So In Love

Just had Charlie's 9 month pictures and Christmas pictures done! I'm so in love with our little boy! I love seeing him with his 4 older siblings and just how much they love him too. He's crawling and getting into things, especially the Christmas tree. He LOVES paper! Time to move everything to higher ground everyone! Here's some of my favorites from his photo shoot!

Home Sick Home

Yeah, I wish that was a typo but it's not! I told Brian that I now know the downfall of larger families! Sickness! And of course having 5 children that pick up germs from 3 different places(high school, grade school, and daycare), we are just bound to get socked with some illnesses. Right now I just wish that everyone would just get sick all at the same time & be done with it. Instead, they are all taking their sweet time and being sick with 1 thing after another. Then it moves on to another child. It also isn't the flu that you can get the shot for. It's the stomach kind & then we've also got strep on top of it.

So how have I spent my day so far being home from work with a sick Jackson? Lysol & lots of it! I've been wiping down everything I can & spraying all door handles to keep the germs from spreading even further. Guess we'll see if that will help or not!

Oh, I guess the other thing I've been doing is keeping Charlie out of the Christmas tree! Yep, he's crawling & he's gotten good at it too! He's so proud of himself when he gets where he wants to go & he got himself stuck in under the tree yesterday & he just giggled. Love that little boy!

Well, better keep cleaning! Is it spring yet??

Tasty Tuesday

Yes, I feel like the only time I have to pay attention to this blog is to copy & paste a recipe for Tasty Tuesday. Life has been crazy but we've been having a great time with everything! Here's one for all you busy mom's who want a healthy recipe! I served this with white rice & all the kids gave it 2 thumbs up! This is from www.skinnytaste.com. Enjoy!

Crockpot Sante Fe Chicken

2-3 pounds chicken breast
14 ounce can diced tomatoes with mild chilies
15 ounce can black beans
8 ounces frozen corn
1/4 cup cilantro
14 ounce can chicken broth fat free
3 scallions
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp onion powder
1 tsp cumin
1 tsp cayenne pepper
salt to taste

Combine chicken broth, beans, corn, tomatoes, cilantro, scallions, garlic powder, onion powder, cumin, cayenne pepper and salt in crock pot. Season chicken breast with salt and lay on top. Cook on low for 10 hours or on high for 6 hours. Half hour before serving, remove chicken and shred. Return chicken to slow cooker and stir in. Adjust salt and seasoning. Serve over rice.

This is even better on day 2!! Wow! I did have a couple of family members that still preferred to use flour tortillas but I used rice to try to make it healthier.

Tasty Tuesday

Ok, it's just nasty cold outside & I don't particularly like cold temps(-5!). Well, who really does? If you say you do, don't tell me because I don't want to hear it! Anyway, the only good thing about colder weather is that I love to make soup!! This one will knock your socks off & even my oldest daughter who hates tomato soup loves this one & begged me to make it again soon! Found this gem on www.food.com!

Creamy Tomato Basil Bisque

• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 small onion, chopped (1/2 cup)
• 2 garlic cloves, minced (1 tablespoon)
• 2 (28 ounce) cans muir glen organic fire roasted diced tomatoes
• 2 teaspoons sugar
• 1 teaspoon balsamic vinegar or 1 teaspoon sherry wine vinegar
• 1 teaspoon dried basil
• 1 bay leaf
• 2 1/2 cups low sodium vegetable broth
• 1/2 cup half-and-half or 1/2 cup soy coffee creamer
• 1/4 cup fresh basil, chopped (for garnish)

Directions:

1. Heat oil in saucepan over medium heat. Add onion and garlic; cook 5 minutes. Add tomatoes, sugar, vinegar, basil, bay leaf, and broth. Cover, and simmer 10 minutes. Remove bay leaf.
 
2. Puree soup in blender or food processor until smooth. Strain through fine mesh strainer into sauce pan; return to simmer. Remove from heat, and stir in half-and-half. Season with salt and pepper, if desired. Garnish with basil.

