Come They Told Me . . . Pa Rum Pa Pa Pum

What a lovely weekend - What a fast weekend. Pete, Emily Ann, and Alaina arrived late Friday night. We had the pleasure of spending the day together on Saturday. Since I saw Alaina last June, it seems that she has become a drummer! She loves all sorts of music, noises, and dancing!

Happy 39th Anniversary

This weekend I had the great pleasure of traveling to Peachtree City to visit Mom and Dad. I flew in on their 39th Anniversary from Detroit and Dad flew in late that evening from Japan. He brought back a very special card that he had a Japanese friend write in Kanji symbols. She also wrote a translation in English. We have always chuckled at how the translations don't always come out so smoothly. We have laughed all weekend at this one!

It's a GIRL!

We are expecting a baby girl! Addison Jane looks perfect on the ultrasound and we couldn't be happier that she is healthy and growing strong. Thanks for all your prayers and good thoughts!

Pete, Emily, and Alaina

A visit from Faith

Faith came to visit us for four wonderful days last week!

Thank you Addy for letting her come -- we know you missed her!
Here are some highlights from her visit!

"Can we go swimming now?" "Is it time to go in the pool?"

Faith is a little fish and loved swimming in our pool.

Her favorite activity was jumping in -- over and over and over!

She wouldn't stay still for long in the water!

Faith loved playing Guitar Hero with the boys!



A visit to Manitowoc wouldn't be complete without a visit to the cow to get ...

Ice Cream!!!

Faith braves the lion's mouth at the Manitowoc Zoo to get a drink of water.

We miss you Faith!

Come visit again soon!

Bon Appetit!

If you truly love to cook - you will like this movie: Julie & Julia. I pulled my copy of of Julia's cookbook that my mom gave to me and perused through before the movie which made it even more delightful!

Band Camp

This past weekend was SUPER busy - but among the craziness I had the opportunity to dash the construction and the deluge rain to see Tim and his students perform at Band Camp. We were on the phone several times while I was driving to Lansing because the rain was coming down so hard that they thought they might have to cancel. They've never cancelled in 22 years - so Tim devised plan B and we saw the band play meso forte in the cafeteria at Hubbard Hall.

One of the greatest aspects of seeing Tim and his band is that Tim's LOVE for what he does really shines through. It is so evident that he thoroughly enjoys his career. He gives bold instruction, talks quietly with a student to say that he really likes how they've done this week, he meanders through the crowd of parents telling them how appreciative he is that they were flexible, he smiles at the flags to let them know he hasn't forgotten that they are tucked in the corner of the cafeteria and he waves his arms with enthusiasm as he conducts and then turns it over to his "fresh out of the box" drum major!

Tim - thanks for making this world a place where kids love music!!

Seeing Red

My new hair cut with RED highlights!

Baby Nadeau Update

Hi all!

We are going to find out on the 20th of August whether we are having a girl or a boy, so we thought we should finalize our name choices. If it's a boy, he will be Joseph Paul and if it's a girl, she will be Addison Jane. Thanks for all the name suggestions and being involved in this exciting time for us!

Love you all,
Emily Ann and Peter

New Look for the Summer! - The Reveal

You were all right! It is the old Pier in Marquette. I took the picture last Labor Day! The water was so beautiful that day! It practically looks like the ocean.

A Lazy Day Yields Visions of Vegetables

Hello All - I hope you are doing well. It's just a lazy day here at my house. I slept in (ugghh) and I'm still in my pj's. My morning has not been super productive: I watched one episode of Veggie Tales about "rumors" (he he he - a grown woman watching Veggie Tales - I think this is why people have kids so they can still watch cartoons about cucumbers, tomatoes, and asparagii). I sure do miss the old Tales in which they told Bible stories. Then I watched a fantastic episode of Gourmet's: Diary of a Foodie. It was my favorite episode - all about living off of the earth - from the garden - from the local animals. It is a secret dream of mine. So my morning as been filled with visions of vegetables.

Speaking of - my garden is growing well - slow because of the weather - but the vegetables have been really delicious. So far I have eaten lots of yellow squash, zucchini, cucumbers and one green pepper. I can't wait for the eggplants to come in so I can make ratatouille.

I am trying to muster up some energy to pick up the house!

Hope you are having the same kind of day!

Tracy

New Look for the Summer!

The blog got an update over night. A few of you may have even seen it in the in-between stages (ewhh~~). Anyhow, the new header is a photograph that I took and I am wondering if you can identify (1) what it is and (2) where it was taken!! Go ahead and leave a comment with what you think!

Big News from Silverhill, Alabama

I just LOVE this story. Read ALL ABOUT it! at Zion Lutheran's website.

The article also appeared in their local newspaper - How Cool!!! The pastor sent it to mom and dad and they scanned it for all of us to see. There are three pages. Click on the links below.

