2011

Isn't it fitting that 2011 goes out in true 2011 fashion - with our laptop having the same charging issue again. Guess its time to take it back to the shop... I hate not having a working computer. Hoping 2012 is a much better year for our electronics

Happy New Year

Mess of the Day

Steel Cut Oats are really yummy but also make a great gooey messy 'paint'... she was having fun eating it off her fingers and then smacking the table

she was trying to share the gooey goodness on her fingers -- thanks but no thanks, lol

Making it Official

Making this blog official and sending it out to family, friends, and yikes - the facebook world!

For those that read our old blog - welcome back to our daily adventures, sorry I fell off the blogging wagon! So much has changed since I've really been at blogging (like adding a baby or two to the adventures, lol)

I'm sure it will take a few more blog post to really get back in the swing of blogging and the whole process of  'talking' through a computer. But here it goes --

Cupcake Friday'

Last week I made cupcakes for Jon to take to his work for Christmas - forty boxes with a half dozen cupcakes. I made Root beer float, coconut fluff, vanilla bean, cookies 'n cream, Mocha, and chocolate ginger - all were vegan. I'll post pictures and recipes for those later, because honestly they were really good and pretty simple to make so everyone should try them

Since this weekend is New Years I decided to make Margarita cupcakes for him to take today (saw one on pinterest and the concept was great but I wasn't fond of the recipe or the site where it came from...so I came up with my own using my go to base recipe)

I typically make all my cakes and cupcakes vegan because its a very moist delicious base recipe (plus you can save money by not adding eggs, and you can help your health... if you make a cupcake a little healthier than before it gives you an excuse to eat a little extra, right?) I still had vegan shortening left from making all the cupcakes for Jon's work - its soy based and still has way to much fat for my liking but it is pretty much flavorless allowing to make good frosting. I don't really care for the flavor of the vegan butter or margarine for frosting (great for baking but the flavor is too strong and overpowering in the frosting). You can always swap out the shortening for coconut oil, or regular butter or shortening (side note --- look for non-hydrogenated shortenings - those are the best)

a white cupcake with lime juice and zest, and tequila frosting (the vegan oat milk makes the cupcakes look dark)

Kates Margarita Cupcakes

(or a shot of Patron cupcakes)

makes 24 regular size cupcakes

2 cups oat milk (or any vegan milk you like)
2 tsp apple cider vinegar
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
4 tbsp cornstarch
1 1/2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp salt
2/3 cup canola oil
1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
2 tsp vanilla
2 tsp lime juice
zest of 1 lime

1.) preheat oven to 350°; prepare cupcake pans with liners or grease the pans
2.) whisk the milk and apple cider vinegar together; set aside for a few minutes
3.) sift flour, cornstarch, baking soda, baking powder, and salt together
4.) beat together milk mixture, oil, sugar, vanilla, lime juice, and zest until well combined
5.) mix the flour mixture into the milk mixture and beat until no large lumps remain (smaller lumps are fine, and be cautious to not over mix --- I make mine by hand as it comes together very quickly)
6.) fill cupcake liners 2/3 to 3/4 full and bake 18 to 22 minutes; let cupcakes rest in the pan for 5 minutes then remove and let cool completely on a cooling rack before frosting.

organic and vegan baking

if you over fill the cupcakes they end of looking like muffins... the height of cupcakes should come from the frosting not the batter

Patron Frosting (or any kind of tequila) 

(if you prefer to not have any alcohol simply use water instead of the patron)

1/2 cup non-hydrogenated shortening, room temperature
2 pounds powdered sugar (most bags are two pounds, and depending on weather you might need a little less)
1/4 cup patron
3 tbsp lime juice
zest of 1 lime
granulated sugar for decorating
green and yellow  gel food coloring (whole foods sells natural dyes, or you could even add a tsp or so spinach juice, but you would need to add a little extra powdered sugar to balance the extra liquid)

1.) cream margarine, half of the sugar, patron, and lime juice together; beat for a few minutes with either the paddle or whisk attachment
2.) add the lime zest and slowly add more sugar, half a cup at time, until you reach your desired consistency, then add the food coloring - 2 drops of yellow for every 1 green (some like their frosting a little thicker, some like them a little thinner to spread. This frosting  has a strong flavor so I prefer it to be thinner and fluffy so it doesn't seem to rich or dense. I added all but about a cup and a half of the full 2 pounds of powdered sugar and it was perfect).
3.) Using a ziplock bag with the corner cut off, or a pastry bag pipe the frosting in a circle motion. Once frosted roll the edge of frosting in some sugar - kinda like how alcoholic drinks have sugar or salt on the rim of the glass.

