Christmas Cheer & A Brand New Year

It's been just over a month since I last wrote on the blog. I was hoping to get on here sooner but December was just a crazy busy month that I don't think I had much of a chance to sit & blog.

This year I was a bit of a scrooge I suppose. No Christmas tree. No decorations. Well that's not entirely true, I DID put up my decorations only to find one day, while my son was playing nice & quietly, he instead was make a total mess of everything. Tinsel around his neck, throwing the Christmas bulbs everywhere and even attempting to open Christmas presents. I caught him in the act; he sat there and said repeatedly "Malachi, bad boy!". At that moment, I decided to take down everything and try again next year when he's a little older.

Family get-togethers, the church Christmas concert, opening presents with the kids, Christmas Eve brunch with Jay & Lisa, nights of endless laughs with friends, and most importantly celebrating the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ. This is what our December was full of. It was busy & tiring, yet so much fun, I look forward to it every year.

Adam & I also had a great night ringing in the new year with some of our closest friends. Looking back upon the year, we can't believe how many blessings the Lord has given unto us again. We are thankful for all the work the Lord continues to give unto Adam & the guys to provide for their families, for good health & prosperity, for giving Malachi 1 year of life & celebrating that life with family & friends, for the birth of our baby girl Olivia, and the list goes on & on. It's been such an amazing year - each one gets better & better. Thankful for my beautiful little family, and I am so excited to see what God has in store for us in 2012.

From our family to yours, we hope you had a wonderful Christmas & we wish you all the Lord's blessings throughout another year.

Love us Linde's. - Adam, Jenn, Malachi & Olivia. xo

Another Year Is Dawning

Lyrics ~ Frances R. Havergal, 1836 -1879
Music ~ Samule S. Wesley, 1810 - 1876

 

Another year is dawning!

Dear Father, let it be,

In working or in waiting,

Another year with Thee;

Another year of leaning

Upon Thy loving breast;

Another year of trusting,

Of quiet, happy rest;

 

Another year of mercies,

Of faithfulness and grace;

Another year of gladness

In the shining of Thy face;

Another year of progress,

Another year of praise;

Another year of proving

Thy presence all the days;

 

Another year of service,

Of witness for Thy love;

Another year of training

For holier work above.

Another year is dawning!

Dear Father, let it be

On earth, or else in heaven,

Another year for Thee.

Olivia - 3 Months Already!

Life is flying by way too fast. We can't believe our baby girl is 3 (almost 4) months already. Feels like just yesterday the midwives placed her into my arms, declaring in excitment that we have a healthy baby girl! I've attached a couple of pictures of Olivia below.

 

Adam & I are so thankful for the blessings of our children, and although at times its quite busy & hectic with 2 so close in age, we wouldn't have it any other way. I love being a mom & a wife. I can say with great joy that life.is.good.

I delight to do thy will, O Lord, for I know Thy will for me is supreme good in my present and in my future.  - Psalms 40:8

The Imagination of a 1.5 Year Old

Children are hardwired to be imaginitive. I know this first hand from all my young cousins that I've watched make forts, play house, wear towels around their neck & "fly" just like Superman , have tea parties with a princess & the queen, and the list goes on & on.

I always wondered when Malachi would start to play nicely on his own without being entertained & develope these imagination skills for himself; apparently that time is starting now. Although not saying alot of words, Malachi is starting to talk more & more, and I am beginning to understand more all the time his make believe world. Sometimes I like to just sit & watch him, still other times I find its even better to join in! We, as parents have a big impact on our children's imaginations. I find with each stage of his imagination developing, taking part in his games & listening to him helps me to understand what he's thinking too. If Malachi wants me to do something or he wants something, he already knows how to let me know, without even neccessarily saying real words.

