Happy (or not so) Halloweekend

The scariest part of our halloween:

Tortillas that will always and forever more - stick together.

They never, ever, ever come off nicely as one at a time.

Never.

I might just have to take up trying to make my own.

There is only one brand of flour tortillas for purchase here, and they are

lame.

This is the second Halloween that I have not had to (or got to - 'cause I really like making them) make Halloween costumes.

I always love the mid-September conversation with the kids:

"So what do you want to be for halloween this year?"

And then they dream up what they want to be and I get to dream up the costumes.

And then they change their minds, so I reinvent a costume.

And then they change their minds again when I am half-way through sewing.

And then I want to shake them and yell "You can't keep changing your minds!!!!!"

So maybe it is good that I haven't had to make costumes.

No, it isn't.

I still love it and miss it.

Anyway....

The whole family, minus Maddy and myself, is at the beach.

We didn't feel like going.

HAHAHAHA

Maddy is sick.

She has been sick for four days - fever, cough and generally felling crappy.

So we had to stay home.

They went with all the Casa G. people, and are having a splendid time, I don't doubt.

We did have a piece of Halloween, though:

The kids that live above us (and the girl that is staying with them) came to trick-or-treat. Of course we had nothing but candy from the kids aforementioned trick-or-treating experience, so I snuck some of it. I figured that they probably wouldn't notice, although Maddy reminded me that Cole (the boy in the picture) will most likely let Cade know.

He is that kind of kid.

Right now, in California, all of our closest friends are together, hanging out at the Wurzbach's for the annual Halloween party and trick-or-treating extravaganza.

Eating chili with all the fixings.

Drinking hot chocolate and serving it to the parents who bring their kids to the door.

All the kids trading their candy after they are done going door-to-door....except nobody trades the full sized bars that the Flynns give out.

Val and Rachel in their 80s clothes with an "I love Sandi Patty" pin on (Val did that one year - hilarious!).

The doctor down the street with the ridiculously elaborate displays, taking polaroids of each kid that comes (and then he gives them the picture).....

Sigh.

They called to skype, but we are being poopy-heads and not skyping.

It is a little too hard on Maddy right now (and a touch hard on me too, to be honest)

Some of our most fun times with our friends have been on that night.

Last year, even though we had our own sort of funnish party, we skyped with them, and Maddy had a very hard time after - missing her friends.

Lots and lots of tears.

So we decided to avoid the whole thing this year.

Especially since we aren't having our own funnish party.

And Maddy is sick.

And she is (we are) missing more fun at the beach.

So, you can't blame us, right?

We aren't being horrible friends, are we?

Is it too selfish?

Well, it might be, but we really just don't need any extra stuff to make more sadness.

They love us.

They'll understand.

Happy Halloweekend!

Monday we went to a Pumpkin Party...

It was about the best thing ever.

(although I tend to say that kind of stuff a lot)

But it really was fun.

A mother of a boy in Lucy's class had it at their house.

She had a frame hung up to take pictures at.

This is Cade (he was a clone....we had to borrow costumes); He threw the wig on and held up a mustache for effect.

For some reason I couldn't download (or is it upload - never quite get that straight - when it is up and when it is down...) Mia's picture. And Lucy was too princessy to do it.

But I wasn't...

Yes, I am charming.

After a few games and a snack, we went trick-or-treating. The hostess set up five houses where we could go. So we all piled into the Bryans' car (also the owners of the costumes, and one of the funnest families we know - I love them - and they also have all blonde kids; so we took care of the gringo corner of the market).

Oh, and Maddy is in the car.

She was hiding.

That is a lot of cuteness.

At one of the houses.

This is my favorite picture:

You'll notice Maddy in the middle of the couch,

in the middle of the picture,

her head down.

She is doing homework in the middle of all the craziness and chaos.

I love that.

craft fair - my initial response

Why isn't my initial response to everything prayer?

Oh how I wish it was.

I received a good reminder from my mommy today (yes, I can call her mommy even if I am forty! So there..... tongue sticking out, fingers waggaling.....).

