Caramel French Toast

Our breakfast this morning, which was a huge hit. And since I am not having any sugar, I didn't take one bite. just had eggs. stuck to my decision. sneaked just a tiny taste. Ahhh. Heavenly! I thought I'd share it with you.

1 c. brown sugar

1/2 c butter

2 T light corn syrup

In a small saucepan, bring these 3 ingred. to a boil. Remove from heat and pour half of caramel mixture into a greased 9x13 pan. Place 6 slices of bread on top of caramel.

Mix together 1/2 c. white sugar with 1/2 t. cinnamon. Sprinkle half of this mixture over the bread, and then pour the remaining caramel over top. Layer 6 more slices of bread over the caramel.

6 eggs

1 1/2 c. milk

1 t. vanilla

1/2 t. cinnamon

Beat together well and pour over the bread. Sprinkle remaining sugar mixture over all. Cover and refrigerate overnight. In the moring, uncover and bake for 30-35 min. at 350*. Enjoy!

Pampers Box Remodel

I always thought that disposable diapers come in such fantastic, heavy-duty, strong boxes. So when I saw an idea {on a friend's blog} of how to make them into something useful, I tucked the idea into the back of my brain, and began saving those boxes. That was months ago.

Then the other day I was flipping through my scrapbooking paper stash, and inspiration hit. I grabbed a couple of those boxes, chose some complementing sheets of paper, and started creating.

Now I'm thinking of about a dozen places for more! The bathroom closet shelf that currently holds 128 various tubes and bottles of lotion, toothpaste, baby rash ointment, hair gel, and tylenol. The under-the-sink shelf that has an odd assortment of scrubbies, scrapers, dish soaps, steel wool, and vegetable brushes. Or even the girls' dresser with their dozens of pairs of socks and panties and tights!

What would you put in yours?

February Ramblings ....

~~ It is truly sad how far down the list of priorities this blog has slid. slidden? fallen. I do think of the most delightful ideas to post, but actually getting them typed out, well, that's another story. But I keep reading these other super cool blogs, and love it, so I'm reminded to at least make an effort.


~~ This past week has been a long string of caring for sick little ones. Monday the littlest man wouldn't eat, slept all day, and coughed horribly. I was pretty sure he had RSV. Tuesday the Dr. diagnosed him with RSV and started steroids and breathing treatments. Friday morning at 5 I was laying in bed listening to his gaspy breathing and my heart kinda dropped. I knew he had pneumonia. So off we went to the ER. After lots of tears, blood work, x-rays and more, they confirmed RSV and pneumonia. Added one more med to the mix, and wow, what a difference! Today I have my cheerful, smiley baby back, who is playing with his toes and trying to roll over onto his fat, pudgy little tummy. I am so thankful!!

~~ Tomorrow is one week since we are back from our 2-week trip out east. Lots of fun and good memories, a wedding, and meeting new friends.  But the highlight was the week at a cabin with the Gehman family. Wow. How I do love & cherish my siblings!! I feel sorry for those who have no/very few siblings. There is just nothing like spending time with people who understand all your weird quirks, love you just because you're you, and share the same history and perspective on life. We ate delicious food, changed diapers, played games, fed babies, watched movies, rocked babies, played ping pong, mixed up bottles, sang hymns in 4-part harmony {love that tradition!}, nursed babies, and laughed until the tears rolled down our faces. The only thing missing was : Brothers!

~~ While at the cabin, I was greatly inspired by my sis {namely, the gorgeous Rachel!} to continue my weight loss attempts. She lost 40 lbs in the last few months, and looks sooooo good. I always feel kind of "stuck" while nursing a baby, because to a certain degree I have to eat fairly well or I quickly lose my milk supply. But I am so tired of my own lame excuses, and so together with my mom & another sis, we decided to give up all sugar and flour for 3 weeks and see what happens. At only 3 days into this venture, I am already amazed at how much there still is to choose from, and I barely feel cheated at all. Plus, it inspires me to cook healthier for the whole family. And the sweet side note - 5 lbs down in three days feels pretty good too.

~~ Valentines Day is fast approaching. I suppose I should be a model mother and have a splashy meal all planned for all the kiddoes complete with pink heart-shaped jello molds and red strawberries dipped in chocolate. But alas, I must be honest and report that we planned a pizza party for the young crew with the most excellent baby sitter ever, and Mr. Handsome is scheming for a double date with some good friends at a fancy restaurant. I can't wait.

