Trick or Treat!

Well, the girls and I had lots of fun for Halloween. I love dressing them up. I had the most beautiful mermaid ever, the prettiest little "good" witch, and the sweetest black cat I've ever seen! I missed getting their picture all together. But I got them one by one. At one point during our outing Kara asked me, "Mommy, can I fly?" I laughed and said, "I don't know. Say the magic word." And she said, "GO!" Ha ha She's so funny! Daddy stayed home to hand out candy aka watch the Rangers game. We had lots of fun making all kinds of treats. But next year I think I'll stick to making more wholesome Halloween food instead of all the sweet treats. They got LOTS of sugar that day. Now we are all looking forward to Thanksgiving. I gotta start making my grocery list. Mmmmm! I can already taste that dressing! 

Yummy Beef Stir Fry

This was so good and so easy! I will be making this again with some chicken!

First I added some oil. Sesame oil would be great but I had none so light olive oil is what I used. Then I sauteed garlic and green onion. I would have added fresh ginger here, too. I added ground ginger to the meat. So I added the boneless beef sirloin, soy sauce, oyster sauce (this makes a lot of difference), salt and pepper. (Eye-ball it) Once cooked on both sides I removed and added a little more oil.

Then I added all the veggies. Carrot, broccoli, cabbage, zucchini, and mushrooms. I added some salt to help it sweat out and put a lid on. Make sure you get all the good brown bits off the bottom of the pan from the beef!

Boil the noodles or cook your rice and add them to the vegetable to soak up some of the yummy sauce.

Put on a big serving platter and add the beef back on top. Enjoy!

Kris loved it and Kara was really eating up the veggies! I know Kinadie will eat it up! She has my taste buds. I love all Asian food. Wished I'd have realized this when I was in Hawaii. I'd have gone to eat sushi more.

On another note, Kara's doctor called and said she did in fact break her collar bone. Not much they can do about it though. So she's wearing a sling for 2-3 weeks. She can't really play much so she's been watching a lot of TV :op Thinking about going to the library to check out some videos for her. She's a trooper though.

MTM

Since we did nothing yesterday I decided to do a muffin tin breakfast this morning. Kara had strawberry yogurt, granola, frozen blueberries, cheese, cheese crackers, and some toaster tart.

She is wearing an arm sling. :o( Yesterday at Kin's soccer practice she fell off the bleachers and we think she broke her collar bone. I am waiting on radiology to call me. But momma is taking good care of her this morning. If you would like to join Muffin Tin Monday, go here.

 

School!!!

Kinadie has been going to Headstart and Preschool and it has kept me VERY busy. Not only school but Daddy got promoted out of his unit last weekend so we're going through some changes. He is very busy these days with his schooling, work, and going through the interview process of getting another job. I've been trying to do as much as I can here at the house when I'm home but I keep getting run over by laundry! lol It hasn't helped that we got all our winter clothes out! Ah! How I miss the Hawaii weather. My walking hit the back burner, too. I did go yesterday but it was only a few blocks to Dollar General. We just HAD to get some candy corn! It's tradition! ;o)  And if you know me I'm all about traditions! But yeah, we are busy busy. Kin has soccer and is really liking it. Her BB gets to watch her this next time so we've set apart some practice time tonight since practice was canceled this week. Here lately its been all Kinadie and Daddy. But I've enjoyed the time I get to spend with my other two at home. Kaylee Jo has mastered purees and sitting up. She is now working on crawling and soft foods. Kara looks so cute with her new hair cut and has really picked up on the things Kinadie does. Kara has learned to count to 10. We couldn't be more proud of her. Kinadie gets to ride the fire truck today. October is Fire Safety Month. Make sure those batteries in you alarms are still good and get an alarm if you don't have one!
I have still been teaching Pre-K on Sunday. Its funny how much I have learned just by doing lessons. The more I spend with God the more I learn. I have been asking for wisdom. I am not one that can remember where scripture is found but I do know the verse. Anyway, I LOVE teaching these kids. They know a lot more and remember things more than you would think. A lot have asked Jesus into their hearts. I am so blessed to be around these kid-os and see them learn!
Well, my laundry is exploding off the couch! If anyone has some outstanding organization tips, I desperately need them! ;o) Send them my way!