I also did grilled cheese sandwiches with this but did them with smoked provolone instead of velveeta or american cheese. You also MUST use the fire roasted tomatoes! I can't imagine the flavor being as good with just regular tomatoes. So enjoy!

Finalization!!! He's Ours Forever!!

Yesterday was so awesome!! I know that Charlie has felt like our son from the minute we laid eyes on him but now the law also recognizes this too! Charlie J*ace Asanti Gulker will forever be our son and we couldn't feel more blessed to be his parents. So often I don't feel worthy of these 5 blessings God has given to us but I will forever do my best to bring them up to know the Lord and His love for them. If I fail miserably at everything else at least they will have that! Here are some pictures of our time in the courtroom.

Taking the Stand

I think this coming Monday will be the only time I will ever be okay having to be sworn in to be asked questions by a judge and our lawyer. It will be the day that both Brian & I will promise to be Charlie's family forever and that he will become our son in the eyes of the law just as if he had been born to us. He's been ours since the moment we laid eyes on him but it will be so good to finally have the law catch up to what we've known all along. I can't imagine our lives without him! I know it wasn't the easiest journey but I'd walk through every second of it again if it meant that it led to Charlie.

When I see him smile or I see just how much his brothers & sisters love him, my heart almost hurts thinking that I could have missed out on all this. What would our lives be like if we hadn't listened to God's call to adopt?? What if we had ignored the need for families?? What if we hadn't taken that HUGE leap of faith to do something that the world just may not understand?? Ya know what?? I don't care because we DID listen! We didn't ignore the need! We did take that leap of faith & now we have the most beautiful, precious little boy to remind us everyday of the blessings that can come from following God. What things have you tried not to listen to God about lately? How many times have you said something was just too hard so you turned your back? God will make sure His plans are carried out. You just have to decide whether you're going to do it the easy way or the hard way! Here's a little reminder of the huge blessing that can come from God when you follow Him & listen to His will.

Tasty Tuesday(on Thursday)

I've probably lost a ton of readers out there with the lack of posting in general but we've had a ton of stuff going on & illnesses hitting our house. Hopefully I'll be able to post more regular but I've said that a few times already. So since I missed Tasty Tuesday again this week, I'm going to do this on Thursday!!! Just this once!

Spicy Chicken Fideo Soup

8 ounces vermicelli, broken in half(we used orzo)
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 onion chopped fine
8 cups chicken broth
2 (10 ounce) cans Rotel tomatoes
2 teaspoons minced canned chipotle in adobo
1 rotisserie chicken, shredded into bite-sized pieces
1 ripe avocado, diced
1/2 cup fresh cilantro
1 cup Monterey Jack cheese

1. Cook vermicelli and 1 tablespoon oil in Dutch oven over medium-high heat, stirring frequently, until golden brown, about 5 minutes. Transfer to paper towel-lined plate.

2. Add onion and remaining oil to pot and cook over medium heat until softened, about 5 minutes. Stir in broth, tomatoes, chipotle,  and pasta and simmer, stirring occasionally, until pasta is al dente, 10-12 minutes. Stir in chicken and cook until heated through, about 2 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Top with avocado, cilantro and cheese. Serve.

I'm trying to remember for sure what we did with the Rotel but I'm pretty sure we used tomatoes with jalapenos in them but you can use just green chilies to tone down the spicyness. Thought a good soup recipe would be good for this colder weather we're having and this one is done in no time!

Poor Neglected Blog

Yes, I'm long overdue for an update but a sick Charlie thinks that he needs me more than I need to update the blog. Well, since he's so cute & I love him so much, he wins!! We've had quite a few rough nights & a couple of trips to the doctor. Hoping this change in meds yields some good results with his ear infection and upper respiratory infection. I hate, hate, hate seeing my baby not feel well, especially when they just cannot tell you what doesn't feel good. I also hate cold & flu season! Is it summer yet??

Some Halloween Fun

I really had nothing to do with this prank but I had to post it! We are still laughing but Alexa may need to have her heart checked tomorrow!!

