Christmas

We spent the entire month of December getting ready for Christmas. We got our tree the first weekend of the month and started baking and decorating.

We did LOTS of baking: 1 batch each of pumpkin chocolate chip cookies, cut out sugar cookies, spritz, and Anne's sugar cookies; 2 batches each of shortbread jam cookies, peppermint mocha cookies and pumpkin bread.

The gingerbread house we decorated

Hannah had a hard time understanding how long it was until Christmas, so we made a paper chain to count down. So helpful!

A new tradition we started last year was doing a Jesse tree. There is a book we read each day of December until Christmas and an ornament to hang on the "tree" each day too. Each story is a from the Bible, tracing the lineage of Jesus back to Adam. This is the book we use: The Jesse Tree by Geraldine McCaughrean

Hannah's preschool Christmas Program. She is on the top row, third from the right in the red sweater

Our beautiful stockings, all made by my mom. She rushed and got Caleb's done just in time!

Hannah got her very own doll house made by her Big Mimi (great grandmother). It truly is a work of art

Christmas Morning!

Chris got Caleb his first football

Nono and Nona spent Christmas day with us. Nona's present was snuggling with this little guy

We finished off the evening with a delicious dinner with my Mimi, Papa, and in-laws. The living room didn't look too bad by the end of the night (notice Caleb is sleeping on Nona again). Still trying to figure out where to put that doll house.

All Things Pumpkin

For those who know me, you know how much I love cooking and baking. And in the fall I particularly enjoy cooking and baking with pumpkin. I love the flavor, and have accumulated several very good pumpkin-infused recipes. So, I thought I'd share them here in case there are any other pumpkin enthusiasts.

First up: How to Cook Pumpkin
Use a sugar pumpkin, they are best for cooking/baking

Break off the pumpkin stem. Cut the pumpkin in half crosswise and scoop out the seeds and stringy material.
Place the halves, cut sides up, on a foil lined baking sheet. Cover and seal each half with foil. Bake in a preheated 350 degree oven until the flesh is very tender, about 1 1/2 hours.
Cool until able to handle. Scoop out the flesh and puree in a blender or processor.
If the puree is too watery, drain in a colander lined with cheesecloth, folding the cheesecloth over the puree and weighing down with a plate.
Puree will keep up to 5 days in the refrigerator and up to 6 months in the freezer.

Pumpkin Pie

1 1/3 C. pumpkin; cooked & pureed
1 1/3 C. sweetened condensed milk (1 can)
1 egg
1/2 tsp. salt
1 1/4 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp.  nutmeg
1/2 tsp. ginger
1/4 tsp. cloves
1 C. hot water

Beat all ingredients together. Pour into a 9-inch pastry shell. Bake at 375 degrees for 55-65 minutes.

Pumpkin Bread (From Betty Crocker's All-Time Favorites)
2/3 C. shortening
2 2/3 C. sugar (I use 2 C.)
4 eggs
1 can pumpkin
2/3 C. water (if using fresh pumpkin, you may not need as much water)
3 1/3 C. flour
2 tsp. baking soda
1 1/2 tsp. salt
1 1/2 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. cloves (I use a little less, 1/2 - 3/4 tsp.)
(It also calls for 2/3 C. each chopped nuts & raisins, but I leave these out)

Heat oven to 350. Grease 2 loaf pans, 9x5x3. Cream shortening and sugar thoroughly. Mix in eggs, pumpkin and water. Blend in flour, soda, salt, baking powder, cinnamon and cloves. Stir in nuts and raisins (if using). Spread in the pans. Bake 65 to 70 mintues or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean.
*I usually only have to bake the bread for 55-60 minutes, so watch it carefully at the end!

