Deceptively Delicious Beef Stroganoff

Deceptively Delicious Beef Stroganoff, originally uploaded by Jenniferschwalm.

I've recently become interested in the concept of hiding vegetables in regular meals due to the fact Maggie May refuses to eat veggies. I got the book "Deceptively Delicious" from the library and used the tips to make this beef stroganoff. I pureed a half a head of cauliflower and added it to the sauce. No one even knew!

Just thought I'd post some links to websites that have used my photos for illustrations.  Pretty cool - for me at least.

http://www.the-essential-infant-resource-for-moms.com/Infant-Easter-Dresses.html

http://www.frugal-living-tips.com/wedding-catering.html  (my photo is the long banquet table of fruits and vegetables).

I am really enjoying photography even if it hasn't turned into the lucrative career I thought . . . ha ha ha.  Maybe when I have more time to devote to it, but for now, it is a wonderful hobby, a way to make some extra money, and a way to take pictures for friends who want them done at a reasonable price.  And as a bonus, sometimes, people contact me about using my photos in their work.  Pretty cool!

Will is a skunk

Will is a skunk, originally uploaded by Jenniferschwalm.

Halloween at the Clearview Mall

Last night was trick or treat at the local mall.  The children got all dressed up - Walker wanted to be a cowboy and I have to say he really fit the part.  All muscle and wranglers - his chaps and vest were adorable and very affordable. He even thought to bring his stick horse to complete the outfit.  Maggie wanted to be a princess but chose a fairy costume.  We just said she was a princess.  I bought Will his skunk costume last year on clearance and he looked so adorable.  When he would crawl around the ground he really looked like a skunk.  A sweet smelling one at that!

Maggie in a fairy costume saying she's a princess!

Maggie in a fairy costume saying she's a princess!, originally uploaded by Jenniferschwalm.

Cowboy and his horse

Cowboy and his horse, originally uploaded by Jenniferschwalm.

Will always has his ankles crossed

Will always has his ankles crossed, originally uploaded by Jenniferschwalm.

Little Willie's feet. I love those baby toes.

Morning ritual

Morning ritual, originally uploaded by Jenniferschwalm.

This is how my children start each morning - well, except for Will - he was "planted" in this photo and was sitting still only because the "Hot Diggedy Dog" song was on and he loves that song. However, Maggie & Walker LOVE Disney in the morning - and since I am not a morning person, I love it too. I let them watch a show while I get clothes gathered up, beds made and myself ready.

Makeshift corral for Dolly Madison

Makeshift corral for Dolly Madison, originally uploaded by Jenniferschwalm.

My kids are nothing if not creative. This is the corral Walker created to keep Dolly Madison on the chair. Is this kitten not the cutest thing you've ever seen? Besides my children of course . . .

The cousins

The cousins, originally uploaded by Jenniferschwalm.

This is gang in the adorable t-shirts Aunt Julia made. Do they look tired?

Baby books

So I'm cleaning up my desk (ha) and went through the kids baby books.  Here's the rundown of my kids and their dad at age 1:

                          Erik            Walker            Maggie          Will

Height              30 1/8"       30"                 29 2/8"           30"

Weight           19 lb 11 oz     19 lb 6 oz       19 lb 8 oz        19lb 4oz.

Isn't it crazy how similar in size they all were???  Mom, you're going to have to look up my baby stuff!

Hot diggidy dog!

We had such a lazy weekend.  Saturday, we woke up to cold and rain, so we just putted around the house.  The children played so well - Erik & I did what we wanted to do - I made bows for Maggie and read a book - Erik explored the internet.  The kids were so good!  Around 2, Taylor & Chet came over and stayed with us for a while.  Aunt Julia made the kids cool tie-dyed halloween tee shirts - which they all sported for a while.  After supper, we took the kids spotting deer.  Yes, we are a true red-neck family!  It was funny to hear them saying they saw deer that weren't there and they all took turns holding the binoculars to "look for more deers."  

Sunday, Erik took us to Living Treasures animal park where we were able to feed some llamas, ponies, etc., and also were up close and personal with Lions.  They were separated from us by only a what seemed to be mighty thin piece of plexiglass.  The children loved feeding the animals and Maggie thought the mini deer were so cute.  Will squealed with delight at every exhibit and loved having his fingers nibbled on.  (Yes, we all washed our hands extra good at the provided wash stations).  

