noticed her breathing stop being labored so she must have been in serious pain. Then they gave her the heart stopping stuff. My poor little girl. She didn't even make it to four years old. I can't help but be envious of others with old dogs. Why poor little Heidi? We will never know. I miss her so and cry a little every night. Samson asks about her everyday. Heidi was his first word. Cooper has helped me some but its hard. In some ways it is a blessing she is gone. She was in so much pain, she smelled really bad towards the end and I was overwhelmed. The last few days she was being spoon fed cat food and water out of a sippy cup. It really made me think about how we are stewards over our animals and about how this is a biblical responsibility. About how in a sense we play god. We decide when they go and when they stay. We feed them and love them. Maybe this is Gods way of showing us his pain when he loses one of us? Well I am rambling. The next photo is what Casey and I believe was the last happiest day of her life. At a beach in Oregon she had just the best time. She played in the sand and dug holes...

The next day after we let Heidi go Granny went to the hospital. It was a strange day. I checked on her at 2pm and she was fine and then when I saw her about an hour later she was not fine. In the hospital it was decided she needs to go into a home for a few weeks to regain her strength. This is a blessing because when we move out she needs to be more self sufficient. This is also a blessing because I get to go visit my family next week without fear of her falling etc. While she was in the hospital her beloved cat died. Oh how I loved that cat. What a sweet loyal perfect old cat. I miss him too. I keep on looking in the kitchen for him. I guess he wanted to catch Heidi's Hurst on the way up. (I don't really think they go to heaven, I think their whole purpose is fulfilled here but it is a nice thought)

Casey should be getting a new doctor soon so hopefully more news on the back. :) Also finding out sex of baby on Saturday. :)) Pretty awesome stuff!!

What we have been up to...

So for starters we made a little baby. Yup! God has given me a baby again, I am pregnant. SO COOL! I don't have any feelings about if it is a boy or a girl but Casey is convinced its a boy again. Anyways this might me my last pregnancy if Casey's back isn't healed so I am really trying to appreciate every moment. Prayers for Casey's back so I can fill my car with babies. ha ha! I am currently 11 weeks along. I am not quite out of the miscarriage time yet and for some reason I am super paranoid about it. Everytime I get a cramp my heart skips a beat. Its awful to be so pessamistic sometimes. I need to be a joyous jasmin. Pregnancy also means I get to get fat! Woo Hoo!! I also get to research and shop. YES!

In addition to the making of the babies we have been busy bees lately. We went camping in Oregon a few weeks ago. We had so much fun! Finally used that DVD player in the car. I can't believe I used to judge parents for those things. I had issues. I know I am showing my bad parenting here but I turned Samson around forward facing for the trip. He is 18 months old and legally able to be forward facing but I am a pretty big believer in extended rear facing at least till the age of 2. Most accidents happen near to home right? ;) I needed him to be distracted and he couldn't watch the TV rear facing. Bad reason I know. I am such a hypocrite.  I turned him right back around when I got home. Whew.. no broken necks.  It was cold but we all cuddled and we were warm enough. We did as much walking as we could with Casey's back.

The next weekend we got a PUPPY! Now don't worry we still have little disabled Heidi. She is okay. Tired but alive.  Friday night I had a dream we bought a puppy from a guy on street out of a box. Saturday we are leaving Costco and sure enough there is a guy selling puppies out of a box. We had to look and this lead to buying one. We wanted Samson to have a dog that he could play with. He loves him. His name is Cooper. He is a fox/rat terrier mix. He is high energy but not aggressive. Heidi has a leaning towards agression. I would like to blame her disease but she has kind of always been a jerk.

 I also have been trying to get some scrapbooking done. I want to be all up to date when I have this baby. So I can do things on time this time. I just finished transfering all the files from my pcs to my mac. I love looking through all the old photos. :)