Gluten Free Biscuits

I've been trying to perfect gluten free biscuits for Sammy for awhile, and haven't had any luck using Pamela's Baking Mix.  When I was home for Christmas, my mom gave me a GF mix that she was unable to use because of the soy in it.  I tried our biscuit recipe, (increased the baking powder as suggested) and I am really happy with the results.  They are a bit more dry than the regular biscuits, but the flavor is yummy, and they hold together when I cut them in half to put gravy or honey, etc on them.  In the following pictures the GF version is on the right next to a regular biscuit.  They are so much better than what I've had before, yay!  Sammy seems pretty happy with them, too.

The mix is made by a family in Illinois, and I may have to order more.  Their products can be found here: http://www.meistersgf.com/store.html  It's also dairy free, which would work well for those with dairy allergies.

My biscuit recipe is as follows:  (I do highly recommend a biscuit cutter: http://www.kwik-kut.com/products.php  They work like a charm to cut in the butter, and then you just cut your biscuits out using the same tool.)

1 3/4 c flour, (substituted GF flour)
1/2 tsp salt
4.5 tsp baking powder, (I increased it by half from the original recipe's 3 tsp)
6 TBSP butter
3/4 cup milk

Cut butter into flour/salt/baking powder thoroughly.  Mix in milk, roll out, cut out and bake at 450 degrees for 15 minutes.

And, the last two pictures are of my cutie pies who insisted on having their pictures taken when they saw mommy photographing the biscuits.  Love my little ones so much!

Heading into month 7!

Sammy likes to talk to his little brother; awww!

Baby looks a lot like a basketball these days.  Getting closer!

Our Little Family Christmas

We had breakfast for our little champs, first.

Then Marcus wanted to "smile" (take a picture with mommy) and show off the "dudu tree!" (Christmas Tree)

Next, the boys goofed off, then we opened some gifts, and Marcus seemed pretty confused about the whole process.  Sammy was a pro this year.  Marcus like the little boxes for the harmonicas best.  Although, the candy was also pretty exciting.

"Nummy dee, dee!" (Candy)

Puzzle and Harmonica!

I love my little family so much.  It's such a joy to watch my little ones growing and changing.  Speaking of growing.  Little man #3 is really growing.  My belly is so big, and I have three months to go!  I should be used to this by now, but it always amazes me just how big my babies make my belly.  I felt his little hiccups for the first time this week. 

We also put in an offer on a house today, (well, Peter did most of the work.)  If we get it, it'll be awesome, if not, I'm going to take that as God letting us know that this is not the house He has for us.  It'll need some fixing up, but overall, it's cute, and has a lot more space than we do now.  Update will follow.  Trust me, if we get it, I'll have to post lots of before and after photos.  It think it has potential to be really cute once fixed up.

Happy January!

Merry Christmas!!

What's up with us these days?

It has been awhile since I've updated our blog.  Here are some pictures and a few words to help you understand just what we've been up to.

Sammy is now 3 and a half.  He'll be four in April.  Lately he gets lost in his imagination.  He loves the movie, "Cars" and can often be found acting out scenes that include many of the characters.  Last night he pretended to talk on the phone with Mac the Truck.  He has learned his letters, loves reading stories, and most of the time likes playing with his little brother, Marcus.  He's a little outdoors man, and we've been able to get out for walks through much of November and December.  Recently, we've started finding nests in trees on our walks.  Sammy is always thrilled when we find a new one, and insists on visiting each on we've already found.  He also insists on saying "hi" to the cattails and "Mater" toy that we see on our walking route.  He's my picky eater, who regularly throws up at the dinner table.  I used to judge people with picky eaters - not any more.  I've never seen anything like this little man.  God knows how to humble us.  He's a sweetheart who is learning more and more about obedience, forgiving his sinful mommy, and about the God who loves him unconditionally.

Marcus is 19 months, and has proved to be quite the handful.  He delights in anything messy which makes his latest obsession with washing his hands quite ironic.  Sammy made messes; Marcus brings destruction.  In typing this much of the post, I have gotten up 5 times so far to get him out of things, and break up fight with Sammy, (mostly Marcus keeps attacking him, haha.)  He's much more fearless than Sammy, and keeps me on my toes for sure.  He's a little doll, though, which helps.  He talks up a storm, and says so many cute things.  He will say, "Yes, mama," "Need a mama, need a daddy," "On my Boyam, by self!" (boyam=bottom, when he goes down the slide), and so many more little phrases and words.  He also LOVES to play outside, and I am so very grateful for the mild winter so far.  Check out this cute little blondie.

