Meal Plan

burgers (with free buns given away at church), zucchini parmesan crisps
Leah's Mary Poppins rolls, roast (ok, so I didn't buy it last week), potatoes, carrots
tortellini spinach casserole, salad
teriaki glazed salmon, salad
chicken and rice, peas
oven fried chicken chimicangas

Home and The Farm

Gwen is all about fitting into small spaces. That task is getting increasingly more difficult as she gets longer. This is where we found her Saturday. :) Oh, and don't bother her, she's on the phone.


Today we went out to Ben's Grandma and Grandpa's farm. It's always nice to go out there to see the beautiful flowers and wildlife and hear pure quiet and eat home grown vegetables. Grandma graciously found some little dolls for Gwen to play with.


These dolls weren't just any dolls. You all know I'm amused by strange things.. well, this qualifies in my book. These dolls have the funniest expressions! Look at this one. It made me laugh out loud. I told Ben it looks like this doll has been smacked.


This one is winking. Since when have you seen a winking doll with its tongue out?

Trunk Monkey

Gwen Speaks

Gwen and the Doll

I know the lighting in these photos kind of stinks...but I thought they were so cute I'd post them. I've never seen Gwen pick up dolls like she has in the last two days. She has been carrying around with her today and in the first picture feeding it a shrimp! :) I'm also trying to get a video of how she speaks all day. It is adorable. What a beautiful age.

What Do You Think?

What has happened to personal responsibility?

Meal Plan

It's been a long while since I posted what we eat out here in the Kansas wilderness. A friend's blog inspired me to share.

roast, carrots, potatoes in crockpot (haven't bought the roast yet, but I will ok?)
spaghetti, turkey meatballs, salad
easy beef stroganoff- had tonight... liked it
chili
roasted chicken and corn chowder- Ben about flipped over this

Easy Beef Stroganoff

4 1/2 C uncooked yolk-free noodles (I used however much I had of egg noodles)
1 pound lean ground beef
1/2 pound sliced fresh mushrooms (not a shroom fan, so didn't put in)
1 large onion, halved and sliced (I diced it in the food processor)
3 garlic cloves, minced
1 T butter
2 T all-purpose flour
1 can (14 1/2 oz) reduced- sodium beef broth (I used just regular)
2 T tomato paste
1 C fat-free sour cream (I used light instead of fat free)
salt and pepper to taste

cook noodles according to package directions. Meanwhile, in a Dutch oven, cook the beef, mushrooms, onion and garlic over medium heat until meat is no longer pink; drain. Remove and keep warm.

In the same pan, melt butter. Stir in flour until smooth. Gradually add broth and tomato paste. Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 2 minutes or until thickened.

Carefully return beef mixture to the pan. Add sour cream, salt and pepper; cook and stir until heated through (do not boil). Drain noodles; serve with beef mixture.

Smoky Roasted Chicken and Corn Chowder (do you like soup? gotta try this)

4 slices bacon, chopped (I used turkey bacon)
1 C diced onions
1/2 C each diced celery and diced red bell pepper
2 tsp minced garlic
1 1/2 T minced fresh thyme, or 1 tsp dried
2 T all-purpose flour
1 1/2 C chicken broth
1 can (12 oz) evaporated milk
1 can (14.5 oz) diced tomatoes, well drained
1 can cream style corn
2 cups chopped roasted chicken breast (I just boiled some chicken and chopped it up)
1 T hickory-flavored barbecue sauce (I just used what I had on hand)
salt and pepper to taste

Cook chopped bacon and chop up (I cook mine in the microwave). Not too crisp. Put it in pan with onions, celery, red pepper and garlic. Cook and stir until vegetables begin to soften, about 5 minutes. (you may have to add some butter to your pan if you don't cook bacon in the pan or if you use turkey bacon because it doesn't give off enough fat)

Add thyme and flour. Mix well. Stir in broth and evaporated milk. Bring mixture to a gentle boil and stir continuously until soup thickens slightly.

Reduce heat to low. Stir in remaining ingredients. Cover and let simmer for 10 min stirring occasionally. Serve hot. (like you needed that advice huh?)

Let me know if you try these and what you thought.

Baby Bap Update

I went to see the baby doctor today and she made my due date January 11th. So, that means I'm 15 1/2 weeks along today. I heard the heartbeat and it was pumping away in there. I'm so curious if it is a boy or girl, but I know Ben will not want to find out again. Oh well... it will be a nice birthday present for me. Maybe our baby will share my birthday of January 6th.

Something Good

Ben is in a computer class from 6-9:30 part of this week and next, so that means I get the nightly routine to myself. Gwen's routine is a bath with the usual teeth brushing and all and then books and then the lights go out and she drinks a bit of milk and I sing to her. I have been singing hymns (cause you know it breaks my heart to think of her not knowing all the hymns I grew up on) and other songs. In the midst of "I Surrender All" and "Just As I Am" I sang this song. I love this song from The Sound of Music. That has to be my all time favorite movie I think. I looked at her when I was singing and I am sometimes struck by her beauty. I mean, don't get me wrong, I look at her all the time and think she is beautiful... but there is something to that private time before bed when it is just the two of us (and the baby within) that makes me see all of her. How long she's getting, how beautiful her eyes are, how she knows me and is my constant companion, how her personality and joy have captured my heart.

Noah's Ark

I know the Noah's Ark is a popular theme for kid's stuff. I understand why... I mean, the animals, the boat and such. But this plate makes me think. I mean... look at the top right hand portion of this plate.

I think of the real Biblical story and all of those people dying in the flood and I think... what a weird thing to put on a children's plate. Oh well... I'm probably the only one who thinks that.

