October's Recipes

A hearty shout-out is in order to all of my recipe-contributing-blogger friends! Thanks to you, we have scads of delicious fall recipes for pumpkin, apple, and squash. Have fun cooking up these great dishes. I already have several lined up to try this month (starting with pumpkin oatmeal tomorrow morning). Here's the delectable listing of October's recipes:

Pumpkin Cheesecake
Apple Cranberry Crisp
Hot Apple Oatmeal
Apple Crisp Pizza
Pumpkin Oatmeal
Pumpkin Empanadas
Pumpkin Layered Dessert
Pumpkin Streusel Coffee Cake
Apple Affair
Libby's Pumpkin Roll
Kirsten's Apple Bean Bake
Spiced Pumpkin Praline Roll
Polish Kraut 'N Apples
Butternut Squash and Apple Casserole

November's recipe theme will be SOUPS. Submit your cozy soup recipes to me at aliciahorn@hotmail.com.

A pleasant surprise

This morning we arrived at church a few minutes late and the songs were already starting. We filed into a row and I found myself smack dab behind a huge 6 foot tall man. The song was a Fernando Ortega version of "How Firm a Foundation". The song ended and I was just about to whisper that to Matt when the piano player (who I couldn't see because of the tall man obstruction) introduced the next song. I craned my neck to see him because he sounded EXACTLY like Fernando Ortega. And it WAS Fernando Ortega!?!!??!! I couldn't believe it! He's like a mini-celebrity to me. I have several of his cds and really enjoy his worshipful music. And there he was, sitting there playing and singing and worshipping with all of us. He sang several beautiful songs from his newest cd. He played and sang accompanied by an talented and tender string quartet. The music was so beautiful and heart-felt it made me shiver. He sings in person just like on his cds - sincerely, passionately, and professionally.

I drove back for the evening service (we don't usually do evening church because it's a 45 minute drive one-way for us) by myself so I could hear Sr. Ortega again. What a kick to sing "I will sing of my Redeemer" as a congregation while he led and played the piano!

I guess this is a perk of being a part of such a big ole church. Thank you for the special blessing, God! How was your Lord's Day?

Halloween Highlights

Tonight was our neighborhood trick-or-treating. The weather was monstrous all day - windy, cold, raining, sleeting, and even snowing! Thankfully, the precipitation halted by 6 so we were still able to take Chloe out for some treat garnering. It was still fairly cold and windy though so I don't think she enjoyed the outing.

Chloe, as you can see, went as a Green Bay Packer cheerleader. Go Pack, go! The Packers sure need all the cheerleaders they can get this season. We got the jumper as a hand-me-down (thanks Jackie!) and then created her halloween look around it. Do you like her homemade pom pons?

What did your kids (or you!) dress up like for halloween?






















It's fun to be a Packer cheerleader! Any one want to join my squad?





















Oh, the toil, the pain, the sweat . . . the packers don't pay me enough for this hard job.






















So, how does this thing taste?























What are THESE things supposed to do?























Dad, I don't want to leave all that candy on our porch! What if other kids take it? Let me at least take a dum-dum.

















I hope the wind doesn't blow away my color-coordinated hair ribbons!


















Mom, get your mind off my treat bag. Ain't nobody getting this treat bag!

Camera forgetfulness

Forgive my recent blogging absence. We've been busy visiting with my dad and I've somehow managed to forget the camera consistently during our adventures. Last week we went to the Pro Football Hall of Fame and I pulled out the camera case I had brought to discover the camera was not inside! Grrrrrr. I guess I had so many other things to pack and get ready for the day (for Chloe of course - bib, diapers, wipes, extra outfit, spoon, cups, etc.) that I forgot that during my dad's stay I've had the camera out and ready to capture any good moments.

The forgetfulness continued yesterday. We headed to the National Inventors Hall of Fame in nearby Akron and I determined I was going to remember the camera. And I did remember to bring the camera. Only I left it in the car. We were already inside when I realized I had left the camera behind. It was raining cats and dogs so I was not about to go fetch (get it cats, dogs, go fetch?) the camera from the parking garage down the block. The Inventors museum was awesome! They had a whole level devoted to kids and Chloe went wild with all the toddler-sized fun.

So, no pictures from our outings, but I do have a few shots from our time with abuelo at home. Enjoy these few photos!






















My dad shows me the way to make corn tortillas without a prensa (I broke my prensa months ago. A prensa is a tortilla presser thingy).

















Storytime with abuelo. Chloe loves to have people read to her. She grabs a book, brings it to you and then grunts and climbs up on your lap. Do you think Chloe needs a haircut?

