Cupcakes ready to go to Jon's work

that's it -- super easy, good, adult only cupcakes

(Jon doesn't drink, he hasn't had a drop in his life, so this cupcake wasn't for him -- sub out the patron with some water and they are still fabulous - either way its a great cupcake)

Thursday Lunch Date

Every week Jon and I try to have a family lunch date. Its around a thirty minute drive each way to his work, but it is something that we started when he worked an hour and a half away three years ago, so the thirty minutes is no biggie (not to mention having lunch with Daddy is totally worth the time spent in the car). Some weeks we get too busy with school and outings, or he is too busy at work (or if one of his two coworkers is out of office then he doesn't get a lunch). Jon works 65plus hours a week so any extra time we can see him is treasured. We either pack lunches and snacks or we go to one of three places - our favorite Thai, Pakistani, or vegetarian restaurant. I should add that we don't all go inside - Jon goes in and gets the food and then we eat in the car, or go find somewhere to eat and enjoy (parks are not fun in the winter, lol, brrrr)

Today was our lunch date. Jon ended up getting swamped with work right as we were getting there, so the kids and I hung out in the car waiting for him for about an hour -- the little kids were all asleep, Shortie and Bubba were playing and singing, and I got to work planning some special stuff for Shortie's birthday. Shortly before Jon was able to make it out, it started to snow. Not enough to stick to the ground, but enough to be peaceful and beautiful. The kids (all awake by now) and I were in awe watching the flakes fall, and it was so nice to have that moment. Life gets so busy and if we had been on the go we would have missed that little snow fall.

Ezekiel sound asleep waiting for Daddy

After getting home I was trying to get some laundry done --- having little ones seems to make this a much more difficult task as they love to "help" fold clothes. It usually ends with a child in the laundry basket and clothes being tried on or tossed off... It always ends in laughter and typically without any success to the laundry being folded. Today was no different:

Conrad trying to make Grae's outfit into a hat

She's on the run with the towel 

throw clothes out - make room for two babies

so proud to be playing with clothes

Noodles Everywhere

This morning while making breakfast for the kids,  Graesynn came booking it over when she realized the fridge was open. All of our kids when little look at the fridge like this magical treasure chest. Its full of all sorts of goodies and its the place that food comes from, and being Schroeder's - food is pretty magical and important. As I was grabbing for the orange juice stuck in the back she managed to grab a bag of noodles that Jon had cooked last night. I scooted her back and let her keep her treasure figuring that it was a zip-locked bag and she was too little to open it (I mean, seriously, sometimes I have a hard time opening those things... but I should know by now that when something is childproof - it simply means that a child will find a way to open it regardless of how hard it might be for us able adults to). Sure enough a few minutes later I hear her squeal with delight and I turn around to find noodles everywhere!

slippery noodles

being a cheerleader with noodles - so fun!

"Hurry! Eat as many as you can before Mom takes them away" ---I'm sure that's what she is thinking!

Cupcake Anyone?

Who wouldn't like to wake up from a nap and find a cupcake waiting for you? Conrad snuck one of the cupcakes up to Graesynn's crib and left it for her. She was very happy to wake up and discover a yummy chocolaty coconut cupcake all for her... such a good big brother to want to share with his little sister... but thats not the kind of sharing I had in mind

she loved the vegan chocolate frosting

she didn't love me taking it away from her

Happy boy - he thought it was so good he had to share!

Yummy! {trader joe's bags -- make for an easy clean up!

Christmas

This was our first Christmas in ten years just being our  little (okay not so little) family. It was my parents first Christmas in over thirty years with it being just the two of them! Thank God for technology and the ability to skype!

Here are some pictures taken after I opened my awesome new camera --- I was able to take a few with the fried battery (it will charge enough to take nearly 10 pictures) earlier in the morning, I'll have to upload those because that's the camera I used when Shortie opened her new electric guitar.

