Thought for the Day

My mom sent this to me a while back and I've kept it on my computer for inspiration. I do not know the source.


In each of us there exists a lake, where peace lives, and strength is born. Begin each day with a drink from its waters and go there often to refill your cup. The lake is never dry, but the path to it is sometimes hidden. The music of water, the beauty of a flower, or the depth of prayer will show you the way.

I need a Pick-me-up

Ever have one of those days? It's not that it's going badly. I'm just really, really tired. I've had a sick baby since Thursday (Emma was sick the three days prior to that) and I've had one too many sleepless nights. It's getting better, and it's actually quite manageable in the whole scope of things. But I need a pick-me-up today.

What I'd really like to be doing right now is taking a nap while the kids sleep. I'm grateful that they nap together and I have some down time in the afternoons. I rarely nap anymore because, but there are times like today when my body is screaming for it. We leave on Thursday for TN so there's lots of laundry to be done, stuff to pack, a few more presents to wrap, and Christmas letters to be addressed. Emma's preschool Christmas program is also early this evening so I need to be sure everyone is fed, dressed properly, and out of the house by 6.

So I'm charging on, despite that intense urge to curl up on my sofa. I made myself some Irish Cream flavored hot chocolate and I'll get done what I can. And maybe tomorrow I'll be able to justify that little nap. I salute all of you who don't have the luxury to take that afternoon nap... whether it's because you work outside the home, or one of your kids doesn't nap, or because you, too, have other responsibilities calling your name. Drink your caffeine, take a brisk walk in the cool air, put on some upbeat music, chat with a coworker or friend, and then crash when you can. Because we all deserve it!!!

Chicken Enchiladas

One of my readers requested this recipe for here it is. This was discovered by a friend in college. There were 7 of us women who lived together for two years in a row. Oh, the fun we had and the growing up we all did together!!! We all did anywhere from a little to a lot of cooking those two years. Some were experienced and gifted in the kitchen. Others (okay, me) had wonderful training from our mothers but didn't put much effort into the whole thing until we had to... which happened to be junior/senior years of college. This was one of those recipes that was prepared several times during those two years, if I recall correctly. In fact, we put together a cookbook at the end of our senior year with contributions from each of us. It's one of the special momentos I have of college life and friendships... and I use it quite often!!

Chicken/Turkey Enchiladas

1/2 c. chopped onion
3 T. butter
1 c. sour cream
2 1/2 c. cooked, cubed chicken or turkey
2 c. shredded cheese (cheddar or whatever you like)
10 flour tortillas
1 c. turkey or chicken broth
1-4 oz. green peppers
1/3 c. taco sauce
1/8 t. chili powder
2 T. flour
1/2 c. chopped tomatoes

In a glass bowl, combine the onions, peppers, and 1 T. butter. Microwave on high for 1 minute. Add taco sauce, 1/4 c. sour cream and chili powder. Stir in meat and 1/2 c. cheese. Divide mixture among the tortillas. Roll and place seam side down in 9x13 dish. Microwave remaining 2 T. butter until melted. Blend in flour, then add broth. Microwave 3-4 minutes or until thickened (my microwave does this much faster, by the way.) Stir in remaining sour cream. Pour over enchiladas. Microwave 6-8 minutes. Sprinkle with remaining cheese and microwave until cheese is melted. Serve topped with chopped tomatoes, fresh avocado, and fresh cilantro.


I found a very ripe platano (plantain) the other day in the store and decided to fry it up with this meal. So then I made some rice and beans as well ( I cheated with a box mix.) It was all so delicious together!!

Free Meds

Ha. This isn't your typical blog entry today, no. There are some perks (or rather, inconveniences) to moving into a house previously owned by an MD. For example, sometimes we get free samples in the mail. A couple of years ago it was for something, I can't even remember what. I called in to say that Robert McElhaney no longer lived here. They said to "dispose" of the meds. I passed them off to a friend of someone. I can't really remember. But I haven't received any since.

I am, however, on my third box of Prilosec. You may have heard of it... it's a popular over-the-counter medication for heartburn these days. Perhaps you know someone who uses it, or maybe you even take it yourself. I need to hear from you!! I've been told again to "dispose" of it when I call. Well, I'm not going to waste it, and I've already given the first two boxes to my friend's aunt. I think she's set for a couple of years. :) I will add that it's quite disappointing when UPS visits my house and this is what they drop off. Bummer. They could at least be sending me some Advil or children's medication... something we actually use around here. Anyway, please let me know if you or someone you know could use some free Prilosec. My sister also suggested donating it to a clinic which I think is a very good idea. So if I have any left, I'll check with a couple of doctors/nurses I know who volunteer their time at a local clinic. (If you fit in this category, speak out please.)

p.s. You'll probably want to email me if you'd like to partake in this freebie. I will do my best to get it to you. I wish you and yours a heartburn-free holiday!

Thought for the Day

"I can be changed by what happens to me.
But I refuse to be reduced by it."

- Maya Angelou

Morning Surprise

Pete woke up to a surprise this morning. The Corolla wouldn't start. One might think the battery was dead on a cold morning like this. So he opened the hood and found "a wad of paper and stuffing." He called over to our neighbor, Don, who is a car salesman and just a knowledgable guy when it comes to stuff like this. He suggested a mouse probably climbed in there and made a nest... maybe ate through a wire or something. Nice. Fortuantely Pete was able to get the car started after a few more minutes.

Simple Joys

This is a fun year with Emma. She has such excitement for both Christmas and the snow. She has two Advent calendars - one my mom made of felt years ago for my sister and me, and one she made at school. She goes to the felt one first each morning and reaches into the pocket after she figures out what day it is. Afterward she heads to her handmade tree where she puts a sticker on the right day. Along with these traditions, she has been requesting to "enjoy the lights" each evening before bed. We turn off all of the lights except for the ones on the tree and the mantle. The three of us (Andrew's in bed) snuggle on the couch and sing Christmas songs. Yesterday morning Emma and I went to the grocery store with a list of items for the food pantry. We bought for pantries in both Elkhart and St. Joe County since we border the two, and both our church and her preschool do collections. Emma and I had a long conversation about who might need food and why they might not have enough money to buy their own, etc. I think/hope it made an impression on her. She was very enthusiastic about buying certain items for "the pantry." I hope we can make this an annual tradition. These all have been special ways to prepare for and celebrate Jesus's birth. I look forward to more ways we can do this as a family as the children get older.

Friday evening, Pete, Emma, and I cuddled on the couch and watched "Polar Express" while we ate popcorn and drank Sprite. Emma's disappointed whenever she smells us making popcorn after she has gone to bed, so this was extra special for her!! On Saturday, she and Pete made a snow person. You can see he/she is very unique. She is very proud of her work with daddy!!

Chunky Vegetable Chili

As promised earlier this fall, I'm sharing my favorite soup recipes occasionally on this blog. This is one is delicious. It's quick to assemble and quite healthy too. The bonus is that you can put it in the crockpot and forget about it until dinner!!

Chunky Vegetable Chili

1 medium zucchini, cut into 1/2 in. pieces
1 medium green sweet pepper, coarsely chopped
1/2 c. coarsely chopped onion
1/2 c. coarsely chopped celery
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 -3 t. chili powder (we usually do 2)
1 t. dried oregano, crushed
1/2 t. ground cumin
2 - 14 1/2 oz. cans Mexican-style stewed tomatoes, undrained
17 oz. can whole kernal corn, undrained
15 oz. can black beans, rinsed & drained
8 oz. salsa

Combine everything in crockpot. Cook on low for 8-10 hours or high for 4-5 hours. Serve with dollop of sour cream on top and/or shredded cheese.

Andrew is ONE!

How this year has flown by!! Today our little Andrew Jacob turned one year old. We had celebrated in PA over Thanksgiving with a little party, but I couldn't resist celebrating again this evening. I know he wouldn't have known the difference and certainly he (nor did any of us) didn't need more sugar, but I couldn't let the day go without something special. So Emma and I made cupcakes this afternoon and frosted them.

His reaction with both treats was just priceless. During the party, he looked very intently at the piece of cake, studied it, slowly stuck his finger in the cool whip (we used this in place of frosting), then studied it some more and eventually licked his finger. It was then time to dig in. I thought he'd be less hesitant today since he had already experienced the taste of sugar. But this time, he stuck several fingers in the frosting (it was cream cheese frosting) and just moved them around for a while... feeling the texture. He did all this with a content smile on his face, of course. After a good minute (I mean it), he tasted it. He must have approved.

It's been such a joy to watch Andrew's personality develop over the past year. He really is a content child in so many ways. He loves to explore and study things. He's happy just waddling around the house checking things out. But he's also happy sitting and playing with different toys and objects. He loves to manipulate things, read books, and listen to music. He dances, "sings", and plays the drum. Last evening I was putting lotion on my hands and he started to imitate the motion. He adores his big sister and our cat, Elly, saying "yyooowwww" whenever he sees her. And he loves when Daddy comes home in the evenings. This is so sweet to see since Emma was still pretty attached to mom at this age. Can you tell I'm in love?! :)

Thought for the Day

"I wouldn't worry so much about what people thought of me if I knew how seldom they did."

- Dr. Phil's dad

Boxers or Briefs?

One household chore I have a difficult time keeping up with is cleaning floors. I think it's because a) I have several of them (kitchen, mud room, 2 bathrooms, and three small tiled areas) b) The high-traffic areas get dirty so easily and frequently... and hairy (although this has improved with just a cat and no longer a dog) c) This is one chore I cannot successfully accomplish when my children are present and awake in the house and d) I hate using a mop. I've had little success with them. They seem to just push around the hair and the dirt.

