Dear friends,

I am experiencing a little jet lag in my writing these days.  Although each day in my life brings inspiring moments... I just don't feel very inspired to post things in the blog world.  I have decided to take a mini-hiatus to reevaluate my blog- why it is that I do this in the first place and do I wish to continue.  I don't mean to come across so melodramatic... it's just that I take my blog seriously and want to post things that have substance and meaning (with silly things sprinkled in every now and then).  Perhaps I'm already doing this.  I want to chew on "Knight and Pumpkin" -revisit the "roots", figure out what I want to do, and see where things go.  I will most definitely not leave you hanging for long.  Just enough to keep you curious.

Sincerely-

Gretchen

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Ethan's recent study of dinosaurs at school ended with a "fiery" volcano.  Today we replicated the experiment at home.  Very easy.  Very fun. 

1.  Put sand in a pan.  (Or, go in the backyard!)

2.  Put 1/4 cup baking soda in a can.

3.  Put the can in the pan.  (Or, place the can on some dirt in your backyard!)

4.  Make a secret mixture.  Measure one cup of water and mix in 3/4 cup vinegar and 1/2 cup dishwashing liquid.

5.  Add 10 drops of red coloring.

6.  Stir the secret mixture.

7.  Pour it into the can and make a volcano!

(Please note that silly ole' cat in our pics.  Since Christmas this cat, that Ethan dubbed "Welcome Home Kitty", enjoys hanging out in our yard.  Today she got to join in on our experiment.)

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Operation Potty

So there are two big things going on in our household these days. Operation Potty and a search for all the state's license plates.  Quite a feat.  Both of them that is.

We're taking things slowly with Jack.  I refreshed my potty training teaching skills by revisiting a book called "Potty Training Without Tears".  It is a quick and informative read.  I have also, somewhat reluctantly, taken out the potty training DVD.  The reason I use the word reluctantly is because there is a very unnecessary clown that encourages the children to pee in song and dance.  Our home is now filled with songs such as, "I Use My Potty When I Have to Pee", "I'm a Clown", and our all time fave... "I'm a Super Duper Pooper."  That song goes somethings like this, for all you curious folk out there..., "I'm a super duper pooper- I can potty with the best.  No more diapers to get in the way- I am very impressed."  Now imagine a full grown "Urkle-like" father with very large early 90's glasses singing that song to his toddler daughter.  And I mean singing it- with much gusto and fanfare. 

The quest for all 50 license plates was born out of an idea that came from a license plate book my mom got for Ethan.  It is a simple spiral bound book that includes fun travel trivia and quizzes such as the official flower, the official bird, population, nickname, year of statehood, etc. of each state.  So far we have found 35.  We are in the lookout for Idaho, Montana, Minnesota, Missouri, Arkansas, Kentucky, South Carolina, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, Delaware, Maryland, and West Virginia.  As we drive these Texas roads we all scour the cars and trucks around us looking for "The One" (meaning the ones we don't have!)  When we find a new plate we scream on the top of our lungs, flip through the book until Ethan finds the match, and check it off on the handy fold out map of the U.S.A. in the back of the book.  I've been known to drive up and down the aisles in parking lots, exceed the speed limit temporarily, and follow cars ever so briefly to find those special gems. 

P.S.  Fun Travel Trivia Tidbit... Did you know that three of the top ten most populous cities in the country are in Texas: Dallas, Houston, and San Antonio.

