Our Gourmet Dinner

Rachel started taking a liking to cooking when she was 9.  I was doing daycare at the time, and she would make breakfast for the daycare kiddos.  It was usually pancakes/waffles or baked oatmeal.  She loved making smoothies and cookies too.  Now she is bumping up her confidence and trying her hand at making suppers.  I love that she has no fear, and nothing is off limits.  Tonight she decided to make venison sausage (one of our favorite meals that we eat weekly), Pioneer Woman's twice baked new potatoes, and her whiskey glazed carrots.

The funniest part of the whole night was when she sent me a text asking me to stop at the liquor store for some whiskey.  Ummm, excuse me???

She did get some help from Dad, but I thoroughly enjoyed putting my feet up and watching TV while they cooked.  SCORE!

The Girls' Craft Room

With three girls, crafting is as much a part of our lives as bathing.  It's a necessity.   I love seeing the different projects they come up with.  I don't, however, like seeing the mess they create in my kitchen!  I decided it was high time for them to have their own space.  In our third level, we have the family room finished, but none of the other rooms.  My office has sat idle for a few years,  and has been more of a dumping ground than anything else.  I took everything out (the things I could move, that is.) and created a space for them.

I still have to buy another craft table, but this works for now.  The big frame was given to me by my girlfriend who was going to Goodwill it.  It had different types of herbs in each window.  I took it apart and made it into a crafty  window now (one of the pics has fallen down and I need to fix it).  

Being that it is in an unfinished space, I wanted lots of color.  One of the things I love about creating something new, is shopping around the house to see what will fit.  Most everything I had, but I did buy the cute colored baskets on their tables as Crafts Direct for $5.  I think I might keep the desk, as it has a lot of storage for their crafts.

I love knowing that they can make anything in there, and do what they want...paint, scrapbook, color and just plain ole play!

I am amazed at how much they have created already.  I have a basket filled with odds and ends that is their favorite.  Lots of creativity flowing here!

It's Snowing....Again.....

This week we are enduring our 150th snowstorm.  From the month of April.  Seriously.  I am trying to stay positive and taking advantage of my day off by cooking.  So many good recipes, and so little time.  I decided to watch one of my all time favorite movies while in the kitchen...Julie and Julia.  Love, love, love this movie.  

I re-pinned this recipe from Pinterest and decided to make them for the girls snack this afternoon.  Oh my....they were scrumptious.  So scrumptious, that I am contemplating eating another before they get home....

They are mini apple pies, with caramel.  Oh yes I did.  The girls will be thrilled, and I will make Mom of the Year (I was demoted last Saturday, as I forgot Alayna had a birthday party, oops....) again.

You have to try them!  I also have monkey bread going dough doing in the bread machine for Miss Emma's birthday breakfast for tomorrow morning.  Supper tonight is Rachael Ray's Mediterranean Chicken, with sauteed green beans and homemade bread.  It's gonna be good!!

Menu Plan Monday

It's that time again, to join Organizing Junkie's Menu Plan Monday.  Last week was a busy week, and was very happy to have some freezer meals to rely on.  I also decided to make Indian food one night.  We had Chicken Curry, Garlic Carrot Rice and Naan.  It was one of my favorite meals EVER!  Everything was so flavorful, even the family liked it all.  Of course I didn't think to take a pic until after my plate was licked clean....

This week is all about Rachael Ray.  I looooooove her magazine, so this week I found all RR recipes to try.

Monday:  Mediterranean Chicken and homemade french bread

Tuesday:  Emma Jo's birthday!!  Out for supper

Wednesday: Pasta with Grape Tomatoes, Ham and Peas 

Thursday:  Tex Mex Bacon Cheeseburgers with fries

                             Friday:  Prayers.  Yes, I will be needing prayers on Friday, Emma is having 6 girls overnight.  Six emotional, dramatic, loud, crazy girls.  This is my first time with this many girls.  If you would like to send some wine along with the prayers, I won't object.  Just sayin...

So, that's my week, what does your look like?

The Good Life

We moved to the country seven years ago, and love it.  Having the privacy, the quiet and wildlife has been refreshing.  The downside?   Critters.  Of the furry kind.  If you happen to be my step mom, please close this browser and find a website for quilting or gardening...thank you.

Having a kitty is a must, they are pretty amazing at finding these said critters.  Maci has been staring lovingly at the stove for a few weeks again (we just caught a mouse 2 months ago, *sigh*...), so I knew it was inevitable.

A few nights ago, Brad and I got the girls to bed and decided to enjoy the hot tub.  Unfortunately Brad forgot to turn the alarm system off, so the girls got a rude awakening.  After settling them down, we were just about to step outside when Maci comes tearing up the stairs with what I thought was her play mouse. Ohhhhh no, it's real.  She's tossing it in the air and batting it around.  Right in front of us.  Brad grabs a broom to whomp the mouse, but almost knocked Maci out.  Brad-0, mouse-1.

We'll get him, you just wait.

Gratituesday

Happy Wednesday everyone!  It's been a crazy busy week around here with kids activities almost everyday so far.  Thankfully we are alllllllllmost done with activities, for at least a month.  Monday I celebrated my birthday, I actually had the day off, and enjoyed just hanging out at home getting caught up.  Of course by mid afternoon everything halted and my eyes were glued to the television.  Such sadness and anger we are all feeling, and for what?  I guess we will never know.  Head over to Jennifer's blog, Smelling Coffee, she had an amazing post that really hit home with me.

God Bless!

Linking up to:  Gratituesday

Volleyball

This is what consumes our life from September-April.  Well, this and dance.  Oh, and gymnastics. And orchestra.  And Girl Scouts.  And beer.  Wait, beer??  Sorry, that one just slipped....

I have so enjoyed watching Rachel play volleyball this year.  Her 5th & 6th grade team only lost 2 games all season, they played amazing!  In November they all tried out for a JO (Junior Olympic) team.  Rachel was one of two girls in group to not make it.  It was horribly devastating.  For her and for me.  My heart broke to see her so upset.  But I tell you what, this kid took it in stride.  She was sad for about 3-4 days, and then she told me she was done being sad and ready to work hard to make it next year!  Wowsers.  I was still drowning my sorrows in chocolate and ice cream when I figured it was time for me to get over it too.

She tried out for another JO team the end of January and made that (it's a short season team).  They have improved a ton since they started, and even though they haven't won a lot of games, they are so positive!  The cool thing is how supportive her friends have been.  They send her texts all the time to wish her good luck.  Love that!  Rachel also got the chance to be a team manager for 17s JO team (her babysitter is on that team and asked her).  She travels with them and has loved every second of it!

Even though it's a lot of running, we have enjoyed every second watching her play.  She is such a positive, hard working player!