those nutty nelsons!

Put your game face on!

2012-02-06T20:24:00.001-05:00

Jared and I have really been getting into playing games again the last few weeks. Our favorite-- Settlers of Catan. Now, yes, we do realize that this is supposed to be a game for three or more players, but it seems to be working just fine with the two of us. I think our tired minds appreciate the relative ease of the two player game! Oh and guess what!? I finally won two in a row yesterday (not that I keep track of that kink of thing--wink, wink)!

So what's your favorite game for just two players?

Potty Training!

2012-02-02T20:15:00.000-05:00

Guess who thinks she's potty training!? She has been having a ball playing with her potty chair and even had a success with it recently! It may have been by accident, but I still praised the snot out of her so that she really got that it was a BIG DEAL!

Now Mommy just has to get on board with the whole potty training thing. Yuck.

Super Fun Playset!

2012-02-01T09:12:00.000-05:00

I mentioned in the birthday post about the play set that Jared built for the kids, so I thought I should finally post a picture of it! It's pretty amazing with a clubhouse, bridge, monkey bars, slide, bucket and pulley, and flower box. The latest addition is a tire swing--whee! Coming soon-- a zip line! It has been a ton of fun, especially through this very mild winter. I sure do have an amazing hubby!

Amy's Barbecue Chicken Salad

2012-01-31T09:20:00.000-05:00

Amy's Barbecue Chicken Salad
2 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves
1 head red leaf lettuce, rinsed and torn
1 head green leaf lettuce, rinsed and torn
1 fresh tomato, chopped
1 bunch cilantro, chopped
1 (15.25 ounce) can whole kernel corn, drained
1 (15 ounce) can black beans, drained
1 (2.8 ounce) can French fried onions
1/2 cup Ranch dressing
1/2 cup barbeque sauce

Directions

Preheat the grill for high heat.
Lightly oil the grill grate. Place chicken on the grill, and cook 6 minutes per side, or until juices run clear. Remove from heat, cool, and slice.
In a large bowl, mix the red leaf lettuce, green leaf lettuce, tomato, cilantro, corn, and black beans. Top with the grilled chicken slices and French fried onions.
In a small bowl, mix the Ranch dressing and barbeque sauce. Serve on the side as a dipping sauce, or toss with the salad to coat.

Winter Wonderland!

2012-01-30T09:13:00.000-05:00

MLK Day Fun

2012-01-26T09:03:00.000-05:00

We had a fun time on our school vacation day and did something we hadn't done in a long time... headed to the Bounce House in Hendersonville. I don't think I have brought the kids here since Cornelia has been walking, so it was a pretty different experience this time.

Max enjoyed these giant trikes, as did some of the other older boys. It made walking around a little bit scary at times as they speeded around the rather tight space! He also occupied himself by chasing Ruby around screaming, "WOOO-BEEE, SWOW DOWN!" He's not so crazy about her style of play-- running around like crazy from station to station. I guess he's more of a savor the moment kind of guy!

Once Cornelia saw the big kids going down the big slide she was pretty sure that she needed to go down too. The only problem was how to get her up. So, I thought, "Oh well, I'll just carry her up. All the other moms are doing it!". That was a mistake! I put my feet on that inflatable and it just collapsed! There I was rolling around on the floor with poor Cornelia and all of these moms came rushing to our aid-- it was SO embarrassing!

After that little debacle I decided she was going to have to go it alone-- and she did! The first couple of times Ruby "helped" her up, but after that she was all on her own and she was a champ about it.

All in all it was a fun time, even though I did humiliate (and bruise) myself! Good thing these kids are so precious it's worth it.

Beef Stew and Brown Bread, Yum!

2012-01-24T12:45:00.000-05:00

We have had such warm weather that I really haven't been tempted to make delicious warm meals like this, but I thought I'd post anyway for all of my Northern family and friends who can enjoy this on a cold, snowy night. I will warn you that the bread in particular makes a LOT, but it freezes beautifully, so go ahead and make it according to the directions and you'll have it ready to go for a few more meals!

Kyle's Favorite Beef Stew
(from allrecipes.com)

3 pounds cubed beef stew meat
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
3 tablespoons olive oil
3 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
1 pound carrots, peeled and cut into 2-inch pieces
4 large potatoes, cubed
1 tablespoon dried parsley
1 1/2 teaspoons ground black pepper
2 cups boiling water
2 (1 ounce) envelopes onion soup mix
3 tablespoons butter
3 large onions, quartered
2 tablespoons minced garlic
1/2 cup burgundy wine
2 (6 ounce) packages fresh button mushrooms, halved
1/4 cup warm water
3 tablespoons cornstarch

Directions

Toss the beef, flour, and salt in a sealable bag until the beef is coated.
Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Combine the beef and Worcestershire sauce in the skillet; cook until the beef is evenly browned on all sides; transfer to a slow cooker, but do not clean the skillet. Add the carrots, potatoes, parsley, and pepper to the slow cooker.
Combine the boiling water and soup mix in a small bowl; add to slow cooker.
Melt the butter in the skillet over medium-high heat. Cook the onion and garlic in the melted butter until soft; transfer the onion and garlic to the slow cooker and return the skillet to the heat. Combine the wine and mushrooms to the skillet; cook until the mushrooms begin to absorb the wine; pour the mixture into the slow cooker.
Place the cover on the slow cooker and set to High; cook for one hour. Reduce heat to Low and cook until the beef is fork-tender, 6 to 8 hours. Whisk together the warm water and cornstarch; stir into the stew; cook uncovered until stew thickens, about 15 minutes.

Honey-Wheat Bushman Bread

(from Outback Steakhouse)

1 1/2 cups warm water

2 tablespoons butter, softened

1/2 cup honey

2 cups bread flour, plus extra

2 cups whole wheat flour

1 tablespoon cocoa powder

1 tablespoon sugar

2 teaspoons instant coffee

1 teaspoon salt

2 1/4 teaspoons (1 envelope) active dry yeast

1 teaspoon caramel food coloring (optional)

3 tablespoons cornmeal, for dusting

whipped butter, for serving

Directions

Place all of the ingredients except for the cornmeal and whipped butter in a bread machine and follow the manufacturer's directions for the dough cycle. The dough will be a little on the wet side and sticky, but if it seems too wet, add more bread flour while it is mixing / kneading.
Remove the dough from the machine, punch down, and divide into 8 portions. Form the portions into tubular-shaped loaves 6 to 8 inches long and 2 inches wide.
Sprinkle the entire surface of the loaves with the cornmeal and place the loaves on two cookie sheets. Cover with plastic wrap and let rise for 1 hour.
Preheat oven to 350F.
Bake for 20 to 25 minutes. Serve warm with whipped butter.

Summer 1983

2012-01-20T12:56:00.000-05:00

Swim, swim, swimming! I love pools like this, I wish there was one around here to bring my kiddos to in the warm months.

I'm pretty sure that this is the campsite where we had a rattlesnake (or two) in the bushes. I remember those things rattling away and being so scared!

Cousins! (L to R: Bethany, Alyssa, Stacey, Heidi, and Amy)

Is it January? Really!?

2012-01-19T19:03:00.001-05:00

I can't speak for the rest of the nation, but I for one am loving this winter. I'm sure all of the snow loving peeps out there are just dying a little bit every day, but for those of us with little kids it has been wonderful! (Although the kids would love a little snow play and sledding sometime this winter!)

We have enjoyed many days in the 50s and 60s this winter including last week when we took an impromptu trip to Franklin Park. There were sooo many kids running around everywhere and lots of moms breathing sighs of relief. After all, running around like a lunatic after school happens rain or shine, snow or sleet--and today-- in January-- we were doing it in the great outdoors instead of inside our homes!

Max is a big fan of the swings (as is Cornelia). Here he is enjoying what he loves best! He has been my little shadow for the last few months and at the park he just stuck to me like glue. He really wanted to play with Ruby, but she just doesn't stop moving and he didn't feel like chasing her all over kingdom come!

Cornelia was having a ball discovering all of the hidey holes and low to the ground spots at the park. This was one of her favorite spots-- the only problem is that 8-10 year old boys kept flying through the hole above her head almost squashing her each time! Cornelia didn't care though, she just loves being outside. As soon as she's had her breakfast she's ready to get dressed. She says, "soooes" (shoes) and then " ah-side" (outside)! The only problem is that Mommy is rarely ready to go out with her first thing in the morning!

I got Ruby to stop for half a second to take this photo-- she was pretty wound up! Ruby has enjoyed the camp-like environment at Brevard Academy this year. They are outside a lot and walk quite a bit just to get to the different buildings for art, music, gym, and lunch. At first she wasn't sure about it, but I think her attitude at the end of the school day is so much better thanks in part to the extra activity. She loves to play on the playset Jared built in the afternoons too. I'll have to get some pictures of that up next week-- it's pretty impressive! I hear that a zip line is being installed by the boys this weekend-- sounds like fun!!

I tried to get a group photo before we left... sadly, this was the best one! I decided to go ahead and post it-- it represents life as it is now. Ruby trying to be large and in charge, Cornelia not taking one bit of it, and Maxwell just being a sweet boy. What a trio!

Birthday Run-down!

2012-01-18T13:59:00.001-05:00

Since the only Nelson birthday I managed to post about last year was Max turning four, I thought I'd give a run-down of the rest of the birthdays in 2011! Please keep in mind that I am not a very good cake decorator. I do my best and so far the kids don't seem to notice my shortcomings. Once they do, we'll be going with the bakery cakes! Here goes nothing...

Happy 6th Birthday Ruby! Her poor princess castle cake drooped considerably before we were able to eat it! We almost had cake before dinner that night!

Ruby's 6 year old gifts were all about bugs. She played with her bug net, and critter cage all summer long. Now the net is mostly used as a hat/mask by Cornelia! Ha!

And then, Cornelia turned ONE! We totally forgot to take a picture until after we had gobbled up half of her pineapple cake. It was SOOOOO good!

I'm pretty sure that Cornelia agreed! She is our little family clown. As I was going through photos there were probably a dozen with her making goofy faces with her spoon!

On my birthday, we spent the day outside. Cornelia played in the water, while Jared and the kids started the playset project!

Ruby, Maxwell, and Jared hard at work.

For Jared's birthday, cousin Kristin Babcock made some amazing cookies. I decided not to bother with cake once I knew these beauties were on the way!

Instead we splurged with banana splits and cookies! Yum!

The kids sure grew and changed a lot between May 2nd and November 14th (especially Cornelia!). I hope you enjoyed our skip down memory lane as much as I did!

Mozzarella Meatballs

2012-01-17T08:00:00.000-05:00

In honor of meal swap tonight, I thought I'd post a freezer friendly favorite from the club. It's hard to believe that we've been cooking and swapping for about two years now! Wow! It sure has been a blessing to me to be able to pull something homemade out of the freezer a few nights a week for dinner. It makes those emergency grocery trips or fast food nights very few and far between, for which we are all thankful. Now on to the recipe!

Mozzarella Meatballs
(makes 120 meatballs-- ~6 meals worth!)
(from "Fix, Freeze, Feast")

6lbs. lean ground beef
15 sticks of mozzarella string cheese
3 c. dry bread crumbs
2/3 c. milk
4 eggs, lightly beaten
1/4 c. minced onion
2 T. minced garlic
1 T. salt
2 tsp. black pepper

1. Remove string cheese from wrappers and cut each string into 8 equal pieces. Place in a large bowl or 1 gallon freezer bag and freeze until it is time to form meatballs.
2. Preheat the oven to 500F.
3. Using your hands, thoroughly combine beef, breadcrumbs, milk, eggs, onion, garlic, salt, and pepper in a large bowl. Shape into 1- to 1 1/2-inch meatballs, around each piece of frozen mozzarella. Seal meatballs well to keep cheese from oozing out.
4. Place meatballs close together on lightly greased broiler pans or rimmed baking sheets. Bake for 15 minutes. Cool meatballs.
5. Freeze in gallon sized freezer bag or serve right away with your favorite marinara! YUM!

Something Special

2012-01-16T14:15:00.001-05:00

This Saturday we all got to enjoy something a little special!

Maxwell had a great time going to a Transformers Birthday party with his Daddy. He decided that he ought to wear his Halloween costume to get in the spirit of the party. He looked something like the photo to the right, except now he's just about ready to pop out of the suit--apparently he's grown quite a bit since Halloween!

Jared said that they had a really great scavenger hunt leading to the apex of any decent kids' party--the pinata! Jared managed to rile the kids up to a fever pitch and got good and rowdy with them-- his specialty. I think I'm glad I wasn't there to see the reaction of all the moms to the craziness that he stirs up. I'm sure that the boys LOVED it though!

While the boys were playing rough and rowdy, the girls and I decided to get down to business with some hot cocoa (or just piles of mini marshmallows in Cornelia's case!) and a rousing game of Scrabble. This was Ruby's first game and she did pretty well. It's definitely a challenge to not only unscramble tiles to make up words, but also find a spot for them on the board. I'm looking forward to many more games with Ruby (and our other sweet kiddos) in the years to come!

Summer 1987

2012-01-13T08:00:00.000-05:00

I forced myself to scan a reel of slides *just* so that I'd have fodder for this blog post-- see the plan is working! So, here are two of my favorites...

From this photo it appears that Mom and Christina were just dropped on this rock in the middle of a lake (notice they are perfectly dry!), but I'm guessing that it's not actually too far from shore!

And this one is taken closer to home...obviously! I think Cornelia look so much like Christina in this picture (except with blonde out of control hair in our C's case).

This weekend will be packed with Meal Swap cooking, a birthday party (for Max to attend), and the usual church hustle and bustle. We'll try to squeeze some family fun in there too. See you on Monday!

Goooo, Bulldogs!

2012-01-12T08:00:00.000-05:00

Ruby and her fellow Pup Squaders cheer on their team!

