Farm Fun

We were so excited to enjoy an unusually warm and sunny
January Saturday at the Colley Farm.

Our church's college retreat had lunch there, and they wanted families to come join.
Tipi is totally spoiled being able to head out there with the kids anytime!

The kids loved the animals...

Swang and played...

Built sandcastles...

Tried out new walking legs...
And had fun with sweet friends!
We've already asked to go back to the farm!


"For the LORD God is a sun and shield;
the LORD bestows favor and honor;
no good thing does he withhold...."
Psalm 84:11

January Cookbook Challenge -- They can't all be winners!

My sweet intern from years ago Emily talked me into doing a cookbook challenge once a month. I have about a zillion cookbooks tucked away everywhere so I thought that was a great idea. I'm going to attempt each month to do recipes that I've never tried. For January, I chose one from There's a Tiger in the Kitchen: King Ranch Casserole.

The ingredients sounded great, and we had most of them on hand so I went with it:
But this is what we ended up with on our plates. Brace yourselves...

Yep, it looked just as gross in person as it does in the pic. :)
Didn't help that my salad and salad dressing were both out of date.
Sooo, they can't all be winners.
The recipe called for chopping up the tortillas, putting them on the bottom,
and mixing all other ingredients for the top.
It needs help though -- layering, something. Turned out all crazy.

But a few things to glean from a totally unappetizing dinner:
We love the Xtreme wellness tortillas.
They have 70 calories with lots of protein and fiber.
I use these in our chicken enchiladas, make roll up sandwiches,
make cheese or cream cheese roll ups for the kids, etc.
Also, you'll see the container of chopped, cooked chicken ready to go from the freezer.
That is still my biggest time-saver tip for a quick dinner.
When split breast chicken is on sale, bake it up, chop, freeze
for the zillions of recipes that call for it.

Looking for a better February recipe to try! :)

Afternoon Run

Lately Kirkley has had the hardest time falling asleep at night
so every afternoon we get all fleeced up and
head out for an afternoon "run" to the bridge to "feed the fish."

The kids haven't realized the fish don't eat leaves and sticks that we collect as we walk!

Jay's started getting out of the stroller more with his walking legs.
Kirkley has waited and waited for him to play chase!
After he got his first tooth, she wanted to know if they could play yet.
The day is near -- he sure wants to play!

Kirkley's last treat is writing in the sand on the way home.This has helped so much with her energy level at night
and saves us all in that before dinner hour that can be kind of wild!
Hoping this builds a love of running from the start -- she's got a mile down! :)

^"I run in the path of your commands,
for you have set my heart free."
Psalm 119:32

Sweet Visits

Alex had an out of town meeting this week,
and the kids and I decided to tag along at the last minute.
I surprised two law school friends and asked
if we could pop by while Alex went to his meeting.
Embarrassingly enough, I hadn't made the trip yet to see either of these sweet babies --
one is already one and the other is about to be!!
So I texted them around 10am to see if I could stop by around nap time --
sooo convenient but both obliged! :)

First we stopped by Christy's house to meet baby Christopher:

He was darling and the boys became fast playmates:I love their elasticy bottoms.

Other people's toys are SO interesting and new!
And I love how Christy had out fresh flowers. This is so Christy -- she has a sweet appreciation of beautiful things.
I love how she attaches flowers or greenery to gifts.
So inspiring to me to take the time to add sweet touches.
It never feels like a magazine spread or over the top --
just a sweet thought of something special!
And she was a precious new mama -- fun to see her in her element!


Next we were off to the Fitts house to see Rebekah and her three little ones.
Rebekah's husband was in law school with Alex and we became fast friends.
Rebekah was the first person I knew that years ago read people's blogs.
Like people she didn't know.
RIDICULOUS I told her.
Why on earth would you want to read someone's blog you don't know!?
Eating my words.

We entered the Fitts house around snack time overwhelmed by the smell of fresh bread.
It almost made me want to revisit bread making.
Really because I want to make this to go with it.
But my first attempts were not so hot, and I abandoned it!

She buttered them up and we enjoyed homemade bread and tea for snack.

Kirkley was thrilled to get to drink from a little teacup. I think she and Noble wore Libby's ears out.
Libby (4) and Noble (3) were hilarious to watch with K.
Noble and K were chatty chatty with each other. 3 must be a chatty age for all.

The young ones were sweet and quiet.

Noble declared, "He can marry Murphy."

Perfect, we'll go with that.

Kirkley introduced them to our new favorite activity of silly faces for the camera.

I love Noble's curls. I hope Jay can pull them off cute like this!
We left the Fitts house with our own bread and trail mix -- thanks Rebekah!

Next we were off to their first trip to a bakery.
Our town is so lacking that they've never done this.
Kirkley had a blast picking out which ones to take.

