We haven't been up to much, but, Maddie turned 6 on March 13
A rare picture of Kayla smiling at the camera-
Benjamin looking cute after he was caught trying to climb the stairs-
Wednesday, April 01, 2009
Catchng up
I'm really not very good at keeping up with this blog. I really should update it more often. I love going back in time and reading old posts. To please my future self, I'm going to start posting more often.
We haven't been up to much, but, Maddie turned 6 on March 13
A rare picture of Kayla smiling at the camera-
Benjamin looking cute after he was caught trying to climb the stairs-
We haven't been up to much, but, Maddie turned 6 on March 13
A rare picture of Kayla smiling at the camera-
Benjamin looking cute after he was caught trying to climb the stairs-
Wednesday, March 04, 2009
Being Frugal
We are now TV free. Well, okay....tv free is misleading...how about cable free? There is nothing on tv that is worth the amount of money we were paying for our cable service, so we canceled it. Now, we still watch our favorite shows, but we watch them online or we borrow entire season's worth from the library. I've found that nearly every tv show worth watching (and many that aren't) can be found online in some form and in good quality.
I mentioned all of this to a friend the other day and she said "Oh, I could never do that. I really need to watch my favorite shows on Showtime." Then when asked how much she spends on cable, she replied "$190"
My head nearly popped off! So, for some people, a few weekly tv shows are worth $190 a month? There are shows I like, but none that are worth that much!
The internet is another story. I kinda need that and I'm kind of addicted. It is much more useful though. Without the internet I'd spend time doing so many things over the phone or in person- banking, renewing library books, researching restaurants, finding movie times, ordering books, etc. I have no idea how we ever survived without it!
Soon, we will cancel cable internet and switch to At&T dsl for less than $50 a month. We also cancelled our phone service through the cable company in favor of www.magicjack.com and we love it.
So, the bill that we used to get for around $120-140 (it actually changed every month because the cable company is incompetent apparently) for phone, tv, and internet has been reduced to $45 a month and we aren't missing a thing besides commercials and inappropriate tv shows.
I mentioned all of this to a friend the other day and she said "Oh, I could never do that. I really need to watch my favorite shows on Showtime." Then when asked how much she spends on cable, she replied "$190"
My head nearly popped off! So, for some people, a few weekly tv shows are worth $190 a month? There are shows I like, but none that are worth that much!
The internet is another story. I kinda need that and I'm kind of addicted. It is much more useful though. Without the internet I'd spend time doing so many things over the phone or in person- banking, renewing library books, researching restaurants, finding movie times, ordering books, etc. I have no idea how we ever survived without it!
Soon, we will cancel cable internet and switch to At&T dsl for less than $50 a month. We also cancelled our phone service through the cable company in favor of www.magicjack.com and we love it.
So, the bill that we used to get for around $120-140 (it actually changed every month because the cable company is incompetent apparently) for phone, tv, and internet has been reduced to $45 a month and we aren't missing a thing besides commercials and inappropriate tv shows.
Monday, March 02, 2009
Benjamin's First Birthday!
My sweet baby boy turned one on Feb 20th but we were so wrapped up in worrying about him being sick that I completely neglected to post his birthday pictures. This was only hours before he became very ill and the pictures probably show that he was not his happy self. He wouldn't even eat the cupcake we gave him.
Sunday, March 01, 2009
Winter Wonderland
Today was a day unlike any I've seen in a very long time. We awoke this morning the the marvelous sight of freshly fallen snow on our front lawn. By the time the morning light shone through our master bedroom window, at least 2 inches had accumulated. This is only the second time I've seen snow in Alabama. The first time was just over a year ago when I was still pregnant with sweet Benjamin. Last year, it barely stuck. Today the kids got the rare treat of enough snow to form snowballs and snow angels. The snow continued to fall until around noon. Eventually the sun came out and all of the snow had melted by 3pm. It was fun while it lasted.
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Happiness!
Today is a happy day! My family has been battling a horrid stomach virus that basically trapped us in the house for the past 2 weeks. Normally, when one of the kids gets sick we keep the family quarantined until 24 hours has passed since the last time something nasty comes out of the last kid to have the illness. Today is a happy day because it has been 24 hours and now we can leave the house!
It's a beautiful day, so I forced the kids to play outside. I don't know why but apparently riding on bikes and swinging on swings is torture.....they'll get over it. Hopefully my neighbors don't call the authorities when they hear the kids yelling "Mom, please let us come in the house!" every 5 minutes from the back yard. At least, I hope they don't do it this week. The house is a wreck. It will take me at least a week to catch up after this illness.
Luckily the weather is nice and I can open some windows, kick the kids outside, strap the baby to my back, put on some music and get to cleaning and disinfecting.
It's a beautiful day, so I forced the kids to play outside. I don't know why but apparently riding on bikes and swinging on swings is torture.....they'll get over it. Hopefully my neighbors don't call the authorities when they hear the kids yelling "Mom, please let us come in the house!" every 5 minutes from the back yard. At least, I hope they don't do it this week. The house is a wreck. It will take me at least a week to catch up after this illness.