A typical day consists of him bringing me a big blanket in hopes that I will make a fort for him so he can "read" his books in it & telling me about the pictures, driving his cars & tractors on his car mat while of coarse making all the appropriate vehicle noises, "making me food in his play kitchen" then proceeding to give it to me, saying "Mmmmm...", dancing & singing the ABC's or Twinkle Twinkle Little Start, "fixing" things in the house with his tools, playing dress up and even set up his animals at his little table to yes have a tea party! (Daddy's real proud of that one!). He also loves to do crafts already. Given I have to help him quite a bit. I just find the more I show him, the more he wants to do. Not only that, our children watch us so closely and mimick all the things we do. Which is probably why he is giving me pretend food on a plate all day and then trying to put them in my dishwasher when he's done with them, or constantly "dusting" everything for me with a cloth. :)


All the time I've spent (and will continue to spend) reading books, sharing stories, relishing in his artwork, encouraging pretend play, making music and especially limiting his t.v. time has paid off. Malachi is showing imatative play by what he sees me and others do and I know we will see it continuing to flourish as he gets older. As parents we need to hit the pause button once & awhile & play with our children. So next time your child wants you to engage in his games or make believe, put aside what your doing & stop worrying about the things that aren't getting done, relish in the fun and watch your child's imagination grow. That's what I've found myself doing lately, and at the end of the day as I say my prayers, I thank the Lord for this wonderful gift of life he's given unto us. I feel blessed to be able to watch him grow & learn each & every new day.

Dutch Apple Pie

This time of the year is perfect for making applesauce & apple pies, which is exactly what I've been up to lately. Baking, baking and more baking! Especially pies. Our family loves to curl up on the couch on a cold day with a cup of tea or coffee and a divine piece of warm home made apple pie. I make the usual pie crusts with the crumble on top, but this year I decided to make a few extra pies for a treat every now & then. It's apple pie, with a bit of a twist! I've brought it to the last few functions we've gone to and it's been a big hit. If you feel like changing up your normal apple pie recipe, try this! So yummy. Dutch Apple Pie.

Ingriedients:

1 ready-to-use refrigerated pie crust (1/2 of 400-g pkg.)

1 pkg. (250 g) Philadelphia Brick Cream Cheese, softened

1/2 cup granulated sugar, divided

1 egg

1/2 tsp. vanilla

1/2 cup plus 2 Tbsp. flour, divided

1 tsp. ground cinnamon

4 Gala apples, peeled, thinly sliced

1/2 cup packed brown sugar

1/2 cup large flake rolled oats

1/2 cup cold butter, cut up

 

Make It:

HEAT oven to 375ºF.
LINE 9-inch pie plate with crust. Beat cream cheese and 1/4 cup granulated sugar with mixer until well blended. Add egg and vanilla; mix well. Spread onto bottom of crust.
MIX remaining granulated sugar, 2 Tbsp. flour and cinnamon. Add to apples in large bowl; toss to coat. Spoon over cream cheese layer. Mix remaining flour, brown sugar and oats in medium bowl. Cut in butter with pastry blender or 2 knives until mixture resembles coarse crumbs; sprinkle over apple mixture. Cover.
BAKE in bottom third of oven 50 min. or until apples are tender, uncovering after 20 min.

Photo Card

Sparkling Snowflakes Christmas

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Our Little Monkeys

A week ago today was Halloween. Malachi was dancing around the house in his costume all excited to go out. Olivia, well she was lying in the playpen in her costume probably wondering what on earth was going on & why she was wearing this ridiculous thing with floppy ears that kept falling in her face. Malachi was a giraffe, Olivia a little lamb...probably the cutest giraffe & lamb you'll ever see. Although I am biased since I'm their mother, so I'll let you judge for yourself from the pictures below!

Adam & I let the kids dress up for the fun & take them to good old Smithville to visit Opa & Oma Linde, Uncle Jay & Aunt Lisa, and Uncle Ryan & Aunt Kathleen's place to show off their fun costumes. That's really all they need at this young age. Its innocent, it's fun and we've decided to make this a yearly tradition. Malachi was super hyped up on candy (I've never seen a kid so spoiled by his grandparents, aunts and uncles!) and was he lovin' every minute of it! Here's some great shots I got of them.