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Gretchen & Nate

How young and fresh we look!  This picture was taken seven years ago when our love was first being discovered.  I was almost 27.  Nate recently turned 23.  Young and fresh love.  We met in Columbus, Ohio.  He from the mid-west and I from the Sunshine State.  After serving a few years in college ministry, at The University of Florida, I felt a need for change and applied for an event coordinator position for a non-profit Christian ministry located in Columbus.  Dressed in khaki pants, a striped turtle-neck top, with a hip little orange jacket, I marched right into the office for my interview.  With youthful confidence I felt smart and ready.  As I walked through the office to start the initial phase of the interview process I was introduced to a tall and gorgeous being dressed in a baby blue turtle-neck sweater and khaki's.  That's how Nate and I met.  In that quick moment with all details soaked into the fibers of my memory and a little nudging on my heart I knew that we would find ourselves married one day.  I had never been one to hang out in the clouds and sketch wedding dresses.  I truly enjoyed my life- my single life- and made a decision early on that I would just commit myself to what I knew for the moment and go all out.  I think that perspective helped me stay grounded and focused and flee from unnecessary "if only's."  So, it came as a surprise that I should feel so strongly for a man that I had just met and all I knew was he dressed well and was smoking hot!  From that initial meeting I landed the job, moved to Ohio, started my new job, and tried to figure out this man named Nate.  It didn't take very long to figure out that our feelings were mutual and we began dating.  January 25th to be exact.  A year later, to the exact date, we got married.  Six years later, here we are living it up in the Lonestar State with two monkey boys.  I wouldn't want any other life.  I love mine.  I love my husband.  Happy Anniversary Nate! 

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I am completely aware that I have been lacking in the blogging department since the second of the new year.  I do not, I repeat, do not want to be that occasional blogger with ho-hum things to say.  Not that having ho-hum things to say, and being that occasional blogger is the worst thing in the world, I just don't want to be described that way. 

I can't even count how many times I have sat before the monitor and keyboard, that needs to seriously be cleaned, and experienced that miserable and daunting writer's blank.  All that transpires in those moments is adjusting to the glare and reflection of the monitor on my glasses and dealing with a foggy brain. 

Folks, I know you're OK with this momentary writer's block.  I'm OK with it too.  I just really want to think deeply and revisit my blogging roots.  Why is it that I signed up in the first place?  I so know it is your choice to read my words and no one is forcing you to partake, that is unless I've personally asked you to include me in your favorites.  I want to make sure that I'm staying true to who I am and creating posts that give you a peek as I share the happenings in my life.  

With that being said... one of my lovely goals for this year is to write more.  I am beginning to taste a little nugget of goodness of how that may transpire.  And yes, that is the second time I have used that word thus far- transpire (that now makes three times).  

One of the gals in my Bible study is an English major and a writer.  I asked her recently if she would consider facilitating a writer's group.  I told her I enjoyed writing, wanted some direction, and that I needed to revisit Grammar 101 (since I'm the queen of the dot-dot-dot when I'm unsure how to use a comma or make a transition... ) in which she said she would consider it and get back to me. 

Last week we swapped numbers to set up our first "writer's meeting" and was asked to bring one of my pieces.  To that I chuckled since my "writing" isn't necessarily numerous and I wouldn't consider anything I've written to fit into the category "pieces".  All that I do own is scattered in the homes of my past journals, computer, and my blog entries.  However, I am so excited about this new endeavor and to continue this love for words and expression under the instruction of someone who has been instructed to teach what I desperately want.

I will keep you posted.  And with that I sign off to head to bed to wake up once again ready for a new day.

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This is the first in several years that I can remember not sending out a Christmas family update with picture included.  It is not that I was lazy about it.  Forgot about it.  Or didn't even start one.  In fact, I have an incomplete publisher file sitting on my desktop with good intentions and no follow through.  I simply did not get one out.  Sorry folks.  I even thought, "Hey, I will send out a New Year's Edition"... but nope, didn't quite make that one either- and yes, I know it is only the second day of this grand new year and technically it is still a fresh start of 2008 but I resigned in my heart this day that I will not be getting out an update with picture included. 

I hope this first post of the new year will suffice in some ways.  In no way am I going all digital on you and be cheesy enough to mass email my friends and loved ones to say, "Hey- check out our annual Christmas letter- brought to you by my blog!"  I will not do that.  I promise.  However, I must confess that the bulk of this first post happens to closely resemble what is sitting in that incomplete publisher file sitting on my desktop with good intentions. 