I like to clean my floors the old fashioned way. I like to get down on my hands and knees and scrub. The water and the rag gets changed at least once. My theory is if I'm taking the time to clean, it might as well get really clean. My goal is to scrub floors once a week. It's been more like 1-2 times a month in the last year.

So here's my tip for other hands-and-knees scrubbers. I use Pete's old boxers. The ones that rip after years of wear and get turned into rags. I like the flannel cotton ones best because the fabric is soft for washing and the elastric trim on the waist is perfect for scrubbing. So if you haven't discovered this yet and you or a male in your household wears boxers, I recommend you try it!!

Just call me Heloise today. :)

Meals for the Week

My goal this month is to plan my menu as much as possible around the food already in my fridge, freezer, and cupboards. I still need to hit the grocery store to get fresh produce, other necessities, and items to complete my meals. It's been fun, though, to see what I have and attempt to work with it. Plus it saves money! I'd love to take some of the money I'm saving and do a grocery trip just to buy items for a food pantry. Perhaps Emma and I will make a special trip in the next week or so. I'll let you know.

Here are my meals for this week:

Sunday - Grilled steaks, baked sweet potatoes, broccoli and cheese, oatmeal bread
Monday - dhal over rice, cucumber yogurt salad
Tuesday - leftovers
Wednesday - lasagna (I froze an extra one when I made this last month!), cheesy bread, salad
Thursday - Pete's work Christmas party
Friday - Vegetable Chili, Cornbread, cheese
Saturday or Sunday - Chicken Enchiladas, spanish rice, corn

Beef, Anyone?

Last February we purchased a half of a cow with friends of ours. We thought it a good decision... we knew where the cow was coming from, what it was fed, what is was not injected with, and it filled our freezer with a variety of cuts of beef that could be used throughout the year. It's been really nice to have roasts, steaks, and ground beef on hand.

One thing I would do different.y next time is to ask them to ground certain cuts of meat into ground beef instead. First of all, we told them to just give us cuts as they were since this was our first time and we wanted to see how it would all work out. Secondly, we were given about half as much ground beef as the original information had stated. So... we ended up with lots of beef bones, some shanks, and some other cuts I just plain had never heard of.

So I'm looking for some recipes. Do you have any good ones out there for shanks or short ribs? And what I'd really like is a yummy recipe for beef and noodles (I'd like to use my beef bones for this one.) I could (and have) look through cookbooks but it's always nice when someone shares a recipe he/she has made before and knows is tasty. Those are the ones I'm looking for!! Bring on the recipes!

Packing List

My friend, Jen S., suggested that I post my packing list that I use to prepare for our family trips. This is catered to a woman and to small children so please keep that in mind. There are some items that are not needed as much or at all now that Andrew is older. Also, I always do a little tweaking before each trip depending on where we are going, for how long, etc. For example, we need those swim suits and beach towels if there's a pool. And no need for all the extra big stuff if it's a quick trip or relatives have what we need. I've thought before that I should do a list for the beach, a list for camping, a list for the grandparents, etc., but it really seems more work than necessary. This basic list usually works pretty well. (Sorry about the length... I couldn't figure out how to post in columns.)

Emma
outfits
socks
underwear
pull-ups
sippy cup
pjs
blankets
jacket/hat
travel kit
shoes
toothbrush/toothpaste
tangle spray

Andrew
onesies
outfits
socks
robeez
diapers
wipes
Tylenol
nebulizor/meds
pjs
washcloths
towel
blankets
hats
bottles
burp cloths

Kris
underwear
bras/breastpads
pantiliners/tampons
vitamins
outfits
pjs
socks
toothbrush/paste
pick
contacs/solution
glasses
sunglasses
makeup
face/body lotion
shoes
coat
spot cream
hair products
deoderant
face wash
hairdryer
pump

Other
snacks for trip
water
plastic bags
magazines/books
camera
videocamera
host(ess) gift
scrapbooks
DVDs/CDs

Misc Kid
backpack
Moby Wrap/sling
stroller
books
toys
snacks
bibs
monitors
wash cloths
towels
thermometer
soap/shampoo
booster chair
pack-n-play/sheets
fan
CD player

Happy Feet

Last Friday Pete, my sister (Tonya), and I took Emma to see her first movie. I had seen trailers for Happy Feet and thought it looked adorable. If you know me well, or knew me growing up, you know I love penguins. I haven't collected them in years but this movie and "The March of the Penguins" have reinforced my love for them. They are just such cute animals! And they really do have a fascinating existence.

Anyway, I had read that the movie was rated PG for some language, humor, and "mild peril." I figured it was worth a shot with Emma. Usually three year-olds don't pick up much with the humor. I was right about that. Nothing concerning in the least. And I can't even remember what the language was, but it was like "stupid" or something like that. No biggie. The mild peril, on the other hand, was a bit much for Emma. It always occured when an animal was trying to get/eat the penguins. The movie was very loud and the sound and visual effects made it scarier than it needed to be. Emma learned to hide her eyes and did ask to go back to Grandpa and Grandma's a couple of times. I'm pretty sure it didn't traumatize her or scar her for life though. I suppose it's a good thing she is sensitive to that. But do think twice about taking a child if he/she is young and/or sensitive to this type of thing.

Other than the peril, I highly recommend the movie. It was very entertaining. The music and the dancing was so fun and well done. I'll definitely be adding the soundtrack to my wish list. Some really talented actors, such as Nicole Kidman, Elijah Wood, Robin Williams, among others, were the voices. The movie had several good messages - about proper disposal of waste and its effect on animals, the benefit of keeping animals in their natural habitat vs. caging in a zoo or aquarium, how fishing/taking their food source can affect penguins (and other animals), learning to find the good in others despite their differences. It even had a multiethnic spin in its choice of characters and music.

I'd love to hear from anyone else who might have seen this movie. If not, I'd encourage you to get to the theaters or put on your priority list when it comes to DVD. I have a feeling this will be another must-own movie in our household!

And We're Off!

One thing about living away from our families is that we travel a lot. Most holidays are spent on the road, except for the few that we're able to convince our families to come to us. Okay, it's not that difficult. They are all very good about coming out here... especially this last year when I was pregnant and then had a young baby. But this year it's our turn again. We'll leave for PA tomorrow and then spend Christmas in TN.

I kind of feel like a pro now when it comes to preparing for a trip. Although it still is a bit stressful and takes some energy to get everything together. I was talking to another mom at Emma's preschool this morning about how much work it is to get ready. I kind of felt silly - she is the mom of 7 children. But regardless, it is work.

I've learned a couple of things along the way and will continue to learn for years to come. Some tips I have are the following:

• I try to always get my laundry done a day in advance. This meant that I did load after load yesterday. But what a good feeling to get up this morning and know that anything I needed to pack was clean and ready to go.
• I keep an ongoing "packing list" on my computer. It's a list of the essentials for me, both kids, and the general stuff. I let Pete take care of himself. This is not his method and really, it doesn't need to be since he's only responsible for his clothes, toiletries, and optional reading material. I, on the other hand, need to make sure the rest of us have the right clothes, snacks, cameras are ready to go, gifts are wrapped (this time it's my dad's bday celebration), etc. The list helps me remember what I need. I can add to it or just cross off things that might not be necessary for a particular trip. It's totally worth it for me. Just print it off and I've got my guide.
• I always stick a bottle of water or two in the freezer the night before. This can serve as an icepack for a cooler or a drink a little later on the trip. (I'm partial to cold water.)
• If we'll be traveling into the evening, I keep a set of pjs in a travel bag up front so the change is easy and we don't have to go routing through suitcases.
• Whenever possible, we fill up and get cash out before the trip. Pete's out getting cash tonight (oh and my weekly pumpkin pie blizzard but that's not really important to the matter at hand) and I filled the tank yesterday. It cuts time and gets us on the road faster.
• Before we go to bed tonight, everything we need, with the exception of things being used overnight or necessary to get ready in the morning, will be packed and sitting in the living room. That way in the morning, I can quickly get last minute items (these are circled on my list) into the right places and out to the van easily.

Maybe this is all common sense, but these are just some of the things I do to make this trips possible and not too overwhelming. I'd love to hear other suggestions out there as well.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone! I'm thankful for each of you in my life.

Happy Birthday, Big Guy!

In our house we've got a "big guy" and a "little guy." Can you tell which one this is? (Perhaps the '70 colors and furniture give it away a bit.) These pictures were taken 30 years ago... today Pete turns 31. I say thanks to my in-laws for raising such a wonderful man who is hard-working, loyal, kindhearted, easy-going, and a very loving father. The kids and I drove to his office today to take him out for lunch. Emma keeps telling everyone that he is 21 today. I guess that's not such a bad thing. :) This evening just Pete and I will celebrate by going out for wings when the kids are in bed.

So happy birthday, sweetie! We love you!

p.s. The "little guy" turns one in a couple of weeks. I'll be sure to post pictures of that... you may notice a resemblance...

Maple-Roasted Chicken with Sweet Potatoes

Again, a post about food. I'm a little obsessed with food. I really like to eat and I really like to cook. So it makes sense that I really like to talk (or blog) about food. Anyway, I wanted to share this recipe with you all weeks ago when I tried it so this is long overdue. It comes from Good Housekeeping and called for chicken thighs (we used breasts instead.) It was so easy and so tasty. The whole family (my parents and sister were also visiting) gobbled it up.

