Pumpkin Snickerdoodles

Who doesn't love the Fall?  Cooler weather, beautiful foliage, and pumpkins.  Pumpkins on the porch and pumpkins in my belly.  I LOVE baking with pumpkin!  Check out this recipe I tried yesterday.  You can't go wrong with snickerdoodles, but PUMPKIN SNICKERDOODLES?!  Mind blowing! 

Pumpkin Snickerdoodles

from a bitchin' kitchen

 

3 3/4 cups flour

1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
2 sticks unsalted butter, room temperature
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup dark brown sugar
1 cup pumpkin puree
1 large egg
2 teaspoons vanilla extract

For the coating:

1/2 cup sugar
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
Dash of allspice

In a medium bowl, combine flour, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Whisk together to blend. In a large bowl, beat together butter and sugars on medium speed until well combined. Next, still on medium speed, beat in pumpkin. Then, add the egg and vanilla extract. Lastly, add in the dry ingredients. Beat until combined, but do not over mix. Cover the dough, and refrigerate for one hour, until firm.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Line baking sheets with parchment paper. In a small bowl, mix together the sugar and spices for the sugar coating. Scoop dough (approximately 2 1/2 tablespoons) and roll into a ball. Roll the dough ball in the sugar mixture, and place on the lined baking sheet, leaving about 2 inches between each cookie. Take a drinking glass with a flat bottom and moisten with water. Dip the glass in the sugar mixture, and use it to flatten the dough balls. Re-sugar the glass as needed.

Bake the cookies for 10-12 minutes. Remove when the centers of the cookies have set. Let cool on the baking pan for approximately 5 minutes, and then transfer to wire cooling racks to cool completely.



We are still surviving here.  I made it through my first week alone with all 3 kids.  It wasn't really too bad.  Kyle and I especially enjoy Tuesdays and Thursdays when the girls are at MDO.  :)

I found super dad with all 3 kids in his lap upstairs the other night.  We probably don't know it, but Aubrie's imaginary friend/pet might be in this picture, too.  The name:  Hello Kitty.  She goes everywhere with us.  Well, she wasn't in the car with us the other day because she was with her mom and dad and twin sisters, Hurra and Hola.  But a lot of times we have to stop in the parking lot to hand her a bone, or Aubrie will tell us what chair she is sitting in when we are somewhere.  The other day at the doctor's office, she said Hello Kitty was out in the parking lot but wouldn't come in because she couldn't find a spot.  She drives a purple car. 

Kelly and K-Sue met Kyle!  They also provided tonight's yummy dinner!

The family went for a walk the other night.  Petey had to go to the vet this week because he had more hot spots.  He always flares up this time of year. 

You know how you start spelling things in front of your kids so they don't know what you are talking about?  Well, the other day I was in the waiting room at the doctor's office and Aubrie turned to me and said, "Mom?  Do you have any AEYMONCS'S?"  My mom and other adults turned and looked at me and I had no clue what she was saying.  So I said, "No, do you?"  She said, "Yes!  Right here!"  After I told Adam about AEYMONCS'S, he asked her if she had any and she pretended to hand him one and he pretended to put it in his mouth.  She got on him and said, "NO Daddy, you don't eat them!!"

We took the crew to the zoo this morning.  We had beautiful weather and the girls had fun.  Towards the end we had Emilie in the stroller, Kyle sleeping in dad's arms, and Aubrie in and out of dad's arms.  She's pretty serious in this picture because she told us eight times already that it was time for lunch.

So, here's one for the veteran parents.  You know how you have a cart cover for your first child?  You wouldn't dream of putting your child in a nasty shopping cart without one.  You also take it to restaurants and protect them from the high chairs.  Well, by the time you get to the third child, you're just happy to get in and out of the store without any melt-downs.  We stopped at Target after church and Aubrie just crawled under the bottom of the cart and laid down.  At one point, she had found a rubber band on the floor and was about to put it in her mouth. 

Here's Emilie babysitting Sheriff Kyle.  Thanks Uncle Steve and Aunt Brit!

The other day at MDO, they had Roy's Ark come for the children.  The kids got to pet a lamb, pig, goat, chickens, and snakes among other things.  Adam and I went to watch Emilie and her class.  I had gone with Aubrie the 2 years prior.  She was doing a good job of petting every animal and he brought by the corn snake.  She's the only kid that would pet it and so Mr. Roy asked, "You want to wear him like a necklace??"  She said, "YEP!"

So he put it around her and she froze still.  He left it on her for awhile so everyone could take pictures.  Adam kept saying, "Emilie!  Look at me!  Say cheese!" but she wouldn't move.  He decided to get one to put around her at the dinner table so she would have the same focus.  :)

I'd like to wish my handsome brother, Robbie a Happy Birthday!  I can't believe October is this next week.  Time is flying.  Kyle is now 6 weeks and weighs 12 lbs 15 oz.  He's a big boy.  He loves to lay on his play mat or the bean bag and listen to his sisters play.  They've got it coming once he becomes mobile! 

Love to all! Pin It Now!

Marcie Kindred Photography

I promised to share these a while ago, but never got around to it.  Here are some of the pictures from our session with our friend, Marcie.  She's super talented, her link is on the right side of my page if you want to check her out.  She did a great job of capturing the family in our setting.  AND I can't believe how little Kyle the Crocodile is!

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On our own!

Well folks, this is it.  It's been five weeks and my help left this morning.  Adam and I are now on our own with our 3 lively children.  Dad came to town on Wednesday to meet Kyle.  He calls our children by their number (in Spanish).  Aubrie is Cuatro, Emilie is Seis, and Kyle is lucky number Siete.  It was so good to see him.  I haven't seen him since Easter. 

