Elnor's Kringla

This is for my friend Heather who wanted to know how to make Kringla:

*Elnor is a dear old woman( 100% Norwegian)  who used to take care of my husband when he was a little boy.  She has been married to the same man for I want to say 70 years.  They are the neatest couple and they really love the Lord with all of their heart.  I am blessed to know them.  She just told my mother-in-law that she has 60 pieces of Kringla already in the freezer for Christmas.  (Anyone who stops over, she will run to the freezer and give you a plate of Kringla.)

There is a little bit of preplanning...here we go:

Mix and let set in refrigerator for about 10 hours:

1 cup cultured sour cream

1 cup whipping cream

1 T of Lemon juice

Cream together and add to the above mixture:

1 cup sugar

2 T butter (soft)

1 t vanilla

Add sifted ingredients carefully:

2 1/2 cup flour

2 t baking powder

1 t baking soda

1/2 t salt

1/2 t nutmeg

Form a soft dough.  Refrigerate dough.  Work with small portions of dough.  Take small pieces of dough and roll into strips about 1/2 inch thick.  You will more than likely need some more flour to roll them out. (This is the trickiest part)

Shape into figure 8's or over lapped circles - easy way out is just to make little breadsticks

(I am just not as good as Elnor with this part...here's turn out perfect, but then she has had many more years of pratice:)

Bake at 375 degrees for 8-10 minutes or until golden brown.

Place into tight container while still warm to keep soft.

Spread with butter to serve. (I personally eat them plain)

Enjoy!

Conference

My mind is full.

Carl and I went to a Desiring God Conference in the Twin Cities.  It was called The Power of Words and the Wonder of God.  Wow! is just a small word to describe this conference....my mind is still trying to process all that I heard this weekend.  It is already available for download if you are interested in listening, reading, or watching and part of it - go here.  

I highly recommend the session by Bob Kafflin - The wonder of Words and what happens when we sing and the other by Mark Driscoll -How Sharp the Edge? Christ, Controversy, and the Cutting of words.  These two guys rocked my world with what they said.  

The power of the tongue is quite a remarkable things...either you are building up or tearing down.  There is no in between.  I am quite tired but I really want to blog more about this tomorrow.  Until then please check out Desiring God.org  because there are so many resources available to you and to me - it is a blessing.

It was so great to have two days and two nights with Carl.  Thanks Mom for taking the girls!  

Off to bed!

few pics

This is my C+ home at its finest!

Yes, my cupboards are never closed!

We made a triple batch of Kringla today...it is a Norwegian sweet bread.  I married into this one!

Piggy Pile

Lydia has the best spot!

C+ verses A

I was talking with a friend today at the library on how my goal is to keep a C+ house versus an A house.  You all know the difference that I am talking about.  

C+ 

You vacuum maybe once a week

Sweep once a day - non-negotiable because I have 3 kids 5 and under

Bathrooms are cleaned with a wet wipe from Adie's container

and who washes their windows anyways?

An A house is something that I only dream about now.  I have to be totally honest...I LOVE a clean house...the pine-sol, windex, vinegar...oh I can almost smell it now.  When I was in college, my roommates did like it that I wanted things cleaned weekly...they actually probably hated it.  (I lived with six other girls...not recommended!  Quick Time Out:  7 women in one house equals a lot of hair in a shower....I can clean poopy diapers all day long, but hair in a shower totally grosses me out!)  

Anyway - I have learned to be content with a C+ home...it really feels like home when you can still find applesauce smatter over 2 weeks after you had the great spill.  You trip on the popper when going to the back door.  (the popper is that annoying toy that is supposed be a little kids vacuum)  I really do like not dusting so please do not move any of my picture frames.  And finally, it really feels like home when you have to scrape your kitchen floor while trying to scrub it.  Yes folks, I had to get out my pampered chef scrapper (amazing little kitchen gadget) to get all the crud off my floor.  I should have a pressure washer like my dad has for his barns.  

This is what feels like home to me.  

I should add that we love pop-ins at our house...you are guaranteed that you will probably need to keep your shoes on while walking in the dining room, (Adie has a great arm)but there usually is something baking in the oven and there are always great greeters at the door.  If we know you are coming, I have three girls waiting on the front step to welcome you in.  

Funny note:  Carl was reading over my shoulder and he just went to the garage to get the ladder to clean the applesauce off the ceiling.  What a great guy!  I am just smitten over him.

Worship

My little girls went to Sunday school today and Lydia was so completely excited that they bent the rules a little and she was able to move up a few months early to the Preschool/K class.  When they came out of class, they were telling me how they learned about worship - loving God and obeying what he commands.  You see when you love God, doing what he commands should be an overflow of that love.

I have been learning that God's timing for things are usually faster than I would think would be appropriate.  Let me give an example, when I shaved my head last summer with my neighbor who had cancer, I knew that I was going to shave my head someday, but I thought it was going to be in 5 years or something like that.  The Lord had put the desire to start our own business...I was thinking maybe in a couple of years...as you can see we are doing that now.  

