Twins Birthday Celebration

A quick post of the "birthday pose". Wade was running late so missed the picture. Don't count the candles, we didn't have 32 but it was still quite smoky after they blew them out! Kaitlin had Angel Food Cake with strawberries and Gretchen had Blueberry Delight for their cakes.I have a 9:00 appointment with Danny's teacher to try figure out what's going on at school. Some of his grades aren't too good and I'm wondering if he is having the "Speech" he is suppose to be having. (He claims he doesn't have speech.) and also, why he never brings home papers and why he has yet to go to the school library. (His most favorite place to go.) I'm not sure I like middle school.

THEN, I will head out to the mall and pick up Amanda's wedding dress!!! Hopefully I'll come home with all my Christmas shopping completed, including "stocking stuffers"! (Is that wishful thinking?....maybe not.)

Happy 16th Birthday Kaitlin & Gretchen

Oh My Goodness! I can hardly believe the "twinners" are 16! I have to say, it has been so fun to have twins in our life. I'll never forget the day we found out we were getting twins. It was the day before Thanksgiving when I went for my ultra-sound. To say I was shocked when the technician told me there were two babies, is an understatement! Fred and I were flying high! And the kids were literally jumping up and down! I remember making the stuffing for the turkey and the phone was ringing off the hook with "congratulations"! The telephone lines were humming from here to the U.P. to Minnesota. Three weeks later we were blessed with two healthy girls. Big for twins. Kaitlin was 6 pds 8 z. and Gretchen was 6 pds. 6. oz. They were such good babies! I enjoyed them from day one. I honestly never thought it was "hard" to have two babies. Not only were they good but I had so much help here at home. Jennifer was 14 and like a second Mom! Plus Sara and Emily were right behind her. I have always felt blessed to have had them as my 10th and 11th children. Had I had them at the beginning of the family, I'm sure it would be a different story. To this day I marvel when I look at them. What a miracle twins are! To think there are two where there should have been one!

Happy Birthday girls!!

Snow Day!

We have no school today. The kids heard about the closing last night at the Sunday School Program. A bunch of excited kids! I'm not sure why they called school. We got dumped on yesterday but the snow had stopped by mid-afternoon. Probably the back roads were still unplowed. (Somebody drove through the front yard! Just because he has four wheel drive and he can!) (top picture)

Happy 12th Birthday Danny!

I snapped this picture just as Heidi and Jeff walked in the door. Then my battery went dead on my camera. I think Fred got one with them. I will post it when he loads it. Molly was in the shower and missed the party. (Gretch got a haircut!)

Jeanie (and Danny) Make Treats

Kaitlin, Gretchen, Molly and I went shopping tonight. Jeanie called me and asked if her and Danny could make those "pretzel, candy kiss things". I told her if she thinks she knows how. She then asked what she puts the oven on and I told her that Amanda just made them, so call her. She did and you can see the notes she took from Amanda!I chuckled when I saw her note. Notice the "key".
Is this cool or what???!!! It's a "bias tape maker". I wanted to use the cordinating fabric for the bias tape on my apron instead of the solid kind you buy. This little tool made it so easy to do!
Grumpy Danny. Not sure what this picture is about?! (Don't tell Brett he has his jersey on.)

The Making of "Dogs"

It's amazing that these ingredients can make such a yummy treat! We call them "dogs" but thanks to Rebecca they are suppose to be "anis leipas". I believe translated to be anise dogs. The original recipe calls for anise flavoring but I prefer to use cardamon.
I've had this Bosch mixer for a few years. I absolutely love it for yeast breads but wish I had room to keep my Kitchen Aid on my counters also. I prefer the Kitchen Aid for cake batters and thinner type of batters. The great thing about this mixer is that it will hold 5 pounds of flour and will mash 10 pounds of potatoes.
These are suppose to look like "dogs". When you fry them the front is "suppose" to curl up and the back are the legs (kind of like a scotty dog). Mine never look like "dogs". In fact, today, the second batch of dough I just cut them in little squares.

"Dogs" are raising.
Molly, the happy fryer! Notice my "antique" deep fryer. A wedding gift 31 years ago but still works great!
They may look a little dark but I prefer over done than doughy.
Yum!!!! The finished product. After I took my third? fourth? fifth? sixth? one I asked Molly, "How many of these have I eaten?" She answered, "I don't know, but probably not as many as me". Who needs supper?!