Mile High Mommy Diaries

Cinnamon Roll Pancakes

Kimberly — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 04:15:56 +0000

Last Saturday RC was making breakfast and decided he wanted cinnamon roll pancakes…a quick google search led him to this recipe from the Recipe Girl, and it did not disappoint! These are the best pancakes I have ever had in my life, which is saying a lot since I have had some amazing ‘cakes from Snooze.

Let me tell you, do yourself a favor and whip up this delicious breakfast treat…you will not be disappointed.

Cinnamon Roll Pancakes

Yield: 4 servings (4 pancakes)

Prep Time: 25 min

Cook Time: 10 min

An absolutely decadent morning treat…

Ingredients:

PANCAKES:
1 cup all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup milk
1 Tablespoon canola oil
1 large egg, lightly beaten

CINNAMON FILLING:
1/2 cup butter, melted
3/4 cup brown sugar, packed
1 Tablespoon ground cinnamon

CREAM CHEESE GLAZE:
4 Tablespoons butter
2 ounces cream cheese
3/4 cup powdered sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions:

1. Prepare pancake batter: In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder and salt. Whisk in milk, oil and egg, just until batter is moistened (a few small lumps are fine).

2. In a medium bowl, mix butter, brown sugar and cinnamon. Scoop the filling into a small zip baggie and set aside. You don’t want this to remain super-liquidy. It’s best if it becomes a consistency similar to toothpaste.

3. In a medium, microwave-safe bowl- heat butter and cream cheese until melted. Whisk together until smooth; whisk in powdered sugar and vanilla extract; set aside.

4. Heat large skillet over medium-low heat. Spray with nonstick spray. Scoop about 3/4 cup batter onto the skillet. Snip the corner of your baggie of filling and squeeze a spiral of the filling onto the top of the pancake. When bubbles begin to appear on the surface, flip carefully with a thin spatula, and cook until browned on the underside, 1 to 2 minutes more. Transfer to a baking sheet or platter and keep in a warm oven until ready to serve.

5. When ready to serve, spoon warmed glaze onto the top of each pancake.

Tips:

*Keep the heat low or your pancakes might cook up too quickly. Don’t flip them until you see those bubbles starting to pop on top. Flip them with a wide spatula so you can grasp the whole thing without batter and filling dripping all over the place!
*It’s best if you pour the batter onto your skillet, wait a minute or so and then swirl the cinnamon onto the batter. That’ll give it a chance to set a little before you add the swirl.
*If your baggie of filling begins to get too thick, just pop it in the microwave for a few seconds to soften it up again. On that same note, it shouldn’t be too runny. The consistency of soft toothpaste is perfect. If it’s melty and runny, it will tend to run all over your pancakes. Once you micro it, let it sit on the counter at room temp for a while until it thickens slightly.

*I wrote a very detailed post on how to get the cinnamon filling *just right* on my Gingerbread- Cinnamon Roll Pancakes Post. Check it out before you attempt these!

Source: RecipeGirl.com

Christmas 2011

Kimberly — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 03:53:27 +0000

I know this is a solid month late, but our camera broke on Christmas Day and I had to wait for our new camera to arrive to get my pictures off the memory card. Alas, the new camera arrived last night and I finally got to take a look at the pictures we took the 2nd half of December. We had a really fantastic Christmas staying at home in Denver. We split Christmas into 2 days, celebrating with just the 4 of us on Christmas Eve (we pretended it was Christmas Day) by opening stockings…presents from my family…enjoying a Christmas breakfast…opening presents. This was not only a special time for the 4 of us, but helped break up all the present and overwhelming nature of it for LP & Shep. We headed over to RC’s parents house around noon on Christmas Eve and spent the rest of the day with more family, had a great meal, went to the Christmas Eve service and played games. We spent the night of Christmas Eve at RC’s parents house and then celebrated with them on Christmas Day. It was one of the most relaxing and enjoyable holidays we have had…there is just something nice about being at your own home. I also think that by staying home (and having no guests) we really had the time to reflect on the power of Christ coming to Earth as an infant, the celebration of God setting in further motion the rescue of His people. This year was also the first year that we felt Linden was really starting to understand the meaning of Christmas, and the importance of giving because of that, which was very special for both RC and I to experience with her.

