Strawberry Freezer Jam

I have found this great blog written by two women with tons and tons of yummy, every day kind of people recipes.  I like to cook and try new recipes, but I often don't because the recipes are so extravagant, or you can't find an ingredient they use in the store on a regular basis.  That's not how these girls cook.  The recipes and crafts they share are perfect for our family.  PLUS...they almost always include pictures of the cooking process and the final product, which I LOVE!  I often don't cook the recipes in my cookbooks because I can't see what it looks like.   A lot of the recipes they share are originals, but there are some from other sources. 

In fact, tonight I'm cooking  Bacon wrapped chicken Terriaki skewers and Lime-Cilantro rice with pineapple with Caramelized Green Beans.  Hmmm...that sounds ambitious for a Friday night.  Maybe we'll have this dinner tomorrow night when I have Jeremy home to help (and since I forgot to buy chicken today at the store).

So...instead, tonight we'll have Stuffed Pizza Rolls.   I'd like to also try their recipe for Fudgy Mint Brownies, Sweet Potato Fries, and Coconut Chicken....to name a few.  What on their site looks yummy to you???

So, yesterday, the kids and I decided to try making Strawberry Freezer Jam, which I found on their site.  It was simple, and has resulted in some yummy fresh jam.  The recipe I used does have a lot of sugar.  I think later this week, I'm going to make more with the lower sugar recipe and see how it goes (and maybe add blueberries...what do you think?).  But, with strawberries so cheap right now....I can make enough jelly for the year for the price it costs for two or three jars at the store.  And, it was easy and kid friendly.

We just got done washing the strawberries.  Now, I will be cutting the tops, Hannah will be dropping the cut strawberries in the bag, and Nicole will be holding the bag open.

We are mashing the berries by hand because I don't have a potato masher.  I think next time though, I may use the blender.  I don't particularly like having chunks in my jelly.  But, this worked, and was a lot of fun for the girls.  We really got our hand yucky.

Pouring in the sugar and mixing it up.  

The containers I bought were to big.  Today I just purchased little 9 oz containers that will be better for next time.  I didn't want to fill them all the way up because they were so big.  Next time I'm expecting to get 5 or 6 smaller containers.

Today at lunch, we made PB&J with our fresh jam.  It was really good...but really sweet too.  I wish I had some fresh home made bread to put on top (Teri???)

My mommy friends out there...you really need to try to cook with your kids...at least on occasion.  It is messy and slower, but it's a great learning experience. 

What is this???? An Answer

The other day, I posted this picture and asked you to guess what it was.

One person guessed lights from church, one verbally told me she thought it was the fizz or bubbles in a Dr. Pepper...one even had the guts to ask if I was pregnant (NO!!!!).

So....what is it?


It's a glimpse of the impromptu fun we had the other night. 

Yep....we were, yet again, playing in the water.  The sun was going down, the light was pretty cool...and Jeremy couldn't resist trying to get some "cool" shots.

Um....seriously....that tongue is not touching Hannah...it just looks like it is! hahaha.  Gross!!!

Watch out Hannah...it's coming.................

B.L.A.S.T

That'll teach you not to spray water in my face! hehehehe

Easter 2010

This year, we hosted Easter dinner at our house.  Jeremy wanted to make Baby Back Ribs for everyone. 

We had my parents, Jeremy's parents and Granny, my Grandpa and Dolores, Janet, and a young man from the college ministry, Mike.  It was a full house.  I'm thankful it wasn't raining!  My dad even let us borrow a big gazebo tent to help shade the backyard...it was a life saver!

I think we had a good dinner, with WAY to much food.  I'm pretty sure everyone had a nice time.  My dear little Hannah never stopped eating, from the moment she saw food, until the moment she went to bed.  It was quite a site!

More pictures from the little Easter Egg Hunt

Hannah and Nicole with their Grammy and Yaya.  These two love their grandmas!!!

Nate...just chillin.

Grandpa hanging out with Hannah...notice the food in her hand.