Now for a small example, today I was asked if I would volunteer in the children's nursery.  I told them that I was thinking about a new ministry that started for kids with special needs.  I got the paper work to fill out and headed off to church...I was there for about 5 mintues when they found me and said that they needed my help because a little boy came today who needs one on one help.  Wow - fast volunteer time!  

I had the privilege of spending time and worshiping with a little boy who has autism.  You know God made this precious child...He knit him together in his mother's womb just like you and me.  I marveled over that fact while I held him closely through the worship singing..."better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere."  He is perfectly made in God's image.  I am so thankful that we have a creative God who knows no boundaries of love.  I was blessed today.  I know that I learned more about my creator in this lesson than sitting through the sermon today.  God is amazing and I am thankful He came to earth to glorify himself and save a wretch like me.

Double date

Carl and I have a list of about 12 -14 dates that we would like to do together and tonight we were able to check one off the list -  Double date with Matt and Carrie.

Since Carrie just gave birth yesterday afternoon we took the double date to her at the hospital.  We picked up Olive Garden to go and had a little party in her room.  It was so quite and relaxing!  You see we do hang out a lot and eat many meals together but there is usually 8 kids talking at the same time, so peaceful is not a word that comes to mind when we are eating dinner.  The only time it is quiet with 8 kids is when they all just started to eat their brownie supremes (sprinkles and ice-cream) and then that only lasts a few seconds.

Rachel Lynn Bettendorf

Rachel Lynn Bettendorf arrived at 3:40 pm this afternoon weighing 5 lbs 13 oz and 18 inches long.  Carl was there for the birth and took some amazing photos.  We were so excited to see her just 3 1/2 hours after she was born.  Adie said her first sentence, "Baby right here."  Granted only a parent would know that that was what she was saying, but she said it!  Rachel is beautiful and we will have lots of lovin' around here!  I am looking forward to holding and smelling her!  Babies have the most wonderful smell especially when you put Johnson and Johnson baby lotion -  oooo I can hardly wait!

Carrie looks amazing - as always!  She is doing great and is looking forward to sleeping on her belly tonight!

Carrie's having her baby

My sister-in-law is having her baby today.  Right now she is being induced and we are waiting for the news.  Carl will actually be there for the birth to take pictures of right afterward, so I will hopefully have some cute ones to post later today.  Be in prayer for Carrie today!

I really wanted to post my tittle as "baby's coming" or  something along that line, but then I would have everyone thinking that I was pregnant. As far as I know, I am not pregnant, but we did go to our first adoption meeting last night. Exciting and scary all in the same breath.  We are praying over adopting a sibling group 2-3 kids at one time.  I know some of you are thinking we are crazy, but we already knew that about ourselves so we are not surprised.  God's heart is for adoption.  Jesus talks repeatedly in the New Testament about taking care of the orphaned and the widowed.  I am looking forward to the hard adventure that God has before us. 

 We haven't officially started the process yet, I am going to prayerfully wait until Carl is ready. We are in the process of saving $30,000 to pay for everything.  I know God is so faithful and He is going to provide ways for us to save and earn the money needed.  I was a penny pincher before but we are going to a whole new level because I want to go and get our babies.  

I am off to go and kiss my babies that are already in my home...

Blessings today!

Raccoons...

Living in the middle of a city surrounded by woods brings lots of adventure when it comes to critters.  Right now my husband and my brother-in-law are trying to get 4 raccoons off of our roof.  CRAZY!  We never had this problem in SF.  I have to admit that I thought that there was someone on top of our roof when I first heard them.  I am glad that it is just four unwanted creatures up there.  My guess is that they really like our compost pile and got a little off track.  Hopefully next time they will stay in the woods. (otherwise we will have to get the live traps out...I don't know why they call them live traps because most things don't come out alive especially if they are skunks, coon, and rabbits)

Brilliant!

I had a brilliant idea this morning!  One of those "ah ha" moments where you feel like you invented the wheel, but you know that it has already been invented and everyone else is thinking..."we already knew that."  Anyways, I let the girls cut up pears to make pear sauce using the knives for cutting pumpkins.  They thought they were so old because they were able to use a "knife."  (a very dull one for that matter)  I think these little knives are going to get some use in the future!

Speaking of sauce...You will never guess where I found more applesauce.  If you guessed my 14 foot ceiling you are exactly right!  I looked up today and couldn't believe how much made it up that far!  I need Carl to get on the ladder and scrub that off for me!  Crazy!  

Lydia wanted me to take her picture in her really cute sweater.  You gotta love hand me downs from the cousins.

We had some friends over tonight from our co-op.  It was so wonderful to be entertaining again and have people over to our house. They were a neat family that I am excited to get to know better.  They just moved to ST. Cloud just like us.   I am reminded at how much I love to entertain.  We had it to where we were having someone over for dinner at least once per week.  Slowly we will get back into the entertaining mode!