What's the big deal about these things, abuelo?






















An autumn walk down our street.

Brrrrrrrrrrr

We had our first snow Monday! It was a pitiful attempt at snow but it was cold, white and flaky so it counts. Yay!

Chloe stood on the porch just staring at the white dandruff-like snowflakes falling gently to the ground. Isn't she cute all bundled up?

With more temps in the 40s predicted this week, another snow might be in our near future. What's the weather like where you're at?

Chloe learns how to play cribbage

Cribbage is a family tradition. So, now that my dad is here to visit it's been natural to play a game or two every night. We play a dollar a game and so far I've only lost one dollar!

Tonight, Chloe wanted in on the action so up she went on abuelo's knee for some beginner lessons. Enjoy the photos below of Chloe's first cribbage venture!

What card and/or board games are traditions in your family? (Don't get me started on board games . . . we love too many to mention)
















Hmmmmmm, sounds complicated grandpa.

















I get it grandpa, this big of mine head holds lots of brains you know. Now I play this one, right?

















Isn't it my turn to shuffle?

Playing with Abuelo

Here are some cute photos of Chloe and her abuelo (my dad) playing together. She's really warmed up to him and when he babysat her for an hour last night she didn't even cry when I left. Sounds like I need to keep this babysitter around!

Grandpa comes for a visit

My dad is here for a visit (from Texas) to spend some time with his beloved nieta. Here are some photos from our leaf raking this morning. Boy, did hehave fun getting Chloe involved!

Have you gotten out in the leaves with your kiddos yet?

In search of a few good recipes

So far I've received nary a recipe for October for our recipe swapping blog. October's theme was Fall Cooking with Apples but since that hasn't yielded any response, I'm officially changing this month's theme to Fall Cooking with Apples, Pumpkins, and Squash.

That should help more of you to contribute recipes for this month. And that means that now I can post my delicioso pumpkin empanada recipe. Boy, are you all in for a treat! Remember to email those yummy fall recipes to me at aliciahorn@hotmail.com.

Home again, home again

Boy, am I glad to be home! We had a very fun weekend in Columbus and Cedarville but I'm happy to be back to our old routine today. It's weird - I've been looking forward to our mini-getaway for so long, that it kind of let me down. Chloe's not at a very adaptable age right now so sleeping in the hotel room was rather trying. It was still fun to be away together as a family and to see some new sights. And we're bursting with pride at how well Matt did at the conferences! Now he just has one more big paper for the semester, oodles of reading, and teaching his four freshman classes (last on his priority list).

Highlights of the trip:

• exploring downtown Columbus' North Market
• walking through the Franklin Park Conservatory and cheering for the stragglers in a cross-country race through the park
• swimming in the hotel pool - Chloe giggled with glee as soon as we put her in her intertube
• seeing part of an old favorite movie on cable tv (Overboard)
• playing scrabble with Matt
• dinner in the president's dining room of Cedarville University's campus - great little college
• a fancy schmancy hotel for only $50 a night
  
• an extremely helpful and friendly desk clerk who arranged a free shuttle to take us to a local mall
• Chloe's blossoming "hi" and "bye-bye" which she tried on most strangers
  

Lowlights of the trip:

• experiencing a mild case of food poisoning complete with diarrhea and vomitting
  
• no free breakfast at our chic hotel
  
• interrupted sleep by our confused-by-the-new-surroundings and overly-curious Chloe
• crabby, sleepy Chloe who refused to be pacified several times during our mall excursion (now I totally empathize with parents who buy their kids treats to keep them quiet!)

As Chloe is a squirming fast-moving toddler, I didn't have time to take many photos. Enjoy the few posted below. Ah, it's good to be home!

















Let's see . . . I'll take this toy, and that piano, the rocking horse, and the cooking set. Wrap it all up please and charge it to my mommy. (It was not fun leaving this store).























C'mon guys, hurry up and get ready for swimming! Guess I'll brush my teeth while I'm waiting. Do you think socks and bathing suits will be a new trend?






















Jumping on the bed

Scheduled Blogging Outage

We are leaving on a mini-vacation today for Columbus and Cedarville, Ohio. Matt is presenting papers at two English conferences at Ohio State and Cedarville University (respectively). We're so proud of his scholarship and accomplishment! These conferences will also brighten up his resume. AND we get to go with him!!!! We're staying at a hotel in Columbus and we're looking forward to the hotel perks (swimming pool, free breakfast, cable tv).

We'll be gone today through Sunday so needless-to-say (but I'll say it anyways) Chloe Chronicles won't be posting new material until Monday. Have a great weekend!