Sweet...and I'm sure sticky...kisses

Nate Dawg chillin wit his homie

Great-Grandpa with three of his great-grandchildren.

My dad (Papa) and the kids with Great-Grandpa

Mom and I in the kitchen

A glimpse

More to come....

He Is Risen!!!!

One f my favorite parts of Easter is when, on Sunday morning, someone says to you, "He is risen!!"  and then I get to reply back, "He is risen indeed!!!"

I have some very specific memories of Easter growing up that I want to share.

The church I went to growing up was fairly small...at least in relation to the church we go to now.  I would say that we pretty much knew everyone in the congregation.  Maybe I'm wrong, but from my child eyes, that's the way it seemed.  Each Easter our church would have a sunrise service, outside in the parking lot/field area.  Each family would bring a breakfast dish to share after the service.  The pastor would preach outside, and my favorite part always took place.  Peggy and Sue would sing, "He's Alive" I loved to hear them sing the song and simply looked forward to it each year.  I loved having the church service outside and I loved looking forward to playing and eating afterwards.  Even today, I feel like I need to listen to "He's Alive" each Easter Sunday, but the tape with them singing is long gone.  It's the song of Jesus' resurrection from Peter's perspective.  I'm quite certain this church no longer does the outside sunrise service, and I'm positive Peggy and Sue no longer sing.  But, it is a memory etched in my mind from my childhood that I will not soon forget. 

Like many people, we always dyed hard boiled eggs to hide and find.  However, one year it went awry and to this day it is something our family talks about.  Several months after Easter...I mean, like deep into the summer, maybe longer, my mom was sitting in the living room and started commenting on a gross smell she had just wift.  Later, we discovered the smell...an unfound Easter Egg that had rotted.  It was so horrible, that we had to throw away the couch!!!  Needless to say, we never dyed eggs again after that, just used those plastic ones.  And, today, our family of 5 hides the eggs outside, just in case one is forgotten again.

I feel like, yet again, I've failed by kids.  I want so badly to have traditions, to have holidays that my children look forward to and remember...but it's simply not easy with three very little ones.  I have all the stuff...18 eggs, Easter egg dye, stickers and basket....but, we have not yet dyed our Easter eggs, and it looks like there will be no time today to do it either.  The good thing is, they don't really know any better, yet.  Next  year though...I HAVE to do it (I WANT to do it).  We wanted to do resurrection cookies with them...but didn't get home in time enough before bed last night.  I wanted to talk more about the story of Christ and teach them better about what this day symbolized, I wanted to burn this day into their minds...but I'm pretty sure I didn't.  Not this year anyway.  However, they did get an Easter basket this year...from us.  And I'm excited about that.  They are simple, some robins eggs and jelly beans scattered in the grass.  A giant chocolate bunny, and a new Bible.  But, I think they'll be excited when they wake up and see their goodies.

We are having everyone over to our house today for Baby Back Ribs....I sure hope we cook them well!!!!

Have an enjoyable Easter and remember.....HE IS RISEN!!!!

What is this????

What do you think this is a picture of?

Time with Mimi

My grandma, the kids' great- grandma, Mimi, just left to go back up to Ohio earlier this week.  She's been down for a little over a month, since a few days before Justin's wedding.  We have had a nice visit.  I wanted to share a few pictures from the day before she left.

A few tips/tricks and resources

Click these links to see my first post and my second post on cloth diapers.

I never really explained what a wet bag was...
A wet bag is a waterproff bag that you can store your soiled diapers in...later in life, you can store wet bathing suits from the beach, undies that were accidentally peed in, etc.  I think every diaper bag needs a wet bag in it, even if you don't cloth diaper.

Wet bags come in several sizes...the smaller ones will hold one or two diaper for when you are out, a medium size one is great for a little trashcan (like the one in my bathroom), and the large ones are good for you big diaper pail.  They come in fun colors and designs too.  I would suggest this brand for your diaper pail and this brand for your diaper bag.