What's Been Going On

So what's the latest in our household?? Well, survival & that's about it. Between football games, dance competitions, school soup suppers, Katelyn's Fund auction meetings, getting paperwork together for Charlie's finalization, work, homework, housework & oh yeah, 5 kids, life just never stops. At times I am completely overwhelmed & sometimes I doubt whether or not I am doing a good job at anything. But all it takes is a smile from 1 of my kids or a thank-you from someone else that makes it all worth it. I know I will miss these days but that doesn't always make it easier to get through a day that is packed full of things to go to.

Can you believe Charlie is 7 months old already?? It seems impossible! He's got his first tooth poking through & also got his 1st ear infection. Can't say I'm excited about that 2nd one but he's been healthy so far so we'll count that as a blessing. I'm just hoping we can all get our flu shots next Tuesday before any of us get sick with that!

Here's some recent pictures of the kids! Enjoy!

Body Butter Fundraiser

I know so many of us families who have adopted black children feel overwhelmed with all the products out there for our kids. Also, the fact that every child's skin can be so different & certain products work & some just don't cut it. The one thing I've learned is the more natural a product, the better.

I'm posting a link to a blog that was sent to me by a friend. This family is making hair & body butter as their adoption fundraiser. All the ingredients in these butters are all natural & I literally can't wait to try these on Charlie!! So head on over & support another family in growing their family through adoption!!

Click HERE!

Tasty Tuesday

Sneaking one quick recipe in here before Tuesday ends! I just made this one for the first time a few days ago & it was a hit! It's just an appetizer but we can all use a new idea here & there for appetizers.

Bacon Appetizer Crescents 

1 (8 ounce) package PHILADELPHIA Cream Cheese, softened


8 slices OSCAR MAYER Bacon, cooked, crumbled

1/3 cup KRAFT Grated Parmesan Cheese

1/4 cup finely chopped onions

2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley

1 tablespoon milk

2 (8 ounce) packages refrigerated crescent dinner rolls

Directions

1.Heat oven to 375 degrees F.

2.Mix all ingredients except crescent dough.

3.Separate each can of dough into 8 triangles; cut each triangle lengthwise in half. Spread each dough triangle with 1 generous tsp. cream cheese mixture; roll up, starting at short side of triangle. Place, point-sides down, on baking sheet.

4.Bake 12 to 15 min. or until golden brown. Serve warm.

We Can Make a Difference

Ya know what????

The orphanage that I posted about a couple days ago???

It's CLOSED!!!

Read HERE for more info on how God is moving big mountains!

For those of you who signed the petition.......THANK YOU!! God gave you the chance to be the voice for these children & I'm so proud that you did not turn away when given the chance to speak up.

Please Help....

A friend of mine shared this on her blog & I knew I could keep silent. Please, please, please take the time to sign this petition to stop this abuse & neglect at this orphanage. There are horrible, unspeakable things going on & these children have no voice but ours to speak for them. My first gut reaction is to want to go rescue them from this horror but God also gives us the means to help them through letting our voices be heard loud & clear to the people who can make sure these children are safe by signing this petition & the people who are guilty of this abuse are punished.

*WARNING! Images on this link are very graphic!

This past Monday I was able to attend the "Invisible Chains" conference on human trafficking. The reality of human trafficking & slavery is a HUGE & growing problem in this world. This business is a $32 billion dollar a year industry. These children in Haiti are just a few of the millions of victims since they are some of the most vulnerable. Who will speak for them?? God calls US!! So stop whatever you are doing & go sign it now! Click Right HERE!

"Not Me Monday"

I haven't participated in this blog link-up before but I have several good ones from this week that I just had to share. Well, most of the time I do the same things but I just can't remember them! So enjoy the "Not Me Monday!"

This week, I most certainly did NOT grab a box of "Cookie Crisp" for Jackson to hold after he had a meltdown in the store. I most certainly would NOT bribe my son with a sugary treat just so I could finish my shopping in peace & quiet.

I also did NOT justify eating several slices of banana bread for dinner one day by telling myself that there was fruit in it. Nope! Not me!

