Tag Archives: children

Yum, yum…the kids loved dinner!

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This week when I went grocery shopping I had the what-to-cook-for-dinner blues.  Seems like this happens a couple of times a year when I get completely uncreative for dinner.  The kids give the same suggestions.  Though tasty and nutritious, we just get in a rut.  So, I did a quick run through of some recipe books and came across a long forgotten recipe.  So long forgotten that I don’t think I’ve ever cooked it for the kids!  I’ll link you to the original recipe at Pillsbury, but I’m providing my options for the blog.  All I can say is the kids could not rave enough about how AWESOME.  how DELICIOUS.  how AMAZING.  how this was the BEST.  DINNER.  EVER.  Seriously.  I felt like Guy Fieri  (without the crazy hairdo) or Paula Deen  (without the white hair).   Even the picky kiddo had seconds.  Yeah.  I said it.  Even the picky one.

Fair warning:  if you are watching carbs, it’s not the recipe for you.  BUT.  If you want your kids to kiss your cooking hands, wash the dishes and eat seconds…..enjoy.  I sure did.

MEXICAN FIESTA BISCUIT BAKE 

We are not big olive fans and my kids aren’t big pepper fans, so I left those out.

2 Cans Grands biscuits, cut each biscuit into quarters

1 can refried beans

1 can black beans

1 can red kidney beans

1 block cheddar cheese, shredded

Jar of salsa

Place butter into 9X13 dish into preheated oven @ 375 until melted

Place biscuit quarters in pan

Spread out refried beans or use a spoon and drop it around

Pour  drained beans onto biscuits

Pour Salsa over beans, biscuits

Bake @ 375 for about 45 min

Sprinkle shredded cheese ontop of biscuit bake and let it melt

Serve with sour cream (optional)

May you receive the adoration and rave reviews I was blessed with!

**image via Pillsbury link

Easter time, spring is here. Allelujah!!

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Easter eggs ready for dyeing.  We don’t even hide the eggs anymore.  The dye stains my fingers, and yet….we just can’t seem to drop this tradition.  Something about writing on those eggs in white crayon, adding to color, mixing it up.  Easter fun, here to stay.

Spring time is perfect for strolling together and getting our cardio on.  Quality time with my big girl while our youngest practiced for Easter Mass with the liturgical dancers.  I want the pause button for times like these.

Daylight savings time=time for a walk on the beach after dinner.  Note to self:  check the tide schedule.  Soft sand+bad knee=killing the exercise routine.

Our sweetie pie was either kissing up to the Bunny or just grateful for the probability of her own personal stash of chocolate coming into her possession and wanted to express her gratitude. I like her style.

Pre-Mass.  The boys trying to decide the best location.  At this point is was…away from the ‘rents.

He is Risen, indeed!  Gearing up for the annual outdoor Easter Mass.

A gift from my dear friend.  The “Killer Cake” from Toojays.  She introduced me to this little lovely.  Now I gave up Facebook for Lent and was not lacking in chocolate prior to Easter.  But this.  Oh.  MY.  This will hit that chocolate sweet spot like nothing you’ve ever known.  As I was cutting the cake, the kids were giving me the “why-are -you-cutting-them-so-small” eyes;  by the time our oldest was hitting the mid-way point he changed his mind and asked “Why did you cut them so big?”.  Rich.  If you ate the whole thing, it would live up to its name and kill you.  Seriously.

Glorious Easter and Happy Spring, Y’all!

When you thought no one was watching…

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I sat in my car early that morning, relaxed in the crisp air as the sun made its way into the sky and watched as quiet, sleepy children and coffee toting parents made their way to the football fields that would be our “home” for much of the day.  Our own son was warming up with his team and Hubby would be bringing the rest of the troops when the first game started at 9, and so I had a brief period of rare solitude.  And then it shattered.

Before I saw you, I heard you

You dropped so many F-bombs in 60-second period I lost count

“you should have been a girl, because you are acting like one”

F’ing Unbelievable

A boy about 9 stands outside the truck, gearing up for a day of football

A child I cannot see receives the venomous diatribe

Coming around the corner of her truck, we lock eyes

I am embarrassed for her, humiliated for her son, I drop my eyes

It doesn’t stop

Clenched jaw, uncensored words

A door slammed

Shut up.  I am not even talking to you.  Shut the F up.

I am frozen to my seat.

My eyes tear.

Kids push buttons.  Parents are stressed.  Tempers flare.  Who will be the grown up?

I’ve been here.  Not the F-bomb.  Not stupid.  But clenched jaws.  Unkind words.  Unloving actions.

I’ve been here.  I’ve been 9.  You are a pig.  You are a crybaby.  My father walks away.

We can be so awful to each other.

A door opens.  A sweaty head, tear-stained, furious boy of 9 stomps to the rear of the truck.

The silent brother hands him his equipment.

The mother continues to berate.  They walk away.

I am still frozen.  But my heart and my mind are praying.

Soften our hearts, Lord.  Help us to heal.  Open our eyes, Lord.  Help us to see.