I have bought my diapers from two online stores.
Cotton Babies and Nicki's Diaper.  I really like both stores.  Cotton babies will buy back your used, unstained diapers and then give them to missionaries in third-world countries.  I buy from whichever has a sale going on.

You can buy diapers used for much cheaper than new.  At first, I refused....I thought that would be gross and unclean, now though...I would buy used diapers if they still looked good.  You can join a group like Diaperswappers where people sell or trade their diapers.

When I first started cloth, I didn't have any friends using them.  I got almost all of my information from Pregnancy.org's cloth diaper boards.  There is a ton of information.  Start with their FAQ page and if you have questions, you can post on there and people will give you their advice.

I suggest having about 24 diapers, that's enough to wash every 3-4 days.

Ant other questions???

How to Cloth Diaper

To see my first post on the types of cloth diapers click here.

How To Use Your Diapers (although I'll be showing you my BG, you can use this same method with any type of cloth diaper, just adjust where/when needed)


1. Put the diaper on baby just like a disposable diaper.
2. When the diaper is soiled, change it.  If you are exclusively breast feeding, don't worry about the poo. I'm not sure if it's a problem if you formula, sorry.  Once you start giving the baby more solid food, his poo will become more solid too.  Shake what you can off into the toilet.  I have never used a sprayer or a scraper.  I really don't feel like you need them...so I would not suggest buying them.
3. When I am home, I like to just use a washcloth as a wipe.  It saves money, it is washes with the cloth diapers, and it's just as easy (my changing station is in the bathroom)
4. Remove insert at least 3/4 of the way (or all the way) and stick diaper in the dry diaper pail.

         ****Note****  Some people use a wet pail, but usually a dry pail is recommended.  A wet pail is a bucket or trashcan filled with water that people place their diapers in to soak until wash day.  A dry pail, simply has a lining of a "wet bag".  I use a dry pail because I think a wet pail is unsanitary, gross, and could be a yucky place for small ones to play (my kids love the water, and I think I would get sick if I saw them playing in the diaper pail).

5. Wash diapers every 2-3 days (this is for two reasons...1. I run out of diapers during the fourth day, and 2. I think the diapers start to stink if they are unwashed for much longer.
6. Dry diapers either in a dryer or on a clothes line.
7. Stuff, fold and get ready to use the next time.


How To Care for you Cloth Diapers

I have a small trash can in the bathroom that holds the dirty diapers for the day.

  At the end of the day, I empty the small trash can into a larger one in the garage.   This system just works for me, but you really only need one trash can (don't buy the expensive cloth diaper trash cans...just get a cheap one from Walmart with a lid!) I originally purchased a flip top lid...don't do that, just get one that closes well....hence the tape.

When wash day comes, set your washer to the longest soak possible, and add in an extra soak/spin at the end.  Use hot water and just a couple Tablespoons of free & clear laundry detergent.  To much detergent can give your baby's sensitive skin a reaction and it can also lay a film over the diapers to make them less absorbent.  Soak in hot water, rinse in cold, and then do a second rinse at the end (this is to get rid of all the soap). NEVER  use bleach.

Dry your diapers either on a clothes line or in the dryer.  I prefer a clothes line for a few reasons....the sun does all the work (so it's cheaper), the sun can also "bleach out" any stains left behind and the sun can also get rid of any stench that may be left behind.  If you choose to use a dryer, make sure all of the inserts are pulled out.  If not, it will wear on the elasticity of the diaper (I know this from experience).  Dry on a low heat.  It'll probably take longer than you are used to for drying...at least those thick inserts will.

Stuff your diapers, fold and put them away.

To see my last post on tips and tricks, click here

Made with Love

Sometime last week, I was getting ready one morning in the bathroom.  The girls were in my room, playing together and Nicole was giggling.  I turned around and looked at her and she said....

Look Mommy, we made your bed for you!

I was speechless and blessed.  I couldn't believe how thoughtful that was.  I left it the rest of the day...it may not have been perfect, but it was made with love.