Page 1
Page 2
Page 3

24 Hour Solitude Retreat

Yesterday I headed off to Plymouth, MI to the St. John's Retreat Center with 23 other folks from my church for a solitude retreat. It was a great experience. We were alone on the grounds of the beautiful retreat center for 24 hours of prayer, reading, and fasting. I know it might sound like tons of rip roaring fun - but I assure you it was wonderful. I was a bit nervous about being all alone as I am a fairly social person - but God was right there with me. I spent most of my time in the labyrinth garden and the waterfall garden. (that was my favorite) My friend Jenny went too and we snapped a photo after the retreat was over. The photo above pictures a cross with seeds growing in it. The four corners represent the four seasons. Does anyone know the name of the artwork? I wish I had taken a picture of the plaque so that I could remember.

If you haven't taken time alone to be with God lately - or ever - I want to urge you to do so. It will be a rewarding and fulfilling experience.

Psalm 32:7 You are my hiding place; You preserve me from trouble; You surround me with songs of deliverance.

My Mom Is a Famous Catalog Knitter

Mom, aka. the machine, has been knitting up samples for one of the most preeminent knitting suppliers; Knit Picks. Her lace work has been of particular interest to the company and her latest work is found on page three of the catalog. I was so excited to receive it in the mail! You too can take a peek at it in the on-line catalog!

Knit Picks Online Catalog - Queen Silvia Shawl

Zion Lutheran Church; Silverhill, Alabama

Zion Lutheran Church (take a look at the site in the historical section you will see Erick Ulrickson's name. If you look at the pages of the book by clicking on it you will see his signature.)



Today Paul and I went to Silverhill, Alabama to visit the area that Great-Grandfather Erick Ulrickson went to after the panic 1893. What we had gathered is that a group of Swedish man sent out three groups to Alabama to find a place to work and live. Erick's group came to Silverhill. The area was all forest and ready for logging. In the records of the church it appears that he was one of the founding fathers of the Zion Lutheran Church. In 1905 he became one of 16 founding members. in 1905 he is listed as one of four Historians. In 1907 The historical records of the church state that Eric Ulrickson became the custodian.

Then in 1907 a large unnamed Hurricane hit the area many people were killed or left the area. Erick's attendance records which are not that good have him gone after 1909. We were told that by 1910 only three of the first 16 were left.

We went to the cemetery but could not find him there. We then found the name of the man who has all the records for the cemetery Elvin Ewing. Mr Ewing looked in his records and could not find Erick. He did say that there were 25 unknowns buried there. We then went to the local smallllllllll library and got a book on the history but it didn't help. She recommended we talk with Gus Ulter in his 80's and one of the oldest members of the church. Gus was interesting but did not know about Erick. He recommended we talk to Pastor Dave. Pastor Dave met us at the church and spent the next 2 1/2 hours talking with us and showing us all the old records. He called the Lutheran church for information with little luck. It was really interesting.

Paul got to ring the bell and we saw the old church now someone's home across from the church. All the old things displayed in a museum in the back of the church. We had a great time.

We know little more about Erick but not much. We do have a copy of his signature on the old papers. We also have several historical books about the Swedish Community.

Family Fun on the 4th of July

GG and the kids waiting for the parade to start!

Faith did not like the Fire engines TOO LOUD! But she was really good at getting the candy with the boys! Boy is she getting big and beautiful!

Maybe next year Carrie will be the bagpiper in the parade next year! We then went to the park and had pasties and roasted chicken. HMMMM good!

Then off to Linda for the best corn casserole, hot dogs and hamburger in town. A little water balloon fight and lots of good conversation. What a wonderful day with wonderful people! We missed the others Tracy, Tim, Peter, Emily Ann, Alaina, Susie, Paul, Kirsten, Heather and her family, Michelle! Maybe this Christmas we will all be together.

love to all
Emily

Our new friends!

The boys have new friends -- gerbils!

This is Chuck. He's Isaac's gerbil who is named after his favorite TV show "Chuck." Isn't he adorable?

Here's Adam's gerbil, Cooper. Adam's Kindergarten teacher just had a baby boy and named him Cooper. Adam thought it was a cool name!

Here are the boys in the bathtub socializing with their pets. I read online that this is a good thing to do to get the gerbils used to you. The kids loved it!!! and I think Chuck and Cooper did too. I'm sure this will be a daily occurance this summer. Yes we have a pink bathtub. Isn't it lovely?

Adam and Cooper

Love to all!

Joy and all my boys

Crazy Cookin' Fool

Today I woke up late - yuck - I feel so unproductive when I do that.

I did get to visit with Dad for a few minutes before he headed back to Atlanta. I love to see him if even for just a few minutes. I went running afterward and then took a really long grocery trip in which I went up and down every single aisle and looked at everything they had. And well. . . they have everything, except for the canned whole cranberries that I needed for one of my recipes. I hurried home - emptied the dishwasher and loaded up the stranded dishes from the sink. Then the cookin' began.
Here's what I made: Kay's Chip Dip, Roasted Sweet Potatoes on the Grill, Cranberry Chicken (my best variation yet), and Cranberry and White Chocolate Chip Cookies.

Kay's Chip Dip is a brand new recipe to me. Pete and Emily's friend Kay made it this past weekend for Alaina's party and I couldn't get enough. You can substitute out the full fat items for the lowfat!

