Weird

We are starting a new sermon series at church and it is centered around the book Weird: Because normal isn't working by Craig Groeschel.  Sunday we talked about the series and some of the sermons topics to come.  We are excited to be WEIRD!  Matthew 7:13-14 says "Enter through the narrow gate.  For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it.  But small is the gate and narrow is the road that leads to life, and only a few find it." 

More to come....

Twist on an old favorite

Saturday afternoon while I was making meatloaf I realized we were a little low on ketchup so I substituted BBQ sauce (KC Masterpiece Southern Style) and it was yummy.  I also added 1/4 green pepper finely diced because I had some and peppers are high in vitamin C (Griffin is fighting a cold).  One medium green pepper has more vitamin C than a medium orange.  This is the recipe I usually use from Betty Crocker for Meatloaf:

1 lb lean ground beef (I use 93/7)
1 clove garlic or 1/8 tsp garlic powder
1 small onion finely diced
2 slices of bread with crust- cut up small
1/4 cup milk
2 tsp Worcestershire sauce
1 tsp sage ( I usually do not have)
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp ground mustard (dry)
1/8 tsp pepper
1 egg
1/3 cup ketchup

Heat oven to 350- combine all ingredients and put in ungreased loaf pan.  Midway through I drain off any grease.  Bake uncovered 50-60 minutes.  Let stand 5 minutes and cut.  Sometimes I put ketchup on the top but usually I mix at least half of it in and this time I mixed all the bbq sauce in the meat mixture.  Yummy.  Bill loves meatloaf and so do the kids.  Today has been rainy and he had been working all day so I wanted him to come home to a hot meal, meatloaf, mashed potatoes and gravy and green beans.

Daddy's Boy

Griffin is a daddy's boy and he LOVES being outside- it does not matter how cold, wet, or hot it is he wants to be outside.  Griffin especially loves helping daddy with yard work.  If he sees a stick on the driveway he picks it up and throws it on our burn pile or over the fence.  When Griffin wakes up in the morning his first sentence is about eating breakfast and the second is "I want to go outside".  Recently Griffin wants to use daddy's blower and he has a fit when you take it away.  This is just a snap shot of him with his new favorite toy!

First Day of Fall

Last week we had cooler temps and it really made us feel ready for fall.  Fall is my favorite season for many reasons. 

I wanted a fall wreath for the front door but even the ones that we half off at Hobby Lobby were too much so I made my own.
The wreath and all the sprigs I used to decorate it were all half off so I spent 13 dollars.

I used some decorations I already had to change the mantel for the fall season.

Bill's daughter Laura made me the stuffed pumpkins several years ago and I love them.

Have you decorated for fall?

My Sister Bracelet

Recently I was a winner, again, on Lisa's blog and this time I selected a bracelet.  It is called the daisy chain bracelet and mine has 5 discs, 3 of the discs have a name, one of my sister's names to be exact.  I love the design and I love that when I wear it I am reminded of my three sisters.  I am thankful to have each of my sisters in my life.  Miss you guys!

Cinnamon Swirl French Toast

Friday night I made cinnamon swirl bread again, and it is so easy to make.  I do not have a bread machine so I just mix all the ingredients in a large bowl and then I knead the dough for 3-4 minutes by hand. 

I decided to use the bread to make french toast Saturday morning and it was so yummy!
I love seeing the swirls of cinnamon.

I sprinkled some toasted pecans on mine!

You can find the recipe here.  If you think it is too good to possibly be healthy I think you will be surprised.   I feel good about feeding my family something that I have made that has no artificial ingredients and is made with whole wheat flour.  

Cooler temps welcome

Well the cold front is here and we love it!  The kids wore pants, long sleeved shirts and jackets to school today.  We are ready to say hello to fall.  We had plans to head to an orchard this weekend but due to the probability of rain we are staying closer to home.  We have plans to decorate for fall, grill out if the sun shines, go for a long walk and I am baking another loaf of cinnamon swirl bread to use for french toast-yummy.  What are your weekend plans? 

Favorite Story

Sydney loves to hear the story of  when she was born.  She thinks it is funny that I ate lots of Mexican food the night before and that Bill and I almost spent the night at our friends house in Greensboro and thankfully decided against it just in case I went in to labor.  She laughs when I tell her that when I was sure I was having contractions and woke Bill up he wanted to take a shower and I said "no, we need to leave now."  She also loves the part about Bill and I walking the halls and talking about how exciting it was that it was the day of her birth.  Then just before she was born I told Bill we had plenty of time and he went down to the cafeteria to get breakfast only to have the nurse run down moments later and tell him to hurry or he was going to miss his daughter being born.  Bill and I love to reminisce on this joyous time and she loves to hear the story over and over.  Do your kids know the story of their birth?

School Pictures

The daycare the kids attend has someone come in and take pictures a few times a year.  We never buy the pictures because the cheapest package is still expensive and not big enough for all of our family.  So anyway the kids always get there picture taken and they are usually cute but we never buy them. 

This last session the pictures turned out adorable!  I took pictures of the proofs just so I could show them to you.  I was tempted to buy but resisted.  Honestly my kids are cute in every picture I take so I have lots of great photos. 

Griffin is just so adorable, he melts our hearts

see the reflection of his face

Sydney is growing up so fast.  She seems so mature in these pictures!

