Christmas Mommy Mysteries

We had such a nice Christmas with family.  Jacob's 13th birthday party was yesterday so we were able to see most of our extended family again, and we got to see some of our close friends.  I am grateful that we have so many wonderful people in our lives!  Along with a great holiday we did have some mysterious events occur.

1. Why would Ashlynn think that 3 in the morning would be a good time to open Christmas presents?  I had to tell her to go back to bed until at least 6:00, or she would have a crazy mom for Christmas Day.
2. This is a daddy mystery.  Where is Ashlynn getting all of these Webkinz?
3.. Who broke the slot car for the new race track?  I am not sure who it was, but our cat is hunting slot cars.
4. This one is for my friend Lisa.  Why do the kids suddenly have urgent things to tell me when I am talking on the phone?
5. Why do Jacob and Ashlynn forget to close doors when the temperature outside drops below freezing?
6. Who ate all of the chocolate covered macadamia nuts that Grandma gave us for Christmas?   I am trying to act innocent, but I just love those things!
7. Who is going to help me put all of these Christmas decorations away?
8. How did Jacob turn into a teenager so fast?  I guess thirteen years goes by really fast when you are having so much fun.
9. Why do pets want to drink the Christmas tree water?  They have a bowl full of water in the kitchen, but they act like tree water is a delicacy.

Merry Christmas

I wish all of you a wonderful Christmas filled with love and fun!

Christmas Fun

Besides that hard Santa talk which Jacob and Ashlynn are taking well, we have been having lots of Christmas fun.  Saturday Jacob and Ashlynn took another glass blowing class.  They made beautiful ornaments, and more paper weights.

Sunday we made dog treats for our little dogs.  I think that Jacob and Ashlynn really enjoyed baking for our furry family members.

Jacob and I also made small bags of peppermint cocoa to put into Christmas mugs for party favors for his 13th birthday party this weekend.

Yesterday we made gingerbread cookies, and we played Christmas bingo.  I had Christmas candy to give for prizes so Jacob and Ashlynn were very eager to play.  This afternoon we are making peanut butter chocolate fudge, and 3-d paper snowflakes.
I hope all of you are having lots of fun this Christmas season.

The Santa Talk

We had the Santa talk with Jacob and Ashlynn last night.  I really want Christmas to be about Jesus, and not about Santa.  I want Jacob and Ashlynn to have faith in God, not a man who delivers presents once a year.  It seemed that Santa was taking over the reason for Christmas for Jacob and Ashlynn.  I talked to Doug and he agreed that it was time for the talk.  At dinner I told the kids that I had something hard to tell them about Santa.  I asked them if they wanted to hear it then, or after Christmas.  They said they wanted to know then, so I told them.  The first thing Jacob said was that he kind of thought so.  Ashlynn cried, then she asked for her presents from him.  That didn't happen for her, but we did say that we would start giving Santa presents on Christmas Eve.  Then we all talked about the miracle that God gave us through Jesus.  Forgiveness for our sins, and all we have to do is ask.  If God can forgive us that easily then we can try to forgive ourselves for our mistakes, and other people for their mistakes.  I want that to be the reason we celebrate Christmas.

My New Year Resolutions

I don't make resolutions every new year, but this year I have been thinking of things I would like to do in 2010.
1. Last Monday Jacob and Ashlynn did their math and then for the rest of the day we had a Christmas story reading day.  One of the books we read was The Legend of the Christmas Tree by Rick Osborne.  The book gives a little history of how evergreen trees became associated with Christianity.  Before Christians celebrated Christmas a monk named Boniface used evergreen trees to teach people that trees had three corners but were still one tree, like God exists as three persons: The Father, The Son, and The Holy Spirit.  This really spoke to my heart, and I started thinking that if God has three sides than we probably do too.  We are made in God's image.  My first resolution is when I start feeling annoyed by somebody I am going to try to turn my thinking to love so I can see a different corner.
2. One of my favorite foods is cake.  I love it because to me it means celebration.  You eat cake at birthdays, weddings, baby showers.  My second resolution is to find something every month to celebrate, and bake a cake for it.
3. My third resolution is to learn to speak Spanish with Jacob and Ashlynn.  I have wanted Jacob and Ashlynn to learn Spanish for a couple of years, but we haven't gotten around to it.  It occurred to me the other day that I would like to learn with them.
4. My fourth resolution is to spend 15 minutes 5 days a week organizing things in my house.  I think if I spend a little bit of time everyday I can go through stuff, and donate things we don't need.
5.  My fifth resolution is to start a prayer journal.  For anybody out there who isn't religious and  that stops them from praying, you don't need to be religious to pray to God.
6. My sixth resolution is to do the President's physical fitness test challenge with Jacob and Ashlynn 4 times a week.
7. My seventh and last resolution is to conquer my fear of swimming.  I am going to take swim lessons this spring.
If you have any resolutions that you want to share, leave a comment.  I would love to read about them.