This first year at Brevard Academy has been a really fabulous one for Ruby. Not only has she grown by leaps and bounds academically, she has grown so much socially as well. Our shrinking violet has blossomed in the most wonderful ways. Just one of those ways has been through cheering with the Pup Squad this fall and winter. It was really fun to see her get out with her friends and cheer on the middle school girls and boys basketball teams. I wasn't able to stay for many of the games as Cornelia isn't much for sitting in the bleachers, but I did get a few shots of our gal in action!

We also enjoyed practicing the cheers at home... in the van... at the store... and pretty much anywhere she could. "Run, run, run that floor! Raise, raise, raise that score! Run that floor! Raise that score! TWO POINTS MORE!" And my personal favorite: "Let's. Get. A Little Bit Rowdy! R - O - W - a'D - Y!" Ruby always insisted on the "a'D" part, much to my eternal amusement. It must be a southern thing. :)

We won! Yeah!!!!

Ruby had her first sports banquet this week signalling the end of the first basketball season (and cheer season) at Brevard Academy. It was a fun date night for Jared and Ruby and she even got a fancy schmancy framed certificate which she has proudly displayed on her bulletin board.

What excites me most about our little cheerleader is that she is a good sport on and off the court. I was so proud to read on her report card last week that Ruby is a great friend to ALL her classmates! She really does love each of her classmates and treats each of them as special friends. I hope that she can always have that loving and encouraging heart towards others--what a blessing!

I'm baaaack!

2012-01-11T10:14:00.001-05:00

Hey! Are you okay down there?! I know you probably just fell out of your seat when you flipped over to the good ol' Nutty Nelsons and you DIDN'T SEE Maxwell turning FOUR!

Yes, it's true. He's gaining on five and I'm back. At least I want to be.

As you might guess, life is a bit busy for a humble taxi driver like me. Between driving to and fro delivering and picking up children for school and our various activities, life is full. Also it doesn't seem that I've had a lot to write about or time to actually do the writing. After SEVERAL conversations with my loving hubby, I (we) have decided that this is one thing that must change in 2012. You see, I'm not a scrapbooker or journaler and I also have a terrible memory. If I don't blog, I may turn around when I'm 40 and say, "Hey, what have I been DOING for the last decade!". So, I am attempting a come back. It may be a bit disjointed, but I think I have a plan. Here is my plan (in all it's glory)! (p.s. You may want to skip this part if lists bore you!)

Monday: A taste of the here and now of it all.
Tuesday: Tasty Tuesday returns. (I know you love it!)
Wednesday: 2011: The highlights. (more for my sake than yours, sorry!)
Thursday: More tastes of the here and now of it all.
Friday: Flashback Friday returns (I must finish scanning the Armstrong slides this year!)

So there you have it--plan your reading schedule appropriately.

As kind of an extra bonus side note to this comeback post, I would like to note that it is raining today. One of those thunderstormy periodically heavy, but never really stopping kind of rains. Just a few weeks ago, this would have been cause for much angst from me (what with the taxi service lifestyle I lead), but I am thrilled to report we have found a solution! Cornelia can now hold the umbrella up over both of us while I carry her! Oh joy! We are both dry! This growing up stuff is pretty great. :)

Come back soon for more exciting reads from our daily life. Oh, and go ahead and have a glass half full kind of day today. It's worth it!

Happy 4th Birthday, Maxwell!

2011-04-20T10:58:00.004-04:00

It's a little bit hard to believe that four years have passed since that long ago Thursday in Denmark when Isabelle Schmidt drove Jared and I to the hospital in Hellerup for Maxwell to be born. He was a stubborn little guy, just as cozy as could be in my belly-- all ten and a half pounds of him! When he barreled his way into the world his Daddy and I were struck with his beauty and by the wonder of his Creator-- we still are! Here are a few pics from his day.

Thank you, God, for our sweet boy. He is a blessing and a pleasure! We love him more each day and we are so thankful for the work you are doing in his little heart. We love you, Jesus!

Two weeks of sickies

2011-04-19T13:27:00.002-04:00

I'm pleased to announce that Exhibit A (to the left) has finally left the building! Not the child, but her expression and the cause!

We have had a rough go of it the last two weeks with stuffy heads, upset tummies, soaring fevers (up in the 105F range for poor Cornelia), and lots of coughing and sneezing to boot.

Our miracle child, Ruby, managed to get through it all with just one day out of school--even Jared fared worse than that! We are so thankful that at almost 6 years old she has managed to never have one dose of antibiotics! Wow!

Poor Maxwell had a somewhat miserable 4th birthday last week, down with a very bad ear infection. We still managed to squeeze a little bit of fun out of the day-- pictures to come.

Cornelia definitely had it the worst though. She's still on antibiotics and has a crusted up nose. She also has introduced us to the thrilling world of breathing treatments. Poor baby!

All in all, we are so thankful to God for our health. We are almost all better and finally able to enjoy all of this beautiful spring weather. I better get outside and take some photos of these beautiful blooms because if I blink it's going to be July... seriously.

Hope you are taking a moment today to enjoy the wonder of creation and the majesty of our Creator. See you soon!

Wedding Day Favorites

2011-04-07T15:08:00.004-04:00

I finally attacked the photos yesterday from Heidi and Kelly's wedding. I know... it took a month, but better late than never, eh? I have soooo many photos, here are a few of my favorites from the big day...

Happy (belated) one month anniversary, guys! We love you!

Garlic-Studded Mahimahi with Sage Butter

2011-04-05T14:21:00.006-04:00

Back before we had children I used to do more advanced things in the kitchen like "studding" a nice fillet of fish with blanched garlic. I'm not sure what possessed me to tackle this again yesterday, along with a yummy risotto and loaded green salad, but it was almost worth that screaming baby attached to my leg once it was on the table! :)
You will definitely enjoy it without the screaming baby part.
Can I just interject that our sweet baby girl is ten and a half months old and STILL only has the 2 teeth she got at five months. That may explain the screaming!

This recipe is from Cooking Light magazine, oh about 7 years ago!

Garlic-Studded Mahimahi with Sage Butter

4 garlic cloves, thinly sliced
4 (6-ounce) mahimahi or other firm whitefish fillets
Cooking spray
5 teaspoons butter, softened
1 1/2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh sage
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Preheat oven to 475°.
Place garlic in a small saucepan, and cover with water. Bring to a boil; remove from heat. Drain and cool slightly. Make several small slits on outside of fillets; stuff with garlic. Place fillets on a broiler pan coated with cooking spray.
Combine butter, sage, salt, and pepper; spread evenly over fillets. Bake at 475° for 13 minutes or until fish flakes easily when tested with a fork.

It's a feels fancy meal that really isn't all that fussy in the end--enjoy!

**Please ignore the flighty fonts... Blogger is my nemesis today.**

1987

2011-04-01T08:00:00.002-04:00

Just a few highlights from 1987...

Parfait joins our family... what a name, Dad!

Mom and Dad's Hawaii vacation...

Halloween in Minnesota... Heidi as a witch, Alyssa and Christina as clowns, and me as a lumberjack. Ha!

Great Reads

2011-03-31T09:58:00.008-04:00

I stumbled on a really great series thanks to my handy dandy Kindle a while back and it's just too great not to share!

The first book, "The Centurion's Wife", takes place just after the death and resurrection of Jesus. The disciples and followers are reeling, and followers of The Way are growing exponentially.

The story focuses on the lives of a down on her luck Roman with Judean roots (Leah) who is working in Pilate's household and a Roman Centurion. There is, of course, a love story element, but it isn't a huge part of the book. The excitement of that time and the coming of the Holy Spirit is just awesome.

The second book, "The Hidden Flame" , focuses in on the life of Abigail and other followers of The Way in Jerusalem. They are being persecuted, yet followers of The Way are growing in number. It's a tense and exciting time!

We continue to follow the life of Alban (the centurion) and Leah, as well their good friend Linux (another Roman centurion). Will the Judean and Roman leadership crush the followers of the Way?

In the third installment, "The Damascus Way", followers of The Way are on the run from Jerusalem where they have become unsafe. Abigail and her young daughter, along with many other believers move and the Holy Spirit moves with them, changing hearts all along the way.

Will Abigail find love again after losing her husband? What will happen next?

Pioneer Woman's Perfect Pot Roast

2011-03-29T21:20:00.005-04:00

If you haven't yet discovered Pioneer Woman, let today be the day! She is a wonderful cook, photographer, homeschoolin', country-livin' mama who has made it HUGE in the bloggy world.

Anyhoo, I made one of her specialties for Sunday dinner this last weekend and it was deeelish! Enjoy!

Perfect Pot Roast

1 whole (4 To 5 Pounds) Chuck Roast

2 Tablespoons Olive Oil

2 whole Onions

6 whole Carrots (Up To 8 Carrots)

Salt To Taste

Pepper To Taste

1 cup Red Wine pr Beef Broth

2 cups To 3 Cups Beef Stock

3 sprigs Fresh Thyme, or more to taste

3 sprigs Fresh Rosemary, or more to taste

First and foremost, choose a nicely marbled piece of meat. This will enhance the flavor of your pot roast like nothing else. Generously salt and pepper your chuck roast.
Heat a large pot or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Then add 2 to 3 tablespoons of olive oil (or you can do a butter/olive oil split).
Cut two onions in half and cut 6 to 8 carrots into 2-inch slices (you can peel them, but you don’t have to). When the oil in the pot is very hot (but not smoking), add in the halved onions, browning them on one side and then the other. Remove the onions to a plate.
Throw the carrots into the same very hot pan and toss them around a bit until slightly browned, about a minute or so.
If needed, add a bit more olive oil to the very hot pan. Place the meat in the pan and sear it for about a minute on all sides until it is nice and brown all over. Remove the roast to a plate.
With the burner still on high, use either red wine or beef broth (about 1 cup) to deglaze the pan, scraping the bottom with a whisk to get all of that wonderful flavor up.
When the bottom of the pan is sufficiently deglazed, place the roast back into the pan and add enough beef stock to cover the meat halfway (about 2 to 3 cups). Add in the onion and the carrots, as well as 3 or 4 sprigs of fresh rosemary and about 3 sprigs of fresh thyme.
Put the lid on, then roast in a 275F oven for 3 hours (for a 3-pound roast). For a 4 to 5-pound roast, plan on 4 hours.

I served this with another great recipe from Allrecipes.com that was perfect in that I could fix it the night before and just let it warm up during church. They were perfectly creamy and delicious... did I mention this is a mashed potatoes recipe? Ah, details!

Slow Cooker Mashed Potatoes

5 pounds red potatoes, cut into chunks
1 tablespoon minced garlic, or to taste
3 cubes chicken bouillon
1 (8 ounce) container sour cream
1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup butter
salt and pepper to taste

In a large pot of lightly salted boiling water, cook the potatoes, garlic, and bouillon until potatoes are tender but firm, about 15 minutes. Drain, reserving water. In a bowl, mash potatoes with sour cream and cream cheese, adding reserved water as needed to attain desired consistency.
Transfer the potato mixture to a slow cooker, cover, and cook on Low for 2 to 3 hours. Just before serving, stir in butter and season with salt and pepper to taste.

Skate Park Savvy

2011-03-28T09:51:00.005-04:00

Somehow, between the nap and school schedules our field trip quota has been waaay down this year. As a result, it seems that screen time is at an all time high, as is general whiney-ness! (Big surprise!)

In an effort to increase our joy and savor life a bit more we headed out of the house and got busy at Zero Gravity Skatepark for Toddler Time. They have a great thing going over there-- it's your typical indoor skatepark complete with lots of crazy ramps, bars, etc. Take away the skateboards and skater dudes and you have one totally awesome toddler playground. They even put in a little bounce house which is always a hit with little ones.

Maxwell had a blast slipping and sliding all over the place and Cornelia was in baby heaven just crawling around getting filthy! :) Maxwell did take her down a few ramps, but nothing was quite as thrilling for her little ten month old self than freeeedoooom!

Although it's only the end of March, I've started to set my sights on Summer vacation and just how we are going to manage keeping the whiney factor down and the fun factor up-- my solution (and this is not revolutionary by any means)-- STRUCTURE! I've started to think out a few fun idea for the summer months. I'm thinking that field trips are going to play a role and I'm thinking about trying to be a lot more deliberate in making our outings an educational experience too.

So here are my ideas and I'd love to hear more! Hit me with some comments peeps!

1. Notebook Time: I plan to have a small spiral bound notebook for each of the older kiddos where each day we will draw a picture (or two) about what we've done that day and write a sentence about it. In Maxwell's case, I will write what he dictates and in Ruby's, she will write her own using "Kid-writing". Not only will it be a great memory of our summer days, it will be great practice on some skills they have been working on at school. An added benefit is that it will help me be deliberate in making sure there's something super cool to draw each day!

2. Journey Around the World: I found some great curriculum at our local library that will be a fun naptime event. The kids will have little passports and each day we get to visit a new place. They learn about the place by doing a craft, hearing a short story, or even making food from the country. I think it will be big fun for all of us.

3. Daily Devotionals and Bible Memory Verses: We do some of this already, but I want to be more intentional about it and actually carve out time in our day to make it important and something we all look forward to, rather than just squeezed in here and there.

4. Hikes and Field Trips: I found a great resource last year where kids can earn badges by doing little nature hikes and doing activities along the trail. Time to break out the Kelty pack and enjoy some great outdoors time!

5. Exploring our own backyard: We have a great yard for kids. It is just hilarious to sit outside and listen to Ruby and Max exploring in the woods. They have a blast imagining all sorts of adventures and discovering new things. We also have a small creek on our property that may be fun to look for water bugs, etc. in. Maybe we can even take a field trip to Daddy's lab and look at the water through the microscope!

Can you tell I'm excited for summer! Good thing Spring Break is just around the corner. We'll have to take some of my ideas for a test drive.

Hope you are enjoying the onset of spring and getting excited about all family time to come!

1986

2011-03-25T10:00:00.004-04:00

Every family has their traditions and quirks. These four photos say a world about the Armstongs and Bollmans!

