Ruth's Big Debut

2009 EPCHS Christmas Concert with Ruth debuting her first solo with the choir!

Grandma's Butter Cookies

1 cup butter
1 cup sugar
2 eggs
1 tablespoon water
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 teaspoon baking powder

Add enough flour (3 cups) to make soft dough. Refrigerate dough until stiff. Roll out thin and cut into shapes.

Bake at 350 degrees approximately 6-7 minutes.
(Don't wait for cookies to start to brown, they burn very quickly)

Here are some pics of the house, basically photographed the kitchen, dining room, living room, and front porch so far. We'll have to wait for the girls to clean up downstairs before I can photograph the bedroom!

Look what I found at Berean (or whatever it's called now). Thought you would be interested to see that. Does it look like the ones you guys use ? Wouldn't that be wierd!

The Best of Times and The Worst of Times

While Mom took Abby and Chrissy to Youth Group, I decided it was time for Matty to learn to ride his bike. Knowing that you and Ruth both learned at 12 Oaks in the parking lot, I decided to take the boys up to Robein GS and ride in the parking lot there. Ben and Tony both whizzed around on their little bikes while Matty and I patiently persisted on his bike. The biggest obstacle seemed to be just getting him to keep peddling. Once we got past that the rest came together pretty quickly. The wide open space was just what he needed and before long he was making circuits the length of the lot. I included a video I shot shortly after his triumph. Soon enough he was realizing the thrill of speed and continued to quicken his pace. I encouraged him now that he learned how to balance to slow down and control the bike at slower speeds and also how to make a controlled stop. He did pretty good for the most part, only one time did he have to ditch the bike as it ran into the tailgate of the truck! That was a good lesson for him to pay attention better. It wasn't long though before he realized that by turning his handle bars back and forth that he could make a zig zagging motion, that combined with increased speed was becoming quite a rush! I decided it was time to shoot a second video to send to Mom titled, "I've created a daredevil!" Just as I was preparing to push the record button, I heard a crash and saw Matty on the pavement in a heap. The poor guy lost control and went off his bike face first to the pavement! Needless to say that was the end of the bike riding for the night. He ended up with an abrasion on his forehead above his left eye, and a skinned and bloody nose. He smashed his glasses but they were fixable. He is so proud of his accomplishment but a little skiddish about getting back on the bike!

a day at the Repke's minus the Repke's

I had asked Anna if we could collect eggs for them while they were on the bike trip so we went out today after church. After collecting eggs the kids changed and did a little bit of swimming. Ruthie was the only one who went on the zip line though. She hadn't done it before cause she was on her . It took her a bit the first time to get started but after that she had a lot of fun. I posted this video cause you can hear Tony laughing after she gets in the water. Thought you'd like that. It's not the best quality video cause I did it with my phone, but you'll get the idea.

Also thought I'd add a few misc. pics from the last few weeks. One of them is from dad's trip to NYC. See if you recognize it =D One is of Craig's character for VBS this week. You don't really get a full few of how ridiculous he looks, but it was all I could get tonight.

No Bake Chocolate cookies

thought you might like something that won't take you hours to bake. also good for a chocolate fix. hope you enjoy them...............


1 stk butter or margarine (8TBLS)
2 c sugar
6 TBL cocoa
1/2 c milk
1/2 c peanut butter
3 c oatmeal
1 tsp vanilla (optional)

place butter, sugar, cocoa and milk in large pan over medium heat. stir until well mixed. bring to a rolling boil and boil for 1 minute. remove from heat. stir in quickly: peanut butter, oatmeal and vanilla. drop by teaspoonful onto something to let them cool(i usually just put some wax paper on the counter. don't use something like paper towels-they would stick and be messy)

Very Good Chocolate Cake

cake

3/4 c butter
1 3/4 c sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
2 c flour
3/4 cocoa
1 1/4 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 1/3 c water

preheat oven to 350
cream butter and sugar until fluffy. Add eggs and vanilla and beat 1 minute. combine dry ingreds. in separate bowl. Alternate adding dry ingred. and water to butter/sugar mix. Pour into greased and floured pans.
Bake 35-40 mins for round pans
? 15 mins for cupcake/muffin size
frost when completely cool

