Nothin better than homemade bread!

A few days ago, I decided I REALLY wanted homemade bread. Let's just say it's a weakness of mine. The last few times I have tried to make it in my bread machine it's failed...like miserably! So I decided I would try it by hand. Yep! Crazy! But it actually turned out great and my husband was SOOOO excited! Here's a picture and a recipe!

Part Wheat Homemade Bread

2 Tablespoons dry yeast
5 c. Hot water
2 Tablespoons salt
6 c. whole wheat flour (I ground my wheat into "flour" in my blender. Yes I wanted bread that badly!)
2/3 c. oil
1 c. honey (mine had gone to sugar, but I boiled some water and stuck the bottle in to liquify it again)
6 c. white flour

I mixed all the dry ingredients together including the yeast. Then I mixed the wet ingredients and added them to the dry. Knead for 10 minutes (EXHAUSTING). Grease your loaf pans and put the bread dough in them. Let rise about an hour. Bake 45 min. at 350 degrees. Slather with butter and enjoy!

K, here's a few other hints. When kneading be prepared to add about 1/2 to 1 c extra flour. I halved my recipe and got two nice sized loaves.

Hope you enjoy it as much as I did!

Crafts

So I am not the best crafter, let's just get that out in the open. However, I do enjoy it and like to make presents for others. Recently and not so recently I have had a few projects I have completed.

First up, Pillowcase dresses. Last year about this time I made these cute little matching dresses for my neices.



Then, I made this quilt for Embree.



Then a car seat tent...



Then these adorable super hero capes for my two nephews and my son. My son wears his ALL the time!



And finally I made a "pedicure bag" for my neice. Sorry didn't remember to take a finished picture, but it was complete with a nail painting mat, nail polish, lotion and nail stickers. She loved it!




If you would like information on how to make any of these, leave me a comment or email me at jaime2cute_05@yahoo.com. I would love to share how I made them!

What a day!

Well, it all started last Friday when I get a text from my mom that says "Grandpa P. is going through the temple on Tuesday at four thirty. He would like you guys to be there." If anyone knows my family this is something we had only dreamed would happen. So I call Cory and let him know. Well, there was a slight problem in that we had to get our temple recommends renewed and in a hurry. So we got that all arranged. Cory was already off of work (thankfully) and I just told my student teaching supervisor and cooperating teacher that I couldn't miss this. They understood completely!

So Monday night after work, Cayden, Cory and I took off to Woodruff. We were able to stay with my grandparents and visit for a bit and the next afternoon we went with them to the Snowflake temple. During the session, I started having Braxton Hicks and was thinking "oh, no! We are not doing this now!" After having to sit down before I fainted, I started feeling better. We made it through the session and then were able to have my grandparents sealed and my mom and her two sisters sealed to them. One of her sisters passed away as a youth and I was able to stand in as proxy. It was a beautiful day and the spirit was so strong. The people there were so loving and showed the greatest care for my grandpa.

I am so grateful for the experience of being there and witnessing again how powerful the temple blessings are.

The simple pleasures of life

I have really enjoyed the little things that bring so much joy into my life lately like these:



Swinging



Flying Kites



Running through the sprinklers


And just plain spending time with my family before the baby arrives in a few weeks!

Student teaching update

So I have been at student teaching for like six weeks now. I took over everything this week. It has been such a great experience. I have had a few of those little teacher blunders, been frustrated beyond reason, but yet felt the love of such sweet children.

I am learning so much. I am thankful for this opportunity to stretch myself. I am learning that I really do LOVE teaching. I love the students and the little things they say that make me laugh each and every day.

Today they were measuring different things in the classroom with rulers. A little boy didn't want to lay back down to be remeasured and I told him if the pregnant lady could get on the floor to be measured he could do it too. He said "You're pregnant?" I replied yes. He then said "I was going to ask but I didn't want to." LOL, Made me laugh. Another day some of the kids came across the word bulge. Mrs. R, my cooperating teacher asked them if they knew what it meant. They didn't so she told them what it meant and I said that my tummy was bulging. Mrs. R then asked them if they knew why my stomach was bulging and they replied "Because she ate too much".

Kids they make me laugh!

San Antonio

Last week we had our first big vacation as a family. We went to San Antonio, TX for my brother's graduation from Air Force Basic Training. We had such a great time. We left early early (like 3:30 am early) and drove for about fourteen hours. I thought to myself while we were planning this trip that I was INSANE to take a two and a half year old that far in a car! But, suprisingly he did AMAZING!!!!! We thankfully were able to borrow a portable DVD player which was a lifesaver!

Then Thursday we awoke early (only like 4 our time) so that we could go to the base to the visitor briefing and Airman run. It was so cool to see and hear all the trainees running down the road, pretty close to perfectly in step. Then after the run we hung out till the coin ceremony. This is where each Airman is given a coin to symbolize moving from a trainee to an airman. We were able to spend the rest of the day with my brother on the base checking it out. It really has quite a few cool things.

Friday we again woke pretty early so we could go to the base and be there for the graduation parade. This is where they march and show off their drill skills. Afterwards we were able to check out their barracks. His was MUCH cleaner and more organized than when he lived with us. The military is doing great things for him. Afterwards we went to the Alamo and the riverwalk and just enjoyed our time with him. That night we went to the San Antonio Rampage hockey game. It was a special game supporting breast cancer awareness so they dyed the rink pink. C LOVED the first period or so and then fell asleep.

Then Saturday my dad and grandpa went and picked Justin up for breakfast and we just spent the day visiting and enjoying our time with him. We also went for a walk and found this really cool park.

Sunday we again got up early early and traveled home. It was a really long weekend but a great one. I am so thankful for the opportunity to go.

Here's a few pictures!

Student Teaching

Well, I just completed my first week of student teaching. Every time I am in the classroom, it reminds me how much I love working with kids. Their funny antics, trying to get out of work, and even sometimes their whining. This time is a lot different however, because I have to leave Cayden at a babysitters. This is VERY hard on both of us. I am thankful that it is only four months.

I have learned a lot in just this short week. I learned that I can leave my son even when he tells me "no mommy, no go to work". I have learned that it is okay to expect my husband to help out and that he is actually really great about it. I have learned that I don't like being a working mom, but that it is okay. And most of all, I have learned that my day goes MUCH better when I start it out by praying and reading the scriptures. Hope everyone had a great week!