Fall Decor and Desserts

I took advantage of the freezing cold weather we had last week and decorated for fall.  I actually had an ulterior motive though, I was having the annual Homeschool Mom's Fall Kick Off Dessert Night at my house.  I like to have this event here, because it forces me to get up my decorations and get the house clean from some summer neglect.

For the dessert night, I made a few Trim Healthy Mama desserts, but I wasn't entirely in love with any of them.  I also made Pumpkin Cream Cheese muffins (very similar to Tim Horton's from a few years ago) with candied pumpkin seeds on top and ginger snap cookies.  These are both my favorite, so I enjoyed them for breakfast the next morning.

You can find the recipe for the muffins here.  I changed it a bit and added the candied pumpkin seeds on top. To make these, I mixed 1 beaten egg white with 3 Tbsp sugar and 1/2c raw pumpkin seeds. I spread it out on a parchment paper lined cookie sheet.  Then baked them at 350 for about 15 minutes, stirring once. Then let them cool completely and they will be able to be broken apart.

Here are just a few pictures of our fall decorations.

I love the picture Rebekah painted up on the wall of the coffee pot that is on the fireplace when she was 8 or 9.

God bless!

And it Kept Coming

When I posted the picture of snow this morning, I thought it would quit soon enough. BUT, it didn't. It just snowed more and more and heavier.  Our power even went out for an hour and a half! We did manage to have our first day of school today and that went well.  We started with a new bible program and we are going to drill our times tables and how to tell time on a clock.  These are things I guess we've missed in our math curriculum. So I am taking time to do it now before we start with Teaching Textbooks for the year.

Here are some more pictures from our day.

Jacob copying his times tables.

That's my garden in the background:(

Seriously?

 

 

This morning at our place.

My basement is full of about 30 lbs of green tomatoes:)

Trim Healthy Mama Update Pictures

This is not exactly an official before and after post of my weight loss on Trim Healthy Mama, but I think you can tell the difference between these pictures and I'm kind of excited.

This first one is from last September. It is of me and my brother Graham.  I'm afraid to say, I even gained more weight after this before I started on Trim Healthy Mama.

This one is from my last post of me and Graham taken Sept. 1 2014 in front of the same window.  I am 4 pounds from my goal weight and down about 40 lbs from the other picture.

 

I didn't start on THM until November 21, 2013 and I am down 46 lbs!  I'm not really sure if I will stop in 4 lbs, because I want to make sure this size of clothing is comfortable. So, I may try losing a couple more, but we'll see.  The only thing I'd like to say about THM right now is how easy it seemed to be.  On Weight Watchers the weight came off OK, but for some reason I find this way makes more sense or something. But, I think to true test will come after I get to my goal and to see if I can stay at the same weight.

 

 

A Family Trip

We have just returned from a trip out west to the BC coast to see our families.  We had such a wonderful time and were able to see so many from our family.

We had a dinner where my mom, all 3 of my brothers, my sister, niece, my dad and his girlfriend, my in laws and step mom (I know, my family sounds complicated) were all there.  It was such a blast!

We were able to see my brother on his birthday and Larry's mom on her birthday. 

Here are some pictures;

Me and my Dad.

 

 

Rebekah holding my niece's ferret

 

Me and my brother, Graham

This is my brother, Jeremy and me and Graham.

Rebekah and Ben jamming.  Rebekah's eyes lit up when she saw all the instruments my brothers have.

This is my family with Larry's parents.

Here are most of the family over for supper.  My brother, Josh, my sister, Jenn and my niece, Aesha are in the front row. My mom and Dad's girlfriend are next to me.

This is our view from the breakfast room in our hotel this morning.