Graumamama’s blog

I wanted to encourage everyone to get a case of water from the church to give to anyone who may need a drink!

Stop by today/tomorrow, so you can give it out at a huge 4th of July gathering. Can you imagine seeing QUENCH bottles all over your local park where people gather to watch fireworks?

Get a case for the next sporting event your kids are participating in. Newsflash - "Snack Mom Connects Kids to Life"

And be sure to invite someone you celebrate with on Saturday to "Red, White and Blueberry Pancakes" Sunday @ 10. One huge service @ 11:30. Worship is gonna be beautiful!

I rediscovered a great quote by Hudson Taylor (one of the first missionaries to China) yesterday...

"It doesn't matter how great the PRESSURE is. What really matters is where the PRESSURE lies - whether it comes between you and God or whether it presses you nearer His heart." 

Isn't that just sweet to your soul?  Man, I needed that! 

Liam has started eating cereal, Terryn has started to use the potty and Sydney has her first loose tooth.  Never a dull moment at the Graumann house!

BIG Tree 2008

This is our enormous 11' 4" tree!  We pitched in with Nahshon's parents, since we are still sharing a house.  But they let us pick the tree and decorate with our own decorations this year.  So much fun!

IMG_0164

Yes, we needed a ladder to decorate it!  Terryn was soooo excited to climb the ladder!  We used put about 600 lights on it and still have some branches left at the bottom.  My favorite is the clusters of ornaments around the bottom of the tree where the kids decorated.  It is custom!

Big Tree 2008

 Here's the tree in the house.  There's Grandpa Paul playing with Liam :-).  Nash had to climb over the banister to put the top on and the tree is tied off to the wall and rail so it doesn't fall over.  We even had to get a bigger stand for it.

Light Hunting 2008

Every year we spend one December night light-hunting (we missed you this year Kenda).  We put the kids in their pj's since they often fall asleep before we get back home.  In one abundantly lit neighborhood Terryn said, "Oooooo, Christmas!"  There's just nothing like it!

Got this info in an e-mail from a friend.  Here is what she said:

"Fred Meyer is having a frame sale until Wednesday. All of their collage frames (basically any frames that holds more than one photo) are 50% off, plus there is an additional 15% off coupon in the add from today.  So I got a frame that was originally $21 for $9!!! Just make sure when they ring them up that it takes off the 50%. "

Excellent!

Terryn - "Yucky!" (pointing to an oddly colored raisin in his oatmeal - one of those golden ones)

Nahshon - "It's not yucky.  It's yummy."

Terryn - "You eat it."

So, I have a few recipes that are crowd favorites & that I have promised to share for some time.  Here is the first one:

GERMAN CHOCOLATE COOKIES

(have no fear, there is no coconut in them)

1 German Chocolate cake mix

1/2 cup vegetable oil

1/2 cup oats

2 eggs

1 cup chocolate chips

1/2 cup nuts (optional - I never use them)

Combine all ingredients.  You will think it is way too dry, but just keep mixing it.  I use an ice cream scoop to put them on the pan.  Bake in 350 degree oven for 8-10 minutes.  I cook them for 10 minutes, leave them cooling on the tray for 10 more, then move them to a parchment papered cooling rack to cool completely.

Merry Munching!

Howdy!

Today we processed the giant pumpkin Sydney's grandma got her at the patch.  We roasted the seeds, cooked the meaty part and froze it for pies and are going to freeze some baby food for Liam tomorrow.  However, we have all the scraps (skin and funk around the seeds) that would be great for someone's compost pile. 

Let me know if you want them.  It's like a 5 quart bucket full.

For those of you who are unaware, Costco is currently selling five $20 gift cards for $79.99.  So, if you are looking for a savings on a great Christmas gift or want to save on your regular visits this is a great deal.  If you aren't up for purchasing that much at once, go in on it with a friend.  This is a super great deal!