Thursday, July 07, 2011

Engagement

In Case You Haven't Heard.....



THEY'RE ENGAGED!

 


Greg and I are honored to announce the engagement of Cheyenne and Nathan.  We are all giddy with excitement and ready to begin planning a wedding.  But most of all, we are blessed beyond measure that God has brought these two together to be united as one.  Nathan is every bit the man we prayed for our daughter since she was a baby.  We are truly thankful for His goodness and faithfulness, and look forward to witnessing their lives together. 

Aren't they the cutest?!


(photos taken by Bethany Warren and Robin Klein)

Thursday, June 30, 2011

Cue Feeding

Examining the Evidence for Cue Feeding of Breastfed Infants

Excellent artcle...fairly long, but well worth the read.

http://www.tulipgirl.com/index.php/2010/12/examining-the-evidence-for-cue-feeding-of-breastfed-infants/
ht: Kristen S.

Sunday, June 19, 2011

Cheyenne's Graduation

Cheyenne's Graduation and Recital 2011

                     We're so proud of you, Cheyenne!  Congratulations!





                       Cheyenne and Sophia playing "Beauty and the Beast"
                                                                        
                  Cheyenne and Olivia playing "Wonderful, Merciful Savior"


Taking a bow


Daddy presenting diploma to our first home school graduate


Gramie, Grandpa, and the Graduate



The proud Grandpa's speech
                                         

Addie and Ella congratulating Chey

                          Mrs. Woodard, Chey's wonderful piano teacher


                              Beautiful cake made by our sweet friend, Blair



Chloe taste testing the food

Thursday, June 09, 2011

Touchdown Taco Dip

touchdown taco dip

This is probably my all-time favorite dip.  It's actually a Pampered Chef recipe I got from my friend, Stephanie, years ago after she made it for her party. 

Your family will love it....and not just during football season!  ;)

Touch Down Taco Dip

Ingredients:

1 can Refried beans (or this homemade recipe
8 ounces cream cheese, softened
1 cup sour cream
2 tablespoons taco seasoning mix
2-3 garlic clove, pressed
1/2 cup (1 ounce) shredded cheddar cheese
1 medium tomato, seeded and diced (about 1 cup)
2-3 green onions with tops, thinly sliced
1/2 cup pitted ripe olives, sliced
1-2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh cilantro
Additional sour cream (optional)


Directions:

1.Preheat oven to 350°F. Spread beans over bottom of 10 x 10 or oval baking dish. In a bowl, combine cream cheese, sour cream, taco seasoning mix and garlic pressed with Garlic Press; mix well.

2.Spread cream cheese mixture evenly over beans. Grate cheddar cheese over top. Bake 15-20 minutes or until cheese is melted.

3.Dice tomato and thinly slice green onions. Slice olives. Finely chop cilantro. Sprinkle tomato, onions, olives and cilantro over dip. Garnish with additional sour cream, if desired.

Yield: 8-12 servings


Photo Credit

Wednesday, June 01, 2011

Trey's Not-So-Secret Brisket Recipe

brisket up close and personal

My good friend, Blair, gave me this recipe for one of our annual church Progressive Dinners.  It was soooo good, it's what we do EVERY time now! You gotta try it!

Ingredients

Any size brisket (the bigger, the better....you'll want to have lots of leftovers for those sandwiches.  Trust me!)

16 oz Lowry's Seasoned Salt
8 oz Cavender's Greek Seasoning (yellow can)
1 tablespoon Meat Tenderizer
1 tablespoon Black Pepper

Directions

Combine all dry ingredients thoroughly.  Return as much as will fit back into the Lowry's bottle.  Label (w/ Sharpie) "BRISKET" on the Lowry's bottle.  Put remaining powder into something suitable and use up first.

Preheat oven to 320* F. 

Using trimmed brisket is fine, but the fat layer on an untrimmed will add flavor and juiciness.

Coat brisket heavily on both sides...don't be shy.  Wrap brisket tightly in heavy duty foil, fat side up.  Needs to be liquid tight.  Cook in 9 x 13 pan.  Bigger brisket equals bigger pan. 

Depending on size of brisket, cook 5-7 hours.  Longer time = tenderness.  Unless it's a tiny brisket...I say go for at least 7-8 hours.

Remove brisket from oven and increase oven temp to 425*.  Carefully, poke holes in bottom of foil and drain all juice into a saucepan.  Open foil and sprinkle some more seasoning on top.  Rewrap and put back into oven.

Cook one more hour and then let rest on counter for 30 minutes before slicing. 

Gravy:  Add water to the juices until desired saltiness.  Dissolve some cornstarch in a small glass of cold water...just enough to make a runny paste.  Bring juices to a boil and add cornstarch.  Stir constantly until thick and bubbly.

When slicing, use a very sharp, non-seraded knife...and slice against the grain.

Serve with your favorite brisket sides.  We like mashed potatoes (for the gravy, of course), a green salad, and our homemade rolls. 

With the yummy leftovers, make a sandwich with a little mayo...oh. my. goodness!