Lastly, we hit up Penzey's Spices.
This is such a neat place if you like to cook or bake.
I came out with these freeze dried items to use in place of the real thing.
I typically avoid shallots/green onions recipes because of cost/time
so I'm really excited to see how these work.
And the vanilla sugar is awesome in coffee!

You know it's a great trip when both kids crash as soon as we hit the car.
We enjoyed a quiet ride home with time to talk!
Thanks girls for letting us swing by on short notice --
I am always so encouraged and inspired by other mamas!

"Therefore encourage one another and build each other up,
just as in fact you are doing."
1 Thess 5:11

this chica

Just so you know, all moments aren't picture perfect, rockin moments.
This chica, pictured with sugar-free gum of course,
lost her mind at the dentist today!!!
She pranced right back like a big girl for her 6 month check up soloou.
Then the hygienist came out to get me and Jay.
She'd obliged on letting the hygienist check her teeth, but she was done after that.

Soooo...Jay walked all around the room opening cabinets and rooting around
while I laid on the child-sized dentist chair, held her down and pried open her mouth.
Thank goodness she'd put her foot down and asked to go in one of the little rooms
rather than with all of the other children since she was declaring,
"I want consequences!"

Maybe it's because she went twice last summer and
the second time she had to be put to sleep to have THREE cavities filled.
I can see how that would be a little traumatizing. :)
I was certainly traumatized by that event since
she came out of anesthesia at home beating me up!
We might wait a little longer than 6 months for our next checkup!

precious patient!

Jay did a great job as a patient this morning!
He charmed the nurses in the pre-op room.
They asked if we wanted his hair cut while he was under.
Point taken. I need to schedule haircut #2. He checked to see if that last molar is in yet...not yet.

Then he got tired of waiting.
Luckily it wasn't too long before he got taken back!

Big sister was pumped to get a hospital booklet to read and color!

And not 15 minutes later, we went back to see our groggy boy!He came out of anesthesia pretty well and was back to normal halfway home!

And Kirkley has new supplies for her doctor kit!

It was a smooth morning -- thankful for His peace and provisions!
Thanks for all of the texts, emails, and calls!!!

^"The LORD gives strength to His people;
the LORD blesses His people with peace."
Psalm 29:11

I love a list!

First off, I'm loving my weekly to do list! I also got back out Heaven at Home by Ginger Plowman and skimmed through the structuring your day/child's day and homekeeping chapters. Pretty convicting but for sure encouraged me to keep on the path of organization! I so recommend this book!

Some of my favorite points of structuring your day/home:

• Routine enables us to avoid idleness. Proverbs 31:27 says, "She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness." I sure didn't feel like I was being idle, but I can see now how having things on the list help me to check them off that day rather than save them for later -- later was turning into weeks/months later!
• Routine enables us to have more freedom. I put a few housekeeping tasks on there M, T, W, and F. This gives me H and the weekend "off" from housekeeping or to catch up on what I didn't get to.
• There was alsolso great encouragement in this chapter to keep a family calendar (stole Sarah's idea a while back and I keep this on the fridge always for Alex and I both to record stuff) and a constant grocery list.
  

I've added stuff each week to my print out, and I just have to crack up at all of the things I really love a reminder for -- do my CBS day, restock diaper bag, check e-mealz, etc. It's been a huge help keeping me on task. And as an extra treat, sometimes Alex checks it and does things still left to cross off! I've emailed it to several of you -- if you want a copy, just let me know. You'll need to download pea smashtastic to see/change the font. To add a font to your computer (don't know how to do this on a mac, sorry):

• Click download
  
• Click open folder when the open/save screen appears
• Close all open windows except for font one
  
• Drag the font icon in the open folder to your desktop
• Open your control panel
• Double click on fonts folder
• Drag font icon from your desktop to the fonts folder -- enjoy!

Now on to the pantry. This project took 5-6 days. Mainly because every time I look down, I see this:
Oh my molars, yes, I'll hold you, sweet boy! Last one year molar coming in! Tubes go in Monday morning!

I did a shelf at a time, and I had to keep going back to Target for more stacking baskets (found in kitchen section). Not exactly how I wanted to spend my Christmas/bday Target gift cards, but it's a huge improvement:
Not sure that it would make IHeart Organizing super impressed, but it's working much better for us. I made dot labels (to match to do list), printed them on cardstock, had them laminated (thanks Mom), wrote on them with a Vis-A-V (available at office/teacher stores), and stuck them onto the baskets with velcro squares. That way, I can write inventory on them, change them easily, etc. Works well for the way I coupon/stockpile.
And if you ever need sprinkles, we have sprinkles that filled up TWO medium stacking baskets. They were stuck everywhere!! :) Now I only have every other cabinet/closet/drawer in our house left on my list -- why did I not tackle these in my nesting phases of pregnancy!?