Luckily the weather is nice and I can open some windows, kick the kids outside, strap the baby to my back, put on some music and get to cleaning and disinfecting.
Friday, October 31, 2008
Halloween 2008
Halloween is over. My big kid is at a friend's house, which is normal for a Friday night. My little beauty and the two beasts are in bed sound asleep for now. We had a great night at our church's fall festival. The original plan was to go trick or treating but this afternoon we decided to do something different this year and I'm so glad we did. Not only did the kids get candy, but they got to play games and have fun. On the way home we picked up a pizza for a late night dinner, so all in all it was a good night.
Almost 2 weeks ago, Maddie and Nicholas both came down with chicken pox. That was interesting. Thankfully we have some friends who would like their children to have a natural lifelong immunity and were happy to bring their kids over for a pox party. A few days later, I was going crazy wanting to get out of the house, so we went to a costume party with some similarly minded friends.
Once the kids got all better and were no longer contagious, I just had to get out of the house. We decided to take the little ones (Kayla didn't want to come with us) to a local pumpkin patch and we had an awesome time! The kids got to pick cotton, jump in a huge pile of cotton, climb hay mountains, ride on a mule drawn wagon, and play on some pretty cool tractors. Boy it felt so good to be out of the house finally!
Here are some pictures taken tonight and over the past 2 weeks...in no particular order becausse I'm exhausted and ready for bed. Enjoy!
Almost 2 weeks ago, Maddie and Nicholas both came down with chicken pox. That was interesting. Thankfully we have some friends who would like their children to have a natural lifelong immunity and were happy to bring their kids over for a pox party. A few days later, I was going crazy wanting to get out of the house, so we went to a costume party with some similarly minded friends.
Once the kids got all better and were no longer contagious, I just had to get out of the house. We decided to take the little ones (Kayla didn't want to come with us) to a local pumpkin patch and we had an awesome time! The kids got to pick cotton, jump in a huge pile of cotton, climb hay mountains, ride on a mule drawn wagon, and play on some pretty cool tractors. Boy it felt so good to be out of the house finally!
Here are some pictures taken tonight and over the past 2 weeks...in no particular order becausse I'm exhausted and ready for bed. Enjoy!
Thursday, October 23, 2008
A few favorite recipes and a picture of a cute boy
First, here is a recent picture of Ben that I took at my friend's house. She knitted this hat for her baby and it was so cute I couldn't resist putting it on Ben and snapping a picture.
Okay, now to share some recipes. These are a few of my favorites that have been requested often throughout the last few years. I like to cook from scratch and use my crock pot as often as possible.
Tortilla Pie-
1 two layer pie crust
3 TBSP olive oil
1 C chopped onion
1 gr bell pepper
15 oz can black beans
1/2 cup salsa
1tsp chili pepper (optional)
8 oz shredded cheddar
3 eight inch flour tortillas
Prepare pie crust
Heat oil in skillet. Add onion and pepper. Saute 5 min. Add beans, salsa and spices. Simmer 7-10 minutes.
Layer 1/3 mixture into crust. Top with 1/3 cheese, top with tortilla. Repeat twice and end with cheese. Top with 2nd pie crust, seal edges and bake at 350 for 40-50 minutes.
I like to serve this with salsa and sour cream.
Slow Cooker Chicken Curry
3 tablespoons all purpose flour
3 tablespoons curry powder
1/2 tsp gr cumin
1 tsp salt
1 1/2 lbs boneless chicken
2 cups peeled and chopped potatoes
1 1/2 cups bias sliced carrots
1 cup coarsley chopped cooking apple
2 cloves garlic
1 fresh jalapeno chile pepper, seeded and finely chopped (I do not use this because it's too spicy for my kids)
1 teaspoon instant chicken bouillon granules
1/2 cup water
1 13 oz can unsweetened coconut milk
Hot cooked brown rice (optional- I use basmati rice)
1/4 cup chopped peanuts
In a large plastic bag combine the flour and spices. Add chicken, and shake bag to coat.
In your slow cooker combine potatoes, carrots, apple, onion, garlic, pepper and bouillon granules. top with chicken. Pour water over all.
Cover and cook on low for 6-8 hrs, or high for 3-4 hrs.
If using low heat, turn to high setting. Stir in coconut milk and cover and cook for 30 minutes more. Serve over hot rice and sprinkle with peanuts.
My FAVORITE ever turkey chili recipe-
This is sooooo good and tastes different than most other chili recipes. I love it because it's good for you!!! I make it in the crock pot- high for 4-5 hours or low for 7-8 hours. Top with sour cream and/or shredded cheese.