My oil light came on in my van that it was low on oil. In my attempt to show myself(& anyone I would encounter in the near future) that I could handle this just fine even though the hubby was fishing in Canada, I decided to remedy the problem myself until Monday. But I most certainly did NOT accidently grab the wrong "stick" to check the oil & grabbed the one to check transmission fluid & text my hubby in a panic that the "oil" had a red tint to it! Nope NOT me! (I would like to add that I did eventually find the right one & got oil put in)

Enjoy "Not Me" Monday!

Our Civic Duty

This past week I was able to exercise 1 of our most precious gifts of living in a free country & reported for jury duty. While I say it that way, I was NOT thrilled to get that summons! It seems to happen at the most inconvenient times. This was true for me this week. So much going on & of Brian was going out of the country. Well, Canada, but that still counts, right?? The other problem was that it was going to be an hour away & I would have to leave before the kids got on the bus. I had several meetings this week that I really felt I needed to be at & of course I was having to miss work. But I'm sure everyone there had the same issues & problems with schedules that I did so I just had to make the best of it.

As it turns out, I found it fascinating!! Sure, some things were completely boring & I felt my eyelids starting to get heavy because I'm not used to sitting down for long periods of time without having someone need me to get them a drink or wipe their back side. We were also told that it was going to be a shorter trial & that there were some longer ones coming up so if we didn't get chosen for this one, we could potentially be called back for the others. So, 3 hours & 3 witnesses into the trial, the judge called a recess. We were given a light snack & told to line up to report back in. We then see the judge come in the room & we wondered what was going on. He told us that we were no longer needed & he had declared a mistrial. There was some part of one of the witnesses testimony that the judge had ruled on earlier that he couldn't say & he evidently said it. I didn't hear it but others did & wondered why he was able to lable the defendant that way. So now they start over with jury selection & re-try the case. I know it makes my life easier but part of me was disappointed to not follow through the remainder of the case.

So I guess what I'm saying is that if you ever have a chance to serve in the way of being a potential juror, please take that right seriously. I was dreading having to do it but once I was there & saw how the process works, it made me proud to be able to take part in something that so many others across the world don't have the ability to do. Okay, I'm getting off my soapbox now! :)

All around us lately, it seems like so many people are either suffering from serious illnesses or dealing with the loss of a loved one. All too real it seems that many of these that are suffering or have been lost have been young. I'd be lying if I said this doesn't bring me back to my thinking of my son Dawson. Instantly, I have a lump in my throat & unfortunately, I know what some of the feelings & emotions these parents are having to live through. I've said it before....it's a club that no one wants to be a part of.

Having been in a situation of grief, you learn quickly what it is like to share in someone's grief. We want to say or do the right thing so that we don't make it worse. Let me tell ya, no amount of right words will take away the sorrow someone feels who has just suffered the loss of a loved one. Some of the most meaningful moments that I remember is seeing 1 of my friends for the first time after we lost Dawson. She walked up to me, tried to start a sentence & then stopped. She instead wept & sobbed with me. There were no words & there was no need for them.

So as we begin this week, please take the time to remember those that are trying to figure out what life is going to be like without a son, grandson, daughter, granddaughter, husband, wife or friend. I'm sure everyday they want to wake up to realize it was just a bad dream but in fact they have to face the reality that their loved one is no longer there.

Tasty Tuesday

It's getting close to not being Tuesday anymore but I thought I'd sneak this recipe in since I've skipped a few weeks in there! I know many of you have heard of the craze of the Crockpot Girls on Facebook & I'm a HUGE fan! I've made a few of their recipes & will definitely be making more! This was so simple & the whole family liked it so it will be back on the menu in the near future. Hope you enjoy!


Bacon Ranch Chicken


4 boneless skinless chicken breasts

2 tbsp real bacon bits
1tsp minced garlic
1pkg ranch dressing mix
1 can cream of chicken soup
1 cup sour cream
egg noodles


Combine bacon, garlic, ranch dressing mix, soup, and sour cream; mix well. Pour over chicken in the crock pot. Cook on high 3-4 hours. I then shred the chicken and put back in the pot and add the egg noodles; mix together.

