Real Life

Real life has trumped blogging lately. I haven't been exactly busy, but when I think about what to share on this blog I either end up staring at a blank screen or deleting what what I've typed because it feels too heavy. I guess we're simply experiencing real life in the Linhart house. There is good. There is hard. There is funny. There is laundry. And there is God, holding us, loving us, encouraging us, correcting us, and changing us.

The Good: We are making new friends through our church and Geary's school. Three of the ladies in my Tuesday morning Bible Study are also in our Tuesday night Small Group. I love that I have multiple connections with them and I see the potential for some close, deep level friendships. Geary and I are both homebodies and introverts so it is out of our comfort zone to initiate get-togethers. But we have been taking steps to be pro-active in friendship building and I can see God blessing our efforts already.

The Hard: I am having some health problems. I started my first post-partum period just after Christmas and now, four weeks later, I am still bleeding. I saw our new doctor (who is great) on Thursday and had got some medicine to stop the bleeding. I also had a blood draw and a urine test in the lab so that we can start ruling things out (like thyroid disorder or diabetes). I'm supposed to schedule an ultrasound for this week to check for cysts on my ovaries and fibroids. I'm not very worried just yet and I'm not interested in talking about it endlessly until I know more about it so please don't freak out on me. Just pray for me and I'll update when I know more.

The Funny: Our children continue to be a huge source of delight for us. Noah cracks us up daily with his antics. He's even started asking, "Is that bloggable?" And Tobin is just so stinkin' cute! I can hardly believe he's nearly 10 months old. He is giggly and cuddly and I could kiss his chubby knees all day long.

The Laundry: Never ends.

The God: Is always good. Amen? Amen!

MLK

Geary: Did we get any mail yesterday?
Jeana: No, it was a holiday.
Geary: Oh, right.
Noah: It was a holiday!?! Huh. And I thought it was just laundry day!

Cookin'

So I tried the cookies I mentioned in the last post. A few minutes out of the oven they were okay. Kind of dry but not disgusting. A few hours out of the oven they were much better. A few days out of the oven and they are now my most favorite cookies EVER! I guess they just needed to sit awhile to become all chewy and moist (I hate the word moist but I cannot think of an appropriate synonym) and delicious--almost like really good pumpkin loaf but in a cookie shape. So now I'll just plan to make them about two days in advance of when I want to serve them.



In other food related news, I've joined a recipe blog! It's called Food Love and it was started by my friend Annie. I am really starting to get into cooking and baking. It always seemed like such a chore and I always felt like I didn't know what I was doing so I just didn't do much of it. But since I avoided cooking I never really knew what I was supposed to do...see the vicious cycle?


Since we've moved to Newberg I have been experimenting with recipes and menu planning and really having a good time playing with food. I think it helps to have a "system". I would love to know some of your favorite recipes and tips for cooking. Leave a comment or email me--I have lots to learn!

Deceptively Delicious

One of my Christmas gifts from my husband was the cookbook Deceptively Delicious by Jessica Seinfield. We've been trying out the recipes with hidden vegetable purees for the last couple of weeks and so far we've liked everything we've tried! We still eat non-hidden vegetables with each meal but it's nice to know that we're also getting a little vegetable boost, too.

Sweet Potato French Toast

He likes it! He really likes it!

Green Eggs (with spinach)

We will not be trying green ham, however...

Yum! We've also really liked the recipes for Spaghetti Pie, Tortilla Cigars, Sweet Potato Pancakes, Pita Pizza and Tuna Salad.

Today I'm going to try the recipe for Ginger Pumpkin Cookies.

These are the people in your neighborhood...

The people that you meet each day! Remember that Sesame Street Song?

We've been working on painting our living room this week. On Monday we went to Sherwin-Williams to get paint chips. On Wednesday we went back to get small paint samples in a couple different colors. Yesterday we went back to get the full gallons of our chosen color (Toasted Pine Nut, for those who are interested).

Also yesterday, Geary's mom called to ask if were were going to be around tonight because she is having baby withdrawls. We made plans for them to come over and I asked Noah, "Do you know who you get to see tomorrow?"

His eyes lit up, "Granny?" "No," I shook my head. He thought a bit, "Hmm...the paint store guy?"

Oh the paint store guy's a person in your neighborhood...in your neighborhood...in your neighborhood...

Holy, Holy, Holey

Jeana: Whoa, when did you get a hole in your pants?
Noah: I don't know.
Jeana: Was it at church this morning?
Noah: Yeah, I guess so.
Jeana: Well, go change your pants because we're going back to church tonight for Small Group.
Noah: But I can wear them at church because church is a "holey" place. Remember, Grandpa Bob said that when I had holes in my socks?
Jeana: When Grandpa Bob said that he was joking.
Noah (seriously): So church is not a holy place?

Super Noah

"When I have to lift something heavy my name is Strongy. When I save people my name is Super Boy. When I jump high my name is Jumpy Boy. And when I go to the bathroom my name is Potty Boy."

"You have a super hero name for going to the bathroom?"

"Um, yeah...everything I do is super."

Ringing in the New Year with a CLANG!

The clang of an animal trap, that is. We finally caught the squirrel. Last week Geary went to the hardware store and bought one of those humane animal traps. We set it up with peanut butter and Geary put it up in the attic. Then he worked tirelessly at sealing off every possible squirrel entry on the house with mesh screen.

A couple days ago I was unloading groceries from the car when I heard a squirrel chattering above me. It was trapped by the screen and it sounded mad! I told Geary, "I'm pretty sure we've trapped them in."

For the next few days we heard constant thumping, scuffling, and tapping coming from our attic. And then early this morning I heard the tell-tale clunk of the trap door closing. Sure enough, it was a large squirrel.

Geary drove the trap out to the wilderness (i.e. Dundee) and set the squirrel free. Sadly, once Geary had loaded the trap back into the trunk and was backing away he ran over the squirrel...

Okay, okay, that last part didn't really happen. But Geary did tell me that it did and my jaw did drop. Thankfully, he was just kidding! The squirrel simply ran away, probably to annoy some vineyard owner. Good riddance!