Grandma Armstrong loved to play the piano--especially if she could get someone to sing along! I was always a willing singer (haha!) and Heidi would chime in too on favorites like, "How Much is That Doggy in the Window?". Who knows what we were singing here-- looks like Aunt Lesa's getting close to dosing, while Mom is just lapping it up-- she always loved music however poorly it was performed! :)

I don't remember this photo at all, but I'm almost certain what Grandpa Armstrong is plugging his nose over! Grandma had a dressing table upstairs, I guess just for decoration (who knows!?). At the table there was a giant powder puff with rose-scented powder. From the looks of it Heidi and Alyssa are pretty well coated!

Grandma Bollman spent much of every day that we visited in the kitchen (don't we all!). She was always busy fixing us meals or snacks. I have never tasted a roll I loved more or a better orange julius--yum! As cousins, we liked to huddle up to the pass-through window-- you never knew what Grandma might pass your way!

Evenings with our Bollman family was filled with conversation, music, and memories. I loved to watch slides of my mom and her siblings as kids--exploring the natural world as we all have enjoyed so much. In this photo Uncle Keith is weaving one of his hilarious tales. Who knows if it was about a mischievous student or a memory from the past, but one thing is certain-- we laughed!

Thanks for the magical memories, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins. I love you!

Three Years

2011-03-22T18:16:00.000-04:00

Dear Dad,

It's been three years since you went on home to Abba Father. There have been many things I have wished that I could share with you--meeting Maxwell and Cornelia, celebrating holidays together, Sunday afternoon chats, and finally getting along!

Most of all, I hope you know that I love you. Life is hard, but God is good. Thanks for being my Daddy. None of us are perfect, but you taught me how to live better than most. Thanks for believing in me and supporting me, even when you didn't agree with my decisions. I look forward to the day when we meet again--perfected!

Love, "High C" / "Queen B" / "Beaverlee"

Slow-Simmered Meat Sauce

2011-03-22T08:00:00.001-04:00

Cooking Light magazine has a lot of ups and downs in their issues, but in my opinion, March's issue took a big step up. They had a feature on slow cooker recipes and they are even starting a new online column on freezer friendly meals! Yea!! This meat sauce was really, really good though a bit spicy, so you may want to adjust it to your family's taste.

Slow-Simmered Meat Sauce

1 T. olive oil

2 c. chopped onion

1 c. chopped carrot

6 garlic cloves, minced

8oz Italian sausage

1 lb ground sirloin

1/2 c. kalamata olives, pitted and sliced

1/4 c. no-salt-added tomato paste

1 1/2 tsp. sugar

1 tsp. kosher salt

1/2 tsp. crushed red pepper

1 (28oz) can no-salt-added crushed tomatoes, undrained

1 (8oz) can no-salt-added tomato sauce

1 T. chopped fresh oregano

16 oz uncooked mafaldine pasta

1/2 c. torn fresh basil

3 oz shaved fresh Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese

Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add oil to pan; swirl to coat. Add onion and carrot to pan; saute 4 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add garlic; saute 1 minute, stirring constantly. Place vegetable mixture in a 6-quart slow cooker. Add sausage and beef to skillet; saute 6 minutes or until browned; stirring to crumble. Remove beef mixture from skillet using a slotted spoon. Place beef mixture on a double layer of paper towels; drain. Add beef mixture to slow cooker. Stir olives and next 6 ingredients (through tomato sauce) into slow cooker. Cover and cook on LOW 8 hours. Stir in oregano.
Prepare pasta according to package directions, omitting salt and fat. Serve sauce with hot cooked pasta; top with basil and cheese.

Yield: 8 servings

Serving size: 1 cup pasta, 1 cup sauce, 2 tablespoons cheese, and 1 tablespoon basil

Serve with a yummy "Olive Garden" Salad! See dressing recipe below!

Olive Garden Salad Dressing

1/2 C. Mayonnaise
1/3 C. White Vinegar
1 tsp. Vegetable Oil
2 Tbsp. Corn Syrup
2 Tbsp. Parmesan Cheese
2 Tbsp. Romano Cheese
1/4 tsp. Garlic Salt – or one clove garlic minced
1/2 tsp. Italian Seasoning
1/2 tsp. Parsley Flakes
1 Tbsp. Lemon Juice
sugar (optional)

Place all ingredients in a blender until well mixed. If this is a little to tart for your own personal tastes please add a little extra sugar. You can enjoy your Olive Garden salad dressing for about 10 days if stored in an air tight container in the refrigerator. Another great use for the Olive Garden salad dressing is you can use it for a marinade for vegetables or even meats that you might like to grill.

Wedding Teaser!

2011-03-21T11:36:00.002-04:00

Things got busy, as often happens around here, so instead of wedding photos galore we have a bit of a teaser! These pics were take the day before the wedding. The first three were taken at Heidi's bridal shower dinner at The Siding in Peru. We enjoyed delicious and huge dinners-- the guys all enjoyed our leftovers later that evening! :)

It was a special time together as we prepared for the busy day ahead and most importantly showing Heidi how special she is to all of us. We love you, Heidi!

Christina and Heidi.

Heidi and I

Heidi and Anne

This photo was taken at Heidi's final dress fitting.

A beautiful teaser for what's to come!

1985

2011-03-18T10:04:00.004-04:00

We're flashing back to 1985 today...

This photo was taken by Niagara Falls, probably not long after we moved to Buffalo, NY.

Christina turns 1 with her sisters and Mommy looking on adoringly! Poor Dad is stuck behind the camera as usual!

One more cute one of Mom and Christina. I can't resist those adorable baby faces!

A Walk in the Park

2011-03-16T10:08:00.001-04:00

A few weeks ago we took a weekend trip to Durham to visit our good friends, Brett, Sarah, and Andrew Byram. It was a fun blast back to the early days with Ruby-- though I must say Sarah and Brett seem to be much less frazzled with early parenthood than I was.

While Sarah, Andrew, and I hit the mall, Brett, Jared and the kiddos hit the park...

Max in a tree.

Miss Ruby-kins

Cornelia on the move

Max the collector

Just hangin' around

Peek-a-boo!

Meat Loaf Sandwich

2011-03-15T09:28:00.003-04:00

This meatloaf sandwich from Better Homes and Gardens is the bomb! Hope you enjoy it as much as we did!

Meat Loaf Sandwich

English muffins (or Ciabatta rolls)

1 egg

1-14.5oz can Italian diced tomatoes

2 T. snipped fresh basil or 1T. dried basil

3/4 c. bread crumbs

1 lb. ground beef

4 oz. cheddar cheese, sliced

1 c. fresh spinach leaves

Preheat oven to 375F.
In a bowl combine egg, 1 cup of the tomatoes, bread crumbs, and basil. Add beef and mix well. Divide into 1/2 cup portion. Place on unheated rack of broiler pan. Bake 20-30 minutes. Top with cheese. Bake 2 minutes more. Serve meat loaves on buns, with spinach and remaining tomatoes.

**Serve with coleslaw and chips!

Goin' to the chapel...

2011-03-03T22:09:00.002-05:00

This gal's getting married on Saturday... so I've been busy, busy getting ready to leave my family for a few days to celebrate in Indiana. (Read: This is my excuse for not blogging!)

Please pray for Heidi and Kelly as they start their life together as husband and wife!

Rosemary Ranch Chicken with Asparagus

2011-03-01T19:55:00.005-05:00

Can I hear ya say, "Hey!". Okay, if you don't go to Brevard Community Church, that means nothing to you, but if you do... maybe you get it!

Anyhoo, dinner tonight was delish and must be shared. Recipes are straight off of allrecipes.com... enjoy with a steamy baked potato!

Rosemary Ranch Chicken

1/2 c. olive oil

1/2 c. ranch dressing

3 T. Worcestershire sauce

1 T. minced fresh rosemary

2 tsp. salt

1 tsp. lemon juice

1 tsp. white vinegar

1/4 tsp. ground black pepper, or to taste

1 T. white sugar, or to taste (optional)

5 chicken breasts

In a medium bowl, stir together the olive oil, ranch dressing, Worcestershire sauce, rosemary, salt, lemon juice, white vinegar, pepper, and sugar. Let stand for 5 minutes. Place chicken in the bowl, and stir to coat with the marinade. Cover and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
Preheat the grill for medium-high heat..
Lightly oil the grill grate. Grill skewers for 8 to 12 minutes, or until the chicken is no longer pink in the center, and the juices run clear.

Bertolli Classico Asparagus Saute

3 T. olive oil

1 bunch fresh asparagus

1 T. minced garlic

3 T. Parmesan cheese

Salt and pepper, to taste

Rinse asparagus spears and pat dry. Remove rough ends with a sharp knife if necessary.
Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Add the garlic and asparagus spears; cook for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, or until asparagus is tender.
Sprinkle with Parmesan and salt and pepper to taste before serving.

My Famous Hubby

2011-02-24T11:42:00.003-05:00

For all of you who wonder what my sweet husband does all day, here's a snippet you might enjoy!

Jared's company, Pharmagra Labs made the news last night and there's even a little soundbite from Jared at the end. We sure are proud of you and the work that you do, honey!

Uh-oh!

2011-02-23T09:16:00.002-05:00

Well, it's official, Maxwell has his first scar!

I got a phone call yesterday around 11:30 that Maxwell had fallen on the school playground and cut his head. My initial reaction was, "Oh, well, these things happen!" and said I'd get there as soon I could, thinking that school was about to let out at noon anyway. The director then told me I better get down there quickly as the cut was very deep and would need stitches. Gulp.

After a quick call to Jared, I got Cornelia up from her nap and raced out the door. Max was SUCH a trooper and wasn't even crying by the time Jared got to him. We met at the ER where we waited around with tummies growling for Max to get fixed up. Seven stitches later he was ready to roll. The doctor and nurses were all so impressed with how well he did and we were very proud of our brave boy.

Maxwell's mantra for the last few months has been one of his memory verses from Sunday School, "Be strong and courageous, do not be afraid!"

Thank you, Jesus, for protecting Maxwell yesterday and for giving him courage. Thanks, too, for giving Mommy and Daddy peace. We needed and felt it! Amen.

Baja Grilled Fish Tacos

2011-02-22T20:22:00.004-05:00

About a year ago I sent out some feelers to see if anyone would be interested in a Cooking Club/Coop/Swap. A year later, we have all been blessed! Here is a yummy recipe that I have made for the swap a few times that is absolutely delish! Hope you enjoy it as much as we have!

Baja Grilled Fish Tacos

(from Don't Panic More Dinner's in the Freezer!)

1 1/2 lbs. tilapia, striped bass, or similar mild fish

1 tsp. kosher (coarse) salt

1/2 tsp. pepper

1 large sweet onion, finely chopped

1/2 c. fresh cilantro, chopped

2 small cloves of garlic, minced

1 tsp. ground cumin (or more to taste)

1 tsp. dried oregano

1/2 c. olive oil

1/4 c. + 3 T. fresh lime juice

1/4 c. fresh orange juice

Serving Day

cooking spray or oil

salsa or pico de gallo

tortillas, heated

red onion, chopped

cilantro, chopped

avocado, diced

cabbage, finely shredded

lime wedges

Baja Lime Cream

1/2 c. mayonnaise

1/2 c. sour cream

2 T. fresh lime juice

1 tsp. finely grated lime zest

1 T. sugar, or more if needed

salt to taste

pinch of cayenne pepper

Cooking Day

Gently rinse fish fillets, then pat dry with paper towels. Sprinkle both sides of fish with kosher salt and pepper. Set aside. In a medium bowl, combine the remaining ingredients (onion to orange juice). Place one third of the marinade in a small freezer bag and set aside. Pour the rest in a gallon freezer bag with the fish. Let the fish marinade in the refrigerator for 20-30 minutes before freezing. Keep both bags together for ease on serving day.

Serving Day

Thaw fish and extra marinade completely. To grill fish: spray grill surface with cooking spray to keep fish from sticking. Fish may also be grilled on a sprayed stove top griddle pan or broiled in the oven 4" from heat, 5 minutes per 1/2 inch of thickness or until fish flakes. Grill fish over medium heat, turning only once, and basting fish with extra marinade while grilling. Once the fish is cooked, coarsely chop. Assemble fish tacos using your choice of serving day condiments. Top with a drizzle of Baja Lime Cream.

Is it really Febraury?

2011-02-21T11:13:00.000-05:00

I realize that it may be cruel and unusual punishment for my dear friends and family in the Midwest and New England to be posting this photos, but maybe you can see it as incentive to come visit us in balmy North Carolina instead of a "haha, we don't have snow" type of deal. That said, proceed with caution, fun in the sun ahead!

This past week has been glorious-- we're talking 60s and even low 70s! So we decided to head outside for a little fun in the sun. Ruby set up the kiddie pool as a playpen for Cornelia and loaded it with all kind of toys. The whole lot was/is filthy, so baby girl still hit the tub as soon as we went indoors, but she sure had fun!

Yes, you are seeing correctly. Maxwell is bare-chested, with swim trunks on... in February! The kids begged to put on their suits and I figured I'd let them figure out that it really isn't THAT warm outside. Max never did figure that out. He just said, " Wew, I do have my undaweaw on Mama." :)

Ruby was forced to admit that it was a bit chillier than she had originally thought, so she went for the sweater plus swimsuit look. I think it works for her!

For those of you that are digging out from yet another blizzard, have hope! This will be you in three or four more months! Hahahahahaaaaaa! (Okay, that last part was just mean.) But seriously, the daffodils are poking up a good 4" and it's beautiful. Thank you, Jesus, for spring!

Flashback Friday

2011-02-18T10:23:00.006-05:00

For the past few months I have been scanning in the thousands of slides that my parents took of my sisters and I in our growing up years. It takes about 2 minutes per slide (not including the part this lowly human needs to do, like loading and unloading slides, and saving them with some sense of order) so needless to say, it's a big job! I had hoped to have it all done by Christmas and made into a snappy DVD for my sibs, but alas, it didn't happen. Now we're shooting for summer solstice!

I've decided to use Fridays as a day to highlight a photo or two from the stash. A teaser, if you will, for those that are eagerly awaiting the aforementioned DVD. Hopefully those that don't share the Armstrong last name will enjoy them as well. :)

Exhibit 1: Circa 1979... My Dad and I. I think it's safe to say crazy hair may run in the family! Hahahaaaa!