Frosting
6 Tbl soft butter
3/4 c cocoa
2 2/3 c powdered sugar
1/3 c milk
1 tsp vanilla

cream butter, combine cocoa and sugar then add alternately with milk. Beat to spreading consistency then add vanilla

heavenly biscuits and pancakes

Biscuits makes about 5 dz(depending on how big you make them)

1pkg yeast (2 1/4 tsp)
5 Tbl warm water
5 c flour
5 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1tsp salt
1 tsp sugar
3 Tbl sugar
1 c shortening
2 c buttermilk

preheat oven to 450
Sprinkle yeast and 1 tsp sugar over warm water and stir to dissolve. Set aside. In a large bowl combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, 3 TBl sugar. Stir gently to "sift" together. Add shortening and blend with knives or hands, until mixture resembles crumbs. Add buttermilk and yeast mixture and stir well. Turn onto floured counter and knead LIGHTLY about6-10 times only. Roll or pat to about 3/4" thick and cut. Place on cookie sheet and bake for 8 mins or until LIGHTLY browned.
*Dough will keep in fridge if covered for about 3 days or it can be frozen (after shaping). to use if frozen-take out desired amount the night before and let thaw in fridge.


Pancakes-makes about 8-10 depending on size

1 egg
1 c flour
3/4 c milk
2 Tbl oil
1Tbl sugar
3 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt

Beat egg until fluffy then add other ingredients

The summer cut

Thought I'd send you some pics of Tony's new summer cut. I really like it. Ruth doesn't like it. It will be so much cooler for him now. After he got it cut he kept running his hand thru his hair saying," where Tony hair go, Mom?" It was really funny! I had a hard time getting him to sit still when I was trying to get his picture. I was able to get a couple cute ones though. The visit went ok. The plan was for her and I to meet at EP Wal-mart to get his hair cut then go to the Mc D's over

on Prospect where Angie

would meet us at 10:30

with the girls. Well, Angie

was 30 minutes late

getting there with the girls

and once we got there,

about 10:00 Teresa called

her dad and told him to

come on over to Mc Donalds

to be with us. That was

delightful! I was a little

irritated about that one!

Everything went fine, but

he wasn't supposed to be

there and they prolly won't

do anything about it except

tell her, again, not to do that

sort of thing. Tony didn't talk

to her at all while I was there

and Angie said he barely talked

or ate the whole time she was

with them. Once Angie caught

up with us they all left and went

to the zoo today.

What a
terrible day to go. It's 90 here. When she dropped him off afterwards Angie said they all complained the whole time. Prolly won't be doing that again anytime soon! Saw your new pictures. The church looks really cool. Is the only seating those couches or is there a more traditional area for the actual services? You guys always look like you're having so much fun together. That's a good thing! You will attract more people with your joy than by anything you say to them.

Hey Hannah, didn't Chrissy look awesome. Well anyway we are getting really bag weather coming tonight and we were supposed to do the Father's Day/Abby's B-day party tonight but I don't think it is going to happen because Grandma and Grandpa Kitty don't like going outside in storm weather. I don't blame them i heard it is supposed to be pretty bad, but I was still pretty disappointed. That is the second thing I have to wait for, because I am getting a mystery present. On the normal B-day Breakfast present time the card said Happy B-day and everything but at the top it said your second present is a mystery present. On Wednesday(6/17/09) Mom, Abby, and the person of your choice(I choose Khloe Livingston)will be leaving. Well you know me, I went over to mom and asked for a hint. She said we are leaving at 10 A.M. and coming back the next day at 1 A.M. Then I was thinking, "Oh great now I'm really going to be tired." well Chrissy found out what it is and when Khloe came over to our house Chrissy was saying how awesome it is and how much she is jealous, but she doesn't want to come because it is my present. Then since Kristen and Jake were in Tennesee, a couple days ago we went to Twisty Treat, but since I haven't been there for so long when Jake asked me if they take debit I didn't know what to say so I guesssed and said, "Yes." Well I ended up being wrong and Jake didn't anything,and even though Krisen offered to lend some money he said no. So we went home. If you didn't here yet Edy's was having a sale on Sunday-5 for $10. So when we got home we were telling Kristen the flavors we got and then she went inside. Luckly, we had Jake favorite flavor-cookies and creme, so she came outside with a bowl of ice cream and guess what Jake said, "Thank you Kristen, you know me so well."I am excited to get your present Hannah, and I love you lots.
Your Sis,
Abby

