Love this Granola

My friend Courtney shared this recipe for home made granola and my family and I can not get enough! We put it in milk or yogurt or eat it by the handfulls...I love that they love it and that it is all natural,I can feel good about what they are eating..It makes enough to last about a week in our house..

Granola
12 cups uncooked oats
1 cup shredded coconut
1 cup whole wheat flour
1/2 cup powdered milk
1 Tbsp cinnamon
1 1/2 tsp salt
1 cup olive oil
1 1/2 cup honey
1 Tbsp vanilla
When cool you may add 2 cup raisins and 2 cups nuts

1. Mix all
2. Spread thin onto 2-3 cookie sheets
3. Bake in 300 degree oven for 45-50 minutes
4. Stir every 15 minute

A sweet dream

This week Garrett has been off from school for Thanksgiving break and it has been very enjoyable having him home all day. He has truly been a pleasure and I have often stood back thinking more than once this week how much I do LOVE having him home all day. School has been a huge blessing for him and he is doing well and he loves going every day and he even commented that he wished he did not have a week off,so that says enough to me. But, I can also tell that he truly LOVES being home with his family. We have been having table conversations about what our favorite thing on Earth is and he is quick to point out that his Family is his favorite and tonight he told me that when he is older and married and has kids that he would live next door to Gary and I then thought about that and changed his mind to him living with us because his kids would just love it here at our house. He often fast forwards to when he is older and married and has kids,kinda funny..Rather than disappoint him by saying that ideally he would need to live in his own house with his family I let him imagine what that would be like and I did my own imagining. My imagination{how sweet to have him and his family right here,me taking care of my grand babies,pushing them on these same swings,picking oranges off these trees,eating meals together,doing life together} then the realization...oh well,it;s fun to dream.The apple does not fall far from the tree..

Happy Thanksgiving to all!

Support your local farmers

I have recently begun shopping at the local Farmer's Market that meets every Wednesday and Saturday and am delighted with the fresh produce every time..

Today was the first time I have taken the boys with me and they were very taken with the beautiful assortment of veggies,fruits,and flowers. I explained to them how important the farmer is and how we should support them rather than the large grocery/surplus store..I wonder if it ever occurred to them that a real farmer planted and cared for all of this? I am glad we had a "lesson" to know better.

Again,support you local farmers!

Brandon and Garrett

This afternoon I was struggling with Garrett going over his flashcards and preparing for a math "test" when I decided to come back to it later after he had time with Gary and his brothers outside. I was dreading it probably as much as he was when he came back inside,but this time Brandon sat down at the table and worked with Garrett and I sat back and observed this sweet interaction between these brothers. Garrett was wide eyed and eager to see and hear what Brandon had to say and they got through it in no time..It was a very proud moment to see Brandon willing to sit with Garrett and offer his time..Brandon has come so far these last few months in so many areas of his life that it is just awesome to witness on a daily basis. Garrett looks up to him and in most pictures you can just see the endearment when he is with his"Bubba". There is not one day that goes by when I do not hear Garrett express his love to Brandon or see him try to cuddle with him. What an awesome bond these guys share!

Daddy in the making

Today Elliott woke up and decided he was going to take care of his "baby". I had given him this baby as a present when Lillian was born and he has played with it every now and then since,but today he really enjoyed that doll..He named her Hailey and he seriously held her with such love and care that it melted my heart every time I saw him. He even took Hailey on a short hike with Daddy and his brothers this morning and put on a diaper for her and a blanket to keep her warm and Hailey sat in his high chair at dinner tonight while he sat in a regular chair and made sure Hailey was OK. You get the picture? He just loved taking care of that doll and I could not be more happy..My baby boy is growing up and starting to think of others. What a wonderful Daddy he will be!