Exhibit 2: Circa 1980. I was the child... now I am the mommy--pile of laundry, nursing, hair crazy, amused at the antics of a droopy diapered little girl. Time tromps on, but there's nothing new under the sun!

Have a blessed weekend, y'all. Hug somebody around the neck. Watch that silly kids movie for the hundredth time with your little one. And get outside-- didn't you hear, SPRING'S A COMIN'!

Sesame Pasta Chicken Salad

2011-02-17T08:00:00.001-05:00

Oops, well, this week we'll do a Tasty Thursday! Why not! This recipe is SIMPLE, QUICK, uses up some of those dreaded LEFTOVERS and it tastes pretty amazing too...

Sesame Pasta Chicken Salad

1/4 cup sesame seeds
1 (16 ounce) package bow tie pasta
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1/3 cup light soy sauce
1/3 cup rice vinegar
1 teaspoon sesame oil
3 tablespoons white sugar
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
3 cups shredded, cooked chicken breast meat
1/2 cup shredded carrot
1/2 cup peas or snow peas
1/3 cup chopped fresh cilantro
1/3 cup chopped green onion

Directions

Heat a skillet over medium-high heat. Add sesame seeds, and cook stirring frequently until lightly toasted. Remove from heat, and set aside.
Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add pasta, and cook for 8 to 10 minutes, or until al dente. Drain pasta, and rinse under cold water until cool. Transfer to a large bowl.
In a jar with a tight-fitting lid, combine vegetable oil, soy sauce, vinegar, sesame oil, sugar, sesame seeds, ginger, and pepper. Shake well.
Pour sesame dressing over pasta, and toss to coat evenly. Gently mix in chicken, cilantro, and vegetables.

A book that should not be missed...

2011-02-16T08:00:00.000-05:00

Figuring Life Out - One Thousand Gifts from Jacob Forrest on Vimeo.

Whirling Around...

2011-02-15T09:22:00.005-05:00

Over the past year, as I lumbered through pregnancy, the excitement and exhaustion of a new baby, and sending my two 'big' kids off to schools for the first time, I have been rushing. I have been too busy, most days, to sit back and just enjoy the best days of my life.

Well, I'm putting my foot down. Enough!

Sure my floor may not have been mopped in this calendar year and the sinks may have some toothpaste crud on them, but really, does it matter? Who am I trying to please, God or man (or me!)?

For the past month we have been going through 40 days of awakening at our church. We are awakening to the people around us, to God, and to our responsibilities as Christians to share the Good News. We are awakening to His love. We are awakening to blessing.

What greater responsibility and blessing have I been given, but to cherish my husband and our children. To worry less about the grime and more about the grins on their faces. To discipline consistently and lovingly. And most importantly to lead them to Truth. These sweet children, Ruby, Maxwell, and Cornelia, are ours for such a fleeting moment, but they will always be in God's Hand. What a revelation, as a parent, to embrace God's overwhelming love for your children. To trust Him with their care, their choices, and their eternal future.

Heavenly Father, You are the maker of our souls. You understand our every doubt, joy, and sorrow. You have created this amazing world and you have called it good. You have created each child in Your own image. You have balanced all of creation. Nothing is out of step from Your perfect plan.

Lord God, please fill our home with Your love. Fill it with Your peace. Fill it with Your perfect balance. For your name's sake, amen.

Happy Valentines Day, Y'all!

2011-02-14T13:10:00.002-05:00

Because I love you, my friends and family, sooo much I have decided to attempt to hop on the bloggy bandwagon again! What better holiday than Valentines Day, right?!

My life may be a bit full right now, especially with this precious little one who eats ANYTHING and EVERYTHING, whether it's edible or not, but I think it's worth it.

See you back here tomorrow... :)

Valentines at a spy camp

2011-02-12T07:14:00.002-05:00

In case you haven't heard of PARI (Pisgah Astronomical Research Institute), it's a site buried in the forest of North Carolina that was a NASA tracking station (the very one that relayed Neil Armstrongs hallowed words) and later a spy station during the cold war and following. It later was rescued (around 2000?) from demolition by a group that made it over into a non-profit center for basic radio-astronomical research as well as educational facility for K through college.

So, what better place for an early Valentines celebration?! Last night our friends Rick and Laurie watched the kids while we got to go enjoy dinner, star-gazing and storytelling at a very retro-cool site with two 85-foot radio telescopes to greet you at the entrance. Dinner was great, and the nerds in us were rapt--listening to the history of the facility, the recent advances made possible there, and visiting the collections of priceless images and data from all over the world. Though our sleepy bodies began to fail us at the late, late hour of 9pm.

Ok, ok, I know it's probably not for everyone, but we had a great time . . . and even had a good report from the baby-sitters when we got home!

(btw, no that's not us in the picture!!)

NC Mountain Fair with the Johns Family!

2010-09-24T10:19:00.004-04:00

We were so blessed to have Michael, Julie, and Asher Johns come visit us last weekend! We had about 24 hours packed with fun, including a trip to the fair. Needless to say, Maxwell and Ruby have been begging to go back to the fair ALL WEEK LONG. I'm so glad we went at the end of the fair because I had the excuse that they fair has moved on and we'll have to wait til next year! Here are a few memories from the day.

After a long morning nap in the stroller with Asher, Cornelia spent the afternoon in the Baby Bjorn. She loves chewing on the cloth in front so it was drenched by the time we got back to the van.

Ruby and I took a spin in the bumper cars and gave Max and Julie quite a few good bumps!

The petting zoo was a big hit with all of the kids. How many times in your life will you have a chance to feed a camel!? We had to seize the opportunity!

One year old Asher is a real cutie! I think he was a bit overwhelmed at times with the noise level and flurry of activity around the Nelson house! At the fair he just soaked it all in.

Thinkin' about sleep... boy, that sun is hot!

Maxwell and Ruby driving a jeep at the fair.

Julie and Maxwell getting ready for some bumper car action!

Ruby is our little dare devil! She and Michael had a great time time on the Pirate Ship! Thank goodness it didn't go upside down. Mommy's not ready for her little girl to grow up that fast!

Max, Jared, Michael, and Ruby went on the Black Widow. That was a mistake that Jared and Max won't make again any time soon! It was the first ride of the day and Jared said, "No more spinning rides for me!". Max huddled in a ball for the whole ride, poor guy! At least he didn't lose his breakfast!

Michael and Ruby on the chairlift.

Maxwell and I on the chairlift. This is the wildest ride I can handle these days. Motion sickness and sun beating down on you for hours on end are not a good combination!

We had a great visit at the fair: seeing the animals, riding the rides, and eating some greasy food. Most of all we enjoyed the relaxing day with sweet friends and family! Thank you, God, for your amazing blessings!

Sky Top Orchard with the Danfords!

2010-09-24T09:43:00.005-04:00

A few weeks ago we met our good friends, the Danfords, at Sky Top Orchards for some apple picking! Somehow I didn't manage to get even one picture of sweet Annalee, but I did get a few good ones...

Ruby ready to pick some apples, rain or shine!

Carter, Max, Ruby, and Danny with apples in hand!

We're down with the apple picking!

Apple picking 2010 with our new family of five!

Whoa! That's a lot of apples!

Night Light

2010-09-24T09:34:00.003-04:00

This little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine,

Let it shine, Let in shine, Let it shine.

Labor Day with the Sherrards!

2010-09-24T08:46:00.003-04:00

We were so blessed to have my college roomie, Lindsay (Hill) Sherrard, and her family come visit us over Labor Day weekend! Lindsay is a doctor in Rocky Mount, VA and her hubby, Matt, is doing a wonderful job as a stay-at-home dad to their two adorable sons, Jack (3) and Hilton (10mo). They are a fun family and we had a great time together...

After they arrived on Saturday we headed to Hooker Falls for a little bit of swimming. The water was too cold for Lindsay and Hilton, but the rest of us all took a dip--including Cornelia!

Max floating in the clear mountain water, while Daddy and Cornelia try to get used to the chill!

Hilton and Lindsay takin' in the sun. It was supposed to be Hilton's nap time, but there were too many things to see to make napping any fun!

On Sunday we tried to take it a bit easier and relaxed around the house after going to church and having a wonderful brunch out (thank you, Sherrards!!). After naps, we enjoyed a short walk on the bike trail and even had a little bit of playground time... why don't we think to do that more often!?

Here's a great photo of Matt, Lindsay and the boys at Looking Glass Falls; our last stop Monday morning before they headed home.

Wheaton College Roomies (plus Hilton)! Neither Lindsay or I will be able to make it to our 10 year Wheaton reunion, so it was fun to have a little reunion just the two of us. We're hoping that we might make it up to visit them later this fall or winter.

Cornelia gave me a BIG smile while we watched the big kids and daddies play at the base of the falls.

Bye-bye, Sherrards! We had a great time! Come again soon!

Big Man on Campus

2010-09-24T08:21:00.002-04:00

Maxwell had his first day of preschool about three weeks ago, so I thought it might be time to actually post some pictures from the first day! Seriously, having three little ones is not for the faint of heart. My time is truly not my own, but that's okay. God has blessed us amazingly with these little lives and we will never forget it! So on to little life number two!

Max doesn't really need a backpack for preschool, but we decided that since big sister had one he might as well have one too. Also, it's nice for him to be able to carry his work home instead of me trying to juggle Cornelia in her carseat, holding Max's hand to cross the street and also juggle half a dozen pieces of "art" each time I pick him up! Unfortunately I did not grow another pair of hands when Cornelia came along... though it would have been nice!

Here's Mr. Handsome himself posing by the W.E.E. school sign! Max wasn't the slightest bit worried about going to class he was only annoyed that we were taking so much time to take pictures! He wanted to get in there and get playing with those toys!

Thankfully, it wasn't as hard on Mommy and Daddy either to let him go. He is such a sweet guy and I do miss him at home, but it feels good to leave him somewhere we know he is loved and is being taught about Jesus.

After Maxwell's third day of school he was quite smitten with his teacher, Miss Mandi. He's asked to have Miss Mandi over for a playdate, but I'm not sure she'd be up for that! Miss Mandi does report that he is an excellent helper, talented artist, and kind of accident prone... poor guy! He's a lovable clumsy little thing though. Way to go big man! We love you!

Slow Cooker Pizza Casserole

2010-08-31T07:22:00.003-04:00

Another winner from Taste of Home! This can be prepared in the slow cooker as suggested, or you can just mix it up and stick it in the oven til bubbly. This recipe reflects a few changes that I made to fit our preferences and what I had on hand... Add any veggies you like to make it "your kind of pizza"!

Slow Cooker Pizza Casserole

1 pkg spiral pasta
1 lb. ground turkey
1 small onion, chopped
1 lb. mozzarella cheese, diced
2 cans (15oz) pizza sauce
1 can condensed cream of mushroom soup
1 pkg. (~5oz) mini pepperoni

Cook pasta according to package directions, minus a minute or two, so that the pasta still has some bite. Meanwhile, in a skillet, cook turkey and onion until meat is no longer pink; drain.
Drain pasta; place in 5 quart slow cooker. Stir in the turkey mixture, cheese, pizza sauce, soup, and pepperoni. Cover and cook on low for 2-3 hours or until heated through and the cheese is melted. Enjoy!

Watch out Kindergarten, here comes...

2010-08-30T19:47:00.003-04:00

Ruby!!

Ruby had her first day of Kindergarten last Wednesday at Pisgah Forest Elementary School and in her words, it was pretty "awesome"! The first day was filled with lots of tours and playtime, mostly just getting used to what a school day is like. It's definitely a big change going from a life of leisure to a 6:30am wake-up call and out the door by 7:15! We are thankful, however, that the school provides breakfast so she can sleep in a bit on the days they are having something that she wants to eat. :)

Here are a few photos from her first day...

All ready for school and looking FANTASTIC! Pretty perky for a girl that prefers an 8am wake-up!

Jared brings Ruby to school in the morning... a few minutes of Daddy/Daughter time to start the day. We are also so happy that many of our church friends have children at this school and she already knew 4 or 5 kids in her class before she even got there!

These are Ruby's teachers for the year-- Mrs. Worley and her assistant Mrs. Merrill. They are wonderful ladies and I know they will take good care of Ruby this year!

After a long break, Ruby went back again today with mostly positive reviews. She's learning about the rigors of P.E., forgiving others even when they don't ask for it, and responsibility. I assume reading, writing, and arithmatic will follow!

We love you, Ruby girl. Do your best and never be afraid to ask questions. We can't wait to see how you grow this year.

Did I forget to mention...

2010-08-11T08:40:00.004-04:00

Our sweet baby girl, Cornelia Grace, was welcomed into our family May 26th weighing in at 7lbs 8oz and 21.5" long. She is a joy and big brother and sister love her to bits. Here's her one month photo shoot by Samantha Austin...

"Mommy rhapsody" by Church on the Move

2010-06-30T08:04:00.000-04:00

Grilled Burgers with Tahini Sauce

2010-05-18T19:53:00.002-04:00

We had these tonight to rave reviews! Hope you enjoy them as much as we did...

Grilled Burgers with Tahini Sauce
(from Southern Living "All-Time Favorite Recipes")

1lb. extra-lean ground beef
1 tsp. Greek seasoning
4 pita rounds
4 lettuce leaves
8 large tomato slices
4 thin red onion slices
feta cheese
Tahini Sauce (recipe to follow)

Combine beef and Greek seasoning. Shape into 4 patties.
Grill, covered with grill lid, over medium-high heat 5-6 minutes on each side or until beef is no longer pink.
Cut off and discard 2 inches of bread from 1 side of each pita round, forming a pocket. Line each with 1 lettuce leaf, 2 tomato slices, and 1 red onion slice. Add burger. Drizzle each with 2 tablespoons Tahini Sauce; sprinkle with 1 tablespoon cheese, if desired.

Tahini Sauce

1/4 cup tahini paste
1/4 cup water
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1/8 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 teaspoon salt

Whisk together all ingredients. You can make this sauce several days ahead if desired.