Maple-Roasted Chicken with Sweet Potatoes

4 large skinless chicken thighs
2 small sweet potatoes (about 1 lb. total), peeled and cut into 1 in. chunks
1 small onion, cut into 1 in. pieces
16 oz. bag baby carrots or 8 oz. parsnips, cut into 1 in. chunks (I used the carrots)
1/4 cup maple syrup (I used the real stuff)

1. Preheat oven to 450.
2. In jelly roll pan or large shallow roasting pan, combine chicken, sweet potato chunks, onion, carrots, maple syrup, 1 t. salt, and 1/2 t. pepper, and toss to coat.
3. Roast chicken mixture 40-45 minutes or until juices run clear when thickest part of thigh is pierced with tip of knife and liquid in pan thickens slightly, stirring vegetables once and turning chicken over halfway through roasting.

Meals for the Week

I had a menu planned for the week, but now I'm looking at, thinking I may switch some things around. Let's start with this evening for example, I really don't feel like cooking afterall so we may just order some pizza. We'll see.

Here are meals I am prepared to cook this week:

• Chicken Corn Soup, Oatmeal Bread
• Sweet-spicy glazed salmon, baked sweet potatoes, asparagus
• Pork Chop Casserole, Acorn Squash

Happy cookin' and eatin' this week!

The Sounds of Christmas

I love listening to Christmas music. I have been known to start playing it a bit on the early side. I know there was a year I began in September. Pete claims I started once in August but I'm not ready to agree with him. This year I waited until October. Yes, thank you. I consider that an accomplishment as well. I just love the sounds of Christmas. I have lots of good CDs. The music is uplifting to me and reminds me of the joy of the season. When I was in a slump a few weeks ago, my Christmas CDs were one of the things that got me through. And they remain in my disc changer here at home.

As I child, one of my favorite records was Amy Grant's Christmas album. I know she has several now so I can't remember what the title was. But it had a song called, "Tennessee Christmas" (which I find kind of ironic since I get to spend Christmases in TN every few years now :)) and another entitled, "Emmanuel." I used to blare these songs over and over.

Now some of my favorites are:

• "December", George Winston
• "Merry Christmas", Mariah Carey
• "These Are the Special Times", Celine Dion
• Handel's Messiah
• "Christmas Live", Manheim Steamrollers

I would love other suggestions too. I'm always up for expanding my collection.

We also have a Rosie O'Donnell Christmas CD that has a duet with Elmo so you can imagine that's been getting a lot of play time around here. Emma loves to sing and dance as I do (forgot about this similarity in my last post) so I'd love to expand her collection. Any suggestions for good kids' Christmas albums?

Social Worker In Training

Many people have told me that Emma reminds them of me. Good? Bad? I imagine she got a combination of my strengths and areas in need of improvement. I think her personality is much like mine in that she is energetic and social - which again has it's goods and bads. She's a bit more spirited or strong-willed than I was as a child, but I like this. I allowed far too many friends walk all over me as a kid, and I hope she can learn to assert herself earlier than I did. She also loves creative play as I did. I used to play imaginary world with my markers and magnets. They were "people" who lived in town and they interacted with one another. Emma loves imaginary play as well. One of her favorite things to do is to go to the front door and pretend she the next door neighbor, Elia. (This is also a fictional character - my next door neighbor is named Shelley and has only come to my front door once.)

Another area I see in Emma is compassion. I like to believe that this is a strength of mine as well. She's always been very concerned about others when they are sick or upset. I remember several times when she brought friends tissues when they were crying because they were hurt or having a meltdown. Perhaps she'll pursue a helping profession as I did or at least a caring friend to others.

One of my favorite memories of Emma's compassion happened last fall when I was pregnant with Andrew. She would have been 2 1/2. Here's an excerpt from my journal:

November 14, 2005
I had a rough day today... just pregnancy hormones and anxiety, exhaustion from the weekend, etc. This afternoon Cole did something to frustrate me so I sat down in the living room with Emma and tears started coming to my eyes. When she realized this, she walked up to me, got real close to my face and said, "Talk to me. What's the matter? Tell me what's wrong." (As she's saying all this, I'm kind of in shock by the mature manner she is relating to me and trying to figure out how to answer her all at once.) So I tell her that I'm sad. "Why?" she asks. "I'm just having a bad afternoon," as I continue to cry - mostly because my 2 1/2 year old is showing such compassion. "Wait a second," she tells me, "Let me get something for you." Off she disappears to the bathroom for a tissue. She wipes my face and the tears off my shirt. "It's okay, Mommy."

This evening we will get together with some friends who were in a small group with us for several years. Among them will be our friend, Mary Jane. She is the wife of our wonderful friend, Aaron, who died a couple of weeks ago. As we were driving today, Emma asks me out of the blue, "Mommy, will Mary Jane tell us how she is feeling tonight?"

Now is that a social worker in the making or what?!

5 Point Harness

A friend of mine forwarded me this web video about the importance of 5 point harness carseats. I encourage anyone reading this post who ever drives or rides in a vehicle with children to take a few minutes to view this video. It makes a compelling argument for 5 point harness seats over booster seats. This video is VERY difficult to get through but I like to think it will save a life.

How To Be A Good Wife

Ha! Got y'all to read this one, didn't I?! Well, this was prompted by a conversation I had with some girlfriends this evening. We were joking about this "How To Be a Good Wife" article that's been circulated through the years. I guess there are a few nice, general tips, like "be happy to see him" and "listen to him," although I think those rules should be followed by both parties whenever possible. But overall, the list is pretty sad. Now don't get me wrong... I love my husband dearly and I know he works hard every day and I do think he deserves to be treated well. But so do I!! And yes, I really think women were created for purposes other than taking care of men and children. So there.

Feel free to visit this article on Snopes to read about how one might be a good wife.

p.s. Touch up my makeup? How about take a shower?! :) (Is my sarcasm obvious?)

Meals for the Week

I guess I never got around to posting last week's meals. Other than the corn chowder, I made meatloaf/mashed potatoes one night and chicken cordon bleu/brown rice another. I'm not cooking a whole lot this week which is okay with me. We have something every single evening through Saturday so I'm trying not to overdo it with too much cooking. Ha!

Monday - Sausage penne, spaghetti squash
Tuesday - Leftovers (the kids have flu shots at 6 pm - not the most convenient time)
Wednesday - FAB at church (I believe we're having soup)
Thursday - Leftovers or something quick and simple (Again, I have a meeting at 6 pm)
Friday - Going to friends' for dinner - I'll take a cooked vegie of some sort
Saturday - Lasagna, green salad, orange salad, garlic bread (double bday celebration here)

Latest Reads

I just finished my most recent book last evening - The Memory Keeper's Daughter, by Kim Edwards. What a wonderful, engaging book!! When I saw that two of my favorite authors, Jodi Picoult and Sue Monk Kidd had commented on the cover, I figured it must be a great book, and it was. Just to give you an idea, a man (who is also a doctor) delivers his wife's twins one snowy evening in the 1960s. After the boy is born healthy, he delivers a daughter who has Down's syndrome. He asks his nurse to take her away to an institution. Instead the nurse raised her as her own in another city. The doctor tells his wife that the girl was dead at birth. Now doesn't that make you want to pick this book up right away?!

The novel I read prior to this one was The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini. Also an excellent read but much different in nature. This book tells about the life of a boy who grows up in Afghanistan and moves to the U.S. as a young adult. Not only was the story moving, it was fascinating to read about the culture and life in that part of the world, considering the political events that have taken place. I would highly recommend this book as well.

Thanks, Mom, for recommending and loaning both of these books to me. Now it's on to Marley & Me, a book on loan from Mennocajunmamma.

Our Halloween

It wasn't planned, but we had a black and white theme this year. Actually, I had wanted to coordinate their costumes. I thought about doing a cowgirl/cowboy thing but then Sarah happened upon this cute penguin costume at a consignment shop. Ya'll know how much I love penguins so it was too good to pass up.

Our little penguin wasn't crazy about his hood so it was quite tricky to get the full effect of the costume. The cowgirl had a blast dressing up for preschool and for the Fall Fun Fest at church. We didn't get out trick-or-treating this year since we attended the funeral of our dear friend, Aaron Hoober. Emma didn't seem to care a bit. She still accumulated more than enough candy from the other parties. She keeps telling us to "hide it." Not sure that she fully understands what or why that would be as she knows where the "hiding" place is. I'm not too concerned since the two foods she begged for at the grocery store today were an orange and bunny carrots (regular carrots with the green attached as opposed to the very popular baby carrots.) How could I pass up those two requests?!

Supporting Individual Artisans

One thing I enjoy doing is supporting local or individual artisans. I think it's wonderful when people find an art or a trade which they are gifted in and passionate about. It makes me feel good to know that I am supporting them. I know where the money is going and that the product is good. When I can, I enjoy purchasing gifts like these for family and friends.

One of our favorite local artists is potter, Eric Strader. He's a wonderful friend of ours and very talented at what he does. We have several pieces of his pottery and find them both functional and beautiful. You can check out Eric's pottery online or if you live locally, he has an open house at his studio this Saturday, November 4 from 9AM - 6PM. I can get you more information on that if you'd like.

Another artist I support wholeheartedly is my cousin, Lori. She is not local but of course is dear to my heart since she is family. Several years ago she began making handcrafted and natural soups and has expanded her business to salts and other gifts. I absolutely love her soap as it leaves my skin clean and fresh and soft. I know she uses natural ingredients which is important to me. If you've visited my home, you know that there is a rarely a bar of soap here that is not made by Lori. Two of my favorites are her calendula bar for babies and her Cocoa Mint Swirl PLUS bar. But really, I can't stop there because I've never used one that I haven't loved. My husband went crazy when he first tried her shampoo bar. He exclaimed over and over about how his hair had never felt so good before. (Yes, I'm very serious about this.)

