So please visit me at Cooking for the Guys.
Monday, September 29, 2008
Sunday, September 28, 2008
Isaac is 16 years old!!!
UNBELIVEABLE that my middle son is going to be 16 years old tomorrow. But he is! He is such a blessing. He is growing into a fabulous young man. I am very proud of him.
Here's a trip down memory lane :)
Doug was exhausted by the labor and birth experience :::snort:::
Jordan loved him right from the start.
The first time Jordan met Isaac.
Isaac's first birthday.
Isaac was always getting into mischief when he was a toddler and preschooler. It is a wonder he made it through childhood alive. Here he is trying to climb through the bars of an old-time jail cell.
Isaac's 2nd birthday. Jordan has cut his hair to his scalp, and we had to shave it all off.
Jordan still loves Isaac.
Such a cute baby he was!
And so cool in his sunglasses.........
Jordan sometimes loved him hard!
Isaac wasn't quite so thrilled about being the big brother.
Isaac's 3rd birthday. His gorgeous hair had grown back.
He's always had great, curly hair!
He's happier about being the big brother now.
He loved his great grandpa!
All 3! Aren't they adorable?
He has always loved to fish. He's fishing at my mom's in this picture.
The first day of school last year. They still love each other, eh?
Check out the hair!
So handsome!
Isaac loves the outdoors. Here he is at Cook Forest, PA this past summer.
A fishing trip to Canada with my dad this past summer.
Isaac and Jordan at the lake.
Isaac doing a DNA experiment for Apologia physical science
UNBELIVEABLE that my middle son is going to be 16 years old tomorrow. But he is! He is such a blessing. He is growing into a fabulous young man. I am very proud of him.
Here's a trip down memory lane :)
Isaac was born at home. The midwife, Peg, weighed him by hanging him from a fish scale. He was 8 lbs. 12 oz., my biggest baby.
Doug was exhausted by the labor and birth experience :::snort:::
Jordan loved him right from the start.
The first time Jordan met Isaac.
Isaac's first birthday.
Isaac was always getting into mischief when he was a toddler and preschooler. It is a wonder he made it through childhood alive. Here he is trying to climb through the bars of an old-time jail cell.
Isaac's 2nd birthday. Jordan has cut his hair to his scalp, and we had to shave it all off.
Jordan still loves Isaac.Such a cute baby he was!
And so cool in his sunglasses.........
Jordan sometimes loved him hard!
Isaac wasn't quite so thrilled about being the big brother.
Isaac's 3rd birthday. His gorgeous hair had grown back.
He's always had great, curly hair!
He's happier about being the big brother now.
He loved his great grandpa!
All 3! Aren't they adorable?
He has always loved to fish. He's fishing at my mom's in this picture.
The first day of school last year. They still love each other, eh?
Check out the hair!
So handsome!
Isaac loves the outdoors. Here he is at Cook Forest, PA this past summer.
A fishing trip to Canada with my dad this past summer.
Isaac and Jordan at the lake. 
Isaac doing a DNA experiment for Apologia physical science two years ago.
Playing the guitar in the back yard.
You're never too old to cuddle with dad!
His Cousin It look.
At the lake this past week. I love how his hair just blows in the wind!
Thanks for taking this Memory Lane trip with me!
Playing the guitar in the back yard.
You're never too old to cuddle with dad!
His Cousin It look.
At the lake this past week. I love how his hair just blows in the wind!
Thanks for taking this Memory Lane trip with me!HAPPY BIRTHDAY ISAAC!!!!!
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
I'm having a rip roaring relaxing time!!
It is gorgeous here at the lake! 70s during the day, 50s at night, perfect weather for fires and s'more making and drinking coffee with friends.
My girlfriend and her 3 kids came on Monday afternoon. We relaxed and chatted with the kids played in the sand and water and gathered sticks and made a fire. We had chicken tacos for dinner and s'mores around the fire. Everybody went to bed late and it was just a fabulous day.
Tuesday we all woke up by 8ish. I woke up to a note from Jordan and Isaac. They were on the boat and I'd see them by 10. They made it in at 11. They did not catch any fish.
