Eli's half birthday

A quick glance at the calendar this morning stopped me in my tracks.  Eli's 6 months old today!  Whaaaat?  Where does the time go?

Some things he's up to:

*rolling over.  as soon as you put him down.  usually from his back to his tummy, and then he gets stuck.  he hasn't quite mastered from his tummy to his back yet.
*he sleeps on his tummy now.  i still lay him down on his back, but he rolls over almost every time.
*showing a big interest in food.  so now, i will give him chunks of whatever vegetable or fruit i'm munching on.  he loves to gum it, and smash it, and throw it everywhere.
*he has 2 little teeth!  they haven't popped all the way out yet, but they're there!
*sleeps through the night....he already did this, but now he sleep longer...from like 9 to 6 usually =)
*can sit up all by himself for a few minutes.  and then he face plants.
*his current weight is 17 lbs 3 oz.....and 21 inches long.  crazy!  he's growing like a weed.

it's amazing to me how much babies change in the span of 6 months.  i'm looking forward to the next 6 months!

right after birth

first day home

3 months old

five months old

30 minute rolls

I love this recipe.  Love, love, love it.  I was very skeptical trying this one out, because I had tried a few before that flopped miserably.  So, actually, while I was making this, I expected them to not work out.  Surprisingly enough, they are wonderful!  They're light and fluffy and just a hint sweet.  Try it out, and hopefully you'll like them too!

What you need:

1 cup plus 2 tablespoons warm water

1/3 cup oil

2 TB yeast 

1/4 cup sugar

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 egg

3 1/2 cups of flour

Method:

Preheat your oven to 400.

Mix the first four ingredients in a large bowl.  Let it stand for 15 minutes *this will allow the yeast to get all nice and foamy*

Add the salt and egg and 2 cups of flour and mix well.

Add the remaining 1 1/2 cups of flour in 1/2 cup increments, mixing well.

**This dough will be slightly sticky**

Grease a cookie sheet.

With clean hands, hand roll out the dough and put the little rolls onto the cookie sheet (depending on how big you want your rolls, you could get anywhere from 9 to 15 or so).

Bake for 10 - 12 minutes.

pictures of Eli

Eli meets Greatma and Greatpa

The hubby's parents and grandparents came to visit this weekend.  It was fun!  We got to show Greatma and Greatpa around Roanoke, and they got to meet Eli =)

playing's hard work when you're 5 months

my babies =)

Great grandpa Coller

Great grandma and Great grandpa Coller and the boys

the cheeses =)

i love this face!

first day of kindergarten

                                     Jaden starts his first day of Kindergarten today!  It's surprising to me how confident and independent he is!  He gave a quick wave, and hopped on up the bus steps and the bus took off.  I'm looking forward to hearing all about his first day adventures.

He didn't really want me to take pictures, because his friends were already waiting and he wanted to hang with them.  These are the few I did manage to get!

super excited, but a little nervous too

showing off his lunchbox

and his awesome spiderman backpack

totally got on the bus without a worry in the world.  =)

baked oatmeal

I make this oatmeal a lot.  And when I say a lot, I mean it's become a staple in my weekly breakfast diet.
I could eat an entire pan.
By myself.
In one sitting.
Yep.  It's just that good.

What you need:
3 cups of oatmeal (rolled regular oats or instant oats)
1 cup of milk **I use vanilla almond milk and omit the teaspoon of vanilla**
1 cup of brown sugar **I don't use this much-I use 1/2 cup...you can also substitute maple syrup or white sugar**
1 stick of butter, melted
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
2 tsp baking powder
1 cup of raisins **you can use fresh, dried,  or frozen fruit-or even just make plain baked oatmeal-it's all yummy**

What you do:
Super easy.
Mix everything together in a bowl.  Add the fruit.  Spray a casserole 13 by 9 dish (or 8 by 8, or 9 by 9) well.  Pour ingredients in.  Bake at 350 for 30-45 minutes.  The oatmeal should be firm to the touch and golden brown.

Enjoy!!

promises and reminders

But there is forgiveness with You, that You may be feared. I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in His word I do hope. My soul waits for the Lord more than those who watch for the morning-yes, more than those who watch for the morning. O Israel, hope in the Lord; for with the Lord there is mercy, and with Him is abundant redemption ~Psalm 130:4-7

And we know that all things work for the good of those who love God, and who are called according to His purpose ~Romans 8:28

When Jesus heard it, He said to them, "those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick.  I did not come to call the righteous, but the sinners, to repentance." ~Mark 2:17

For the Lord is good; His mercy is everlasting, and His truth endures to all generations ~Psalm 100:5

But God shows His love for us, the while we were still sinners, Christ died for us ~Romans 5:8

Because your steadfast love is better than life, my lips will praise you. So I will bless you as long as I live; in your name I will lift up my hands. 
~Ps 63:3-4

"And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord's people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge-that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God" ~Ephesians 3:17-19