So, for my own gratification, here are our Christmas pics…

Just another shot at mother of the year

Kimberly — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 22:10:02 +0000

Yesterday I got a call from our nanny that Shepherd had broken out in a rash all over his body…he didn’t seem bothered by it, no fever, but it was {apparently, I didn’t see it} a rockin’ rash and Miss Sarah thought I should know about it. You know all of this mid-adventure always happens on one of the few days I am actually at work…

So I called the peditrician and here’s how the conversation went:

Doc: Is the rash raised?

Me: I’m not sure, I am at work so I haven’t seen it.

Doc: Does it blanche?

Me: I’m not sure, I am at work so I haven’t seen it.

Doc: Right, okay. Has Shepherd eaten anything new in the last 24 hours?

Me: He has transitioned to whole cow’s milk in a cup, but his formual was milk-based, he eats yogurt, and I ate dairy while nursing and there was never a problem.

Doc: Yes, I do not think it sounds like a diary issue. Is there anything else he might have come in to contact with that would be new?

Me: Well, his 3.5 year old sister did give him M&M’s on Sunday afternoon without us knowing.

Doc: Interesting. I do not think that would matter.

Me: Ok. I mean, we fell asleep and Linden climbed in his crib and gave them to him.

Doc: That’s fine. Can you call me when you get home and can do some tests on the skin while we’re on the phone?

Me: I actually have dinner plans and will not see Shepherd before I go to bed.

Doc: Ok, well if he is not having problems breathing I think we’re ok. Have whoever is with him tonight give him Benadryl and an oatmeal bath.

Me: Ok. I mean I only am working two days a week and normally am at home in the eveinings after I work, it’s just that we’re surprising our boss with a going away party, so I won’t be home to look at the rash.

Doc: I’m sure you’re a fine mother and Shepherd sounds like he will be just fine too.

Ha! I couldn’t help but laugh with irony and embrassment after I got off the phone. I’m telling you, just another shot at mother of the year…

A little update, a few reflections, no pictures…

Kimberly — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 04:38:46 +0000

No photos…our camera broke Christmas Day…we bought a new one and are still waiting on its arrival, hopefully any day now! We have taken pictures with the iPhone & iPad, but it’s not the same.

January is always an interesting month for me. There is a little post-Christmas-high-celebration let-down crossed with some relief that regular routines are about to commence…a sense of a fresh start….wonder at what the new year will bring…stuck in the thick of winter weather and the sun setting still too early…and this year planning Shepherd’s first birthday celebration.

Things have been pleasantly clam around our home. I have only worked Mondays & Tuesdays since the end of November and won’t throw in 2 Wednesdays a month until mid-February, which has been especially nice to have extra time to find adventure with Linden and Shepherd and to dominate my OCD cleaning & organizing to-dos during the 2-3 hr afternoon naps that both kiddos have been taking at the same time…I’ll enjoy that however long that lasts, amen!

Our community group (Life Group, Bible study group) has grown to more than 25 members so we are excited about multiplying the group and are looking at RC and I leading/hosting the multiplied group in the near future. It is exciting to watch God move in the lives of others through shared community.

Linden started a tumbling/gymnastics class on Thursday afternoons with one of her little girlfriends, Makenna. They had their first class last week and it goes until mid-March, which is perfect timing for it to end as we will be headed to Kansas for my Oma’s 80th b-day bash that my mom and I are planning. There are about 15 kiddos in the class and Linden had a blast, her highlight being that she walked off the balancing beam all by herself!

Shepherd is running everywhere these days! Linden loves playing hide & seek and has taught Shep how to hide, so this is his activity of choice. He gets so excited and breaks into laughter when you find him in his usual spot behind the floor-length curtains in the formal living room…you can’t help but smile at this little guy.

Some people have been asking if RC is traveling for work these days – nope, he is home and working at his usual office on a special project for what should be most of this year, which means no traveling – hooray! Although, I will say that the one good thing of him traveling 1x month was that I would work in Shep’s baby book during the week he traveled and record things for the previous month…so Shep’s baby book is in awesome shape until about month 8 Still far superior to me starting Linden’s baby book when she was almost 2.

Our family is excited about 2012 and the new adventures it holds! RC keeps reminding me that we will have a 4-year-old & 1-year-old, and I will be entering my last year of my 20′s – ahhhhhhhhhhh………

But for now I celebrate that I have an 11 month old, a 3.5 year old and that I am a sweet, young 28

Overhead by Linden:…’outta these diapers!

