Sewer Line....

We have been having problems with our sewer line since we moved into this house in June 2012.  It was time to take care of the problem because it was getting clogged a lot.  It's no fun when you can't use water in your house.  The dishes and clothes pile up.

Maple Oat Nut Scone....

From Pioneer Women's Cookbook

Ingredients

•  SCONES
• 2-3/4 cups All-purpose Flour
• 1/2 cup Regular Oats, Ground In A Food Processor Or Blender
• 1/3 cup Sugar
• 2 Tablespoons Baking Powder
• 1/4 teaspoon Salt
• 2 sticks (1 Cup) Cold Butter, Cut Into Cubes
• 1/2 cup Pecans, Finely Chopped
• 3/4 cups Heavy Cream (more If Needed)
• 1 whole Egg
• 1 teaspoon Maple Extract
•  Icing
• 5 cups Powdered Sugar
• 1/4 cup Whole Milk
• 2 Tablespoons Melted Butter
• 2 Tablespoons Strong Coffee
• 2 teaspoons Maple Extract

Preparation Instructions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

In a large bowl, combine flour, ground oats, sugar, baking powder, and salt. Stir to combine.
Add butter pieces and use a pastry cutter to work the butter and dry ingredients together until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Stir in the chopped pecans.

Whisk together the cream, egg, and 1 teaspoon maple extract. Pour into flour mixture, stirring gently, until it all comes together. (Mixture will not come together in one cohesive ball; it should be in a few large clumps with some crumbs in the bowl.) If it is overly crumbly and will not come together at all, add a couple of tablespoons of extra cream and work it in.

Turn the dough out onto a cutting board or floured surface and use your hands to press into a 6-to-8-inch circle about 3/4 inch thick. Cut into 8 equal wedges (or you can cut into smaller wedges to get more.) Transfer to a baking sheet lined with a baking mat or parchment and bake for 20-24 minutes, or until poufy and set and just barely golden. (Shouldn't have much color on them at all.) Remove from the oven and allow to cool completely.

Combine all the icing ingredients. Make sure it's thick but still pourable. Drizzle a very generous amount on each one, then sprinkle on a few more chopped pecans. Allow the icing to set completely, then serve.

(Scones will keep nice and fresh for days in a plastic zipper bag.)

Making applesauce 
I was able to borrow this kitchen Aid Mixer and use the fruit strainer attachment.  It works like a dream. I am now hooked and really want a Kitchen Aid Mixer. We used it to mix up meat balls earlier this week and Anna and I thought it was the best. Thanks Grandma Kara Kostman for letting us borrow it. I think when I am done canning today I will have 20 quarts of applesauce:)

The Kids Loving There Dogs.....

We just love your beagles.  We are a dog loving family and the kids fight or are sad if they don't sleep with them.  The dogs also always fine the blankets to snuggle on.  These are pictures that the kids too of one another.  Practicing there picture taking skills:)

Canning Tomatoes.....
This year my garden has been booming with lots of tomatoes.  I have been picking and picking and canning a lot.  Noah like to help me pick tomatoes.  I am so glad he like to help because I need the help.

 

Hershey Fall Festival

 This past weekend was Hershey Fall Festival.  Here are the kids sitting and waiting for the parade to start.  It was a cool morning, which was nice.  Grandpa Ray got his John Deere tractor all shined up and hooked the trailer up for us to ride on. 

 Doesn't this kid look great in his hat.  Also the kids all had their cowboy boots on and spurs. 

 Hanging out with Grandpa and Grandma Kostman.  Waiting for the parade to start.

Art Work....
Anna loves to spend time painting.  She uses Youtube in learning how to watercolor.  She is learning so much and loves to create.  Take notice of the saran wrap on the computer screen.  She does try to keep her mess under control. 

Awana's 2013-2014

The kids had a great Awana year.  They all worked really hard and finished their books and then got their awards.  My kids have enjoyed going to Awana's since they were little.  It's great because they have memorized so many Bible verses.  It's also been great to me as the mom who has also had to memorize all the Bible verses with them.  It's also great seeing them work with each other and helping.  Noah loves to listen to is Awana CD at bed time. 

Crane Class....

Last month all my kids went to the Nebraska Art Museum in Kearney.  They were offering a class about Crane's and my kids learned about the artist John James Audubon, created whimsical crane paintings with artist educator Susan Hart, and heard about the biology of the crane with wildlife biologist Laurel Badura.  My kids had a great time and mommy enjoyed it too.
 

Tea Party Time....

Anna took time to cut up pickles, make mini fruit roll ups and set up this little time for her and her dad.  It was like a daddy date time, but the kind were you don't have to leave the house.  She had so much fun getting out her little tea set and spending time making everything just perfect.