Happy reading! 

The 2007 Williams' Factoids

2007 started off with quite the cold spell adorned with icicles and frozen plants.  We even plucked one of those dangling souvenirs from a group of icy friends hanging out on our roof and stuck it in our freezer as a reminder that yes, places such as Texas can get cold.  2007 brought us to great places- some unexpected, some challenging, some funny...  But really, all of these places were truly great places for they indeed strengthened our spirit, made for some great memories, and gave fodder for my first post of 2008.

Places we visited:  Columbus, Ohio; Orlando, Florida; Gainesville, Florida; Disney World; The University of Florida; Corpus Cristi, Texas; Austin, Texas; Ikea

This seriously can not be happening to us:  Within a two week span in March our kitchen flooded and Nate's orange truck was totaled (in our front yard).  Nate replaced our kitchen floor.  We ended up getting a lemon of a vehicle and after a few months of not so pleasant "lemony" moments we ended up getting another new set of wheels.

Celebrate good times, come on!:  We celebrated a 33rd, 4th, 30th, and 2nd birthday.  We celebrated our 5th wedding anniversary and 2nd living-in-Texas anniversary.  Ethan won our church's Bible memorizing contest for his age category and became a proud owner of an "iPod."  The Gators won big time, the Spurs did their thing, and our beloved Red Sox celebrated another World Series.

Random trivia and useless facts:  We spent about $600 on Jack's diapers and wipes in one year.  Gretchen learned to whistle.  Was introduced to Facebook.  Ethan took swim lessons.  Nate put in slate flooring in our kitchen.  Jack gained 3 1/2 pounds.

Movies, books, TV shows, websites, and music that influenced 2007:  Feist- especially 1,2,3,4.  Raising Sand.  Amos Lee.  Stranger than Fiction.  The Anne of Green Gables series.  Arrested Development. My annual visit of To Kill a Mockingbird.  The final Harry Potter book.  All recipes.

Fun Memories:  Ethan's roller coaster ride with Goofy.  Ethan's acting debut at our church's Christmas play.  Making Easter eggs.  Carving a pumpkin.  Cutting down our Christmas tree.  Jack's growing vocabulary.  Nate's 30th celebration including a Segway tour of Austin.  Going with our friends to their lakehouse and riding on a jet ski with Ethan.    

Christmas memories in picture form:

Commitment to 2008:  To simplify my life.  Write more. 

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What a festive time it has been!  Decorations are in place, pumpkin and cranberry-orange breads are baked, most presents purchased, and now we are waiting for family to arrive. 

One highlight of this season is that Ethan made his acting debut as a sheep for our church's Christmas play.  He, along with his boy sheep cohorts, endured three performances.  Let's just say by the third performance our beloved sheep had had enough, missed his que, and yelled at a shepherd that was poking him with his staff to "baa" on over to the other side of the stage.  I will never forget poor Joseph, looking at his plastic baby Jesus, laughing his head off.   

Thank you for taking part of another wonderful blogging journey with me.  I am signing off from 2007 with this post and will happily meet up with you again in the new year.  I appreciate all my faithful "fans" and without you- my words would just collect dust! 

Blessings to you this Christmas.  It is the most wonderful time of the year!

With love and cheer-

Gretchen

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I've been thinking about averages this evening.  On average, the boys lose two out of their seven marbles every day.  On average, the boys find those two lost marbles every day.  We spend, on average, $138 a month on gas.  Regarding Jack's diapers, wipes, and other little essentials we spend, on average, $69 a month.  On average we go through two gallons of 2% milk, 14 eggs, 3 heads of broccoli, and 7 cups of oatmeal- weekly.  On average, I visit Target once a week.