There are others who I have supported, but don't necessarily have businesses large enough to warrant a website. Sarah's sister, Hillary, for example used to make beautiful beaded jewelry. I've gotten many compliments on the earrings I have purchased from her. Hillary, do you have time for that these days or plans to return to this artistic endeavor? (Sarah may have to answer this one for us.)

Rob, my cousin and husband to Sarah, is also a gifted artisan. He crafts Shaker boxes. I'm not aware of any he has sold but perhaps this is in his plan for the future. We were so extremely lucky to receive some as a gift a few years ago. Since having a family, his time is more limited to pursue this, I understand. But I hear of some he occasionally makes and they are absolutely gorgeous!

There are many others of you who have gifts of creating in the home, in the kitchen, in the garden. Are there others I am missing or whom you can suggest? I would love to hear about other artisans you support and/or recommend.

Recently Devoured

You may have seen Corn Chowder on my menu for a couple of weeks. I finally made it, along with some homemade oatmeal bread, for dinner this past Sunday. All four of us loved it. This recipe is from my friend, Beth, an occasional commenter on this blog. Thanks, Beth, for introducing this to us!!

Corn Chowder

1/2 c. butter (I'm sure you could cut this down but I didn't :))
2 potatoes, peeled and diced (I used three)
2 ribs celery, minced
2 T. chopped green or red sweet pepper
1 medium onion, peeled and chopped
2 T. flour
1 t. salt
1 cup water
2 T. chicken bouillon
20 oz. frozen corn
3 - 4 c. Half-n-half or milk (I used 2 c. fat free half-n-half and 2 c. skim milk)
large can chicken breast (optional - Beth adds this to make it a little heartier... I did too)

Saute first 5 ingredients about 10 minutes or until almost tender. Blend in flour and salt. Cook one minute. Stir in water and bouillon, stirring constantly for 3-4 minutes. Then add corn and milk (this is when I added the chicken too.) Gently heat through.

Crunch

So I backed into our Corolla with our van yesterday. (I thought about posting a picture but I'll spare you the visual.) It was so stupid. I was backing out of the garage as Pete ran into the house to get something quick before we left for church. I should be used to this by now since we've been parking our Corolla in the driveway many nights. But I guess Pete's usually got it at work by the time I leave with the van. Anyway, I should have been paying attention. And I wasn't. At all. I didn't even look into my rear or sideview mirrors. CRUNCH. Dumb.

The damage really isn't all that bad. Some scratches on both vehicles and a loose bumper on the van. The brand new van. The one we are still paying on. Yeah, that one. This is why I've always been more comfortable driving my older, used cars. My hubby handled it well. He said it's nothing a little paint won't fix. Of course he knew how horrible I felt so what could he say?! Really, the worst part is that it was completely avoidable and I just wasn't paying attention. I did something similar to this when I was a young adult home on break from college. I drove our Toyota Camry into the mailbox.... while jamming to John Mellencamp on the radio. That was probably just more irresponsible than anything. But at least it was an old car.

Feel free to share any similar stories... or not. It just might make me feel a little better. :)

Apple Picking

The kids and I went to an apple orchard with Emma's preschool on Tuesday (I wanted to post this yesterday but my computer was being stubborn.) It was a chilly day, but one of teachers said it felt like Miami Beach compared to the day before. So we were fortunate to have the day with more sunshine. Both children did a wonderful job and had lots of fun as we rode the hayride, picked some Fuji apples, selected a spaghetti squash, and walked through the corn maze.














One of our favorite things to eat for breakfast are apple fritters. Since we have a plethora of apples right now, I made these for Emma and I yesterday. Yum!!


Breakfast Apple Fritters
Mix the following together with a wire whip:
3 eggs
1 c. milk
1 c. flour
pinch of salt
little sugar
2-3 chopped, peeled apples
Fry in a hot skillet. Serve with butter and sprinkle with cinnamon sugar.

Meals for the Week

I was a little late planning this week so I'm a little late posting...

Monday - Chicken Tortilla casserole, corn, peaches
Tuesday - Pot Roast with potatoes and carrots
Wednesday- FAB at church
Thursday - Corn Chowder, cheese, homemade bread if I'm ambitious
Friday/Saturday - dinner plans both evenings so less cooking!!

We head to the apple orchard with Emma's preschool class tomorrow so perhaps I'll treat my family to a homemade apple pie this week (okay, so my homemade pie uses a Pillsbury crust... it's worth the less stress for me, but I sure would like to take Sarah's seminar someday!!)

Good Evening, Lousy Night

One thing about this stage of night is that staying overnight in a new place can be miserable. Our family is not used to sleeping altogether in one room. I realize this individual space is unique to us developed countries. I actually tried the family bed with both children and could not make it work. Our family members just all sleep better in our own cozy little beds.

This weekend was our church retreat at a camp up in Michigan. Pete was in charge of Saturday activities and was set on spending the night. I originally planned to take the baby home, but changed my mind a couple of days ago. Why not go for it? Pete and I could get the kids to bed and hang out with other adults. We wouldn't have to drive to and from the camp twice. It hadn't been very successful when Emma was 18 months old two years ago, but Andrew's a different baby... better sleeper, more content. I tried to be optimistic... or maybe in denial. The evening was great. The meal was quite tasty for camp food. We enjoyed being with friends. The variety show was entertaining and the kids did fabulous. I didn't worry that it was past their bedtimes because they both were doing well and I figured they'd be extra tired then for the night. Then came the dreaded.

Emma settled in rather well -at 9pm and slept all night long. She's a rather restless sleeper we learned. She removed her pants when she got hot (her mom does this all the time!) and flailed around on the bed throughout the night. She'd sit up, get up from bed, turn her body upside down - all while staying in a sleep state. (Perhaps this is why she and I could never sleep together.) Never did she venture to our bed, talk, cry or anything.

It took us a while to get Andrew down. He hasn't slept in a pack-n-play in a while so it was different enough for him. It was too entertaining, I suppose, to stand up and look at big sister laying in her bed. But with some patience and his beloved stuffed elephant, Pete got him down. There he slept for a solid four hours. We came to bed at midnight- still too late for me, and he was awake at 1 AM. I wasn't surprised as he still wakes sometimes at night. It was especially likely being in a hotel room. But he wouldn't settle. Pete and I tried everything we could think of in the room for two entire hours. His eyes wouldn't shut. He'd play or cry if put in his bed or our bed. We feared waking Emma or the neighbors, although Emma slept through it all. Of course, Pete and I were quite grouchy, having only slept an hour - it's always worse when you're awaken from that deep sleep state. We even talked about Pete driving him home but I did not want them on the road for a hour in the middle of the night. Finally after 3AM, he settled in the pack-n-play again. I had moved it to the darkest part of the room, as far from the beds as I could go.

Another four hours and Emma wakes up ready for the day. I'm exhausted. Pete's wiped out. Andrew is blocking the door. Her stirring and talking wakes him up and we are officially screwed. I wasn't convinced he'd sleep at all since the sun was now beginning to shine. It was still over two hours from brunch and Emma was the only one who felt rested. So we packed up and left.

I value my sleep and patience is something I really need more of in these situations so I do not handle these middle-of-the-night situations nearly as well as some of you would. I could sit here and resent the fact that we tried to stay the night or that our baby did so poorly. It is frustrating and I know many of you have been there... Angie just told me a story last evening that sounded worse to me than what we experienced. So I don't feel I can complain too bad. But I do think we made the right decision in taking off. And so far 3 of the 4 of us have been able to nap here (Pete would rather watch the ND game he missed yesterday.) Won't be sleeping over at any camps in the near future though.

Wearing My Babies

I have experimented with wearing my kids since Emma was just a few weeks old. I had a tough time at first. By the time I figured the sling out and got her in a comfortable position, she was not happy with me. It just didn't work. By the time she was four months old, though, as shown in the first picture, she loved the sling, especially facing forward. This way she could snuggle with mama and bounce along to the movement while watching the world. That was a great sling, borrowed from a good friend. Then I found one at a consignment shop and returned hers. It was too big and while I attempted to make it work, it just was never comfortable. My friend, Sarah, introduced me to the Moby Wrap shortly before
Andrew was born. It's this huge piece of fabric that ties around and you can put the baby into all sorts of positions, much like a sling. I used it some as he was a baby but then as the weather got warmer, so did the wrap. We started using a borrowed Baby Bjorn (thanks, Lesley) for a long time. Andrew loved it and it was easy for both Pete and I to put on and adjust. Eventually he got heavier and I began looking for another option. That's when I discovered the pocket or pouch sling. Some women I knew had purchased really great ones but then I met a few at my mom's group that had made their own. So I tried it and it worked!! $3 for a sling that just involved sewing a few seams... can't beat that. This one is good for a hip hold for an older baby but still requires hand support. That's fine sometimes but I really have been missing the hands-free benefit of the Bjorn. So I pulled out the Moby Wrap again today and put him in an older baby position. Because of all the fabric, it seems it might distribute the weight a bit better than the Bjorn so there isn't so much pressure on shoulders. But there's an awful lot of fabric to deal with too. You'll see I need to work a little at wrapping it the right way. I want to be sure I don't cut off his circulation anywhere! But it served the purpose of walking down the street and back, and of course he loved it!!

Have you ever worn a baby? What did you use and when? Maybe Sarah or other baby-wearing bloggers want to post cute pictures of their little 'roos on their blogs!