Mommy Mysteries

I love my family, and I am not complaining.  I just have somethings that I am curious about.

1. Who stuffed 8 Halloween size Reeces wrappers in the living room chair?
2. Where do all of Ashlynn's rubber bands for her hair go?
3. How come nobody cleans the pockets of their pants out before they put them in the hamper?
4. Am I the only one in this house who can replace a roll of toilet paper?
5. Also, am I the only person here that is capable of hanging up a coat?
6. Who is using so many napkins?
7. When I ask Jacob and Ashlynn to clean their rooms, why do they stuff everything under their beds?
8. When I cook, why does everybody here keep asking me what I put in the food?  I actually have an idea about this one.  I think they are getting wise to the crazy vegetable puree lady stuff.
9. When did going to sleep at nine become so appealing to me?  I think that this one has something to do with being a mom.
10. Where can I get some of those mice that do housework, like the ones Cinderella had?

A Couple More Easy Lunch Ideas

Yesterday Jacob had an orthodontist appointment in the afternoon, and I didn't have much time for lunch.  We had cheese, crackers, and yogurt, sometimes that is as good as it is going to get around here. 
Here are a couple more quick lunch ideas with a crazy vegetable puree lady twist.
1. Egg salad sandwiches with 1/3 cup pureed carrots.  This is what we had today for lunch.
2. Macaroni and cheese from a box with with 1/3 cup acorn squash.

Cookie Personality

Last year I spent the three days before Christmas baking four kinds of cookies, making fudge, baking a pie and a chocolate cheesecake for Christmas dessert.  When I was finished with all of this cooking I had a melt down in my kitchen.  My husband found me in there crying, because I felt like I had missed out on having fun with my family.  This year I have been baking 1 kind of cookie every week.  I have been freezing half of the cookies I have been making.  I figure that all I will have to make on Christmas Eve is a pie and a cheesecake.  This seems much easier than last year.  While I have been making my cookies this year I have been noticing that each of us in this family has our own cookie consuming personality.
1. The cookie sneaker.  Ashlynn is sneaking cookies every chance she gets.  She is very careful not to get caught, but we all know it is her by the cookie crumbs on the sides of her smile while she is denying it.
2. The cookie conservationist.  Jacob thinks that if he only eats 2 cookies everyday that they will last longer.  It is not working out well for him, no one else is conserving cookies.  He lives with a cookie sneaker.
3. The cookie hoarder.  I am really enjoying all of the cookies in the freezer.  I have been thinking that I don't want to share my cookies with anybody else.  I don't think it will be a problem.  I am the only one who gets into the freezer.  Nobody else around here does any meal planning.
4. The cookie yeller.  Doug is the cookie yeller," WHERE DID ALL OF THE COOKIES GO?!!"
I would have sympathy for the cookie yeller except he is interrupting the Christmas Songs that I have playing all of December.

Easy Lunch Idea- 9 Chicken Noodle Soup

This is a quick soup I like to make for lunch, Jacob and Ashlynn love it.

5 cups Chicken Broth
1 chicken breast cooked, and cut into 1/2 inch cubes
2 cups cooked egg noodles
1/2 cup carrots chopped
1/4 cup celery chopped
1/4 cup onion chopped  (optional)

Pour all of the ingredients into a 3 quart saucepan.  Heat on medium heat until boiling.  Reduce heat, simmer for 10 minutes.  Serve immediately.

At Our House These Are Santa's Favorite Cookies

These cookies are so delicious!  They taste best the day that you bake them.

Peppermint Meringues

Preheat 275

2 egg whites, whipped until frothy
1/8 teaspoon cream of tartar
1/8 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
3/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup finely crushed candy canes (I put miniature candy canes in a ziploc bag, and let Jacob and Ashlynn hit the candy canes with my rolling pin.
1 package chocolate chips.

1. In a stand mixer beat egg whites, salt, cream of tartar until dry.  Gradually add 3/4 cup of sugar, beat until egg whites form stiff peaks.  Add vanilla, fold in candy canes, and chocolate chips.
2. Bake on parchment paper lined cookie sheets for 20 minutes, or until lightly golden.

Yields 2 dozen cookies.

Handmade Christmas Ornament Craft

You will need a canning jar lid, Christmas paper, picture, 18 inches of Christmas Ribbon, glue, scissors, stickers, and glitter.

