Thanksgiving

Ben and the kids this morning.  What a great dad.

Here they are in the church nursery.  We had our Thanksgiving celebration in Kingsville Baptist Church.

My handsome young man.

My adorable daughter.  Notice Ben in the background with his turkey hat on?  Gwen is looking like "can you pass the grey poupon?"

The fits started when she saw this little girl wearing this.  She couldn't get it that it was that little girl's dress and not hers.

Well.. the little girl (Lilly) shared.  :)  Gwen LOVED the dress.

There are videos... to follow.

Turkey Time

My two hugging.

Yesterday my neighbor was going to throw away this and it had leggos in the pockets on the sides... large sized ones.  I um... took it off of their hands and what a great activity for the kids especially little Zeke on his knees.  I'm hoping he'll pull up on it one day.  He can't get into this position by himself, but he's getting there.

This is the coloring sheet Gwen got at church last Sunday.  I was a little bit amused by it.  See the duck building a sandcastle?

Today I made my rolls.  These are the garlic knots.  I was pleased with the way they came out.  I got the recipe from http://annies-eats.com/.

I also made some honey whole wheat rolls also from Annie's Eats site.  Here they are before they go into the oven.

Here is after.  How beautiful!

My physical therapist gave me an idea to do a thanks chain.  She did leaf shapes, I did ornament shapes.  I think it's nice and colorful.  Each circle has a thing we are thankful for.

Notice oats is on one of them.  :)

Yet another year of the turkey hat.  How blessed we truly are!

15 Random Things

My brother did this on facebook (except he did 30, but I can't think of that many), so I thought it would be fun to do too just for kicks.

1. I grew up milking goats twice a day. Yes, that's right.

2. I had a Volkswagen Beetle in high school and college and I loved that thing, but had to sell it when the door started flying open for no reason and the stick shift popped out of gear.

3. The day Ben and I got married I was getting ready and heard a banjo player in the next room. Seriously, some guy was playing the banjo in Miami, Florida. I still don't know what that was all about.

4. I have a "thing" for oats. If I believed in past lives (which I don't) I would have been a horse for sure.

5. One of my most embarrassing moments was when I was teaching children at church. I had this clever thing planned to cut a banana peel a little, squeeze all the insides out and put in a hot dog up in there. I'd ask the kids what they thought it was judging from the outside and they'd say "banana" and then I'd amaze them that it was a hot dog. They wouldn't see the slit because I'd be holding it against my hand. WELL. it started leaking down my arm and then when I asked what it was they said "EWWW... a milkshake"

6. My favorite food is Indian and if you haven't try it, just do it.

7. I grew up in the south, but I'm not a southerner at heart anymore.

8. In 1999 I moved to Miami with only what I could fit into my car and having never seen the place I was going to live and the people I'd live with. That was the year of Ilian Gonzalez and it was wild. I lived with three charismatic divorced women. You fill in the rest. :)

9. I want to go to Ireland. I'm sure I will one day and I'm going to love it.

10. I absolutely love games, but with kids it is getting increasingly hard to play them without being attacked.

11. Ben would like three more kids. :) I think I'd be fine with one more.

12. I thought Gwen was going to be a boy. I had a "vision" from God that his name was to be Jackson Ray Barreth. Well... out came a girl. So much for my discernment.

13. I'd like to take tap dance lessons but Ben thinks that is silly and I'd never use it anywhere. Well.. he might be right on this one.

14. I aspire to be fit, but self discipline is not my strong point.

15. The Cosby show made me cry the other day.

And with that... I've run out of interesting facts. Oh well.

The Phoenix Chorale

This is our sister choir in Phoenix. We share our awesome conductor, Charles Bruffy.

Wonderful, Merciful Savior

My new favorite song.  All you facebook peeps can see the video at www.benmere.blogspot.com

Bart's Black Bean Soup

Yesterday I had black beans in the crockpot all day.  I didn't soak them overnight, so I ended up having to put them on low the whole night after having them on high all day for them to get soft enough.  Anyway.... I made this after church today with some cheese toast to go along side.  WHAT an easy meal.  I love it.

1 can black beans (or 1 1/2 C of cooked beans)- drained and washed
1 1/2 C chicken broth
3/4 C chunky salsa
1/2 C whole kernel corn, I just put it in frozen
dash of hot pepper sauce
2 tsp lime juice
*Optional garnishes- cheese and chopped green onions

You can microwave all this or on the stovetop.

Meal Plan

It's Thanksgiving week!  Lots of cooking.. and lots of well, cooking!

I have been assigned rolls and butter.  I've decided to make garlic knots and whole wheat yeast rolls.  Maybe if I get into the roll making mood I'll make white too.  Who knows?

I'm trying to batch cook... I've got beans in the crockpot cooking all day and I'll put some more in for tomorrow to cook.  I'm going to try to use my crockpot a lot this week and see how it goes.  I plan on making pancakes and waffles to freeze for easy breakfasts for the kids.