Another attempt at a healthy meal...just because it's fun!

This is sugar free blackberry preserve and cream cheese on whole wheat, homemade roasted red pepper hummus, pita chips, frozen blueberries, carrots, and cucumber from our garden. Kinadie finished hers off. Kara ate most of the sandwich, hummus, few chips, and a few blueberries. I think she ate a few bites of the cucumber after I added a little light ranch.

On another topic I guess I have been feeling a little overwhelmed with the thought of all I have to do as a parent/mother. I was so tired today that I almost decided to skip church. Wednesday church is important for me because I get caught up from missing Sunday when I teach the preschool kids. And I am SO glad I went! God showed me that by confession of the truth and not the facts that I am healed of all the sorrow I feel for not "getting to it." I am healed from the anxiety I feel about what I need to get done. It may not come immediately but with time and patience God will comfort me because all this mess and sin in my life "IS FINISHED." I must think about how I want my kids to remember me. I am a Godly mother. Not a house keeper. I must live for today. I hope all you mothers that read my blog can restart your day to live as Christ for your kids and know that you are not alone in what you are feeling but that if you let Him, Jesus can take it away. In fact, He already has.

Today for lunch the girls had multi-grain pita chips (we all LOVE these), princess pasta with chicken and carrots (Kinadie's request), peaches and frozen blueberries, cheddar cubes, fresh cucumber from our garden, and cherry tomatoes. Kinadie finished the whole thing. Kara ate all the blueberries some cheese and chips and I put the rest in the fridge for later.

I haven't been able to post a blog in a while. We've been really busy as a family. Kris was gone a whole month before Father's Day weekend so I tried to be with family to pass the time. We've decided I should go back to school but we haven't been able to find daycare for the girls. Either way, it's all in God's hands. I've been setting up lessons for the preschool at our church and this Sunday will be my first Sunday to teach. I'm excited about that. And Kinadie will be going to Headstart this coming school year. So a lot has happened in the month of June! Right now we are slowing down a bit and trying to get caught up on all the house work and yard work. Kinadie has gone to stay the week with Kris' mom so hopefully I'll get caught up soon.

To end I thought I'd do a Not Me Monday since it is Monday! lol

It wasn't me that forgot the lesson on Sunday. I never forget anything! It wasn't me that has been feeding my kids corn dog after corn dog.They love those things! It wasn't me that slept till 8:45 this morning. I never sleep in. HA! Finally, it wasn't me that hogged a big bowl of pasta and a glass of wine and the couch and the TV remote so I could watch The Next Food Network Star. Sorry Honey! :o) 

Muffin tin Monday grilled cheese

No theme for MTM. We had raisins, rainbow marshmallows, pickles, grilled cheese squares, sweet potato fries with ketchup, and more grilled cheese squares. Not much was eaten. Kinadie woke up way late. We could hear her talking in her room at about 11pm and Daddy went to check on her and she had figured out how to turn her TV on! So she had a very late breakfast. If you want to join in on MTM go here!

Little Moments

I have been trying to enjoy every moment with my girls. They really do grow up so fast. So I thought I'd make a list of all the things I love about my girls right now while they are little.
Kinadie:
I love that I get to fix her pretty hair in braids or pony tails and how fun it is to dress her up in her pretty dresses. I love that she wants to be a cheerleader when she grows up so she can "sell cookies, too! I love that she looks just like Daddy and is his little princess. He is her prince of course! I love how sweet a heart she has and wants to be everyone's friend from any age. I love what a big helper she is for her sissy. I love her little strawberry patch and how she still believes that Strawberry Shortcake gave it to her at a tea party in Mommy's tummy. I love that she is such a good mommy for her baby dolls.
Kara: I love her cheeks and how kissable they are. I love how she runs barefoot with just a diaper on all through the house. Pitter patter pitter patter. I love how if you give her a kiss she laughs and jokingly says, "Mommy! Yuck!" I love how she plays so well with her sissy and follows right behind her. They are best friends. I love her little messy face grin at the table. I love how she sings the No Belly Button song off of Veggie Tales. "Belly button UH-Uh!" I love how sweet she is when she's fast asleep in her Daddy's arms. I love how she is always excited to see the baby and calls her "Baby Doh" (baby Jo).
Kaylee Jo: I love her smell. Just like a baby. I love that she has her Daddy's chin and Mommy's dark hair. I love her tooth less smile when I talk to her. I love how she already knows who Mommy is. I love her little hands and how they wrap around my finger. I love that she alreay wants to be wiggly just like her sisters.
My girls: I love that they are all mine to hug and kiss and hold and tell stories to and give baths and fix bentos and take to the park, library...I love that they have made a dream come true for me and I couldn't have asked for anything more. I am very blessed. I hope they will always know how much I love them.
Mommy loves you, Kinadie Faith Norville
Mommy loves you, Kara Leann Norville
Mommy loves you, Kaylee Jo Norville