Yesterday the weather was in the upper 70's and today its snowing outside.  This Nebraska weather changes so quickly.  We are also headed out today to enjoy swimming at the Rec. Center before our pass ends. 

 His Power in Our Weakness

But He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness."

Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me.

That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties.
For when I am weak, then I am strong.
2 Corinthians 12:9-10

Noah & Ruby....

Noah takes all the chances he can to snuggle up to his Ruby. 

Giddy Up...

Anna had fun giving me a few different poses on this pony.  She only wishes she had one of her own.

Anna's New Outfit!!!!

Anna went shopping with her Aunt & cousin and brought home this cute new outfit. Thanks so much Jill Roblyer Kostman & Jessamyn Kostman. Everything fit and she looks so cute.

God's Solution for Life's Problems

Look through the problem, not at the problem. Problems are the opportunities for God to show His power. The bigger the problem, the greater the revelation of God.

Surrender every negative to God's eternal power. Set your heart, no matter what, to walk in the grace of God's solution. God is patient with us. He is right even when we are puzzled. Rest assured that in the end, we will find Him faithful and good.

Let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith. Hebrews 12:1-2

 Devotional excerpt by Don Leetch, DaySpring Co-Founder.

Magic Show......

Gabe and Anna had a fun time getting ready for their magic show.  Gabe is especially interested in magic and card tricks.  He has a birthday coming up in May and he has asked for magic items.  He had a chance to watch some magic shows last summer, which I think sparked his interest.  It's fun to watch them put so much work into getting ready for the show.

 Gabe wearing his magic hat, which adds to the show.

Will Anna escape after being tied up?

I love this picture and I had to share it with you all!

Baby Lambs......
We had the opportunity to go out to a friends house this past weekend and see the baby lambs.  It was really cold, but inside the barn it was warm enough.  The kids loved holding them and having a chance to see the lamb weighed.  

 They also had a lot of kittens to hold if they let you.  A few were friendly, but some were not so friendly. 

It was a lovely day spending time with friends.  Thanks Erin for letting us coming out and visit the farm.  

Soccer......
All the kids played soccer at the Rec. Center.  They play for six Saturdays in a row.  It's fun for them and gives them some good exercise.  They also get to play with friends...

Kearney Children's Museum....
Yesterday we went to Kearney to have a family fun day.  When we are there we have to shop at Target, Old Navy, & Hobby Lobby.  The kids had a blast playing at the children's museum. 

It was a fun time, but they were exhausted on the way home.

Sick....
Last week Gabe got sick Monday afternoon.  I'm glad it didn't hit till the afternoon because we were able to get a good day of learning in.  Then by Wednesday evening I got sick and spent the night puking.  It's one of those flu's that no one wants to get.  On Thursday and Friday I still didn't feel good, but by Saturday I felt better.

Anna had Awana Quiz on Saturday.  This was her first year and it went well.  She really didn't know what to expect.  She took a written quiz and then they did an oral quiz, which she liked the best.  The kids sit in rows and had cards that they were hold up depending on what they thought the answer was.  They are quizzed over Bible verses and other Bible questions from their books that they are working on.  Then her leaders took them out for pizza afterwards.  After eating we had to get home to get the boys because they had to play soccer at the Rec. Center.  All my kids have a fun time playing soccer and they play for an hour, which also tires them out.

So that is last week in a nut shell... 

Finally Some Snow......
The kids and I are so glad to have some pretty snow.  It's not a lot, but it's better then looking at dead lawn and they have something to play in.  We have gone sledding a couple of times, but hopefully we will have some more days of sledding fun. 

 They are getting some shoveling done between all the playing & fun.

Room Rearranged.....
I was needed to clean and move some things around in the school room.  I moved the table and we now have a new space created by Noah's desk.  It's a perfect place to have our Bible reading and read aloud time in the morning.  I also have this comfortable chair next to Noah's desk, so I can help him in comfort.  I also love my tired stand in the corner that holds our games.

Gabe asked, "Mom can we leave it like this for at least ten minutes?"  He knows me too well!

Real Love

God showed how much He loved us by sending His one and only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through Him.

This is real love - not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins.

Dear friends, since God loved us that much, we surely ought to love each other.

No one has ever seen God. But if we love each other, God lives in us, and His love is brought to full expression in us.

1 John 4:9-12

Curly Tops...

Anna had a good reason to have me put rollers in her hair.  She loves to have me do it, but I don't like to because it's so much work.  Her hair curls so well that the curls are right up to her hair.  It's fun for a day, but the next day it's kind of hard to know what to do with them. 

 Posing for the camera.....