1. Trace lid onto the Christmas paper 2 times, cut out the circles.
2. Glue circles on the top and bottom of the lid.
3. Glue the picture on the top of the lid.
4. Tie the ribbon tightly around the lid.
5. Decorate with stickers, glitter, or whatever you like.

My Earth Friendly Christmas Gift Wrap Idea

Jacob and my mom inspire me to think about how I can reuse things instead of throwing things away.  Jacob has been a frugal person since he was a toddler.  He didn't want me to throw away material scraps, boxes, containers, and all sorts of other stuff.  He always had ideas of how to use all of those things.  Jacob takes after my mom.  I don't think she has ever thrown away a food container.  Instead she washes them, and puts them into her cupboards for when she will need them.  Some of those containers came in handy on thanksgiving when she was sending home leftovers with me.  
Last year I started saving all of the brown paper that my packages are stuffed with.  I purchased cloth ribbon, and have been ironing all of the paper I  saved.  That is what I have used to wrap all of our Christmas presents with this year.  

                                        

I think they look so pretty under the tree.  

Easy Lunch Idea-8 Nachos

This is my crazy vegetable puree lady recipe for nachos.  These nachos are gluten free, healthy, and  so easy to make.

Nacho Cheese Sauce

1 15 ounce can of garbanzo beans, drained and rinsed
1 can of evaporated milk
2 cups sharp cheddar cheese shredded
1/2 cup acorn squash puree
1/2 cup salsa

1. In a food processor puree garbanzo beans.  Add evaporated milk, blend well.

2. Pour mixture into a 2 quart saucepan.  Add salsa and squash, mix well.  Heat over medium heat to boiling.  Take off heat.  Stir in shredded cheese.  Serve with tortilla chips. Enjoy!

Easy Lunch Idea 7- Grilled Cheese and Tomato Soup

Tomato Soup

2- 15 ounce cans stewed tomatoes pureed
2 tablespoons onion finely chopped
1 tablespoon butter
1 tablespoon flour
1/2 teaspoon basil (adjust to taste)
1/2 cup of milk

1. Melt butter in a 3 quart saucepan over medium heat. Saute onion till translucent.  Stir in flour, stirring constantly, until paste is golden.

2. Stir tomatoes into the mixture, heat to boiling stirring constantly.  Take off heat.  Stir in milk and serve.

I am not going to write about making a grilled cheese sandwich, but I am going to tell you my secret ingredient for them.  I spread 1 tablespoon of pureed acorn squash on each grilled cheese sandwich I make, it makes the cheese creamier.  I am the crazy vegetable puree lady.

Easy Lunch Idea-6 Chicken Quesadillas

                                            Chicken Quesadillas

1/2 pound chicken-leftover from chicken tacos
3 tablespoons acorn squash pureed
3/4 cup cheddar cheese shredded
6 tortillas
salsa
sour cream

Preheat 350

1. On 3 of the of the tortillas spread 1 tablespoon of squash, 1/4 cup cheese, and chicken on each.  Top with the remaining three tortillas.
2. Place quesadillas on a baking sheet.  Bake for 5 minutes, flip quesadillas over bake for 5 more minutes.  Cut the quesadillas into fourths.  Serve with salsa and sour cream.  Enjoy!

Easy Lunch Idea-5 Chicken Tacos

 I put chicken in the slow cooker when I wake up, and it is ready in time for lunch, so easy.

                                    Chicken Tacos

 

1 lb chicken breast

1 can of fire-roasted tomatoes

taco shells

1. Put chicken in your slow cooker

2. Pour tomatoes over chicken

3. Cover. Cook on high 4 to 5 hours.

garnish with

shredded cheese

avocado

olives

sour cream

salsa

Jacob will put baby spinach in tacos if I have it.

We usually have leftover chicken that I save to make chicken quesadillas the next day.

My Mom

Last Monday I wrote about growing up with an alchoholic stepfather, and how I think that it effected the way my mom parented me.  A friend asked me if my mom was mad about my post.  The answer is that she said she wasn't.  It was hard growing up with an alchoholic step father, and it was hard for her to be married to one.  There are things I do want to do differently with Jacob and Ashlynn than she did with me, but there are alot of things that I want to do the same.  I want to listen to what my kids say and allow them to have their feelings, even if they differ from mine.  I want to be as fun to be around as my mom is.  My brothers, sisters, my husband, and myself love spending time with her.  I want to be my kid's biggest supporter like my mom is to us.  The thing that I want most is to make sure that Jacob and Ashlynn feel as loved as she makes me feel.

Easy Lunch Idea-4 Chicken Nuggets And Sweet Potato Cakes

Jacob and Ashlynn won't eat frozen chicken nuggets, but they love these. 