Creation Story Bento

Creation Story Bento: Kinadie just finished her bible stories on creation so we made a bento. Cheese sun, moon, animal, fish crackers, turkey meat Adam and Eve, fruit leather water and plants, bread land, cauliflower clouds, cheese birds, and blueberry stars. Kinadie said she really loves bentos and ate everything but the bread crust. Kara ate everything but the bread slice. They both had some ranch for the bread and cauliflower. Why won't my picture rotate? Errrrgggg!

Tex-Mex Sausage and Egg Bake

This is the recipe for the sausage potato bake I made yesterday for the girls muffin tins. It came from my Betty Crocker Brunch Magazine (that I just love!). I used country-style potatoes, mozzarella cheese and I didn't refrigerate like it says to. I also baked it a little longer so the cheese would get kinda crisp. My hubby likes it that way. Hope you like it!

Tex-Mex Sausage and Egg Bake
serves 8

12 oz bulk spicy pork sausage
5 cups frozen southern style hash brown potatoes (from 32-oz bag)
1 can (4.5 oz) Old El Paso chopped green chiles, undrained
3 cups shredded Colby-Monterey Jack cheese (12 oz)
6 eggs
1 1/2 cups milk
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup Old El Paso Thick 'n Chunky salsa

1. Spray 13x9-inch (3 quart) glass baking dish with cooking spray. In 10-inch skillet, cook sausage over medium heat 8-10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until no longer pink. Drain on paper towel.

2. Spread frozen potatoes in baking dish. Sprinkle with sausage, green chiles and 1 1/2 cups of the cheese. In medium bowl, beat eggs, milk, and salt with fork or wire whisk until well blended. Pour over potato mixture. Sprinkle with remaining 1 1/2 cups cheese. Cover; refrigerate at least 8 hours but no longer than 12 hours.

3. Heat oven to 350 degrees F. Bake uncovered 50 to 60 minutes or until knife inserted near center comes out clean. Let stand 10 minutes before cutting into squares. Serve with salsa.

Muffin Tin Monday #1 Rainbow

      

Today's theme for Muffin Tin Monday was rainbow. Kinadie and Kara had tomatoes, clementines, sasuage potato bake, cucumbers with light ranch, rainbow fruit leather, dried blueberries, and purple milk.

Kinadie ate everything and Kara left a few bites of everything except the blueberries and fruit leather. Kinadie was excited to see her muffin tin since I haven't done one in a while.

If you would like to see some more muffin tin meals, take a look at Muffin Tin Mom. 

It wasn't me!

I have seen some people do these Not Me Mondays where you sorta tell on your selves about some things you do that normally you wouldn't do. It's not Monday but I thought I'd try it out. It makes for some laughs.
Ok well it wasn't me that let the girls eat their cereal on the couch this morning while watching tv. It wasn't me who put Kara to bed without brushing her teeth and in her clothes that she wore that day. It wasn't me who kept putting the pacy back in Kaylee Jo's mouth hopeing she would go back to sleep last night. Finally, it wasn't me who threw out all the girls Easter candy because I am tempted to eat some every time I open the pantry. lol
That was fun! I might start doing that more often. :o)

Eating veggies!

