So much to be thankful for!

In fact, here's my top 100 thankful things (and not necessarily in the proper order)


1. The saving grace of Jesus Christ
2. Jesus' love of me the way I am and His willingness to make me better.
3. Brad. The best husband. Ever.
4. Bennett. The greatest miracle I've ever received.
5. Laughing together
6. Bennett's imagination. We're always going on an adventure and that keeps me young.
7. Bennett's smile. Even with missing teeth it's the best I've seen.
8. Mom
9. Angie
10. Evie
11. Gavin
12. Dad
13. Papa
14. Karen
15. Vern
16. Back scratches
17. This computer
18. Our house on the hill
19. The MDX and the mini-van
20. Our church
21. The leaders of our church
22. My friends
23. Friends that scrapbook :) and will take long trips with me to feed the scrapbooking habit.
24. Scrapbooking supplies. Can you ever have enough? nope
25. Heart to Heart cereal.
26. Skim Milk
27. Boar's Head deli meat.
28. Apple cider
29. Volunteering in the library at Bennett's school. 
30. The internet
31. My cell phone
32. CR
33. Coke Zero
34. Freedom to practice my religion.
35. The promise of Heaven
36. A God who was, and is, and is to come.
37. Bible Studies. 
38. Beth Moore (See #29) :)
39. Sadie. She's a crazy dog, but she keeps us company.
40. My camera. The big one.
41. RAW photo processing
42. My 'little' camera
43. Blogs
44. The washing machine and dryer
45. The refrigerator
46. The dish washer
47. Soap
48. Hand sanitizer
49. The Office
50. Community
51. Project Runway
52. So You Think You Can Dance
53. Double Fiber Bread
54. Bic Mark-It pens
55. Sticky notes
56. Coupons
57. Christmas tree lights. The colored ones.
58. Snuggles
59. The sound of Bennett's feet as they come down the stairs in the morning. Even when it's too early.
60. Our DVR
61. Our mailman
62.Voicemail
63. 3m hooks (those kind that you can easily remove when you are done with them)
64. Legos
65. Pedicures
66. Baked Lays potato chips
67. Simona
68. Shutterfly
69. Texting
70. My gym partner. I'd never go if she wasn't waiting on me :)
71. Carpool.
72. Cherry pie
73. ebay
74. Free shipping
75. The ability to learn 
76. The willingness to change
77. Rony
78. My hairdryer
79. Friends who teach Bennett to ride a bike
80. The bug man
81. Recycling
82. Credit cards that earn points
83. The remote control
84. Baseball. (when Bennett plays it :)
85. gmail
86. My Dyson
87. Brad's love of adventure... and his patience to drag me along with him.
88. Good books
89. Reading to Bennett (and the fact that he still wants me to read to him!)
90. Apple cider
91. Icees
92. Handsfree phone calls
93. The back-up camera on my car
94. Garage openers
95. Garbage collectors
96. My education - from elementary through grad school.
97. Zaxby's
98. My memory foam pillow
99. Massage Envy. Mostly Valesa :)
100. Memories. The good and the bad. They've all made me who I am today.


There are 100s more things that I could have listed. Have you made your list? Happy Thanksgiving!

He's a biker dude

I've got so much to catch up on! I've been such a bad blogger recently - and it's not due to lack of things to post... just a lack of time! So, I have several posts written in my head about our recent events. I'll start with the most recent development and work backward.

BREAKING NEWS:

Bennett learned how to ride a bike yesterday!!

Yes, he is 7 1/2 years old, and is just now learning to ride a bike. That makes me feel guilty as a mom, but really, how can it be all my fault when I just 'learned' how to ride a bike a few years ago. (I loosely say learned, because if you were to ask me to go on a bike ride with you, I would politely decline due to my lack of experience. But, I did circle the parking lot of the Elementary school successfully on one or two occassions. That counts, right? :)

Guilt is a thing that come along with motherhood, doesn't it? For me, at least, it did. I believe that the first guilty feeling that I had regarding my parenting occurred about 12 hours after he was born. Actually, it was probably when I was pregnant...

But that's another post, isn't it? This post is about how my kid is well on his way to being a biker dude!