Swagger Wagon

2010-05-17T12:20:00.002-04:00

I'm not sure if this makes it any better to be a minivan owner now, but it is funny! :)

Our New Van!

2010-05-14T08:00:00.001-04:00

I can't really believe that it's taken me a week and a half to post up a picture of our new minivan, but here she is!

We ended up getting a 2004 Nissan Quest and so far we really are enjoying it. The van has all the bells and whistles-- leather, sunroof, sky view panel roof for the passengers in the back, and best of all (in the kids opinion) the DVD player. It definitely has some quirks including a CD player that doesn't seem to work, but so far it seems to run great and that's what we're most concerned with.

Interestingly enough, now that MOPS is done for the year and we have a van in our driveway, I seem to be sleeping a lot better! I'm still getting pretty worn out mid-afternoon on, but other than that I'm hanging in there. Less than three weeks to go until we get to meet our sweet baby!

A day in the woods

2010-05-13T09:24:00.003-04:00

Last week we met another family out at the Cradle of Forestry for a walk in the woods. It has been so nice getting out and enjoying the nice weather--though it's getting a little less comfortable walking and pushing a stroller all the time! I just keep telling myself, "You're walking the baby OUT! You're walking the baby OUT!" That's pretty good motivation!

All along the trail we took they have stations for kids to explore nature. I made the kids saddle up on this log at one of the stops! Max looks like he's more concerned with what his friend, Eden, is doing than Mommy trying to take his picture-- pretty typical!

We got all three kiddos to sit on the hearth of this old fireplace. Eden really knows how to mug for the camera-- wish some of that would rub off on my kids!

After a picnic lunch at the Cradle, we drove up on the Blue Ridge Parkway for a few miles up to Mt. Pisgah. Ruby was thrilled that I let her stand on the other side of the road to snap this picture of Max and I! A lot of the trees were bare and/or snapped. I think that the harsh winter with all that snow and ice must have really taken a toll on the forest. Looks like it will be a long recovery at the higher elevations.

One final photo looking out over the mountains. This picture doesn't really even show how brilliant the green hills looked under that perfect blue sky. We sure are thankful to live in such a beautiful place! Now all we need are some visitors to enjoy it with us!

Rhubarb Strawberry Crunch

2010-05-11T08:00:00.000-04:00

I haven't been doing a lot of creative cooking these days, but this recipe was a BIG hit at Daddy's Disciples a while back, so I thought I'd share while strawberries and rhubarb are still so plentiful!

Rhubarb Strawberry Crunch
(printable recipe at allrecipes.com)

1 c. white sugar
3 T. flour
3 c. sliced fresh strawberries
3 c. diced rhubarb
1 1/2 c. flour
1 c. butter
1 c. brown sugar
1 c. rolled oats

Preheat oven to 375F.
In a large bowl, combine white sugar, 3 T. flour, strawberries, and rhubarb. Pour into 9x13 inch baking pan.
Mix 1 1/2 cups flour with butter, brown sugar and oats with a pastry blender or knives 'til crumbly. Crumble on top of the fruit mixture.
Bake 45 minutes in the preheated oven until crisp and lightly browned.
Serve warm with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream. YUM!

Mother's Day!

2010-05-10T15:17:00.002-04:00

I am so thankful to be a mom. And I'm so thankful for a hubby that works so hard and supports us so that I'm able to stay home with our kiddos.

I've said it before and I'll say it again. This life was not my plan, but thank God it was HIS! He knew exactly what I needed and was made for and here I am!

Mother's Day weekend was filled with activities and fun-- just the way I like it! We spent Saturday around the house: cleaning the Subaru in preparation of selling it and planting lots of flowers in my flower boxes and pots. Between the new flowers and all of the blooming irises. dogwoods, and azaleas things are looking pretty great around here!

Sunday, Jared and the kids had a fun day planned. We started the day at church where we heard about a recent missions trip to Haiti and an encouraging Mother's Day sermon.

Next, we went out to a delicious brunch at a local restaurant. I was so proud of the kiddos for being on their best behavior and even eating their food! It's a Mother's Day miracle--we were able to eat somewhere other than McDonalds without a bit of complaining!!

The remainder of the day was spent at Chimney Rock Park. We had hoped to hike to Hickory Nut Falls, but everyone was a little too tired for much of a hike so we took it easy and just went up to the Chimney Rock lookout over Lake Lure and the the surrounding hills (they even have an elevator to get most of the way up!). It was the perfect day. Breezy, in the upper 60s and clear, blue skies.

As you could see in the first two photos... it looks like the newest Nutty Nelson should be making his or her debut sometime soon. We still have 3 1/2 weeks left 'til my induction date, but maybe I'll be surprised with a baby who comes early for once!

I'm so thankful for my wonderful husband who makes every day so special and my two and a half happy and healthy kiddos. Truly, God has blessed us greatly.

Five and Fabulous!

2010-05-03T19:47:00.004-04:00

Miss Ruby turned FIVE yesterday!! We have been so busy celebrating birthdays around here that I just haven't had a spare moment to do a blog post. Here are a few shots and memories from our weekend!

The fun actually began on Saturday when we had a joint birthday party for Ruby and Maxwell with several of their good friends. I don't have any photos of the party, just videos, which I may share later in the week. A fun time was had by all with games (Pin the Fish on the Hook and Magnetic Fishing), two pinatas (that were apparently reinforced for all-star hitters!), dirt pie complete with gummy worms, and oodles of presents. I think the parents even had a good time-- I know Jared and I did anyway!

On Sunday, we woke up bright and early to open gifts before church. One of Ruby's favorite gifts were her "fake fingernails"! Here she is checking them out! She realized pretty quick that while they are pretty they are far from practical.

After church, we headed out to Ruby's choice for lunch-- Cracker Barrel, of course! She cannot resist the shopping experience... Mommy even found a few good buys out on the porch sale-- 70% off, yeah!! We squeezed in a little bit of car shopping (still no luck) before heading home to frost her birthday cake and make ice cream cone cupcakes for preschool today. The combination of America's Funniest Home Videos and birthday cake made for a pretty fabulous evening!

Today, Ruby celebrated for the third day in a row with a party at school! She had a great time and told me that her smile was SO BIG the whole time they were singing to her.

You're pretty fabulous, Ruby! We love you more every day and couldn't be more thankful that God blessed our family with you! You are a smart and sweet girl. Beautiful as can be. A wonderful big sister and friend. I can't wait to see what wild and wonderful things God has in plan for you in the coming year!

Spring Break Memories

2010-04-23T09:03:00.006-04:00

We're on Spring Break here and we're making the most of it! Here are a few memories from the last few days...

On Tuesday we visited the Cradle of Forestry in Pisgah National Forest. It was a rainy day, so I assumed that we would just enjoy the indoor exhibits... After a picnic in the car, however, the kids decided they were up for a hike in the rain! So we headed out on the Forest Discovery Trail loop where we got to see old equipment used to cut down trees, make roads, and even this steam engine.

The kids were able to get up inside the engine and ring the bell. Max could have rang that bell all day I think!

Here's Ruby ringing the bell. She's trying to watch the string move to see where the bell is!

On Thursday we got together with a lot of our MOPS friends down at Sycamore Flats for a picnic and to play in the river. Max managed to get soaked from head to toe twice in the freezing water and was already in his dry clothes by the time this photo was taken.

Max was playing "Keep Away" with his friend Balin. Balin wanted to chase Max and didn't like that one bit. Looks like we still have some work to do on the sharing concept.

Here's Ruby down by the Davidson River. She had changed into her boots by this point and was about ready to leave. We did have a great time chatting and playing with friends though. We are so thankful for the friends that God has blessed us with here!

Today, we are busy with Bible Study this morning and will just relax and play at home this afternoon. It was forecasted to be a rainy day today, but instead we have clear blue skies and temperatures in the 70s! Yea!! Gotta love those happy surprises!

Name that Baby!

2010-04-23T08:56:00.002-04:00

Last night I had a meeting with my Cooking Club so Jared had some good quality time with the kids before bedtime. One of the topics of conversation was what we should name the baby. Here's what Ruby had to say...

J: What do you think we should name the baby, Ruby?
R: Well, if it's a girl she should be Suzie. If it's a boy he should be Handsome or Charming.
J: You mean like Prince Charming?
R: No, just Charming. I found those names in my book.
J: Oh yeah, what book?
R: Cinderella!

So what do you think? Handsome Charming Nelson? Has quite a ring to it I think!

Potato Leek Soup & French Baguettes

2010-04-21T17:04:00.003-04:00

We had a rainy day here yesterday-- our first in ages, so I'm not complaining! We "celebrated" the day by making my potato soup--believe it or not, Ruby has been begging for me to make this for weeks! Hope you enjoy it and my new favorite bread machine recipe as much as we did! Serve with a green salad on the side for a delicious dinner.

Potato Leek Soup
(this is actually my recipe--I know, unusual!)

1/2 c. butter
3-4 leeks, sliced
2 cloves garlic
salt, to taste
pepper, to taste
4 c. potatoes, peeled and diced
cauliflower, one head chopped
6 c. chicken broth
1 T. cornstarch
2 c. milk
1 can corn
Cheddar cheese, grated (optional)
Bacon, cooked and crumbled (optional)

Saute chopped leeks and garlic in butter for 15 minutes or until soft.
Add potatoes, cauliflower, chicken broth, cornstarch, salt and pepper. Simmer 45-60 minutes.
Once vegetables are soft, cream in batches in a blender or use an immersion blender til smooth. Return to pot. Add milk and corn and gently reheat if needed.
Serve topped with grated cheese and bacon bits if desired.

French Baguettes
(find this one on allrecipes.com)

1 c. water
2 1/2 c. bread flour
1 T. sugar
1 tsp. salt
1 1/2 tsp. bread machine yeast
1 egg yolk
1 T. water

Place 1 cup water, bread flour, sugar, salt, and yeast into bread machine pan in the order recommended by the manufacturer. Select Dough cycle, and press Start.
When the cycle has completed, place dough in a greased bowl, turning to coat all sides. Cover, and let rise in a warm place for about 30 minutes, or until doubled in bulk. Dough is ready if indentation remains when touched.
Punch down dough. On a lightly floured surface, roll into a 16x12 inch rectangle. Cut dough in half, creating two 8x12 inch rectangles. Roll up each half of dough tightly, beginning at 12 inch side, pounding out any air bubbles as you go. Roll gently back and forth to taper end. Place 3 inches apart on a greased cookie sheet. Make deep diagonal slashes across loaves every 2 inches, or make one lengthwise slash on each loaf. Cover, and let rise in a warm place for 30 to 40 minutes, or until doubled in bulk.
Preheat oven to 375F. Mix egg yolk with 1 tablespoon water; brush over tops of loaves.
Bake for 20 to 25 minutes in the preheated oven, or until golden brown.

Single Mom

2010-04-16T08:25:00.002-04:00

Just a quick note to ask for prayers from everyone!

Jared has just left for a Men's Retreat in the mountains and I'm a single mom for the weekend. Normally, that wouldn't really be a big deal, but I also have a MOPS rummage sale that I'm running this weekend and already feel a bit exhausted. Please pray that the kids are cooperative and good helpers today and tomorrow. Pray that I have endurance and a good attitude.

And please pray that my sweet hubby has a great time of rest and gets recharged by the Lord this weekend!

Hope y'all have a great weekend in your neck of the woods too-- don't get too wet Texans!

Baby Brain

2010-04-15T18:14:00.003-04:00

I went to my 32 week appointment today by myself! Jared let me drop the kids off with him at work where they vegged with the video player and white board for about and hour and a half, while I had time to make a quick stop at the market, go to my appointment and actually talk to the doctor and the financial person, and I even went over to the billing office at the hospital to talk about cutting costs. All of that with no complaining or interruptions! It was wonderful!

It seems that all is well on the baby front-- I'm measuring ahead of schedule (33 weeks) and baby's heart is beating strong. I can attest to the fact that this little peanut is STRONG (Jared's thinks he/she is a little body builder!) as I've experienced nauseating full rolls at least once a day as well as plenty of stretching and thrown elbows and knees! In fact, I was thinking that any time now this little peanut could be born and be just a-okay! (Did you hear that kiddo? Let's get this show on the road! Well, maybe wait at least 4 more weeks, then you'll be cooked to perfection!)

I'm consistantly amazed at how God keeps meeting our needs-- He has supplied us with the extra money we'll need to pay doctor and hospital bills. He has helped us find inexpensive, but nice baby things at yard sales and on craigslist. He has allowed my back to be strong and relatively pain-free this pregnancy. He squashes my fears just when they are about to take over. He has met all of our needs and blessed us beyond measure.

Thank you, Jesus, for answering my prayers before I ever voice them to you. Thank you for reminding me that you are in control. Thank you for this baby, who is Yours in the first place. We can't wait to meet him... or her. I love you, Lord. Amen.

Things that make me go "Hmmmm..."

2010-04-14T16:30:00.002-04:00

As the weather warms, my children are spending more and more time out of doors. Don't get me wrong, I love it! I remember the days of my childhood and long days spent outdoors fondly. I even remember being so desperate to stay outside and play that I snuck out from my nap and went to play at a neighbor's house. I'm sure my mom was both horrified and a bit satisfied when I came home screaming after the neighbor boy had mashed my finger with a hammer!

The thing that's been hard, though, is knowing how long to wait before seeing what kind of trouble Ruby and Max have gotten themselves into. Here are just a few of the scenes I've been greeted with in the last week or two.

I came outside to see that they had smeared wet sand all over my Subaru! (No, it didn't get scratched up thankfully!)
I found Ruby on the deck a few days ago-- she had trapped Daisy (the cat) in her crate, stuffed it with toys and was pouring water into the crate. The poor thing was sitting in a lake!
They have poured Daisy's food into her water bowl--too many times to count.
I have picked up dozens of toys from bushes, in trees, the creek, etc.
I have run over several toys with the car.
I have found them filling water sprinklers with sand.
I have had filthy, naked children come screaming for me through the house on MANY occasions. Where are their clothes you might ask? Oh, they just had to take them off.
I have turned off the hose that had been running for 'who knows how long' countless times.
I attempted to solve the hose problem by setting a timer. Their solution for the pesky timer-- drown it in their water table.

