Tuesday, November 30, 2010

Thanksgiving Week

Thanksgiving week kicked off with two sick turkeys who were thankfully just a little under the weather and pretty clear in time for the feast!

We had tons of my mom's family in town and kicked off the day at the Turkey Trot 5K. Thanks to my man for staying home with the recovering kiddos!
My family was too fun to do this! I sent them the form sort of as a joke, but they were troopers and came out early for the fun!

My sweet friend Casey also ran it -- her first 5K!

Aunt Gloria of course spoiled all of us staying for several days!
All of the fam was here for the first time in a while -- from Texas, Maine, Georgia, and Florida -- it was great having them here!

And awesome having some extra hands to chase these two who stay on the go!

We had a great thanksgiving and so much to be thankful for!

Sunday, November 21, 2010

Turkey Hunt

Our church preschool program hosted a Turkey Hunt for all of the preschoolers. It was super cute and lots of fun! A sweet time for K to see her Sunday School teacher and friends outside of Sunday morning and have some fun!

They had a turkey feather relay race...

Brother wanted in on the action...
And balloons galore!
She didn't want Jay missing out on the candy-filled balloons!Happy turkey week!

Saturday, November 20, 2010

Night on the Farm

We had a great Saturday night on the farm complete with lots of open space, hayrides, hot dogs, and s'mores! Alex thinks he's a master s'more maker -- we decided Reese cups were the way to go on your smores sandwich!

In Training

The ear infections seem to be fading resulting in a much happier and active baby! This captures two of their current faves -- footie jamas and walking practice! Kirkley rides drives, and he hangs on as they go all around the house! So sweet until he yanks her hair from behind!!

Wednesday, November 17, 2010

You and me both, brother!

I went in to check on Jay's afternoon nap after I heard him quiet and found him snoozing away upright. I think that about sums up how we all feel after weeks of ear infections and six teeth pushing through. Praise the Lord it's been little things plaguing him! I did lay him down after snapping a few shots for a more comfy nap....
I'd say we're going to hit the hay early tonight, but I am totally a nerd and really excited to see the Pioneer Woman on Bobby Flay Throwdown at 8pm -- anyone else!? :)

crafty devotions

I attempted and failed to follow through last year doing Jesse Tree Devotions each day of the Christmas season. This year, I rounded up the help of girls from our Sunday School class to give me a hand and boy are they crafty:

They made 51 of each ornament for us to have enough for our families and to share. We are thrilled to do these with our family and can't wait to see K's face each day as she opens one. One more way to plant seeds of scripture in our little ones.

Basically these are daily Bible stories and devotions with a corresponding ornament. We edited the link above so if you want a copy of our book, just leave a comment and I'll email it. Gather up some girlfriends and get to craftin!

Click here for more Christmas activities to go ahead and prep -- yes, prep before Thanksgiving before it gets wild!

And when you get a minute, read this.

Saturday, November 6, 2010

Callaway 10k

Scarlotte and I headed over to do the Callaway Gardens Twilight 10k this afternoon! It was a fun tradition to start. Running through the lights and the music was so neat and made the cold wind almost bearable -- a race we'll definitely do again! Really different too running with 500+ people. No records were set, but I was excited to finish and run the whole thing!

Wednesday, November 3, 2010

Fall Recital

Kirkley's fall ballet class had their little recital this week. It was an improvement from the spring, and she's already asking if it's time for gymnastics to have a turn!

Tuesday, November 2, 2010

Soup Swap!

I am thrilled it's finally starting to cool off! I don't make soup/stew/chili any other time of year! In my mind, I'd love to have a Soup Swap where everyone comes and brings their favorite soup frozen in 3c containers to swap so we all take home different ones. Practically (since I haven't hosted anything at my house in months -- pre-Jay I think -- possibly very pre-Jay) I'm going to attempt to do it this way:

Post and/or link up your very favorite one or two recipes for wintertime soup/stew/chili! You can post the recipe on your blog and enter the address below for that blog page (click the title for your recipe post to get that specific page) or find the website with your recipe and enter that address below.

Please please participate! :) I would love a big set of recipes I know are great!!

Here is where you link up -- then my recipes will be below: Chicken Taco Soup and Wendy's Chili (I'll post this later). I am hunting a White Chicken Chili recipe -- someone brought this after we had Kirkley, and I've never been able to recreate it!


Also Kroger is having a great sale week for lots of staples -- check out their list to stock up on lots of these ingredients! This week is totally worth going by there! I got 6 cans of cream of chicken/mushroom soup for free, diced tomatoes for .29, broth for .49, etc. All soup staples!


Everyone has a favorite Taco Soup -- this is mine -- a combo of many, many people's recipes!

Chicken Taco Soup
Serves 6-8

1 onion, diced finely
1 T canola or vegetable oil

2 15 oz cans corn, drained and rinsed or 16 oz bag frozen corn
1 15 oz can kidney beans, drained and rinsed
1 15 oz can black beans, drained and rinsed
1 15 oz can pinto beans, drained and rinsed

1 15 oz can Rotel, drained
2 15 oz cans diced tomatoes, undrained
1 1.25 oz. packet of taco seasoning (I use mild)
2 1 oz packets of ranch dressing mix
2 chicken breasts, cooked and diced
3-4 cups of water or more

16 oz velveeta (I use 2%)

- Dice onion and saute in large pot with canola oil over medium heat until onions turn clear. Drain oil if necessary.
- Rinse and drain corn and beans in a large colander.
- Add corn, beans, and all other ingredients except velveeta to onions. Stir together.
- Bring to a simmer and keep over low-med heat simmering for 2 hours (or you can do in crock pot). Stir occasionally. Watch soup while it is simmering. You may need to add more water
as it cooks, depending on how much you like.
- Just before serving, cut velveeta into cubes and stir into soup until melted.
- Serve with cornbread, tortilla chips, shredded cheese, and sour cream.
- Freeze leftovers! :)


Wendy's Chili
Serves 8-10

2 lbs ground beef
1 onion, finely diced

1 stalk of celery, finely chopped
1 29 oz can tomato sauce
1 29 oz can kidney beans, drained and rinsed
1 29 oz can pinto beans, drained and rinsed
2 4 oz cans chopped green chilies, undrained
2 15 oz cans diced tomatoes, undrained
2 c water
2 t cumin
3 T chili powder
1 1/2 t black pepper
2 t salt

- Brown and drain ground beef and onions in a large pot.
- Add all other ingredients and bring to a simmer over medium high heat.
- Cook over low heat simmering for 2-3 hours or in a crock pot on low for 8-10 hours.
- Serve with cornbread, tortilla chips, shredded cheese, green onions, and sour cream.
- Freeze leftovers! :)