Kimberly — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 21:05:02 +0000

While I was putting away Linden & Shepherd’s clean clothes this morning I overheard the toilet flush, which mainly perked my attention because Linden had just gone to the bathroom and I could not see what Shepherd was doing. As I make my way towards their bathroom I hear “Good job Shepherd! That’s how you flush your poops and tinkles down the toilet!” I then hear Shep clap and say “Yea!!!!!!!!” because she has him so excited over him flushing the toilet.

Linden then proceeds to tell Shepherd it’s time for him to get outta’ these stinky, smelly, baby diapers….doesn’t he want to wear some Lighting McQueen boy panties (ha!)?

They both run in to where I am and Linden share the good news that she has shown Shepherd how to flush the toilet and all I need to do is show him how to sit on it (that’s all, huh?).

They left the room again and I hear Linden telling Shepherd to lay down so she can get that diaper off and he can borrow some of her girl panties until mommy can go to Target to get him some boy panties…

And that’s where I had to stop the fun and excitement of Linden trying to potty-train her 11 month old brother…I promised her I would be sure to enlist her assistance in about 12 months

Conversations with Linden Paige: 2 Babies

Kimberly — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 18:20:46 +0000

One of the 3 presents Linden wanted for Christmas was a Barbie car. She owns no Barbies and I think she learned about Barbie at her friend Natalie’s Barbie party (Natalie turned 6)…but she wanted one for Christmas, and Pa-Paw Hopper & G’ma Shell fulfilled this dream. RC picked up a basic, as non-trashy-looking-as-possible-Barbie for her so she had someone to put in the car…

Me: So Linden, what do you think of your new Barbie?

LP: Oh, I really love her. She is going to be a mommy.

Me: Really?

LP: Yes, my Barbie has 2 babies in her! (pointing to her chest…)

RC: So, it begins….

Shepherd Scott is 11 months old

Kimberly — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 18:04:48 +0000

Little man is another month older and getting oh-so-close to turning the big 1! He is the most easy-going, fun-natured, happy, smiley boy.

He was not nearly as interested in opening Christmas presents as he was finding a good box to sit on and clap and cheer for everyone else opening their gifts. He is quick to clap for anyone doing something well, or throw his hands up for a “yea!” when he gets really excited or when we say “Amen” after prayers…I guess that his version of the Tebow. And you can sure bet he will always wave “hello….”

Some of Shep’s highlights this month include:

enjoying Nana’s gingerbread men
drinking water well from his sippy cup
being able to pull snacks out of his snack cup
mastering walking and starting to run
being tall enough to pull things off of the kitchen table
figuring out how to ride his firetruck toy
coloring and maybe eating a little crayon {non-toxic, of course}
wearing size 4 diapers
wearing 18-24 month clothes
still our sleeping rock star…I’ve even had to wake him up from both of his naps most days…we think he’s been having a growth spurt
he hadded 3 new teeth… 2 on the bottom, and 1 on the top
he loves, loves playing with toys…LP was never quite this interested and entertained by her toys at this age
started giving kisses…sweet slobbery ones
saying hi, bye-bye, Linden (sounds like inden), ma-ma, da-da, na-na, vroom for his toy cars, yea
graduated from his infant car seat to a convertible car seat…still rear-facing for another 6 months or so

Read Linden’s 11 month post

Top 11 from 2011

Kimberly — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 17:29:34 +0000

2011 was a great year for the E household. God was good and we saw Him work in awesome ways in the lives of our immediate and extended families, as well as in the lives of those around us. I thought I would close out the year with 11 of the highlights of our last year…can’t wait to see what 2012 brings!

We added a 4th member to the family…Shepherd Scott was born on Feburary 2
We made our 2nd annual mini-vaca to Glenwood Springs & hiked Hanging Lake with 2 kiddos
A student who RC discipled became a Christian and was baptized
RC turned 30 and we celebrated with dear friends the Kirchners, Sampsons, Prewitts and Barkers in Breckenridge for a surprise trip & vaca in the mountains.
I celebrated my 10 year high school reunion back home in KS
Linden turned 3!
RC and I celebrated our 6th wedding anniversary
Linden got glasses
RC and I took a week-long sans-kiddos vacation to Boston
Our 2nd nephew, Lucas Jude, was born on December 26th

Handmade Burlap Christmas Stockings

Kimberly — Sat, 17 Dec 2011 06:23:40 +0000

I have wanted to make a Christmas stocking for Linden since she was born, but I have just never gotten around to it until this year. Part of my hesitation was a huge pressure I put upon this Christmas stocking…I mean, I still have my childhood Christmas stocking, so I felt like whatever I came up with needed to be good so that it could stay with our children through to their adulthood {I mean, if they liked it and all…}

After a lot of thought I finally landed at a burlap stocking. I love the look of burlap…demension…texture…homey….antique…durable…love it.

