The Great Escape

A few weeks ago, my dear hubby told me that I needed to pack a suitcase with enough things for a couple of days. I also was to pack one for Rachel. Our anniversary was approaching so I figured that he must have been planning something but he would not give anymore information. Well, he did say that he considered packing it himself but he was afraid that he would choose the wrong clothes for my pregnant state or that I would notice maternity clothes missing!
So, I packed those suitcases and he put them in the car. I had no idea when or where we would need them. His spring break began the Friday afternoon before our anniversary so I really didn't know if we would go for the weekend or at some point during spring break (esp since he wasn't teaching Sunday School that week). I purposed not to hint for clues or do any investigating to find out what he was planning. Although when I asked if I could attend a shower that weekend, he thought I was fishing for info!
Friday passed. Saturday passed. Sunday we went to church as usual and talked to our folks about where we would all go for lunch. Rachel asked if she could ride with Oma (Oma has a carseat and Rachel sometimes rides with her) so we said yes. I gave her a kiss just in case partly because Oma had her say "See you later". We got in the car and headed out. However, Dennis started going the "wrong" direction on 1604. Ok, I figured this was how he planned for us to leave. He still wouldn't say where we were headed or when we would be back. As we passed 281, I figured we weren't going to our favorite place in Fredricksburg (unless he was being sneaky and going up I-10). Well, we did head up I-10 and we stopped north of Boerne at PoPo's. I had always wanted to eat there and we had a lovely lunch. I couldn't believe that I ate all of my chicken fried chicken with onion rings and salad!
We continued up on I-10 and eventually arrived a bed and breakfast in Comfort. It was actually a large complex with several buildings. The oldest buildings were actually a stage coach stop on the Old Spanish Trail; later as the railroad arrived a larger hotel was built. Over the years other buildings were added. Our cottage was the newest one; it overlooked a creek and was on the edge of all the other buildings. We had a lovely screened in porch which was furnished with a wicker settee and chair.
We were able to stay until Tuesday. It was such a nice break - no schedule (besides making sure we showed up to breakfast!), walking by the creek, checking out the little shops in town, enjoying the hammock. The location was beautiful and peaceful. We watched the deer that came to feed during breakfast and in the early evening.
Tuesday we took our time coming home. We stopped in Boerne because he needed to pick up something from school and spent time leisurely exploring Main Street.
It was good to come home to our little girl, but I'm so glad my hubby planned this little retreat for us. Thanks, Babe!

PS Sorry no pics of the beautiful location. I wasn't told to pack a camera!

Photo Update

Hey Mom, this cake is pretty good.



All these grown-ups are singing to me; I must be pretty
special!


Rachel loves to color so I made a crayon cake for her.


Uncle Duane, I love these tools. Now I can work like Opa.


Helping Daddy open his birthday presents.


Her first tea party. They followed this by drinking real tea. She was so
excited and loves asking for real tea.


Birthday Hugs for our friend Liam. (He wasn't so sure about it!)


Note the death grip on her new ball.


All bundled up for a walk with Opa. (No, we didn't have really
cold weather; this is in KY)



She loves cleaning!


She would have played with this cat all day, but kitten didn't obey nice. It
wouldn't come when she said "Come, kitty, come!"


Christmas morning


The finished product. She loves it so much that for a few weeks
she wouldn't eat breakfast because she wanted to play with it.

Daddy starting assembly Christmas Eve.

Christmas Cookies

Yesterday my mom and I got together to bake Christmas cookies. Something about cookies you only make once a year really makes it feel like Christmas. Granted I put most of mine in the freezer so I will have them for next week's cookie swap and for Christmas week. This is one of our favorite Christmas cookies. They are a great with a cup of coffee!


Ribbon Cookies

1 c softened butter
1 1/2 c sugar
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla
2 1/2 c flour
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 salt
1/4 c diced red candied cherries
1/3 c chocolate chips melted
1/4 c pecans, chopped
1/4 c diced green candied cherries

Line bottom and sides of a 9x5 loaf pan with foil. Cream butter and sugar. Add egg and vanilla. Add dry ingredients. Dough will be stiff.
Divide dough into thirds (about 1 c each). Add red cherries to 1/3 and press into pan. Add chocolate and nuts to 1/3 and press over cherry layer. Add green cherries to 1/3 and press over chocolate layer. Cover and chill 3 hrs.
Invert pan and cut in half lengthwise. Cut each section into 1/8 in slices. Place 1 1/2 inches apart on ungreased pan. Bake 350 for 10-12 min.



Ok, that is the recipe but of course recipes are only guidelines so this isn't exactly how we make them. Here are our adaptations.
#1 Dividing the dough into 3 parts is a pain. We make the recipe three times. The first time is for the red cherries ( triple the amt of cherries, but not anything else.) We also add red food coloring. Divide into thirds and place in 3 pans.
#2 Second batch is the chocolate layer. Triple the chocolate, but not anything else. We never have put in nuts.
#3 We don't like green candied cherries. We leave this layer white and substitute almond flavoring for the vanilla.
#4 When cutting the cookies, cut the loaf into thirds lengthwise. Cut each section into 1/8 in slices.

I cooked one loaf pan of dough this morning and made enough cookies to fill a cookie tin and my cookie jar. I'll keep the rest in the fridge or freezer until I want(need) to bake more. This way my cookies for the swap will be fresh and will not get eaten up this week!

New Look

This post is for Priscilla and Rachel. Priscilla, here's the new hairstyle you wondered about. Dennis said I could cut my hair and donate it to Locks of Love. The ponytail we cut off was 15 inches. Rachel, I am now 14 weeks along and feeling fine for the most part. Neither of you should get too excited about holding this new baby because if you ask our Rachel only she will hold the baby. Grandma and Oma might get to hold the baby when she goes potty and can't hold the baby. I'm not sure that in her mind I will be allowed to hold the baby, although she did say I could change the diapers!! I think we might need to help her see that this will not be HER baby. :)

Baby Update

Rachel showing Daddy where the baby is









This picture was taken at about 8 weeks. I am actually 11 wks now.

She Cracks Me Up

Ok, I promise this is not going to turn into "Isn't my girl so cute, wonderful, etc" blog. Sometimes though they say the funniest things.

The other night she woke up screaming and wanted to snuggle. (Why can they be so full of energy after an hour of sleep?) So we started snuggling in our bed and had the following conversation.

Me ( to Daddy): I was just going to get a snack because my stomach is saying eat NOW!

Rachel: Rachel eat hungry!

Me: No, you're not hungry. Mommy's new baby is hungry ( I figured that would make more sense to her)

Rachel: New baby hungry

Me: Do you think Daddy will get a snack for the baby.

Rachel (full of confidence): Yeah

Later she found my rice sock and was playing with it. She asked me to turn it on. I told her it didn't turn on, and she said "Push buttons." I explained the sock didn't have buttons. Her response - "TV have buttons" Ahh, a child of the 21st century. :)

Big News

Silly faces for Daddy as we get ready to go to Jog-a-thon and Harvest Festival at his school.



The Troyer family is expanding!! If you haven't already heard the news, we are expecting a new little Troyer in June. I'm about 8 weeks and am starting to feel better. Thankfully, I don't get really sick just fatigued, sensitive to smells, and a little queasy. Rachel loves babies so we have started to talk about us having a baby and that she will be a big sister.