Favored Apples

I had never seen such a thing before, and I searched the 'net for specific instructions I could share, but with no luck....

Our niece recently got married in a land far, far away. (On the East Coast)  So we weren't able to be there for the big day, but thankfully, she and her groom came this direction to have a second reception.

With them, they brought the favors they'd made for the wedding... Bagged spices to add to cider or mulled wine with custom made tags, and apples.  --Very special, monogrammed apples!  At first glance, some thought they were stenciled or carved, but no.

The wedding party had visited an apple orchard several weeks before the wedding.  There, they were able to stamp the initial on many, many apples, so that as they grew and turned red in the sun, the monogram stayed light.  Fun!

Looking Back...

January:
Reading through the titles of old posts, I see 2 significant steps. Changes in our pizza crust recipe made a difference in our lives on a weekly basis, with improvement in the taste and texture of our pizzas, and an easier pizza-making routine:                                                                                                                                         

Pizza Crust....The continuing quest for the best.

And making our own yogurt was a new and successful experiment, although I haven't done it since.  I will again, someday, though, when I gather all the right equipment, so the process can better fit my multi-tasking life.

Bucket List Item: Making Yogurt

February:
A gadget that's made a big difference in our breakfast menu and added to our nutrition:

New Oat Flaker/Roller

March:
I shared routine things that brighten my days...                                                                                                                                                                            

Routine Sustenance

and my weakness.

My Not-so-secret Problem: A Bowl Addiction

April:
We have 3 birthdays the first week in April, which are usually the big events of the month.  This year however 2 engagements took center stage!                                                                                                              

Good Things Come in Twos!

May:

Twosome Tuesday: Wedding Dresses

We, of course, started prep at a quick pace, aiming for 2 summer weddings.


We finally met Prince Helium in person, and he was a blessing on the spot when Prince Go-for-It passed out from a sinus infection, resulting in a worrisome trip to the ER.                                                               

A Princely Scare and the Comfort Food Hug for After

June:
Wedding prep and discussions continued, and the in-laws' house remodel, with the kitchen I designed and built by Hubby, and with other decor choices I'd made, was coming together.                                                                                                               

Update...In-laws' Remodel

July:
Nothing could beat out our first wedding for the #1 blessing and accomplishment!                                                                                            

Wedding #1: Check!

August:
The in-laws' remodeled house selling in one day was big news (In-Laws' House: SOLD), but, certainly, Wedding #2 ruled this month.                                                                                                                                                                

Twosome Tuesday: I suppose you want photos?

Twosome Tuesday: Photos from Wedding #2

September:
It was time to get life back to normal.  I tried a few new things in cooking, we started excavation for the garage addition, and I made a gruesome discovery in the sewing room (I'm Not a Screamer...).  But my biggest project was refinishing the kitchen table and refreshing the finish on the island.

More Stripping at our House, Part 2

October:
We discussed finances in the Money Monday, the Series in adjusting to our adjusted (lower) income... and fed 26 for the cross-country team pizza feed.                                                                                                      

Pizza for 26

November:
I celebrated my Blogiversary, but mostly enjoyed Thanksgiving, headed up by the newlywed chefs.

Thanksgiving Prep - The Day Before

Thanksgiving Meal

December:
This has been a month full of activity, joy, and busyness.                                                                                                                             

Getting a new oven is always a biggie...

(Almost) Wordless Wednesday- Oven #5

Family Christmas Festivities

and hosting a Christmas party for my side of the family was an honor and a delight.










  

 Hubby-built Bookshelf

Also, so great to have the bookshelf up and operational for that.


But Christmas with our own brood in our own home is always the best.

Glimpses of our Blessed Christmas

Link up: Top Projects of 2011 Party

Thanks to seeing it on Sugar & Spice in the land of Balls & Sticks, I'm linking to Southern Hospitality's Link up: Top Projects of 2011 Party.  I hope this post suits the theme well enough.  My 'projects' this year didn't all have before and after, and weren't all home-oriented, but it's been a wonderful, wonderful year full of great blessings, projects, and progress.  