Anyway, I made English muffin egg/cheese sandwiches and bacon for breakfast. We sat around and waited for the boys to come back with the boat. They got back and we went out. I let all the kids take a turn driving. My girlfriend's 3 year old dd thought it was great fun! And when I wasn't looking, she pushed the trottle all the way down so we could do FAST! She sat on my lap to drive. And she was simply adorable. I really wish we had the camera, because the look on her face was priceless.
We ate lunch. Lunch is very important for kids of all ages. Then we did the most lovely thing, and put older people in front of a movie and moms and littles took a nap :) Lovely!
Dinner was burgers and chips. Easy peasy! And then another evening of fire making, s'mores and coffee. Showers. Oh yes, all were in need of showers.
Today it was way to choppy for me to want to be on the boat. So after breakfast (blueberry muffins and fruit), we drove over to a fish hatchery to feed the carp. A huge cluster of carp. You toss them bread and they slap all over each other. The kids loved it.
Home for honey grilled chicken and rice. And then kids back to the lake to skip rocks. Mom to sit on the deck and chat and knit and relax. And then, sadly, my girlfriend and her kids had to head home. It was a lovely visit! And so nice to have fellowship. And snuggle a little 3 year old girl that thinks I am wonderful.
Monday evening she was cuddling on my lap and looked at me so sweetly and said, "Miss Kelly, I am ready for my shower now." So off I went to give her a shower. I miss those littles.
So after they left, I instructed my boys on what to do while I was napping, and went to nap :) Jordan and Allen went back home for church and will be back tonight. Isaac decided it was very important to stay and fish ;)
Happily I've already cooked dinner today and cleaned the kitchen. We will have leftover. I'm going to have coffee. We may have a fire. Isaac and I may go for a boat ride later. I've not seen him at all since I've been awake.
I just have to say how very much I love it here, and how badly I've needed this break. We'll be heading home soon. Which means the weekend, and Doug home :) But this week has been simply lovely.
It is gorgeous here at the lake! 70s during the day, 50s at night, perfect weather for fires and s'more making and drinking coffee with friends.
My girlfriend and her 3 kids came on Monday afternoon. We relaxed and chatted with the kids played in the sand and water and gathered sticks and made a fire. We had chicken tacos for dinner and s'mores around the fire. Everybody went to bed late and it was just a fabulous day.
Tuesday we all woke up by 8ish. I woke up to a note from Jordan and Isaac. They were on the boat and I'd see them by 10. They made it in at 11. They did not catch any fish.
Anyway, I made English muffin egg/cheese sandwiches and bacon for breakfast. We sat around and waited for the boys to come back with the boat. They got back and we went out. I let all the kids take a turn driving. My girlfriend's 3 year old dd thought it was great fun! And when I wasn't looking, she pushed the trottle all the way down so we could do FAST! She sat on my lap to drive. And she was simply adorable. I really wish we had the camera, because the look on her face was priceless.
We ate lunch. Lunch is very important for kids of all ages. Then we did the most lovely thing, and put older people in front of a movie and moms and littles took a nap :) Lovely!
Dinner was burgers and chips. Easy peasy! And then another evening of fire making, s'mores and coffee. Showers. Oh yes, all were in need of showers.
Today it was way to choppy for me to want to be on the boat. So after breakfast (blueberry muffins and fruit), we drove over to a fish hatchery to feed the carp. A huge cluster of carp. You toss them bread and they slap all over each other. The kids loved it.
Home for honey grilled chicken and rice. And then kids back to the lake to skip rocks. Mom to sit on the deck and chat and knit and relax. And then, sadly, my girlfriend and her kids had to head home. It was a lovely visit! And so nice to have fellowship. And snuggle a little 3 year old girl that thinks I am wonderful.
Monday evening she was cuddling on my lap and looked at me so sweetly and said, "Miss Kelly, I am ready for my shower now." So off I went to give her a shower. I miss those littles.