These are the things that make me go, "hmmm..."

Margarita Pork Chops

2010-04-13T13:38:00.003-04:00

Here is a wonderful recipe that I used as part of my contribution to my monthly Cooking Coop last month. We are heavy into grill season and just loved the tangy flavor of this pork. Serve with Mexican sides or you could even slice it up and serve it on tortillas. YUM!

Margarita Pork Chops
(makes 3 entrees, 4 servings each)

1 tray (6-8lb) pork loin chops
4 1/2 c. bottled margarita mix
6 T. minced garlic (about 54 cloves)
3 tsp. black pepper
3 one-gallon freezer bags, labeled

Rinse and divide chops evenly among the freezer bags. Into each bag measure 1 1/2 cups margarita mix, 2 tablespoons garlic, 2 teaspoons salt, and 1 teaspoon pepper. Seal and freeze.
To cook one entree, completely thaw in refrigerator.
For outdoor cooking: Prepare a medium fire in a gas or charcoal grill. Cook chops, turning occasionally until temperature reads 160F in the thickest part. Do not baste during final 5 minutes and discard marinade.
For indoor cooking: Arrange chops on a greased broiler pan. Broil chops under high heat 5 inches from the heat source, turning frequently, for 14-18 minutes. Chops done when temperature reads 160F. Do not baste during final 5 minutes and discard marinade.

Happy 3rd Birthday, Maxwell!

2010-04-13T13:15:00.002-04:00

We had a wonderful day yesterday celebrating Max's 3rd birthday. It's hard to believe that three years have passed so quickly-- remember this post? It was a long wait for Maxwell to arrive (11 days past his April Fools Day due date!), but it was worth it! Here are a few photos from our day...
This is at about 7am-- both kids were dressed and ready to tear into the birthday loot! So, while I hurriedly prepared some banana pancakes, scrambled eggs, and bacon for the birthday boy, they got going with the festivities! Ruby was a pretty insistent "helper", but Max didn't seem to mind. In fact, he spent the whole day wishing others a "Happy Birthday!" even though he was the birthday boy!

Max posing with some of his birthday presents and attempting to show that he's three-- two fingers and a thumb! Apparently we should have worked on that a bit before the big day!

While Ruby was at school Max and I hit the bike trail with some of our friends. This was Max's first time riding his bike on the trail (I usually push him in the stroller) and he had a great time. I was shocked at how fast he was and how long his energy lasted-- probably a good 2 miles!

After Max's favorite dinner: corndogs, edamame, baked beans, and fruit salad, we lit up his rocket ship cake. You'll have to take my word for it that that's what it is since it looks a bit non-descript in this photo! Nevertheless, with the peachy cake inside and white chocolate frosting outside it was yummy and we all enjoyed it.

We love you more every day, Maxwell, and thank God daily for the blessing you are to our family! We can't wait to see what the new year brings you!

Make way for baby!

2010-04-08T13:37:00.004-04:00

Jared has been hard at work crossing things off his "honey, do" list as the countdown to baby #3 draws near! This week we (Jared!) got the baby's room painted and finished painting the crib we found on craigslist a few months ago. It's hard to see in the photo, but there are three drawers on the right side of the crib and then two drawers underneath, which I love. I am SO happy with the results and just love how it all looks with our new floors-- thanks to my super hubby!

After Jared puts the baseboards in we'll bring in the changing table he made before Ruby was born and I also hope to get a black Poang chair like this one to rock baby in. I, of course, had to get some Ikea bedding and even got this cute diaper bag. I've been told that this bag is totally impractical and all together too small, but after carrying around that big old backpack diaper bag with the first two, I was ready to downsize! I figure it will at least work for quick outings around town.

Strangely, or maybe not so strangely, no one has been begging for belly pics this time around. I guess they figure they've seen me massively pregnant before, so no big deal. But, I felt for posterity I should at least post one belly shot. Unfortunately I had to take this myself with the timer and it was blurry every time I tried. Oh well, you get the idea. I'm 31 weeks pregnant and no, I'm not having twins. :)

We are so anxious to meet this new addition to our family and thankful already for the person God has made him or her to be. Now, all we need is a name...

Bobs and Booboos

2010-04-07T07:41:00.003-04:00

Just an average day at our house yesterday...

I took Ruby to Neveah ("heaven" backwards--cute, huh?) Salon to get her hair cut. What with the new found hair freedoms and ever growing tangly rat's nests, we thought a haircut was in order!

True to character, Ruby sat down in that chair and jabbered to her new best friend, Deanna, like there was no tomorrow. I was trying to read to Max across the room and just kept cracking up at the things Ruby felt she needed to share-- too funny! Anyway, it looks like those pesky bangs have finally grown out and she just looks cute as can be. What a beauty!

Once we got home, Max was up to his usual antics with not one, but two bloody knee incidents. Here's how it happened in his words...

"I got on my big bike ('cause I'm a BIG BOY!) and I cwash, den I cwash, and I cwash!"

There was also another incident where he slipped on all of the sand he'd thrown out of his sandbox onto the driveway and wiped out bad. Cleaning sand out of a bloody knee is no fun for anyone!

Looks like it's going to be the summer we keep band-aid in business. Gotta love boys!

Easter-- the easy way!

2010-04-06T14:16:00.005-04:00

I'm finding that my zeal for cooking huge meals is dwindling some as the weather warms and my belly expands! So, for Easter lunch this year we did Easter the easy way! Hope you enjoy these great recipes that can be used any time of the year.

Ham and Cheese Picnic Bread
(see recipe at allrecipes. com)

1 (.25oz) pkg active dry yeast
1 c. warm water
3 c. all-purpose flour
1 egg
1 T. butter
1 T. sugar
1 tsp. salt
1 c. chopped ham
1 c. shredded mozzarella cheese
1 (4oz) jar diced pimento peppers, drained
1/2 c. black olives, drained and chopped

In a small mixing bowl, dissolve yeast in warm water. Let stand until creamy, about 10 minutes.
In a large mixing bowl, combine the yeast mixture with the flour, egg, butter, sugar, and salt; mix well. When the dough has pulled together, turn it out onto a lightly floured surface, and knead until smooth, about 8 minutes.
Lightly oil a large mixing bowl, place the dough in the bowl, and turn to coat with oil. Cover with a damp cloth and let rise in a warm place until doubled in volume, about 1 hour.
Combine the ham, cheese, pimento, and olives in a medium mixing bowl, set aside.
Deflate the dough, and turn it out onto a lightly floured surface. Roll or pat the dough into a 10x14 inch rectangle. Evenly spread the filling mixture over the center of the rectangle. Fold the short ends of the rectangle over the filling. Starting from one of these ends, alternately stretch strips from the two side across the filling so that the strips overlap diagonally. Transfer the loaf to a lightly grease baking sheet, cover with a damp cloth, and let rise until doubled in volume, about 40 minutes.
Preheat oven to 400F. Bake at 400F for 20 to 30 minutes, or until golden brown.

** Note, these fillings are just a jumping off point! You can fill it with pizza toppings, veggies, you name it!

Bacon Cheddar Deviled Eggs
(see recipe at allrecipes.com)

12 eggs
1/2 c. mayonnaise
4 slices bacon, crumbled
2 T. finely shredded Cheddar cheese
1 T. mustard

Place eggs in a saucepan, and cover with cold water. Bring water to a boil and immediately remove from heat. Cover, and let eggs stand in hot water for 10 to 12 minutes. Remove from hot water, and cool. To cool more quickly, rinse the eggs under cold running water.
Peel the hard-cooked eggs, and cut in half lengthwise. Remove yolk to a small bowl. Mash the egg yolks with mayonnaise, crumbled bacon and cheese. Stir in mustard. Fill egg white halves with the yolk mixture and refrigerate until serving.

**My hubby said these are the BEST deviled eggs he's ever had!

Strawberry Pretzel Salad
(see recipe at allrecipes.com)

2 c. crushed pretzels
3/4 c. butter, melted
3 T. sugar

1 (8oz) pkg cream cheese, softened
1 c. white sugar
1 (8oz) pkg frozen whipped topping, thawed

2 (3oz) pkgs strawberry flavored gelatin
2 c. boiling water
2 (10oz) pkgs frozen strawberries

Preheat oven to 400F.
Stir together crushed pretzel, melted butter, and 3 T. sugar; mix well and press mixture into the bottom of a 9x13 inch baking dish.
Bake 8 to 10 minutes, until set. Set aside to cool.
In a large mixing bowl, cream together cream cheese and sugar. Fold in whipped topping. Spread mixture onto cooled crust.
Dissolve gelatin in boiling water. Stir in still frozen strawberries and allow to set briefly. When mixture is about the consistency of egg white, pour and spread over cream cheese layer. Refrigerate until set.

Easy Strawberry Lemonade
(see recipe at allrecipes.com)

1 (12oz) can frozen lemonade concentrate, thawed
4 1/2 c. water
1 (10oz) pkg frozen strawberries, partially thawed

In a large pitcher, mix together lemonade concentrate and water. Stir in strawberries.

*Note: We like to whiz up the strawberries before we mix it up and serve it over tall glasses of ice--yum!

Happy Easter!

2010-04-05T10:15:00.000-04:00

After a record-breaking cold and snowy winter in Western North Carolina (and really the whole east coast), we are thrilled to be welcoming warm sunshine-filled days! Easter weekend was absolutely beautiful with oodles of daffodils and every flowering tree in full bloom. We feel so blessed to be here-- all together, no pressures, just family time. Here are a few snapshots from the weekend.

Coloring and painting eggs--try to focus on the eggs and not the huge mama! We got some glitter paint this year which both kiddos loved-- Max drew all kinds of neat things like a flying dolphin and a noodle. Ruby stuck with writing names and drawing people-- two of her favorite things to do!

Sitting on the fence after church. I hate to say it, but I think this is the best shot of Max. He is one busy boy and not at ALL interested in photo shoots!

Miss Ruby looking pretty in pink. She sure is growing up... what a beauty!

The best of the worst family photos. We really need to get a tripod-- balancing the camera on the deck chopped the top off Jared's head every time-- not to mention the lighting isn't the best. Oh well, this is our family Easter 2010!

Daddy and the munchkins.

I hope your Easter was as blessed as ours--that you took time to remember the Savior who not only came to earth for us, not only died for our sins, but rose again! He is risen!!

Funnies

2010-04-02T15:24:00.001-04:00

Ruby is quite a talker, especially when she has a captive audience-- like in the car! Recently we were driving along and Ruby interrupted herself to say,

"Hey, Mom! I see a telephone tower. Oops, I mean a cellophone tower!"

Cell towers are now known as "cellophone towers" in our house!

Christmas Recapped

2010-04-01T10:43:00.004-04:00

We were so blessed last Christmas to spend a week with my family. It was wonderful to have everyone gather together here in North Carolina even if we did have an icy snow storm to cope with instead of the balmy holiday I'd been betting on. But, if there's one thing I've learned this winter, it's don't bet on the weather!

Everyone enjoyed cuddling and playing with little Luana. She's a sweet baby and has the most beautiful eyes and smile! She was a wonderful traveller and did a great job sleeping for the most part. I think she adjusted faster than Mommy and Daddy did!

Sweet Jayden, Christina and Austin's baby, was always dressed to the nines. Who said shopping for baby boys isn't fun! Here he is sleeping through present opening Christmas morning. I think Mommy and Daddy were wishing they could catch a few zzzz's too!

We were so thankful that Ken made it down to spend Christmas with us. The weather didn't looks like it was going to cooperate, but God made a way! Anne was especially thankful to have her Hubby join her after a week spent with the crazy Armstrong sisters.

Kelly, Heidi, Jared, Maxwell, and Ruby... distributing gifts on Christmas morning. Max made a gift train!

The four sisters-- Christina, Heidi, Alyssa, and Bethany. None of us are twins-- just in case you were wondering!

Sisters and our kiddos. Heidi got to hold Ruby for me since I had my hands full with just squirmy Max!

Anne and the girls.

It was hard to say goodbye to Claudio, Alyssa, and Luana. The kids miss their cousins, but we sure do love seeing pictures and videos on Facebook to keep in touch. What a blessing family is!

Turkish Pork Loin Chops with Bacon

2010-03-30T08:55:00.005-04:00

About a month and a half ago I gathered up a group of wonderful ladies and we've started a meal swap. For those of you that just said, "Huh?!", we are each making enough of two main dishes and then freezing so that each family has 12 frozen meals a month. Some of us made breakfast things like a quiche (which actually goes for any meal at my house) and breakfast burritos. Anyway, this recipe was on the menu last month and EVERYONE loved it. I wish I had a photo, but try it anyway!! I'll include the freezing instructions courtesy of Fix, Freeze, Feast, one of my current favorites!

Turkish Pork Loin Chops with Bacon
(makes 2 entrees, 5-6 servings each)

1 tray (~12 chops) boneless pork loin chops
1/4 c. Turkish seasoning (recipe to follow)
12 slices bacon
15-20 toothpicks
2 one-gallon freezer bags, labeled

Homemade Turkish Seasoning
1 T. salt
1 T. garlic granules
1 T. ground cumin
2 tsp. black pepper
2 tsp. dried oregano
1 tsp. dried cilantro
1/2 tsp. cayenne pepper

Rinse and trim chops as desired.
Mix up Turkish seasoning spices in a small bowl.
Rub 1 tsp of Turkish seasoning over the surfaces of each chop. Wrap one of more slices of bacon around the edge of each chop, securing with toothpicks.
Place chops on a rimmed baking sheet and place in the freezer for 1 hour. Divide frozen chops evenly among the freezer bags. To avoid puncturing the bags you may wish to double-bag the chops.
Seal and return to the freezer.

