Give us a smile!

   Firstborn shies from my camera..so it's hard to get one of him smiling, 

but I don't give up.

 He does a good job of ignoring my pleas to "look over here".  And he loves to wear a brooding scowl.

 Here he is waiting for Scout to get the camera ready for family pics on Thanksgiving Day.

Finally!  

Caught in the act of smiling. 

Firstborn turns 23 in a few days and is going through a rough patch.  Seeing a picture of him smiling reminds me that there can be bright days ahead for him.

Gina

Mealplan Monday #42 and the end of Winter Break

I spent last Tuesday and Wednesday taking down Christmas at our house.  I gave myself two days to do it  because I clean and organize as I pack it away.

But I left up a few things that say winter to me 

Monday - Pinto and Pork Chops crock pot, corn muffins
Tuesday - Bacon waffles, eggs, OJ
Wednesday - Chicken noodle soup (using up grilled chicken and leftover pasta)
Thursday - Pulled pork for tacos, Spanish rice, lettuce, tomato
Friday - One Pot Spaghetti, salad
Saturday - Dad grill
Sunday - Brisket (from Thanksgiving!), skillet fries, corn

Gina

The best gift of all

One day before Christmas, all four kids went "shopping" - or so they told their dad.

I was at work, and only knew they were out and about.  So I texted Scout that a great idea for a gift would be a pic of all four of them together.

Little did I know that that's exactly what they were doing!

The Girl said they had a little chuckle after reading my text.

 

You give but little when you give of your possessions.  

It is when you give of yourself that you truly give. 

 ~Kahlil Gibran, The Prophet

Gina

Mealplan Monday #41 and Happy Birthday, Bubbie!

Wow.41 meal plans later.

It was a year full of cooking for sure.  Maybe I will figure out a way to get all of those plans on a rotating schedule for when I just cannot think of what to cook.  Or don't want to think that hard. 

 Either way.

This was Bubbie's birthday cake on Christmas night - red velvet cake with Cool Whip Frosting, French vanilla pirouette cookies, coconut...it was weirdly wonderful.  

Monday - Fire-roasted Tomato Beef, rice, lima beans
Tuesday - Swedish Ham Balls, skillet cabbage, black-eyed peas, bubbly
Wednesday - Broccoli/chicken pot pie with homemade pie crust 
Thursday - Crockpot Country Veggies with Smoked Sausage, cornbread
Friday - Freezer pizza, salad
Saturday - Dad grills
Sunday - Leftover Chicken Tortilla soup, chips and queso.

 

 

We love you, Grayson Reed!

Gina

Post-Christmas candy

One of the only traditions my kids have with their grandma is candy making at Christmastime. 

 

 

 

.

I think cooking candy teaches them patience.  Sugar has to be the right temp and worked a certain way to make candy.  It's not like the cooking they do on campouts or at home with me.

 

 

Wonder how long all of this will last in my house?

Gina

Shared with:

Christmas 2012

The last couple of days went by so fast.  Since I worked Friday through Sunday, it seemed like Christmas was suddenly HERE.  Glad I got so much done in advance.  It gave me (and Hubby) time to just hang out, enjoying the warmth of our own home, full of our kids and good food.  He goes back to work today after a week and a half off.  I will miss having him around, but the boys have another week and a half of break, so there will be lunches and movies out, and they want to spend their Christmas gift cards.

post Christmas-gift-opening mayhem!

We had a great Christmas and feel so blessed.  We saw the Trail of Lights, a special Christmas Eve church service, played games, watched movies, and celebrated Bubbie's birthday.  The house was pretty and cozy, with great things to eat.  It will be bittersweet when December ends, but I am so looking forward to what the New Year brings!

Gina

Mealplan Monday #40 with Christmas cookies

These are the cookies I made for giving this year:

 Gingersnaps - fresh from the oven.

Gumdrop Cookies from Angie at Echoes of laughter. 

 Cranberry Oatmeal Bars - a family favorite.

 Russian Teacakes 

Monday - Chicken tortilla soup for dinner, assorted appetizers throughout the afternoon
Tuesday - Pulled pork tacos for lunch, Ham with the fixing's for dinner
Wednesday - Pumpkin Ziti (keep meaning to make this again!), garlic toast - grocery shopping day
Thursday - BBQ Sloppy Joes, tater tots
Friday - Crock pot beans with ham bone, corn muffins
Saturday - Dad grill
Sunday - Freezer meal, salad

A plate of cookies ready to be delivered to Hubby's office.

I might be persuaded to bake just a few more...for Santa. 

Gina