Cowboy Carsen and my favorite gift

Okay..it's happened. I am 39. Wow. That really sounds old. I don't (thankfully!) feel that old (most days) And to my friends that are over 40...YOU all don't look old!
(sorry, it just SOUNDS old :)

My favorite gifts: a new "cow" coffee mug

And a "band-aid" gun. Why? Because I'm sure I'm the only one in the world with one hand-made by my favorite cowboy. Love that little dude. Love all eight dudes...oh and the big dude too :)

Up, Up and A-"weigh"

Marie asked this morning if she could weigh herself. I've been holding off on bringing them into the Dr. until:

a) our new insurance started Jan 4

b) it's closer to the very first Dr. visit they had so I can see how much they've all grown

I had jotted down on a piece of paper their weights the first week they were home.
Marie was 61# (kind of light for a 10 yr old don't you think?)

Well...this morning the scale said almost 81#. Can it be she gained 20# in just under a year??? I'm sure she's grown at least 3 inches. We've noticed the most dramtic change in her size....the other two are really growing as well. Josie still looks like a little thing to me though. She's 6 and her 4 yr old brother is heavier than she is. She will have as many 2nds or 3rds (turds as they call them :) as everyone else...although she is finally realizing her tummy hurts when she eats that much!

I'll post official weights after their yearly check-ups. Can't wait to get the shots all done!

Got Coffee?

I LOVE this picture. Carsen could be Starbuck's poster child. He does usually climb up there each morning and watch it drip out. He knows I don't start breakfast until after I've had my coffee!
Today he burnt his hand (I'm always telling him) and he was really mad at the "dumb" coffee maker!

By George...I Think She's GOT It!!!

Marie can read the page below!
(I really don't like this book. Never have finished it with
anyone! But if it's working for her...we'll keep doing it)


Marie, Isaac and Josie have been in our home almost a year now. Marie has prayed nightly to be able to read...and she IS finally reading! (double pump arms up in the air!!!)
I almost pulled my hair out with a huge Dick and Jane book last month. I was sure she was just memorizing words because she could say them in one sentence...and on the next page she would say something totally off (it still happens sometimes) But she is really, really reading and we're SO proud of her!

Pictures of the "rescue"

Angel #2 perking up...eating and drinking. She's a rather ugly looking bird--looks
more like a black crow!
Everyone's pretty concerned.
Transported to the house in an oatmeal container!

Operation Save-A-Chicken

Today the girls went out to chore and found one of our little "babies" (that isn't really a baby anymore) all fluffed up and shivering. (do chickens shiver??) I believed them. It is SO cold out. So I suggested they bring it down to the basement to warm up by the wood stove. We are hillbillies ya'all.
I have a feeling he'll be living down there until this cold snap passes. How could I let a chicken the kids just named "Angel" freeze to death? :)

Schools and classes have been cancelled today. We're taking a day off too.
Temps will drop to -20 tonight. I am so thankful our furnace got fixed (for the second time yesterday)

Lunch wasn't exciting. It's usually a combination of left-overs (black bean taco soup) from the night before and something else...which in this case was more left-overs from a few nights ago (rice/red palm oil and fish and cornbread)
I think the big girls are making their own meal!

Today for breakfast I tried something different. It sure smelled good. I'm trying to decide if I'll make it again...probably. I really should have let it cool more before cutting it (I have a problem with that!)
Here it is:

Gingerbread Oatmeal
6 c. oatmeal
4 eggs
2 c. milk
1 c. melted coconut oil (I know you're cringing at that mom!) It's GOOD for you-really!
1/2 c. molasses
4 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. each cinnamon and ginger
1/2 tsp allspice (wouldn't really need this)

Combine dry ingredients then mix in the wet. Stir unil moistened. It will be pretty thick. Spread in a buttered/greased 9x13 pan (not sure if you need to do this with all the oil but I didn't want to scrape it out burnt)
Bake 30 minutes until brown around the edges.
COOL before cutting. (it smells wonderful!)

During lunch I threw about 8-10# of potatoes in the oven to bake. I have the BEST baked potato soup recipe I"ll post soon.

I'm still trying to figure out menu planning/grocery shopping with a large family. I read other people's blogs and they make it sound so easy and effortless.
The whole "planning" thing (ie charts/schedules) just isn't in me!
Maybe that's when you stick a kid on that project.
I'm convinced they will be cooking more meals...although I DO really enjoy doing that (when I know ahead of time what I'm doing)

If you don't believe me...trust the weatherman!