To Cook One Entree:

Place chops in an ungreased baking dish. Cover and completely thaw in the refrigerator.
Preheat the oven to 350F.
Bake chops, uncovered, for 45-60 minutes, or until an instant read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of chop reads 160F.

These chops are super flavorful, tender, and moist! Serve with Baked Falafel , Easy Indian Style Okra, and maybe some Carrot Raisin Salad for a wonderful meal!

Shop 'Til I Drop and Other Thrilling Things

2010-03-29T13:28:00.005-04:00

We had an action packed weekend-- the kind that makes Monday morning a bit difficult--but it was great too! As we close in on 30 weeks into this pregnancy, the old nesting clock is ticking pretty loudly. There are things that need to be done! And they must be done NOW! Here's a snapshot of our weekend--unfortunately without pics since our camera was busy charging.

Saturday...
7:30am Kids are up and so is Daddy! (I got to sleep in a bit after a "wild" night out with the girls.) Time to hit the ground running with a bit of garage sale-ing!
9:00am Mommy is up, dressed, has laundry purring along, and has decided that a freezer inventory is necessary NOW! When finished, I had a two page typed inventory and I was THRILLED! Just ask Jared. I also had a menu, shopping list, and schedule for next week done. Whew!
11:30am Time for the Easter Egg Hunt at the VFW! The kids came home with tons of candy--and it was the good stuff (Dove chocolate!! Guess who's eating that!?), three stuffed animals they had won, and tons of giveaways from the police department. Top it all of with the fact that we fed the whole family on less than $8 and I think we can call it a sucessful morning!
1:30pm Back home and Jared decided to hang the hammock and tackle the yard again. The afternoon was spent blowing, trimming, raking, and burning (and I am SO thankful!). Meanwhile, I made a trip to the grocery store and later that evening cooked some delicious steaks and baked taters on the grill.
8:30pm Mommy and the kids hit the sack. What happened in Daddy's neck of the woods is anyone's guess!

Sunday we woke up to rain, rain, and more rain. For whatever reason, I decided that I really ought to wear a dress to church. It wasn't the best idea I've ever had, but Sunday School and the service were wonderful anyway. We're starting an inductive study of Luke which I'm really stoked about since I'm also studying Acts in ladies Bible study. Should be a great companion study.

After church we buzzed up to Asheville. Jared and the kids bummed around at Fun Depot (a big indoor family fun place with batting cages, video games, mini golf, soft play, laser tag, bumper cars, a rock wall, and even bowling), while I hit the mall. After two hours of speed shopping we all had something new for Easter and the kids (and Daddy) were tuckered out.

We topped off the evening with our family tradition-- AFV and popcorn. What a weekend! I can't wait for the week ahead. After today we're sailing into the 70s-- hip hip hurray!

My Hair My Way

2010-03-26T13:21:00.003-04:00

For a long time now Ruby's been all about dressing herself-- sometimes in the most outlandish and inappropriate outfits, but most of the time she does a great job. Over the last month, however, freedoms have been seized in new areas-- suddenly she's showering on her own instead of taking a bath with her brother, and putting on her "makeup" before she leaves the house. But, the icing on the cake has been her insistance at doing her own hair! Check out the hairdo she went to preschool in on Wednesday. Yes, I know.

The only thing that makes half a dozen barrettes on top of her head okay are the 12 she put in yesterday. We haven't quite figured out when enough is enough yet!

Oh, and can you tell Ruby and Daisy are getting along famously? Their favorite activities include Daisy getting perched on top of a tower of chairs, Daisy being carried around in a plastic basket, and apparently now they're climbing trees together. Fast friends. Something tells me it's going to be hard to get rid of this cat!

Goodbye... and Hello?

2010-03-25T08:00:00.000-04:00

It's been an emotional week at our house. Our Australian Cattle dog, Hazel, had to go to a new home on Tuesday night. We have been talking about "what to do about Hazel" for months. It's not that Hazel is a bad dog-- she really isn't... really we just weren't the best owners for her.

The problem is a classic one-- family decides they'd like to have a dog for hiking trips and around the house, mom brings kids to the pound to look at puppies and they come home with one. Did Mom research the breed-- uh, no. Did Mom consider that Hubby wouldn't be able to do all the training since he's at work all day--uh, no. Did Mom think about how she'd feel about said puppy if she got pregnant with baby #3--uh, no. For the logical person that I am, I failed miserably where it came to Hazel.

So, after eight months of trying to keep Hazel from escaping and jumping up on everyone, along with having a living breathing Hoover in the kitchen, and a pal who's always up for a game of fetch, Hazel has moved on. Jared posted a listing on craigslist last Sunday and literally 30 minutes later, she had a home. She went to a 20-something lady living with her parents in a big house with a fenced yard in the mountains. They've had Australian Cattle dogs before and love them. They were thrilled to find her and we were thrilled they did. God didn't take long to answer our prayer once we took the first step. It's bittersweet not having Hazel-- there's definitely less stress around the house, but I missed being able to toss the carrots nubbins to her while fixing dinner. And she wasn't there to beg for ice when I filled my glass. I miss her.

The funny thing is, though, our nest isn't really empty (the pet nest that is!). A few days before Hazel left, we were adopted. It wasn't our plan, but it seems to be the cat's plan that she's sticking with us. So, meet our outdoor cat (for now)... Daisy. She loves the kids and doesn't care what they do to her. Now I just have to decide if we're going to fork out the money to take her to the vet... I certainly don't want to have to deal with kittens! It's always something isn't it?

Disney!

2010-03-24T08:00:00.001-04:00

In my long absence from the blogosphere, we've done a few great things-- one of the greatest was a trip to Disney World in February! Here are just a few photos from our adventure. I'll apologize in advance that the photos are starting from the end of the trip--thank you, Blogger, for being difficult as usual!

The fireworks show at the Magic Kingdom was a great way to cap off our trip. Even though it was freezing outside, we really had a super time. It was fun seeing Tinkerbell whiz down from the castle like the frantic fairy she is and the fireworks were wonderful.

Okay, so maybe not everyone was thrilled to be there after the sun went down! Next time I'm going to bring winter parkas-- just in case!

Both Ruby and Maxwell had a great time playing at all the playgrounds. Jared wondered why we had to drive a zillion hours and pay oodles of money to play at the playground areas, but even I was glad to get some respite from the lines every now and again!

Phew! This buggy "ride" was quite a hoot! Max and Ruby weren't terribly thrilled with all the stuff that was sprayed at us over the course of the show, but Mom and Dad were impressed! There is so much variety in the quality of the rides throughout Disney--and this is one of the good ones. We also LOVED the Little Nemo show at Animal Kingdom. I wish we would have had time to see the Lion King show too because we heard it was wonderful. We'll have to save that for next time.

Ruby and Maxwell enjoyed the "zoo" aspect of Animal Kingdom, though Ruby's favorite part were the rides! She went on Everest with her Daddy and also the river rapids ride and thought both were great! Daddy's little daredevil...

Cheesy posin' in front of a waterfall with Susie while Daddy waits in line. Notice, Nana, that Ruby wore her zebra pants to Animal Kingdom--clever, huh?

It's a bird, it's a plane,... no it's my silly hubby posing at Hollywood Studios! We really got a kick out of this park and would have loved to see more if Ruby hadn't gotten sick. Instead we headed back to our condo mid-afternoon and had some much needed rest and Olympics watching. :)

Waiting in line for the Toy Story ride wasn't boring at all! We enjoyed seeing all the supersized toys, a talking Mr. Potato Head, and chatting with fellow line waiters. It's hard to get too grumpy at Disney World!

Our first day, we went to the Magic Kingdom. After arriving at 4am (due to an unforeseen snow storm) Jared and I were absolutely exhausted, but we still managed to spend a few hours at the park. Max's favorite rides were the Dumbo ride and the race cars! While Ruby and Daddy did Space Mountain we enjoyed the transit system in Tomorrowland. Max could have ridden that all day.

All in all, it was a great trip. The kids were great travelers and good sports... for the most part. Next time we hope Nana and Bobo or some of the kids' cousins will be able to enjoy the experience with us. And by next time I mean in five years or so!

Southern Pimento Cheese Burgers

2010-03-23T08:00:00.005-04:00

Yummo! These burgers from last year's Family Circle magazine were a big hit at a recent dinner party! The combination is a big unlikely, but trust me-- it is delicious! Serve with Sweet Potato Potato Salad and tall glass of Sweet Tea for a southern treat straight from Western North Carolina.

Southern Pimento Cheese Burgers

Pimento Cheese:
1 c. shredded extra-sharp cheddar cheese
1/3 c. shredded Monterey Jack cheese
3 T. mayonnaise
2 T. cream cheese, softened
2 oz. jarred diced pimento peppers, drained
1 T. bread and butter pickle juice
1/2 T. creamy horseradish sauce
1 tsp. yellow mustard

Honey Slaw:
2 T. mayonnaise
1 T. honey
1 1/4 c. shredded cabbage

Burgers:
1 1/4 lb. ground chunck
1/4 lb. ham, finely chopped
1/4 tsp. kosher salt
1/4 tsp. black pepper

8 slices bacon, cooked
1/2 c. crushed kettle-cooked potato chips
4 potato hamburger buns, split

Heat oven to 375F.
Pimento Cheese: In a medium bowl, combine all cheese ingredients. Mix until well combined.
Honey Slaw: In a small bowl, combine all slaw ingredients. Mix until well combined.
Burgers: Combine beef through pepper in a large bowl. Divide mixture into four patties. Cook burgers over grill or on a grill pan until internal temperature is 145F.
Meanwhile, place buns on oven rack. Toast 3 to 5 minutes.
Assembly suggestions: Spread a generous amount of Pimento Cheese on the cut sides of buns. on each bun bottom, place a thin layer of Honey Slaw. Top the slaw with a burger, two slices of bacon and crushed potato chips. Add the bun tops and bake in the oven 1 minute. Serve burgers on a warm plate.

5 Reasons I'm Thankful

2010-03-22T15:26:00.003-04:00

In the flurry of nesting, spring cleaning, and life in these crazy mountains, I decided that I needed to take a minute today to be thankful. I am blessed beyond measure... here are five wonderful reasons why.

I get to be married to this guy! I know, you're jealous ladies, but step back, this guy is mine! Jared makes me laugh every day. He's the best dad I've ever known. He's an amazing and considerate husband who puts my needs ahead of his on a daily basis. I love you, honey!

My baby girl, Ruby, isn't a baby anymore. She's a speed demon on her bicycle, a computer whiz, and a real sweetheart. We're so proud of how Ruby is growing up-- there has been a lot of letting go in little ways over the last few months and it's been good. Ruby has really been learning a lot over the last few months and is writing better every day. She'll be reading before we know it! Her favorite find of the spring has been the "Ramona" series by Beverly Cleary.

Talk about not a baby--Max is almost as tall as Ruby now and wearing a size 4T! He's still a sweet boy, but has learned how to stand up to his big sister now... before long Ruby better start watching out or he'll squash her! Max has loved riding his big wheel this spring and is always up for a hike. He's most anxious to start preschool in the fall though--looks like he may even get to be in the same class as one of his buddies from church!

When's that BABY due? Yes, I'm thankful for this new bean. He or she is an active little bugger at times and very quiet at others-- a mix of big brother and sister so far! With eleven weeks left to go, I'm feeling big (this photo was taken at my last dr's appointment last Wednesday by Ruby), but I have a good amount of energy and am thankful that once we got past the rocky 1st trimester, this pregnancy has been pretty easy.

Finally, I'm thankful that I don't look nearly so pregnant everywhere else as my belly does!

God is good all the time. I'm so thankful for Him in my life.

Our Little Gymnast!

2009-11-02T10:44:00.004-05:00

I'm not sure if I've been too busy, too sick, or just too tired, but obviously, I haven't been blogging! I thought the least I could do, however, was post this short video of Ruby at gymnastics. She's since moved up to the next class and really enjoying it.

Nelson Family- Fall 2009 (120 photos), by Bethany Nelson

2009-11-02T10:27:00.001-05:00

I'd like to share my Walgreens Photo Center photos with you. Once you have checked out my photos you can order prints and upload your own photos to share.

We have a new niece!!

2009-09-25T14:45:00.003-04:00

I am thrilled to announce the birth of my sweet niece, Luana Lynn Mafuiana!

Luana was cozy as could be in her Mama, Alyssa's tummy and did NOT want to come out (that sounds familiar...)! A week over due, she was born September 24th at 8:02am in Nelspruit, South Africa. Luana was 3.66kg and 51cm (that's 8lbs 1oz and 20 inches for the Americans!). She has lots of curly brown hair under her hat and dark grey eyes--what a cutie!

Alyssa did have to have an emergency c-section as Luana was in distress after eight hours of hard labor with very little progress. Both mother and daughter are doing well. Luana is a good eater and Alyssa is in good spirits. Claudio is a proud papa and loves his beautiful girl! Praise GOD for this precious life!

Congratulations, Claudio and Alyssa! We love you and pray God's blessings on your family!

Hot off the Grill!

2009-09-08T08:27:00.004-04:00

We had a fabulous Labor Day weekend, which will be chronicled here over the coming week, but for today, I thought I better get those yummy grill recipes from our party last week up and running. Enjoy your grill while you can!!

Grilled Marinated Shrimp
(printable recipe found here)

1 c. olive oil
1/4 c. chopped fresh parsley
1 lemon, juiced
2 T. hot pepper sauce
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 T. tomato paste
2 tsp. dried oregano
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. ground black pepper
2 lbs. large shrimp, peeled and deveined with tails attached
skewers

In a mixing bowl, mix together olive oil, parsley, lemon juice, hot sauce, garlic, tomato paste, oregano, salt and black pepper. Reserve about 1/4 of the mixture for basting later. Pour remaining marinade into a large resealable bag with shrimp. Seal and marinade in the refrigerator 2 hours.
Preheat grill for medium-low heat. Thread shrimp unto skewers, piercing once near the tail and once near the head. Discard marinade.
Lightly oil grate. Cook shrimp for 5 minutes per side, or until opaque, basting frequently with reserved marinade.