Okay- so the girls played a version of the quiet game today. They both had gray tape on their mouths and the "game" was to see who could leave it on the longest. The loser had to let the other one choose an "outfit" and then they had to frolic down Timber Lane singing "There's a Hole in the Bottom of the Sea". Obviously, Chrissy lost. It's hard to tell from the picture, but she's wearing her long pink satiny formal dress, with a one piece swimsuit over that, then a separate seimsuit bottom, then your old purple cape with a pair of underwear wrapped around her head. It was pretty awesome! Someone driving by stopped her and asked her if she was high. She said, "Honey, are you high?" Chrissy just smiled at her and kept going. Summer is off to a good start. Chrissy admitted later that the only reason she played the game is because she thought for sure Abby would lose. It was just such an awesome moment. Angie was here at the time. She thought we were all a bit nuts and wondered how and why we would have a cape in our closet. She just said we are one unusual family.

Also found out from Angie that she was in the Air Guard for 7 years and also did her basic and her tech school at Lackland. She said she was there also in the summer and that it's hot, but there's usually a nice breeze. Thought you'd like knowing that. She also said that after the first 2 weeks basic isn't so bad. She said it takes about that long to figure out what the drill instructors want from you; then, so long as you do what they want, it's not bad.

Be praying for Dad on Monday-that's when his test is. I'll be glad to have it over and done so he can think about something else. I'm sure he'll be glad to get it over also.

Best Ever Banana Bread--1 loaf

1 3/4 c flour
1 1/2 c sugar
1 tsp baking SODA
1/2 tsp salt
2 eggs
1 c mashed ripe bananas (2-3 medium bananas)
1/2 c oil
1/4 c + 1 TBL buttermilk (or soured milk)
1 tsp vanilla
1 c walnuts(optional)

Preheat oven to 325. In a large bowl, stir together flour, sugar, baking soda and salt. In another bowl, combine eggs, bananas, oil, buttermilk and vanilla. Add to flour mixture, STIRRING JUST UNTIL MOISTENED. Fold in nuts if using them. Pour into greased loaf pan and bake for 1 hour and 20 mins. Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pans to a cooling rack

What a busy day! We started the process of the "big move", with the bedrooms. Most of the stuff in your room Ruthie has boxed up and she's ready to go. My only saving grace has been her at work alot. In the process of everyone gearing up the scrapbooking room had become the staging area, but no one took any time to organize anything. Mom and I started by reorganizing and cleaning that room. Next we took apart the trundle beds, moved them to the basement and set them back up. That's where Chris and Abby will stay temporarily. Then I took down the bunk beds while Mom cleaned and cleaned and cleaned up the boys room! Once that was ready we reasssembled the bunk beds in the boys room, and fastened them to the wall as securely as possible. then I went back and finished removing shelves, corkboards, and curtain rods in the girls old room to get it ready for painting. Maybe it doesn't seem like much but we didn't actually get started until this afternoon about 3pm. Spent the morning weeding the garden, unpacking, and doing mountains of laundry to get caught up. Wanted to get the checkbook caught up too, but that will have to wait. I would do it tomorrow but I need to study bigtime for the Lt's test coming up on Monday the 15th! I'll be sooooooooooooo glad to have it over. While I want to do well, I'm having a hard time staying motivated. Hopefully tomorrow won't be a busy day at work and I'll have time to study.

