Pumpkin Cinnamon Rolls

As promised here is the Pumpkin cinnamon roll recipe.  I am NOT a food blogger by any means, but i hope the pictures help.
This is not an my original recipe, this recipe was given to my by Chef Catherine Hallman, and I believe she got it from "King Arthur"

1 lb Canned Pumpkin 

4 large Eggs, lightly beaten

4 oz Water, warm

4 oz Butter, softened 

1 lb 5 oz All~purpose flour

14 oz Whole wheat flour

2 oz Dry milk powder

2 tsp Cinnamon

1 tsp Ginger

1/2 tsp Cloves - optional

3 tsp Salt

3 oz Brown Sugar

.5 oz instant-Yeast

Add Yeast to warm water and soak for 10 minutes

Combine all ingredients and beat on low until all incorporated. 

Beat on medium speed until dough is soft yet firm enough to handle

Kneed, on a floured surface,  till smooth and elastic (avoid using too much flour)

Place in oiled bowl and let rise 1-2 hours or until doubled. 

Doubled in size.
It took several hours since my house is so cool.  Place in a warm place or in the sun  to speed it up

Punch down and let sit for 5 minutes before rolling out.

Roll into rectangle, cover with melted butter layer generous layer of cinnamon and sugar.

Roll up jelly-roll style, and cut into sections

Not ready to bake yet

Ready to bake once they have doubled in size

Bake at 350 for 20-25 minutes 

Top with Cream Cheese Icing 

(I forgot to take a pictured of the finished product oops)

ENOY!!

Email me if you have ANY questions renee.croad@gmail.com

Happy Anniversary!

Happy Anniversary to the most amazing man!  I love him more than words could truly express.  Five years have come and gone far too quickly.  It seems like yesterday I was getting ready to walk down the aisle to say "I DO!"  Too much has happened during the last five years to write about it all, but here are some of the highlights 

Our journey began in Calculus class at Hillsdale College in the fall of 2001.  After a few years of ups and down we finally realized that we were made for another.  Jason proposed while we are out hiking a trail during my senior year of college in March 2006.  

We walked down the aisle October 14, 2006.  That day was only the beginning of our journey.  

A month after we married Jason was accepted to medical school at Lincoln Memorial University DeBusk College of Osteopathic Medicine.  

We moved to Harrogate, TN the summer of 2007.  That same year Jason joined the Navy. 

January 9, 2010 we welcomed the first addition to our family, Gavin Robert Croad.  

May 14,  2011 Jason went from Jason Croad to Dr. Jason Robert Croad, DO.

July 2011 We made our first Military move to Orange park FL where Jason is working as a Family Practice intern.  

Currently we await the arrival of our second baby boy.  

We have cried, laughed, stressed, worried, fought,  and rejoiced together.  There is no one else that I would rather go through life with than Jason.  He grounds me and lifts me up at the same time.  I am so blesses to be married to such a wonderful man! We are only at the beginning of "Our Adventure", and I can't wait to see where we go!

Shots!

Today I started my progesterone shots.  I have to get one every week  in my tooshie until I am 36 weeks and 6 days. I am not to keen on the idea of getting a shot every week but it what seems to be best for the new baby.  Gavin's early arrival is what prompted the shots.  Since my preterm delivery doesn't have a reason the chance of it happening again is likely.  The extra dose of progesterone should help keep this new guy in until he is full term.
There are minimal side effects to the shots,most of them just make my butt cheek sore but the one large side effect is that they put me at a higher risk of developing gestational diabetes(GD).  About 5% of women taking the shots develop GD, and since my mom has diabetes I am already at risk, this just ups my chances.

I will take the shots, the sore butt
 and risk the diabetes if it means I will get to hold a healthy, fully developed baby in 18 weeks!

All Boy

What are little boys made of? 
Frogs and snails, 
And puppy-dogs' tails; 
That's what little boys are made of. 

I am pretty sure that they left boogers in that poem.

Beach Baby

After living in Jacksonville for a couple of months we finally made it out to the beach. And we had a blast. The sun was hot, and the water was perfect. Gavin loved the beach.

Building sand castles with daddy

Running from the waves

Big boys don't bathe

I was in my bedroom searching for something when I see something white streak in front of my bed. I look up to find Gavin butt naked.
I guess he now knows how to take his diaper off. I asked why he was naked, he walked to the shower and got in. So I guess big boys don't bathe they shower.

Update

Since it has been a few months since I updated I thought it would be about time I got back on top of things.

Gavin
What an incredible kid.   Watching him grow is an amazing thing, he is changing every day.  He had a growth spurt last month and is finally catching up to other kids his age.  He is finally out of the 10th percentile and into the 70th percentile.  18 month clothes are fitting hims just perfect and he will soon be in 2T.

Vocabulary
I should really use the word communication since he communicates but doesn't say a lot of actual words. He can talk, he talks all the time, we just have no clue what he is saying.  He talks on his phone, and will tell you things, no one knows what he is saying.  But there are a few words he really knows how to say; one word he says very loud and clear is SHUT-UP.  He has heard me say that one too many times to the dogs.  Whenever they bark, he points at them and says "Shut up!"  The other word is UH-OH, he loves that word.
Although he doesn't use many words he is very clear on what he wants/needs.  He knows several signs for words, and when all else fails he just brings be things he wants, or takes me to them.

Interests
He LOVES music.  He just can't help it when the music comes on he has to move, even if he can only move an arm or a foot he will be wiggling it away to the beat.  He claps along to several songs, and does a decent job of keeping the beat.  His favorite songs right now are "This Little Light of Mine" from his kid CD, and "Move" by Mercy Me.
He is finally interested in books.  We read every night before bed, he picks the book and we sit and read.  He really loves when Jason reads to him.
Puzzles, he is great at them.  He will sit and do puzzles for an 30 minutes, and he doesn't sit very much every.
He is a water baby!  He would swim all day everyday if I would let him.  He loves the water of any kind, pool, bath, he even like taking showers just to play in the water.

We have been working on learning colors and animals.

Jason
There is not much to say about Jason.  He is an Intern so he works, eats and sleeps.  He leaves the house around 4:30  every morning and gets home usually around 6-6:30 every night.  When he is home he some how finds time to spend with Gavin, do yard work, talk to me and read for work.  He amazes me everyday.

ME
Not much to say about me.  I am 15 weeks now and feeling great.  I will be going to the doctor on Friday, I am pretty sure it is still to soon to find out the sex. (but vote at the top of the page on what you think it will be, boy or girl)
I am make friends here.  There are several intern wives with kids and we have had many play dates.  This weekend is the first meeting for the Oak Leaf Club.  The Oak Leaf club is all the docs and their wives.  So hopefully we will meet some more wonderful people.
Still trying to organize this house.  I am pretty sure the amount of stuff we had doubled while it was in storage.  Once I get it all cleaned and pretty I promise I will put up some pictures.


Well thats is all for now.  Sorry it is so long without pictures.  And try to ignore my many errors, I am just going to blame it all on pregnancy brain :)