Bubba wearing his new 3D glasses for his new Star-Wars book

I was playing with the different functions of the camera - this is the fishbowl one! Jon was tuning Shortie's new guitar

Our tree and fireplace --- I love having Christmas decor and really miss it when its put away

Graesynn dancing! 

we picked some of our favorite pictures from 2011 and made them into ornaments for the tree, some we simply laminated and others we put into the round ornaments

Zekie! the kids loved seeing all the silly pictures in the tree

we let the kids pick and decorate a tree for the library that can be seen from our front yard - they love the bright colors and I love the craziness of it!

we made star-wars snowflakes! 

Mary, Did You Know?

Last week I posted my favorite lyrics from my favorite Christmas song on facebook - Mary, Did You Know? it really moves me every time I hear it, so I wanted to take a moment to post it and reflect. (I wish a strong female vocalist would record this song)

Mary, did you know
that your Baby Boy would one day walk on water?
Mary, did you know
that your Baby Boy would save our sons and daughters?
Did you know
that your Baby Boy has come to make you new?
This Child that you delivered will soon deliver you.

Mary, did you know
that your Baby Boy will give sight to a blind man?
Mary, did you know
that your Baby Boy will calm the storm with His hand?
Did you know
that your Baby Boy has walked where angels trod?
When you kiss your little Baby you kissed the face of God?


I had heard this song several times (many times) over the years, but it wasn't until being a Mom that it really set in for me. Actually it probably wasn't until last Christmas when baby 5 - Graesynn - was a newborn, and I had been reading Beth Moore's daily devotional about Jesus (reading it while pregnant really creates a deep sort of connection to Mary) and then I played this song over and over (Clay Aikens version is my favorite).

My two favorite lines are the ones in bold above. They always give me chills. I have so many questions for Mary, so much gratitude and amazement for her. All five of my pregnancies would be labeled as easy non risky. I had four hospital births and one home birth from the comfort of my bedroom... it makes me think of Mary, giving birth from the 'comfort' of a stable. Think about it - is there such a thing as a comfortable stable birth? We see all the beautiful nativity sets, or church programs featuring Mary and Baby Jesus - but do we really think about giving birth on the hard cold stable floors, and that it was a  young virgin birth to our Lord Jesus Christ?! I am left amazed by her and so thankful. As a Mom she leaves me speechless (that is until I find my thoughts enough to ask her all these questions in the song and more) 

During the Christmas season I often find myself mid-kiss with one of my little ones when I think about Mary and baby Jesus. Jesus is the reason for the season, let us not forget our Savior, His birth, His life, His death, and His resurrection. 

Here Goes Nothin'

Okay - so here goes a new blog...

I uploaded some of my old blog to this one. I am hopeful and determined to blog again. 

Where to start - I have horrible luck with electronics. Every time I think I'm going to get back to blogging something breaks... first I managed to have my camera fly out of my hand while the lenses was extended and it completely busted (right after taking Graesynnn's newborn pictures, such a bummer but thankful we got those). Then my parents were so generous to give us one of their old pro cameras - however the memory card didn't fit in the laptop and we didnt have one of those fancy cords to make it easy, so we were putting the card in the printer and transferring that way -- and sure enough the printer died. We then bought an awesome new brother printer that prints tabloid sizes (awesome for printing and copying things for the kids!) And wait for it - our laptop broke. Some how the charging point inside shifted over and broke. Finally got the computer back and I left for Texas for almost two months in prep for my sisters wedding! Some how between Texas and VA my camera charger went missing. Finally found a new charger and wait for it --- our battery was fried, and now we need a new battery... oi-- For Christmas I had asked for a new camera like the one I managed to fly into our tile, and my awesome husband bought me one (with an extended warranty, lol) We are ordering a new battery for the pro camera and we are going to try and get the old broken lenses camera fixed... as long as the laptop holds up I should have loads of pictures and blogging to post (did I mention in all of this I shattered my cell phone, which was my back up camera... oh and our tv lamp went out -- the lamp that projects the picture not a coffee table lamp --- 2011 was just a bad year for electronics in the  house!)

so here goes nothin' - back to blogging about our Life Raising Five

Rhino Pajama's

I saw these little boy pajama's at Target and had a good laugh --- for those that know the significance of rhino's in the Schroeder house then you understand why I was laughing - I was really tempted to buy it just to cut it and stretch over some canvas for the wall... actually I kinda wish I had, its just too fitting

Some Photos

The kids grow fast. 