Here they are together this fall.  We spent a lot of time playing in our leaf pile.  They loved it!

Baby boy number 3, yes we are having our third son kept me quite sick for part of August, September and October.  Those were some hard months, that had me swearing I'd never have another child.  Now, though, I'm very excited to meet our new little mister.  He's due in early April.  So, I'll have two April babies, and one May baby.  Birthday's are going to be busy times for us in the future.  Here he is today :-)  Pardon the messy bedroom and finger printed mirror.  The life of a busy mommy is never as clean and tidy as I would like I'm finding.

Peter is very busy these days with working at HSLDA, working for CAMCO Investments, looking for a new house for us, a new job, hunting deer, becoming more involved at church with local missions, a tired, pregnant wife, and two very busy boys.  But, he handles it all with much class and patience.  He amazes me some days.  We did purchase our first ever minivan this fall which Peter also dedicated much time to finding, researching and purchasing.  It's been a pretty hectic, and stressful several months for us, but the Lord is bringing us through.  I'm still working part-time, but it's looking like come time for this baby, I'll be dropping that.  I'm quite relieved.  I need to slow down a little.  

There's an update from us.  I will do my best to update a little more often from here on out.

In the lives of the LaRock boys

My two munchkins are growing and changing so much these days.  I have little "diaries" that I bought for them where I try and put little tidbits about what's going on in their lives and development from time to time.  I am not a faithful to update them as I would like, but as quickly as I forget these precious moments with my babies, I need to record some things!

So, here's an update on each of them for the blog.

Samster is really doing a lot of changing right now.  Thankfully, the tantrums have lessened, and he's learning to obey.  When he's been naughty, (once he regains control of himself) he'll rub his eyes and say, "I sorry, mom" or "I sorry, dad."  It's refreshing to see each positive steps with him.  He's been more of a challenge than we "expected", (who can expect what comes in that little bundle?)  He's a very passionate young man, and he has a very determined will.  Peter and I have had to learn a lot about his personality - trust me, we're still learning!  It's been really good for me to have this kiddo, though.  He's humbling, and he's grown me in many ways already.  Lest you think too negatively of our little goose though, let me say that he is a sweetheart!  He loves to chit chat with me during the day about his toys, and whatever I'm working on.  He'll quote his favorite movies which right now are, Toy Story, How to Train Your Dragon, Babe and various Veggie Tales.  Now, he'll grab any old toy, (lately he's been using a rope) to act out different scenes.  His little imagination is really starting to take off!  If I look sad or tired, he'll come over to me and say, "what's wron, (this is how he says wrong) mommy?"  He's not satisfied until I give him a smile and let him know that everything's okay.  For Christmas we purchased a little children's computer for him.  He'll take it over to the couch and say, "I needa work, mom".
Another funny, and sometimes frustrating line is: "I do it, no I do it!"   If I "do" things for him that he can do for himself, he'll undo whatever I did and do it again, himself!
He's my picky eater and will literally gag on foods that he doesn't like, (which happen to be a lot of good food.)
He's starting to take more and more interest in reading stories.  It took awhile.  He has a hard time sitting still for long.
He loves outside, and neither of us can wait for the warm weather!

He doesn't cuddle much these days.  Yesterday, though, he let me rock him to sleep while I sang some songs I used to sing when I had more time to rock with him.  He loves, Somewhere Over the Rainbow, Somewhere Out There, and You've Got a Friend in Me.    Such sweet, precious times!  He'll be three in April which is so hard to believe.  One of my New Year's resolutions is to try to enjoy my kids more.  It's so easy for me to get grouchy with them when they're being imperfect....kids.  I'm so blessed to even have them.

Sam's my bud, and I'm excited to see what the coming months hold.

Marcus is nearly 8 months old, and he's really changing.  He's getting closer to crawling, and has just started to move himself forward in the last few days.  He still doesn't have any teeth!  Sammy was the same way.  They start "teething" in month 5, and then don't get anything for months - well, just the grumpies that come with teething.   He's been very resistant to solid foods and has only just started eating solid food consistently.  Hopefully this change will help him sleep better at night.  I worked really hard with Sammy to try and get him to sleep through the night early.  It didn't work, and the process made  me cry more than anything else.  So, with Marcus, I've been pretty laid back about nighttime sleep.  I honestly don't know the answer to the nighttime sleep deal, but I'm just not willing to go to battle like I did with Sammy.  I am ready for a full night of sleep though, that's for sure.