I talked to Darren, he seemed kind of sad. He told me he was doing all his goodbyes with his family. Seems like reality is sinking in. I told him we would be at the airport in the morning, looks like it will be Mom, Abby, and me. The boys got to bed really late, so Ruthie will stay home with them, and Chrissy is staying home because of her being grounded. (she was NOT happy)

Vacation was great, but I'm glad to be home, just wish I had more time to ease back in before work. If you remember, you can pray for me with my test coming up. We sure think about you alot Hannah, we are so proud. I got Christine's email today that she sends out, it had pictures as usual, and it was so cool to see you as one of the highlights! Keep having a servant's heart, act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly and the Lord will lift you up and do great things through you as a vessel for his use. I loved seeing the pics you had posted, it really gave me an idea of what your area is like. Sorry we didn't get a chance to talk today, but know that we are always praying for you.

Going to bed now, but I'll write again soon.

All my love, Your Dad

drowning my sorrows

it's hard to tell just how much bubbles this is, but it was about 2 feet of bubbles on top of me. when i stand next to the tub it comes to the middle of my thigh and the bubbles were about 10 inches above the top of the tub. so i'm thinking with water in there it was at least 2 feet of bubbles. it was awesome!!!! except that some of the bubbles got in my ear and that was kind of annoying, but it didn't last long.

I guess this is really "what's happening in seattle"

Today was busy- we walked SO much, my legs were just dying by the time we were getting "home". we found this cool store called Dress for Less. it was awesome! big name clothes at clearance prices. ruthie got a couple dresses-one was $6 and i think the other was 10. did i mention it was a really cool store?
we bought stuff at the market today and brought it back to our room to fix for dinner. actually, dad fixed it while ruth and i were at the dress store. we decided that you were being daring in your food choices so we would also. we bought some fresh lemon-thyme pasta, 3 big scallops, some good bread and oil for dipping and cooking the scallops. the adventurous part was our veggie. something i've never seen or had before. basically it was garlic stems with the blossom still attatched. the blossom hadn't opened yet. bascially you fix it like asparagus, saut`ed in some butter or oil(we used the garlic/parmesagn oil we bought) and cut into bite size pieces. we all decided it was good but shouldn't really be used as the only veggie. it would have been better like in a stir fry with other viggies mixed in also. after dinner ruthie and i went down to the media center at the hotel and printed out her boarding passes for tomorrow(wednesday), bought some ice cream, came back to the room and all of us sat and gorged on the ice cream. it was fun!
the market was really good today. we ate a place called Uli's for lunch. they specialized in fresh, homemade sausages. so we each chose a different sausage and had them like we would have brats. they were so good! in between our meals we had some fresh cherries, grapes, honey, jelly samples(some of those were weird), white nectarine, peach, and pear samples(the nectarine was drip-down-your-chin-awesome), some little doughnuts, a weird tea (that kind of gave you a buzz), dad and ruth got some coffee samples and choc. covered coffee beans, lots of little bread chunks/oil samples and,oh, i forgot to tell you, with the sausage sandwiches, we had the french fries that you dipped in fresh mayonaise. i know that sounds gross, but we thought, what the heck, they suggest and serve it that way, let's try it. it was good-really good. dad even liked it-ruthie didn't try it. we decided our lunch was in memory of Tom-it was a german sausage place serving fries the german way. it was good.
we also rode a ferry today-it was nice to sit for a whole hour and just relax. we rode out to an island called Bainbridge. it was a pretty and relaxing break in our day.
that about sums things up for our day. we still haven't talked to the boys since we left. we keep missing them. sounds like they had fun with Darren today at the movie. i think it was good for all of them.

Grape Nuts

MIX
3 c brown sugar (or one of the substitutions)(you could do 3 c white sugar and 3/4 water)
2 1/2 c buttermilk (or substitute 2 Tbl vinegar + 21/2 c milk)
2 1/2 tsp baking SODA
6 Tbl melted margarine or butter
1 tsp salt
2 tsp vanilla or 1 tsp almond extract

ADD
7 cups sifted whole wheat flour

this is pretty thick. Bake in greased pans at 350 for 45mins. (usually needs 2 9x13 pan-so don't know what to tell you there-you don't want it too thick in the pan. better to bake more batches than make it too thick). Cool then crumble. Put back in pans and bake at 200 (very low temp) until hard, dry and crumbly (about 2 hours).

this sounds like a lot of work, and it is, but it makes a lot and lasts a long time. store it in something airtight. this is good both cold, just like a bowl of cereal, or warmed in the micro-put some in bowl, add milk, and zap for a minute.
stir in a little syrup or honey or add some fruit--yummy

Fudge Sauce

1 c. choc. powder (like cocoa-but could also use something less potent like nesquick)
1/3 c sweetened condensed milk
2 Tbl water

combine ingreds. in saucepan. cook over med. heat until boils----stir constantly!

