Friday, October 26, 2007

Seven kids... quiet ... too good to be true.

We had an extra 3 kids join us this morning. It was surprisingly quiet most of the morning. I had to do very little mediating among the older kids which was a pleasant delight. I think I had my expectations set correctly with the two year old girls... They are just learning how to share. The boys played in Sam's room so well that I was able to have all the girls help me make Oatmeal Raisin Cookies. They enjoyed measuring, mixing and cracking the eggs. In the meantime, I was quite impressed at how well the 4 year old boys were playing together. They were diligently working... with the toy saw and a cardboard box. I was pleased that I didn't need to break up fights or try to get these 2 stubborn boys to share. After a while, they all went outside to swing on our tree rope. After our friends left, I went into the room where the boys had been playing. I notice they had made a rope out of some packing tape and tied all of their tools to the bunk bed. Then I noticed they had found my tripod and had taken it apart. Then they proceed to stab the wall over and over again... so now there are little holes all over this one section of the wall. I thought the quiet was a little too good to be true.

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Monday, October 15, 2007

Birthday Fun Survey

I surveyed Grandma and Grandpa Thiel and the grandkids about the birthday party we had for all the fall birthdays. Here are the results:



What was the best part you liked about the birthday party?


Grandpa answered:
"Being here in Vermont with us together."

Grandma answered:
"The same.. being here together."

Gabriela answered:
"Making the balloons and putting the balloons on the poster and eating cake."

Madeline answered:
"Dressing up and wearing the tutu."

Sam answered:
"Opening presents"

Juliana answered:
"M&M's"

Eleanor answered:
"M&M's"
Jeremiah:
slept through the party

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Wednesday, October 03, 2007

While cooking...

While I was baking a delicious biscotti recipe tonight I thought I would try to get in some reading. I just started the diaries of David Brainerd. I love reading missionary bios. I have heard that David Brainerd's writings have inspired many to the mission field.

My friend told me to post this picture of my re-engineering of this cardboard box. It is nothing special.. but it works. Here it is.

I might as well post the recipe too.. A friend gave me one the other day and I LOVED IT!

Chocolate Chip Biscotti
1/2 C olive oil
1 C sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
2 C flour
2 tsp baking powder
pinch of salt
1 C mini chocolate chips
1. Cream oil with sugar, beat in the eggs, then mix the vanilla. Add sifted flour and then the rest of the dry ingredients. Mix well and then mix in the chocolate chips.
2. Form 2 loaves of flat logs. Dough will be sticky. (You may need to add some flour to handle the dough).
3. Bake loaves @ 375 for 15 minutes, then 350 for 30 minutes.
4. Slice the logs, turn the logs on their side and bake for 5 minutes.
5. Store in an airtight container or freeze.

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