Winters Kids

Just a little update about what in the world we're doing these days…

Abiding Mom

February 16th, 2010 by karli

After a long day today, I came home exhausted, flipped on my Google Reader, and found this on Confessions of a Homeschooler. It was timely and touching. I think I might post it by my bed. And my computer. And maybe laminate it and carry it around with me in my purse. Or maybe I’ll just try each day to remember what’s important.

Super Mom

Abiding Mom

Does Is (Psalm 46:10)
Tries to impress others Pleases the Lord (Eph. 5:10, Proverbs 29:25)
Is controlled by an agenda (curriculum, schedule, etc) Is controlled by the Holy Spirit: (Gal. 5:22-26) (Uses curriculum & schedules as tools for orderliness so she’s more free to follow the spirit)
Her self worth is found in her accomplishments (clean house, perfect kids, the perfect bulletin boards, etc.) Her self worth is found in an accurate view of who she is in Christ Jesus (Eph 2:10)
Her peace is found in the “perfect” environment Her peace is found in Jesus in the midst of any storm (Is 26:3)
She is discouraged by failure Failure reminds her that God’s strength is made perfect in weakness (2 Cor. 12:9-10)
She expects perfection from herself and others She practices grace with herself and others (Eph 4:32)
She teaches her kids to be good She teaches her kids to be Godly (Proverbs 22:6)
She is frustrated with her lack of spiritual fruit She abides in Christ and bears much fruit (John 15:5)
She does things with her children She builds a relationship with her children (Deut 6:6-7)
Her perspective is based on what is seen Her perspective is based on what is unseen (Col 3:2)
She chooses quantity of activities She chooses the most excellent Way (I Cor 13)

Remarkable

February 16th, 2010 by karli

Does anyone else find it rather remarkable that you can use rotten fruit and curdled milk and end up with something that’s not only gorgeous, but absolutely delicious? We had some rotting bananas hanging around, so before the fruit flies moved in, Mylie and I decided to make some banana bread. Of course, my recipe calls for buttermilk, which we do not have. BUT, did you know you can substitute a scant cup of milk that you mix with one tablespoon of lemon juice? The acid curdles the milk and gives it the same chemical properties as buttermilk. Or something like that. Anyway, you come out with delicious bread, and this time we experimented with one of my Demarle molds (best bakeware EVER). So not only did it taste delicious, it was rather gorgeous to look at, if I do say so myself :) .

Sunflower Banana Bread

Here’s the recipe, if you’re interested:

  • 1 1/4 cups sugar
  • 1/2 cup butter or margarine, softened
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 1/2 cups mashed very ripe bananas (3 to 4 medium)
  • 1/2 cup buttermilk
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup chopped nuts, if desired

1.Move oven rack to low position so that tops of pans will be in center of oven. Heat oven to 350°F. Grease bottoms only of 2 loaf pans, 8 1/2×4 1/2×2 1/2 inches, or 1 loaf pan, 9x5x3 inches.

2.Mix sugar and butter in large bowl. Stir in eggs until well blended. Add bananas, buttermilk and vanilla. Beat until smooth. Stir in flour, baking soda and salt just until moistened. Stir in nuts. Pour into pans.

3.Bake 8-inch loaves about 1 hour, 9-inch loaf about 1 1/4 hours, or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool 10 minutes. Loosen sides of loaves from pans; remove from pans and place top side up on wire rack. Cool completely, about 2 hours, before slicing. Wrap tightly and store at room temperature up to 4 days, or refrigerate up to 10 days.

From: The Betty Crocker Bridal Edition Cook Book

Before, During and After

February 15th, 2010 by karli

Before Nolan’s haircut, he was showing off his muscles in order to prove that he was a tough guy. Because tough guys don’t need haircuts.

During Nolan’s haircut, he looked like a scary monster.

During Nolan’s haircut, we realized how dark his hair has become. No more little blond baby.

During Nolan’s haircut, Nolan used the comb to check us to make sure the length was suitable.

After Nolan’s haircut, he was just about too cute for words.

Feel the Love

February 15th, 2010 by karli

A little post about our Valentines Day love in the Winters House.

Last week, Mylie and I made cookies to deliver to friends. We tried a new icing technique from Annie’s Eats, and I thought they turned out fabulous! We also used the cookie recipe from Nick’s cousin, Brandy, and it is definitely our new favorite.