The few things we did differently is I used real bacon that I cooked up prior to putting it in the crockpot. We also made peas & corn for sidedishes that everyone ended up putting in what they liked. I'm sure you could also do this as a casserole but I would use a more firm pasta selection like penne or rigatoni. You really could add whatever veggies you like to this & it will be fabulous! The leftovers were amazing & the chicken wasn't dry at all! So go love your crockpots!!

Inhale....Exhale

Yes, I have to coach myself sometimes to just breathe. Life has been nuts lately but not necessarily in a bad way. The weather has been gorgeous here so we've been trying to take advantage of it as much as possible. But that also means I don't get anything done in the house. Laundry is piling up & dishes are in the sink, the floors need to be swept & toys are scattered everywhere. But that's also the story of life with children.

Wyatt celebrated his 8th birthday this past Monday the 26th. No, I'm a bad mom & didn't get to do a birthday post.  He is growing up so fast! This boy is all about sports. He can literally watch Sports Center all day long if we let him. Football is most definitely a favorite but really anything with a ball works. He is such a great big brother & he just adores Charlie. The feeling is mutual. He also likes to be a pest to Emma & Jackson but I guess that's a normal 8 year old!  Here are some recent pictures of Wyatt!

Katelyn's Fund Auction

Brian & I were able to sneak away to the cabin this past weekend without the kids to spend time with just the adults in his family. The weather was gorgeous & as always, it was a great time!! I have some posts in the works in my head & I can't wait to share them with you!

But for now, I want to let you all know about the Katelyn's Fund Auction coming up. Brian & I were so blessed by a grant from Katelyn's fund & now we are trying to give back by way of helping out with this auction. I am on the committee this year & I am loving it already! The auction is on November 4 & donations are being taken at this time & up until the date of the auction. Here is a link to their website with information about the auction. There is also contact information if you have either a particular donation or monetary donation for the auction. Please consider giving to the Katelyn's Fund Auction to help out families in the adoption process.

http://www.katelynsfund.org/

 

Happy 4th Birthday Jackson!!!

Today is a day Jackson could hardly wait for!! I mean, who isn't excited to have their birthday when they are turning 4?? He's been talking about his 4th birthday since, well since the day after his 3rd birthday. We were counting the "sleeps" till his big day. He woke up so excited to get to eat where he wanted for lunch & open presents. Oh, to be 4 again!!

There is never a shortage of Jackson stories! This boy keeps us on our toes every second of the day. There has not been a child of mine that I can laugh at so hard & be aggravated with all in the same moment! He sure does bring us so much laughter. He really is such a miracle child. Last year I had written about the fact that at 8 1/2 weeks pregnant, we were told to expect another miscarriage. This was also within 6 months of a previous miscarriage & losing Dawson. I had given up hope of adding a 4th biological child to our family & had thought with some time we would move on to adoption. Disbelief is the understatement at the ultrasound when were told there was a healthy baby in there! So here he is, 4 years later & we can't imagine life without him! Even if he is a 1 man recking crew! Love this little boy so much!

(blogger isn't letting me turn this one but it's too cute not to add)

Tasty Tuesday

Loving this fall weather! Makes me want to cook! Here's is an oldie that I've been making for years! I'm not gonna lie though. This isn't a quick a minute meal to whip up but it's SOOOO worth it. If you can prep the night before, it will cut the time in half. The nice thing is that even for a family our size, we will eat these leftovers for several days after. Oh, and everyone in our family loves these so no complaining! Recipe courtesy of Food Network. Love Giada!

