We've Moved!!!!!!!!!!

"Joel and His Girls" just doesn't seem quite right anymore, does it??
Visit us at The Juhala Adventures. See you there!!!

The Juhala Family

Not very often do we all get in a picture together....and here we are at Zoo Lights with little Dash!  Thanks, Uncle Jesse!

Gluten Free Pie Crust

We did it! I got fed up with not being able to find gluten free pie crusts anywhere, so we made our own! A roll-out pie crust seemed a little risky, so we went with the pat-in-the pan variety for this year's Thanksgiving day pecan pie. It was flaky and delicious. (I hadn't realized hoe much I missed good old fashioned pie!)
Here it is, Fiona:

Gluten Free Pie Crust:

Whisk together:
1 1/2 c. gluten free flour ( I used Bob's Red Mill)  1 t. xanthan gum and 1/2 t. salt.

Add:
1 stick of butter, softened, cut into small pieces. Mash with the back of a fork until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.

Pour:
2 T. heavy cream over mixture and mix until the crumbs hold together.  Add up to 1 more T of cream if necessary.

Transfer the mixture to a 9 inch pie plate and pat evenly over the bottom and sides of pan, leaving enough of a crust edge to crimp or flute. Prick all over with fork.  Add filling and bake!!

If baking pie shell alone for uncooked filling, bake at 400 degrees for 18 minutes.

There you go! It's as easy as....dare I say it?...PIE!

Give Thanks

There are so many things that I am thankful for this year! My loving family, my beautiful new baby boy, my wonderful friends. My freedom. Snow outside, a warm fire in the fireplace,  and a good book to curl up with. The excitement in my girls faces as they continually talk about going to Zoo Lights tomorrow.  The Roberts family, who we've adopted as cousins, proving family doesn't have to be merely by blood relation! And, yes, I'm grateful for the table full of sausages, olives, cheese balls, crackers, candy and fudge....and for the turkey and mashed potatoes that will take their place in a few hours! I'm thankful for the way Seleia's face lights up every time she wants to talk to me about more "science things that are instersting". I'm grateful for how nothing, but nothing, can keep Elora from taking care of her "baby brudder". I give thanks for Amarra, our funny little firecracker (this morning Elora, discussing our family tradition of watching White Christmas every Thanksgiving while we eat our pie, said, "AMARRA! Guess what WE get to watch today!!". Amarra, deadpan, replied, "Iron Man?".) whose snuggles always warm my heart. I thank God for my husband. You truly are the love of my life, Joel, and I'd be lost without you. I'm thankful for my parents, my sisters, my brother, my brothers-in-law, my handsome nephew, and for the girl who plans on putting up with my brother for the rest of her life, though I've yet to meet you, Miss Taylor. I'm thankful for this holiday season of joy, love and light that is upon us...with so much to look forward to! I'm grateful for DeWayne, Shanna, and Vanessa, the best neighbors a girl could ever ask for. I give thanks for the egg nog in my peppermint coffee this morning...the little things do really matter! Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!!!  What are you thankful for??

Brrr!!!

We may not have gotten that much snow yesterday, but since the temperature didn't make it up even close to freezing, what we got stuck around!  The girls most definitely made the most, of it, too. They rolled around the yard, made little snow (& grass) angels, and even gathered up enough for a few little snowballs.  So much fun!

It's That Time of Year

Yesterday with the snow outside, the "Christmas Radio" on inside, and the Holiday preparations going on, even Dash got in to the Christmas spirit just a little bit early. Elora and Amarra built "The Great Polar Express Train" and took about 40 assorted groovy girls, princesses and stuffed animals along with their brother "To the North Pole, of course!!"  Meanwhile, Seleia formed a stuffed "Singing Christmas Tree" on her bed, with Woody as the director. Everyone had a grand ol' time, and Dashiell, after a few tours around the house, even took a lovely nap on the train.  I don't think they're looking forward to Christmas at all, do you?

Meet Julie

She now has twig arms and is a bit taller, but you get the idea.  Elora is busy now in the front yard, building her a mate.  May they have many, many little snow babies!

First Snowfall!!

We got home from church today just as the snow was beginning to fall....and there was just a little bit of excitement! Now the ground, the trees, the street...everything is blanketed in a beautiful coat of winter white. I'm going to make some hot apple cider and go play outside!!

Life with a Boy.

Now that our world is expanding to include all things boy, this video seemed oh so relevant. Because, really, what could be more important than talking to your kids about the things that  really matter? (Okay, so really, it just made me laugh so hard I almost peed my pants.  Enjoy.) (Please pause the music player in order to watch the video. Thanks.)

Hi There!

Little Man Juhala, almost two months old!

Splish Splash!

Every evening when it is not raining our family loves to head out on a walk and explore for an hour or so. (For a while there we had a dry spell and got to go every day! Not so much lately!!) Last week it was pouring so hard that we could barely see across the street  and then suddenly...glorious sun! We threw our boots on and headed out quickly before it could downpour again. The older neighborhoods nearby don't have sidewalks, so the girls stomped through puddles for a few blocks, loving every minute and giggling with delight. At one point the puddles actually got deeper than the boots were tall.......Elora thought the squishing in her boots the rest of the was home was FAN-tastic. (Amarra, not so much. But she decided it was worth it for the puddles.)

Shark Teeth!

Elora, after having had two loose teeth for months, finally lost them! Her first teeth! We discovered throughout the course of the day that her grown-up teeth were coming in behind the babies, so she had time to mentally prepare for the fact that that would be the night. (Also, she got to listen to the rest of us saying, "Shark Teeth, ooh ha ha!!" for the rest of the day. My bad.) While pulling the first tooth she discovered there was blood involved, and some minor hysteria ensued. She had no interest in pulling tooth number two! Then a little birdie told her that if you lose two teeth in the same day the Tooth Fairy not only doubles your money, she triples it. Elora took the dental floss and pulled that tooth! She was so excited, "Now I want to call all my friends and tell them!!" and reminded me gently at bedtime, "Don't forget to be the tooth fairy tonight, Mama!". 

Crazy Girl

 

For Seleia's birthday, her grandma took her out for a day of fun and shopping. Grandma took her the one place she always wants to go but Mama will almost never take her.....the mall. Apparently they now have bungee jumping in the middle of the mall. 'Cause that makes sense. Grandma sent me this picture from her phone after Seleia told me all about it, letting me know that, "the boy in front of me went so high, he was clear up to the balcony!! But don't worry, mom, I didn't go quite so high!" *sigh* My baby really is a little girl no more!

Eight Years Old!

Our darling baby girl is turning eight years old!!! November 10, 2002, after only 53 hours of  back labor, there she was! I will never forget the moment she was handed to me and looked straight onto my eyes as if to say, "There you are!!".  I was instantly in love. We are so blessed by you Seleia Vaughn! Happy Birthday!

Big Man, Little Man

There are not words to describe how much I love these men.

Go Amarra Go!

This October Amarra Noel decided it was time.  She grabbed her Dad, headed outside, and rode her bike with no training wheels! Seleia rode along for moral support and cheered her on.  She is definitely one of the big girls now!