Marcus has become a lot like Sammy was at this age.  He wants mommy to hold him constantly while he's awake, and he prefers to be walked and included in everything I do.  I swear my back is not going to make it through my clingy kids! :-)  He's also gotten really bad about daytime sleep.  That is one battle I'm fighting with him!  Even as I type this post, he woke up after 45 minutes of sleep, (which required 45 minutes of screaming to even go down at all.)  Ah well, this too shall pass!
He is pretty happy-go-lucky a lot of the time.  He smiles like crazy, and generally lets just about anyone hold and play with him.  He has learned how to scream and enjoys listening to the sound of his voice.  He says, "da da, ma ma" and "guh".  He loves to chew everything in sight.  He seems to love music.  He loves toys that make music, listening to me sing, and Aunt Abby's guitar.

I'm loving this little one so much!

Now that I'm typing with one hand, I'm going to bid you farewell.

Happy New Year!

Below is our Christmas poem/letter.  I've mailed, emailed and Facebooked this baby, so it's likely you've already seen it, but if not, enjoy!  I do have some fun pictures from our trip to Illinois over Thanksgiving, and hopefully, one day soon, I'll do a post about that.  Other than that, we're gearing up for the truly cold weather that will come, and keeping busy with many things.  I'm currently working through a study on the Gifts of the Spirit, and have thought that I might put some findings/musings on my blog, but that is not a promise :-)

I hope you all are having a wonderful holiday season!

‘Twas a Night of Reflection

‘Twas a night of reflection at the LaRock house,
  with Pete on the couch snuggled up to his spouse.
They sat there in silence (a commodity dear)
and pondered upon what had happened that year.

The children were nestled all snug in their beds
 while Nurse and Buzz Lightyear danced in their heads.

Mom and dad settled down with some ice cream to share.
 For the last thirteen minutes they’d had not a care.

Then out of Sam’s room there arose such a scream,
as dragons and cowboys invaded his dream.

Mom and dad sighed as he settled back down
 and began to reflect on their 2-year old clown.

With his pretty brown eyes and mischievous grin,
 an adorable portrait of original sin.

Whole new phrases he’ll utter without missing a beat,
 like “hey babe,” “mommy, hold you,” and “get sumpin’ to eat?”

If you help, “Fank you much” he might happily say,
 or instead he might holler, “Sammy do it, go away!”

But after he’s naughty, he’s quick to relay,
“I sorry, I love you, yes daddy, okay.”

Christmas Eve last found but one LaRock boy,
but this May brought another new bundle of joy.

The newest arrival at Casa LaRock,
 Marcus kept his folks busy both halves of the clock.

True to his Cole roots - a timely man surely -
he was on the scene quick, and he came a bit early.

With blue eyes, red hair and a calm lack of drama,
this chill little pork chop takes after his mama.

Both Marcus and Sam find daddy’s touch calmin’,
and cackle with glee when their tums he’s nom-nommin’.

Used to be when dad left home for work Sam would cry,
now it’s, “gimme a kiss, see ya later, bye bye!”

With workin’ and babies this husband and wifey
 have pretty much given up personal lifey.

Their kids bring frustration, but mostly elation
(more than anything else, they bring sleep deprivation.)

With dates intermittent, but treasured and sweet,
 they love moments together, no matter how fleet.

In the summer they hike and enjoy berry pickin’,
 in the fall, hit the beach, a tradition that’s stickin’.

Pete keeps himself busy with job one and job two,
 looking out for this little Winchestrian crew.

He enjoys double dates (when they have babysitting),
 he’ll go hunting or fishing, time and weather permitting.

Julie trains when she can in foul weather or fair,
last year’s 13 mile run time she hopes this year to pare.

The domestic experience Julie’s still learning,
 with days full of clean-up and couch cushion turning.

Don’t think they’re complaining, they’ve loved this last year,
 looking forward with Christ they have nothing to fear.
God has provided far more than their wishes,
so, on diapers!  On laundry!  On cooking! On dishes!

They snarfed that last bite of cold, sweet ice cream,
 and realized that they lived a wonderful dream.

Their home was so full of laughter and love,
and they knew that all of it came from above.

Merry Christmas from our family to yours!  Luke 1 and 2

Every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights,

who does not change like shifting shadows.  James 1:17