Anyway, we live on a mountain and there is no where for Bennett to learn to ride unless we pack up the bike and go somewhere. Brad has attempted to teach him a few times, but the dynamic there is tough. Bennett aims to please so much that it is hard to learn from daddy when there's fear of failing and falling involved. 

Our dear friend, Mrs. Sallie, volunteered last Spring to help Bennett learn. I think that I actually begged her to help us, and she said 'Of course!' That's just how she is. So kind and eager all the time. Well, time got away from us, and yesterday was Bennett's first lesson. 

I totally expected her to spend a while holding on to the bike, running behind him, and then tell me that we'd get back together soon to begin letting go. Nope! He rode around in the grass for a little bit, with Mrs. Sallie holding on the seat. Then she let go and he rode for about 5 feet with her encouraging 'Pedal! Pedal!'! Then he fell over. But, they got back up and he rode longer and longer distances until...

Can you see Bennett? Nope! He's gone all the way around the park and Mrs. Sallie is having to sprint behind! It's a good thing that she's a marathon runner.

You should have seen the smile on his face when he came back around! Elation. I couldn't catch it on the camera because he was moving so fast.

He's still got a little work to do on getting started going, but that's our homework for the week. 

Here they are - Bennett and Mrs. Sallie. Don't they both look proud?

I was proud too. As I watched him going on his own, I got tears in my eyes. What a huge milestone! I was thankful for Mrs. Sallie. Thankful that indeed, we didn't wait too long (you know - as long as I waited, I guess :) and that I didn't need to feel guilty anymore. Thankful that my boy is able to move forward through a little fear and gravity.  It reminded me that that's what life is all about. It's all about balance, moving forward without getting distracted by the things on the periphery, keeping the handle bars steady, avoiding the ditches, falling as gently as possible, and then brushing off and going again after the fall.

Now we get to go and pick out a bike! (That one was borrowed - Thanks Meg!)

me & him

We have a good time together.

I love the photo booths at the movies!! Look how much fun we have!

I love him.

I love that he does these goofy things with me :)

I took him to see Alpha Omega last Saturday (not so great really, but he liked it. Lots of talk of 'repopulating' which made me a little antsy... luckily he hasn't asked me any questions!)

Oh, and he really doesn't make that face when I kiss him. at least not most of the time :)

Gem

Everyone once in a while a gem comes home in the backpack. Don't get me wrong... I love the spelling tests and math worksheets. I also love the stories that he's written and illustrated. And the book order forms and library books. But a few weeks ago, this priceless gem made its way into my hands...

This is a self portrait - made during the first week or so of school.

The 'I Am' Poem...

Each and every blank is SO Bennett. I love it. It is now hanging in my pantry where I see it often. 

He says: 

I am Hungry... I say, that's true. He's always hungry!

He says: 

I wonder if my aunt will have a boy... I say, that's so true. He's so excited about being a cousin (and hoping the baby is a boy.) I love it when he says 'How's the baby going, Gigi?' 

He says:

I want the Galactic Battle... I say, SO TRUE!! We ordered our Galactic Battle game board in July and he's religiously checked the mail EVERY DAY since looking for it. I've tried to explain how things take time... he's persistent. Can't imagine where that comes from?!?!?

He says:

I pretend I am a Jedi... I say, yep. All the time. ALL THE TIME. I get to be Leia. Or Padme.

He says:

I touch almost everything... I say - way to be honest! And how else do you learn about things if you don't touch them, right??

He says:

I worry about Bubba's dad... I say, sweet, sweet boy. He was very sad to hear that Bubba's dad was sick and even sadder to hear of his passing. He wanted to go to the funeral. Sweet boy.

He says:

I cry when something sad happens... I say, he's so tender hearted. He can be tough. And he's learning to hold his tears back (which - is that a good thing?? I'm not so sure...) but I can see his face when he's doing it - and it makes ME want to cry! Just today he got upset about some confusion at carpool. It was all I could do to get in home so I could hug him. Love that boy!

He says:

I understand this poem... I say, ha! So funny and matter-of-fact :)

He says: 

I dream different... I say, good for you! I know that he's probably thinking about this night-time dreams. But I think that he has big dreams, and I think he can do anything he puts his mind to! I can't wait to see where he's headed. Well, I CAN wait... he can slow down a bit!