Horse Camp

We went to horse camp this morning.  Grace and Lydia were able to ride horses, learn how to care for them and also pet some other animals (chickens, goats, rabbits, miniature horse, and guinea pigs).  At supper they told me that the highlight of their day was riding the horse.  (the girl one of course!  apparently, boy horses don't ride as well)

From the pics below you can see they had a great time!  Adie really wished she was a big kid today but she did get to sit on a saddle!

Hard work and messes

I think I could have titled this blog many different things...

- Fun moms are messy moms

- apples coming out of my ears ...well slithering down the walls

- life never goes as planned

-  kids in the kitchen 

Anyways we had a great afternoon.  Co-op in the morning went really well and we enjoyed meeting new friends.  We are actually going to have a family over on Thursday afternoon and they are going to stay for supper. 

 Here is a picture of the fruits of hard labor...no pun intended:)  They are eating warm applesauce.

Grace and Lydia like to eat the sugar while I made the pie crust.

Grace helped wrap apple dumplings...she called Papa and told him that he needs to come so we can actually bake them...they are waiting in the freezer for his arrival.

So we were on the home stretch of making two batches of apple sauce, 1 yummy pie and a batch of apple dumpling  when G & L decided to fight over who's turn it was t0 turn the food mill crank...well long story short.. the bowl, food mill and 1/2 the applesauce ended up on the floor, in the cupboard, under the microwave.  Yes folks, they got it UNDER the microwave. Big YUCK is all that I can say.    I let out one loud scream and realized all was well...no one was hurt...they were very sorry...and messes can be cleaned up (lots of soap and water was needed...I still stick to the floor even though I scrubbed it 3 times)  I turned on the music because I knew I needed something to keep my sanity and you know what song was playing..."Your Grace is Enough" by Chris Tomin.  It was the perfect song to point me back to Jesus and not get frustrated with my children.  I love how God can use anything to point us back to him.  Now these two pictures do not do justice to  how bad it really was.

I think this is a blues ribbon pie at the fair!  It tasted delicious as well!

I am off to finish my list of things to do before I go to bed!

Apple picking

Yesterday we we were at the farm and it was apple picking time.  I had a couple of very eager girls ready to pick apples.  They are very tasty and are enjoying them.  We actually had the whole family together and snapped a family photo.  I think it turned out really well!  My dad did a great job of covering up Adie's salsa stains on her pants!

Gavin pictures

I think Carl did an awesome job taking these pictures.  Gavin has come a long way since his birth.  He is now over 8 lbs...way to go big boy!

Uplift

Tonight I went to a teachers meeting for a homeschooling coop that I am going to be apart of.  The name of the group is called UPLIFT.  I will be teaching a manners class for 4-5 year old and then the same class for 6-8 year olds.  I have to admit that I was feeling a little overwhelmed with trying to find great material for the classes, but after going to the teacher's meeting I am feeling more excited to create awesome lessons.  I am hoping tomorrow night I will have a little time to plan and prepare.  

This afternoon I made a turkey.  Now there is nothing nice and clean with cutting up a turkey.  I think it is just gross!  But because I love my husband, I did it.  Now we had turkey tonight, turkey sandwiches tomorrow and then turkey spaghetti sometime next week.  It's the meal that keeps on giving - what's not to love about that!

BJ, Lynnette and Gavin came over tonight for a little photo shoot with Carl.  I will have to add some pics.  They turned out really awesome!

off to bed!

A few pictures from this weekend...

This is Grace's new snack shop from Uncle BJ, Lynnette and Gavin.  We have had many fun hours of play in this thing already.  Tomorrow I think I will be a cool mommy and let them have real food to serve.

Eating out at the chinese restaurant.  Adie inhaled the rice and Jello.

Grace and Lydia decorated her cake. I am sure that you can tell that it is a princess castle!

If you give a Mommy a mop (the story of most of my days)

By Angel Larsen

If you give a mommy a mop, she's going to want to clean her counters first.

Once she has cleaned the counters she will need to unload and reload the dishwasher.

Once the dishwasher is loaded she will see the compost bucket and need to take it out.

On her way back she will walk past the basketful of laundry that needs to be folded.

Upon putting away the wash cloths she will look down and see that her floor needs to be swept.  

Sweeping around the table she will see that that booster chair could use a serious cleaning.

Looking up from the booster, she will see her mail piled up from all last week.  

Once her piles are all clean up she will see her nice clean counters.

And if you give mommy nice clean counters that will remind her that she was going to mop that floor - well maybe not tonight...some other day!

S0 this really was my day yesterday!  It took me over 3 hours to finally mop that gross floor of mine.  It is really a depressing job because having a 5, 3, and 1 year old and eating three meals and two snacks a day doesn't leave much time where it actually stays clean.  But alas, the job did get done!

We are now going to set up snack shop! ( a gift from BJ, Lynnette, and Gavin)