Happy Birthday Caitie

Caitie is now officially 12 years old!!! She had some friends spend the night for her birthday- I think they had a good time!

Happy Birthday Caitie!!

Volleyball Has Left the Building!

Volleyball season is over... on to basketball!

Happy Birthday Mollie

Happy Birthday Mollie!!!!

Speedy Brownies

For all my busy Mom friends (and anyone else that wants a really easy and delicious brownie recipe) these are the best! Made from just a few ingredients that I always have around in the pantry.







Speedy Brownies (Quick Cooking Premier Issue)

2 cups sugar
1 3/4 all-purpose flour
1/2 cup baking cocoa
1 tsp salt
5 eggs
1 cup vegetable oil
1 tsp vanilla
1 cup semisweet chocolate chips

Combine the first seven ingredients; beat until smooth. Pour into greased 13 X 9 baking pan. Sprinkle with chocolate chips. Bake at 350 for 30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Cool in pan.

*I have also used white chips, peanut butter, milk chocolate- about anything I have around.

Today I mixed the chocolate chips into the batter and sprinkled with some M&M baking pieces.

Wordless Wednesday

Mollie meeting Mickey on her Make-a-Wish trip.
Last night I was answering some questions for another ITP mom and going through all the things Mollie has been through in the last 2 years. I wish after all she has been through we could say it is behind us... but it still continues. Maybe someday there will be a cure.

Why did God create man?

I've been struggling with my faith lately (actually for about the past year now) and decided it was time for me to really start searching for some answers. I've been doing some reading, some soul searching, took a hiatus from going to church, some praying, some talking... on and on, just trying to figure some things out.

So these are some rambling on what I've discovered:

Bad things happen to good people. Good people do bad things. Some people are hypocrites.

This is where my struggles began! I think that for a long time I've been reading too much into life- think there was some great revelations I was supposed to have or some great reward if I did what was right and followed God's plan. That puts a lot of pressure on! Since getting married and having the kids I've wanted things to remain simple (less clutter, easy cooking, more fun, etc.) and I never realized that "simple" applied to God also.

I spent some time angry with God trying to play a this isn't fair to me card. Why do bad things happen? Why do I get the short end of the stick? So on and so on. I got tired of saying "everything has a reason and lesson to learn", but it turns out that even this led to a reason and lesson!

I know I don't put a lot of trust in God. I like to be in control and know where I'm going and how I'm getting there. So very early on I recognized that this is a problem I need to work on. Next, my bigger question became why would God what to walk me through life? Which then became why am I even here?

All the time- the answer was right on my book shelf, but I'll get to that in a minute.

Could it be so simple that God wanted someone to love? Could it be so simple that He wants to share blessings with the people He loves? Could it be as simple as wanting us to enjoy our lives? Sounded too simple at first. But after some more reasoning with myself it became easier to see...

When you read the Compendium of the Catechism of the Catholic Church it says that "God, infinitely perfect and blessed in himself, in a plan of sheer goodness freely created man to make him share in his own blessed life."

The same reason that I married and had children. I didn't have them so that someone would love me or because I was going to get something from them. I have my family so that I can share my blessed life with them.

Rather than working so hard to make this a complicated thing I think there really is something to be said for asking God to bless each day and surrendering the days events to Him. And rather than wasting sssssooooooooooo much time worrying about where I'm going and how I'm getting there, I'll just enjoy the ride.

Menu Planning Monday

This weeks menu plans!!

Monday: Yum Yums! (sloppy joes), green beans, cheese puffs, chocolate cupcakes

Tuesday: Easy Lasagna, lettuce salad, garlic bread

Wednesday: Beef Enchiladas, taco rice, fried ice cream

Thursday: Pigs in a Blanket, chips, fruit

Friday (husbands birthday): Chicken kabobs, dutch apple pie

Saturday: Garden Club Sandwiches, cole slaw

Sunday: homemade pizza, brownies

Check out more Monday menu's at I'm an Organization Junkie!