First the snow, now the wind. Northwest winds are pushing in behind a storm system that brought several inches of snow to the state. These winds are causing blizzard and near blizzard conditions as the visibilities are being reduced to ¼ or less. Travel is not advised tonight as blowing and drifting of snow will continue. Temperatures will also plummet and wind chills will fall into the -20° to -30° degree range overnight. For the latest warnings, advisories and watches head to our winter weather page. Stay with KCRG TV-9 and KCRG.com for updates on our latest round of wintry weather.


Blizzard Warning
Blizzard Watch
Winter Storm Warning
Winter Weather Advisory
Wind Chill Advisory

Waiting for the storm....

Right now we have almost every possible winter storm warning known to man (except ice)
The snow is falling and by tonight we'll have 40+mph winds and windchills down to -30.
I really don't like winter. The snow is beautiful but I don't like staying in (even a walk to the mailbox sounds harsh!)

At least I've been to the store so we're not hurting for groceries (except poor Charlie is out of food) He'd rather eat eggs and meat anyway! Spoiled dog.

I have black bean soup and a chicken simmering on the stove. I'm still trying to achieve the perfect loaf of bread. Right now I'm sure it's the flour's fault. I figured out I shouldn't be using soft winter wheat because that's more for cakes/baking. I can fiddle with the recipe and get decent, edible loaves for now. Who knew there are so many choices for wheatberries???!!! (and dough enhancers..and gluten...blah blah)

I'm really loving a cookbook called Whole Foods for the Whole Family (by La Leche League) It's a little hard to find but worth it.

A website I love when I have something in my cupboard but don't know what to cook is www.allrecipes.com (this is for you, Denise :)
It even re-figures the recipe when you change the serving size. Pretty nifty.

We're working through loads of laundry today. Not getting much school done but the kids have been having a great time playing outside. I think we'll do a little more reading and call it a day.

Yummy (and healthy) Peanut Butter Bars

I've finally found a bar/snack that is healthy and everyone likes! I wouldn't even feel bad eating a few pieces for breakfast :)

1 c. oats
1 c. very hot water
(soak oats in the water)

1/2 c. butter (one stick) softened
1/2 c. honey
1 egg
1 c. whole wheat flour (yes...embarassingly enough I did just grind it :0) But I still have my pj's on and it's 4:12 pm...does that make you feel better?
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/3 c. peanut butter
1 tsp. vanilla

Cream butter, honey and egg. Add oat mixture and rest of ingredients. Mix well. Spread in a 9x13 pan. Bake at 350 for 15-18 minutes. I think mine were a little underbaked but they were browning around the edges. Cool on wire rack...then cut into bars.
This recipe says 36 servings. Right. Maybe 12 in our house.

New recipe--Love it!

I have a new soup recipe (we eat ALOT of soup around here now) that everyone likes--except Carsen. Isn't there always someone???

I make a huge double batch (double below) You can freeze it...eat it over rice...lunch....dinner....whatever.

Introducing: Bree's Lentil-Tomato Soup (I have no idea who Bree is!)

1 T. olive oil or butter
2 c. chopped onions (I don't use this much--sometimes not any--someone is picky)
1 tsp tumeric (wouldn't really need this..but if you have it go for it)
1 tsp cumin (I add extra)
1 tsp chili powder (add extra)
1 tsp cayenne (don't add this much unless you like it pretty spicy!)
1/4 tsp each salt & pepper
2 garlic cloves (I bought it in a jar...and add alot more :) Couple Tbl. spoons
3 1/3 c. water
2 1/3 c. lentils (a package)
1/3 c chopped cilantro (a must)
3 (14 1/2 oz) cans chicken broth (I use the large can)
1 (28 0z) can diced tomaotes, undrained

Heat oil and saute onion. Then add rest of spices. Saute for 1 minute (to release the flavors don't ya know!)
Add the rest of ingredients. Boil then reduce heat. Simmer 1 hour.

Reserve a couple of cups mixture and blend/puree the rest until smooth. Combine it all again and serve!

Quote for the New Year....

Ralph Waldo Emerson said, “What lies behind us and what lies before us are small matters compared to what lies within us”.

I would much rather think about the next thing or worry that someone else should change than take a close look at my heart.

This New Year there are many things I want to change and improve on....but the biggest, most important thing is my relationship and time spent with Jesus. All the other things are really trivial and distractions compared to spending time with Him. He will change me from the inside out. Something I can never do on my own.

Because in the end...nothing else will matter except who I am in Him and what I do because of Him.