Mini Meatball Heroes

Meatballs:


1 small onion, grated

1/4 cup chopped fresh Italian parsley leaves

1 large egg

3 tablespoons ketchup

3 garlic cloves, minced

1 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper

2/3 cup grated Parmesan

1/4 cup dried Italian-style bread crumbs

6 ounces ground beef

6ounces ground veal

6 ounces ground pork

1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil

Marinara sauce, 26-ounce jar, store-purchased



Sandwiches:

12 (3 to 3 1/2-inch diameter) Italian rolls, split, warm

1/3 cup freshly grated Parmesan

3 ounces sliced provolone

Directions
To make the meatballs: Whisk the first 7 ingredients in a large bowl to blend. Stir in the cheese and bread crumbs. Mix in the beef, veal, and pork. Using about 2 tablespoons of meat for each, shape the meat mixture into 1 1/4 to 1 1/2-inch-diameter meatballs. Place on a baking sheet.


Heat the oil in heavy large frying pan over medium-high heat. Working in 2 to 3 batches, add the meatballs and saute until browned on all sides, about 5 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the meatballs to a plate. Pour off any excess oil. Return all the meatballs to the pan. Add the marinara sauce. Simmer over medium-low until the sauce thickens slightly and the flavors blend, about 10 minutes. Season the sauce, to taste, with salt and pepper. (The meatball mixture can be made 1 day ahead. Cool, then cover and refrigerate. Rewarm over medium heat before continuing.)


To make the sandwiches: Spoon the hot meatballs with some sauce over the bottoms of the rolls. Place 1/2 slice provolone on top of meatballs and sprinkle with the Parmesan. Spread more sauce over the roll tops, then fold the tops of the rolls over and serve.


Cook's Note: The sandwiches can be assembled then wrapped individually in foil. Rewarm the sandwiches in the oven at 350 degrees F for about 15 minutes.

Couple of changes that I made. First, I used 1 pound ground pork and 1 pound ground beef, left out the veal. Like I said before, you can make the meatballs up ahead of time & put them in the fridge on a cookie sheet. Another tip, buy extra sub rolls. You'll need them for the leftovers! You MUST buy marinara sauce, not just spagetti sauce. Yes, there is a HUGE difference in taste. I'm always wanting quick, easy meals & while this one isn't difficult, it just takes a little time to brown the meatballs. Can't wait for you guys to try it!

As of Late...

Not too much time to post but again the blog is neglected so this is a short version of what's been going on.

As of late....fall weather is settling in & I do have to say I am really enjoying the warm days & cool nights.

As of late...the crossroad I mentioned earlier hasn't changed & I'm okay with that for now.

As of late....the older kids are adjusting to the new school schedules but there is still some improvement needed.

As of late....Jackson is NOT adjusting to the kids new school schedules by acting out in several ways that are less than desirable for his parents. They are however quite funny to everyone around us! These include by are not limited to peeing on the carpet in his room & blaming the dog, putting chocolate syrup in the dishwasher where the soap is supposed to be, putting a roll of tape around his toy pickup, and pulling a 70 quart cooler into the bathroom to poop in it. We are REALLY hoping that this phase end really soon!

As of late....football season is in full swing! Never thought I'd love football as much as I do but I'm hooked! I'm more of a high school & college football fan but I will watch NFL at times. Alexa is a football cheerleader this year & she's having a blast with it.

As of late....my oldest daughter & I are headed off to the All-Iowa dance auditions for the weekend along with 3 other teammates & 1 other mom!(Yay Wendi!)

As of late....Charlie is starting solid foods. He's not a fan of the rice cereal but he sure did love his squash last night!

As of late...it was my birthday today & it rocked! Lunch with friends, pedicures, supper cooked my hubby & Katelyn's Fund meeting tonight. What a fabulous day!!

Being At a Crossroad

I'm sure many of you have been at a crossroad before where decisions have to be made & you don't know which way to go. I'm at one right now. I'm not going into detail for privacy reasons. I just hate being here & of course I would love the quickest way out of it. And yes, I've been in prayer talking to my God about how to best deal with it. No, He hasn't made it clear to me/us what His will is yet. I know He may only whisper it quietly that I may miss it or He could just smack me upside the head so that it's soooo obvious. Either way, we know that we can't just keep things the same as they have been & change is inevitable. I know it will ultimately be for the good of us & our family but in all honesty, who likes change unless it's our idea & our decision. I just hope clarity comes sooner rather than later!