Here's this week:

black bean taco soup
zucchini, pork chops, lightened up sweet potato casserole
easy and elegant chicken, potatoes
cheesy turkey and rice, green beans, salad
waffles and fruit
turkey patties, broccoli
chili- to take the day after Thanksgiving
lentil soup with ham

Tree and Ornaments

Gwen spent last night with Grandma, so this morning it was just Zeke.  Wow.. how quiet the house seemed!  We put up the tree yesterday to see if it would encourage him to move.  He's scooting a little bit and raising up just slightly.  He's getting there.

One of my favorites for this year.  This is how I feel after Thanksgiving and Christmas. :)

I like this little guy too.  Probably because he's the underdog.  I mean, he's losing his scarf, his mouth looks like he has a deformity... but I think he's adorable. :)

My Little Seed

"The kingdom of God is like a man who casts seed upon the soil; and he goes to bed at night and gets up by day, and the seed sprouts and grows-- how, he himself does not know.  The soil produces crops by itself; first the blade, then the head, then the mature grain in the head."  Mark 4:26-28

I'm trusting in God that he knows how Gwen and Zeke will grow and mature.  I just have to do my part... watering and keeping the weeds out.  :)

Homemade Turkey Sausage

I tried this last night. Boy, it was good and everyone raved about it.  It's infinitely better for you than pork sausage.  I'm going to make a batch and freeze it all crumbled up for later use in breakfast casseroles or something.  I had to buy a new spice for this I didn't have... marjoram...but it is SO WORTH IT!  Once again, I got it from my favorite blog:  www.heavenlyhomemakers.com

1 lb ground turkey
3 T minced onion
1/4 tsp cumin
1/4 tsp marjoram
1/4 tsp ground pepper
1/4 oregano
1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
1/8 tsp cayenne pepper
1/4 tsp ground ginger
1/2 tsp thyme
1/2 tsp sage
2 tsp sea salt
1 egg

Mix everything.  Chill for about an hour.  (I didn't and it's fine) Form into patties and saute in a little butter.

House Work

These are some home improvements that we've been up to lately.  Now the whole downstairs has had the popcorn ceiling scraped off and painted a new color.  We only have two more rooms upstairs to do.  The hall bathroom and Beki's room.

Here is the downstairs half bathroom before.  Lots of wood.

We painted it, put in a new toilet (thanks to mom and dad), painted the wood and put in a new mirror.

I've also been busy hanging up things.  It has taken 3 years for me to hang stuff up.  Yes, 3 years.  These are some photos I bought from someone at an arts and crafts show.  I bought frames for them and put them up in the hall downstairs.  I think they are cute.

Happy America Recycles Day

Do this printable activity book with your kids.  Gwen and I are doing it.
http://www.first-school.ws/activities/occasions/earth1.htm

Here's Juan

Here's Juan Wijngaard at work.  His sleigh is in the garage.

Book and Bible Questions

I thought I'd share my favorite children's book at the moment.  It's called Going To Sleep On The Farm by Wendy Cheyette Lewison and illustrated by Juan Wijngaard.  I LOVE the illustrations to this book.  Can you tell partly why in that last photo?  ;)

I've decided with the "funk" I've been in lately I need to spend more time with the Lord.  More time in prayer, more time reading, more time just thinking on good things, things that are profitable and less on worry.  Big revelation huh? :)  Well... I started yesterday reading Proverbs 31, the famous bit looking into Biblical womanhood.  I got to verse 15 and it reads, "She rises also while it is still night and gives food to her household and portions to her maidens."  Maidens?  Does that mean I can hire a house cleaner??  :)  Then I went on to read some of Mark.  After a dry spell I always start with a gospel to reintroduce myself to Jesus.  I read in the introduction that Mark is the first of the gospels and can be dated to about A.D. 55.  Now, why write it after oh... 22 years after Christ's death?  If you knew you had seen the Son of God wouldn't you have written it right then?  I mean, I know you've got the whole inspired factor in there too, but still I asked myself that question.  I found that after I read a bit, prayed a bit in the morning I had much more patience with the kids and I feel like it is a positive thing to think about my day from the Lord's perspective.  I mean, if our lives are like a vapor I'd better love as much as I can and serve as much as I can.  Ya know?  Let's all live on purpose today!

