Africa stuff!!

I have some new Africa stuff to show you guys. This stuff will also be sold to benefit the adoption. Yay! I have to mention that my mom is a wonderful seamstress. I mean she's awesome, it's not human. None of her neat, creative traits passed down to me in case you were wondering. I often wonder about it.

So to start she makes these adorable security blankets or a lovey or whatever you want to call them. They are little. Here are a few examples.



She also makes these wall hangings!


and pillows! This one is a little dirty bc someone's grubby hands were all over it.


She makes things without africa on them too. I will get some pictures of those up soon! She will make anything in the colors you like, boy or girl. I didn't have a girl one pictured bc they sold! But she is making more, aren't they cute? She also does baby bedding, from bumpers, to sheets, to quilts, to pillows. She does it all! She will also monogram for free with a purchase! All prices vary, email me if you are interested in anything at carriecbutler@gmail.com and I will continue to put up pictures as she does them.

Joby Day!!

I took this picture today when Joby fell asleep with a fry in his mouth.
This post is in honor of Joby. We celebrated him being a part of our family for two years last week. Two years! But the journey of Joby started long before that. The day God planted in our hearts to adopt. What a blessing and journey it has been! I can not say enough about how adoption has changed our whole lives, changed our perspective on life. Changed everything. From the moment we saw Joby, we loved him instantly. A love so fierce and intense, my heart felt like it would burst.

Here is us at the airport the day we got him!

I think it is worth mentioning that right after this picture was taken he pooped the most awful smelling substance I had ever smelled. The smell was so powerful it was hard to decide whether Joby created the smell, or the smell created Joby. When I opened the diaper, it actually made my head snap back and my eyes water. Then I realized I wasn't alone in the bathroom. Those poor people. This smell was so substantial it actually had mass. This is one of my first memories of him. My eyes water a little just thinking about it. Anyway moving on, there is only so long one can discuss poop. I know you guys rather I didnt bring it up at all. but sometimes you need to talk about hard things.

I am so in love with this little boy. And I could go on about adoption and how it could change your life, but I will save that for another post. In the meantime here is a picture when Joby got home with his brother, sister and Daddy. Thank you Lord for these blessings.

Happiness is.............

A bathroom with a locked door.

OOPS!

Amy is a great friend of mine, she is so sweet and wonderful. We get along great and we always have a good time. This story is not about amy, she does not appear in this story.

Like I said amy and I get along great, BUT we do differ on one subject. Butter. Amy doesnt believe in it, Butter is the lifeline of my recipes. So you see this is a problem. I try to respect other peoples point of view, i just cant wrap my head around the fact that she doesnt like butter.

Anyways I was at Walmart today and guess who I saw? Amy. And guess what she was doing? She was in the dairy section checking out the butter! I couldn't believe my eyes! This is when I decided I would come up behind her and scare her. I realize this is completely childish. I don’t care. I am proudly capable of being that way at any given moment. Welcome to one of those moments.

So I creep up behind her and say "What do you think you are doing?" I was just about to say something else clever.....

Did I mention that Amy does not appear in this story?
Amy looked at me. That was the moment I realized that Amy does not appear in this story.

So the women who looked just like Amy from the back looked at me, shocked at my rudeness. Realizing my mistake, I turned about 10 shades of red and I apologized quickly and explained how she looked like someone I knew, that person would have thought what I said was funny and that I was not a crazy person. We both had a good laugh; more of a nervous laugh from me. I got what I needed from the shelf and went directly to the register to pay and get out of the store as soon as possible.

I am still a little shaken by the whole ordeal. It may be awhile before I try to scare someone in the store again.

oh and Joby dropped a dozen eggs on the floor while we were there, i almost completely forgot about that.

You've got to try these!!

Ok I was going to put the BEST cinnamon rolls as the title but it seems redundant. But these are the best. Those I have made them for have said they are better than their grandmothers, and their grandmothers, and so forth. So you see, you need to try them! Please don't let the fact that they have yeast in them scare you away. If I can make them anyone can. So lets face our fears. Here we go......

You will need:

1 package active dry yeast
1/4 cup warm water
1 cup milk
1/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup shortening
1 tsp salt
1 egg
3 1/2 cups flour

First add the yeast to the warm water, stir and set aside.

This allows for the yeast to start doing its thing. Make sure the water is between 120 and 130 degrees. If it is too hot it will kill the yeast and if its too cold the yeast wont grow. I promise this is the most complicated this recipe gets.

Take the cup of milk, 1/4 cup shortening, 1/4 cup sugar, 1 tsp. salt and heat it up in the microwave until the shortening almost melts. Take it out and stir till shortening melts completely. Add the mixture to 1 1/2 cups of flour. stir completely.

Then add in 1 egg, stir, add in yeast mixture, stir again, and add the remaining 2 cups of flour. Once stirred completely turn onto floured surface and knead in more flour if it feels sticky.

Knead for a few minutes and shape into a ball, place in greased bowl. Grease the top of the dough and place a towel over the bowl and let rise in warm place (i let mine rise in the oven that I have turned on to get warm and then turned off.) Makes sure the oven is off before you place the dough in there!
Let rise until double in size, about 1 to 1 1/2 hours.

Once it has doubled in size punch it down and turn onto floured surface. Divide the dough in half, cover the dough again and let rest for 10 minutes. After 10 minutes take half the dough and roll it out into a rectangle.

For filling you will need a stick of softened butter and sugar and cinnamon.
Take the softened butter and smear it all over the dough. Yes, with your hands!

Than add a layer of sugar and then sprinkle cinnamon all over, like so.

Roll up the rectangle long ways and cut the roll into 10 equal pieces. Place each roll into greased 9x9 circle or square pan or whatever you have.

Once you are done with this, repeat the steps with the other half of the dough. Once all the dough is in rolls cover the pans and let rise for 30 to 40 minutes in a warm place. I forgot to take a picture of this part, sorry bout that.
Here are some right out of oven! yummy!


Now for icing:
1 1/4 cups powdered sugar
1/8 tsp vanilla
add enough milk to reach a drizzle consistency.
You may need to make more, if you like a lot of icing like me.

Here we go....drizzle over top and dig in! These are so delicious and yummy! These take me to my happy place. Try them!