Thanksgiving

This year for Thanksgiving, I got to have my family come out. Well, some of my family. We had my parents, Isaac and Jenn and Bethy, plus Daniel's parents and Brooke and Joe. It was so much fun. We had a wonderful feast. The table was beautiful, the food delicious and the company even better. It truly was a wonderful day. While my family was in town I got to show them around our new town, Lincoln. I tried to get them to move to California the whole time but I don't think I've convinced them just yet but I think they really liked Lincoln. We mostly just hung out. We shopped a little, went to Grass Valley, played games, watched movies, baked and baked some more. I loved every minute of it. Now my house is quiet again and I have only a little 18 month old to talk to (which I love but is not the same). Marston loved all the attention. About a half hour after they left, Marston ran upstairs and looked in every room for his grandparents and aunts and uncle. It was really sad. But we will look forward to the next trip.

Bethy wearing my dad's very out dated glasses.

Daniel got a pack of head lamps so my dad decided to become an alien.

Beth had to throw a Greek dinner party for one of her classes. This is her preparing dinner while Isaac and Marston watch.

Thanksgiving dinner. Dig in everyone!

Would someone please say the prayer so we can eat!

Brooke keeping Marston busy.

Brooke ready for some grub!

Brooke and Joe

The roll king!

Every year we churn our own butter.

As a kid I thought it took hours but it seemed like it only took about 30 minutes and we had fresh butter.

Daniel and my mom clipping coupons for black Friday.

Beth and I ran a couple of days while she was out. We had matching shorts.

Pumpkin vase.

Beth traced Marston's hand. He loved it!

Playing with Grandpa

Daniel's parents came over for dinner last night. Marston and grandpa ran around the house chasing each other for almost 30 minutes straight. I'm not sure who was more tired at the end of the night, Marston or Grandpa, but it was sure cute to watch.

Bishop's Pumpkin Patch

There is a fantastic pumpkin patch about 15 minutes from where we just moved and so we invited some of our friends from Cameron Park to come out to see our new house and go to the pumpkin patch. This is the most incredible pumpkin patch I have ever been to. There were fields and fields dotted with orange pumpkins of all shapes and sizes. But that was not all. There is a train that takes you around the farm, a petting zoo, giant slides, corn mazes, tree forts, and tons of greasy, sugary food. Totally commercialized but really fun. It will be a family tradition to visit that place every October. I love fall!

I did it!

My race was this past weekend and I finished! It was so much fun. The air was fresh and chilly. It smelled like eucalyptus and there were thousands of runners. We started at the Aquatic Park, ran through the Marina, up to the Presidio, over the Golden Gate and back. It was foggy when we started but about half way though it all burned off and there were beautiful views of the city. I loved it. It was hard but worth it. I was also really glad I trained on hills because there were some killer hills. I finished in 2 hours and 13 minutes. Next up...duatholn (run, bike, run) January 2nd.

We're moving!

Blue tape, paint, brushes, rollers, drop clothes, blue tape, driving, driving, driving, busy Marston, packing, unpacking, up ladder, down ladder, blue tape, fussy child, out to eat again, Lowes, tile, crying child, driving, locked keys in car with it on, air mattress, driving, painting, running, driving, driving.

My Little Dragon

Daniel bought a dragon costume for Marston this year. I know... shouldn't I have made him one rather than buy one? No time this year with the move and all. Plus I am trying to train for the race, I don't think I can handle another project. Anyhow, Marston loves it. Every morning he'll bring me the costume and he'll wear it for hours. It is so cute seeing a little dragon playing in my house. I have always loved when I see parents let their children wear costumes in public well after Halloween just because the kid really loves it.

Oatmeal Pancakes

I am in love with these pancakes! I have been running in the morning around the neighborhood and I often can smell people's breakfasts. I get wonderful smells of pancakes, bacon, and coffee (I don't drink coffee but I love the smell). I come home tried and ready for my own delectable breakfast. I found this recipe on mykitchencafe.blogspot.com and I love love love it! I made the mix a couple of weeks ago and keep it in the fridge. When I must have hot tasty pancakes I mix 1 cup of the oat mix with 1 cup buttermilk and 1 egg and I grill them up. That's it. They are so good and you wouldn't even know they have whole wheat flour and oats in them. Okay maybe you would notice the oats but they are very fluffy and the texture is just like any other pancake you've had. You MUST try this recipe.




Oatmeal Pancakes

Makes 10 cups dry mixture.

3 1/2 cups rolled (quick) oats
3 cups whole wheat flour
2 cups all-purpose flour
3 tablespoons sugar
3 tablespoons baking powder
1 tablespoon salt
1 tablespoon baking soda
1 cup vegetable oil

Mix all the dry ingredients together in a mixer with a paddle (or by hand). With mixer on slow speed (or gently by hand), drizzle the vegetable oil into the bowl slowly while the mixer is running. When all the oil has been added, stop the mixer and squeeze a clump of mix in your hand. If it stays together, it is just right. If it is still crumbly, add another tablespoon of oil at a time until the consistency is correct (I've never had to add additional oil). Store in an airtight container for up to two weeks at room temperature or indefinitely in the refrigerator or freezer.

To make the pancakes: whisk together 1 cup of mix, 1 cup buttermilk (a combination of half plain yogurt and half milk will also work), and 1 egg. The mixture may seem thin at first but the oats will soak up the milk as it stands while the griddle preheats. Heat a griddle and drop the batter onto it. When the edges look dry and bubbles come to the surface and don't break, turn the pancake over to finish cooking on the second side. As a sidenote, buttermilk can be frozen indefinitely for future batches of pancakes, so it's worth keeping it around!

*1 cup of mix will make about 6-7 4-inch pancakes.