Meal Plan

turkey sausage patties, eggs, fruit (I have a new recipe that makes sausage from ground turkey... gonna try it)
BBQ chicken, steamed broccoli, potatoes
bowtie lazagna, salad
chicken noodle soup
frozen pizza
chicken burritos

Stuff I'm Learning

Well... here it is... the rant post.  I guess every blogger is entitled to at least one even if they don't publish it, which I haven't decided I'm doing to or not at this point.  I feel overwhelmed most days.  Gwen screams most of the day... and I mean loud.  She gets spanked, sent to her room, and the circle goes round and round.  I work with Zeke for hours on end at crawling.  He gets frustrated and we both cry together.  It's not all like that though.  We laugh and tickle and learn and grow.  Change is coming... that's for sure.  I've been short on words for this blog lately because I've just been in a funk.  I mean, how do you balance a vibrant walk with the Lord, a love relationship with your husband, have friends, and raise kids all at the same time?  I haven't figured it all out yet.  I know I am blessed.  I guess with motherhood I worry more than I ever have in my life.  It feels like I can't help it because I love my kids so much.  I worry I'm not raising them correctly as God would want, I worry Zeke will never move and I'll be carrying a 50lb 3 year old around.  Seriously, I'll think of something to write about sometime.. but I'll try to keep the whining and self pity down.  Like anyone wants to read that?  You still there?  CONGRATS!

Meal Plan

quiche and salad
bean and cheese burritos
vegetable beef soup- crockpot
hot dogs and baked beans
taco potatoes
chili and cornbread

7 Years Today

Then, in Rome.

Saturday night, Overland Park.

Daddy the Popular and Turkey

Now why are the kids always excited when Ben comes home?  :)



If you are looking for some really fun and easy crafts for your kids check out this site:  http://www.first-school.ws/
I go here quite a lot and print things for Gwen and I to do.  They have all sorts of topics on there and I just look at it during her nap and decide what she'd like... especially when it is getting to cold now to spend much time outside.  We usually spend some time playing outside, but yesterday we almost got blown over by the cold wind and she was wearing a dress!  Would you believe my tomatoes are STILL going?  I digress...  Yesterday it was this turkey.  It's great because it uses shapes and she practiced gluing.  At least it occupied her for oh, say 10 minutes. :)

Need A Laugh?

Meal Plan

corn dog muffins, beans
sloppy joe and cheese whole wheat pockets
ranch pork chops and steamed broccoli, salad
cheesy beef and brown rice
turkey patties and garlic cous cous, peas

*Ranch dressing mix- attempting to make my own for Christmas friend gifts.  My Christmas friend gifts will include ranch dressing mix, taco seasoning, homemade vanilla extract and possibly granola or other treat like cowboy cookies. Any other suggestions for a friend gift?  Maybe hot chocolate mix?

Halloween 10

We had a fun time dressing up and having fun.  Beki and I dressed up as pirates together and the awesome thing about these costumes is that we didn't spend a dime on them.  Zeke went as a dinosaur (costume given to us) and Gwen as Raggety Ann (costume given to us). :)

Leaves

My Sweetheart

Conversations with Gwen

Here is a video I took of Gwen the other day.  Sorry for the longish length, but I wanted to share it.  She is quite the talker and extrovert.  She is always sure of what she wants and very verbal... so believe you me she gets lots of instruction these days.

Skull Fracture

This is baby.  Gwen carries this "soft and cuddly" doll all over the place.  Actually, it is hard and non cuddly.  The other day I shut the van door and while it was closing she dropped baby.  I heard a crunch and I thought baby was no more... well... a skull fracture, some Elmer's glue later, and then inspecting the skull fracture over and over all have resulted in this.  Baby is just sitting there.  She doesn't seem sad about it.. but she sure likes to look inside baby's head.  I wonder what is inside my baby's heads too.  Somehow I don't think it's the same though.  :)

Who Am I

This is my new favorite song. This isn't the best audio of this... but here ya go anyway.

Meal Plan

Since I've been having company I've just sort of winged it a bit on the meal planning.  When you have guests you eat out more and are out more... but I just have a list of ideas that I draw from and have the ingredients on hand. These are some I've made while we had company.

sloppy joes
pizza pockets
tacos
beef stew
cheesy beef and rice
hamburgers with homemade whole wheat buns- My first experience making my own buns... it was interesting... and I liked them although the people that came for a burger party were afraid to try them.  Oh well...

Here's what I planned for this week:

corn dog muffins, salad
cheesy beef and rice
tuna melts and tomato soup
Bart's black bean soup
pierogi beef skillet
lentil and ham soup

Can you tell I'm in the mood for soup lately?  LOVE SOUP!  Unfortunately, Ben is not a HUGE lover of soup... but alas he will eat whatever.

Almost Coat Time

Gwen and Uncle Jake.

She was a snowman she said.

The Kansas City Chorale

Michael Bolton and Cuteness

Last night we saw Michael Bolton.  We were so close I could practically see his nose hairs.  Here are some pictures for you.  My favorite is still "How am I Supposed To Live Without You."  I'm really not sure how he can sing those songs in that way for so long.

This is too precious not to share.  This is Gwen on the potty with the Bible.  She is particularly interested in "reading" the Bible everywhere she goes now.  PRECIOUS.

Gwen Reads the Bible to Zeke

Possibly the cutest thing I've ever seen.

Toothy Grin

Here's my precious with his two teeth poking through.