Sometimes me heart is filled to over-flowing. Emotions that I've only felt as a mother. Such a blessing.

The Meal Plan - week 2

First, I'll start with a review of the Slow Cooker Orange Chicken from week 1... it received 4 thumbs up from our family. So, it was ok. I'll serve it again, but it won't make it on the regular rotation. Here are the adults' thoughts: it was a little 'too orangey'. It wasn't as sweet as I thought it would be - you know how yummy the orange chicken is at your favorite chinese restaurant? Well, not quite. It could have been that I used cheap orange juice concentrate. Maybe. We might try it again with lemonade instead of orange. I'll let you know!

Week 2 Meal Plan:

Monday night: Cheese Ravioli/Pasta with green beans and rolls (Bennett's pick) Have you tried Ragu's Chunky Super Vegetable Primavera pasta sauce??? It is SO good! Chunky, with tons of veggies (that don't taste gross - trust me!) and it has a light sweetness to it. Yum!! I just add a little browned lean ground hamburger and called it a meal. I know, what?? But that's Bennett's choice, so I'll just be thankful :)

Tuesday night: Hamburgers/Hotdogs (and fixin's), Baked Beans, French Fries (Brad's pick)

Wednesday night: Church (although we're not really eating at church this week b/c I'm not a huge fan of 'tex-mex' lasagna. So, we'll eat out on our way to church :)

Thursday night: Cranberry Roast Slow Cooker (new recipe) found here... I'm going to use a lean pork roast and serve it with mashed potatoes and peas.

Friday night: Eat out after soccer practice

Saturday night: Quick Chicken Teriyaki (new recipe). I got this from my kraftfoods.com magazine 4 years ago! I have quite a collection of recipes that I'd like to cook... anyone relate?? So, this has been great for digging back through them!  Here's a link...

I'll report back on the new recipes! What are you cooking this week?

special memory made just for us

Last week, Brad was gone from Wednesday through Sunday on a boys' trip. I was happy for him to be able to go and spend time diving and dining. No, really, I was! Honestly, I enjoy time at home with just Bennett every once in a while - just the 2 of us. He is such a sweet mama's boy :)

On Friday my prayer partner emailed me that she was praying for me and that she was specifically praying that Bennett and I would make a special memory together over the weekend. I loved that! So I was on the look-out for what God had in store for us.

We went to soccer practice on Friday night. I'm sure that the special memory was NOT my yelling at him in front of everyone to stop climbing that tree (that I'd told him about 1,000 times). We went out to eat with friends, and he was super behaved in the midst of quite a bit of chaos. Could that have been our special memory?

Saturday morning we went to his soccer game. He had a good time playing, even though they lost 3 to 1.  Was that our special memory?  We went shopping at Kohl's with Gigi and Nana. He was super behaved - and loved getting a AU jersey and sleep pants. Was our special memory when he told me 'I was the best mommy ever'? :)

Our next stop (after lunch) was the Boy Scout store to get his Cub Scout uniform. He was so excited! We went into the dressing room to try on the pants and he wanted to put on the whole uniform - and then, there it was - our special memory.

As I turned my head to keep the tears of happiness from showing, I praised God for the opportunity that He's given me to be this kid's mom. Look at him! So proud to be growing up and trying new things. So many times I want to keep him little, to keep him with me and 'safe'. Who can possibly keep him safer than his Heavenly Father? I can tell that God has big things in store for my little guy (who's not so little any more!)

I praise God for special memories like this one. I never know when these moments will find me - it's often in the most unexpected places... like the dressing room at the Boy Scout store :)

We finished our afternoon with a stop to get some eye black (which is actually not black, but orange AU stickers for under his eyes for baseball), a run by Wal-m@rt to get a fan spray bottle (why is it still so hot in September???), a stop for a new bat and a bat bag, and finally a stop for some yogurt. I savored each routine step we made along the way.

We sure did have a good time together - just the 2 of us. I treasure these days when he's still so happy to be with me. As we snuggled up together for bed, we talked about how we could wait for daddy to get home :) Three is a good number too.

