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Wednesday, 20 May 2009
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Currently
Created to Be His Help Meet: Discover How God Can Make Your Marriage Glorious
By Debi Pearl
see relatedLatest 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.
Aren't these guys too cute! My own little love bugs!
Alex is getting so big. He'll be 6 in July and even has a tooth loose!
I can't believe God is blessing us with another beautiful Shier to add to this picture. We already have an embarrassment of riches!
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.
He's so handsome. And such a loving, affectionate, active little boy.
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.
Rachael with her friend Naomi.
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
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Currently
Ordinary Dreamers
By Group 1 Crew
see relatedHomemaking
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
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Currently
The Dive From Clausen's Pier: A Novel
By Ann Packer
see relatedMenu 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
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Currently
Death by Suburb: How to Keep the Suburbs from Killing Your Soul
By Dave L. Goetz
see relatedMenu 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
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Currently
Change of Heart: A Novel
By Jodi Picoult
see relatedWhat 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 karaokeSeen 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 theaterBeen 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 CaviarPieced 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 beeThrown a baby or bridal shower.
Been to South America
Just a little bit of fun for a dreary day!
CocoaRae
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- Name: Erica
- Gender: Female
- Member Since: 2/25/2007
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Pursuing Simplicity
About Me
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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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