Baking Day

We had our annual Christmas baking day with the Zollmans and Meyers. Of course, we went to Nana's for our special day.

This isn't even half of the finish, plated product.

Jello popcorn was heeping over. I love the colors. It's also one of my favorite treats now. Imagine that. Laura likes something that is not covered in chocolate.

Ty was a great babysitter while I helped in the kitchen.

Nana and Ruby took a time out to do some laundry.

Ruby liked her new playpen.

Nana, Nana, Nana. :)

Trev andNana made little candy molds.

And yes, we all spent the whole day eating. Who wouldn't.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tXXwtFWpAI8&feature=player_embedded

Rolled Over

Ruby rolled over for the first time today!!!!!!! She did it all herself, from start to finish!!!!!!

Christmas Season

I love Christmas!!! I probably love a little more now because I don't work a full time job outside of the home and so I am more free to make things and find fun activities to occupy my time and Ruby's time. For instance, Mindy, Ruby and I went to Breakfast with Santa on Saturday morning. We had a fun time and Ruby...

met Santa. She was fascinated with this man in red. She just looked him up and down. It was fun to watch.

We love Aunt Mindy.

Then, the Zollmans introduced Ruby and I to the Bethlehem exhibit at Fairview Missionary church in Angola. AMAZING!!!! They had everything. First we sat and listened to live music while we waited to enter the exhibit. Then we entered Bethlehem on the morning after Christ was born. As we entered we saw the three kings planning their trip in a distant land. Then we met the shepherds who visited the babe the night before. The head of household signed the census and then payed our taxes before entering the city. Then we walked through the Bethlehem market place. There were slaves, beggars, dancers, roman soldiers, and merchants. It was AMAZING!!! The floor was covered in sand and they had live animals. At the end we were greeted by the inn keepers and directed to the manger. Then we saw baby Jesus and his parents in a dark room with a single light on their family. AMAZING!!! Have I said that enough?! I loved it. In fact, I went back the next day with the Patterson clan. They loved it too. If you are interested and want to put it on your calendar for next year the dates are December 4 and 5. It is already on mine. AMAZING!!!

Yummmm....

I gave in and started Ruby on cereal. She couldn't stop giving me that look at supper every night. You know, the look that says, "Mommy why aren't you feeding me?" She loves it.

The first time Sam put Ruby in her high chair I cried and wouldn't talk the rest of the evening. I can't believe that she is getting so big. It's so sad and wonderful at the same time. Now she loves sitting and playing in her high chair while I cook or clean in the kitchen.

We are so blessed to have such a healthy, beautiful and happy baby.

Say hello to the camera.

Here is a video of Ruby's first bites of cereal. We gave it to her on Thanksgiving. We figured this way she could join in the feast.

Texas Thanksgiving

Peeling Thanksgiving potatos is a family event.

We had an eventful Thanksgiving with the Skinners. While waiting for the turkey to get done we noticed that there was water gushing out the back of the house. Mike went inside and found that the toilet had been overflowing for more than an hour. Sam and Mike worked hard to suck up all of the water on the tile and then from the carpet. Mike later said that he was very grateful for having a reason to get the shopvac that he has always wanted.

Sarah and the boys moved all of the stuff out of the wet closet out into the hall, including a sleeping Lydia. We finally ate our Thanksgiving meal a few hours later.

OMG!!! So I took over 150 pictures on our trip to Texas to see the Skinners so this is a really long blog. Here are the two girlies enjoying a Thanksgiving movie.

Which one is showing more?

Downtown in Tyler.

Outside the train museum. Todd wasn't feeling photogenic.

Let's weigh the baby.

Ethan is counting to see if there are really 101 Dalmations.

We visited a wildlife museum that also had an old fashion general store in it. Lydia was in awe of the candy display. She screamed when her mother had to pull her away to move on to another exhibit.

Zollman General Store.

The pictures are out of order. Here are the Skinner train engineers in training.