I've had such a mixture of emotions about my mom and dad leaving.  I probably have said this way too much, but I feel so fulfilled and content with our newest family member and now having a family of five.  Our hearts are so full.  Also, knowing this is my last, I've enjoyed every minute.  Kyle is such a good baby.  He eats so well and is already on a good schedule.  But at the same time, this is the last time my mom is going to come to town and help me get back on my feet after having a baby.  I really cherish the time we have together.  She not only is really helpful, but I have so much fun with her.  Being around us helps her remember things from when she had Robbie and I. 

I loved making my mom a grandma.  They say there is nothing like your own daughter having a baby.  When my mom came into the recovery room after my surgery and Adam was with Kyle in the NICU, she didn't know what I had yet.  So she walked in with big eyes and a big smile and I couldn't wait to tell her.  When I told her we had a boy, she slapped my bed rail, and said, "You did?!" and put her head down and laughed.  She was so excited for us.  It was actually the first time I got to break the news to her.  With Aubrie, I was in recovery for a long time and Adam got to tell her.  With Emilie, she overheard the nurse tell the other nurse that we had a girl before she saw us.  I'm glad I got to finally experience her initial reaction. 

I hate living so far away, but cherish the memories we make when we are all together.  Thanks mom for all your help!  Thanks dad for loaning me mom for all those weeks to help us out.  I love you guys!

So in the meantime, Aubrie has learned how to shake her hips while she sings and dances and it is quite a scene!  I think she is going through a growth spurt.  She ate 3 servings of french toast the other morning, always asks for more food, and even took a 3 hour nap the other day!

This sweet princess went BACK to the doctor on Friday because she still grabs her ear, screams, and is pretty miserable.  Every once in a while, I have to get out her knit hat and let her wear it around the house.  It really helps her out.  The doctor told us to give the medicine 10 days to work, so it looks like I'll be back on Monday because tonight she was quite a little bear. 

Thanks for the shoes Aunt Jackie!  I've already worn a pair to church on Sunday and the girls think they are for them...

The girls being silly for me and Gram.

Here's my big 5 week old!  His head is so strong and we weighed him yesterday and he's 11 lbs 9 oz!  Such a big guy!!

Poppy is here!

Emilie helped Poppy fix the toilet!

Aubrie swung a hammer and helped push the nails back in our fence. 

And in case you were wondering, all is well in the world because I got my first smile this week from sweet baby Kyle.  He's so precious!

Gram's birthday is October 6th and so we stuck a candle in her french toast and sang happy birthday to her. 

Here we are before mom and dad left this morning.  I was a hot mess.  I cried a lot and as a matter of fact, I'm crying now.  Growing up and moving away from home is tough, but that is what we are supposed to do.  I cannot wait to help my three children grow up to be exceptional people and help them when they start their families.  I'm thankful for my family!

I hope everyone is doing well.  Love to all! Pin It Now!

1 month already?!

Time sure is flying.  Today baby Kyle is 1 month old and he's getting so big!  We have a scale at home and he was weighing in at 11 lbs the other day.  He's a really good eater and mostly a good sleeper.  He has some rough nights, but nothing we can't handle. 

Here's a gassy smile from 2 weeks ago.

 Fall is in the air in Nashville.  The weather has cooled down, the sun is setting early and the pool is closed.  Dad was home at just the right time with his paternity leave.  Luckily we went to the pool a couple of days this last week because it closed on Sunday.  Aubrie likes to find goggles and toys that people leave at the pool and wear them.  She says she is an astronaut and won't put her head under the water to look around.  She just likes to strut around in them and looks silly. 

 For Kyle's 1 month birthday, Emilie got him a gift for herself.....an ear infection!!!  The poor thing seemed fine yesterday.  She's had a runny nose off and on but we thought it was mostly allergies since we all have it, but this morning when I went in to get her up, I could tell by her eyes she didn't feel good and she let us know she didn't feel good.  She was grabbing her ear and telling me, "owie!!"  And she screamed...a lot.  She wouldn't let anyone else touch her or help her, she only wanted me.  And so did Kyle.  Luckily Aubrie didn't give a hoot about me.  Our doctor got us in first thing this morning and she let him check her out.  Poor girl.  She'll bounce back soon.

Giving some love to Kyle last weekend

 And here is my little one month old.  He's getting so big.  He loves laying on his playmate and talking to the toys that hang down.  He's getting really good about holding his head up.  But his favorite thing to do is listen for his sisters and try to watch what they are doing.  It's going to be a real circus show around here as soon as those two realize they can make him laugh.  We'll really have a house full of giggles then!

Mom is in town helping me now that Adam is back at work.  Next week my dad will fly into town to hang out with the fam and meet Kyle.  Then it will be just us.  No more free help!  I'm very blessed with lots of friends with generous hearts, so I'm not too worried.  Mom has been great help and I'll really miss her.  She spoils me with french toast and right now she's doing our ironing for us.  She's great with the kids and is the only one who can get Kyle to take his pacifier.  I'll be sending her back home tired and worn out. 

Adam and I are doing well.  We can't describe how full our hearts are and how complete our family feels.  We are so in love with our little boy and our little girls give us so much joy.  We're thankful for our family.  It's been interesting hauling around 3 little ones.  Things can get pretty crazy.  The other day after school, Petey ate Aubrie's sandwich when she was talking to my mom and she flipped out.  At the same time, Emilie was yelling about something and all of the sudden Aubrie declared, "This is a mad house!  This is a horrible house!!!"

She can be pretty dramatic, but I had to laugh.

I hope everyone else's house isn't as mad as ours.  :)  Love to all!

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