End of November pictures

Ethan at Thanksgiving

James and Alex at Thanksgiving

Grant and Grandpa Rigsby at Thanksgiving

Ethan

Grant

Ethan's favorite spot at Aunt Donna's house. He especially loved this when he wasn't feeling well. he slept here for one of his naps. It was a bean bag. He LOVED it!!

Cousin Lucas kind of was jipped out of a really big 1st birthday bash since quite a few people in the family were sick. But he got to have a small party. He loved eating his cake (complete with blue frosting!!). His brothers and sisters really loved that he got a bunch of new toys too!! :)

Grant didn't end up getting sick, so he was basicly happy most of the weekend/week. Except after James left on his business trip. I think he really notices when James is gone.

Alex was the worst sick. He could not keep anything down, which made for not a lot of fun around Donna's and Elizabeth's houses. I think they are feeling better now, but you can just see it in his face in this picture he wasn't feeling well.

Grant, Ethan, and Alex

Video on RMHC website

Oh my gosh. One of my friends on facebook directed me to this video on the Rocky Mountain Hospital for Children's website. I went to their home page to find it, and WHAM!... we are on the page front and center!!! It is a pretty good video. The friend is also in the video too with her precious family and little boy that was in the NICU with our boys. This was taken just after the boys turned 1 year.

The webpage for RMHC is http://rockymountainhospitalforchildren.com/.


I didn't realize their hair looked so bad!! Oh well.

QOTW - What is your favorite Thanksgiving recipe? Butter Horn Rolls

The Multiples and More blog community that I am a part of does a QOTW (question of the week) each week. This week the question is "What are your favorite Thanksgiving (or holiday) recipes? Are they ones that are passed down or one you found yourself?"

I decided to put on here my all time favorite recipe. I love making these and they are very addicting to eat!! I wish I had a picture of them, but I don't. I will get a picture over the Thanksgiving holiday.

I remember going to my grandmother's house before Thanksgiving or Christmas and helping her roll these up. She would make hundreds (if not a thousand or more) of these every Christmas. Now my aunts and mom have taken on the "duty" of making rolls!! I do them sometimes too (when I have the chance).

I do not know where the recipe came from. Mom, Marie, or Donna, could you enlighten me on that?

I will be making them this Christmas since we will be staying at home. I am so excited to do my bake-a-thon one weekend (James has already agreed to take the boys off my hands.)

These are the best rolls I have ever had, but they take a while to make. Be prepared to spend at least 5 hours on them (not all of that is in the kitchen however). ENJOY!!

BUTTER HORN ROLLS

Ingredients
1 cup milk (@ room temp)
1/2 cup butter (softened)
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt (optional)
1 package yeast
3 eggs beaten (also @ room temp)
4 1/2 cups flour (approx.)

To make dough-
dissolve yeast in 1/4 cup warm water (about 100 degrees) and a tablespoon sugar. Let rise till yeast is doubled.

Meanwhile, combine milk, butter, sugar, and salt. Add doubled yeast. Gently mix together. Add eggs. Gently mix. Add flour. Dough should be thick and a tad sticky. Add more or less flour for consistency.

Put dough in a large bowl, cover with a dish towel and let rise for at least 2-3 hours. (Make sure it is in a warmish place - between 70-80degrees so it can rise properly.)
If desired, punch dough down and let rise again.

To form rolls -
take a ball of dough about the size of your fist (or a bit more) and roll out on a floured surface (roll it out like a pizza crust). Roll to about 1/4 inch thick. Take a pizza cutter and cut into 12pieces. Start at edge of piece and roll dough in onto itself, like a crescent roll.

Repeat until all dough is gone.

To bake-
Preheat oven to 350. Place rolls on greased cooking sheet and bake for 10-15 minutes. There should be a touch of brown and the inside should be not goo-y. :)

Yield ~ 3-5 doz (depending on size of rolls)

Prematurity Awareness Day

15 months ago Alex, Grant, and Ethan were born premature. Very premature. Ethan is/was considered a micropreemie, since he was so small. March of Dimes is working on research trying to find causes and cures for premature birth.

We know why we had to give birth to these boys early, since Ethan had a flow issue in his cord. However, we don't know why that was a problem and what caused it. We can only speculate.

I am so thankful to Presbyterian/St. Luke's that they did a WONDERFUL job at keeping these boys healthy and sending them home with us.

Videos of the boys playing with eachother (REALLY cute)

Alex takes his first steps

Alex is starting to be interested in walking. He has taken a few steps on his own. Here is a video of him at church yesterday. He is so close, but still a bit unstable.

Beginning of November, vol 2

Our therapist suggested that I give the boys something to climb on. She suggested that I use the couch cusions on the floor and let them climb to their hearts content. So, that is what I did. I have 2 climbing monsters now. Grant and Ethan can't get enough of the climbing. Alex isn't quite sure he likes to climb yet. Here are a few videos of them climbing around. Ignore me in the background. I was talking on the phone to James.

Beginning of November, vol 1

Alex

Ethan

Grant

Grant

Ethan and Alex

Alex

Where is Grant? He is hiding under the blanket, sortof. He climbed up there all by himself and cuddled with the blanket.

Ethan was sitting on his knees screaming at Jet barking. It gets kind of crazy around the house when that starts.

Ethan eating peas with Daddy. Ethan isn't one to normally snack, but for some reason he was really liking the peas daddy had for dinner one night. So, James fed him a bunch of peas. He looked so cute chewing...

Getting close

Alex took two steps on his own without me coaxing him this morning.

James and I have been working with him trying to get him to walk between us. Most of the time he just falls into our arms, laughs, then turns around and falls into the others arms.

This morning I got into our living room after getting ready just in time to see Alex let go of the couch and take two steps towards a toy. Both James and I saw it. It won't be too long before he is taking more steps on his own. At least he is getting brave enough to try it some without us coaxing him.

It won't be long till they are all running around!

End of October vids and pics

This is the noise that sometimes invades my house. I really can't do anything about it once it starts. :)