December Birthdays

My oldest son turned 10 on December 16th and my daughter turned 5 on December 27th. The top picture is my daughter on her b-day. We went to a restaurant and the bottom is my ten year old with one of his little brothers.

Baby is Here

Logan Robert was born on November 26, 2010 at 9:50 Am.

He weighted 8lbs 10 oz and 21 1/4 inches.

We are so excited and blessed

Like Water for Chocolate

I just finished Like Water for Chocolate by Laura Espuival for my December book club. Published in 1989 and was also made into a motion picture in 1992. This story centers around a character named Tita whom is the youngest daughter and her family in Mexico which includes her mama Elena and sisters Gertrudis, Rosaura and their help Chencha and Nacha.

Tita falls in love at a young age but finds out that the family tradition forbids the youngest daughter from marrying so that she can care for her mother. Her mother's stubborn nature does not intend to back down on this particular tradition. She expresses herself through her delicious Mexican dishes in the kitchen where the family cook Nacha raised her.

I found this book refreshing and a bit different from my usual reads. It used food as a great form of expression and passion and how it is a part of our daily lives. Which when you think about it food is a great form of creativity, love, mood buster and sustenance all in one. Sometimes it can also leave a bitter or foul taste in one's mouth as well depending on the preparation and time put into it. I would recommend this book to anyone that enjoys the love of cooking or eating for that matter.

Our 5 year Anniversary

Last Thursday was our 5th wedding anniversary. On October 14, 2005 we got married at our local courthouse. Yes, I was pregnant with our first child together and due with her in December. We decided to have a church wedding with a reception later. So, about 6 months later (April 29th, 2006) we had a nice church wedding. We celebrate our October Anniversary and about 2 years and one day later we had our second child together.

Both days turned out to be beautiful and special. I will never forget either day. Our church wedding was shared with many special people. Some of which recently passed away. Two uncles and an aunt on my dad's side recently passed away this year. One passed away this summer and two this fall about 3 weeks apart. It is sad time for all of us, but I will cherish our church wedding day because it is the last time we were all together at the same time. We had a wonderful time together. I have some great pictures in my album to ponder over and remember them.

We had a great anniversary despite our losses and had a nice dinner out just the two of us. I hope to have many more years together and feel blessed to have my husband and to have shared our special day with our loved ones.

October birthday and Pumpkin Decorating

In the top picture my daughter and youngest son are making masterpieces out of a couple of pumpkins with markers. The bottom picture is my youngest b-day party. He just turned 3, he didn't want to sit in front of the cake so his sister did. He loves Mickey Mouse so we did a Mickey Mouse theme. He had a bit of a cranky day and was overwhelmed but he did have some fun moments :) What is cute about this picture is that they look in awe of their big brother. A picture is worth a thousand words ;)

The Help

I finished this book while camping. I could not put it down, easy, thoughtprovoking and entertaining read. It is by Kathryn Stockett and it is her first novel. Picture Jackson, Mississippi in the 1960's when black folks are good enough to work for white folks and take care of their children, but not good enough to share bathrooms, movie theatres, stores, social gatherings( unless working) ect.

It takes on a couple of different points of view from maids and one young woman trying to become a writer. It talks about their daily lives as maids and regular everyday people much like the women they work for except they do their own work. Skeeter is the young white woman whom is wanting a career in writing. She remembers her maid Constantine as a loving family member even though she was paid help. She misses her and wants to know the story behind her leaving. I enjoyed this book and would highly recommend it to any avid reader.

Back from Camping

We are back and it was a great time to be with the family and relax with no internet, tv or phone. The first week at home I went one whole day without internet on Sunday and the second day I did get on to check my e-mail and then by the third day I eased back into facebook LOL

I admit I didn't give it up the first week as planned but I did learn self control and how to limit my tme on the computer so I am greatful for that. The week of camping I did not have internet, tv or a phone and I read more and spent more time with the family and lived without it happily and joyfully. Overall I learned that I can limit my time and spend some quality time with my family. I am looking forward to doing it again.

Unplugged

Since we are going camping soon, I have decided to not be on the internet for two weeks. Starting tomorrow August 15th until August 29th. I think I will spend more quality time with my kids, read more, learn and grow. I will report back on how the two weeks went. I hope to be refreshed and renewed and learn more about my family and myself. This is a part of my intentional living.

Click Here to learn more.

Banana Muffins

This is from allrecipes.com

Ingredients:

1 1/2cups all purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
3 large bananas
3\4 cup white sugar
1 egg
1\3 cup butter, melted

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Coat muffin pans with non-stick spray, or use paper liners. Sift together the flour, baking and salt; set aside.