Photo Credit

Tuesday, May 17, 2011

Two Months

Sweet Amelia, Two Months

 


We just love this little girl more than words can express.  With her big blue eyes and her sweet disposition, she's reeled us in!  She smiles a lot and tries so hard to talk to us with her coos.  She's already rolled over and she's been sleeping through the night since about six weeks of age.  Hallelujah!  Sweet, sweet baby girl!

Tuesday, March 29, 2011

Kids and Gramie

I Just Love This Picture


This picture was taken just before I had Amelia.  It's special because my beautiful mommy was here for the birth and was able to pose with her grand-babies.


And since Amelia wasn't in the above picture, here she is with her wonderful Daddy!

Monday, March 14, 2011

Amelia June

She's Here

We are rejoicing over the birth of our baby girl, Amelia June. She arrived safely on Friday, March 11 at 2:22am. She weighed in at 8 lbs (though we don't think she's that big) and was 20 inches long.

It's hard to believe she's finally here after many months of waiting and wondering whether she was a boy or girl. Labor was long, and difficult near the end, but she was worth every minute of it.

We are humbled by God's goodness, His protection, and His many blessings in our lives. Welcome to our family, my sweet Amelia! We love you!

(Will post more pics soon)

Thursday, March 10, 2011

Egg and Sausage Breakfast Ring

Egg and Sausage Breakfast Ring Recipe

INGREDIENTS


1/2 lb bulk pork sausage
1/3 cup sliced green onions
1/3 cup chopped red bell pepper
5 eggs
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon pepper
1 package (3 oz) cream cheese, softened
2 cans (8 oz each) Pillsbury® Crescent Recipe Creations™ refrigerated flaky dough sheet
1/2 cup shredded Cheddar-Monterey Jack cheese blend (2 oz)
1 egg, beaten
1 teaspoon sesame seed


DIRECTIONS


1. Heat oven to 375°F. Spray large cookie sheet with cooking spray. In 10-inch nonstick skillet, cook sausage and onions over medium-high heat 5 to 8 minutes or until thoroughly cooked; drain. Stir in bell pepper; cook until tender. Remove from pan.

2. In small bowl, beat 5 eggs, salt and pepper. Add egg mixture to skillet; cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally from outside edge to center. Cook until eggs are set but still moist. Stir in sausage mixture and cream cheese.

3. Unroll both cans of dough. Place dough on cookie sheet, long sides overlapping, to form 14x13-inch rectangle; firmly press edges to seal. Spoon egg mixture down center to within 1/2 inch of edges. Sprinkle with cheese. Starting at longest side, roll up; press edges to seal. Shape into a circle; pinch ends to seal. Cut six 2-inch slits around top of dough. Brush dough with egg; sprinkle with sesame seed.

4. Bake 25 to 30 minutes or until deep golden brown.

Photo Credit

Wednesday, January 19, 2011

New Trampoline

It's A Hit

After many years of contemplating a trampoline for the kids, we finally did it. My parents graciously sent us Christmas money for the kids which helped us make the purchase. The kids have had a blast almost every day on it. Maybe once I have the baby, I'll give it a go too. :-)

Here's the little ones having their turn.....



And here are the "older" little ones (Ethan is missing)....



And even Greg has had his share of fun on it. The kids LOVE when he bounces on it and makes them fly up into the air....


We're so glad to have a trampoline. I'm sure I'll still worry about injuries, but we'll just pray everyone stays safe. It's been a great way to expend energy and get daily exercise. Thanks Mom and Dad for helping us to finally get a trampoline.

Friday, January 07, 2011

Genevieve is Three

Genevieve is Three!

Happy Birthday to our sweet and sassy...and a little mischievous baby girl. It's hard to believe it's been three years since she was born. She was my first home birth baby and loves talk about how she was born in the bath tub. She has a unique personality that we love and we are so thankful for her.

Happy Birthday, Genevieve! We love you!

Saturday, December 25, 2010

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas

"For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given, and the government shall be upon His shoulders, and His Name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace."

A few more photos of family happenings. Our church recently held our first Children's Choir and Hand Bells performance. It was a sweet time and all the children and teens did very well.

Here's a close up of Seth and Sophia singing...

Celeste playing her bell...

A quick smile for mom and dad....


This year we had fun building craft foam gingerbread houses. A neighborhood friend gave them to us as an early Christmas present. They were a little challenging for the younger kids, but everyone enjoyed doing this.


Here's the finished product....cute, huh?

The following week we made our annual grahm cracker gingerbread houses. We'll post pics of that day soon.

Have a wonderful Christmas Day....for unto us and child was given......

Thursday, December 23, 2010

Catching Up: Photos and More

We've had a lot going on around here...but I just couldn't find the time to sit down and journal our everything, so I thought I'd combine a few posts into one and just share some highlights.

Early this month we decorated our tree and home. We always have a great time doing this as a family. Here's a pic of all the kids after we finished the tree.



December 11th, Chey played in her second Christmas Recital with the Castle Hills Conservatory. Cheyenne played O Holy Night and did a beautiful job...as did the rest of the pianists.



Our church recently held our Second Annual Progressive Dinner. It's a night with just the adults and the church teens provide childcare. We begin with appetizers at the Blair's home. The dinner portion is in our home, and dessert is at the Smith's. It works really well because we all live off of the same main road, so it's easy to get to each home in a timely manner.