I am thankful for all the events of 2011, and look forward to what God has planned for us in 2012.

Happy New Year to you and yours!!

My Two (New) Sons: #2

Let me be clear, in case anyone might take the opportunity to give him a bad time about it, I've only labeled Prince Helium as New Son #2, certainly not as any kind of ranking, but because he is the 2nd son-in-law we gained... Of course, through this summer's Wedding #2. 


About to graduate with her degree in Theology in spring of 2010, Princess Bossy was excited to be chosen as the first intern for the campus ministry program with the Presbyterian Church in Tulsa.  Her job started in August, but she was invited for a special weekend event in April.  She came home thrilled with her experience there, and happy with the welcome she'd received from so many great people.  But one young man seemed to make a distinctive impression...


We heard a lot about this handsome guy, athletic and smart, who was finishing his Master's Degree in Finance, and hoping to start law school the next year.   She joked that when she returned to Tulsa in August she and this particular guy might build a friendship... and eventually date and get married.  

A group retreat in early fall... Were they really
paying attention to anyone else?!  ;)

--It wasn't really a joke, and, although they were both cautious and prayerful about it as things developed, it couldn't have turned out closer to her wish!  

Playful banter

When Princess Bossy returned to Tulsa and their relationship developed over the weeks, all of her phone calls and Skype visits were filled with stories of the prince, accompanied by unbridled smiles, and exclamations of how great he is, and how happy she felt.  

Since he seemed to keep her floating on air, Helium seemed an appropriate princely moniker. 



The 6-foot tall prince came into the world at 1 pound 13 ounces, the smallest of 4 boys born within moments of each other to their Dutch immigrant, now US citizen, parents.  --In 1980 their father accepted a 2-year job assignment in Texas, and they thought it would be a fun, temporary adventure.  His mother jokes, "It's been a long 2 years!"  

Helium's footprints are at the top right

The prince's mom has many stories about the challenges of raising 4 such ingenious and sometimes rambunctious boys, who learned the concept of teamwork early on and could accomplish some amazing feats by the time they were toddlers.                                                                                                                                                                                                  

She was gracious in allowing me to share their birth announcement with you... Showing their tiny footprints and the bilingual message inside.

Telling his 'best joke'

When we all think of Prince Helium, although he has many other stellar qualities, we immediately think of his sparkling eyes in attempt at rapier wit.  We are well-used to his particular brand of humor, as it's almost identical to Hubby's, and we respond similarly... Good-humored eye-rolling and groans intermixed with the laughter.  --But not too much laughter lest either of them think too much of their cleverness.  ;-)  He has now figured out the response pattern, takes it all in stride, and doesn't let it curtail his good nature.  We are thankful for that, and we truly miss his fun contribution to the household.



This year the prince is in his second year of law school, doing quite well in the upper section of his class.  He also has a strong Christian faith that he exhibits in his daily walk, which guides his decisions and demeanor.  He is traditional  and conservative in morals and lifestyle, while recognizing and appreciating the strengths and talents of his head-strong and intelligent wife.  
He allows her to be the capable and independent-thinking woman and partner she is... also her need to debate and argue... But he also gives her the assurance that she has someone on her side who provides a soft place to land; someone to rely on when she needs it.  As a couple they put their faith in God and His plan for their lives.

Princess Bossy is fiercely interested in learning, reading, and discussing art, politics, faith, and all sorts of heady subjects.  She is also quite the sports fan and outdoors-woman, who could only admire a 'manly man,' who is physically active and has manual skills.  This always proved a hard combination for her to find... But Prince Helium is the whole package.  He loves learning, and likes to read and discuss.  
He's also very active, loving soccer, bicycling, gym workouts, and bouldering.  They camp, enjoy walks or long runs together, and while she loves to cook, he loves to help out, and, of course, eat the results!  

He is also an excellent brother to his younger siblings-in-law, joining in outdoor family games, and coaching Prince CuddleBunny on the finer points of soccer and helping him with a practice schedule.  He's of the stuff that fine husbands are made, and will also, we're sure, be an involved, active, and loving dad some day.


