Doodle It Monday and other things

This weeks doodle choice was "A snowball fight!" suggested by Shaina. (thanks for all who commented!) Actually this was sort of an accident, i meant to choose Shavonne's suggestion-Noah's ark, but i was doodling and thought the snowball fight was Shavonne's suggestion, alas when i read to make sure- it was Shaina's.... you may wonder why i wanted Shavonne's choice, well its her birthday today! i don't normally choose a favorite sister. anyways, here is
"Snow much fun"
(this is me and my brother Ian)

and because shavonne really is my favorite sister today here is a shout out for her
"Happy Birthday Shavonne"
(Shavonne and her husband Derek-he made the cake)

don't forget... leave a comment on Mondays (or through out the week on Monday's post) saying what you want me to doodle, I will pick one that "snickers my doodle" (Darick says this about eating snicker doodles, but I think it could also apply here) and then I will doodle it and post it on the next Monday... got it?

and this isn't a doodle but it is another creation. these little dolls were inspired by this pattern, however i wanted to make a smaller one, and a little less complicated. I'm not sure what to call them...any ideas? I was thinking about "Gracie Girls" what do ya think?

Ps-shavonne, pick the doll you want for your birthday, and i'm sellin the rest

Family Photo

We took the opportunity to get a picture outside... jayne won't smile for the camera, she just sits there with this blank staring face, so darick would toss her up and then we would look at the camera really fast. anyways, here is a few of them

don't forget about Doodle it Monday, there's some sweet ideas! we'll see what i choose tomorrow

Doodle It Monday

Hello friends, I have decided to create a "Doodle It Monday" I have some pretty sweet sick figure drawing abilities, and I want to make sure I practice. What better way to do this, than to post my little doodles on the good ol' blog.
Here's how this is going to work... leave a comment on Mondays (or through out the week on Monday's post) saying what you want me to doodle, I will pick one that "snickers my doodle" (Darick says this about eating snicker doodles, but I think it could also apply here) and then I will doodle it and post it on the next Monday... got it?
So here is this week's doodle: (I had to pick one, because this it the first... and it's my family-bet you weren't expecting that!)

"A Carpenter's Christmas"

Merry Christmas, and I wonder what next Monday will bring....

pictures of the week..lots of them

My sweet honey bee
Jayners love to play by the presents

I just thought that this was a funny picture

Jayne having lunch

This is how i feel most of the time

I caught Jayne running away with a present

My nephew Eli grinnin' for me

I put jayne in her blessing dress. yes, she's that skinny. she kept saying "pwitty"

And i made enough cookies for a lifetime, here are a few varieties

Photo op!

I passed!

Well folks, it's official! i can seriously be a teacher, i passed all of my classes, and i passed the PRAXIS (basically a big test for teachers). I'm feeling pretty good right now, student teaching here i come!

If I was a Carpenter....

This is mine and darick's wedding song... it's just so great, we love johnny cash, and we're carpenters!

Grandma Jayne's Wheat Bread

(i don't normally keep my food under the Christmas tree- but what a gift for my tummy!)

Well family and friends, the time has come- for a recipe! I've been in the mood for some home-made wheat bread for a while now, I kept hoping Darick would surprise me one day (keep in mind that bread making is NOT a talent my husband has- I mean he can't be great at everything! and I have not mentioned this desire to him at all). Darick doesn't cook very often, so I took matters into my own hands. I decided last night after tossing and turning that I just couldn't stand it anymore and today was the day for my bread-making adventure! So I asked an old roomie for her recipe, and decided I wanted to spice it up with some wheat germ (the most nutritious and delicious part of the wheat kernel) there was only one thing to do... call my mom- she would know how much germ to add. My mom soon convinced me that the only right way to make wheat bread is Grandma Jayne’s (baby-oops toddler jayners namesake) way. So she went to find the recipe... here it is folks, and it's a gem!
I translated it from grandma’s measurements, to "now-a-days" measurements

4 C. warm water (4 "mugs")
5 tsp. yeast (2 packages)
1 1/4 C sugar OR 3/4 C sugar*

"Let that bubble and grow"

Now add these ingredients in this order... while beating with a mixer

1 1/3 C. powdered milk (the powder-not made milk)
1 C. Wheat germ (*if it is sweetened wheat germ then only use 3/4C. sugar- if not sweetened use 1 1/4 C. sugar)
2 beaten eggs
1/2 cup *butter melted OR 1/2 C. Crisco *shortening melted (heaping spoonful)-I used 1/2 cup veggie oil, just 'cause I like that better
*make sure these are cooled
2 tsp salt (2 "hand-hollows")
2 C. whole wheat flour
3 cups white flour