And I know before long I wont remember the details of our days when they were young. Their silly little facial expressions that they seem to make all day long will soon be a fading memory. There’s so many little details I never want to forget. The way they clap when they see Daddy’s car coming down the street, and the sparkle in their eye when he opens his car door. The times when (every) night they poke their head out their room and say “I want water… I want a kiss…. I want…anything but to go to bed” (okay they don’t say the last one but that’s what they're really saying), I know those moments, although at times feel so frustrating, won’t last. Soon we’ll look back and miss their excuses for more Mommy and Daddy time. Or how every night Shortie colors us a picture and drops it down the stairs for us to find when we go to bed. Heck, I know I’ll even look back with a little sadness on the moments with all five in car seats and how going for a drive always meant loud nonstop chatter.

Just the other day I was giving the boys a bath and bent my head down to wipe something off the tub and Conrad filled their bath bucket up with water and dumped on my head. Clapping. Loud happy clapping followed. He was so proud of himself thinking he was washing my hair or doing me a favor – because that’s exactly what we do to him --- It was so funny and precious I couldn’t do anything but laugh and clap along with him – he got me. Its moments like that I wish I could have caught on tape or never forget.

So I take lots of pictures – trying to help my memory remember all these times – the good and the bed (yup, I try to take pictures of when jam was tracked all over the house, when paint was smeared all over the basement, when my brand new expensive lotion was squirted all in the toilet… can’t forget those moments too…. If not for anything but evidence to show the kids when they are older). We are so blessed and the photos can serve as a nice reminder of just how blessed we are.

the boys

silly faces

more silly faces

eating celery

(hehe. future blackmail) helping me cook

playing keys together

Berry Picking

For part of the boys birthday (okay, honestly, we had been wanting to go anyway, but to make it seem even more special we told the boys it was for them) we went to one of the local farms and picked blackberries, raspberries, and dug up potatoes. The kids had such a blast! (so did Jon and I - we cant wait to have a bigger property and create our own farm). I loved that kids really got into and even with the potatoes they were all in the dirt digging - Conrad was trying so hard to climb over the plants he lost his pants at one point. We probably could have stayed all day but it was in the mid 90s and with the humidity it was just killer.  We are looking forward to going back during the summer and fall to pick even more awesome fruits and veggies...oh and beans!



Zekie picked several not so ripe blackberries, but he still ate them and had fun!



Schroeder family out berry pickin

they love the farm

pants are falling off

happy Graesynn - she loved the potatoes

dirty booty

trying to help dig up the potatoes - so cute!

Boys Birthday

Happy Birthday to my Birthday Boys!

the boys birthday wreath (its part of our birthday tradition - every Schroeder birthday gets a balloon wreath to match their theme, and its up for at least a week)

Yesterday Bubba turned 5 and Zekie turned 3!

We had wanted to do a huge party - guitars and trains - but another family from church was doing a party at the same time and we would hate to have our friends have to pick - so we cancelled our party and just had a super fun family day and we'll be going berry picking this weekend to celebrate.

We have a tradition of decorating the house during nap time. So the three boys took a nap and us girls decorated! Shortie was so excited to show the boys their decorations and presents all wrapped up.

We also had a great skype party with Gaw, Papa, Great Grandma and Harleigh Dog. (It wouldn't feel like a birthday without a skype party... technology is amazing)

Zekie wanted a chocolate cake with frosting - yummy! thats my kind of cake! (I made our really yummy vegan chocolate cake -- it was one of the first vegan baking recipes I ever tried, and now I can't imagine any other type of chocolate cake) We put the trick candles on the cake and at first he wasn't sure if he was fond of them, but then he really started laughing and having fun with it. Eventually everyone was trying to help blow them out - unsuccessfully. The last one wouldn't stay out until Jon flipped it upside down into the cake- eww, I made sure to avoid that wax filled piece...

Bubba wanted a vanilla bean cake (it was vegan too --- very sweet, so they loved it). They all had fun getting in on his trick candles.

I still can't believe Bubba is five! Zekie seems older to me, so being three was only odd, because I felt he should have been four. I mean, think about it this way = 4 months after his first birthday Conrad was born, and then 5 months after his 2 birthday Graesynn was born --he just turned 3 and he already has two younger siblings trying to chase after him. That just seems insane to me, so we keep thinking he must be older!

I love my birthday boys and we are so blessed to have the opportunity to celebrate 5 and 3 years worth of awesome life together!