Some holiday cooking going on...

Tonight I am making potato soup- easy and looks good. I'll let you know:

6 baked potatoes, cooled
2 cans chicken broth
4 TBS sour cream
Pepper, bacon bits, shredded cheese, green onions

Peel potatoes. Cut in cubes. Place 1/2 of the potatoes in a blender, add broth, and blend until smooth. Pour into sauce pan, stir in sour cream, pepper, and remaining potatoes. Cook over low heat until heated. (don't boil) Garnish with cheese, bacon, and gr. onions.

We just finished making some White Chocolate Trash! Maybe there will be some to share with friends after we all keep walking by "sampling" some.


Thursday night- I'm cooking Chicken Enchiladas, Spanish rice, and black beans



Christmas Eve- For breakfast I am making a new breakfast casserole:
16 oz. pork sausage
12 eggs
1 can cr. of mushroom
1 1/2 cup milk
4.5 oz sliced mushrooms
1/2 cup shredded cheese
32 oz hash browns

Cook sausage. Drain. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease 9x13 pan. In large bowl, beat eggs, cream of mushroom, and milk. Stir in sausage and mushrooms. Mix in hashbrowns. Bake in pan for 45 - 50 minutes. Sprinkle with cheese and cook 10 more minutes.

Christmas Eve is one of our FAVORITE nights as a family! After Candlelight service, we have a huge celebration at my neice's house with family and friends. Santa even comes to visit!



On the menu for the night is brisket, potato salad, pinto beans, creamy corn casserole, green beans, rolls, and loads of desserts, chips and dip. YUM!!!! This is different from our usual Mexican fiesta, but I have a feeling we will LOVE this meal just as much! My nephew and dad will be smoking the brisket all day and I know this will good for my Dad. He hasn't had very much time the past few years to do that kind of thing, so I'm excited for him to be more involved!





One recipe I'm over is: Corn Casserole

Lg bag of frozen corn. Heat in skillet with 16 oz. cream cheese. Add diced ham, 4 oz. chopped jalepenos (drained) 1/2 beer, and I add about a cup of cheese. Mix well. Put in 9 x 13 pan and bake at 350 for about 20 minutes. Top with cheese and bake until melted. It is delicious!!

I'll update Christmas cooking later.

I Love you Mom!

My sweet momma went home to be with the Lord on December 11, 2010. All the family was there with her as she took her last breath. It is a time I will always remember. The last few days with her were filled with reminders of how much we loved her and gratitude for all she has given each of us during our life. I'm thankful for that time we were given. This whole experience has been somewhat surreal. I keep thinking, "Did this all really happen?" It is somewhat of a fog. Mom had battled with Parkinson's disease for many years and we knew the end was drawing near. As prepared as we thought we were, we really weren't. It is never easy to say good bye. I'm so blessed with great friends and family to help me through this challenging time. I am so thankful for the years I had with mom and the legacy she left behind to each of us. I look forward to seeing her beautiful face again and holding her precious hand!!

Weekly Menu

Monday- Dump Soup (yes, that is what my friend calls it)
small onion Black Beans (drained)
bell pepper Kidney Beans (drained)
2 cans chicken broth
2 cans Mexican Rotel
Rotisserie Chicken
2 cups corn
cilantro
cumin
Saute onion and bell pepper in vegetable oil for about 5 minutes in the soup pot.
Mix in the rest of the ingredients and cook till th0roughly heated. It is delicious! Especially great for cold nights!

Tuesday- Easy Weeknight Beef Enchiladas and Spanish Rice

Wednesday- Meatball Hoagies

Thursday- Chicken Spaghetti and salad (I'll post the recipe later)

Friday- Dinner with friends

Saturday- grilling out

Sunday- Christmas party with my small group

I am blessed!!

I am so excited about Thanksgiving! 40 of our family members are getting together tomorrow to eat and celebrate together!! I know the day will be full of great stories and lots of laughter and delicious food! I am working on being intentional about being thankful this holiday season!

So, an early Thankful Thursday!!

I am especially thankful to my Lord and Savior who loves me unconditionally and accepts me as I am. Me, who had nothing to offer, is a child of His. I am blessed!

To my parents that helped mold me into the person I am today. For sacrificing to give me everything I could possibly want, but especially loving me, supporting me, teaching me, and giving me a wonderful family. I am blessed!

For an amazing husband that I just don't have enough words to show my gratitude. He is everything to me. He is my best friend, the love of my life, the one I laugh with, cry with, get mad at, pout and he loves me just the same! He is the most thoughtful, caring, kind person I know. He does so much to make my days better. He is such a wonderful father! I love him more every day. He is so funny and so much fun to hang out with! I am blessed!

For my children that have enriched our lives more than they will ever know. Ashlyn's smile, laughter, stories, and personality make me smile. She has such a joy for life and a love for God that I love to watch grow. Reece is such an amazing boy. His personality is loving, kind, funny, gives me a hard time and all boy too. He reminds me of what is really important in life. I also love his stories and descriptions of things in his life. He makes me laugh. I am blessed!

For in laws that have accepted me and included me in everything like I am their own. They are so kind and caring and loving and helpful. They are wonderful Christian examples to my family. I am blessed!

For my sisters that are a part of me. They are there to listen, to give advice, to laugh with me, cry with me, or lead me down the correct path. We have so many wonderful memories and I enjoy all our times together.

For all of my extended family that are such a joy to be around!

For my friends that have become like family. They are such an important part of my life!

All of these family and friends touch my life in so many wonderful ways. My life would not be the same without them. They have helped shape me into the person I have become and share a part of my journey. Many people tell me how blessed I am to have such a great family and I have to agree. I am definitely BLESSED!!!

God, thank you so much for the rich blessings you have given me!! Thank you for my sweet family and friends. Shower them with your love. Use me to touch their lives! In Jesus name I pray.

My reason for smiling...

Thankful Thursday with a Twist!

I read something the other day that really got me to thinking. During this time of year, people focus on what they are thankful for in their lives and this is certainly a great thing!! We are thankful for our family, our health, our home, kids, etc. Well, the article I read suggests finding something that is typically a challenge or work and find some way to be thankful for it. For example: I'm thankful for laundry, it means I have clothes to wear! So although I am definitely so thankful for so many blessings in my life that I try to post throughout the weeks, I am looking for things to be thankful for in the more challenging or not so easy moments!

Here goes:

I am thankful for having to cook and clean the kitchen because that means I have a family to share meals with.

I am thankful for my aging parents because that means they are still around for me to hug on, visit with, and love!

I am thankful for homework with my kids because that is time I get to spend with them helping them learn.

I am thankful for bills to pay because that means I have a home and car to drive.

I am thankful for drama in my children's lives because it gives me a chance to help them "grow." (this is a really hard one!!)

I am thankful for laundry because that means we have clothes to wear.

I am thankful for chaotic evenings because that means we are involved in things around us!

What is something you are thankful for??

Opening Weekend

Reece shooting at the target.


Getting tips from her dad.


He loves riding around on the 4 wheeler!



Ash took this of us after the guys pulled the truck out of the mud I got it stuck in!!!

We enjoyed a great weekend at our deer lease this past opening weekend! The weather was absolutely PERFECT!! What a great time out by the campfire, visiting, roasting marshmallows, and just relaxing. The kids love riding around and enjoying time around the camp. For me, I enjoy not having to "do" anything. I get to visit and read, which are two of my favorite things to do!!! Keith did not get a deer, but that is ok. The time spent with my family made the trip wonderful to me!!!