So after they left, I instructed my boys on what to do while I was napping, and went to nap :) Jordan and Allen went back home for church and will be back tonight. Isaac decided it was very important to stay and fish ;)
Happily I've already cooked dinner today and cleaned the kitchen. We will have leftover. I'm going to have coffee. We may have a fire. Isaac and I may go for a boat ride later. I've not seen him at all since I've been awake.
I just have to say how very much I love it here, and how badly I've needed this break. We'll be heading home soon. Which means the weekend, and Doug home :) But this week has been simply lovely.
Monday, September 22, 2008
We're at the lake!!
We are having gorgeous weather! It is in the 70s in the day, 40/50s at night and the sun is shining and no rain forecasted!
What a beautiful week to be at the lake! One last relaxing week doing nothing but fishing, reading, fellowshipping, sleeping, etc., before the end of the season. We'll still come up during the day to do the grass and leaves. Doug and I may spend the night a time or two. But this will be the last week we'll be here this year.
My girlfriend and her 3 kids are going to come and stay with us. I'm looking forward to relaxing and talking and just doing nothing.
I didn't even forget my camera. So hopefully we'll take lots of great pictures.
Isaac got a new lure for his birthday (which isn't yet, but hey, we're here). It's the Banjo Minnow. He is really hoping to catch a lot of fish. He saw it on an infomercial and just had to have it :::snort::: He is going to catch the fish that aren't even there!!!
Then we'll go home and hit school hard. It has been a slow and rocky start. But I am sure we can redeem our time and have a great 12th year of school.
We are having gorgeous weather! It is in the 70s in the day, 40/50s at night and the sun is shining and no rain forecasted!
What a beautiful week to be at the lake! One last relaxing week doing nothing but fishing, reading, fellowshipping, sleeping, etc., before the end of the season. We'll still come up during the day to do the grass and leaves. Doug and I may spend the night a time or two. But this will be the last week we'll be here this year.
My girlfriend and her 3 kids are going to come and stay with us. I'm looking forward to relaxing and talking and just doing nothing.
I didn't even forget my camera. So hopefully we'll take lots of great pictures.
Isaac got a new lure for his birthday (which isn't yet, but hey, we're here). It's the Banjo Minnow. He is really hoping to catch a lot of fish. He saw it on an infomercial and just had to have it :::snort::: He is going to catch the fish that aren't even there!!!
Then we'll go home and hit school hard. It has been a slow and rocky start. But I am sure we can redeem our time and have a great 12th year of school.
Saturday, September 20, 2008
South-of-the-border-soup (Taste of Home soup magazine)
1 egg
1/4 c. dry bread crumbs
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. pepper
**I also added cumin and garlic to the meat**
1 lb. ground beef (90/10)
16 oz. picante sauce (I used salsa)
2 c. frozen corn (I love the white corn)
15 oz. can black beans, rinsed and drained
14 oz. diced tomatoes, undrained
1 1/4 c. water (I used beef broth)
In a large bowl, combine the first four ingredients. Crumble beef over mixture and mix well. Shape into 1" balls.
In a large saucepan, brown meatballs; drain. Add the picante sauce, corn, beans, tomatoes and water; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 20 min or until the meat is no longer pink.
YIELD: 2 quarts/8 1c. servings
1 c. = 4 WW points
1 egg
1/4 c. dry bread crumbs
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. pepper
**I also added cumin and garlic to the meat**
1 lb. ground beef (90/10)
16 oz. picante sauce (I used salsa)
2 c. frozen corn (I love the white corn)
15 oz. can black beans, rinsed and drained
14 oz. diced tomatoes, undrained
1 1/4 c. water (I used beef broth)
In a large bowl, combine the first four ingredients. Crumble beef over mixture and mix well. Shape into 1" balls.
In a large saucepan, brown meatballs; drain. Add the picante sauce, corn, beans, tomatoes and water; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 20 min or until the meat is no longer pink.
YIELD: 2 quarts/8 1c. servings
1 c. = 4 WW points
Thursday, September 18, 2008
WHAT A WEEK!
And Woo Hoo!!! We have POWER!