Yesterday, after church, Nick and Mylie made some homemade Valentines for me (Nick had gotten his present the night before after the kids went to bed…. Get your mind out of the gutter people! It was a box of See’s Chocolates that we didn’t want to have to share with the kiddos). Nick made a cute little heart pocket-envelope and the two of them filled it with things they love about me. Some of my favorites: “Your sense of humor” (Nick), and “Food” (Mylie). But the best by far was the one that said, “I love your body.” And no, you gutter dwellers, that was not from Nick. That was from little Mylie!

And the Answer Is…

February 11th, 2010 by karli
BELGIUM!

We’ve booked our tickets and will be heading out mid-spring to visit our good friends who have lived there for the past two years. We’ll be making a couple stops off in London and Paris too, and anywhere else our gracious hosts tell us we must see. For a girl who’s entire international experience can be described as… Vancouver, B.C…. this is an exciting and welcome chance of a lifetime!

Where in the World?

February 8th, 2010 by karli
…are Nick and Karli going on vacation? We just booked tickets to here:

Can you guess?

Boy Crazy

February 6th, 2010 by karli
I’m boy crazy. As in… this boy is about to drive me crazy!!!


Nolan’s newest biggest accomplishment is discovering how to get out of nap times. And not just, “I don’t want to go to sleep so I’ll stay awake in my crib”. Oh no. He wants to get everyone out at nap time.

On Thursday, he came up with this brilliant scheme:

Just before I was about to put him to bed, Mylie comes running into my room as says, “Nolan did something bad.”

“Oh? What?”

“And I did something bad too.”

That’s when I knew I was in trouble. “What did you do?”

“Just come see.”

So, I came into the kitchen to this scene.


I almost lost it, but something stopped me. Instead, I took a deep breath and said, “Well, you better get down and play in it and have fun, because you’re going to be cleaning it up. And it WON’T be happening again.”


Did I mention the outfit he’s wearing was actually black when I put it on him that morning?

They had an excellent time pretending it was snowing in the kitchen and bringing all their toys in to join the party. After almost an hour, I finally called the game, and threw them in the tub (which made a sickeningly thick corn starchy water). Naptime was further evaded with an immediate trip to Target, and we are now the proud owners of one of THESE babies on our pantry door:


So, after one napless day, I thought he’d be due for a good nap on Friday. So, to really tire them out, we went for a bike ride. Okay, I was the only one getting tired out since I was riding the bike and they were in the trailer. For a treat, I took them to Taco Bell. Nolan finished his lunch first, and really wanted out of the high chair. I agreed on the condition that he wouldn’t run around or else he would get back in.

It worked. For a minute. And then he decided running up and down the booth seats was too irresistible. I told him to come back; he declined. I counted down from five. When I reached one I went to grab him, causing him to sprint back (along the seat) to his spot. He was just about there when we had one of those slow-motion moments as I watched him trip over Mylie’s leg, and tumble with his face headed right toward the edge of the table. He barely grazed it, but by the time I got to him there was already blood all over the place, and he had filleted a small piece just outside his lip quite nicely.

Ugh. Did I mention I was there on a BIKE?! I tried to get the bleeding to stop with him still screaming. Then, leaving all our trays on the table, I hauled both kids outside, got their helmets on, put them back in the trailer, handed Mylie a napkin and told her to hold it on Nolan’s lip while we rode, unlocked the bike and trailer, attached the trailer back on the bike, and took off to my friend’s house (the poor woman I call any time my kid punctures himself). She was nice enough to take a look at him, stash my bike and trailer in her garage, and then haul both of her own kids into her car where we threw Mylie in the back seat and shoved Nolan on the floor of the front seat so she could drive us back to our house. Once there, we loaded up in our van and headed the 20 minutes to the doctor’s office, where we waited another 30 minutes to be seen. Of course, by the time the doctor saw it, his lip was too swollen to derma-bond back together. We decided against stitches, so…. we left. Neat. Turns out the cut is small enough that stitches would have made almost the same size of scar so….

At least he got himself out of another nap.

I couldn’t get a great shot of the little monster’s lip, but you get the idea.

Seriously, boys are a different breed. After four and a half years of girl, I have not once had to consider stitches, and now in the last 2 months I’ve had to consider it twice with little brother. This kid might make me crazy….


…if he weren’t so darn cute!