She is so natural in this picture- very photogenic! 

Which are your favorites?  Does your daycare take pictures of your kids? 

More deals

There is a consignment store here in Asheboro called The Red Door and they accept donations (ladies clothing) and all the proceeds go to the family crisis center. I had driven past several times but decided to stop in a few weeks ago and I found two great deals.

This Talbots sweater was 2.50!

this jacket was 10 dollars but I love it

What deals have you found lately?

How I ended up with my hand in ice cream

Today I had the role of "KP" kitchen prep.  When I worked as a waitress at Bob Evan's there was an older lady whom we all called "momma" and she worked in the back in KP.  Momma's job was to prepare everything for the cooks- she cut veggies and was also in charge of desserts.  Since I was gone all day yesterday at Scrapmania (another post) I wanted to get organized for the week today.
I made a roast for Monday night dinner. 

I also made jalapeno poppers for Sunday night appetizers and even though I thought I was being careful I got some juice on my left hand and it was on fire. 

I kept rinsing it as I was preparing a few other things and the burning was getting worse.

I went outside to talk to Bill and take Griffin out to play and my neighbor was out talking to Bill so I asked her if she new what I could do with my hand to stop the burning.

She had me pour lemon juice on it and that did not help much so she got on her lap top and found a site that said to soak it in milk or ice cream.

Well she had some old ice cream that she said she needed to throw out anyway so I stuck my hand in it and guess what it worked!  The poppers were amazing and next time I make them I will wear latex gloves!

The recipe is easy, wash jalapenos and cut in half.  I used a spoon and carved out the seeds and then put them in a little water in a saucepan and cooked them for 10 minutes maybe.  Drain water and fill jalapeno with cream cheese putting the halves back together and wrap in bacon slice- secure with toothpick and grill.  So delicious!

I also made a loaf of cinnamon swirl bread for breakfast for Monday and Tuesday.

Tuesday night is my late night to work now so I made a chicken and bean chili so Bill does not have to mess with dinner- we are going to eat ours with sour cream, fresh cilantro and tortilla chips.

I prepped lettuce, cucumber, beets, peppers and onion for greek salad for lunches and also made the dressing.

So we are ready for the first half of the week-and it only took me 1.5 hours.

Griffin Update

Griffin is 23 months old.  One more month before our baby boy is 2 years old.  Griffin will repeat virtually any word you ask him to and he is initiating 4-5 word sentences.  He articulates very well and everyone can understand what he says.  We have been working on peeing in the potty before tubby and this past weekend every time I changed his diaper I would ask him if he wanted to go pee pee on the potty and he consistently said "uh huh" and several times he went!  As long as he is willing we will continue to attempt to potty train.  Griffin is visiting the 2 year old room this week and moving up completely next week- a little early but they need his spot.  He is really going to miss his teacher and a few of his friends but he knows several of the kids that have already moved up and we think he is ready.  Just last week he started a new love for socks.  Every night after tubby he wants socks on and he gets rather upset when you take the old pair off.  So he has traded his crocks and flip flops for tennis shoes. He still loves to be outside and he starts asking or rather demanding "OUTSIDE" the moment he wakes up.  I am so glad it is cooling down a bit because it makes hanging out outside more tolerable.

Focus on the Family

Focus on the Family has a great website with lots of links and great advice.  I subscribe for free to their magazine called Thriving Family.  A recent magazine I was reading through had "Ways to Pray for your Kids" and I clipped the page and keep it posted on the fridge.  Here is the highlights:

• Pray for Protection:  Psalm 5:11
• Pray for Grace (for you and them): 2 Corinthians 9:8
• Pray for Wisdom Philippians: 1:9-11
• Pray for People in Authority:  1 Timothy 2:1-3
• Pray for Daily Choices: Ephesians 6:1

I pray for my kids all the time but sometimes I need some direction.  Join me this week and pray for your kids daily!

Playground Fun

While in Indiana for Alexandra and Scott's wedding Bill played golf with a friend and I took the kids to visit IWU and also to the park.

Since we moved they have built a new playground and it was amazing!

It was huge and had smaller stuff on one end higher and bigger things on the other end.

We were not sure what this was but it was fun!

It was great for the kids to run free and play, especially after being in the car 12 hours and knowing we had another 12 hour ride home.

Wedding Part 2

These pictures are from the reception- Laura and her friends put on the whole thing and it was amazing.  If you missed the wedding pictures they are here. 

Cupcakes- delicious and lovely

Sydney sampling crackers and dip (displayed in wheelbarrow on ice)- at this time it was still raining but it did clear and then sun came out!

Ireland- Laura's daughter (so Bill's granddaughter) I still remember the day she was born, wow has she grown

Introducing Mr and Mrs Scot Schuler

My kids love being outside and they were playing on the swing set and with match box cars

snacks- see the wood sign that says "Schuler  August 20, 2011"

Griffin playing cars, I cannot resist taking pictures of him

Sydney helping herself to lemonade

Table decorations- flowers from gardens

the only picture of me with kids

Griffin played in ice for the longest time

Sangria cart -yummy

deposit used mason jars in wagon- such a clever idea

lights on picket fence

Alex changed into a  shorter dress for part of the reception- ta da

These pictures do not show the true beauty of the reception and of all the work that went into putting it on!

Have you been to any outside weddings or receptions lately?