Wednesday, March 27, 2013

Best Buddies


I was walking through the kitchen and overheard these two talking about being Best Buddies for EVER! Then they stopped and George asked Sis to pinky promise on it. 

I stopped and had them hold the pose while I grabbed my camera. 

So sweet. It makes my mommy heart so happy to hear and see my babies being friends.

Friday, March 22, 2013

Month Slice


Outside My Window - Snow!! We are just days into spring and we get our first snow of the year. It is beautiful.

The kids are in the backyard playing in the snow. The temperature is going to warm up so they got out there first thing to enjoy it. Nothing like running around finding snow clothes at 8:00 am on a no school day to get the day started. ;)

***I took a break and went sledding with the kids. The snow is deep but really wet so I knew it wasn't going to last long for good sledding. We walked down to the nearby field and used the steep slopes to have some fun. I love watching my kids sled. Love! Now, back to writing....

I Am Thinking - About Cam and how much I miss him today. He is the biggest kid of all in the snow. No matter what the weather is doing Cam still has to go to work. Instead of riding his motorcycle to work he took our back-up van. It took him really long to get into the city and I'm sure it will take way too long to come home. He is missing the fun snow day. And we miss him!

I Am Thankful - For the day off of school. It was a scheduled no school day already. The snow makes it all the more fun. I love school but it's really nice to have an extra day at home with the kids. No rushing to get ready in the morning and out the door.

From The Kitchen - Just made a double batch of popcorn. That is our favorite snack. 3T olive oil and 1/2 C popcorn in a heavy pan on the stove. Sprinkle with coarse salt. Delicious!!

Dinner? I don't know yet. I'm thinking maybe a big pot of baked beans....spooned into baked potatoes. It's Lent...so vegan meal time.

I Am Wearing - Flannel pj bottoms, white t-shirt, socks and yes, my slippers. Cozy!

I Am Creating - A picture collage of our last trip to the ocean. I found two antique leaded window frames in our playhouse. I cleaned them up and after searching on Pinterest I found the fabulous idea of using each pane for a photo. I ordered the photos and am deciding which ones to use. It's going to look awesome! I'll post pics when it's done.

I Am Going - To take Sis to gymnastics tomorrow. She is amazing! Seriously, I know I'm the mom and I shouldn't brag but she really is talented. She is a natural. It's very fun for me to watch her.

I Am Reading - I just finished Mink River for book club. It was very good. I loved the unusual writing style and the characters too. Plus, it takes place on the OR coast. One of my favorite places.


I Am Hoping - For sunshine this weekend. We had a nice family bike ride a couple of weeks ago and I'd love to go out again. I've missed riding over the winter. Come on sun!

I Am Hearing - The kids are watching a movie and I'm sitting here on the couch with them. Snuggle time. I hear lots of popcorn chomping.

I Am Laughing At - My kids flying down the hill on sleds. It really makes me laugh. Right now the kids are giggling at the movie. Listening to them laugh makes me laugh. It's contagious.

Around The House - Wet coats and boots and pants are hanging to dry from our snow adventure this morning. Sunshine is streaming through the windows and warming us up. The beds are unmade and the kitchen is a mess. But, we are having a snow day and snuggling up for movie time trumps cleaning up.

One Of My Favorite Things - Babies. I love them. So. Much. Their precious faces. Soft skin. Fuzzy hair. Sweet breath. Gummy grins. Dimpled hands. I notice babies everywhere I go. I talk to them, coo at them. If I can, I stop and stroke the chubby faces. I love babies.

I Never Thought This Would Come Out Of My Mouth - Did you wipe the dog's bottom? Uh-huh, that right. We have to wipe Kali's bumbo after she goes poo-poo. I never thought I'd be wiping a dog's hiney.

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week - Next week is conference week. I LOVE going to my kids' conferences. And it's the last week before Spring Break!!! Yippee!!

A Picture Thought I'm Sharing -


Wednesday, March 20, 2013

St. Patrick's Day


If you thought our weekend seemed busy...well, that was only Saturday. On Sunday it was St. Patrick's Day. And we always celebrate! 

We did something we rarely ever do. We stayed home from church. Oh! Tuba was so tired and we decided to let him and the rest of us sleep in.

We had green pancakes with blueberries to celebrate Busy Guy and Mr. P's special day.


We relaxed around the house. Actually, the kids played and Cam and I did laundry, cleaned and got ourselves ready for the week ahead.

 Then we donned all our green and headed to our friends' house for Irish dinner. Fun!


After dinner we went to church for our annual Forgiveness Vespers service. It was lovely. The turning of the colors and the somberness are beautiful. 

It is a wonderful way to begin Lent. Us Orthodox Christians are just beginning Lent. We won't celebrate Easter/Pascha until May 5th this year. 

After church we went home and plopped into bed. Tired!! Weekends really need to be longer....but then again that might mean even more busy fun packed in. 

Tuesday, March 19, 2013

Busy Guy 7

Busy Guy turned 7!! It was a whirlwind weekend!! Ready, set, GO!

Saturday morning the boys had TKD and Sis had gymnastics.


BG had a friend come over for birthday lunch and then we were off to the Children's Museum. We had to take two vans with the extra child. Sheesh! We really need a bigger vehicle. Who ever thought that a minivan would be too small?!




After the museum we ran home and got Tuba ready for his prom. He looked so handsome! The picture is of Tuba with his lovely teacher. He danced his heart out! He was a sweaty mess when the night was over. Our local newspaper covered the event again and had beautiful photos in the paper.





















After dropping off Tuba at the dance we went out to dinner to celebrate Busy Guy's b-day. Pizza of course. My guys are so handsome!!