I look for them throughout the morning and come up empty.

My mind continues to spin.  The devil taunts my cowardice.  My heart aches.

Game 1 over, I leave with my daughters while husband and son watch Game 2.

Sitting in the car, I tear out paper from a notebook, I write a letter.

I do not judge.  Parenting is hard.  I do not know the circumstances.

I do know what is right and what is wrong.  I do know what sears the soul.

I encourage forgiveness, healing.  I pray.  I bless.  I leave the letter on the windshield.

I leave the rest to God.

Did I do the right thing?  Will it make it worse?  Will she apologize?  Will he forgive?

I may never know.

God does.

He sees all.

All in favor of a two-day work week, say “Aye!”

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Since taking three days off of work to spend time with the kids for their Spring Break, my “week” is two days at work and PHEW!, I’m ready for the weekend.

I forgot how HARD being a stay-at-home mom was.  It’s been awhile, forgive me, but OH.  MY.  GOODNESS!!   The chores.  The needs to be met.  Errands to be run.  Sheesh.  Fortunately for me, I decided early on Monday (about half way through errand running) that these days off would be about bon-bons and chillaxin’.  The rest would take care of itself somewhere along the week.  And this is what my week consisted of:

  1. Monday-Wednesday at 9 a.m.  attending our church’s Lenten mission to hear Father Richard Leonard speak on the history of the church and Mary, discernment and God’s will in our lives and forgiveness and faith.  Tremendously uplifting and Living Water for this thirsty soul, right when I needed it.  Very cool how “GOD-planned” to offer this retreat on my EXACT days off.
  2. Monday, Tuesday, and today (Friday), hit the gym with my girlfriend and got our strength training on.  And abs.  And cardio.  You know it’s a good exercise week when you are still feeling it on Friday from Tuesday!
  3. I was able to have our girls’ BFFs over to play each day I was off.  The boys are older and do “their own deal”, but it was nice to be able to get them breakfast and lunch and run them around a bit as well.  Not to mention how great it felt to be able to help out some moms and provide a fun day for their girls.  Having “been there, done that”, it is always a happy feeling when you know your kids are having fun with their friends and not bored at home, coming up with new ways to irritate the you-know-what out of each other.
  4. Dinner was taken care of.  Monday:  chicken and rice for the fam and I went out with the girls to celebrate my girlfriend’s 12th annual 38th birthday!  Tuesday:  crock pot.  Wednesday:  leftovers.  See?  Dinner was taken care of.
  5. We hit the beach.  Every day.  See previous posts from this week…..Sunscreen aplenty, boogie boards, beach toys, snacks and water.  Recharged!
  6. We tried out a scrumptious cupcake bakery in town.  (sorry, no link, no web-based orders, local only)  My youngest daughter and I had a hard time picking out a dozen minis to share with everyone.  Though the price was quite affordable, the calories are simply not a luxury and we will be making a wide berth.  Except for special occasions.  Maybe.
  7. Book 3 of Hunger Games, “Mockingjay” is downloaded to my Kindle.  Which is charged.  I have to work today, however, my lunch hour and free time between football games this weekend will be consumed by Katniss, Gale and Peeta and wrapping up this depressing, yet fascinatingly addictive series.

Things that didn’t get taken care of this week:

  1. Laundry.
  2. Spring cleaning
  3. Reorganizing the pots and pans (a mess, let me assure you!)
  4. Reorganizing the spices and pantry (I want it all in ONE spot)
  5. Purging the girl’s toys
  6. Purging the boy’s clothes
  7. Purging my clothes

No big deal.  It’s still there and it WILL get done.  However, the world will go on regardless, right?

See what other’s weeks looked like @ Conversion Diary’s Friday Quick Takes with Jen Fulwiler!

Have a blessed weekend!

View from the pew, an 8 year old’s eyes

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We are enjoying Spring Break here, and it’s been a lovely week with truly amazing weather; this IS the reason people come to Florida’s beaches.  I’ve taken three days off (back to work today) with the kiddos and it’s been fun.  Coincidentally, our church had it’s Lenten mission this week the EXACT days I was off.  The speaker, Father Richard Leonard, a Jesuit priest from Australia was truly inspiring.  He had the perfect blend of history, theology, lightness, seriousness, delightful personal anecdotes with hilarious impressions of friends and family as well as a deep, strike-your-soul, baritone song and sung prayers.  (I’m sure I’ll blog (hopefully) later this week about the mission, however, I’m still processing the three days.) The talks were at 9 in the morning and repeated at 7 in the evening and since I was home, I hit the morning mission and hubby hit the evening ones.  Since I was home with kiddos, I brought varying children with me each day and on the second day let my 8 yo daughter play with my phone, as she was losing interest in the talk.  I enjoyed her vantage point of the church and small glimpse into her view of the church.

Baptismal font

Feet resting on the kneeler

Always fascinated by the organ pipes

Our seats "up close" to see better..(though this vantage point has room for improvement!)

Is she interested in which hymn we are singing next or the Exit?

She finds this banner colorful and SO COOL!