Here are some pics of the dinner portion. We transform our living room into a restaurant type setting.
We served the food on this red table cloth below...this pass thru makes for a great buffet.

The opposite view...



As you can see, we pull out all the stops. Linens, china, stemware, and centerpieces make it a very special evening. We had a wonderful night...the food was amazing and the fellowship was sweet. Already can't wait until next year!


And finally, here is Sophia baking. She has become pretty comfortable in the kitchen and shows great interest in learning how to cook and bake. She recently made a batch of Sugar Cookies by herself for a gathering we had with some friends.

I hope to do another post soon of some other fun things happening around here, but until then, hope you've enjoyed these! :-)

Tuesday, November 30, 2010

Weary Mommy...Again

This original post was from Dec of 2007. I was pregnant with Genevieve and feeling quite weary.

Well, here I am again....two pregnancies later, identifying with all that I wrote three years ago.

Circumstances are different, trials are different, even the fatigue and hormonal shifts are different.

But one thing remains the same....a Lord who renews our strength and is faithful to give us just what we need minute by minute. I needed to read this again to be reminded of this truth...and be encouraged. :-)


Wings as Eagles


God is so good to always be molding and shaping us into His image. He allows us to go through many trials, whether big or small, to teach us, to grow us, and to remind us that we can do nothing apart from Him.

Well, my trials over the past month or so have been small compared to many I know, but nonetheless, have taught me that our reliance upon the Lord isn't simply day by day, or even hour by hour, but rather, minute by minute!

This pregnancy has been my most difficult, hormonally speaking. I've never experienced such drastic hormonal shifts, and ups and downs as I have this time. I'm also the most tired I have ever been in my life.

I'm irritable, snappy, and grumpy most of the time!

As it is, life with six kids (two of whom are fairly needy) and being nine months pregnant with number seven, certainly comes with a few challenges. But, throw in there some unpredictable hormones and voila!....you've got ME!

While all of these very things bring me great joy, hard days are just to be expected.  And....for all of this...I rejoice!  I thank God for allowing me to be in a place where I am calling out to Him, and being reminded that I cannot get through the day, or even the next minute, without Him!

I am also being reminded of what it means to love unconditionally through the love of my husband. Greg has shown such mercy, love, and patience with me during my not-so-pleasant mood swings. He amazes me by always displaying a heart of Christ. I have a lot to learn and he has always been a great teacher to me.

This post happens to be my 100th post, which took more than a year to get to. Traditionally, I guess you're supposed to list 100 things about yourself, but rather than do that, I thought I'd post a few things about me that show a little transparency, a little vulnerability, a little humility and a lot of praise for my precious Lord, apart from Whom I can do nothing.

God is good ALL THE TIME...even at our weariest moments.

Tuesday, November 02, 2010

A Handy Link

While reading another blog, I came across a very cool site and thought it would be a good idea to post it here.

It's called Fixya.com.

If you're experiencing any type of "fix it" problem, simply enter in a description of the problem and it will give you the solution to fix it. Their tag line is: 3,068,299 Solutions to Everyday Product Problems

So, if you're washing machine won't drain or your calculator is not working, go to Fixya.com and find out how to fix it yourself....and save a bundle!

ht: Smockity

Wednesday, October 20, 2010

Sophia is 8

Happy 8th Birthday, Sophia!

On her way to tea...


Soph with big sister Chey...

Happy Birthday to our sweet and spunky Sophia. We love you, Beauty! We're so thankful God created you and allowed us to be your parents! You are a joy! Have a fun-filled and wonderful day!

Friday, October 08, 2010

Dirty Kids

Rag-A-Muffins I love it when kids play hard. On this particular day, the kids played outside while we big folks did the yard work. They had fun digging in the dirt and using their pretty wild imaginations!

Seth, however, did help with the yard work. He loves to mow!

Genevieve definitely won the "Dirtiest Kid Award". Bath time was a lot fun that day! ;-)

Saturday, October 02, 2010

She's 18

Who Said She Could Turn EIGHTEEN!

We knew it would happen someday...but someday came too soon! Our first born child, our precious Chey is 18 years old today!

The above picture is from when she was just 18 months. And in a blink....she is 18 YEARS! We knew she was a special young girl...after all, she made us parents for the first time.

There are many wonderful things I can say about this magnificent young woman. I think the most important thing is that she loves the Lord and lives out her faith daily. God has given her a spirit of love for her family and those around her, a spirit to serve, a spirit to work hard, and a spirit to be an example to her younger brothers and sisters..as well as the world around her.

She's the leader of the SaboKid pack. We couldn't have asked for a more caring and responsible daughter to be the oldest of all these kids!

And...she has found love. We are so grateful to God for the love that Chey and Nathan share. Just like her parents, grandparents, and great grandparents, God has revealed "the one" early in her life. We look forward to their life ahead.

Happy Birthday, Cheyenne Marie! We love you and are thankful beyond measure that God chose us to be your parents. You are a treasure and a joy! But....who said you could turn 18???
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