On a good note, we are getting documents ready to finalize Charlie's adoption. I'm so excited for this! It will mean so much to legally have everything in our name for him to forever be a part of our family. I can't see our family without him & he brings us so much joy!

Tasty Tuesday

Yeah, this is a little late on Tuesday but I have 2 little boys with nasty colds who have needed their momma all day long! And Brian is gone for work until early Thursday morning. But I do have a recipe to post! This is one that I've altered from Food Network, another favorite place to get yummy recipes! We are having this on Thursday, if you really care! Hope you make it & enjoy it!

Basil Pesto Pasta

1- pound small shell pasta
1/2 small onion, diced
3 garlic cloves, minced
1- 28 ounce can crushed tomatoes
Basil (fresh 1/2 cup, dried 1 tablespoon)
1/2 pound ground Italian Sausage
1 jar store bought pesto sauce(or feel free to make your own)
1 container ricotta cheese
1/2 cup Parmesan Cheese
1/2 pound Mozzarella

Bring a large pot of water to a boil & salt the water. Add small shell pasta & cook around 9-10 minutes. Drain pasta. Meanwhile, heat 1 tsp EVOO in a skillet & add onion. Cook approximately 3 minutes, or until onions begin to soften & then add sausage & garlic. Cook until sausage is brown & onion is translucent. Add crushed tomatoes & basil & simmer on low until pasta is done. Turn broiler on low. In a separate bowl, mix pasta, pesto & ricotta until blended. Pour into 9 X 13 pan. Pour over the tomato & sausage mixture. Top with shredded mozzarella & Parmesan cheese. Put under broiler approximatley 10 inches below broiler until cheese is melted & the top begins to brown. Serve!! This is basically pasta on steroids if you ask me! You can serve breadsticks or a salad on the side. This is also one that you can add or subtract what you like or don't like. I could easily see spinach in this one but have never put it in because I have 2 boys that have a phobia of something green like that.

Tasty Tuesday

I have a few wonderful soup recipes coming but with the temps being in the 90's today, I couldn't post them. So I'm posting one of my favorite healthy recipes. It's also very easy & who doesn't love easy! I got the idea for this one off of http://www.eatingwell.com/. I have made quite a few of their recipes & they are delicious! I took what they call Crispy Turkey Tostadas & made my own recipe.

Spicy Chicken Tacos

3-4 pounds chicken breasts
(I put them in the crockpot around noon with 3 cups of water & 2 chicken bouillon cubes & some Cavendar's Greek seasoning)
Drain liquid & shred chicken
2 cans diced mexican tomatoes(these will have chiles or jalepenos in)
2 teaspoons cumin
salt & pepper
Tortillas(it calls for corn tortillas but we prefer flour, or you can buy tostadas already made)
Guacamole
lettuce
sour cream
fresh cilantro
salsa
Monterey Jack Cheese, shredded

This is most definitely one to create into what you like. The basics are the chicken with the mexican tomatoes & cumin. Then just add whatever toppings you like. I do add the tomatoes & cumin in for a while in the crockpot just to let the flavors soak in. Enjoy!

5 Months

It was 5 months ago today that Charlie came into our lives. I think back to that day & I can get tears in my eyes quickly. We had thought about what it would be like to lay eyes on him for the first time & it was so much more than I could have dreamed of. We loved him instantly & I couldn't stop shaking from the excitement. The last 5 months with him have been awesome. Yes, he's the easiest baby ever! No, do not argue with me about this because many people around us will agree!

I love being his mommy & he's kinda fond of his mommy too. He loves to snuggle & I really don't mind. He will, however, go through some withdrawal this week when 3 out of his 4 siblings go back to school. Nope, won't be getting much done while we try to "detox" him from having 1 of their faces to look at & talk to every second of every day. That job will be taken over by me & Jackson. While Jackson might be entertaining from a distance, he has no concept of personal space when it comes to Charlie so we always have to keep a close eye on him!  Charlie is still sleeping like a champ, even though we went through a period where he was messed up because of all our little trips. Can't say I blame him! No solids yet. We tried it. Failed miserably so we will wait with that one. Here are some cute pics from the last month!