Chicken Nuggets

1 lb chicken breast cut into 1 inch cubes
1 cup of flour
1/2 cup buttermilk
1/2 teaspoon paprika
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1/4 teaspoon salt
safflower oil or your favorite cooking oil

1. Pour buttermilk into a medium sized bowl, put chicken into the buttermilk.

2. Mix flour, paprika, salt, and pepper in a 1 gallon food storage bag, put chicken in, toss to coat all sides.

3.  Heat oil in a 12-inch skillet over medium high heat.  Cook chicken for 5 minutes each side, or until golden brown, and chicken is cooked all the way through.  Drain on paper towels. Serve with your favorite dipping sauce.



Sweet Potato Cakes

1 cup cold mashed sweet potato  (I use leftover sweet potatoes from the night before.)
1 egg
1/4-1/2 cup flour
2 carrots pureed
safflower oil

1. Mix sweet potato, egg, carrots, 1/4 flour.  Form potato mixture into patties.  If they are to sticky to form add more flour.

2. Heat oil in a 12 inch skillet.  Cook sweet potato patties for 5 minutes each side or until golden.  Drain on paper towels.

Enjoy!

My Washing Machine Is Fixed!

After 13 long days of living with a broken washing machine, it is finally fixed!  Yay!  I was doing a happy laundry dance this morning after the repair man left.  It is amazing how much laundry we go through.

This pile would be bigger, but we went to the laundromat on Monday. It will be nice to get back to my normal laundry routine, 1 or 2 loads a day.

Easy Lunch Idea-3 Grilled Peanut Butter Banana Sandwiches

Here is another easy lunch idea:

                           Grilled Peanut Butter Banana Sandwiches

   
8 teaspoons butter softened
8 slices of sourdough or wheat bread
4 bananas sliced
4 tablespoons of peanut butter

1. Spread 1 tablespoon of butter on 4 slices of bread, top with banana slices.  Spread 1 teaspoon of butter on each top slice of bread.

2. Place sandwiches, butter side down in skillet.  Cook uncovered over medium heat 5 minutes, or until golden brown.  Turn and cook 3 minutes or until golden brown.

These are yummy, enjoy!

Life of Fred Update

"Do not train children to learning by force and harshness, but direct them to it by what amuses their minds, so you may be better able to discover with accuracy the peculiar bent of the genius of each." -Plato
Jacob's mind is very amused by the Life of Fred Curriculum.  I love that this math is so much fun for him. He  had his first test it is called the bridge in the book, and he got all of the questions correct.  Yay!

Easy Lunch Idea-2 Spaghetti with Pepperoni

There were days when we first started homeschooling where I wouldn't have any idea what to make for lunch. I didn't want lunch to take to much of my time away from school preparing it.  I wanted it to be healthy, and budget friendly $5.00 or less.  It was hard to find balance being a mom, teacher, custodian, and lunch lady.   I am not even sure I have figured out how to juggle it all now, but lunches are one thing I have figured out. I am going to blog about our homeschool day lunches every weekday this month.  Here is my second easy lunch that Jacob and Ashlynn love, spaghetti with pepperoni.  When I make mini bagel pizzas I save some of the pepperoni for this lunch.

1 jar of spaghetti sauce
1/2 to 3/4 of a package of whole wheat spaghetti pasta
3 carrots pureed ( I can not resist putting extra vegetables into what I am feeding them.)
1/4 of a package Hormel uncured pepperoni sliced into julienne strips

1. Cook pasta according to the directions on the package.  When finished drain the water.

2. Put the pasta back into the saucepan stir in the sauce, pepperoni, and carrot puree.  Cook over medium heat until hot.  Enjoy!


While this lunch may not be culinary masterpiece, it is healthy, easy to prepare, and not a lot of mess.  This is my kind of lunch.

Easy Lunch Idea 1-Mini Bagel Pizzas

Jacob and Ashlynn will not eat English muffin pizzas, but they will eat these mini bagel pizzas.  I created a recipe for pizza sauce for these pizzas that has vegetable puree.  I am the "Crazy Vegetable Puree Lady"  and I can not resist adding a vegetable puree wherever I can get away with it.

Here is the recipe

Preheat 400          

Mini Bagels

Mozzarella Cheese Shredded

Toppings of your choice (We like Hormel Uncured Pepperoni and Olives)

Pizza Sauce
1- 8 ounce can of tomato sauce
2 carrots pureed
1 teaspoon olive oil
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder (We love garlic so you may have to adjust according to you own taste)
1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning

1. Stir all of the ingredients for the sauce together in a medium sized bowl.

2. Top each mini bagel with sauce, cheese and toppings.

3. Bake for 10 minutes or until the cheese is golden.

Enjoy!