First, we had a fabulous weekend at the lake. Doug and I went with friends of ours, sans kids, Friday-Sunday afternoon. We had a FABULOUS TIME! We ate and drank our way through the weekend. We went dancing. We played cards. We had donuts for breakfast Sunday morning on the boat! It was a fabulous weekend! Although it POURED down RAIN!
So we came home on Sunday evening at 6pm. At 7pm the power went out. The power came back on THURSDAY afternoon at 2pm! The people across the street had power. The people behind us had power. We did NOT have power!
So thankfully my FIL had a 5000 watt generator. We put $20 a day in that baby, and locked it in the garage at night. We ran our refrigerator and freezer, alternately all day. We gave an extention cord to the neighbor so they could run their refrigerator.
We also did 1 load of laundry. Because between 6 and 7pm Sunday evening I started a load of wash (so Doug could have clean cloths for work this week!) AND did you KNOW? That a Whirlpool Duet front load washing machine, once it starts the cycle and the door locks, the door DOES NOT OPEN if there is NO ELECTRIC! So my clothes were trapped! But we plugged it into the generator and did the load. Otherwise, we took care of the food.
We did all right though. We have a gas water heater, so were able to have hot water. We have city water, so had water period. My in-laws do not have water when there is no power since they have a well and need to run the pump. We have a gas stove. I was able to use a lighter to ignite the burners. I could not figure out how to ignite the oven though. But we had a full tank of propane on the grill, so that was great!
We had a package of batteries from Sam's leftover from camping last June. So we had plenty of batteries for the flashlights. I scrounged up candles. Did you know that when you think a candle stub will burn out, it will still go for another hour or so? I learned a lot of stuff while the power was out.
1. I do NOT have wash and go hair :::snort:::
2. It is hard to play cards by candlelight.
3. It is all the way dark in the house at 7:30 pm. By 9pm, people are TIRED and WILLINGLY go to bed!
4. We rely way too much on electronic entertainment!!
5. I missed the internet a LOT!
We tried to school. Isaac and Allen did much more than Jordan.
6. Algebra takes a LOT longer when you can't have the kids watch the lecture CD. And my boys are using Saxon AND TT. One each. Twice as long for me!
Monday they did school. Tuesday they went to my in-laws and worked like dogs for 8 hours cleaning up trees and limbs. Wednesday Jordan went to the cabin to get the chainsaw for my dad, and then he and Isaac went to the Blue Man Group concert. So no school for him that day. He isa falling way behind. Not a great way to start his last year of school!
Next week we are taking the week off to go to the lake. One last Hooruh! before the season is over. Then the 29th is Isaac's 16th birthday, so no school. But come the 30th, we will be hitting it HARD!!!!
So that's us the past week or so. How about you?
And Woo Hoo!!! We have POWER!
First, we had a fabulous weekend at the lake. Doug and I went with friends of ours, sans kids, Friday-Sunday afternoon. We had a FABULOUS TIME! We ate and drank our way through the weekend. We went dancing. We played cards. We had donuts for breakfast Sunday morning on the boat! It was a fabulous weekend! Although it POURED down RAIN!
So we came home on Sunday evening at 6pm. At 7pm the power went out. The power came back on THURSDAY afternoon at 2pm! The people across the street had power. The people behind us had power. We did NOT have power!
So thankfully my FIL had a 5000 watt generator. We put $20 a day in that baby, and locked it in the garage at night. We ran our refrigerator and freezer, alternately all day. We gave an extention cord to the neighbor so they could run their refrigerator.
We also did 1 load of laundry. Because between 6 and 7pm Sunday evening I started a load of wash (so Doug could have clean cloths for work this week!) AND did you KNOW? That a Whirlpool Duet front load washing machine, once it starts the cycle and the door locks, the door DOES NOT OPEN if there is NO ELECTRIC! So my clothes were trapped! But we plugged it into the generator and did the load. Otherwise, we took care of the food.
We did all right though. We have a gas water heater, so were able to have hot water. We have city water, so had water period. My in-laws do not have water when there is no power since they have a well and need to run the pump. We have a gas stove. I was able to use a lighter to ignite the burners. I could not figure out how to ignite the oven though. But we had a full tank of propane on the grill, so that was great!