McSilly

Newsweek has a little blurb this week about a recent scuffle on the set of Grey's Anatomy. Evidentally Isaiah Washington (Preston Burke) and Patrick Dempsey (Derek Shephard, aka McDreamy) argued about people being late to rehearsal or something. Of course the McMedia first reported it was a "violent brawl" and now it's been toned down quite a bit. I guess disagreements between famous, handsome men on popular TV shows (Grey's is currently the #1 series on TV) is really newsworthy these days. I think it's all McStupid.

P.S. It's still my favorite TV show!!!

Maxin' and Relaxin'

I remember reading some teen magazine when I was a teenager myself and it had this whole list of the popular phrases. "Maxin' and relaxin'" was one of them. I think the Fresh Prince (Will Smith) sang it in one of his songs. Anyway, it means to relax. That was difficult to figure out, wasn't it?

I decided to relax this evening. I have been so busy lately trying to take care of my family, my house, my marriage, my church commitments, keep up with family and friends, the list goes on. Then, of course, there's the whole needing to find Halloween costumes for the kids and boots and coats that fit (since we got our first snow last week!!) It's crazy. So tonight I made the decision to stay home when I could have met a bunch of women friends for the evening. It was a difficult choice to make, but I have something every other evening this week! While I missed you all this evening, I know I made a good choice to stay home. When the kids were in bed, I drew a bath and read a magazine. Aaah.

We all deserve to just kick back and relax sometimes. How do you like to relax? Anyone enjoy a cup of tea, a bath, and/or a book or magazine like I do? I also love a good massage but of course I have to drive and pay for those.

I challenge you all to take some time this week to do some maxin' and relax'. And tell me about it if you'd like.

Meals for the Week

It's a busy week so I won't be doing a lot of cooking. It's a need rest...

Sunday - Grilled steaks, Hash Brown casserole, Cooked Vegetable, Applesauce, Biscuits (we're having our neighbors for dinner)
Monday - Curried Lentils and Rice, Cucumber Salad (yes, this is a postponement from last wk)
Tuesday - Dinner Outing
Wednesday - FAB at church
Thursday - Leftovers or something simple - I have a meeting over the dinner hour
Friday - Corn Chowder or Minestrone (I have ingredients for both), Bread, Cheese
Saturday/Sunday - Church Retreat

Dance Fever

Ever since I can remember, I have loved to dance. Never took lessons. Never was any good. Now my sister, on the other hand, was born a natural. We grew up dancing a lot together. I simply adore music and I like to move. I dance in the car, I dance at home with the kids. You might even find me moving to the beat at church. GASP! :) I think it's an awesome, healthy expression of our bodies. And it's fun!

I have limited opportunities to dance these days. No more school dances. I'm certainly not planning to hit any clubs. Since Pete changed jobs we no longer have work parties with dancing (don't see this changing anytime soon since half of the employees at his current job are Amish.) I suppose someone could have a wedding and invite me... or I could crash one. (See Wedding Crashers anyone?) But seriously, dancing is most fun with people I know. Because I do it for fun and not because I'm any good, I need a safe environment where people aren't judging my every step. When I was still working outside of the home, I went to an aerobics class called "Latin Grooves." It was aerobics mixed with Latin and Carribean style dancing. Que divertido!

So where am I now? I pretty much just dance with my kids. They both love it. A couple of months ago, Andrew started moving his body up and down whenever he heard music. Now he uses a play drumstick and plays the drum. Emma has been gettin' down for a long time now. We put whatever on.... kids music, Latin music, Elton John, whatever gets us in the mood. We call it "Dance USA." Recently she performed the "Naked Booty Dance" for friends of ours. No, we did not teach her that. And yes, she developed the dance and the term on her own. :) Fortunately, our friends are great natured and enjoyed every minute of it.

Yesterday as I was driving alone in the car, I realized I was dancing at a stoplight. As I looked over to the car beside me, a man in probably his 70s was looking back at me - dancing. Yes, it was hilarious! So I smiled and danced back.

If anyone wants to throw a party with dancing, I'm game!!

Kitty Litter

This is Elly. She joined our family five years ago when her previous family moved across the country and couldn't take her with them. She is such a sweet cat and has put up with much tormenting from her former brother, Cole (our dog), and various children in our home (including our own, of course.)

Elly is not has a great personality, she is very cute (as you can see here.) I'm not biased or anything. Pete has his complaints when her regurgitated dinner or a hairball is occasionally deposited on our carpet somewhere. But other than that, we are pretty lucky.

I must say, though, that lately I just hate cleaning out her litter box. It never seemed to bother me before and then I got out of it for about 18 months of my life thanks to my two children. But now it's my daily task again and it's just no fun. I think a big part of this is that I am not happy with our cat litter. I've tried several kinds. I really prefer a clumping kind so I can just scoop out the nasty. And I can't handle anything with a scent or dust. I also would really like to find something environmentally friendly. My dad uses something called "Yesterday News" that uses recycled paper, I believe. I'm not sure what it's effect on the environment is once it's used as cat litter.

I suppose what I should really do is my research, but I just don't feel like taking the time. There are many other things that are higher priority right now. So I start here... any cat lovers out there? What's your litter of choice? Do you have any odor/dust-free, environmentally-friendly, preferably clumping recommendations? Oh yeah, and I hate putting it in plastic bags that are also not great sitting in dumpsites somewhere. Does anyone out there do something else with their litter besides throw it in their garbage?

Taco Soup

I made this soup for my family last weekend and my mom requested the recipe. So here is the recipe, Mom, and whoever else might be interested. It is one of our favorites!

Taco Soup

2 lbs. ground beef
1 small onion, chopped
3 (15 oz.) cans stewed tomatoes
1 (16 oz.) can pinto beans, rinsed, drained
1 (16 oz.) can lima beans, rinsed, drained
1 (16 oz.) can red kidney beans, rinsed, drained
1 (15 oz.) can golden hominy, drained
3 (4 oz.) cans chopped green chiles, drained
1 1/2 cups water
1 envelope ranch salad dressing mix
1 envelope taco seasoning mix
1 t. salt
1 t. pepper
Shredded cheddar
Tortilla or corn chips (I like Fritos!)

Brown meat with onion and drain. Stir in the remainder of ingredients. Bring to a boil, stirring frequently; reduce heat. At this point you can put it into a crockpot on "high" until boils, then on "low" 4-6 hours OR you can simmer for 30 minutes longer, stirring occasionally.

• May add addtional water for desired consistency.
• Ladle into soup bowls and sprinkle with cheese and chips. You can also top with sour cream.
• May substitue ground turkey for beef and use other beans instead of ones listed. I have not tried this.

Ragin' Mamas

I admit... sometimes I get really frustrated and angry as a parent. Do I even need to "admit" this? How do parents not get this way sometimes? But yes, I'm one of those moms that always said I would try really hard not to react impulsively when I was upset with my children. And I'm also one of those moms that in only 3 1/2 years, has not been able to follow through. This doesn't make me a horrible parent. It makes me a human parent. But I'm still not happy with myself when I find myself in this situation. One thing I try to do is to ask my daughter's forgiveness when I know I've reacted unfairly toward her. But I still feel bad. I know better.

Some of you may get the magazine, "The Mennonite." I don't have a current subscription, but my mom told me about an article in the most recent issue. It's written by Valerie Weaver Zercher. She is an excellent writer and a mother of three young boys. I've only met her a couple of times (her wedding being one of those) but I've really enjoyed several articles she has written. And between me and well, whoever else reads this blog, I guess, I used to have a big crush on her husband. Now keep in mind, I was 12 and he was the associate pastor at our church, so no worries.

In this article, "One Mean Mennonite Mama," Weaver Zercher writes about reacting in anger to her child and her response to that. She outlines four suggestions for forgiving ourselves and transforming our anger. If you haven't already, I recommend that anyone who has children in their lives read Valerie's article. I plan to print it out as a reminder for myself.

Fun Parties

One thing I love is a good party. I don't think I've hosted a really great one since before my children were born. Pete and I threw an '80s party when we moved in to our house. We had a blast planning and throwing it.

Last Thursday evening, I attended a Zag Bag/Silpada party at my friend, Sarah's house. She is a total domestic goddess (her blog link is to the left), so she hosted in style. Her house was immaculate (despite having two young boys), she had beautiful fall decorations and her menu was well-planned and quite delicious. There were probably at least 20 or more women throughout the course of the evening. While I didn't purchase any jewelry, I did design a zag bag. How fun!! I got to pick the style of bag and choose four different fabrics. Every woman needs a purse or a bag or some sort, so what better way to celebrate community with other women?

Well, I just read about another friend's recent party. My friend, Deb, moved to Portland a couple of years ago. I miss her dearly and wish I could see her more often, but it has been fabulous being able to keep up with her via blogs. She threw the coolest party... a Naked Lady Party. Please don't be alarmed, it's not what you may think. It's just a creative and fun way to reuse and recycle clothing. Read about it on her blog, http://debsbeesnest.blogspot.com/.

Meals for the Week

Okay, this is pretty sad. I've only had one post between this week's and last week's meals... and that was a recipe. So it may appear that all I do is cook and eat. On the contrare, my friends!! My family has been in town for the week and I simply have not taken the time to do much blogging of my own.

Here is this week's menu for now:

Monday - Chicken Tetrazzini, Green Salad, Acorn Squash
Tuesday - Lentils (probably curried) and rice, anyone have any good side suggestions?
Wednesday - FAB at church
Thursday - Leftovers
Friday - Stromboli, Green Salad, Peaches
Saturday - Minestrone, Bread, Cheese

Happy meal planning this week!

Smokehouse Spaghetti

In my last post, Deb asked about Smokehouse Spaghetti. This dish is one my mom made often when I was growing up. It's now a family favorite of ours. It's a good company dish. I often take it to others when they need a meal. It's a hit with kids and it freezes well too!

