Wednesday, September 15, 2010

First Fall Food

Oh yes, it's that time of year! Apple picking leads to applesauce, apple pie, apple crisp, and our family favorite: APPLE CRUNCH!!

Apple Crunch (supposedly serves 9-12; our family of 6 would scarf down the whole thing!)
1 pkg JIFFY Apple Cinnamon Muffin Mix
3 lbs apples peeled and sliced (about 8 cups...I used 8 apples tonight)
1/2 cup white sugar (I use 1/4 to 1/3 cup; very sweet otherwise)
1 tsp cinnamon
3/4 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup margarine or butter, softened (but not melted)
3/4 cup rolled oats

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Place apples in 13x9 pan, cover with white sugar and cinnamon (I toss apples with mixture). Combine the rest of the ingredients and sprinkle on top of apple mix in pan. Bake 40-45 minutes.

(Recipe from the side panel of Jiffy Apple Cinnamon Muffin Mix)

Sorry I don't have a picture - the Herd happily chowed down tonight's batch!!

Monday, September 13, 2010

I'm Too Busy Enjoying the Moment!

So many things are happening all at once...I know I should take the time to write down my thoughts and feelings, post pictures, document this chapter in our lives, but...
I'm too busy enjoying the moment!!!!

It's back to school time and I have a third-grader, a first-grader, a M/W/F preschooler and a T/TH preschooler! The older two start piano lessons tomorrow. All four start AWANA on Friday. Life is very busy, but I am so happy I am here to not only be part of it all, but to watch their little faces...to feel their excitement!!

We had an amazing family vacation at my parents' lake house right before school started. We spent a week on the lake, doing all kinds of fun things: swimming, boating, tubing, fishing, sailing, kayaking, hiking, visiting the Adirondack Animal Land, going out for ice cream, making s'mores, flying kites...yes, it was wonderful! I feel tremendously blessed to have my parents so nearby and so willing to have us stay with them...who offer us a date night...who spoil us by letting us sleep in and feeding us yummy filet mignon!! I even had a mid-afternoon coffee date with my mom (sans kiddos!)

This past Saturday, we met up with 16 other family members for an apple-picking adventure. After greeting one another (this takes awhile, all that hugging and such!), we enjoyed a picnic in the orchard, then some photo ops, picking apples, sharing treats, even singing happy birthday to the 4 Sept/Oct bday kiddos! How special it was to have my grandparents there with us...I love them so very much. Afterwards, we took a peek at the house I lived in for my first 11 years (amazing the way the trees have grown!) and enjoyed the view of the Catskills...then stopped at our old favorite pizza shop for dinner. It was another day of great memories.

I have so much more to say, and pictures to add...but bed calls me.

Anyone who may be reading this, remember to enjoy every moment. Don't worry about the details. Don't fret if everything isn't "just so." Life is going by so quickly...be sure those near and dear to you know they are loved and that God loves them!