All About Kinadie! We Like Green Beans! Anyone Want Cupcakes?...I Never Know How To Title These Posts!

This whole week has been all about Kinadie at her school. We had sent some pictures and a print out of Kinadie and what she likes and what she is about. Some of the things Kinadie had me put down were that her favorite colors were pink, purple, and black, she loves mixed berries with whipped cream on top, she was born in Hawaii, and she wants to be a teacher when she grows up. Kris and I made sure to visit her alot at school this week. Monday Daddy picked her up from school. She loved that surprise because I am usually the one to go get her. Wednesday she had an assembly at school. They had the NED program there and I took Kara and Kaylee Jo to go watch with Kinadie. Click here to see a video of NED!

Today we went to eat lunch with Kinadie. She and Kara obviously loved it.

Kara has been doing really good eating up her food. Wednesday I made her this bento. She had peanut butter and sugar free blackberry preserves on whole wheat bread in the shape of a "Kara girl," baby elephant, heart, and triangle. She also had some applesauce with mixed berries and green beans sauted with garlic and turkey bacon with a little light ranch dip. She ate everything except some bites of the sandwich. I was very happy that she ate the green beans. We all liked them cooked that way.

I've decided this week what the theme for Kaylee Jo's birthday will be. Thinking about having her party on the Saturday after and doing a dedication at church for her on that Sunday. Still have alot to get done with that. Kinadie has a long weekend so maybe I can finalize some things and try a few cake recipes! In fact I'm thinking about testing a few of them out tonight. Anyone want to come over and be my guiney pig? :o)

Restarting with the New Year!

It's a new year and a good time to restart everything. Kinadie restarted going to school. So her and I are restarting our time working on shapes, letters, numbers, and first name vs. last name. She is still also having trouble holding a crayon/pencil correctly. Any tips?

My focus on Kara is to restart those bentos and meals because she is my Skinny Minnie and I want to make sure she is getting proper nutrition. Our main focus is towards vegetables. I am gonna hunt down some butternut or acorn squash and see if she likes those. Well, I'm going to see if any of us like them. It's not something I have cooked before.

My restart with Kaylee Jo is to restart the celebration of her comming into the world. Her birthday comes first and I am reminded of the days in the hospital holding her and watching her sleep. Now I will get to experience new things with her this year so I'm letting the party begin in my head. Not quite sure how we will celebrate. But I've got a few ideas. I can't wait!
I am going to restart my nutrition and health program. I am not really concerened with how I look but rather how I feel. I think back to the time right when we got back to Texas and how well I felt and how much more moving I was doing. Yeah I gotta get back there. So far it hasn't been hard except Daddy keeps buying junk food. Just waiting for the cold weather to go away so the girls and I can get back to walking again. I've been indoors doing cardio and strength training videos while watching Dr. Oz. Love that show!
Finally, Daddy's restart is pretty much the same as mine. He has some PT tests comming up. We are both taking a step to restart our savings. I wouldn't call any of these resolutions because these things are all somethings we have done before. We're just gonna step it up. Do you have anything new you are doing for 2011? Are you stepping anything up? I wanna know!

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.