2. Combine bananas, sugar, egg, and melted butter in a large bowl. Fold in flour mixture, and mix until smooth. Scoop into muffin pans.

3. Bake n preheated oven. Bake mini muffins for 10 to 15 minutes, and large muffins for 25 to 30 minutes. Muffins will spring back when lightly tapped.

I added some chocolate chips to the recipe.

Veil of Roses

This is a story of a young women (Tami) from Iran whose parents get her a visa and tickets to America to stay with her sister. Her sister lives in Tuscon, Arizona with her husband. Tami's parents and sister hope for a better life in America for Tami where there is freedom for women. They hope she can find a man to marry to stay in America permanently.

Tami loves the freedom to be able to take pictures and not have to wear a hijab when she is in public. Freedom to talk to friends including male friends. Sometimes Tami has to get used of the freedoms since she is so used to living under Iranian rules. Her sister is so insistent on wanting Tami's freedom that in the process of it she seems to take of Tami's freedom away. I think this was a quick read and I liked learning about another culture.

Mom's Zucchini Bread

I got this recipe from allrecipes.com.

Ingredients:
3 cups all-purpose flour
1 tsp salt
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp baking powder
3 tsp ground cinnamon
3 eggs
1 cup vegetable oil
2 1\4 cups white sugar
3 tsp vanilla extract
2 cups grated zucchini
1 cup chopped walnuts

Directions:
1. Grease and flour two 8 by 4 inch pans. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F.
2. Sift flour, salt, baking powder, soda, and cinnamon together in a bowl.
3. Beat eggs, oil, vanilla and sugar together in a large bowl. Add sifted ingredients to the creamed mixture, and beat well. Stir in zucchini and nuts until well combined. Pour batter into prepared pans.
4. Bake for 40 to 60 minutes, or until tester inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool in pan on rack for 20 minutes. Remove bread from pan and completely cool.

I didn't use walnuts because I didn't have any on hand. I used pure sugar instead of white. I was going to replace the vegetable oil with olive oil but I wanted to use up what I had on hand.

Campbells Tuna Noodle Casserole

I found this recipe from allrecipes.com.
Ingredients:

2 Cans Campbells Condensed Cream of Mushroom soup
1 cup milk
2 cups frozen peas
2 cans of tuna drained
4 cups hot cooked medium egg noodles
2 tablespoons dry bread crumbs
1 tablespoon butter, melted

Directions:

1. Stir soup, milk, peas, tuna and cooked noodles in 3 - quart casserole dish.
2. Bake at 400 degrees F for 30 minutes or until hot
3. Mix bread crumbs with butter in bowl and sprinkle over tuna mixture. Bake for 5 minutes more.

I received my first award

Thanks to become.com I received my first award. Thanks Become.com, I really appreciate it.

Announcing: A new arrival due December 7th, 2010

I am ready to announce a baby on the way. He or she is Due December 7th, 2010. I am 14 weeks now and we are so excited. He or she will be joining three siblings.

Pizza Buns

One of my favorites growing up. Easy to make and delicious. Make it healthier by using whole wheat English Muffins.

Ingredients:

English muffins
Pizza Sauce
Cheese
Desired toppings; kind of meat, mushrooms, onion, black olives ect.

Directions:
Split English muffin in half
put on pizza sauce
add cheese and toppings
preheat oven to 350 degrees and put in Pizza buns until cheese is melted and buns are warm about 10 to 15 minutes

Sarah's Key

Sarah's Key by Tatiana De Rosnay is a Historical Fiction book. This is a sad book that talks about the true event that Took Place in Paris in July 1942. The Vel' d'Hiv Roundup otherwise known as Operation Spring Breeze, took place in Paris where French Policemen arrested more than 13,000 Jewish men, women and children and took them to a local camp in Paris. Later they were taken to Auschwitz where they were put to their deaths.

This story is told from the perspective of a ten year old girl named Sarah and her family that was arrested and bused to the Paris camp. Her little brother was locked in a cupboard in the hopes that they would come back and rescue him.
This book describes just a few of the horrific circumstances that the Jewish families endured and suffered.

Sixty years later an American Journalist in Paris uncovers Sarah's story and finds a family connection to her. Although this part of the story is fictional, one cannot helped to be moved by the true events that took place and happened and killed over 6 million Jews. This is a tearjerker, but I think it is important that we remember all the families that were effected by this tragic event in history. May we never repeat such horrors to human life again.