Today while I was making Turtle Pretzels for a friend's cookie swap I listened to the Andy Williams Christmas Album three times.  On average, we listen to Andy Williams twice a day.  We also love listening to our other favorite Christmas music classics every day.  These musical selections have been a staple in my life as far as I can remember except for the Charlie Brown Christmas that happened to get bumped up to "staple status" this year.  I would say, on average, that we listen to Bing Crosby more than the others every day.

As a little girl I remember twirling around my Holly Hobby bedroom making up dance routines to Bing Crosby's Christmas in Killarney and Mele Kalikimaka- complete with home made Hawaiian dance moves.  Although I relish in those memories of dancing to those songs I have to say my all time favorite Bing Crosby song is Jingle Bells with The Andrews Sisters.  I don't think you can get any better than that. 

During Ethan's first Christmas I remember dancing around to Jingle Bells with my sweet 5 month old in my arms.  I had hoped back then that he would one day share my love of Bing Crosby.  God answered my prayers because the Bing Crosby CD is on continuous play mode in his Lightning McQueen CD player!  His favorite: Jingle Bells.  He probably listens to the #7 soundtrack, on average, five times a day.  I often catch him singing and dancing to this song very much like I did over 20 years ago!

The month of December is pretty much a month of Christmas music listening only.  We listen to the 24 hour Christmas music station in the car and while at home we pop in Bing, Andy, or Elvis.  The thing about Elvis doing Christmas music is sort of odd if you think about it- but he sure gets us dancing around the kitchen.  So while we drink our 2% milk and eat our 7 cups of oatmeal each week we enjoy the company of these men belting out holiday cheer from Santa, to baby Jesus, to a fun little number called Mele Kalikimaka and smile, on average, 100% of the time.

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It is currently 7:50pm as I type and I am ready for some zzzzzzsssssssss.  That should give you a pretty good idea of our participation level this Thanksgiving weekend.  All the Williams clan joined forces this year- a first in two years- so it was very nice to share in each other's company.  The boys, especially Ethan, followed Uncle David around like a loyal puppy to its' master.  Since I am not responsible for making the actual dinner I decided to venture out and provide some yummy desserts.  I made pumpkin bread, orange cranberry bread, pumpkin bars with cream cheese icing (a childhood fave), sticky toffy pudding, caramel pecan pie, AND the winner of the dessert category...drum roll please.... peanut butter stuffed pretzel nuggets wrapped in caramel and dipped in chocolate- recipe to follow (courtesy of Every Day with Rachael Ray).  Highlights of the weekend included our annual Whataburger luncheon followed by a drive to the hill country to cut down our Christmas tree, unloading boxes of decorations, reminiscing of said decorations, trimming of the tree, listening to Bing Crosby, spending time with family, and eating peanut butter stuffed pretzel nuggets wrapped in caramel and dipped in chocolate.  Oh, and we were blessed with a very chilly weekend!

Pretzel Turtles

Pretzel Turtles

One 14-ounce bag (4 dozen) soft caramels

One 10-ounce bag pretzel nuggets (I used peanut butter filled pretzel nuggets from Costco)

12 ounces dark chocolate, finely chopped (I used chocolate bark coating)

2 cups natural almonds, toasted and finely chopped (I opted to skip this part but will reconsider for next time)

1.  Unwrap the caramels, then, using a rolling pin, roll out each one into a 1/8-inch-thick oval.  Wrap a caramel around each pretzel nugget, pinching the ends to seal.

2.  In a double boiler over simmering water, melt half the chocolate, stirring occasionally, until smooth.  Add the remaining chocolate, remove the top of the double boiler from the saucepan and stir until smooth.  (I just took a few blocks of chocolate bark coating and melted it in the microwave according to the package directions... worked like a charm!)

3.  Place the almonds in a shallow bowl.  Line a baking sheet with wax paper.  Using a fork, dip a caramel-covered pretzel in the chocolate to coat, tapping off any excess chocolate.  Transfer the pretzel to the almonds and toss to coat; place on the prepared baking sheet.  Repeat with the remaining pretzels.  Let stand until set, about 3 hours. 

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