It was very weird to go out without Tuba but since the weekend was jam packed we had no other choice.


After dinner we had ice cream cake at home. It was brutal waiting up until 9:00 pm to go pick Tuba up.  Yes, I said 9:00 pm. I am always in bed by 8:00 and usually falling asleep at 9:00.

What a fun and busy day!

Happy Birthday to my wonderful fun boy! You are kind and smart. You are very good at putting things together. You also have a great memory and can find anything. You are a fantastic dancer...you've got rhythm for sure! You love to sing and we love to listen to you. We are so blessed to have you for our son.

Friday, March 15, 2013

Laugh


Laugh more. That was my New Year's Resolution. I think it's especially important to laugh when I'm feeling pinched, pushed and pulled by my schedule.

This weekend is Busy Guy's b-day, Tuba's prom, TKD, gymnastics, church (two services since it's finally the beginning our our Lent), and Irish dinner with friends. Whew! 

My head was already reeling with all the planning and organizing but it about flew to the moon when I tried Tuba's pants on him. Yike!! The dress pants he got for Christmas are too small. WAY too short. So on top of the crazy busy day I now have to go shopping for dress pants. 

I'm going to laugh. It beats anything else. 

THIS makes me laugh. It will make you laugh too. I mean how many people can laugh about eating poop?!

Friday, March 8, 2013

Girl Rising


I saw a fantastic movie this week. It's called Girl Rising. Check it out and see if it's playing in your area.  It was moving and beautiful and sad and inspirational.

Girl Rising is much like the book Half The Sky. I love that book and the Half The Sky movement too. Check them out!

There are things we can do to change the world...and the #1 way to change poverty is to educate girls. Of course educate boys too. But, the point is that in many parts of the world girls are not given the opportunity of an education. Educate girls and poverty goes down, the age she marries goes up, the age at which she has a child goes up, HIV rates go down, infant mortality rates go down.

I encourage All of you to sponsor a girl to go to school. Together we can change the world!

Wednesday, March 6, 2013

Manly Soup

I love soup! I make soup at least once and week and sometimes more often. We have our family favorites...chicken noodle, chili, chicken tortilla, clam chowder, vegetable, lentil, and split pea. Yes, my kids eat soup too....even the lentil. It's SO good!


I recently acquired three new recipes for soup. I thought I'd share them with you. They are Manly Soup recipes because they were all given to me by men.






Beef Provencal by Gary (Also know as The Soup Master)


BEEF PROVENCAL SOUP


6 quart pot

2 lbs. ground beef

1 cup onion – chopped

2 cans – white beans

2 cans – diced tomatoes with garlic, basil, oregano – undrained

1 package chopped frozen spinach (or 1 bunch fresh)

4 cups beef broth (or Lipton Beefy Onion soup mix & water)

½ tsp – dried thyme

½ tsp – dried rosemary, crushed

Brown ground beef until beef is no longer pink. Pour off drippings. Saute’ onion until tender.


Add to pot along with beans, broth, tomatoes, thyme and rosemary. Bring to boil; reduce heat to low and simmer uncovered for 30 minutes. Stir in spinach and continue simmering for 5 minutes. Serve.


This is a good soup to freeze so I often make it with 3 lbs. ground beef, 1 large onion, 3 cans beans and tomatoes, same spinach, 6 cups broth, ¾ tsp thyme and rosemary.








Red Lentil Soup with Curry and Coconut Milk by Jeff (Also know as Chef Romanos)


3 Tbs. veg. oil

2 medium onions chopped

1 C red lentils

3 medium carrots, peeled and roughly chopped

14 oz. can coconut milk

1 bay leaf

3 cloves garlic, minced

1 inch piece fresh ginger, minced

1 Tbs curry powder, preferable hot (Mae Ploy's Curry Paste is what Jeff uses)

1/2 C chopped cilantro


Directions


1. In medium saucepan, heat 2 T oil over medium heat. Add onions, and cook, stirring ofter, until onions start to brown, about 10 min. Add 4 C water, lentils, carrots, coconut milk, 1 tsp. salt and bay leaf. Cover and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer partially covered until lentils are tender, about 20 min.


2. Meanwhile, in a small skillet heat remaining 1 T oil over medium heat. Add garlic, ginger, curry powder and cilantro. Cook, stirring often, until fragrant, about 2 minutes. Add to soup.


3. Remove bay leaf. In food processor or blender, puree soup in batches until velvety smooth. Taste, and add a bit more salt if desired. Serve hot.








Chicken Corn Chowder by Jim (Also known as my dad and the Crockpot King)

 Picture is my dad at the latest Nascar race.

2 cans cream corn 1 1/2 cups chicken broth celery onion pepper crushed red pepper to taste (depending on how hot you want it) 1 medium skinless, boneless chicken breast Puree the cream corn and broth in a blender. Cook the breast and cube it into small chunks. Add all together and cook until the celery and onions are tender. It's even better if you serve it the next day.



And what to have with soup?




I usually make biscuits with soup. It's easy and quick. I like the Joy of Cooking recipe. I use half white flour and half whole wheat flour. It gives the biscuit a nice nutty flavor.



I also recently made cheesy bread sticks. I make pizza dough, roll it out and place on large cookie sheet. Then I brush with garlic butter and sprinkle on cheese. I bake it and then but into rectangles. It's wicked good!! Dangerous stuff. I took this photo from Google....but this is what my bread sticks look like...except rectangle in the pan.

If I'm rushed for time I pop some good whole grain bread into the toaster, add butter and voila...done!

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