~~ My time in the evenings between all-the-children-are-asleep and I-really-need-to-go-to-bed is much too short. So I will run along now and get some goal charts ready for Monday morning's back-to-school schedule. Til next time,
~Lou

2012

So many things to blog about

So few moments to sit and ponder them

So many little ones around my knees

So few years to love on them

So many longings in my heart

So hard to keep all my priorities straight

So many rich blessings

So few hours of sleep

Be back soon!

Gabriel Joel

With great relief and JOY we announce the arrival of our sixth child, fourth son!

Gabriel Joel Zook

October 21, 2011 at 8:30 pm

9 lbs. 0 oz.

Ready to take him home

Totally falling in love with him!!

Boys' Bedroom

Moving on with a few more home-makeover posts ... here's the BOYS BEDROOM. This room was one of the worst in the whole house, with smashed -out window holes in the drywall, a paint job that made your eyeballs bleed, and the nastiest stained carpet you would not wish to imagine.

Thankfully, my hubby is very handy with drywalling tools, and I have fantastic friends who enjoy watching a real make-over emerge while they paint. We still need a new light fixture, and I'd love to get a shelf/bin system in this room to organize better. And I need to try to match the curtain fabric and sew one more valance. But until then, behold the after ...

September Snapshots

I never guessed when I wrote that last post that I'd make a flying trip to the east coast for the funeral of my youngest cousin. Or that once again those words would echo through my mind, to treasure the memories and to make every moment count. It is more than my brain can comprehend to say good-by a vivacious, happy-go-lucky, giggly 8-yr. old. And I could do nothing but weep brokenly as my Aunt pulled up the covers for the last time over his little jean shorts and bare feet, and kissed him good-night. Oh, the pain! Every part of me wants to somehow make it more bearable; to dice that hurt and pain up into little pieces and distribute them around so we can all help bear it. And yet, I can't. Oh, God, YOU can! Walk with them!

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It seemed that as September crept up on the calendar, so did fall. We have been having the most gorgeous weather I could wish for! And even though this means that snowy days are just around the corner {groan}, I am loving the vibrant autumn colors!! Extreme blue skies, golden grain fields, bright pumpkins, great bunches of goldenrod in the roadside ditches, and huge mum plants bursting with color. We finally set a weekend aside for camping {in early Sept.} and it could not have been more perfect. I will admit that the more children we have, the less relaxing the camping trip is for Mama, but it's still so much fun to break out of the normal routine and enjoy each other more. We spent a Friday-Saturday-Sunday weekend at a lake not far from our house. Fishing, swimming, making s'mores, campfire cooking, sleeping in tents, and playing games. And I love the snappy mornings where we huddle around the campfire with hot chocolate with jackets and fuzzy blankets until the sun warms eveything up. {I also love husbands who run to the store the night before to buy their very pregnant wife an air mattress so she can actually sleep at night!}

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School is finally in full swing. We got a slightly late-ish start since I simply didn't get my book order in soon enough. But I think with the boys' beginning-of-the-year enthusiasm, we might just catch up anyways. I have been wrestling in my mind since last year what kind of curriculum to use this year. Ever since Josiah started kindergarden at age 5, I've just been picking up a Math book here and a Reading book there, patching together whatever works to round out the learning. But as the boys are growing older, I am finding it harder to put together a thorough, complete education with my previous slap-together methods. So this year we made the decision to try the ACE curriculum. I grew up using CLE, which is very similar in lay-out, so I can easily understand how it's laid out and how to teach it. And so far, I am very pleased. The boys love how their work is laid out in daily, weekly, and yearly goals, and they eagerly work way ahead so they can take a day off here or there to go to work with Dad. I'm sure it's plenty early to tell yet, but so far, so very good. And Christi, of course, is just delighted to be officially "learning to read"! =)

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Baby-name discussions are pretty much at the top of the list right now. Of course the children have plenty of their own suggestions. Princess, Strawberry Shortcake, and Petunia rank right up there with Frank, Junior, and George. Thankfully, their Daddy and I get the final say! =) I dug out all the newborn clothes the other day and washed them .... such fun! Tiny little booties and soft fuzzy blankets, little blue sleepers and tiny pink caps. The doctor visits are more frequent now, as we count down the last few weeks. She was pleased to see that the baby is about 6 pounds now, so the lil' punkin is growing quite well in spite of the 2-vessel cord. We have so much to thank God for! 

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Well, the hubby is home and supper needs to hit the table. Hope your evening is wonderful.

 Thanks for stopping by.