It's a Notre Dame football afternoon…
Nov 1st, 2008 by ECM
We decided to do Halloween this year. Last year Tommy dressed up as a hot dog at Bible study, but this year we realized that it is a big deal in our neighborhood, and since our neighbor Juliet was going out, we needed to, too. Here are Tommy and Juliet a few minutes before the trick or treating started…notice the skeptical look on Juliet’s face while Tommy sprays her…
And here is Tommy, actually going out after Daddy got home…
We have never had a Halloween like this–when we’d had 45 kids before 6 pm, we realized we would need to go out and restock. (Juliet’s mom, Katie, told me they went through 19 bags their first year here, and I really should have paid attention.) I resorted to the contents of Tommy’s pumpkin while Derek raced to the grocery store for more, and by 8 pm, we’d given out 11 bags of fun size and 25 full size candy bars. And pretty much all of Tommy’s candy (since he couldn’t eat it, anyway). My favorite costumes were the O’Conner family–Grace was a diner waitress, and her little brothers dressed up as a hamburger, hotdog, and fries. Little Liam (the fries) was so cute that I had to give him two milky ways. I now know what we’re going to do when we have that many kids. =)
The best part–after dinner, Tommy wanted to hand out the “trick or treats” to the kids. We’re glad he’s willing to share candy!
our little reader
Oct 30th, 2008 by ECM
things I want to remember
Oct 29th, 2008 by ECM
Lemon-Lime Squares
Oct 28th, 2008 by ECM
I haven’t done a recipe in forever, so here’s what I made for dessert last night. I know, fruity desserts seem to belong to summer, but the local hispanic grocery store had limes on sale 10/$1, so I couldn’t resist. This recipe comes from the Beat This! Cookbook, one of my very favorites, given to me by Clare a couple years ago…
Lemon Squares 
First, start with limes. You can still call these lemon squares, of course. No one will put you in jail. People will just wonder why your lemon squares are so much more interesting than theirs…
Crust
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup (1 stick) chilled unsalted butter, cut into 1/2-in slices
- 2 Tbsp sugar
- 1-2 Tbsp almond paste
- 2 tsp grated lime rind
- pinch of salt
Filling
- 1 cup sugar, stirred together with 1 Tbsp plus 1 tsp cornstarch
- 1/2 cup fresh-squeezed lime juice (3-4 limes)
- 2 large eggs
- 1 Tbsp grated lime rind
- 1/2 tsp baking powder
powdered confectioner’s sugar for dusting on top
Crust: Preheat the oven to 375. Butter an 8-in-square baking pan.
Place all the crust ingredients into the bowl of a food processor. Process until the mixture just begins to form a ball. Then pat the mixtuer into the greased pan and bake for 15-20 minutes, or until it is a pale golden all over. Turn the oven down to 350.
Filling: Wipe out the food processor with a paper towel and place all the filling ingredients into the bowl. Process until very smooth, about 1 minute. Pour into the partially baked crust and bake for 20 minutes.
Cool, then chill well. Cover with a light dusting of confectioner’s sugar and cut into squares. Serve them cold. (My mother-in-law once tried to keep herself from eating some lemon squares she wanted to save. She wrapped them up and put them into the freezer. Then she discovered how much better lemon squares taste when they’re frozen.)
Makes 16.
A couple notes–these are tart, so they were not a hit with my in-laws this summer…Dad M is allergic to almonds (so I had to make him a separate crust without the almond paste), and Mom M prefers bland Italian desserts made of milk, eggs, and flour. But they are a hit with us, especially when we’re craving something tart and especially when they’re frozen! I promised Hannah I’d save her some for when she comes over to do Greek next week, so I’ll have to hide them in my freezer to make them last, even though I made a double batch!
The Smiths come to town!
Oct 25th, 2008 by ECM
Last night the Smiths stopped by on their way home from a wedding. It was soooo good to see our dear friends again! The boys had a blast playing together last night and this morning.
Well, Tommy’s Right lower first molar has been bugging us for days, and tonight it finally popped through! I got (screaming) Tommy out of bed and had Derek take a picture of the momentous occasion (it was pitch black with just the flash, hence his closed eyes). Hopefully the screaming at our place will be decreasing with this new development…
Crisis Averted!
Oct 23rd, 2008 by ECM
We had a close call tonight–Clarence the Giraffe (aka Dee) was MIA at bedtime! After an extensive house search, punctuated by Tommy’s screams of despair, I found the critter hiding under a pile of clothes. The clothes that Tommy didn’t wear today because we stayed in our pj’s all day because Mommy was feeling particularly ill. Tommy and Clarence (and Digits the Monkey) have all been reunited in the crib, and the nursery is silent except for the strains of “Sleep Sound in Jesus” which usually just lasts for 45 minutes but accidentally got put on repeat last night for 11 straight hours (I should know, because I didn’t sleep last night and heard Michael Card crooning whenever the heat turned off).
Moral of the Story: Even if Mommy is feeling awful from a night of insomnia and a rebellious tummy, little dudes should get dressed and not stay in their sleepers all day long.
The Pursuit of God
Oct 22nd, 2008 by ECM
A.W. Tozer’s The Pursuit of God is one of those books that I need to be constantly rereading–for conviction and inspiration. Here’s one of my favorite prayers (at the end of ch. 1):
O God, I have tasted Thy goodness, and it has both satisfied me and made me thirsty for more. I am painfully conscious of my need of further grace. I am ashamed of my lack of desire. O God, the Triune God, I want to want Thee; I long to be filled with longing; I thirst to be made more thirsty still. Show me Thy glory, I pray Thee, that I may know Thee indeed. Begin in mercy a new work of love within me. Say to my soul, “Rise up, my love, my fair one, and come away.” Then give me grace to rise and follow Thee up from this misty lowland where I have wandered so long. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Operation Appreciation, Part Two
Oct 21st, 2008 by ECM
Okay, it’s been a lot longer than I promised for my follow-up to my first post on appreciating my husband. Somehow morning sickness got in the way of my great intentions… But I’ve been inspired to start thinking seriously about this again.