Use your beaters (I used my kitchen-aid) and once all these ingredients are added beat for 5 minutes (this promotes gluten formation) your dough should have the consistency of muffin batter
Put a dish towel over the top, place in kitchen sink (grandma's secret! you could set the bowl in warm water to promote growth) and let raise at least 1/2 hour (I put mine in front of one of our heater vents)
Now add more white flour until you can knead the dough with your hands (about 3 -5 more cups- until it "looks right")
Knead away until your arm is going to fall off (I used my kitchen-aid again, and put the "bread hook" attachment on- then I let it knead away for like 8 minutes) cover and let it raise until the dough has doubled (I let mine go like an hour)
Place in bread pans and let it rise again (like 1/2 hour)

This is the most important thing!
Preheat oven to 350, bake bread for 15 minutes, turn oven down to 300 and bake for 45 more minutes, and voila! Perfect delicious wonderful wheat bread!
YUM!!

finals week

well, i am in my last week of school ever! student teaching doesn't really count because i'm done with my classes- and i am so glad. hopefully i'll be a better blogger when school's out, i've got some pretty sweet things to blog about... so hang in there, i won't be as stressed in 4 more days! woot

Stockings

Christmas is a fun time of year. when i was growing up my mom had made all of our stockings out of felt... they are all really cute. Well when i got married, and after jayne was born, i decided to keep up the home made stocking tradition (to see them click here and scroll down). Last year for Christmas, we went to Darick's sister Anna's house. she saw my sweet creations and asked me to make her family some. Well... here are the little beauties, i have to say i LOVE them. i'm really into animals lately.... (lots of pictures!)Joe-lion
Anna-tiger

Djadyn (Jay-Den)- hippo

Alexandra- Giraffe

Savannah-Zebra

Makenzie- Rhino

Morgan- penguin

Dahlin- Monkey

The Whole Animal Family!!

Say CHEESE!

Jayners and I had a photo session... Darick was at work, but here's a whole lot of us!

A dress for Baby Brown

Our friends the Browns from college are having a little girl in December- she's gonna be super cute, i just know it. (here's her brother.... do you still have doubts? ) Traci is having a baby shower tomorrow, and this little dress is for her (well really the baby). It turned out cute huh? I love how simple it is, but it has little touches... like the ribbon at the bottom

the cute snap buttons

and tulip sleeves.

A little visitor...

My little brother ian just posted a really funny story on his blog, it just leaves you wondering, so go check it out.... seriously, it's worth it.

http://djiweb.blogspot.com/2008/10/tale-about-tip-toeing-native.html

monkey-ing around

here's some monkeys i made... they're so fun, and make great friends!

meet petie

He is a gentleman
His friends are a bunch of monkeys though

the sewing machine song

need i say more?

happy halloween

seven really is heaven

As many of you already know I come from a pretty big family... and I love it!! I decided that since there really isn't anything interesting happening in my life (I go to school, come back, do homework, play with Jayne, eat dinner, play with Darick and go to bed) however, I grew up with some amazing siblings! Here is a sista spotlight... lets start with...
Kimberly (kimmie) - mother of 5, professional gamer, cook and art collector. she should have her own TV show, or write a book about her kids, because holy cow they have some funny thoughts. she has some pretty sweet hair, and everyone calls her for advice- or if you want to know anything about anyone else in the family-she knows all

Shaina (na) - mother of 4... Can do anything (seriously think of it, and she could do it, she might need to be taught first...but she could do it), photographer, artist, and writer. she just moved closer so i get to visit now... we're gonna have some pretty sweet timesShavonne (saw-bone-ey) - almost my doppelganger, we're both married to a Darick (Derek), her name's wood, mine is carpenter, and we both like to do the same things... shavonne is a nurse too, she brings babies into the world, she's also the only full blown red head in the fam- try to top that

Courtney (I just call her Courtney) - an interior designer, momma of 3, says some funny things "we're gonna play tennis!" she also can tell some sweet stories, and her acting abilities are phenomenal

Rebekah (reba) - momma of 2, rebekah always does the coolest stuff, she travels, and knows tons of kids songs, and she’s also full of energy and does awesome impressions. reba just moved back too, i'm so excited because i'll get to see her more too, i mean just look at that face, we've had some sweet times together (juice boxes and nora jones)

And Nancy (nanna)- she’s the baby of the family and everyone loves her. she's sweet and kind, and has such a cute giggle. she's a little sassy too. She also has really cool "collections" (Elvis and super heroes) she’s pretty much the coolest person you'll ever meet