Sweetened Condensed Milk

In a blender or with a mixer (blender is best, but use whatever):
1/4 margarine
1/2 c boiling water

With blender on, slowly add
1/2 c sugar
1 1/2 c powdered milk (don't know if you can get that-don't know what to tell you if you cant- prolly have to send it)

let set in fridge for 2-3 hours before using

Chocolate Ice Cream

1 can sweetened condensed milk (recipe to follow in case you can't get it)
2/3 c chocolate syrup (recipe to follow in case you can't get i)
1 c whipping cream

Whip cream until it doubles
In large bowl, combine milk and syrup. mix well, fold in whipped cream. Pour into 2qt container, cover and freeze.

*strawberry (or any berry)-omit choc. syrup. mash or beat berries (about 10 ounces-doesnt really matter if it's too little-too much makes things ind of runny), 3 beaten egg YOLKS and 1 1/2 tsp. vanilla(not necessary if you don't have it). fold in cream.

brown sugar subs.

looked it up and you have a couple options.
First-see if you can find molasses. That would be easiest. The substitution would be
1 cup brown sugar = 1 cup white sugar + 2 TBL molasses

if theres no molasses, look for some dark corn syrup (basically same thing as molasses) and sub the same as above.
if neither of those things are available you can simply substitute white for brown. you will lose flavor and moisture so keep that in mind if your recipe seems a bit dry. I would do 1 cup white sugar + 2- 3T water)

Sandy's coffee cake

cake- topping
1 egg 1/4c brown sugar
1/2 c sugar 1t cinnamon
2T melted butter 1T flour
1/2 c milk 1T melted butter
1 c flour
1/2t salt
2t baking POWDER

Preheat oven to 350 (try a medium to med-low setting). cream egg and sugar. add rest of cake ingreds. pour into greased and floured 8x8 pan. mix topping ingreds. and sprinkle onto batter. Bake appx 25 mins.

Tony says, "HI Hannah!"

The Lord's Day

Look what I found...................

they were in the garage on top of the lawn mower. no idea how that would happen at our house!

Like I said, I told you most of my day already. But it started with my alarm going off around 5:30am to remind me to get up and turn on my computer cause I figured you would be back to your apartment by then. Problem was that I couldn't wake myself up and kept falling back to sleep. At about 6:45 I heard my phone buzz and realized it was Darren telling me he talked to you. I jumped out of bed, ran downstairs to turn on my computer, as I was texting him to see if you were still on, but he said no. I was bummed out, I felt like I let you down. Chrissy was already up early to do her chores so she could spend the night with Jess. As I walked in the kitchen she handed me the phone saying, "the FD called earlier, I told them you were asleep, and I didn't know if I should wake you, sorry". I was a little miffed, they had called about an overtime day today, but actually it wouldn't have been a good day to be gone from home. Oh well!

Chrissy and I went into Church for clean-up day. We were trying to get things ready outside for the movie nights coming up. We filled holes in the lawn with a pickup load of topsoil, cleaned out the barn/shed behind the garage, cleaned out the garage, Mrs Luiten was organizing the planting of more flowers and plants in front. Not too many showed up, I think there were 12 of us including Chrissy and Jess. We did get alot done and completely filled a dumpster! Uncle Dave and I hung up the screen, I built it 12 foot wide by 9 foot high, and it looks like it will work out well.

This afternoon was spent chillin out at the computer while Matt and Ben did target practice on Mrs. Fuller's A/C with the 3 dozen eggs. Mom went over to the Graduation openhouse with Abby, Ben, and Tony. i stayed home with Matt and tried to catch up on odds-n-ends. We cooked burgers on the grill for dinner, and I must say they did turn out good! After dinner Matt, Ben and I all got our summer haircuts. Then into the shower with everyone to get the itchy hair washed off. Mom spent the day going through all the boy's clothes (not sure if she got through everything) and we finished straightening their room at bedtime. Ruthie got home by 9:30, she said work was OK.