 I was surprised at lunch to see my oldest gobble up some canned spinach. Growing up in daycare we were forced to eat it if we wanted any bread and butter and pickles. Bread and butter and pickles was like dessert there at Mrs. Pillow's. There was nothing I hated worse than canned spinach! But to my amazement Kinadie ate that first thing and then asked for more! She does the same thing with asparagus. Of course anything Kinadie really likes, Kara despises. But I am on a mission to find a way that Kara will eat it and to find more recipes using vegetables. How do you get your kids to eat their veggies? 

My Wonderful Husband!

Chaos is how I explain the last couple of days. What made me think that I could just wake up and be supermom? I don't know! However, my husband always comes to my rescue. Our anniversary is coming up and to show his love for me, he bought me a dishwasher! Yea! Oh how I love my dishwasher! And Oh how I love my husband! It has been nice to walk in the kitchen to an empty sink. And nice to have a little more time in my day. Thank you, Honey!

Welcome, Kaylee Jo!!

Kaylee is here. She weighed 8lbs 11.5oz. She was 20 3/4 long. She is such a good baby. Recovery is going, well. I can't wait to get back into cooking and being "normal" again. Hopefully I'll get some posts back on here soon!

Looking for a little bit of spring!

Well, we have all been sick this week so I have been behind on all my posts. I will probably be out for a while soon to welcome Kaylee. She should be here soon! But because of all the gloomy weather and prediction of snow again this week, I have been craving smoothies. I got online and researched some recipes then came up with my own this morning. Both the girls loved them. The straws didn't work very well so we resorted to spoons. YUM!

Spring Smoothie
1 frozen banana
1 6 oz container strawberry yogurt
6 fresh or frozen strawberries
1/2 c. orange juice
1/2 c. milk
8-10 ice cubes
Cool Whip/Redi Whip
fresh strawberry for garnish

Blend until desired consistency is reached. Pour into glass, top with Whip and strawberry. Enjoy!

Sick Day

Mommy has had to make chicken noodle soup today. Daddy has been sick for a while and both the girls woke up with fevers and coughs. Thankfully, I am not feeling under the weather. Just frustrated with the insomnia I have been having here lately. I know its not anxiety because Kaylee Jo is staying put. Doctor says I am a finger tip dialated and about 40% effaced. With all my other sick ones, its a good thing she doesn't come yet! Not much progress is good news even though I can't wait to see her! So until my girls' throats and stomaches feel better we'll have to take a break on bentos. Hope everyone else is well!

Bento 1 and Roasted Red Pepper Hummus

The main reason I've been making these bentos so much is because Daddy has been working in another town and hasn't been able to come home for lunch. These are easy and fun to make without getting all the pots and pans out. Our next house will definately have a dishwasher! Yesterday we didn't do a bento because I was in a cooking and making mood. The girls and I made white chocolate covered pretzels and roasted red pepper hummus. The pretzels went fast and the hummus was a big hit with all of us. So I took down the recipe and put it directly into my box.

Roasted red pepper hummus, pita chips, strawberries, turkey roll up and swiss cheese. Both girls finished off everything. I am so glad strawberries went on sale, too. I don't buy them unless they are less than three dollars. And, yes, I need to buy some more pita chips. Maybe I can make some homemade tortilla chips out of the sun dried tomato and basil tortilla wraps.

Roasted Red Pepper Hummus

1/3 c. tahini paste       1 can garbanzo or chickpea beans      1/4 c. lemon juice (about 1 large lemon)           2 Tbsp. olive oil           1/2 c. - 3/4 c. jarred roasted red peppers       2 cloves crushed garlic

First of all let me just say the when I first started making hummus, tahini paste was hard to find. Tahini paste is sorta like peanut butter only its made with sesame seeds and does not have any sugar. Our local Wal Mart does not carry it so we've had to go to United Supermaket. I've also found it in health food stores but the kinds they have can be really expensive.

Anyways, drain the garbanzo beans and put in a blender or food processor. I use a food processor. Add the tahini paste, lemon juice and olive oil. Blend all of this until its to the consistency you like. I like mine creamy so I add more olive oil and a little more lemon juice. You might want to have another lemon if you like yours more tart.

Next, add the peppers and garlic and blend until combined.

Hummus can be eaten with anything. Even put into sandwiches or wraps. Our favorite is with warm pita bread or pita chips. Enjoy!