Zakhor. Al Tichkah. (Hebrew)

Remember. Never Forget.

Sharing Moments at the Park

It was a nice day yesterday. We decided to walk to the shaded park in town (we have 3 total) and the kids had a great time.

Potato Soup

6 slices- bacon (cut into 1 inch pieces)
3 pounds (about 5 large)- russet potatoes
3 1\2 teaspoons- salt
1 cup - sour cream
1\4 pound (1 stick) - butter
2 2\3 cups - whole milk
1\2 teaspoon- black pepper
4 - scallions
3\4 cups - shredded sharp cheddar cheese

cook the bacon pieces over medium heat in a medium skillet until crisp.
Transfer bacon to paper toweling to drain and set aside.
Peel, rinse, and cut potatoes into thirds.
Place them in a large pot with water to cover.
Add 2 teaspoons salt and bring to boil for about 45 minutes.
Drain potatoes, discarding water and return them to the pot.
Mash them them with a potato masher until smooth.
Add the sour cream and butter stir until melted.
Add the milk, Pepper, and remaining salt and bring the soup back to a simmer.
Divide among 8 bowls and serve soup hot garnished with scallions cheese and bacon.

I can't remember where I got this recipe from but I did modify it a bit.
I didn't have bacon on hand so I used real bacon bits and added it to the pot after the milk. I added a bit of sweet onion because I did not have scallions. I also used red skin potatoes instead of russet. I used 2% milk instead of whole and I prefer my potatoes in chunks in my soup instead of mashed. Also I already had shredded Mexican cheese on hand so I used that in the end. Results delicious :) Next time I will use cut up bacon strips.

The Shack

I just finished this today. This is by William F. Young. It is about a man named Mackenzie and his spiritual journey back to The Shack where his young daughter was brutally murdered. A place where he can find forgiveness and freedom or his anger and hurt may intensify. His daughters demise also takes him back to his childhood secrets.

His life is changed from the moment his daughter is taken from his families campsite. Later as he struggles through his pain and sadness he finds a note from God in his mailbox telling him to meet him at The Shack. He wonders what he will find but his fear and anger is overridden by curiosity as he takes a short trip back to where his families pain and sadness started.

This was an entertaining book which seemed to add some insight to why bad things happen especially to good people. Who God, Jesus and the Holy spirit are and what their roles in our lives and the world is. This could be a life changing book for many or just a reinstatement of what the reader may already know. It is worth reading and a warning a lot of it may be just the author's interpretation of it all mixed in with Biblical truth.

My Birthday was yesterday

Well, We received our new at&t modem yesterday on my b-day and my hubby got the computer running. I will still be doing a yard sale this weekend so I am busy getting that ready. Yep I still blow out candles on my b-day. I turned 29 yesterday:) I have more pictures with me and my family but I decided to just put this one up for now.

Chronicles of Narnia :The Lion, the witch and the wardrobe

I started reading this last year to my oldest son but I finished it this year. The author is C.S. Lewis. I try to read to him every night. He is old enough to read now (he is 9), but he loves it when I read this to him and his children's Bible. Anyhow, wonderful book and we own the new version of the movie. I thought this was the first book but it is actually the second in the series. The Magician and his nephew is the first which we don't have. We need that one and the last one. We have two through six.

This has talking animals, imagination, morals and fighting for what is right in a way in which you and your child should enjoy. I guess it would be considered a fantasy type book and I would consider it for all ages. Again my oldest son is 9 and loved it. We are now reading the 3rd book A Horse and his boy. Now I will need to find number 1 and number 7.

Beef and Mushroom Lasagna

I found this recipe from a magazine ad for Campbell's soup. ( I am sure any brand would work I did use Campbell's)

1 can Campbell's condensed cream of mushroom soup (regular or 98% fat free)

1\4 cup milk

1 lb Gr Beef ( I used turkey sausage)

2 cups Prego Fresh mushroom Italian Sauce ( I used Meijer brand mushroom sauce)

9 cooked Lasagna noodles ( I used whole box and alternated with the sauce and soup)

1 cup shredded or Italian blend or Mozzarella cheese ( I used Mozz and Mexican cheese)

1. Heat Oven to 400 F. Stir soup and milk in small bowl until smooth.

2. cook beef in skillet over medium- high heat until well browned, stirring often to separate meat. Pour of fat. Stir in sauce. ( I added cottage cheese to mine)

3. Layer 1/2 beef mixture, 3 noodles and 1 cup soup mixture in 2 -qt shallow baking dish top with 3 more noodles, remaining beef mixture, remaining noodles and remaining soup mixture.