Garden Club Sanwiches

4 slices whole wheat bread, toasted
2 Tbsp. Mayo
2 large slices tomato
1/4 cup sliced cucumbers
2 lettuce leaves
12 slices deli Shaved Oven Roasted Turkey Breast
6 slices Center Cut Bacon, cooked

TOP 2 toast slices with tomato, cucumber, lettuce, turkey, bacon and second toast slice.

'Fried' Ice Cream Recipe

* 3 cups cinnamon toast crunch cereal, crushed

* 6 scoops vanilla ice cream (1/2 cup each)

1. Place cereal in shallow pan.

2. Quickly roll 1 scoop of ice cream at a time in cereal to coat.

3. Place coated scoops of ice cream in ungreased jelly roll pan, 15 1/2 x 10 1/2 x 1 inch.

4. Cover and freeze about 2 hours or until firm.

5. Set oven control to broil.

6. Uncover pan.

7. Broil scoops with tops 6 inches from heat about 30 seconds or until coating is light brown.

Cheesy Meat Lasagna

1 lb. extra lean ground beef

3 cloves garlic, minced

1-1/2 tsp. dried oregano leaves

1 jar (26 oz.) spaghetti sauce

1 large tomato, chopped

1 egg

1 container (16 oz.) Low Fat Cottage Cheese

1/4 cup Grated Parmesan Cheese

9 lasagna noodles, cooked, drained

2 cups Shredded Mozzarella Cheese, divided

HEAT oven to 375°F. Brown meat with garlic and oregano in saucepan. Stir in spaghetti sauce; simmer 5 min., stirring occasionally. Remove from heat; stir in tomatoes.

MIX egg, cottage cheese and Parmesan. Spread 1/2 cup spaghetti sauce mixture onto bottom of 13x9-inch baking dish. Top with layers of 3 noodles, 1 cup cottage cheese mixture, 1/2 cup mozzarella and 1 cup remaining sauce mixture. Repeat layers. Top with remaining noodles and remaining sauce mixture. Cover with foil.

BAKE 30 min. or until heated through. Uncover; top with remaining mozzarella. Bake, uncovered, 5 min. or until mozzarella is melted. Let stand 5 min. before serving.

Make Ahead

Assemble lasagna as directed; cover. Refrigerate up to 24 hours. When ready to serve, bake, covered, at 375°F for 40 min. or until heated through.

These cookies rock!

Tempt My Tummy Tuesday's!

These Reese's Pieces Chocolate Chip Cookies are so good. A double batch disappeared in two days!!




The recipe:

1 stick real butter, softened
1/2 cup shortening
3/4 cup sugar
3/4 cup brown sugar
2 large eggs
1 1/2 tsp vanilla
2 cups all purpose flour
1/2 cup ground quick oats (chopped with handi chopper)
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
1/2 bag Reese's mini baking pieces
1/2 bag semi-sweet chocolate chips

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Beat butter, shortening and sugars until smooth and creamy. Slowly beat in eggs and vanilla.


2. Combine flour. oats. baking soda, and salt. Slwly add to wet mixture until just combined. Hand stir in Reese's and chocolate chips.


3. Drop onto ungreased cookie sheet and bake for 10-12 minutes until just golden around edges. Let stand on cookie sheet for 2 minutes.

found at Blessed with Grace.

No Tackle-it Tuesday

I have no tackle-it Tuesday this week because Mollie will be having surgery tomorrow to have her port removed. I have a ton of things to get the other kids ready to be home by themselves for the afternoon! I don't leave them alone often so I'm leaving some detailed notes for them to help out!

We'll tackle-it next Tuesday!

Menu Planning Monday

Here is this week's menu:
[It's a bit goofy because of Mollie's surgery and Sam's birthday!]

Monday: sub sandwiches, chips and ice cream

Tuesday: nacho's, corn and brownies

Wednesday: Mackenzie will be in charge of either frozen pizza or mac and cheese because we won't be back from the hospital in time!

Thursday: mini meatloaf, green beans, mashed potatoes

Friday: Sam's birthday choice (still undecided!)

for more check out I'm and Organization Junkie's menu planning mondays!