8 ounces cream cheese
16 ounces sour cream
1 teaspoon garlic salt
1/2 teaspoon cumin
2 dashes red cayenne pepper -- to taste
8 ounces shredded sharp cheddar cheese
1 large red bell pepper -- diced

Mix together cream cheese, sour cream, garlic salt, cumin. Make sure that the cream cheese is thoroughly incorporated.

Mix in 4 ounces of the shredded cheese.

Mix in diced red bell pepper.

Pour mixture into a serving dish. Top with remaining 4 ounces of cheese

Serve with Multigrain chips.

Roasted Sweet Potatoes is a standard favorite in my heart. Peel the sweet potato. Sharpen your knife and then cube the sweet potato into 1-2 inch pieces. Mix in a bowl with a small amount of olive oil. Place 1 layer thick on a sheet pan (or foil if you are going to grill)


Cranberry Chicken is a recipe that I have been trying to perfect for a LONG time. Tonight – I may have gotten it! I made it on the grill this evening. One of the key factors is that my ground ginger is especially good from Penzey’s Spices. There is a shop not too far from my house – but you can mail order too!

1 pound chicken
1 can cranberries -- whole
2 tablespoons onion flakes
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground ginger
2 tablespoons brown sugar -- heaping
2 tablespoons flour -- heaping
1/2 cup Italian salad dressing


Mix cranberries, onion flakes, cinnamon, ground ginger, brown sugar, flour, and Italian salad dressing.

Prepare chicken for baking. I prefer to pound the chicken flat.

Place the chicken in a baking dish (or in a foil bowl if you are going to use the grill) and cover with the cranberry sauce.

Cook at 350 degrees (or low on the grill) until the chicken is cooked through.

Cranberry & White Chocolate Chip Cookies. I have been trying to make this recipe for several weeks now but it’s been simply too hot to turn on the oven. This is my neighbor Lois’ favorite cookie recipe. I lost the recipe and had to go to her house to ask for it even though I had given her the recipe in the first place. The recipe was on the back of a bag of dried cranberries. It is now the recipe that I make to say thank you to my neighbors. The lucky recipient will be: Lois & Chuck for always being great neighbors, for Bob for letting me borrow his wheelbarrow and the cutting knives for the sod, and Gene & Vicki for turning of the main valve to my water when it was spurting ALL OVER my basement when the washer hose busted! Thanks neighbors. I feel like I should make a batch next week too for the garbage men; especially the guys who loaded up my 90+ leaf bags after the sodding extravaganza.

2/3 cup unsalted butter
1 1/2 cups packed brown sugar
2 tablespoons honey
1 large egg
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup oats
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
3/4 cup white chocolate chips
1 cup dried cranberries

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Mix together butter, brown sugar, and honey. Add egg and vanilla, mix well.

In a large bowl stir together flour, oats, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon; add to butter mixture and mix until well combined.

Stir in cranberries and white chocolate chips.

Place dough 2" apart on an ungreased baking sheet until edges are slightly browned and centers are still soft (around 12 - 15 minutes) Do not over bake.

Cool completely and Enjoy!

And one last thing I did in the "cookin'" world was to make Southern Sweet Tea for the girls doing the Esther Study with me this summer. I brewed 3 quarts of tea, added true lemon, and a cup of simple syrup that I made on the stove. Needless to say - It was a big hit!

Now get out there family - and get cookin'. Let us know how it all works out!

Love, Tracy

Alaina's First Birthday - June 20th

We had a lovely time in Chicago celebrating Alaina's first birthday. My oh my does time fly by. Pete and Emily invited family and friends over to their terrace for a barbecue and cake. I think Alaina has more friends than I do as the whole crew came out - she's a popular girl if I may say so. It was a blistering hot day in the sun and we eventually moved the party back upstairs to the air conditioning so that we the cake didn't melt. Alaina was a trooper and kept her smile on even though she wasn't feeling perfectly well (she was teething). She enjoyed her cake (although we think the sugar made her tummy a little funny that evening) and she became quite adept at opening presents. Christmas should be a real hoot with her!


Look at her eye the cake!


Playing with her new toys.


Outside in the shade. I double heart this picture - it captures the essence of her - her lips - her eyes - her nose. perfectly perfect.

My attempt at a birthday cake. We had to punt with the food coloring. Mom came up with a great alternative to use the precolored gel that they had at the store to color the white frosting. Surprisingly they didn't carry food coloring. I guess not too many people bake their own cakes these days . . . sad.

Pretty party dress.

Family Camping

Hello everyone!!!

We had a wonderful weekend camping together at Wells State Park in the U.P.

Winter and Lindsey were with us too but had to head for home before we took the family picture. We were glad they were there! Everyone stayed up late around the campfire visiting and Carol had the super idea of everyone sharing "true confessions." There were some funny stories told.

Happy Birthday Faith!

Happy Birthday to Alaina too! We were all thinking of you on your 1st Birthday!!!

Time to open a few presents!

Happy Father's Day to all the amazing dads and grampas in our family. How blessed we are!
We're looking forward to the 4th of July weekend when we can all be together again.
Love, Joy