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Wednesday, 20 May 2009

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    Created to Be His Help Meet: Discover How God Can Make Your Marriage Glorious
    By Debi Pearl
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    Latest pictures.

    It's been far too long, so I thought that I would post some recent pictures of the kids, taken at Frederick Meijer Gardens and their school picnic.

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    Aren't these guys too cute!  My own little love bugs!

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    Alex is getting so big.  He'll be 6 in July and even has a tooth loose!

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    I can't believe God is blessing us with another beautiful Shier to add to this picture.  We already have an embarrassment of riches!

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    The boys' fascination with this Michigan-shaped pool is part of what made us decide to switch our membership from John Ball Zoo to Frederick Meijer Garndens this year.

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    He's so handsome.  And such a loving, affectionate, active little boy.

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    As you can see, this climbing rock is as tall as Andy.  It almost makes my heart stop when I see him on top of it...and then to let him JUMP!?!  What is wrong with me???  But he is, after all, 100% boy.

     

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    Rachael with her friend Naomi.

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    Apparently, Alex was just too cute this week...cause most of the pictures are of him!  So much for the myth of the neglected middle child!  :)

Tuesday, 19 May 2009

  • Currently
    Ordinary Dreamers
    By Group 1 Crew
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    Homemaking

    I have my moments, but for the most part, I love what I do.  I love being home with my children: caring for their daily needs, reading to them, playing with them, tucking them in at night.  I also really enjoy taking care of our home...making it an oasis for my family.  I love to cook, don't mind grocery shopping (especially if there are no small children involved), actually quite enjoy laundry and don't mind most of the chores that go with my job decsription. (Though I really don't like to clean the bathroom and for some reason hate to vacuum).

    One of the things that really gets me going is feeling RESOURCEFUL.  I typically plan what I'm going to make for dinner by at least the previous day, but if I don't, I enjoy the challenge of going to my well-stocked pantry and putting something together last-minute.  It's pretty rare for me to ask Andy to pick up a pizza or for us to go out because I don't know what to cook.  (though we did have pizza last week because the chicken didn't thaw in time.

    I have a number of go-to recipes that I almost always have ingredients on hand for.  My Taco Casserole is one of them.  I love it because it calls for stale tortilla chips, so when a bag starts to go stale, I don't throw it waway...I just set it aside for this.  Tonight I used the ends of 4 bags of stale tortilla chips (so proud of myself!  :)

    Recipe:

    In a large skillet, brown one pound ground beef with diced onion (about one medium...or however much you prefer).  When meat is cooked through, drain pan and add 1/3 cup salsa and 1/3 cup mayo (if you skip mayo, double salsa).

    In a casserole dish or 9 x 13 pan, place a layer of crushed tortilla chips.  Top with 1/3 of the meat mixture and a couple handfuls of shredded cheese.  Repeat layers 2 more tiime.  Cover and bake in a 350 degree oven til warmed through and cheese is melted.  Serve with all your favorite taco toppings.

    The thing I love most about this recipe is the versatility.  I usually add canned corn and black beans to the meat mixture to bulk the dish up and increase nutritional value.  This week I had 2 ears of leftover corn on the cob, so I sliced the kernels off and added those.  You can also add olives, green peppers, diced tomatoes...anything your heart desires! In the summer I often mince up a couple of kale leaves from our CSA share and cook them with the meat.  The kids never even notice and I've added one of the healthiest veggies in the world to their meal!

    This recipe makes an appearance at least 1-2 times a month in our house and no one ever complains. 

     

Monday, 18 May 2009

  • Currently
    The Dive From Clausen's Pier: A Novel
    By Ann Packer
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    Menu Plan Monday

    Menu Plan Monday

    I've been wanting to get back into blogging for awhile, but haven't been able to get motivated, so I figured this is a good way to start!

    Monday:  All-Natural, no preservative Hot Dogs, corn on the cob, and chicken rice.

    Tuesday: Taco Casserole

    Wednesday: Spaghetti, green salad, garlic bread

    Thursday:  Chili, Cornbread

    Friday:  Dinner out (the big kids' Opera is that night)

    Saturday:  perhaps a bonfire with my brother and his family at my parents

    Sunday:  Stir Fry with a choice of Garlicky Hoisin sauce or Curry Coconut sauce.

     

    I'm once again focusing on using up what I have, so I can spend precious grocery dollars building a stockpile of pastured meat in my freezer.  And my CSA share starts up in 2 weeks, so I'll be getting lots of seasonal, organic veggies!  Can't wait!