Swimming

The other day we went and visited Ben's Aunt and Uncle and swam at their house. Here is Gwen in her bathing suit holding a naked Barbie that she named "Dee."


Entertaining the masses. P.S... she loves the huge dog they have.


Refreshments anyone?


All tuckered out.

Need a Laugh?

No, this is not Gwen...but it's FUNNY!

Cat's In the Cradle

I heard this song today and it about made me cry. I think it was an attack of the pregnancy hormones, but it is a sad song that I haven't heard in a while.

My child arrived just the other day
He came to the world in the usual way
But there were planes to catch and bills to pay
He learned to walk while I was away
And he was talkin' 'fore I knew it, and as he grew
He'd say "I'm gonna be like you dad
You know I'm gonna be like you"

And the cat's in the cradle and the silver spoon
Little boy blue and the man on the moon
When you comin' home dad?
I don't know when, but we'll get together then son
You know we'll have a good time then

My son turned ten just the other day
He said, "Thanks for the ball, Dad, come on let's play
Can you teach me to throw", I said "Not today
I got a lot to do", he said, "That's ok"
And he walked away but his smile never dimmed
And said, "I'm gonna be like him, yeah
You know I'm gonna be like him"

And the cat's in the cradle and the silver spoon
Little boy blue and the man on the moon
When you comin' home son?
I don't know when, but we'll get together then son
You know we'll have a good time then

Well, he came home from college just the other day
So much like a man I just had to say
"Son, I'm proud of you, can you sit for a while?"
He shook his head and said with a smile
"What I'd really like, Dad, is to borrow the car keys
See you later, can I have them please?"

And the cat's in the cradle and the silver spoon
Little boy blue and the man on the moon
When you comin' home son?
I don't know when, but we'll get together then son
You know we'll have a good time then

I've long since retired, my son's moved away
I called him up just the other day
I said, "I'd like to see you if you don't mind"
He said, "I'd love to, Dad, if I can find the time
You see my new job's a hassle and kids have the flu
But it's sure nice talking to you, Dad
It's been sure nice talking to you"

And as I hung up the phone it occurred to me
He'd grown up just like me
My boy was just like me

And the cat's in the cradle and the silver spoon
Little boy blue and the man on the moon
When you comin' home son?
I don't know when, but we'll get together then son
You know we'll have a good time then

Baby Bap

In Britain, a bap is a big bread roll... so we thought it would be cute to call our next little one Baby Bap for now. Here are the sonogram pictures from July 2nd. I was according to the sonogram 12 weeks and 5 days along. It was moving all over the place and seemed very happy in there. :) In the first picture if you look closely you can see fingers and a foot.

Purple Peppers

Here are some purple bell peppers in our garden! I told Ben I am disappointed because they really look black instead of purple and his reply was, "well, I'm sure black bell peppers are pretty rare too." Peter Piper picked a purple pepper... makes it even better I think don't you?

Korea Jitters

Coming up in August I will be going to Korea... South Korea. I'm going there to sing with my choir in a choir festival. They are paying for my plane ticket and also a room for me, so I thought it was a once in a lifetime opportunity I couldn't pass up. I know absolutely no Korean and I basically do not know anything about the culture other than what I have read online. I don't know exactly why, maybe it's pregnancy hormones, but I'm starting to feel nervous about it. The long flight... I mean LONG. It's something like 20 hours I think. Me being pregnant... I'll be close to 20 weeks then... and then there is kimchi. I have a feeling I will have to try that stuff when I'm there. It is a fermented and pickled and super spicy substance that Koreans eat with every meal. Here's a pic to whet your appetite.

Want some? Didn't think so. Ben says to just decide in my mind that I will soak up the experience of being in a new country and not worry about the flight or the little petty things I'm worried about. I think he's right... why does he always have to be right? :) You can betcha I'll let you know what happens on my pregnant adventure to Korea.

What To Expect

You may be wondering what books a mom of a one year old and pregnant again has on her nightstand. (I know you have... stop denying it) Well... here you are!


I've got one question for you all. Does she look remotely happy? I look at this book so much and think... she must be in the early stage...but no, look at her belly. I guess it would be a little freaky if she had a big toothy grin, but still. A little grin with no teeth would have been nice is all I'm saying.

By the way, I can read these books until I'm blue in the face and I still won't know what to expect, but it makes me feel better, so I read them occasionally. :)

Don't Blink

I saw a friend at church and we spoke about her daughter turning 6 yesterday. She said to Ben and I, "just don't blink... it goes so fast." I thought of this song.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p4ySSg4QG8g

Garden Update and Play

I feel like I haven't blogged in a while... but then, sometimes you get a little dry on topics to tell people about. So... I thought you might be interested in a garden update.

Here is one of our bell pepper plants. See the little peppers coming?


These are just two of our tomato plants. A normal dowel rod wasn't enough to hold up these bad boys. They have already bent the tomato cages. Ben had a brilliant idea to use our tee kee torch holder things. These plants are lovin' some Kansas dirt.


Here are some of the tomatoes just waiting to get in my belly.

Last, but not least, here is a video of Ben playing with Gwen. He somehow got the plastic bacon to stick to his forehead. I know I put a lot of videos of Ben playing with Gwen. I play with her too...but it's not near as funny and I never get it video taped. She is becoming such a ham! She waves at everyone and says "hi" every chance she gets. She's absolutely enchanting and people can't help but stop and smile at her.

Plastic Food

I get a huge kick out of kid stuff. I have narrowed it down to my three most favorite plastic foods that Gwen has in her new kitchen. In the picture you see bacon, tofu I think, and a shrimp. I these are so cute!