In our pot...

I love soup in the cold months! It's about to get cold cold again so here are some of our favorite soup recipes we've stumbled upon this winter! Emily, none involve kale -- I am way impressed! :) Mine are all open a can and pour! Lisa, your tortellini soup is still on my list to try! This tortellini soup looks great too!

We loved this barbecue chili -- want to do it next time with bbq I grab from our favorite barbecue place! If you don't have liquid smoke, it's optional or you can find it by the bbq sauce.

Barbecue Chili adapted from Real Mom Kitchen
(8 servings)

2 lb lean ground beef
1 large onion, diced
2 22oz cans Bush's southern pit barbecue grilling beans, undrained
2 14.5oz cans fire roasted diced tomatoes, undrained
2 8oz cans tomato sauce
2 14oz cans corn, drained
2 14oz cans beef broth
2 T chili powder
2 t cumin
1/2 c bbq sauce (we use Sweet Baby Ray's)
several shakes of liquid smoke (if you have it)

- In a large stockpot, cook beef and onion until beef is cooked and onion is clear.
- Add in all remaining ingredients. Bring to a boil over med-high heat. Reduce heat to med-low. Simmer 1-2 hours uncovered for a good chili consistency.
- Serve with shredded cheddar cheese, corn chips/muffins, etc.
- Freeze extras!


The Mantooths found the missing ingredient for me in white chicken chili -- I love the jar of salsa verde in it! Found in the Hispanic section of the grocery. I'd double this and put up containers in the freezer!

White Chicken Chili adapted from the Mantooths
(4-5 servings) *Great to double and freeze half

2 T minced garlic (I use jar kind)
2 T olive oil
1 medium onion, diced
1 can chicken broth
1 small can diced green chilies, undrained
3 cans great northern beans, rinsed and drained
1 16oz jar salsa verde
1 T cumin
1 t pepper (white if you have it)
2 c diced cooked chicken

- Saute garlic and onion in a large stockpot until onion is clear.
- Add all other ingredients. Bring to a boil over med-high heat. Reduce heat to med-low. Simmer 1-2 hours uncovered for a good chili consistency.
- Serve with shredded cheddar cheese, sour cream, corn chips/muffins, etc.
- Freeze extras!


Rebecca, thanks for passing this along! We made it for a luncheon this week and it was a huge hit!

Baked Potato Soup from The Scotts
(4-5 servings)

1 bag frozen hashbrowns with red & green peppers
1 can cream of chicken soup
2 c milk
bacon (several slices cooked and crumbled)
1 c to 2 c shredded cheddar cheese
1 t pepper (white if you have it)

- Combine all ingredients and cook in crockpot on low for 6 hours.
- Serve with shredded cheddar cheese, sour cream, chives, bacon bits, etc. and crackers.

I never know where I'll find them...

These two have had a ball playing together lately.
It's not constant, but the moments together are precious to catch!

I left Kirkley coloring and Jay snacking to fold laundry.
I heard a chair scoot and went out only to find this:She'd scooted him all the way over by her desk to color with her.

We cracked up the other day finding him standing at her table,
grabbing a crayon from the basket, coloring, and putting it back.
And if you ever taught with me, you'll find it hi-larious
that Kirkley's desk looks like a swamp.
You know where she gets it.
I'm working on my swampiness and loving my list!!!
A post on that to come -- when my pantry labels are done! :)

Footsie

I love these sweet little feet playing footsie at snack time!
A stark contrast to the hair-pulling or pushing that may occur during play time.

And these sweet baby ears will be getting tubes in a week!Hopefully putting an end to the ear infections he's endured for the last six months!

Downtown Date

It's our last no-schedule day

(unless the great ice storm of 2011 cancels everything for a third day).
We headed out in the 40 degree weather for a downtown date!
Yep, 40 degree weather cancels everything in the south! :)

Couldn't resist one more trip to Toomer's Corner before it's all cleaned up!

The kids loved messing with all of the toilet paper...

Jay showed off his latest trick...
Then we headed inside to thaw and have my favorite downtown lunch...The fruit plate at Big Blue Bagel.
My roommate worked here our last semester at college,
and we loved the bagel chips that came home with her!
I think we'll be back soon --
Kirkley was not happy that I finished off the bagel we shared! :)

Now this is how you dig into a bagel chip!

Then back out for some last pics!
War Eagle!!!

WAAARRR EAGLE!!!

Couldn't resist loading the kids up and heading to Toomer's Corner! This was both of their first time -- a super special first time!!!

Jay took it all in...

K was ready to roll!

WAR EAGLE!