Bertsche Pilgrims!

It was nice I could finally have Joy make one of Julia's arts and crafts from her school. It came with a boy an girl hat for Pilgrims.

 

 

Here is Joy going for her 2 year check-up. She is in the 90% of her height! Wonder where she gets that from?

 



These Jammies were originally $30 each from Gymboree. With my coupon and them on clearance, I got them for $5 a piece. Couldn't pass that deal up!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Hope everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving. This is one of my favorite days of the year.

I am thankful for my family that God has given me~

I am thankful for my Julia~

 

 

I am thankful for my little Joy Lyn~

 



 

Finally this is one of my favorite days of the year because I can stock up on all my miscellaneous supplies for the year. I spent $18.26, and got all of this at Walgreens. I also got 13 free red boxes. I guess its going to be movie night all weekend!

Julia's Eczema!

It seems like since Julia has been born we have been dealing with this eczema issue. This week has been very hard on her skin. I am not sure if its the changing of the season, but nothing seems to subside her itching and pain. Today, we went to her allergist and they finally are going to test her for all of potential allergens. After that they will give her weekly shots to get her body immune to whatever is causing these breakouts. The doctor also gave her antibiotics since her open skin can give her a staph infection. I am just praying that God will heal my little girl and that these shots will give her some relief in the months to come. While we were at Walgreen's waiting for her prescriptions Julia didn't want to go into the store, because of people staring at her. I told her she is beautiful no matter how she looked! When we got home, she wanted to wear her Cinderella dress so she could be pretty again. What could I say? So here is some pics of my Pretty Princess Julia!

 

Weekly Daddy Daughter bonding Time

watching their favorite show!

My Little Indian!

Julia is learning about the Indians and pilgrims this week. She was very excited to make her Indian vest and hat. I was quizzing her to see if she was listening.  I ask who founded America? She shouted loudly  " Captain Jack Sparrow!" - Maybe a little too much Pirates of the Caribbean for her!

 

 

 

Fall Pumpkin Painting!

A couple weeks ago, we went to the pumpkin patch and picked out our pumpkins. I am always looking for new arts and crafts for the kiddos to do. I came across finger painting pumpkins for Fall. The girls loved it! A little messy, but a memory to last a lifetime.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JOY!!!!

I cannot believe my baby is already 2 yrs old. It seems like yesterday we were just bringing her home from the hospital. I pray that God will bless her life and that she will want to live for him~  Happy Birthday Joy!

                                                      Joy 2 weeks old~

 

 

 

 

                                                           

The Childrens Place 20% off + FREE SHIPPING!

I always wait for this sale to come on at the Children's Place. I bought a pair of sandals $6.07 Shipped!

Slab Apple Pie – Perfect for Fall, Perfect for Freezing

One of my favorite seasons to bake is fall. I love to bake with apples, and this is the perfect time to get them cheap.  I came across this recipe, and I think it might be one of my favorite apple recipes. I think I might just have to make this for our next church potluck.

Slab Apple Pie with Easy Crumb Top

One batch Gramma John’s Pie Crust
6 apples, peeled, cored, and sliced
1/2 cup sugar
1 Tablespoon lemon juice
1 Tablespoon cinnamon
1 cup flour
1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup chopped nuts

Preheat oven to 375°. Prepare pie crust according to directions and pat it into the bottom of a 9×13 pan. In large mixing bowl, combine apple slices, sugar, lemon juice and cinnamon. Spread in an even layer over crust. In food processor, combine flour, butter, and brown sugar, pulsing until coarse crumbs are formed, or in a large mixing bowl, combine these ingredients, cutting butter into sugar and flour with a pastry blender or two knives held together. Stir in nuts. Sprinkle crumb top over apple layer.* Bake for 45 minutes to an hour or until filling bubbles. Cool completely.
If preparing ahead of time to freeze. Wrap with foil and label at the *. Then, when ready to serve, bake frozen pie at 425° for 15 minutes. Reduce heat to 375° and continue baking as directed.

* I am not a big nut person so I omitted them and added a 1/2 cup of quick oats. I also doubled the batch of crumble for the top layer.
* I also only baked it for 35 minutes, and it was perfectly done!

 

                                                                        Yummy!

Prepping for Breakfast!

For some reason mornings seem to be a little rushed. With trying to get Julia started with her homeschooling, I sometimes have no time to make breakfast. These two recipes seem to be the girls favorite. Once I though to treat Julia with some chocolate chips in the waffles, well big mistake! I guess my children are purist. She told me "mommy please don't put that yucky stuff in it again." I guess sometimes you just leave it the way it is~

Homemade Waffles

2 eggs

2 cupsall-purpose flour

1 3/4 cups milk

1/2 cup vegetable oil

1 tablespoon white sugar

4 teaspoons baking powder

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoonvanilla extract

Directions

1. Preheat waffle iron. Beat eggs in large bowl with hand beater until fluffy. Beat in flour, milk, vegetable oil, sugar, baking powder, salt and vanilla, just until smooth.
2. Spray preheated waffle iron with non-stick cooking spray. Pour mix onto hot waffle iron. Cook until golden brown. Serve hot.

* I usually double the batch, and freeze the remainder of the waffles for breakfast during the week.

 

 

Homemade Instant Oatmeal Packets

 

Add to each bag:

* 1/2 cup of Rolled Oats

* 1 Tablespoon of Brown Sugar

* Cinnamon, Raisins, Choc. Chip or other mix-ins.

 

 Julia loved putting the Cinnamon in the packets. You just add a little hot water and Voila!

Cinnamon Swirl Banana Bread

OK, well if you haven't figure it out, I love banana bread! This one seems to be a favorite in the Bertsche household. I do follow all the instructions, except for putting the batter into a pan of 8 mini loaves. I then freeze whatsoever my little ones didn't grab, and give the rest to Brian for breakfast in the morning.
*My bake time for mini loaves is 20 minutes~

For the bread:

• 3 over-ripe bananas, smashed up
• 1/3 cup melted butter
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 1 egg, beaten
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 1 tsp baking soda
• dash of salt
• 1 1/2 cups flour

For the swirl:

• 1/3 cup sugar
• 1 Tbs cinnamon

1. Preheat oven to 350. Butter and four a loaf pan. Mine was 9 x 5, but you could use any sort, I suppose. Just keep a close eye on it in the oven, and adjust the time as needed
2. Mix bananas, butter, sugar, egg, and vanilla together. sprinkle baking soda and salt around on top of the banana mixture. Then gently stir in flour. Be careful not to over-mix!
3. In a small dish, mix together the 1/3 cup sugar and 1 Tbs cinnamon.
4. Add 1/2 of the batter to the loaf pan and then sprinkle half, or a little more than half of the cinnamon-sugar mixture all over the batter in the pan. Add the rest of the batter, and then sprinkle the leftover cinnamon-sugar on top.
5. Bake for 50-60 minutes, but remember, if you’re using a different-sized loaf pan, be careful and keep a close eyeball on it!