Then I made a few phone calls to my Grandma M. to get her sage-sewing input…I mean, seeing that I had never taken the sewing machine she gave me at my college graduation out of the box, it was surely a wise move to consult her. She gave me great instruction, such as the best way to sew together my burlap and muslin lining…using a denim-weight needle in my machine whenever I was sewing on the burlap, and making my stitch longer and looser when sewing through the porous material of the burlap. All things that I never, in a million years, would have thought of. Grandmas are wonderful for many things, especially sewing advice.

I then enlisted the excellent drawing skills of RC to construct my pattern vision for me out of a large brown paper bag. He perfectly drew the elongated, modern stocking shape that I in my head, even leaving me great seam space.

I was feeling pretty good about the whole stocking assembly process until it came time to actually use the sewing machine…hum, now how do I load the bobbin…thread the thing… {thank you Grandma M. for sending me to sewing camp when I was 14!}

I used a 1/2 inch seam and sewed the burlap and muslin together at the same time {at my Grandma’s instruction, I pined/cut the muslin & burlap out together and then sewed it together at the same time, this worked out very well!} I almost got a little ahead of myself and sewed my pattern to the stocking…

My first awesome mistake is pictured above…sewing my pattern to the burlap/muslin base…DOH! Ah, just the first of many, many blunders I made on this project.

The stocking bases are finally together… {sigh of relief}

My next step was to iron down my topper fabric {I don’t know if this even makes sense, but it was the fabric that I was going to wrap around the top of the stockings} I ironed my 1/4 of a yard fabric in half, and then ironed down a 1/4 inch seam at the top.

I then pinned it to my burlap/muslin stocking base to help it stay in place when I sewed them all together.

And as you can see from the photos above, the inside of the stocking was not looking pretty either…something else I did not really anticipate when I started {notice a pattern here…there were many things I did not anticipate when I started!} so I would later handstitch some lovely brown Grosgrain ribbon to cover up my lame stitching and seams…BOOM…in the meantime, sewing through 2 layers of muslin, burlap and cotton fabric presented a challenge to obtaining a half-decent looking outter stitch. No matter how I adjusted the settings on my sewing machine, it just never looked pretty.

Phew!

I was so glad to be done sewing with the machine at this point…and least you be fooled in to thinking this whole thing was moving along swimmingly…I think I was a good 4 hours in to the project at this point…

Next I stenciled on the initials of the kids’ first name…I used Stencil Magic’s Paint Creme from JoAnn’s

I then added the hooks for hanging by cutting a 3 inch piece of the cotton fabric, ironing it in half, sewing with a 1/4 inch seam and then had RC assist in turning it right side out, sewed the bottoms together and handstitched it in to the stocking…

Lastly, I had to tackle my lame sewing by covering it up with some nice brown grosgrain ribbon on the outside and in. I handstitched this in for good measure {peace out for now sewing machine!}

And with the company of Micheal Buble singing Christmas lovlies to me while RC was at a youth lock-in at the church, they were done…so many billable hours were put in to these that they are completely priced out of the regular Christmas stocking market, but I am so glad that I did these for Linden & Shepherd…there were a few times that I considered stopping the project and just ordering the cute ones at Pottery Barn Kids that went on sale last week…but hopefully they will be able to enjoy these for years and know that their momma put hours of love in to them {and needle pricks in to my fingers}…I am very happy with how they turned out. Now it’s time to fill them

Merry Christmas!

These shoes were made for waking

Kimberly — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 18:51:14 +0000

Shepherd officially started walking on Thanksgiving Day (9 months) and has been rapidly improving his skills every day. What else is a little brother to do when he has a lively 3.5 year old sister to keep up with? This last weekend we headed over to Nordstrom to get Shepherd his first pair of big boy walking shoes…he has been wearing a pair of Pedipeds since August, but their soles are completely soft, so he really needed something more durable and stable for his new moves. We love getting the kids shoes at Nordstrom – their kids shoe staff is so well-trained and do such a good job of making sure we have the proper fit and that there is plenty of room for growing. And if you get your kiddos’ first pair of walking shoes at Nordstrom they take a Poloriod picture of your kiddo in their new shoes and give it to you, along with a stuffed animal of their mascot, Nordy.

Shepherd is so pleased with himself after he walks to his destination that there is always a smile and a clap of accomplishment he gives himself.