I sure miss you and am sooooo thankful for Skype. It makes you feel a little closer. I hope your ears get to feeling better, talk to someone about it if you need to. I will be praying for you, as are many, many others. I love you so much and miss you even more, but I wouldn't want you to be anywhere else right now. There is something special about being at the center of God's will.

I will stop for now, I think Abby has something to write.

All my love,

Dad

Hey Hannah, i miss you so much even though it has been one day it feels like a week or two. When ever i start to miss you i just think that you are at work and the reason i didn't see you when you got home was because i was up stairs in mom and dad's room watching TV. i know it is a stupid idea but it has been working for me. i also know what i first want to get you from the U.S. but i don't know if you can or can not get there so i am doing some questioning. i don't want to tell you right now because i want it to be a surprise. i cant wait to see some pictures of your place on facebook. i think that sounds so weird "your place" oh well. well anyway yesterday was my fun day at school and i knew that Darren was really sad so i asked teacher Mrs. Bare if i could get a box of candy out of the bag for Darren. guess what i got him-jolly rancher gummies, they are really gooooood. i had a box of them at school and man are they delicious. i gave them to Darren today when he came to get his charger and Darren said to say thanks even though he doesn't even know her. today when the quadruplets were bringing me to grandma & grandpa's house they asked me how the hamsters were doing and i told them that mine ran away and chrissy's had heat stoke(but i was laughing so they told me to tell the story) theyn said it was mean to laugh but funny at the same time. good times good timmmmmmes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I LOVE YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

LOVE : AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAABBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Well I've been tracking your flight all day on the internet, watching you fly across Canada, Alaska, and out into the Bering Sea. You seem so far away, and I know that you are. You're out of my reach and it makes me a little nervous, but I know you'll never be out of God's reach. So I give you back to God and trust Him to care for you. I'm so proud of you and this step you are taking. You have consistently showed in each job you have undertaken that you have a natural ability to excel. God has given you special gifts.

We did our best to settle into our new routine at home. My grades for school were finally posted, I got A's for all three classes. So now I can get my information together to obtain my education points on the Lieutenants test. I filled out my reimbursement request forms from the FD so I can get paid back for the tuition. When I stopped by Central house to turn in my paperwork I saw Sam Sauder working a trade day, he asked about you, and told me he wants to support you while you're in Japan!

Ruthie found another $20 in your clothes while folding laundry. I'll deposit that in your account also. I also mailed off the checks and money today that you left for Gail. We talked to Gail also and are working with her to get supporters set up with automatic withdrawals monthly from their accounts.

I took home Chrissy, Abby, Matty, Benji, and Tony from the airport while Mom went to Shane and Brandy's to pick up eggs. Everyone was feeling like McD's so we stopped in Bartonville for a little treat. Abby and Matty went back to school and Mrs. Haley was interested to hear about you. We had leftovers for lunch and put boys down for naps. Ruthie made it home by mid-morning and spent most of the day chilling out by the TV. Tonight she went to "The Bean" to hear some live music and hang with her friend. About 4:30 Mom and I ran a couple errands and ended up at Fiesta Ranchera for some chips and salsa out on the patio. Didn't have much time but it was still nice. In the evening we took the boys out back for a while and let them show off on the trampoline.

The boys are in bed now and I'm ready to crash on the couch for a while and veg out. I'll be checking back at the computer all night to see the status of your flight until I know you have landed safely, I know I shouldn't worry, but I do, I hope God understands.

For now I will say goodnight my sweetie, I love you so much.

Your Dad

Well, our last breakfast together as a whole family......seems hard to believe. 3 more wake-ups and we'll be headed to the airport. I'm excited for you and nervous for you all at once. I know you will have fun and I know you will experience things and grow in ways you don't yet realize. Those kind of things are best classified as "things I'm glad I didn't know would happen."

So, I'll leave you with this blessing, "May the Lord bless you and keep you. May the Lord make His face shine upon you and give you peace."