Wordless Wednesday

A new use for silly putty!!

{Sorry picture is a bit fuzzy, but too funny to delete!}

Check out more Wordless Wednesday!

Crop for a Cause

Is anyone interested in a scrapbooking retreat that will not only help you get your projects done, but also help a worthwhile cause in Nebraska?

I am helping Make-A-Wish spread the word about their "Crop for a Cause" on June 19-20. The proceeds from this 26-hour long scrapbooking marathon are going to help a little boy named Cole fulfill his "wish" of being a cowboy. Cole is 7 years old and fighting lymphoma and they are working to send him to the Bar W Ranch in Whitefish Montana where he'll be able to rope cattle, sing campfire songs, and see a bank robbery reenactment. Feel good about getting projects done, feel good about helping grant wishes!

A few of the retreat highlights are their raffle prizes and food being provided. Not only can you win a ton of scrapbooking supplies, but you will also have a chance to win an iPod Shuffle, a Cricut Personal, and a Cricut Expression. Or, do you have a husband you will want to thank for letting you have a whole weekend to yourself? Another raffle item is an autographed football and two tickets to Coach Pelini's Big Red Kickoff Dinner. This is a fundraiser the Husker football coaches do for Make-A-Wish each July. All your meals and snacks are also being provided (Panera, Famous Dave's, the Cookie Company, and more!)

So, if you want to get a jump start on the summer, send in your registration for "Crop for a Cause".

A flyer with more information and registration form is attached or visit https://sites.google.com/site/makeawishcropforacause/.

Happy scrapping!

Tackle It Tuesday- Updated

In the spirit of keeping with the mommy blogger's it is time for me to try out Tackle It Tuesday.
I actually have two tackles for Tuesday:

1. I want to be able to see the kitchen counter!!
2. I want to start an exercising streak today.

Wish me luck!!!




Updated picture.

Menu Planning Monday

Here is what's on the menu for this week (May4th - May 10th):

Monday: Crock-pot Chicken Marsala

Tuesday: Salisbury Steak

Wednesday: Taco Roll

Thursday: breakfast sandwiches (pancake, sausage patty, egg and cheese sandwiches)

Friday: Tim's Choice

Saturday: grilling steak and hot dogs

Sunday: Sausage and Peppers

Join Laura's Menu Planning Monday at I’m an Organizing Junkie!!!

I LOVE Alicia's Friday Photo Flashback. I am inspired to dig out my old prom picture (maybe!). In the meantime I have this scanned picture of Mackenzie when she was 14 months old. She was loving eating cheese doodles and drinking from her grandma's water bottle while we enjoyed a summer afternoon by the pool!

Each of our kids carried on the doodle tradition! Mackenzie will be 13 in just over a month...


it makes me sad to see her so grown up, but proud of who she is becoming!

[Alicia says: I started "Friday Photo Flashback" because I have so many pictures from my PRE-digital camera days. I thought it would be fun to scan them and share them here with you. I'm having so much fun doing this, that I would love for you to join me, too! So dig out the photo albums and put your scanner to good use! Be sure to visit her prom picture!!]

Taco Roll

INGREDIENTS:
1/2lb. lean ground beef
1(13.8-oz.) can Pillsbury® refrigerated classic pizza crust
taco seasoning
1 cup shredded cheese

DIRECTIONS:

1. Heat oven to 400°F. Spray cookie sheet with nonstick cooking spray. Brown ground beef in medium skillet over medium-high heat until thoroughly cooked, stirring frequently. Drain. Add taco seasoning and simmer. Set aside.

2. Unroll dough; place on sprayed cookie sheet. Starting at center, press out dough with hands to form 12x8-inch rectangle.

3. Place cooked ground beef lengthwise down center, forming 3-inch-wide strip and to within 1/2 inch of short sides. Top with cheese. Fold long sides of dough over filling; press edges to seal.

4. Bake at 400°F. for 15 to 20 minutes or until crust is golden brown.

Top with extra cheese, sour cream, lettuce, salsa, etc.