Bone-ified Baked Goods

The freezing cold weather has kept us in cozy jammies, indoors, for the past few days.  We're not the only ones feeling cooped up--our poor schnoodle's walks have been on the shorter side too.  We decided to cheer Harry up by making some easy, homemade doggie cookies.  

Scroll to the end for the recipe.

 Rolling out the dough with concentration.

 Choosing cookie cutters made Mila happy.

 I see you!

 Little hands kept busy squishing the dough.

 Treats for Harry, made with love.

Giving them a sniff...

 He's ready for more!

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Harry's Healthy Dog Biscuits

Mix together: 1/2 cup skim milk, 1 cup whole-wheat flour, 1/2 cup peanut butter and 1/2 tablespoon baking powder. When a dough ball forms, knead on floured surface and roll out to 1/4 inch thick.  Cut out shapes with a cookie cutter. Bake at 375 degrees for 15 minutes or until dark golden brown.  Makes about two dozen.  

Where Does She Come Up With It?

Kids say the darndest things...

Here are 3 separate conversations that occurred just today:

MQ: Harry really, really needs a bone.

Mommy: Maybe tomorrow we could take him to the pet store.

MQ: That'd be awful great, Mommy Bird!

Mommy: May I kiss your belly button?

MQ: Yeah, it's very impressive.  

MQ: I like that red car, Mommy.

Mommy: Me too. That's called a Volkswagon Beetle.  

MQ: It looks like a smile.

Mila Quinn,

much funnier than Mommy and

 not even 3 years old.

Great Times at Great Wolf Lodge

 After Christmas, we headed up to Great Wolf Lodge 

in Traverse City with family.

Mila loves it there so much,
especially since she gets to spend time with her cousins.

Luke and Mila are the closest in age, 

but the kids all play so well together. 

The nightly story time in the lobby is a huge hit.  It even snows!

Splish-splash!

We love YOU!

Waterlogged girls, Mila and Johanna

Ding! Ding! The HUGE bucket of water is about to spill on us.

This year, Mila enjoyed the arcade even more than the water park. 

When we asked what her favorite parts of the trip were, 

she replied, "My couthinths and the arcade!"

With a little (okay, a lot of) help, Mila earned over 450 tickets--
enough to trade in for a small stuffed wolf and some candy.

She named her wolf "Cutie Pie" and he's been by her side ever since. 

It wouldn't be a trip to GWL without ice cream!

Mila did this same pose  last year...

Mommy & Daddy laughed because they both thought

 the ice cream looked so much bigger a year ago!

Thanks so much for taking us to Great Wolf, 

Grandpa Bill & Grandma Rita!

We loved it and we love you.

Christmas and More Christmas!

We were fortunate to participate in so many special Christmas parties

and gatherings this holiday, here's a taste of most of them:

 

We celebrated our own Christmas by opening the presents

 under the tree the morning before 

heading to Michigan for a week of family and holiday fun.

Mila loved her Minnie ornament from Daddy.

 We indulged in a Challah french toast casserole.

 Mila's favorite chipmunk, Theodore,  

hasn't left her side since she opened him.

She didn't hesitate to try on some of fancy 

dress up clothes and accessories from Grandma Lynn.

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At the Vander Vliet family Christmas party, 

Mila met Santa for the very first time!

 All the little children received a present from Santa!

 We had a nice time catching up with aunts, uncles, cousins 

and Grandma Vander Vliet...

but watching the kids play together with their gifts was most fun. 

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During the day on Christmas Eve,

 we let Mila try sparkling grape juice for the first time...

 She's never had anything carbonated before, hence the silly look on her face.

 When we asked if she liked it, she said,

 "Yes!

It's tasty and delicious and saa-weet!"

We also made cookies together.

Mila loves to put on the sprinkles ;)

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 We opened our stocking stuffers on Christmas Eve.

 Mila's favorite stocking stuffer was a Hello Kitty hairbrush.

 She kept saying, "It's my very own brush!"

 Check out her hair after she "did it".

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We always have a wonderful time at 

Daddy's parent's home on Christmas Day.

 Since Mila's favorite color is purple, 

this robe from her Grandparents was a hit.

 Christmas love for Harry.

 Mila adores her cousin Henry.

 Best shot we could get with six crazy kids!

And the obligatory "funny faces" pic...

We hope everyone had a blessed holiday!

-Mila Q, Mommy & Daddy