Smokehouse Spaghetti

1 lb. ground beef
1/4 lb. bacon
1 medium chopped onion
1 - 15 oz. and 1 - 8 oz. tomato sauce
1 - 4 oz. can mushrooms (with juice)
1 t. salt
1/8 t. pepper
1/2 t. oregano
1/2 t. garlic powder
1/4 lb. shredded provolone
1/4 lb. shredded cheddar
8 oz. cooked spaghetti

Fry bacon and remove. Brown beef and onion. Add all but cheeses and spaghetti; simmer 15 miutes. Add spaghetti. Layer cheeses and spaghetti/sauce mixture in 9x13 pan. End with cheese on top. Bake for 30 minutes (or less) at 375 degrees. If made ahead and stored in fridge, may need 45 minutes.

Notes:
- I play around a lot with cheeses. I rarely use provolone and still like the flavor.
- Instead of tomato sauce and spices, I have used already prepared spaghetti sauce before, but I prefer sticking to the recipe.
- I often add a little more than 8 oz. spaghetti.

Meals for the Week

My friend, Sarah (you'll find her Domestic Goddess blog link on the sidebar) recently did a post on meal planning. She and I both love this domestic activity. She gave some wonderful tips on her blog for meal planning.. perhaps she can cut and paste them into a comment here if she cares to share them again. We both plan our meals at the beginning of each week. Every Sunday she will post her weekly menu. I will attempt to join her in that endeavor... mine might come on Saturdays or Mondays, depending on when I do my planning. This week is a little unique in that my family is visiting and I'll have extra people to feed every evening (my cousins will join us for a meal one evening as well.) So I'll be doing some extra and more involved cooking that usual because I like to and because I can.

Monday - leftovers
Tuesday - Smokehouse Spaghetti, green salad, garlic bread
Wednesday - FAB at our church (meal provided)
Thursday - Maple Roasted Chicken with Sweet Potatoes, green salad, applesauce
Friday - Stuffed Acorn Squash, green vegie, homemade bread
Saturday - Taco Soup, Raw Carrots, Cornbread, Cheese
Sunday - Eat Out or Take In

It's always fun for me to hear how others plan their meals. Feel free to share your style, tips, and ideas... it may just give me or another reader a good suggestion for the next week!

White Chili

This recipe is so tasty and easy. You can do it on the stove or in the crockpot. I made it on Friday for us and Pete's parents. I threw it together in 20 minutes tops and stuck it in the crockpot.

White Chili
2 lbs. cooked chicken (Rotisserie)
2 - 15 oz. cans white kidney beans, undrained
1 - 16 oz. jar salsa
8 oz. Monterey jack cheese
2 t. cumin

Comine in 3 qt. Cover and simmer one hour. Stir occasionally and add 1/4 c. water if too thick OR crockpot 3 hours on high.

Notes:
- You can cook your own chicken but I almost always use Rotisserie. It's quick, convenient and adds extra flavor to the soup.
- Use mild or medium salsa depending on your spice preference.
- Vary type of cheese as you'd like.

ENJOY!!

Weekend

This was one packed weekend. It started Friday evening when Pete and I (and 6 of our friends) went to GC to see Nickel Creek in concert. We've been fans of their bluegrass music for nearly 4 years. I used to listen to their first CD all the time when I was pregnant with Emma. When I read last winter that they were coming to concert on Sept. 29, I immediately put it on my calendar. Tickets to the public went on sale Sept. 1 at 8 am. I think I called at 7:59 am. All 200 were sold out by 8:50 am. It was so worth it! Their music was fabulous and they really put on a good show. Pete and I rarely get out for the evening and this was just the perfect date for us.

Pete's parents are here for the weekend... it's been planned for a couple of months. They came in time to be home with the kids on Friday evening. It's always nice to not have to call around for sitters. I made White Chili for us all before the concert (I'll post the recipe.)

On Saturday AM, I awoke at 5 AM to drive to Orville, Ohio for my Grandma's funeral. I left the kids home with Pete and his parents. What a good decision. Yes, it was a bit difficult to leave my baby for more than 5 hours, but he survived. Actually, he did quite well. And it was nice to be able to spend time with my family and not have to worry about two small children who can't sit through a funeral and a burial. I also really enjoyed driving ALONE in my car for 5 hours. I was operating on 4 1/2 hours of sleep though. Fortunately, my sister drove back with me that evening and shared some of the driving. My parents got here today so we're entertaining both families until the morning. Hopefully by tomorrow I'll catch up on some of this lost sleep.

The Avocado

I read recently that October is the season for the Mexican avocado crop (the Haas variety.) This is very exciting for me because I love avocados! Avocados are not only tasty, they are an excellent source of folate, fiber, and vitamin E. Avocados are also sodium- and cholesterol-free and have only five grams of fat per serving, most of it the monounsaturated kind.

I am including some of my favorite uses for avocado:

- Chop or mash up and add to sandwiches or wraps (BLTs, anything with turkey, ham, chicken) My friend, Sarah, once created a wrap with hard boiled egg, spinach, tomato, and avocado. This is one of my favorites to make.
- Add to any Mexican-like dish - on top of tacos or taco salad, burritos, enchiladas, rice and beans, etc.
- Make guacamole (Inspired by my friend, Jen S., I like one with mashed avocado, some salsa (or onions and tomatoes), Worcestershire sauce, lime juice, and a little salt and pepper)
- Dice up as a good finger food for babies and toddlers

Here are a few good recipes I’ve tried with avocado:
Avocado/Spinach Salad
Spinach leaves (sorry about all the spinach here – we may need to hold off on these)
Chopped avocado
Toasted walnuts
Feta cheese (can also use bleu cheese)
Note: I just play around with ingredients here depending on size of group and tastes. This dressing is fabulous and needs no dressing!!

Avocado Potato Salad
1/3 fresh lemon juice
2 t. garlic, finely chopped
¾ c. mayo
¼ c. olive oil
36 oz. Red new potatoes, cooked and diced
1 c. celery, diced
1 c. sweet onion, chopped
2 lbs. Avocados, diced
½ c. cilantro, chopped (another good, but sometimes acquired, flavor)
To make dressing, mix lemon juice and garlic; stir in mayo and oil and reserve. Combine potato, celery, and onion and then fold in reserved dressing. Just before serving, gently fold in avocado and cilantro and garnish with cilantro or celery leaves if desired.

Tropical Puree (for the babies in your life)
¼ cup plain yogurt or cottage cheese
½ ripe banana, mashed
½ ripe avocado, mashed
(Okay, so I haven’t actually tasted this one but Andrew liked it)

Any other avocado lovers out there? How do you like to eat it?

How Can I Keep From Singing?

My Grandma Arlene died yesterday. She was only weeks away from 91 years old. What an amazing life she lived! Grandma Arlene married my Grandpa Steiner 32 years ago. He was her third husband (she outlived each one.) She had two biological children, 6 step-children, and many, many grandchildren as a result of her three marriages. Although my mom and her siblings were all adults when Arlene joined the family, they developed a very tight bond with her. I have many memories of Grandma Arlene. She is the only grandma I ever knew on my mother's side of the family.

My most vivid memories of Grandma were off her love for games, cooking and music. She spent many times with me as a young girl playing Rummy Cube and Rack-o and Skippo (as well as others.)Grandma was also known for her delicious cooking. She would hum as she worked. She was a gifted singer and had been in a trio with her two sisters as a younger woman. Grandma experienced much joy and pain throughout her life. When I think of her, the song "My Life Flows On," a Mennonite hymn comes to mind. The second verse reads, "Through all the tumult and the strife, I hear that music ringing. It finds an echo in my soul. How can I keep from singing?" That was Grandma. Forever positive, forever singing.

Journaling, Part II

I started to comment back on the Journaling post and realized I was writing a book. So here's my followup to all of the great comments.

First of all, I think there are times in our lives when we operate at regular speed - meaning we do what needs to get done and maybe a little more. And then there are the "survival mode" times when we do what absolutely has to be done to keep all living beings in our household alive. Finally, there are fewer times when we can do all that and more. I see journaling (all forms, including scrapbooking) as fitting in that category. It's not always a priority and it shouldn't have to be. Women spend so much time making life worthwhile for their families that there isn't always time to do the "extras." While I love to read the anecdotes my mom recorded from my childhood, my favorite memories are the times she laid down with me before naps and played games with me. I would much rather my children look back and remember the time I spent with them. The clean house and fun scrapbooks and other mementos are just bonus... but not necessary.

I love the idea of writing letters to children on their birthdays. I also read recently about a woman who took a picture of her daughter every year in a woman-sized bathing suit (I like the dress shirt better.) The girl is now a teenager and she has this great progression of her life. Both are neat concepts depending on your interests.

I guess I'm still not settled about what to do with my journals some day. My mom had suggested years ago that I go through and destroy anything I don't want read. Too time consuming, I thought. There would really be little that is too personal to share with my children or husband. Yet I want to be sensitive to even that. I also think it would be fascinating if I could read records of my own mom's life had she done that as a teenager. I do really like the idea of writing a plan into our will. Perhaps my "Gayle" will be called to come into my house too someday to destroy my journals. :)

Journaling

One of the reasons I enjoy blogging so much is that it gives me a connection to people I love. The other reason is that it is an outlet for expressing myself. A public journal. I wouldn't write just anything here, but that's okay. I still have a lot to say that doesn't need to be private. :)

I have always enjoyed journaling. I started in 6th or 7th grade. I had received a pink journal with a kitty on the front as a gift. I journaled nearly every single night throughout junior high and high school. I absolutely love going back to the journals and reading what I wrote. In fact, Pete and I spent 45 minutes going through one of them together last evening. What an excellent and quite humorous record of my past life. Once in college, the journaling certainly decreased... probably due to a busier schedule, a more intense social life, living amongst friends with whom I could share, etc. There were times when I wouldn't write for months. There were others (during my SST experience in Costa Rica my sophomore year) when I did nearly daily entries again. I eventually stopped somewhere during those college years. I simply was burnt out. It started feeling like a task, a chore. It just wasn't meeting a need.