Our sons-in-law are the answers to years of prayer... Prayers that God would save and send His own carefully chosen lifelong partners for our daughters... Men with a heart for God, very especially for our girls, and for committing themselves to being the best husbands and fathers.  We feel greatly blessed.


2 down, and 6 to go!

My Two (New) Sons: #1

It's been pointed out that I haven't added the princes-in-law to the My Family page yet.  To give them the proper attention, I thought I'd introduce the boys here, then add their descriptions to the other page.

They both call me "Mom," hug me and tell me they love me, which means more than I can say.  I love them both so much.  They're amazing young men, and I know I've said it before, and will undoubtedly say it again, we are SO proud to have the Princes Steadfast and Helium in our family.

From years past...
But already looking at her the way
he does now.

Prince Steadfast was officially in the family first, via this summer's Wedding #1, and we've known him longest.  He and Princess Sassy caught each other's eye during meetings of the junior high youth group at our church.  They became friends and developed their relationship over time.  The two of them looked around at their peers, and made a conscious decision not to date until they were ready to take a relationship seriously, and they really meant it...Once they started dating, they decided to marry in just a few months.  They seemed to know very early on that their relationship was meant to build a lifetime on, and worked to make sure that wasn't ruined by immaturity.  

Their friendship had close times and distant times, as they knew sometimes that staying apart and away from temptation was healthier for the long run.  Their deep devotion and feelings for each other never wavered.  He'd go out of our lives for awhile, but come back, always more sure of his ultimate intentions toward, and feelings for, Sassy each time.  
That's what earned him his princely name.  These two truly face life, side-by-side, hand-in-hand, always looking to the Lord's guidance...and with smiles that show the world how happy they are to be together.


Prince Steadfast is the baby in his family, but they've said he is one of those people who was 'born old,' always mature beyond his years.  He is moral, serious, responsible, and thoughtful. --Pretty darn cute, too, with such a look of love in his eyes whenever he looks at our daughter.  He doesn't share the characteristics, but understands and respects her more impetuous, emotional approach to life.  They balance each other well.

Reading to one of
Princess Sassy's 'sweeties',
from nannying days

His father-in-law and I are in awe of the spiritual maturity he exhibits daily through his Christian faith.  He lives what he believes.  He is dedicated at work and in his college studies toward a degree in engineering.  But he's certainly not all work and no play.  The prince has an easy-to-get-along with way about him and a fun sense of humor.  He's always ready to join siblings-in-law outside for rousing game of soccer or on the couch for a competitive video game contest. Really fitting in as a brother, he does loving things like accompanying the younger kids on a road run at their respective paces. 


Steadfast competed in wrestling during junior high and high school, finishing 3rd in state as a senior.  Now he helps coach the high school team.  
He appreciates home-made bread and granola, so obviously has good taste and a discerning palate...  ;-)   He loves rock-climbing, rafting, camping, and watching movies with his wife.  

He's already proving to be a wonderful husband and will be a tremendous dad someday.

Twosome Tuesday: Photos from Wedding #2

In last week's Last week's Twosome Tuesday post there was a sneak peak of the Mode Weddings photos from Princess Bossy's and Prince Helium's wedding.  I didn't have the whole gallery yet then, but here are several out of the hundreds of great pics:

Micromanaging her groom's hair...
Really, he wanted it to look ''just the way she likes it.''

Old boardrooms served as dressing areas, so the groom
and his brothers had a little fun

Parade of Beauties

R-Family-of-12!

Both families, including grandparents

Good thing we crossed pew decorations
off the list...A narrow aisle!

Princess Sassy caught ahold of my hand during the part when
the parents were up front and the pastor talked about family  :)

Man and wife!
Did I tell you the groom and his groomsmen are quadruplets?

If you want to see more, here is the slideshow, put together by Mode superstar, Erin:  Princess Bossy + Prince Helium : Married


Previous related post:                                                                                                                                   

Twosome Tuesday:
 the GOOD photos from Wedding #1