Catching up with Pictures

Well I know its been a while - but you know - 8 kids and stuff.  I know that there are people out their with more than me who can keep up with blogging  and still get dinner on the table and do school and laundry and make beds and....well you get the idea.  I on the other hand am not one of those talented ladies!
So, here are some pictures of my cutie pies. Our little lady has grown so big! She had her first birthday in May, my how time flies.

 

 

Ok that's not my little cutie pie - well not the girl anyway. That is the Fierce Bad Rabbit on his birthday. Pirate, you know. Behind him is his made from moving boxes pirate ship. Ahh the wonders of duct tape.

 

 

Pirate treasure.

 

 

 









So I know its summer now but I had to post this.  This was our one and only snow storm that we got on PALM SUNDAY. Weird huh.

 

 

 

Lighting the Easter Fire.

 

 

Two Boys on the Alter, thank you Lord!

 

What a pair!!!

 

Spanky and his gang.

 

 

The tiny princess learns to stand.

 

 

 

 

First time receiving the Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of our Lord Jesus Christ in the Sacrament of Holy Communion.

 

 

 

 

Well I know Mama's aren't suppose to say it - but my baby is so so cute.

 

 

 

 

 

Camping out in the living room when the upstairs AC went out. What a party!

 

 

Well there ya go! A brief overview of the last few months. Lots of fun in a large family!



WOW, its been awhile!!

Well I just wanted to say that I just looked at my blog for the first time since December! I realized I miss it.....and it was kinda cute!  So I'm going to make another post - but not today. I think I'll put some pictures up, so stay tuned!

Sweet Insanity

Well things here are crazy everyone, just crazy!  We tried to start the GAPS diet this past week  - boy is it tough!  So after a week of the intro diet we have decided to move on to the full diet.  If you have children, and you ever decide to try this diet be sure to do it in the summer when they are not in school.  It brings quite a lot of havoc into your life! 
So today we were wanting.....something. If you have ever tried a limited diet before you understand what "something" is.  Its something that doesn't contain anything you have been eating over and over the past week and it has.....taste. Well faint hearts never create tasty food and so dear friends I have a recipe for those of you who are limited.  In honer of the occasion I deem it....

This isn't my image - things are too nuts here for taking pictures!

SWEET NUTSY WUTSY!!!

(because life can be a little nuts)

 

 

Take a scoop of walnuts (like 1/2 cup maybe)

add about 1 TBS. butter

a generous squirt of honey

a shake of cinnamon

maybe 1tsp Vanilla

 

 

Put all this in a blender of some nature and blend to the consistency you like.  Our first batch was rather smooth but the second (well we had to for the sake of fine tuning the recipe you know) was quite chunky.  We decided that this would be tasty on a banana or on apple slices.

 

Have a nutsy week everyone!





DO NOT TRY THIS AT HOME!!

Picture updates

Well I haven't posted any pictures of my little ones in a while so here they are!  Some are a little old, but cute none the less - at least from  my perspective!

 

 

 

 

Art for the Sole

Well, its not a painting.....its a shoe actually.  However, the craftsmanship of this shoe is such that it can be considered art from a bygone era.  How wonderful that it isn't a lost art!

Flavors of Fall

It's raining here today and it's probably raining where you are too - if you live anywhere on the east coast.  Those of you who are suffering, or will soon suffer, from strong winds and heavy rain are in my prayers.  In our area, the cool rain is flowing down gently, the trees are turned, and the ground is coated with a thick patchwork of leaves and pine needles. I am snug and cozy in my nice warm house enjoying this lovely fall weather and a good cup of cinnamon milk.

all pictures from google images - I don't have time to take my own.

.Besides being tasty, cinnamon actually has some health benefits. There are actually two types of cinnamon; cinnamomum cassia is what you get in the grocery store and its relative cinnamomum zeylanicum  or ceylon cinnamon, which is considered true cinnamon in other parts of the world.  Ceylon is said to have a sweeter flavor, although having never tasted it, I cannot confirm that.

Cinnamon can act as a tonic to the entire body and can reportedly kill a host of bacteria  including e-coli, salmonella, staph and asian flu virus. Its medicinal value is mainly in the oil, which has antibacterial and antifungal properties.

The warming properties of this herb make it good for the cold days ahead. It has been traditionally used to stimulate circulation and as a remedy for digestive problems.  It can even be used for aching muscles and other symptoms that come with those winter colds.

So how can you use it?
Well there is that yummy cinnamon milk that I love to make. The simplicity of the recipe makes it a very attractive and enjoyable recipe that even children like.  All you need to do is heat some milk or milk alternative on the stove an put a cinnamon stick or two in the pot. Let it simmer for a while, add some honey and your good to go! (This recipe is from Kid's Herb Book, A: For Children of All Ages) .
According to the book Encyclopedia of Herbal Medicine: The Definitive Home Reference Guide to 550 Key Herbs with all their Uses as Remedies for Common Ailments,  20 drops of a tincture of cinnamon in water can be used up to 4 times a day for flatulence, an infusion (a.k.a tea) can be used for colds and flu 1/2 cup  2-3 times a day, the essential oil  can be applied to bee stings and 1/4 tsp. of the powder in water can be taken 2-3 times a day for weak digestion.  Even simpler, how about adding cinnamon bark to your bath water?
What ever way you use it be sure to take advantage of this wonderful herb - now go eat a cinnamon roll!

Hey - who said medicine can't be tasty.

Just remember please, I am not a doctor and I don't even play one on TV .  Be sure to check with your doctor before taking anything in medicinal quantities.  Also cinnamon is contra-indicated during pregnancy and should be avoided in extremely large doses.