We really enjoyed the train museum. A train even went by while we were there. A Tyler native told his wife that he never had an electric train growing up, so his wife bought one for him for Christmas one year and put it under the tree. That sparked an expensive and extensive collection that now fills this old train station as well as another storage building in town. Don't even think about it Sam! :)

Lydia was not having fun at the Train Museum.

Introducing the new Wildlife Museum exhibit...Ruby Ann Zollman.

Watch out Brandon!

Nobody throws a party like the Monkeys.

Do we blend in?

What a beautiful family. We love you Skinners. Thanks for having us.

Testimony

I have such a newly found testimony of food storage. The past few months have been a constant struggle for our family. There have been a series of unfortunate events that consisted of family moving away, surgeries, hospitalizations, major illnesses and unemployment. It seemed that one thing after another kept happening. There were so many reasons and excuses for us to be depressed and caught up in sorrow, but we came together weekly and or daily to plant, prune, harvest and preserve our food storage. We all worked so hard together and built each other up while providing for our families. Lately, my dad and I have worked so hard to put away these pears and apples we purchased at the auctions. When he went to work last week at his new job I realized how close this effort to put away our food storage has brought our family. It's not just about the food. I could easily have gone to the store and bought fifty cent cans of vegetables, but it would not have brought me closer to anyone or any understanding. I know that the prophets have counseled us to grow our own gardens and put away food storage for a purpose. We grow together when we work together, not to mention that it is healthier. The Zollman and Meyer clan had a Pickle Party and a Salsa Party. The Pattersons and Sam Zollman families have more food storage than ever before. Great memories were made and relationships were strengthened because we chose to heed the Lord's command. We have been truly blessed and I am so excited to have such great council from the Prophets.

Happy Halloween!

Happy Halloween! Ruby was a ruby fairy for her first Halloween. We found her wings, tutu and wand for a dollar each. Ruby trick or treated at both sets of grandparents' houses, went to see Grandma Grape and then went to the Hammans' for her first Halloween party.


She is the cutest fairy I've ever seen.

She really enjoyed her wand. She was eating is by the end of the night.

Taking a break in between visits.

Had to get a picture of the back.

Chili Cook Off

Aunt Sandra invited me to be part of the Wolf Lake Chili Cook Off to help raise money for the Wolf Lake Hospital. How fun! For weeks now we have been eating different variations of chili and I don't think we will be eating it again for a while.

There were six entries. I was number five (great number!). The whole family went, Parents, Mindy, Joey, Sam, Ruby and I. I must say that we had the largest following out of everyone there. :)

The judge's choice award went to Betsy, but she and I were tied for People's Choice, but one vote later and I was awarded the trophy. My name will be engraved later. I tell ya, it's the simple things, but I was so excited to go home from the chili cook off with a trophy. Vote for #5!!!

I saw these on youtube and just had to share them, I knew that Hilary Weeks was a wonderful and inspiring singer, but I didn't know she was so funny too. But, I guess having a sence of humor is required to be a mom, right?

Fall Family Pics

Here are some fall family pictures of the newest Zollman family. You can't tell, but it was raining a little and yet Ruby didn't fuss until the end.

Grandpa Dave took the pictures at Hidden Diamonds park for us.

Canning Fools

We have been a bunch of canning fools this summer. Here are some pictures of what we have canned.

This is the list:

-Tomato Juice

-Spaghetti Sauce

-Chili Sauce

-Pizza Sauce

-Dill Pickles

-Sweet Pickles

-Relish

-Bread and Butter Pickles

-Zesty Salsa

-Becca's Salsa

-Green Beans

-Stewed Tomatoes

-Dilled Green Beans

-Wax Beans

-Lima Beans

-Peach Salsa

-Beats

-Apple Pie Filling

-Chocolate Raspberry Sundae Topping

-Red Raspberry Sauce

-Jalapeno Jam

-Peaches

-Peach Jam

-Mulberry Jam

-Grape Jam

-Apple Butter

-Pear Butter

-Stewed Tomatoes

-Ketchup

Yet to Come:

-Applesauce

-Sweet Pickled Pumpkin

-Kohlrabi

-More Jam