Sprinkle with cheese, Cover baking dish. ( I didn't cover mine)

4. Bake 30 minutes or until hot. Uncover baking dish.

5. Heat broiler. Broil 4" from heat 2 min. or until cheese is golden brown. Let stand 10 min. ( I admit I skipped this part)

My version is pictured above :) Everyone loved it.

Easter Pictures

We didn't have my oldest son for Easter this year. My youngest kids got their pictures taken by their Aunt Tiffany, she has a photography and DJ service on the side. They turned out pretty cute.

Sausage Gravy- Southern Style

I used Turkey sausage and whole wheat flour. I used evaporated milk because I didn't have whole milk and whole milk cooks differently than 2 %. The evaporated milk worked but it was a little sweeter than I normally have it. I added a little more pepper. I would suggest using whole milk for the full effect ;) Overall it was good though.
I can't eat this all the time but it makes a hearty breakfast or dinner with biscuits and is frugal and fast. I found this on the internet but I found out my mom makes it the same way :) I have found the joy of cooking especially things that are homemade.

1\2 package of mild Sausage
2 tbsp butter
2tbsp flour
5 cups whole milk
1 1\2 tsp salt
1 1\2 tsp pepper

cook sausage
Add butter and flour
simmer for a few minutes on medium heat, stir frequently
Add milk, salt and pepper
simmer over medium\high stirring constantly
until desired thickness

I found this on Cooks.com and it was submitted by Gina S.

Twilight and New Moon

I did the opposite of what other people may try to do, I watched the movies before (gasp) reading the books and it is what I always do. Most of the time I end up enjoying the books a bit more, but the movie is usually worthwhile to compare and contrast and gives you a visual that is tangible to the eyes.

Yesterday I finished reading Twilight. I found it worthwhile and it helped me get a bit more into the movie which I had to watch again. I usually don't follow trends in reading and pick up books that look and sound interesting, or maybe someone has suggested was good.

Bella's character was entertaining and at times funny in a dark humor sort of way. What I didn't understand is why she was so careless at times but then again she is 17. I grew to like Edward's character more than I did in the movie, I felt the book went deeper into the core of his personality. I am still rooting for Jacob though and actually was a little excited to start reading New Moon.

Yes, I have already seen New Moon. I am sure I will still enjoy the book. Which is able to go into the story farther and illustrate details in my imagination a bit more than a movie can. I pick up things that I may not have noticed in the movie. The books also have things that happen that may not have been put into the movie. I won't go into detail of that, because I don't want to spoil it for those that have not read the books or seen the movies if there is any left that have not ;). I think it is worthwhile to watch the movies and read the books overall and recommend it for an easy read that has some enjoyment along with it. On a side note this is a 4 part series book; Twilight, New Moon, Eclipse and Breaking Dawn. I am going to read them all but I am only going to do this book chat for Twilight.

My Ebay Adventure

Ebay is another way to make some cash on things you have that you no longer use nor want. you can research what sells first to see if it is worth your time to list. Have some extra coupons lying around that you won't use? You can sell them on ebay in lots and make a few bucks. You would be surprised what folks are willing to pay to save. I received some formula checks in the mail. I am not sure why since my youngest is 2 but I just listed them on ebay. They also sent me some formula but I think I will donate that.

In the past I have sold some kid and maternity clothes in lots and made a few bucks. We usually have a yard sale every year so I sell those items first at our yard sale. I usually end up donating what is left but this year I may take the best items left and sell them on ebay. My Goodwill job did not pan out so I am looking for other ways to make a little money. It is all right because I know God has plans for me. I am going to enjoy taking care of my kids and doing some work for the Lord and our church. In the meantime I will make a little fun money for the kids and I this summer. If anyone is interested in learning how to clean out their house and make a little money, research ebay. It can be a great place to unload and receive monetary gain. You may not become a millionaire but a little can go a long way for your household budget.

Learning a New Hobby

Last weekend, I strolled downtown to the Yarn Garden shop we have in town. I am trying to learn some new hobbies and I figured if I get good at it, I could make some pretty nice gifts. The owner gave me a website which shows hot to videos. I am going to give it a shot but I can't guarantee I will be that good at it ;)

I hope to be good and make some amazing things but I have never been coordinated or especially talented in making perfect stitches but I do have an advantage of long fingers. Fingers which should be learning to play guitar or piano but I never got serious about either. I always jump around from idea to idea but as I am getting older maybe I will learn the art of sticking to something until I perfect it. We will see, for now I have some weekend plans of learning to knit. I will let you know how that goes.