She's One!

Presley Faith turns 1 today. I'm so happy and so sad at the same time. It's a weird feeling. I want her to progress and grow. I just don't want her to progress and grow.

• She knows and can say several words-mama, da, shoes, bath, purse, uh-oh, dog, ball, nigh nigh, juice, bye bye and shhh.


• She loves to wave at people and blow kisses. Her smile melts my heart. She's a smart girl and feisty, too.


• She will hear me turn on the faucet in the bath tub and make a run (or really quick crawl) into the bathroom and try to climb in the tub.


• She hates getting her diaper changed and will only lay still if I give her a book to read.


• She loves books-right now her favorite is Peek a Who and Moo Bah la la la.


• She loves her sisters dearly. Her face lights up when Avery gets home from school. She squeals with glee when McKenna sings to her.


• She loves food-pretty much any kind of food. Except peas. She hates peas.


• She loves her blankie-she takes it everywhere.


• She's the best baby in the whole world. I don't know how I got the blessing of being her mom, but I'm forever grateful. I love her with my whole being and pray she grows to love Jesus and others the way He created her to.

Sorry, no pix to show. We have a fun day planned at Friends U. homecoming parade, block party and game. Hopefully I'll remember to bring my camera and actually take some pictures.

Crunch Caramel Apple Pie

This is by far the best apple pie I've ever had or made. It's from the Better Homes and Gardens Annual cookbook for 1997. I usually serve this with cinnamon ice cream. Graters makes it, but we don't live in Ky anymore, so I have to make my own, now. Sigh. Anyway, get some regular vanilla ice cream and let it soften. Then, put it in a mixing bowl and mix in some cinnamon sugar mixture. I use my kitchen aid mixer for this. I also just eyeball it and taste it till it tastes good. Enjoy!

1 pastry for single pie crust (make your own or store bought-I make my own)

1/2 cup sugar
3 TBS all purpose flour
1 tsp cinnamon
1/8 tsp salt
6 cups thinly sliced, peeled cooking apples
1 recipe crumb topping, see below

1/2 cup chopped pecans
1/4 cup caramel ice cream topping

crumb topping
stir together 1 cup packed brown sugar, 1/2 cup all purpose flour, and 1/2 cup quick cooking rolled oats. Using a pastry blender, cut in 1/2 cup butter till the topping mixture resembles course crumbs.

1. Prepare pastry for single crust pie. On a lightly floured surface, roll dough into a 12" circle. Transfer pastry to a 9" pie plate. Ease pastry into pie plate, being careful not to stretch pastry. Trim and crimp edge.

2. In a large mixing bowl stir together sugar, flour, cinnamon, and salt. Add apple slices and gently toss till coated. Transfer apple mixture to the pastry lined pie plate. Sprinkle crumb topping over apple mixture.

3. To prevent overbrowning, cover edge of pie with foil. Bake in a 375 oven for 25 minutes. Remove foil. Bake pie for 25 to 30 minutes more or till top is golden. Remove from oven. Sprinkle pie with pecans and drizzle with caramel topping. Cool on a wire rack.

Happy thoughts

I've heard 2 comments so far this week that have filled my love tank, so to speak.

The first one came a few days ago, when I was talking to Avery about school. She said she missed home schooling and liked home school better than her school now. I was quite surprised by this. Lately, she's talked about how easy school is and how she's bored alot of the time. I'm thinking, man, it's just September, we have a long way to go...I miss home school, too.

The second one came just a few minutes ago. I was teaching vocal literature and, at the end of class, one of the students came up to me and said, "Wow, I didn't even know I had to take this class, but I'm so glad I did, because I love it!"

These 2 comments, or compliments have totally made my week. God knew I needed to hear them and I did, loud and clear! Thanks, God-

High/Low of school so far

So, we're 3 weeks into the school year for Avery. Some days, I'm so glad she is going to McCollom. I love spending more alone time with McKenna, and doing activities that maybe Avery would frown at. I also miss her terribly some days.

High-Avery brought home a note today saying that she will be going to a different class during reading time every day. She's reading on a second grade level. I'm so proud of her! I knew she was smart, but it was nice that her new teacher knows now, too.

Low-The girls were so close last year and even this summer. I thought they would love being together these last few days over the long weekend. They ended up fighting most of their waking moments. I'm sad about that. I hope that's not the new norm.

High-Avery has made some new friends, which she needed desperately.

Low-As her mom, I feel like I'm doing more work now than I did last year, when I homeschooled her. Last year, we were usually done with school by 2 or so in the afternoon. Sometimes, we'd read a book again for Dad/Kevin, or play a game we played earlier in the day. But, for the most part, school was over. Now, Avery gets home around 4:30pm. Then, she has homework. Then, she has to read and record books in her reading log. Then, I have to sign her daily color chart. Then, we have to plan ahead and figure out if I need to fix her lunch in the morning and what clothes she will wear. The list goes on. I don't like that part about public school. At all. She is in school more of her waking hours than she is at home. I don't like that part either.

High-I can't think of another one.

Low-I've seen some attitude problems come up recently that I haven't seen before. Hopefully, this is a phase. It seems she also has a shorter temper than she used to.

So, that's where we are right now. McKenna started preschool last week and absolutely loves it. She goes 2 afternoons a week. She's such a social butterfly, she is going to have a great year! Her high is recess (of course) and her low is not being able to eat lunch there. Oh, to have the "problems" of a 4 year-old!

New season for BLT

Our church has a great women's ministry. One of the big things they do is a weekly bible study on Tuesdays, both morning and evenings. It's called BLT, Bringing Ladies Together and/or Bible Led Teaching. I signed up for the morning session and I chose the study, The Search for Significance by McGee. My good friend, Klondy, is teaching it and I'm so excited! Our first session today went well. There are about 15 in our group, and I was blown away by the opening conversations. We had to introduce ourselves, tell everyone about what's going on in our lives, etc... My biggest issue right now revolves around my husbands dissertation, it doesn't even really concern me. The lady right next to me shared that in the last year, she got divorced and lost her job. She is currently on disability and is struggling. My heart broke as woman after woman shared what their going thru and dealing with. My biggest struggle today was knowing I was making something for supper that Avery wouldn't like and trying to decide if I should make her eat it or cave and let her have cereal instead. I know...shallow. Today totally put things in perspective for me. Thanks, God. I'm really looking forward to Tuesday mornings!