We had a package of batteries from Sam's leftover from camping last June. So we had plenty of batteries for the flashlights. I scrounged up candles. Did you know that when you think a candle stub will burn out, it will still go for another hour or so? I learned a lot of stuff while the power was out.
1. I do NOT have wash and go hair :::snort:::
2. It is hard to play cards by candlelight.
3. It is all the way dark in the house at 7:30 pm. By 9pm, people are TIRED and WILLINGLY go to bed!
4. We rely way too much on electronic entertainment!!
5. I missed the internet a LOT!
We tried to school. Isaac and Allen did much more than Jordan.
6. Algebra takes a LOT longer when you can't have the kids watch the lecture CD. And my boys are using Saxon AND TT. One each. Twice as long for me!
Monday they did school. Tuesday they went to my in-laws and worked like dogs for 8 hours cleaning up trees and limbs. Wednesday Jordan went to the cabin to get the chainsaw for my dad, and then he and Isaac went to the Blue Man Group concert. So no school for him that day. He isa falling way behind. Not a great way to start his last year of school!
Next week we are taking the week off to go to the lake. One last Hooruh! before the season is over. Then the 29th is Isaac's 16th birthday, so no school. But come the 30th, we will be hitting it HARD!!!!
So that's us the past week or so. How about you?
Thursday, September 11, 2008
A GREAT Recipe Blog!
My Sonlight friend, Bethany, has a fabulous new blog with tons of recipes.
Check it out.
For The Love of Grub
My Sonlight friend, Bethany, has a fabulous new blog with tons of recipes.
Check it out.
For The Love of Grub
Saturday, September 06, 2008
We have finished the first week of our 12th year of home schooling!
WOW! My kids are getting old :::snort::: We just started our 12th home school year. Jordan will graduate this year! That is such a bitter-sweet thing. I've been doing a lot of pondering on his last year at home. Very deep stuff.
So anyway, we started school on Wednesday. We did school Wednesday - Friday, and only math and science. I was whipped on Friday! I am very glad we decided to ease into things slowly this year. Next week we will be doing a full schedule of school.
But we have spent the summer staying up late and sleeping in. I've only been sleeping in until 9am, but gosh, some of these boys will sleep until 11 or later.
So starting easy to get into a routine was more important to me than doing it all from the first.
It went really well! I hope this is a good sign of a great year to come. I could really use a good year.
Everybody was up by 7:45 and downstairs doing chores by 8. Allen did get up at 7 so he could do chores and then work out before breakfast.
School started at 9 and everybody was finished with their work and discussions with me/correcting work by lunch.
We eat our dinner at noon, so I cooked on Wednesday. Thursday we went to the lake after lunch (which was McDs) and yesterday Doug came home.
It feels good to be getting back into a routine, even though I am doing it kicking and screaming this year. I just wasn't ready to start. But we will keep on doing the next thing :)
WOW! My kids are getting old :::snort::: We just started our 12th home school year. Jordan will graduate this year! That is such a bitter-sweet thing. I've been doing a lot of pondering on his last year at home. Very deep stuff.
So anyway, we started school on Wednesday. We did school Wednesday - Friday, and only math and science. I was whipped on Friday! I am very glad we decided to ease into things slowly this year. Next week we will be doing a full schedule of school.
But we have spent the summer staying up late and sleeping in. I've only been sleeping in until 9am, but gosh, some of these boys will sleep until 11 or later.
So starting easy to get into a routine was more important to me than doing it all from the first.
It went really well! I hope this is a good sign of a great year to come. I could really use a good year.
Everybody was up by 7:45 and downstairs doing chores by 8. Allen did get up at 7 so he could do chores and then work out before breakfast.
School started at 9 and everybody was finished with their work and discussions with me/correcting work by lunch.
We eat our dinner at noon, so I cooked on Wednesday. Thursday we went to the lake after lunch (which was McDs) and yesterday Doug came home.
It feels good to be getting back into a routine, even though I am doing it kicking and screaming this year. I just wasn't ready to start. But we will keep on doing the next thing :)
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