Just a word that I was going crazy in the brain with all my ideas for the craft fair.... and she knew how crazy (I tend to get a little carried away in the ideas department - how does she know that about me?).

She suggested that I pray.

DUH! Why didn't I think of that?

Sometimes I just don't get how God keeps having patience with me.

Prayer should be my first response - even in what crafts to make.

After all, this sale is about Him - accomplishing His work - not about me.

And I did start to make it about me.

Fancy that, me making it about me.....

Could I get myself off the brain for a while?

I was completely getting carried away with how creative I get to be, how many cool things I get to make with a good excuse, and even.....swallowing a huge lump of pride.....showing off all that I can do.

NOT THE POINT!

So now (finally) I will pray.

I will pray that God gives me wisdom to know what to make so that HIS purposes will be accomplished.

Oh please, Lord, help me to always have prayer as my initial response!

I'm in love, I'm in love, and I don't care who knows it! aka: Maple Nut Scones

If heaven came in food form, it just might be this:

Maple Nut Scones with Pear Butter

Oh My Word.

Muy Rico (en español)

Last week Friday, my friend told me that she had a recipe for these (while we were making Pumpkin Butter together - also quite delish!).

I could not get the thought of them out of my head so I emailed her that same night and asked her for the recipe.

Things were a little too busy with friends staying with us, the aforementioned birthday party, Casa G. day on Sunday and a Pumpkin Patch party on Monday (more on that later)....and on and on.

Yesterday, at our Spanish class, she brought some for us.

Once again:

Oh My Word.

I couldn't wait any longer, so today I had to (HAD to) make them.

They are so good

So. Good.

You'd have to be completely outside your mind to not like them (which would then mean that both her husband and son, and my husband are outside their minds.....).

I never asked her if I could share the recipe, but I'll just take my chances and give it to you.

Know that by giving you this recipe, I am increasing the blessings in your life 100 fold.

You can thank me later.

Maple Nut Scones with Pear Butter

Pear Butter:

1 large very ripe pear, peeled, cored and mashed

1/4 c. softened butter

1 1/2 T pure maple syrup*

Scones:

3 c. flour

1/3 c. sugar

2 t. baking powder

1 t. cinnamon

1/2 t. baking soda

1 t. salt

3/4 c. butter, cut into pieces

3/4 c. buttermilk

1 t. imitation maple flavoring*

1 c. pears, peeled and chopped

1/2 c. chopped pecans

1/2 T sugar (for topping)

To prepare butter: Simmer mashed pear in a small saucepan over medium heat for 15 minutes or until liquid has evaporated. Let cool slightly, stir in butter and maple syrup. Let stand at room temp. to thicken.

To prepare scones: Preheat oven to 400. Combine dry ingredients, except 1/2 T sugar. Cut in butter until they are in pea sized pieces. Stir in buttermilk, flavoring, pears and pecans. Turn mixture onto a lightly floured board and knead several times until dough is smooth. Press into a 10 circle and cut into 10 wedges. Place wedges 1 inch apart on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Sprinkle wedges with the 1/2 T sugar. Bake 20 minutes or until golden brown.

Serve with Pear Butter.

*Over here, I couldn't find maple syrup or maple flavoring, so I used pancake syrup. If you don't want to die of sheer delight, you may want to do what I did.... real maple might just be too much goodness for one to handle....

Blog Title? Thank Buddy the Elf

multicultural birthday party

Last Saturday, Maddy's friend Ayano turned 13.

Her parents had a party with her friends and their families.

I'm not sure I have ever had so much fun at a party.

Okay, I probably have, but it was simply fabulous!

Ayano and her parents are from Japan. Her dad works with something sort of like the Peace Corps. Their Spanish is really good (their Japanese is the best I have ever heard) and their English is coming, but slowly.

The three of them completely shattered every cultural stereotype I've ever had of Japanese people. They were wild, gregarious, animated and so, so, so much fun. I want them to be my new best friends.

Well, that might be a little extreme, but I would love to hang out with them more.

One of the other friends that was invited is Korean. Her name is Hi-leem. That is probably not how you spell her name but it is how it sounds.