Since my early 20s, I have played around with gratitude journals, spiritual journals, journals about my kids. Some have stuck. Some come and go. Some were more meaningful than others. I think the important thing I've discovered is that I continue to enjoy what I'm doing. Sometimes it may be more therapeutic than fun and that's a good thing as well. Journaling can be a very effective tool for working through personal issues. There are so many ways to journal as well. If it begins to feel like a responsibility or a burden, that's when it is difficult to sustain.

I wonder what experiences others of you have had with journaling? For those of you who journal, what are your plans for loved ones and/or descendants reading them once you die? It sounds a little morbid, but they can be very intimate and I struggle with who should (if anyone) have access to them down the road...

My Hubster

The Hubster and I haven't been connecting as much lately. It's not that we're arguing a lot or anything... we just both are very busy and have lots on our minds. On evenings we are both home, by the time we get the kids to bed, we often go our own separate ways again. We are lucky if we get out by ourselves. We average once every few months. And the last several weekends have been very busy so we have not had much time together, nor have I had much time without the kids. The weekends are usually my chance to regroup, rest, and prepare for the week ahead.

This afternoon Andrew had a very difficult time napping. This is something that was often an issue with Emma but hasn't been as much with him. Well, after a long, busy weekend, his routine was all messed up and he was needing major sleep. And sometimes the more sleep a baby needs, the harder it is for the baby to settle. After each of us worked with him off and on for an hour, I found myself very frustrated. I could feel my blood pressure rising. For one, I really wanted him to get the sleep he needed. And also, I admit, I just wanted "my time" to relax and get some things done while both kids slept. I felt myself melting.

That's where my wonderful Hubster comes into play. He patiently listened to me melt and offered to take the baby somewhere in the house where I could not hear him. Shortly after that, Emma awoke and he offered to take them on a drive so I could have some time to myself and the baby could maybe sleep some more.

They were gone for 1 1/2 hours. What a gift. I watched the rest of a Dr. Phil, took a short nap, made oatmeal bread and carrot soup for dinner. Andrew only slept for 10 minutes on the drive, but I had the break I needed to feel refreshed for another week. And Pete recognized a need and acted on it. I felt truly heard and loved.

Some of you are familiar with the Love Languages (Gary Chapman has a book which I recommend.) My languages are quality time and acts of service. What Pete did today was such an act of service to me.

All Boy

I'm not crazy about stereotypes. They are based on generalizations and assumptions that simply may not be accurate or fair. Sometimes they are down right ignorant and rude. But often there is some ounce of truth behind stereotypes which is why I believe they exist. That's why I title this "All Boy." As a parent, I am committed to not pushing my children into traditional gender roles, toys and activities.

The thing is that from the very beginning, Andrew seems to be much more drawn to trucks and balls than Emma ever has been (and yes, we introduced her to both of those at a young age.) Now granted is not quite 10 months old yet, so this all could change. However I have heard several friends comment that their boys just seem to be drawn toward these items. Emma, has always had a nurturing instinct to her. Perhaps it is genetic. Maybe it was learned because her main role model has been me. I just think it's fascinating to have one of each and be able to watch their interests progress.

So that all gets me to the title of this post. Andrew is everywhere these days. He's been crawling and pulling himself up for a couple of months and he is very curious about everything. Emma was definitely that way as well. In fact, in some ways she seems to have more energy... or maybe that's because she was our first child. The difference is, Andrew has been bumping into EVERYTHING! In the past three days, he has acquired five different marks on his face, all from various accidents. The first involved a nightstand and underneath his eye. This morning in the nursery he cut his nose on something. In each case, he is pulling himself up and exploring his world. Pete asked me yesterday if I thinks he is clumsy. No, I think he is all boy. There's got to be a reason that people use that phrase, right?

Super Emma

It's funny. In my former life (before my life as a SAHM), I was a social worker. One of my jobs was to work with young underadvantaged moms in a child abuse prevention program. I also did therapy with families and children as part of my MSW internship. In both of these roles, I helped parents process and work through parenting issues. I didn't have the experience as a mom so that sometimes put me at a disadvantage, but I had knowledge and skills and information as a social worker that could apply. Notice I never said I had the "answers." :)

Now I'm the parent. It would really be nice to have a home visitor sometimes who could come help me work through some of my parenting dilemmas... or just listen for that matter. I suppose that's where my sister, mom, many friends, and favorite parenting gurus (Dr. Sears, Dr. Harvey Karp, Dr. Phil) have come in to play.

The whole time I was anticipating my daughter's birth and experiencing her develop as an infant, I kept thinking about the teenage years. I know what it was like to be a teenage girl... and I think I was probably pretty easy to parent compared to some of my friends/acquaintances. But I know with all teens come hormones and attitudes and peer pressure and issues of dependence vs. independence. I kind of forgot that some of that stuff can start much earlier!!

So here I am trying to use some creative parenting with my 3 1/2 year-old. Sometimes I wish it were as easy as telling her politely to do something and her following through. And occasionally it is. But with a spirited, independent, (and I like to think intelligent) preschooler, it doesn't always happen that way. Again, my support network has given me some wonderful ideas to interact with Emma and this has been very helpful.

Right now one of the techniques co-created by Emma and me is called "Super Emma." Well, we didn't really create it - it just developed into that. Here's an example:

Me: (talking to "myself) "Oh, man. I really could use help with ________."

You can then see Emma's eyes brighten as she pretends to put on her superhero cape (with sound effects and all) and "flies" to whatever it is. It's done rapidly, all with an excited smile on her face as though she picked up on a need all on her own without being asked.

Of course, this is followed up with surprised gratitude. "Wow. Oh, Emma. Thank you so much."

I was remembering today how much I hated being asked to do things sometimes by my mom. I clearly remember just wanting to beat her to it. I was a pleaser and I was always so disappointed when I felt like she had made a request of me before I could surprise and please her. I wonder if Emma is like that a little now and will be like that as she gets older. It'll be interesting to see how my parenting techniques have to evolve with time to continue to fit both my expectations and her needs.

What A Night!

I have been looking forward to this evening for months!! Tonight is the season premiere of Grey's Anatomy. Who will Meredith choose? Ah, she kind of got on my nerves last season. I'm really more interested in seeing if Izzie returns... Oh, I can't wait... And to top the evening off, my second favorite show, The Office, is premiering as well! Can't wait to see if Jim and Pam get together. Isn't it great to be excited by such simple things?!

Help

I love this. I have a question and need feedback... I go to my blog!

I need help with all my child's lovely artwork. There's pictures created at home, crafts from preschool, Sunday School and now FAB (a new mid-week activity at our church.) I'm trying to get some organizing done and these creations are just piling up.

It used to not be so difficult. The really unique pieces or "firsts" (ex. first drawing of a person) went on the wall in the kitchen, on a fridge, in a memory file, or to a relative. But now there are so many!!!! What do I keep? What do I post? What can I toss without feeling that tinge of guilt? Any suggestions from you experienced parents, grandparents, aunts, teachers, other random persons reading?

Food, Food, Food

I don't have much to say today. I'm not sure I can sustain this daily entry thing I've started. There may be days you just don't hear from me. Other days you may hear from me more than once.

What's really on my mind today is food. I think it's the cool weather or being stuck at home all day. I don't know but I just love food. I ate a good lunch but as soon as I got the kids in bed for naps, I found myself scrounging around the kitchen. I ate some pumpkin bread. I don't feel too badly about that because it was an extra healthy recipe (from Simply in Season.) The more I am at home, the more I want to eat. Evenings are the absolute worst. Around 9pm, I just crave some sort of snack. Sure, I reach for a healthy snack sometimes but it just doesn't always cut it. I'm envious of my friends with such self-control. One girlfriend just doesn't eat after 7 pm and says if she does, she makes sure it's a protein of some sort. I'm sure a lot of you out there are self-disciplined and stay out of the kitchen after dinner. How do you do it?? Seriously...

Perhaps there's a greater issue here... habit, boredom, who knows. And maybe it's not really a big deal (although dessert night after night at 9pm is a big deal to me.) I do want to be healthy and model that to my family. But I want to have fun too and enjoy life. Any wise words out there?

My Girlfriends

Friendships are so important to me. I just live for time when I can talk to or be with my girlfriends. Unfortunately, this just doesn't always happen as much as I'd like. As a stay-at-home mom you'd think I have more opportunities to connect with friends than I did when I was working outside the home. I do in many ways. But there's often an attachment or a distraction. Phone calls during the day usually become more stressful than enjoyable because my oldest is determined to have my undivided attention. Playdates often still involve a lot of parent interaction. And social functions with the family... well, that's just a joke sometimes. I always have an eye on one or both children. So I love when those phone calls go uninterrupted. I do enjoy playdates and social functions, but outings alone with friends are really ideal when I want to actually connect with a friend.

Not one friend meets all of my needs, nor do I for any one friend. I value what each of the women in my life bring to the table. Two different friends recently told me that they appreciate our friendship because they learn new things from me (not sure if those things are necessarily good :) ) and one said she likes friends who "challenge" her. Isn't that the truth? Those are two things I definitely appreciate in my friendships. The whole thing about friendship is that it is a reciprical relationship. We learn from each other. We listen and empathize with one another, while challenging each other to grow. We can laugh and have fun. We can share similarities and accept each other's differences.

