Once there was a snowman

Here's the song Kate's preschool class performed at the Christmas Sing. Kate is in the back row, between the two tall girls.

Lion House Rolls

I absolutely LOVE the Lion House rolls. Don't they look amazing?

So I decided to try to make them. My first batch was flat. I searched online and found a video that shows how to form the rolls and place them on the pan. I love love love their technique for forming the rolls. It is so fast and easy ... and fun!

And look...it worked!

The inside is flaky and light.


The outside is perfect!

It's a Christmas Miracle! I made Lion House Rolls!!!

Here's the recipe:

Lion House Rolls
Ingredients:

* 2 cups warm water (110-115 degrees)
* 2/3 cup nonfat dry milk (instant)
* 2 Tb. dry yeast
* 1/4 cup sugar
* 2 tsp. salt
* 1/3 cup shortening (butter or margarine)
* 1 egg
* 5-5 1/2 cups flour, all purpose (bread flour can be used if you have it on hand)

Method:

In the large bowl of an electric mixer, combine the water and the milk powder and stir so the milk dissolves. Add the yeast to tthis mixture then the sugar, salt, shortening, egg and 2 cups of the flour. Mix on low speed of mixer until ingredients are wet, then turn to medium speed and mix for 2 minutes. Stop the mixer and add 2 more cups of flour then mix on low speed until the ingredients are wet, then turn mixer on medium speed and mix for 2 minutes. The dough will be getting stiff and you may need to remove the bowl from the mixer and mix in the remaining flour by hand. Add approximately 1/2 cup of flour and mix again. (This can be done by hand or mixer). The dough should be soft, not overly sticky, and not stiff. (It is not necessary to use the entire amount of flour). Scrape the dough off the sides of the bowl and pour approximately on tablespoon of vegetable oil all around the sides of the bowl. Turn the dough over in the bowl so it is covered with the oil. (This helps prevent the dough from drying out.) Cover with plastic and allow to rise in a warm place until double in size. Sprinkle a cutting board or counter with flour and put the dough on the flour. It is now ready to roll out and cut into desired shape and size of rolls. Place on greased (or parchment lined) baking pans. Let rise in a warm place until the rolls are double in size (approx. 1-1 1/2 hours). Bake in a 375-degree oven for 15-20 minutes or until they are browned to your satisfaction. Brush with melted butter while hout. Yields 2 to 2 1/2 dozen rolls.

Dying Easter Eggs

Sorry folks, I'm here to inform you that although you may have liked your preschool teacher, I had the best preschool teacher.

(I'm on the ladder. Jimmy is in front of me, and I was in love with him.)

Mrs. Stetson lived in my neighborhood. My siblings and I frequently visited Mrs. Stetson. She made the best Chex Mix, pretended to be astounded when I showed her I could play "Birdy Birdy Where is your Nest?" on the piano, took us to the Ice Cream Parlor on our birthday, ... the list goes on and on. What a neat lady. My favorite memories with Mrs. Stetson are of dying Easter Eggs. Now, when I dye eggs with my kids, I always think of that very special preschool teacher.

Here are a couple pictures from this year's egg dying extravaganza. Matt had to work on a book report, and Josh is too cool for egg dying. So it was me, Kate, and Joey. :)

Kate was using the fan to speed up the drying process. She really really really wanted to put stickers on the eggs.

Even to this day, I keep in touch with my dear preschool teacher. Pat, thank you for being such a special friend to me all through these years.

The April Fools Tooth

Kate's April Fools joke: "Mom, I think I have the chicken pox...April Fools Day!"

Kate had lots of fun sharing that joke with family and friends. What a girl.

At dinner time, Joey said his wiggly tooth hurt.

So the kid who got his first tooth at 14 months (notice no teeth in this pic)...

Finally lost his first tooth!

The tooth fairy visited him last night. In the middle of the night, he reached under his pillow and realized he had money there. He woke Matt up and told him. :)

Happy New Year!

To our dear family and friends,
Happy New Year! We wish you much happiness in the new year. We appreciate you all and feel very blessed to have such wonderful people in our lives.
Love,
The Christensens