Pumpkin Cookies (from my friend and former neighbor, Erin)
2 1/2 C. flour
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. nutmeg
1/2 C. butter, softened
1 1/2 C. sugar
1 C. pumpkin
1 egg
1 tsp. vanilla
1/2 tsp. salt
3/4 bag chocolate chips

Glaze:
2 C. sifted powdered sugar
2 Tbsp. milk
1 Tbsp. butter, softened

Combine flour, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg & salt in one bowl, set aside. In another bowl, cream together butter and sugar; add pumpkin, egg and vanilla. Beat until light and creamy. Mix in dry ingredients. Stir in chocolate chips

Drop by spoonfuls onto greased cookie sheet. Bake at 350 for approx. 15-20 minutes. Cookies will get slightly golden. Cool completely, then top with glaze.

Pumpkin Spice Cake
1 Package spice cake mix
1 small package instant vanilla pudding
3 eggs
1/2 C. vegetable oil
1/4 C. water
1 can pumpkin
1/2 tsp. cloves
1/2 tsp. nutmeg
1/2 tsp. cinnamon

Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Grease and flour one 8" deep pan or 2- 9" pans. Whisk together the pumpkin, cinnamon, cloves and nutmeg. Set aside. In a large bowl, mix together the cake mix and oil. Beat in the eggs, then fold in the pumpkin mixture. Stir in the vanilla pudding.
Pour batter into prepared pan(s). Bake for 35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes in pans, then on wire racks.

Pumpkin Spice Latte (from Sandy Fuller)
2 Tbsp. canned pumpkin puree
1 tsp. vanilla extract
2 Tbsp. white sugar (I usually use 1 tbsp.)
1 C. milk
1/4 tsp. pumpkin pie spice
1 (1.5 fluid ounce) jigger brewed espresso

Brew your espresso. Meanwhile in a small saucepan whisk together the pumpkin, sugar, vanilla, pumpkin pie spice and milk. Warm over medium heat, whisking constantly, until hot and frothy, Do not bring to a boil. Pour the espresso into a mug and pour the pumpkin pie spiced milk over it.

This last recipe is our new Christmas Eve tradition. Chris was a little skeptical the first time I wanted to make this, but he quickly became a fan. I won't write the whole thing out, because it's a little long, but you can click on the title below to get the recipe from Rachel Ray's website. The recipe calls for cooking a 2 pound pumpkin, which equates to 1 1/3 Cup of puree.

Sausage and Pumpkin Lasagna

6 Months

Well, I can't even keep up for 6 months on the baby updates. We're now closer to Caleb's 7 month birthday, sigh. Here's the boy in all his drooling boy-ness. I have a feeling the first teeth are coming soon. He is still a leaky faucet and chewing on anything in reach. The latest victim was the corner of a drawing for work, luckily I got it out of his hand before he could eat it. The last few days he's been extra cranky too. Thank goodness for teething tablets and Tylenol (it's a last resort, but we have to sleep people). So here's the 6 month stats: Weight: 17 lbs (50th percentile), length: 27" (95th percentile).

We've also ventured into solid foods. So far Caleb has liked everything I've given him. The favorite seems to be sweet potatoes and carrots. My friend Amy also introduced me to a wonderful baby snack: Baby Mum Mum. Caleb loves these and they are great to keep him occupied while I make dinner, eat dinner, or when we're on a trip. But don't be fooled, even though the box says "No Mess," it is rather messy. But totally worth it!

Thanksgiving

Hannah enjoyed the rope swing

We spent Thanksgiving in Soledad this year, with a stop in Cayucos on the way home. It was so fun to have all the Vanoli cousins together. We are blessed.

Caleb and Nona

Hannah, Jenna and Caleb

Handsome Clayton with his Mama

Going for a ride in Nono's Jeep

Caleb met his Auntie Rita for the first time

The girls found Nona's iPad

Sweet Kinley and Caleb

Nono and Nona with all their grandkids

We got to spend a night in Cayucos on the way home with my mom and Mike. He got some good smiles and giggles out of Caleb.

Five.

Hannah Grace...