1 1/2 pounds ground turkey- cooked
1 (1 ounce) package taco seasoning mix
1 teaspoon ground coriander
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1 teaspoon chili pepper flakes
2 tablespoons tomato paste
1 (14.5 ounce) can beef broth
1 (7 ounce) can salsa
1 (14.5 ounce) can crushed tomatoes, or coarsely chopped tomatoes packed in puree
1 (7 ounce) can chopped green chile peppers
1 medium onion, finely chopped
1 green bell pepper, diced
3 medium zucchini, halved lengthwise and sliced
1 bunch green onions, chopped
Smoky Black Bean and Vegetable Soup-
I make this in the slow cooker as well but I have no idea how long....I just put it in sometime during the day and we eat it for dinner...maybe 6 hours on low?
2 cups chopped onion
1 cup carrot
3/4 cup sliced celery
4 garlic cloves
2 tsp ground cumin
2 tsp dried basil
1 tsp dried oregano
1 tsp chili powder
2 bay leaves
2 cups water
3 15 oz cans black beans
2 14 oz cans vegetable broth
2 14 oz cans plum tomatoes, undrained and chopped
The recipe says to saute the first 4 ingredients until tender, then add the spices, cook for 1 minute, then add the rest of the ingredients and simmer for 2 hours. I've been known to just toss it all in a crock pot on a busy day and it turns out fine. Top with yogurt, lime wedges and fresh cilantro. I keep a small pot of cilantro growing on my back deck because I use it so often.
Okay, now to share some recipes. These are a few of my favorites that have been requested often throughout the last few years. I like to cook from scratch and use my crock pot as often as possible.
Tortilla Pie-
1 two layer pie crust
3 TBSP olive oil
1 C chopped onion
1 gr bell pepper
15 oz can black beans
1/2 cup salsa
1tsp chili pepper (optional)
8 oz shredded cheddar
3 eight inch flour tortillas
Prepare pie crust
Heat oil in skillet. Add onion and pepper. Saute 5 min. Add beans, salsa and spices. Simmer 7-10 minutes.
Layer 1/3 mixture into crust. Top with 1/3 cheese, top with tortilla. Repeat twice and end with cheese. Top with 2nd pie crust, seal edges and bake at 350 for 40-50 minutes.
I like to serve this with salsa and sour cream.
Slow Cooker Chicken Curry
3 tablespoons all purpose flour
3 tablespoons curry powder
1/2 tsp gr cumin
1 tsp salt
1 1/2 lbs boneless chicken
2 cups peeled and chopped potatoes
1 1/2 cups bias sliced carrots
1 cup coarsley chopped cooking apple
2 cloves garlic
1 fresh jalapeno chile pepper, seeded and finely chopped (I do not use this because it's too spicy for my kids)
1 teaspoon instant chicken bouillon granules
1/2 cup water
1 13 oz can unsweetened coconut milk
Hot cooked brown rice (optional- I use basmati rice)
1/4 cup chopped peanuts
In a large plastic bag combine the flour and spices. Add chicken, and shake bag to coat.
In your slow cooker combine potatoes, carrots, apple, onion, garlic, pepper and bouillon granules. top with chicken. Pour water over all.
Cover and cook on low for 6-8 hrs, or high for 3-4 hrs.
If using low heat, turn to high setting. Stir in coconut milk and cover and cook for 30 minutes more. Serve over hot rice and sprinkle with peanuts.
My FAVORITE ever turkey chili recipe-
This is sooooo good and tastes different than most other chili recipes. I love it because it's good for you!!! I make it in the crock pot- high for 4-5 hours or low for 7-8 hours. Top with sour cream and/or shredded cheese.
1 1/2 pounds ground turkey- cooked
1 (1 ounce) package taco seasoning mix
1 teaspoon ground coriander
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1 teaspoon chili pepper flakes
2 tablespoons tomato paste
1 (14.5 ounce) can beef broth
1 (7 ounce) can salsa
1 (14.5 ounce) can crushed tomatoes, or coarsely chopped tomatoes packed in puree
1 (7 ounce) can chopped green chile peppers
1 medium onion, finely chopped
1 green bell pepper, diced
3 medium zucchini, halved lengthwise and sliced
1 bunch green onions, chopped
Smoky Black Bean and Vegetable Soup-
I make this in the slow cooker as well but I have no idea how long....I just put it in sometime during the day and we eat it for dinner...maybe 6 hours on low?
2 cups chopped onion
1 cup carrot
3/4 cup sliced celery
4 garlic cloves
2 tsp ground cumin
2 tsp dried basil
1 tsp dried oregano
1 tsp chili powder
2 bay leaves
2 cups water
3 15 oz cans black beans
2 14 oz cans vegetable broth
2 14 oz cans plum tomatoes, undrained and chopped
The recipe says to saute the first 4 ingredients until tender, then add the spices, cook for 1 minute, then add the rest of the ingredients and simmer for 2 hours. I've been known to just toss it all in a crock pot on a busy day and it turns out fine. Top with yogurt, lime wedges and fresh cilantro. I keep a small pot of cilantro growing on my back deck because I use it so often.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