October Recipe Call

The recipe swappers blog theme for October is Fall Cooking with Apples. Send in your tried-and-true apple recipes to me at aliciahorn@hotmail.com. Be sure to check out last month's recipes for Simple Suppers, listed below.

French Bread Pizza
Apples, Sweet Potatoes, and Pork Chops
Spicy Tomato Soup
Cheese Ravioli with Veggies
Asian Beef and Noodles
Stuffed Chicken Breasts
Aunt Carol's Spinach and Fish Bake
Man Pleasin' Jumbalaya

Back to normal

Today it's just Chloe and me again - unfortunately life is back to normal for us. It was so wonderful to have my mom here this past weekend. Much thanks to Christopher Columbus so she could have a long weekend to visit us!

Yesterday we took Chloe to the Cleveland Zoo for her first ever zoo experience. She didn't get into it as much as I hoped. Guess she's still too little to appreciate all the animals. By far, her favorite was the polar bear. He was actually doing something - not napping as many of the others were. Chloe smiled, pointed, and roared at him!

Below are some random pictures from our weekend together.

A petting barn

Sadly, my mommy has to go home tomorrow. Waaaaaaaahhhhhhhh! She's been having a ball with Chloe and Chloe is beginning to return grandma's affection. Today Chloe skipped church with grandma and they spent some quality bonding time at the park. Chloe's also been hugging grandma and letting herself be held and read to (my mom does some very involved farm animal noises in Barnyard Dance).

The title of this post refers to a petting barn. We went to great lengths to find a petting zoo/farmer's market Saturday morning (way to go stupid mapquest) and it turned out to be more of a barn than an actual zoo. Regardless, Chloe thrived on the live moving animals making foreign noises (after she got over her initial fear of the hungry friendly pigs). Below are some photos of our animal adventure.

Have you been to a petting zoo/farm/barn? If so, what animal did your kids like the best? Chloe was digging the free range chickens. Guess she wants to be like Rocky Balboa . . .

First video attempt

Here's my first attempt at posting a video clip. Much thanks to Suzanne Dobbertin for the inspiration!

Sorry it's sideways and without music accompaniment . . . I'll improve my technique with time.




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MY MOM IS COMING TONIGHT!!!

I hope the title in all-caps and the multiple exclamation marks convey my excitement at my mom's visit tonight!!! My mom flies in for a quick weekend visit tonight and we're all looking forward to her company. Now that Chloe is trying to repeat more words and blossoming into her personality, it's going to be sheer joy sharing her with my mom.

I also wanted to share with you some photos of Chloe's newest hair-do. What do you think?

Call to Prayer

Please pray for the families of the girls lost in the recent Pennsylvania school shooting. What a world we live in! That 5 innocent little girls would be shot by a man just because he sought revenge over a grudge he'd held for 20 years.

My first thought is, what kind of twisted person holds a grudge against little girls and then takes it out on them 20 years later?!? Then I realize that without God's forgiveness, grace and mercy, we could all be this man.

Reflect with me on Romans 12 and join me in prayer with these hurting families and communities.

Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor; not lagging behind in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; rejoicing in hope, persevering in tribulation, devoted to prayer, contributing to the needs of the saints, practicing hospitality.

Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. Be of the same mind toward one another; do not be haughty in mind, but associate with the lowly. Do not be wise in your own estimation.

Never pay back evil for evil to anyone. Respect what is right in the sight of all men. If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men.

Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, ^"VENGEANCE IS MINE, I WILL REPAY," says the Lord. "BUT IF YOUR ENEMY IS HUNGRY, FEED HIM, AND IF HE IS THIRSTY, GIVE HIM A DRINK; FOR IN SO DOING YOU WILL HEAP BURNING COALS ON HIS HEAD."

Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

A full weekend

This weekend Matt conquered a big, huge, 37 page paper for his independent study class on Quakers. Way to go, Mateo! He emailed his paper Saturday before dinner and we celebrated with a game night. We played Scrabble and Jeopardy until midnight. Aren't we party animals?

Friday night Matt and I ordered pizza, a very rare event if you know my healthy hubby, and watched an old Horatio Hornblower episode (I'm addicted to Horatio!). On Saturday, to give Matt some quiet time, Chloe and I ventured to our city's annual Octoberfest downtown. It was a small affair but fun to expose Chloe to some different musical groups. She was in awe of the steel drum band and got to push a tuba's valve buttons. She also got her face painted for the first time! Today was a full day at church and alas, Chloe didn't last long in the nursery. Tonight we're pumped about watching the Bears vs. the Seahawks game with some ice cream.

How was your weekend?