Happy 11th Birthday Emma!

I know this is technically a day late but I seriously started this on her birthday! We had a birthday party with her & her friends yesterday so I was just a little busy with that!

I can't believe my baby girl is already 11 years old, even though many times she likes to act like she going on 20! She does like to argue with us every chance she gets so we are making the prediction of being a lawyer someday! Ha! She can be such a girly girl at times but she also loves to dig in the dirt. Volleyball, soccer & running are the favorite sports right now. Of course singing comes in at the top, probably since she is doing that ALL the time! She is also our very big social butterfly. She LOVES being with her friends & just hanging out. I'm guessing that we'll never see her during her teenage years! She can do anything she sets her mind to & she has so much unlimited potential! We can't wait to see what God has in store for her life!

Tasty Tuesday

This is for you Janet!! Ha! Since fall is fast approaching (I know, boo!), I had to do this one! I was a little unsure how this was going to work together when I read it but it was amazing! Can't wait to make it again!

Gnocchi with Squash, Spinach & Proscuitto

4 tablespoons butter
6 slices deli proscuitto sliced into 1/4 inch strips(we use bacon)
2 peeled & seeded butternut squash halves, cut into 1/2 inch pieces
2 tablespoons minced fresh thyme
1/2 cup dry white wine
1 cup chicken broth
1 pound vacuum-packed gnocchi
salt & pepper
4 ounces baby spinach

1. Bring 4 quarts water to boil in large pot. Meanwhile, melt 1 tablespoon butter in large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Cook proscuitto(or bacon) until crisp, about 3 minutes. Transfer to paper towel lined plate.

2. Add squash and remaining butter to empty skillet and cook until lightly browned, about 4 minutes. Add thyme and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Stir in wine and cook until reduced by half, about 3 minutes. Add broth and cook until slightly thickened, about 4 minutes.

3. Meanwhile, add gnocci and 1 tablespoon salt to boiling water and cook until gnocchi float to surface, about 4 minutes. Reserve 1/2 cup cooking water, drain gnocchi, and return to pot. Add squash mixture and toss to combine. Stir in spinach until just wilted, adding reserved pasta water as needed. Stir in prosciutto and season with salt & pepper. Serve.

Fresh thyme in this recipe is very important. I will substitute dried herbs at times but this just wouldn't be as good without the fresh thyme. I love this recipe just because I love all the fall veggies and it gives a new way to eat them! Enjoy!

Fallen Off the Face of the Earth

At least it feels that way! I have barely been able to catch my breath & the last thing that I can squeeze in my days is writing on a blog. I want to. Just have no time to. We've been going here & camping there & having loads of fun!

The extremely short version of what's been going on is Bible school, work, surprise birthday party, Kings Pointe, and camping for a week in Yankton. We also had pictures done of the kids, if you couldn't tell by the new photo at the top! There will be more where that came from! Also more pics of what we've been up to. But for now, sleep is in order & that means no more writing. All the kids are fast asleep, like they should be & this momma is heading that way too! I will have lots more time to write when there this evil white thing that likes to visit around November! Ha!

Happy 4 Months Charlie J*ace!!

Charlie is 4 months old today! I am totally loving this age! He is such a content baby & smiles ALL the time! He only fusses when he's hungry or has a dirty diaper. He loves to watch his brothers & sisters & there is no lack of arms to hold him. I have major mommy pride when they are talking to him or entertaining him.  He still prefers his mommy though :) He is starting to figure out his hands & is starting to play with toys. He's not rolling yet but I'm pretty sure it's because he's just so content. We go to the doctor tomorrow so we'll know for sure what he weighs then but if my scale is correct, he's now 14 1/2 pounds!! He can suck down a 6 oz bottle in a few minutes & I have a feeling we'll be increasing that to 7-8 oz soon. Here are a few pictures from the last 2 days & I am hoping to have professional pictures done with all the kids soon!