Really good dips/ No more naps/Farewell to the truck

I haven't been cooking much this week so I haven't been able to take pictures of any yummy food. I really just don't want to eat anything and it's getting really annoying. I made my Grandma Trogdon's pumpkin pie recipe last night and it just didn't taste good to me. I thought I'd switch it up this week and post some dips and appetizers that I like. The two dips are ones I made last year for Emma's 1st birthday party. They are both sooooooo good!

Sour Cream Fruit Dip

1 cup light sour cream
¼ c apricot or peach preserves
1/8 tsp ground cinnamon, cardamom, pumpkin pie spice, or apple pie spice
Apple, pear, or peach slices

In a small bowl stir together the sour cream, apricot preserves, and desired spice. Cover and chill for 1-24 hours. Serve with fruit slices. Yield: 1 cup dip

Creamy Black Bean Dip

I got this picture off the Taste of Home website

2 packages (8oz each) fat-free cream cheese
1 can (15oz) black beans, rinsed and drained, divided
¾ c shredded reduced fat cheddar cheese
6 green onions, chopped
1 ½ tsp ground cumin Dash of cayenne pepper
Topping:
¼ c shredded reduced fat cheddar cheese 2 Tbs. diced fresh tomato
2 Tbs. chopped green onion

In a food processor, cover and process cream cheese until smooth. Add ½ of the beans.
Cover and pulse until blended. Transfer to a bowl. Stir in cheese, onions, cumin, cayenne, and remaining beans. Cover and refrigerate 8 hours or over night.
Just before serving garnish with cheese, tomato and onion. Serve with tortilla chips. Yield: 3 cups serving size ¼ cup

For the black bean dip I use 1/3 less fat cream cheese because I think fat free tastes like poo. I got the Fruit Dip recipe from my Better Homes and Gardens cookbook and the Black Bean Dip from my taste of home cookbook. Everyone loved the dips and I did too. I haven't made them since because I'm too afraid of eating the whole thing by myself! I figured that since Halloween is just around the corner these would be a great idea for any party.
Here is the existing window. It's really big! Sorry it's probablly hard to see. I should've closed the curtains but my camera was dieing.

My parents are coming over this weekend and we are going to take out our front window and put in a shorter one. It should be quite the project and I'm not that excited about it happening but I am excited about having a smaller window. The new window is the one we took out of the kitchen and replaced with a sliding glass door. The window is a foot longer but I think 2 or 3 feet shorter. It will be nice to have a window that I can actually open and get some air flow in the summer months.

I think I am seeing the last days of naps for my little Emma. She has been going every other day not taking a nap and then taking like an hour nap the next day. Yesterday she didn't take one and right now she is in her room playing and has been for the last hour. At least she is playing I guess. The problem is is that she goes to bed at the same time and wakes up an hour earlier now. I don't know what to do. I guess there is nothing I can do. She is choosing to not take naps anymore and it's not like I can force her to close her eyes and sleep. She is really good for the rest of the day too when she doesn't nap but I'm tired because I would take a nap at the same time on some days when I was super tired.

Yesterday I put in a movie and started watching it with her and fell asleep. I woke up about 20 minutes later and Emma had put all her blankets on me. When she saw that I was awake she said "Good morning mommy!" and gave me a kiss. It was the sweetest thing! I didn't even realize that I had fallen asleep. I'm turning into Serena! (Sorry for giving you such a hard time back in the day Serena... now I never can get through a movie either!)

And lastly I think our truck (Big Birtha) is finally going to say goodbye. Jacob took it to work yesterday and on the way home it kept dieing. It took him an hour to get home from Richland which is usually a 20 minute drive. Every time Jacob stopped the truck died. He pulled over and tried to fix it but he couldn't find any problems. This morning we started it up to check the transmission fluid because it also wouldn't shift into the higher gear when he went over 35mph. The fluid level was fine and the oil level was fine. As soon as I let off the gas the truck would die and even when I held down the gas pedal it was fighting to stay alive. It's been a great truck. We got it for free almost 3 1/2 years ago from my parents and Its survived multiple trips from Ellensburg to Twisp, to Port Orchard, to Seattle, and down to Colorado and back. They just don't make trucks like that anymore! Thankfully it got Jacob home safely! For now it is sitting in the driveway. It still starts up just fine so I'm hoping my dad will be able to fix it but if not... here's to you Big Birtha! We had a lot of fun times together.