I have had many friends in my life. Some of us have drifted apart and others will always be a part of my world. All of them have contributed to who I am today. So thank you, friends, for who you are to me.

The Price of Independence

There's nothing like walking into your bathroom and stepping in a huge puddle of pee (urine, for those of you who prefer that term.) Let me back up. Emma has always been pretty independent-minded, starting from the time she showed up 12 days late and took 18 hours to emerge from my body. It's not that she has always wanted to do things on her own or by herself, but she certainly likes to call the shots. We've worked through lots of power struggles. For the most part, it's fun to see her develop her own little personality and zest for new experiences. She doesn't blink an eye at new situations like preschool and is happiest when she can have some say in daily decisions. Some of you know she picks out her clothes without help most days and it occasionally shows!!

Yesterday she informed me during church that she wanted to go up to children's time all by herself - "no mom or dad!" When it came time, she did her little "Chris Farley walk" (a good friend once very accurately described it to me as this) and sat down in the front. She did an excellent job. Later on in the service, she requested to go out and get a drink on her own. Once again, she made the CF strut to the fountain, got a drink, and returned to her seat. It's been my experience that in return for her independence, we see a better behaved child.

All that to say that Emma is generally very good at using the potty herself. She has never liked to be told when to go or try to go, but has done awesome when left to decide on her own. I knew she was going today before naptime. In fact, she came looking for me (I was putting Andrew to bed) and announced that she hadn't wiped well enough and therefore had changed her underwear (nice visual, huh?) I suppose the part she omitted was that she decided to try to empty her little potty from earlier this morning and it didn't make it into the toilet. I can't help but still feel proud of my little girl's independence. Guess I should go scrub the floor...

Rain, Rain, Go Away

More rain today. I know I should be grateful but it's really hard to feel that way when you're home with two little ones. We have a playgroup scheduled today... contingent upon nice weather. This is the second time it's been scheduled and the second time it rained. That's frustrating... Anyway, remember that post about loving fall? Well, I do, but I like it especially when the sun in shining. :) I like to be able to get out with the kids at least sometime during the day and run around or take a walk or swing. And today I'm really hoping it clears up by 11 so we can hang out with our friends.

Mmmm... Soup

For the last couple of years, it has been my goal to make a pot of soup once a week during the fall and winter months. There are just so many soups that I love to eat and always ones I want to try. It's such a cozy food during the cooler weather. Perhaps I'll share my favorite soup recipes with you this fall on my site. If you have any recipes you recommend, I would love for you to share them.

I think this evening I will prepare Butternut Squash Bisque, a recipe recently shared with me by my friend, Lesley. I had it at her place last winter and it was so tasty. I also have the ingredients for my favorite carrot soup on hand. That one will probably be next week's soup. Here's the recipe:

Spicy Carrot Peanut Soup
1 T. olive oil
1 large onion
2 lbs. carrots, thinly sliced (about 6 cups)
1 celery stalk
2 cloves garlic

Saute above ingredients for 5 minutes. Add 6 c. water (I do half water and half chicken or vegie broth.) Boil and simmer until soft (about 25 minutes.) Stir in 2 T. peanut butter, 3 T. soy sauce, 2 T. lime juice. Blenderize and serve.

Hope you enjoy as much as we do!

Game Day

For those of you following the Notre Dame postings, they lost horribly yesterday. Many of you probably know that already. They didn't play well and Michigan smashed them 47-21. I made it through the first half with the kids and then had to turn it off. There was dinner to be made, children to entertain, bathe, and put to bed. Anyway, their loss was disappointing.

I took some time to record several cute/funny statements Emma made during that first half of the game:

• "Mom, now which one is the caddy?" (can you tell Pete watched a lot of golf this summer?)
• Pointing to each player on the screen and aware that Dad was somewhere at the game, "That's my daddy. That's my daddy. That's my daddy."
• After Michigan scored their third touchdown, I was expressing my disappointment. "Don't worry, Mom. I'll cover it up for you," as she runs to the TV and covers the screen with her arms. "There. Now you can't see it." Wish it were that simple.
• After a tackle in which about 8 players were piled on each other, Emma exclaims, "Oh no! They all fell down!"

After all, it is just a game. And games are supposed to be fun. :)

Lil' Irish

That last post brought back memories of a journal entry of mine last November. She would have been 2 1/2. Read on...

November 12, 2005
This fall Daddy has really been encouraging Emma to get excited about Notre Dame football with him. At the beginning of the season he came home with matching t-shirts for the two of us and a blue Darius Walker (#3) jersey for Emma. We often would dress her in the jersey for their Saturday games or at least put it on when she was awake for games. One day a few weeks ago, she walked up to the TV and put her body right up to Walker, saying, "Look! We match!"
Well, today, she awoke from her nap (from her new big girl bed) and waltzed downstairs all on her own to find Daddy watching the game. (I was down here on the computer.) As soon as she saw what Dad was watching, she ran off, saying, "I gotta go get something! I gotta get my team!" I followed her upstairs to find her searching for her ND jersey. I think Dad’s mission is accomplished!!

Football Schmutball

Football season is here. My second Saturday in a
row alone with the kids because my hubby is at a game (this week it's ND; last week he was in Green Bay for a Packers game.) I used to get really annoyed, maybe even a little jealous. Once the season started, I felt like I took a backseat to these men in helmets and jerseys. The thing is - it was never that bad and I think we've both gotten better. I crave alone time more than I ever did before we had children so I don't mind the games as much. And he is really good about putting the family first and his love for football second. Well, usually. :)

We have officially become Notre Dame fans though. I've always kind of liked them - even when I lived in PA (sorry Nittany Lions.) Pete was a closet fan for a few years and officially came out about 3 years ago. It was so liberating for him.. and me. Now we sport our t-shirts and talk with pride about the Irish. Pete logs on to ND sites and chat rooms every evening and reads every article that even remotely mentions Notre Dame. I took the kids on a ND flag-counting walk around the subdivision today - we counted 20. It really is quite fun living in a college town (okay, so this isn't South Bend but Granger is full of Irish fans.) The spirit is just in the air every Saturday morning. I love to head into Granger to the grocery store or post office where everyone is wearing their gear. It's especially fun to dress up the kids. We get lots of comments. (Is my loneliness and need for adult contact obvious??)

I still don't fully understand the game of football. I don't really pay attention well enough to fully grasp all of the plays and rules. To be honest, I've always enjoyed socializing more than watching games, ever since high school days. But it's still fun to hear the crowds and cheer them on. And how can I not enjoy something with which my husband is completely obsessed?

Game starts in 45 minutes. Guess I should go turn it on...

Fall

I love fall. It's such a refreshing time of the year. I love that it's not too hot or too cold (usually.) I adore the crisp feel and smell of the air. The leaves are so pretty turning colors. I realize as I get older that I am drawn toward fall colors - reds, oranges, browns. They feel like such strong colors to me.

I think one reason I enjoy fall so much is that I have so many positive memories associated with this time of year. As a student, I was always so excited to go back to school. I loved my friends and I knew school meant I would see them on a regular basis. I loved the busyness of all of my activities and going to football and soccer games. I also have such fond memories of playing field hockey. (Any easterners out there?) I played for five years with some of my very best friends. It was such a satisfying feeling to be part of a team - to work hard and have fun. I truly love the sport and while I would not hold up on the field anymore (not that I was ever a star or anything), I really wonder sometimes why I let myself end up in Indiana. They simply don't have the sport. What in the world?! A pick-up game would be fun, but perhaps too challenging for me 13 years later. But just to go watch a high school game or to know Emma could play later on... that would be nice.

My Favorite Part of the Day

Pete and I have had a bedtime routine with Emma since she was about four months old. It started with a bath, a bedtime story, nursing and rocking for a few songs as we listened to a CD. It's changed with time... we added teeth brushing, phased out nursing, held her hand through the crib instead of rocking. Now that she's 3 1/2, it's evolved to bath (a few times a week), play a game, potty, pjs, brush teeth, read a book, and lay down with her for two songs in her bed (we take turns, of course.) Yes, it's a lengthy process and it sometimes needs to be altered. But we really enjoy the special time it gives us with her at the end of a busy day. I truly believe children are not meant to be pushed into independence too early. This routine gives her structure and predictability, but still allows her to be a child.

While we lay beside her and listen to the CD, we always ask Emma about her favorite part of the day. A common answer is "having Daddy home." On Tuesday her response was, "going to preschool" - her first day. She then always asks us the question in return. After that, we say a prayer together.

I think asking Emma about her favorite part of the day is not only teaching her thankfulness and how to reflect on the day, it's also a reminder to me of how I can be grateful. So I'd like to share with you my favorite parts of today:

- Mowing the lawn while Emma was at preschool and Andrew napped. 30+ minutes of exercise and solitude! And one chore marked off my to-do list!
- Playing ball in the yard with Emma this evening.
- Reading Andrew "Goodnight Moon" before bed tonight. He giggles as I read the words and point to the pictures. It is so dang cute!
- Nursing and snuggling with Andrew before bed.
- Playing UNO with Pete and Emma.

Life is good...

The Beginning

Well, here it is. My first blog entry ever. I was inspired to do this by my dear friend, Sarah. I figured if I'm so addicted to reading her blog, I might as well begin my own. I don't really know how exciting this will be for those reading it. I certainly don't consider myself much of an entertainer. But if nothing else, I'm fulfilling a need I have - to talk (write) about things in my life to someone other than children. Should be fun...