Unbelievable Chicken
(printable recipe found here)

1/4 c. cider vinegar
3 T. prepared coarse-ground mustard
3 cloves garlic, peeled and minced
1 lime, juiced
1/2 lemon, juiced
1/2 c. brown sugar
1 1/2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. ground black pepper
6 T. olive oil
6 chicken breasts

In a large glass bowl, mix the cider vinegar, mustard, garlic, lime juice, lemon juice, brown sugar, salt, and pepper. Whisk in the olive oil. Place chicken in the mixture. Cover, and marinate 8 hour, or overnight.
Preheat an outdoor grill for high heat.
Lightly oil the grill grate. Place chicken on the prepared grill and cook 6 minutes per side, until juices run clear. Discard marinade.

London Broil
(printable recipe found here)

3 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 c. soy sauce
2 T. vegetable oil
2 T. ketchup
1 tsp. dried oregano
1 tsp. ground black pepper
1 (2lb) flank, round, or "London Broil" steak

In a small bowl, mix together garlic, soy sauce, oil, ketchup, oregano, and black pepper. Pierce meat with a fork on both sides. Place meat and marinade in a large resealable plastic bag. Refrigerate 8 to 24 hours.
Preheat grill for medium-high heat.
Lightly oil the grill grate. Place steak on the grill and discard marinade. Cook for 5 to 8 minutes per side, depending on thickness. Do not over cook, as it is better on the rare side.

Stretch!

2009-09-03T09:54:00.005-04:00

It's been a while since we've had a Jared and Bethany update, so I thought, "Hey! Why not today!?"

Jared and I have been almost frantically busy this summer on one house project after another. I think I'll wait to give the long tale of remodelling until I get around to taking some photos. But, just to make a short list of our projects:

Paver sidewalk and patio
Radon remediation system for the crawl space
Kids rooms have been painted and "decorated"
Kids bathroom has been gutted of old towel bars, mirror, shower doors, faucets, and now has a fresh coat of paint, shower curtain, new faucet and shower head, as well as new towel bars. A cheap, but effective redo until we want to tear up flooring, vanity, toilet, etc.
Master bedroom has had the popcorn removed, took down the vertical blinds, painted and put in a fancy new ceiling fan.
Living room and dining room have had the vertical blinds removed and been painted
The kitchen has been painted, all new hardware, new deep sink, new garbage disposal, new refrigerator, and range.

Next on the list is all new flooring, some hardwood and some carpet, but it will be a while before we do that. The appliances weren't exactly part of the plan at this point, so we'll be saving for a while before we get rid of the classy blue carpet and cracking tile in the kitchen... So far, though, it's really coming together and really starting to feel like our home. I will be busy sewing this year to make some personal touches, but we have time.

Jared has also started a small group for Dads through our church. The group has been working their way through Chip Ingram's series Effective Parenting in a Defective World and has had some good times together. I'm so thankful that Jared has taken the initiative to start the group that I'm sure will be a blessing to everyone who is part of it.

Jared has also become Mr. Social at work (big surprise!) and has been busy organizing lunches out, as well as a big house party here last weekend. We had a blast! I will be posting some of my winning recipes from that get together next week...

Meanwhile, I have been trying to get plugged in to ministry in my own way. I am on the steering team for MOPS of Brevard this year and am looking forward to getting to know the ladies in the group and serving them however I can. We have a lot of struggling moms here, just like everywhere else, so I'm sure that it will be an exciting year to see how God will work. I'm also a small group leader for the kindergarten Sunday School class. Last week was the first week and I covet your prayers for this new experience. Kindergarten is tough and a class with 3 girls and about 15 boys makes it that much tougher! Pray that God would use me to show these kids his love. Finally, I will be joining a Ladies Bible study Fridays that I am really looking forward to! It's based on some of the Deeper Still material looking at the life of David and should be really fantastic.

So, that's us in a nutshell. Busy, busy, and very blessed.

Burgers and Poppers

2009-09-01T09:20:00.001-04:00

I have two recipes that are sorta Pioneer Woman's and sorta just ours. (please note, though that the photos are all hers, isn't she amazing!?) Either way, these recipes are filled with artery clogging goodness that I'm guessing no one in their right mind would miss out on. Seriously. This is GOOD STUFF!

Our New Favorite Burger

2 pounds 80/20 Ground Beef
Texas Pete's Hot Sauce
1 Red Onion, sliced
Crumbled Feta Cheese
Real Mayonnaise
Cajun seasoning, to taste
2 Tbsp. Brown Sugar
Kaiser Rolls
Your favorite lettuce (or not)
Butter
Salt and pepper

Mix up the ground beef with 1 tsp. salt and 1/2 tsp. ground black pepper. Add a few dashes of hot sauce. Form the burgers into desired number of patties-- sixish is always about right for us.
In a medium skillet over LOW heat, melt 2 Tbsp. butter. Dump in the sliced red onion, then add the 2 Tbsp. brown sugar. Toss to combine the ingredients, then allow the onions to caramelize for about 20 minutes, tossing occasionally.
While the onions are caramelizing, make the spicy mayo by combining 1/4 cup mayonnaise with a few shakes of Cajun seasoning. Taste test for perfection!
Grill the burgers over MED / MED-HI heat. When they're almost done, lightly grill butter buns.
To assemble the burgers, spread the buns with spicy mayo, then burger, then caramelized onions, then crumbled feta, then greens (if you wish). Enjoy!!

Bacon-Wrapped Jalapeno Poppers

10+ jalapenos
Bacon, thinly sliced
1 (80z) pkg 1/3 less fat cream cheese
2 green onions, minced
1 tsp. Cajun seasoning
Apricot jam

Preheat oven to 375F.
Combine cream cheese, green onions, and Cajun seasoning in a small bowl.
Prepare the jalapenos by slicing in half lengthwise, removing the seeds and white membrane. (You may want to wear gloves for this.)
Next, fill the jalapenos halfway with cheese mixture, then a bit of apricot jam, then wrap the whole thing in half a slice of bacon, securing with a toothpick.
Bake on a pan with a rack for 20 minutes at 375F. If the bacon isn't crisp enough at this point, turn on the broiler for a few minutes to finish them off. Youcan also grill these puppies, but be prepared for a bit of mess and some flare-ups!

NOTE: For make ahead goodness, these can be frozen once assembled for use at a later date. Also, you will likely have leftover cheese--this is great on crackers or just save it for when you're craving these puppies again-- like tomorrow!

First Day of School!

2009-08-31T13:52:00.009-04:00

Time sure does fly. I can hardly believe that four years have flown by so quickly! But, believe it or not, our family took a big step this last week, we moved into the school years...

Ruby Rae started preschool last Wednesday and was VERY excited. Ruby will be attending the First Baptist W.E.E. School in Brevard three mornings a week (MWF). Before setting off for her first day, Jared and I coerced Ruby into a short photo shoot to commemorate the big day! (I mean, we'd probably be in pretty deep doo doo if we didn't get first day of school snapshots!)

The week before school started, we went to an open house in her classroom to meet her teacher and see the classroom. Ruby was at home right away (as was Max!), while Jared and I worked on reams of paperwork. After a while, Ruby came over to us and said, "Why are you guys still here!?" Apparently, we're no longer needed!

Jared and I also got a good chuckle when one boy shouted out across the room with his super southern accent, "Miz Baaaaab, eye thank wer gonner haf ter fix thas!". Oh my!

For the first two days (Monday and Wednesday) the class was divided into two so that her teacher, Mrs. Babb, could get to know the children a little better. Ruby, whose first day was Wednesday, was the only girl that showed up that day, but it didn't seem to bother her at all. I guess there are quite of few payoffs for having a little brother!

According to Ruby, the highlights of her first day included: playing on the playground, having chocolate chip cookies for snack time, and NOT getting a time out. Also, there was a lot of talk about "Wedder Bear". Let me tell you, it took me an age and a half to figure out she was trying to say "Weather Bear"! It was too funny! So, apparently Weather Bear tells the children the weather for the day by pointing to sunny, cloudy, rainy, or snowing. I have a feeling Weather Bear points to rainy an awful lot around here.

Friday, I squeezed a bit more information out of her...

1. They had to play inside because it was too wet outside.

2. "Wedder" Bear had been moved and was now pointing to rainy and cloudy.

3. They did not have chocolate chip cookies, but some other kind of cookie.

4. They, once again, had apple juice. And Ruby DOES NOT WANT APPLE JUICE! (I advised her that a simple "no thank you" would work nicely to remedy that problem.)

5. She didn't get a time out, though two boys did.

6. They watched part of a penguin movie.

7. She drew a lovely family portrait including all of us, even "our little pup Hazel".

Today, Ruby's third day of school, she was still all smiles. Here is today's report:

1. She didn't get a time out today!

2. She had music class today, and no, they did not sing, play instruments, or dance. Hmmm...

3. They had cupcakes today! It was someone's birthday--hurray!!

And that about covers her report. After that she was pretty urgent about getting some lunch, which is understandable after all that hard preschoolin'!

I'm sure that the coming year will bring lots of funny stories and we're very exicited about this new stage of life. Max and I are having a great time enjoying some time together on our own and Ruby couldn't be happier.

Life is good.

Cute Quotes

2009-08-28T13:49:00.000-04:00

Ruby: I've got an idea Max!

Max: Wha' Wuby?

Ruby: Let's play Princess and the Pea! Do you want to be the pea?!

Kayaking the French Broad!

2009-08-19T07:29:00.006-04:00

Several weeks ago, we were invited to join Jared's boss, Roger, and his family for a day of kayaking and decided to take him up on it! Here are a few photos from the trip...

On our way! Jared had Max sitting on his lap in his kayak and Ruby sat up front with Hazel running here and there in mine.

Ruby had a great time while I floundered a bit trying to figure out how to paddle without ending up stranded on the rocks!

Fun in the sun!

Ruby decided to take a turn paddling. When it became clear that we were destined to float down the river backwards under loads of low branches that MAY have snakes in them I decided to take over again.

Daddy and Max, cruisin'!

Ruby and Hazel hanging out. Hazel was up, down, in and out on the trip. She only jumped out of the boat once and apparently she CAN swim (or at least doggy paddle, haha!).

We saw a lot of pretty sights along our four hour paddle (with stops), but the paddling by the Biltmore was pretty great. At least until I almost tipped the boat while ogling the Segway tour group! Oh, and then I dropped my new camera into a puddle at the bottom of the boat. Yes, I was on a roll...

So, that brought an abrupt end to the picture taking (though it turned out that the camera is fine thankfully!), but it was a great trip! We hope to try it again... maybe this fall with the changing colors.

Blueberry Sour Cream Pie

2009-08-18T07:01:00.003-04:00

I got this delicious recipe from one of my college pals, Carrie Williams, and made it for Jared's small group meeting yesterday. I think it was a big hit!! Thanks, Carrie!

Also, this is my photo, which doesn't give this pie the credit it deserves. I seem to be a hopeless food photographer. But on to the recipe!

Blueberry Sour Cream Pie

Crust:

Use your favorite recipe, a crumb crust, or refrigerator dough.

Filling:

1 c. sour cream

3/4 c. sugar

2 1/2 T. all-purpose flour

1 egg

3/4 tsp. almond extract

1/4 tsp. salt

2 1/2 c. fresh blueberries

Topping:

6 T. all-purpose flour

1/4 c. chilled unsalted butter, cut up

1/3 c. chopped pecans

2 T. sugar

Preheat oven to 400F.
Line 9" pie plate with pie crust dough.
Filling: Mix sour cream, flour, egg, almond extract, and salt in a medium bowl to blend. Fold in blueberries. Spoon into crust. Bake until filling is almost set, about 25-30 minutes. Remove from oven.
Topping: Using fingertips, mix the flour and butter in a medium bowl until small clumps form. Mix in the pecans and sugar. Spoon topping over pie. Return to oven and bake until topping browns lightly, about 12 minutes. Cool pie to room temperature.

Enjoy!

Bear with me...

2009-08-11T12:40:00.005-04:00

Y'all... ( I can say that now since we in live the South) this has been QUITE a morning!

The good news is that we are getting a new refrigerator and range. The bad news is we are getting a new refrigerator and range. Murphy's Law has been hard at work around our house. Since we've moved in we have had to replace the garbage disposal (covered by our home warranty), the heating element in the oven (also covered by aforementioned warranty), our laptop has required a new motherboard, memory, and keyboard (still covered under its warranty!), our new TV needs to be repaired (supposedly covered by its warranty), and now sometime yesterday our fridge died (NOT covered under our home warranty). Now, I really should have caught on to the fact that the fridge was getting warmer yesterday, but with the noise level in our house and the general heat and humidity, I just thought, "Hmm, I guess that temperature knob got bumped again." I'm here to tell you--it didn't.

In the whole "isn't life funny" kind of way things work, Jared also replaced our kitchen sink last night. It's a beautiful sink that I'm sure we are going to enjoy, unfortunately he realized at about 10pm last night that he was going to need some adapters to get water actually flowing. Imagine my panic this morning when I realized I had a whole fridge full of rotting food and no sink to wash things up! I would like to say that I was cool as a cucumber, but everyone would know I was lying, so why bother.

So, at 8am this morning Jared, the kiddos, and I were rolling into Lowe's. We decided to go ahead a just replace the range at the same time as the fridge so they'll match and plunked down our $2K+ all before 9am. That's tough to do before breakfast. My super hubby also fixed the sink so I was able to wash and rinse and dispose of OODLES of stuff. Now my fridge is empty and my garage freezer, trash barrels, and compost pile are stuffed. But the job is done and tomorrow I'll have a beautiful new fridge and range--yea!!

All that said, forgive me if there's no Tasty Tuesday. The only thing I'm going to be "cooking" today are peanut butter and jelly sandwiches... and I'm pretty sure you already have that recipe.

I'm not invited...

2009-08-07T08:00:00.002-04:00

This is why you might not want to invite me to your wedding. And no, there was absolutely not one drop of alcohol in the building or my body. It's just me... trying to win $100,000 on AFV... and not succeeding.