Monday, 26 January 2009

  • Currently
    Death by Suburb: How to Keep the Suburbs from Killing Your Soul
    By Dave L. Goetz
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    Menu Plan Monday

    Last week I sat down and inventoried the contents of my pantry and freezer so that I could use what I have, while diverting some of my grocery funds for buying more organic, pastured food.  That way, my grocery budget doesn't skyrocket.  I then planned out a month of menus.  Here's what's on tap for this week:

    Monday:  Grilled Ham & Cheese Sandwiches, Butternut Squash soup, Fruit

    Tuesday:  Crockpot Stroganoff (first time....will post recipe if it's good), applesauce, fresh bread & butter

    Wednesday: BBQ Meatloaves, French Fries, Cucumbers and Dip

    Thursday: Grandma's Bean Soup, Salad, Corn Muffins

    Friday:  Dinner at the kids' school dance

    Saturday:  Dinner out with my parents, kids eat with Nanny and Grandpa

    Sunday:  Drew's 3rd. Birthday Party: Sloppy JOes, Veggies and Dip, Fruit Salad, Chips and Dip, Cake and Icecream.

    So there it is!  Wish me luck sticking with it!

Friday, 23 January 2009

  • Currently
    Change of Heart: A Novel
    By Jodi Picoult
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    What I've done....

    This is a fun list I saw on a blog I follow.  The instructions are simple:  Copy and paste and bold the things you have done... So here goes!

    Started your own blog

    Slept under the stars (not a fan of bugs)

    Played in a band

    Visited Hawaii

    Watched a meteor shower

    Given more than you can afford to charity

    Been to Disneyland/world

    Climbed a mountain

    Held a praying mantis

    Sang a solo

    Bungee jumped

    Visited Paris

    Watched a lightning storm at sea

    Taught yourself an art from scratch

    Adopted a child

    Had food poisoning

    Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty

    Seen the Mona Lisa in France

    Slept on an overnight train

    Had a pillow fight

    Hitchhiked

    Taken a sick day when you’re not ill

    Built a snow fort

    Held a lamb

    Gone skinny dipping

    Been to a Broadway show in NY

    Ran a Marathon (one of the things you couldn't pay me to do)

    Been in three states at once

    Ridden in a gondola in Venice

    Seen a total eclipse

    Watched a sunrise or sunset

    Hit a home run

    Been on a Cruise

    Seen Niagra Falls in Person

    Visited the birthplace of your Ancestors

    Seen an Amish community

    Taught yourself a new language

    Had enough money to be truly satisfied

    Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person

    Gone rock climbing

    Seen Michelangelo’s David

    Sung karaoke

    Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt

    Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant

    Visited Africa

    Walked on a beach by moonlight

    Been transported in an ambulance

    Had your portrait painted

    Gone deep sea fishing

    Seen the Sistine Chapel in person

    Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris

    Gone scuba diving or snorkeling

    Kissed in the rain

    Played in the mud

    Been to Grace Kelley’s grave in Monaco

    Gone to a drive-in theater

    Been in a movie

    Visited the Great Wall of China

    Started a business

    Taken a martial arts class

    Swam in the Mediterranean Sea

    Visited Russia

    Served at a soup kitchen

    Sold Girl Scout cookies

    Gone whale watching

    Gotten flowers for no reason

    Donated blood, platelets or plasma

    Gone sky diving

    Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp

    Bounced a check

    Saved a favorite childhood toy

    Visited the Lincoln Memorial

    Eaten Caviar

    Pieced a quilt

    Stood in Times Square

    Toured the Everglades

    Been fired from a job

    Seen the Changing of the Guards in London

    Broken a bone (fractured actually)

    Been on a speeding motorcycle

    Seen the Grand Canyon in person

    Published a book

    Visited the Vatican

    Bought a brand new car

    Walked in Jerusalem

    Had your picture in the newspaper

    Read the entire Bible

    Visited the White House

    Killed and prepared my own meat

    Had chickenpox

    Saved someone’s life (a choking child)

    Sat on a jury

    Met someone famous

    Joined a book club

    Lost a loved one

    Had a baby (going on 5!)

    Seen the Alamo in person

    Swam in the Great Salt Lake

    Been involved in a law suit

    Owned a cell phone

    Been stung by a bee

    Thrown a baby or bridal shower.

    Been to South America

    Just a little bit of fun for a dreary day!

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CocoaRae

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    • Name: Erica
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    • Member Since: 2/25/2007

Pursuing Simplicity

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About Me

  • I am a wife, stay-at-home Mom of 3, avid scrapbooker, voracious reader, daughter, friend, sister and a number of other things that I don't have room to mention. I am technologically challenged, so this should be interesting.

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