Then there were three friends (and their families) all from the US.

I was telling our friends, who we got to know and love at language school, and who are missionary doctors in Shell, Ecuador (they were up visiting and taking care of business from Thursday to Saturday) about this party we were going to. They asked "No Ecuadorians?"

Nope, no Ecuadorians.

The whole thing was pretty comical. Japan, Korean and the United States (and Canada!!!) represented, at a bowling party, in Ecuador, with Spanish being the predominant language spoken (okay, there was plenty of English too).

The birthday girl, Ayano, with Megan (she was in school with Maddy in Costa Rica), and Maddy. Mia in the background with glowing eyes (shoulda done the red-eye remover thing....)

We had two rounds of bowling.

The first was two teams of the kids (picked numbers) and two teams of adults.

They had prizes for first place, thirteenth place (in honor of the birthday girl), and last place.

Ayano's parents (Rubriko and Sakari) were amazing!!!!

Is Japan a bowling hot-spot?

They killed us all - but were gracious enough to not take the first place prizes.

Cade got a prize. And I almost got a prize.

For last place.

Yup, I tied with my seven-year-old, very-small-for-his-age, could-hardly-find-a-ball-light-enough-for-him, son.

And I wasn't trying for the last place prize.

Then, since we tied for last place, we had to row-sham-bow (for some reason that didn't come up in spell check....) for the prize.

First three hits we did the same sign.

Fourth time he crushed my scissors.

I was the ultimate looser.

This is Cade getting his prize - a package of toilet paper!!

I thought he might cry about it - but he loved it!!!

Since then Eric has even offered to buy the toilet paper from him and he could pocket the cash (over $8) and he wants to keep the toilet paper!

The next round was the family round.

Each family bowled against each other, with the same number of times to bowl.

Even though we had the two previous losers on the same team

WE WON!

The Ackermann's rule!

Rubriko made some amazing food and fantastic cake.

There was quite a spread laid out for our constant enjoyment.

All the kids.

Guess what our kids want to do for their birthday parties now?

night time art

It was 8:30 p.m. on Tuesday night.

A full hour after we put Lucy to bed.

I am just getting out of the shower and I encounter Lucy in my bathroom.

"Mommy, I had an accident"

"What honey? What kind of accident?"

(Thinking, of course, it was pee)

"I accidently wrote on my wall"

"HUH?"

"I wrote on my wall. It was an accident"

"An accident?"

"Uuhuuh"

Off we troop to see this "accident":

The darker shading is my attempt to wipe it off... it was apparently washable marker.

Washable off of what, exactly?

She also had a bad dream, apparently.

So I graciously tuck her in our bed, tell her we will deal with the accident tomorrow and head off to show Eric the latest.

Eric said that she actually had come into the kitchen first and asked where I was. He asked her what she wanted.

She said "I'm not going to tell you." and headed off to find me.

He didn't pursue it.

He was watching the Giants game.

(through his brother Michael's sling box.... not sure if I should thank you Michael or put curses by your name)

Eric wasn't sure if we should be more upset that she drew on her walls, that she was fooling around an hour after she was supposed to be sleeping, or that she spelled her name wrong....

latitude

If you know me, you know I am "into" our location on our fine, fine planet.

I comment (or complain?) a lot about our elevation, and I think it is pretty cool that we are pretty much on the equator (ie: ecuador). The name of our newsletter is based on our location: Latitude 0.1

So it is kinda fitting that I make something to commemorate where we live.

I actually made it about two months ago, but have spent two months looking for pillow stuffing (fiber fill.... whatever you want to call it).

Can't find it.

Anywhere.

So, I bought a pillow - a bed pillow - and tore it apart.

Now I have plenty of stuffing.

My dear friend, Julie, turned me on to these fun letter stamps (the kit comes with fabric paint). I just mixed up an orange and stamped away. The fabric is left over from our sofa cover. We no longer needed our slip cover for our sofa but needed one for a sofa chair. After I altered it for the chair I had fabric left over.

And it is soft even.

Small thing thrill me.

If you go to google earth, you could put in these coordinates and you would wind up right on our house.