Chapel

The kindergarten classes were responsible for chapel today. Their theme for the year was trees. They started the year talking about roots and today the kindergartners talked about fruit.

Lillian was so excited this morning, and I rarely get a good picture of her that's not a cheesy smile so here's a picture of her before we headed out the door.

The whole school singing "The Tree Song"

The kindergarteners reciting a poem about using their hands.

And a couple of video clips as well!

Lillian telling how God can use her (He can use her to help people)

And the whole school singing. This reaaaally took me back!!

Sunday Morning

The kids were dressed and ready for church early yesterday! How often does that happen? It was so beautiful out I wanted to snap a few pictures!

Bread!

Well, today I decided to try my hand at baking bread! We eat so much of it and we're attempting to cut out so much of the processed stuff, so this way I can control what goes into it!




I made 2 loaves of whole wheat bread from my friend Eli's recipe. I can't wait to try it!

Here it is in the bowl waiting to rise after kneading for 10 minutes....next time I'll use my mixer for this part!!

After rising, ready to be punched down and made into loaves

Ready to go into the oven, I have to work on shaping my loaves a little better!

Out of the oven and waiting for that first bite!!

Here's the recipe!

3 cups stone-ground whole wheat flour

1/3 cup honey

1/4 cup shortening

1 tablespoon salt

2 packages regular or quick active dry yeast

2 1/4 cups very warm water (120°F to 130°F)

3 to 4 cups all-purpose flour

Butter or margarine, melted, if desired

1. Mix whole wheat flour, honey, shortening, salt and yeast in large bowl. Add warm water. Beat with electric mixer on low speed 1 minute, scraping bowl frequently. Beat on medium speed 1 minute, scraping bowl frequently. Stir in enough all-purpose flour, 1 cup at a time, to make dough easy to handle.

2. Turn dough onto lightly floured surface. Knead about 10 minutes or until smooth and elastic. (You can do this part in your mixer if you have a dough hook!) Place in greased bowl and turn greased side up. Cover and let rise in warm place 40 to 60 minutes or until double. Dough is ready if indentation remains when touched.

3. Grease bottoms and sides of 2 loaf pans, 9x5x3 or 8 1/2x4 1/2x2 1/2 inches.

4. Punch down dough and divide in half. Flatten each half with hands or rolling pin into rectangle, 18x9 inches, on lightly floured surface. Roll dough up tightly, beginning at 9-inch side, to form a loaf. Press with thumbs to seal after each turn. Pinch edge of dough into roll to seal. Press each end with side of hand to seal. Fold ends under loaf. Place seam side down in pan. Brush loaves lightly with butter. Cover and let rise in warm place 35 to 50 minutes or until double.

5. Move oven rack to low position so that tops of pans will be in center of oven. Heat oven to 375°F. 6. Bake 40 to 45 minutes or until loaves are deep golden brown and sound hollow when tapped. Remove from pans to wire rack. Brush loaves with butter; cool.

Smells like Spring!

The weather was too nice today to not hit the park on the way home from school! We played for almost an hour, the kids were so happy to run and swing! Mommy is happy that they should sleep great tonight!

Pictures by Lillian

Lillian is getting much better with her camera! Here are a few of her pictures from our Iowa weekend:

Auntie Angie

Great Grandma with Sydney

Auntie Pam

Iowa weekend

We had a wonderful long weekend as part of Lillian's spring break in Iowa at the farm! The guys spent time working on the planter while the women had a baby shower for Angie! The weather was wonderful and the kids really enjoyed that they could spend so much time outdoors!

Great Grandma Bruxvoort with her 3 great granddaughters. Her 1 great grandson (James) was outside with the guys!

Flying kites with Uncle Dan