Leandra Rocks!!!

Two weeks ago Leandra received her Young Woman's Recognition Award. Her goal was to get it in one year,  which is pretty fast considering it is meant to take up to four years, but she pushed herself and got it in ten months! She is such an amazing daughter. She did it all on her own , I never once asked her to work on it. Although I did benefit from all the service she gave :)

Kyla's 12th birthday

Kyla Anne Snyder

 Ariana helped me make a lemon raspberry cake, with white chocolate frosting.                     

                                     

          Kelton, Preston, Kyla and Leandra all  enjoyed playing in our first real snow storm. We got about 2 feet of snow.

Leandra at her aunt Bethany's house

                               I know I'm her mother but isn't she beautiful!

Leandra's Aunt Bethany is a photographer, she had a chance to visit her this summer and  greatly enjoyed Bethany's talent. My question is when are you coming to my house? I need family pictures taken.

Raw Cookies!

          I have been taking raw cooking classes from a lady named Geniel Fife. She will be 80 years old this month, and is amazing! She teaches classes, sells food, (that she makes) at the farmers market, sells in the local health food store and hosts raw pot lucks, where she teaches a demo. Oh, she also has her own company. Last month I dragged Phillip and Elizabeth with me to the pot luck. When they saw the food they were both ready to go out to eat after the pot luck, by the end, they were full and loved the food. 
          Here is a recipe for one of the dishes that was at the potluck. Cookies that your kids will even eat.


Apple Cookies

2 pounds red apples, cored and peeled
1 cup Agave nectar
1 & 3/4 cups almonds ground in food processor
1 & 1/4 cup raisins
1/4 cup cinnamon

I like to triple this recipe for my family, just don't triple the cinnamon.
In the food processor, slice half the apples with slicing disc. Slice the remaining apples with shredding disc. Place the apples in a mixing bowl. Add the agave, ground almonds, raisins, and cinnamon mix well.
With your hands press the mixture into about 20 round, flat cookies approximately 3 inches around. The mixture will be crumbly and wont look like ti will hold together, don't worry,  it will. Place on dehydrator using a sheet liner. Dehydrate 105 degrees for 24hrs.
There will be left over sauce from the cookies, I like to mix this sauce with oats, nuts, raisins and coconut.  Place oat mixture on dehydrator sheets.  This will make a yummy apple cinnamon granola with no waste.

Shoe Freak!

Ariana is a sucker for shoes. If she can find a pair out, she will put them on. I just can't believe she got theses shoes on by herself.

Helping babysit ???

 Leandra was helping me babysit 4 of our neighbors children, her contribution was getting out a can of foam soap and letting them decorate. needless to say the kids loved her!

She is really too funny!

Family Vacation

     This year we went to Lake George for our family vacation. We had a blast together! We went to Six Flags with the cousins.  Everyone but me got sick off the rides, I guess it can pay off to not like the things.  Phillip was so sick he could not sleep that night.     

  Collin is becoming a true man, can't you see the perfect I'm waiting pose? He looks just like his dad.

      At our campground, Ariana enjoyed the swings with me, while the other kids panned for gold. We  had a good time together.

         
    One of our favorite things was going to the Golden Coral for dinner and seeing the balloon clown. Of course Preston enjoyed being able to use the creamy machine himself .