After the animal park, we headed further north to feed the carp at Lake Pymatuning.  We had read that feeding the fish was prohibited so we didn't take any stale bread - but people were there still feeding.  A very nice man offered Walker and Maggie some slices and Walker threw pieces up in the air and the gulls would swoop down to catch them.  Maggie just threw her bread in to the duckies.  Those carp are so gross!  There was one that had to be 3 feet long and its mouth was like 6 inches in diameter.  So gross!

All in all a very nice weekend.  As we were driving home, we went through an area that Walker recognized as a place he had gone with Erik and his Uncle Travis to learn to castrate pigs.  Erik referred to the place as "where we went to learn to cut pigs."  And Walker corrected him and said, "No dad, it's where we cas-ter-ated pigs."  How does such a little guy remember such big words.  Also on the way home, we listened to the Mickey Mouse clubhouse closing song "Hot Dog"and Will actually started to sing along - he sang "hot dog" and bobbed his head with the music.  Say what you want, believe me or not, but I swear the boy was singing.  

Will actually talks a lot - he just points and talks.  It is a lot of fun to try to decipher what he is saying.  he says dog, cat, goat, bro(ther).  It is so much fun to watch him grow.  He has definitely turned into a toddler now.  He is choosing to walk more often than crawl and is toddling around like a champ.

Maggie continues to torture Dolly Madison.  Poor cat is being carried around like a doll.  And then Will chases them both.  It annoys Maggie to no end.

Walker really wants to be the boss of everyone now.  He tells us all what to do and has become very literal with his interpretations of what people say to him.  If I say, "Get out of town," he has to think it over to see if I really mean it.  He has grown so much and is so handsome.  I was looking through pictures a few days ago and since March he has thinned out.  If that is even possible for a kid that is skinny to begin with.

Tomorrow we do trick or treat at the local mall.  Check back for pictures!

Will at the pumpkin patch

Will at the pumpkin patch, originally uploaded by Jenniferschwalm.

William James Schwalm
One year old                    Birth
19 pounds 4 ounces        8 pounds 9 oz
30 inches long                 20 1/4 inches
head circumference        45 cm 34.6 cm

More pictures

Don't forget . . . to see more pictures of our family, visit www.flickr.com/photos/jenniferschwalm

There are links to the site on the left of this page!

Enjoy the fall!

Will's baptism

Will's baptism, originally uploaded by Jenniferschwalm.

The whole family helps with Will's baptism. Walker held the water and then helped pour it into the baptismal bowl, Maggie stood there and looked pretty. Will did well. When Pastor Toby put the water on his head he squealed and looked at him like,"Hey, mister - I already took a shower today. What are you doing pouring this water on my head??" He was very puzzled by the whole ceremony, but didn't cry.

What birthday cake?

, originally uploaded by Jenniferschwalm.

Will devoured his birthday cake. He's got his dad's sweet tooth. ha ha ha

Hayride

Hayride, originally uploaded by Jenniferschwalm.

Some of our guests on the hayride to the pumpkin patch.

William James

William James, originally uploaded by Jenniferschwalm.

We tried and we tried but we couldn't contain him in the back pack a minute more. We let him on the sand and he loved it. He explored the textures of stuff on the beach and never once went towards the water. He had a blast and was such a cutie. Don't ask how he got that mean scratch on his face. He wasn't awake 20 minutes and all of a sudden someone says, "What happened to Will?" He never fussed or cried but had this giant red scratch on his cheek. Poor guy. Add that to the red spots next to his mouth . . . the downfall of having alabaster skin!

The race is on

, originally uploaded by Jenniferschwalm.

As per tradition during our Columbus day trip to Mayville, we headed to Dunkirk, NY and hit the beach on Lake Erie. Traditionally, we search the rocky shoreline for unique stones and tumbled lake glass. Chet and Maggie entertained themselves for a bit with a game of chase. It was such a warm and beautiful day that the children were allowed to take off their pants so they could put their feet in the water. Plus, I forgot to bring a change of clothes, so if they got their pants wet, they were done for! it was a really fun day.

Dolly Madison Schwalm

Dolly Madison Schwalm, originally uploaded by Jenniferschwalm.

Meet the newest addition to our family, Dolly Madison Schwalm. Erik was working at a therapeutic horse center yesterday and discovered this extremely friendly and docile kitten. He claims he brought her home to be a mouser for the barn, but I have a feeling she's a pet. I predict seeing Dolly in a baby carriage being pushed around by Miss Maggie. Maggie has already claimed that "Me is her mommy" so this kitten has no hope. She really is the most adorable thing - all puffy and furry. Her fur is so long you can barely see her legs so she looks like a midget kitten running around.