Loves the Giants, Buster Posey is her favorite player

Loves her friends, and tries to make friends with every kid around

The extrovert of the family

Compassionate

Loves Jesus

Loves her brother, and can always make him smile

Adventerous

Loves legos, dolls, hello kitty, preschool, chocolate

She is such a joy and full of smiles. I can't imagine life without her

Fall Fun

We made our annual trip to the Underwood Farms pumpkin patch this year. It's become a great tradition with the Hawkins Family. The only downer this year was that the day we went it was very hot and we were practically knocked to the ground by the Santa Ana winds. I have never fully adjusted to Southern California fall weather. My ideal trip to the pumpkin patch would involve some kind of hot beverage (coffee, chai, cider, etc.), sweaters, and possibly scarves. Not so much. We came home covered in dust. It was still fun nonetheless.

Ali and Hannah waiting for the pony ride

Can you tell she was excited?

Caleb wasn't really sure what to make of the pumpkins

Cute girl

Over Five and Almost Five

I'm not doing so well at keeping up with my monthly posts on Caleb. He's 5 1/2 months now, close enough, right? So here's what he's up to these days: rolling across the floor, which means a frantic attempt to keep dog hair off his face, more vacuuming for me! He can sit up on his own for little bits at a time, but still tips over because of his heavy noggin. The excessive drool continues, as do the smiles and giggles.

Hannah turns FIVE in two days. I still can't wrap my head around the fact that I have a 5-year-old. Where did time go? I still think of her as my baby girl. She is growing up way too fast. I wish I could keep them small forever.

This photo is from Hannah's birthday party last weekend. She wanted a Rapunzel cake, so I covered the cake in purple fondant with the sun logo in the middle from the movie (Tangled). Then Hannah stuck her figurines all around it.

Fall Travels

At the beginning of the month we took a fabulous trip north to visit a lot of wonderful family. My heart stirs when I travel north. When you're driving up 101 and turn inland after Gaviota, the scenery changes dramatically; you are surrounded by beautiful golden hills dotted with large, old oak trees. Not to mention fewer palm trees, they are totally overused in Southern California landscapes. I absolutely LOVE the central coast. The pace of life is slower and everything just seems more relaxed. And, of course, the farther north we travel the closer we get to family. We got to see all but one of our parents, Hannah and Caleb's cousins on my side, and all but one of my siblings. My brother Jeff, sister-in-law Lauren and niece Emily were out for a visit from Indiana. It's been over a year since we've seen them so a visit was long overdue.

We began our trip with a beautiful sunrise at Nono and Nona's house

Hannah got to feed Nona's cows, and she loved seeing the new calves

Jeff, Megan, David and me. I think the last time we were all together was David's wedding over 2 years ago

My handsome nephew Kolton. Those eyes will melt you

Kolton was very curious about the baby and wanted to touch him

Here's precious Emily. She just turned two and is so fun to be around

This was the best picture we could get of Mom and Mike with all their grandchildren...like herding cats

We got to spend a couple nights with my dad, Grandpa Bud. I think Hannah was looking forward to the teasing

Caleb got to chew on Mimi's hand

And Hannah got to read her new book with Papa

Growing

I can't believe Caleb is already 4 months old. Actually, 4 1/2 now, I'm behind with this post. So what's he up to these days? Still sleeping through the night beautifully (thank you Lord!), naps are still short, he smiles a lot and laughs sometimes. When he tries to laugh, he usually gets the hiccups and then has a hard time getting the giggles out. Caleb is also very vocal, babbling a lot, which also creates a lot of drool since his mouth is open all the time. The poor guy has a rash on his chest under his chin because it's

always wet. I try the best I can to mop 

him up but he's like a leaky faucet.

Caleb likes to sit up in the Bumbo and will try to grab anything that looks like it may be within reach. And once he grabs it, it immediately goes in the mouth (producing more drool). I'm thinking we may need to get an exersaucer soon. Caleb also loves his sister and is always looking for her when he hears her voice. It's fun to watch them interact as he gets more responsive.