The meal plan - Week One

When school started, I knew that I needed to develop a way to make sure that we actually ate at home most nights of the week. With Brad's work schedule making him late sometimes, it can be hard for me to be motivated to cook. And then, when baseball and soccer started... well, cereal or carryout looks so appealing! So, we started a meal plan. When I say 'meal plan' it brings me back to my college days... but this is better, I think :)

So, here's what I'm doing. Each of us listed our 3 favorite meals. Brad listed Taco Soup, Soup/Salad/Grilled Cheese, and Hamburgers/Hot Dogs/French Fries. Bennett listed Chicken/White Shells noodles, Cheese Ravioli/Rolls/Green Beans/Fruit, and Lean Cuisine Pizzas/Cherries/Grapes. My choices are Spaghetti, Breakfast for Dinner, and Chicken Burritos.

My goal was to make 6 weeks worth of dinners - 4 dinners per week. I know, I know. Only 4 dinners each week?? Don't judge :) Each of us would get one of our 'picks' each week and we'd rotate in a new recipe. Each of us rates each new recipe with a vote of two thumbs up, one thumb up, or no thumbs up. Any recipe with more than 4 'thumbs' overall will continue in the rotation... I know that sounds simple, but it has been a huge motivator for Bennett to try new things. He loves to vote! (and he's so sweet - I've had to tell him that it's ok to tell me if he doesn't like it - he doesn't want to hurt my feelings :)

We've done this for 6 weeks now, and it's worked great! We've already found recipes that we love, and those that we aren't going to try again. So, here's Week One (with recipes if you'd like to cook along)

Monday - Slow Cooker Orange Chicken
(This is our new recipe for the week... I'll tell you how many thumbs we give it!)
Check out the recipe I'm using here.



Tuesday - Taco Soup
-1 pound ground beef, browned and drained
-1 package taco seasoning
-1 package ranch seasoning
-1 large can diced tomatoes
-1 can black beans, drained and rinsed
-1 can kidney beans
-1 can northern beans
-1 can corn (recipe calls for 2 cans, but we like less)
-sometimes I add another can of beans

Mix all ingredients together (including the liquid of the corn and all the beans except for the black beans, as noted above) and simmer for a while. Sometimes I put it in the crockpot on low for the afternoon. Serve with cheese and sour cream. We also like corn bread or saltines. Brad likes to add a little hot sauce to his.

This recipe makes a lot. So, I take the leftovers and freeze it in individual servings. You'll see the leftovers in another week's plan :)

Wednesday - Wednesday night dinner at church :)


Thursday - Lean Cuisine pizzas, cherries, and grapes (and applesauce!)


Friday - Eat out after soccer practice


Saturday - Crustless Quiche, Fruit, Muffins or Biscuits
Crustless Quiche - I halved this recipe and it worked great! Below is the whole recipe.
- 1 cup green onions sliced (I leave this out - no onions around here!)
- 1 cup chopped tomatoes (1 medium)
- 12 slices bacon (I substitute ham)
- 1 cup sliced mushrooms (4 oz)
- 12 eggs (I use 1/2 egg beaters)
- 1/3 cup sour cream (I use light)
- 1 c shredded cheddar cheese (I use light)
- 1 c shredded mozzarella cheese (I use light)

Preheat oven to 325 (for my oven, I needed 350). Reserve 2 Tbl each onions and tomatoes; set aside ( skipped this step). Cook bacon in skillet until crisp, reserve 1 TBL drippings in skillet. (I didn't do this because I used ham. So, I used a little olive oil for the next step) Add mushrooms to skillet; cook and stir 2 minutes or until tender. Remove from heat. Chop bacon (or ham). Add to mushrooms along with onions and tomatoes; mix well. (I cooked the tomatoes and mushrooms for just a little bit longer to make the tomatoes a little less firm).

Beat eggs and sour cream with wire whisk until blended. Pour into greased 13x9 baking dish (since I halved the recipe, an 8x8 worked great). Top with bacon mixture and cheeses.

Bake 30 minutes or until center is set. Sprinkle with reserved onions and tomatoes (I skipped this step). Let stand 5 minutes before cutting.

Bennett gave this only 1 thumb, but Brad and I loved it. Not sure why Bennett didn't love it - I left the mushrooms out of his portion, and he loves all the other ingredients. I'm going to try him on it again to see!

What are you cooking this week??