Take Your Kid to Blog Day

I get to participate today because N1 actually sat and drew a picture this week ... normally we just like to color body parts which would not be acceptable posting material. Okay, okay, I know I said how behind on stuff I was and that I didn't have time to post, but I'm the Mama ... I have to brag on my big girl. :) Click the pic for some notes and to see it bigger in Flickr.



Pop on over to Blest with Sons to see more!

Missing in Action

I'm swamped with work, the house needs put back together somewhat, and I've been hit with the debilitation exhaustion that is one of the hallmarks of the first trimester. I'm still doing my 30 days of marriage (prayer) focus and haven't read a bit of fiction yet this month.

More soon ... it's all good ... just need to regroup for a few days. :)

Because I should be getting dressed...

I'm going to work on this meme that I found at Sarah's:

1. If you make sweet tea, do you use Luzianne, Lipton or _______ whatever your brand is?

In the cabinet right now, I have Lipton's (caffinated) and Luzianne's (decaf). Why those two brands? Because that is what Sam's sells in bulk. :) And, rarely do I ever make true sweet tea ... I usually make unsweetened and then add my choice of sweetener to it. I've drunk that for so long that when I drink the real sweet stuff, I go into an immediate sugar stupor. :)

2. What brand of toilet paper do you buy, and is it the larger rolls or regular?

Charmin in the giant rolls. I'm not picky about toilet paper other than it has to be soft ... I do not buy institutional TP. The stuff that is practically a paper towel in smaller squares. Ick.

3. Which brand of bath soap do you use? Is it body wash or bar style?

I usually buy Suave, cheap and they have a lot of variety in scents. However, Travis recently requested Dial and that's what is currently in the bathroom. It kills me to pay $4 for a bottle of bath soap.

4. Which cereal do you buy for yourself?

I don't. I'm not really a cereal person ... I had milk allergies as a kid and so my options 30 years ago were to have water or naaaaaaasty whey-free milk on my cereal. Blech. However, when I am in the mood, I go for Cocoa Puffs. Oh, yes. I went through bags of these when I was pregnant with Natalie.

5. What brand of dishwasher detergent do you use and is it liquid or tablets?

We don't have a dishwasher. I use Dawn for washing all my dishes by hand and it is hands-down the BEST. Trust me, I've tried lots. It gets everything off.

6. What is your favorite fruit to eat?

Ummm, I don't know that I have a favorite. I LOVE fruit salad ... my favorite combination is bananas, tropical fruit (the can that has pineapple, mango, papaya) and mandarin oranges.

7. Which brand of clothes detergent do you use?

We go for the good stuff here. Because we have the front loading washer, we use Tide High Efficiency detergent. It really has made a difference in how much I need per load. Yes, it's pricey, but it lasts a LOOOOOOOOONG time.

8. Do you like chocolate?

Yes. I'm not fanatical about it, but there are times that my need for it overtakes all sense of reason and sanity.

9. Are you right-handed or left-handed?

Oh so very left handed. I can't do much of anything properly with the right.

10. Do you still write checks or use a debit card?

I rarely write checks. Travis keeps the checkbook and does all the bill paying. (Although at the moment it's in my purse because I had to go take care of the tags for the van last week ... must remember to put back in his drawer). Right now, I'm using a cash system, but debit card is the backup for that. We have a credit card with my name on it, but I don't carry it. I'm not trustable with it!

Wasn't that fascinating? Okay, now I REALLY have to go and get dress and get moving.

Works for Me Wednesday, 9/6

This is a tip that I picked up when my first was just a few months old. (I believe credit originally goes to Kim at Large Family Logistics.) I keep a basket on our dinner table with cloth napkins and washcloths in it, and that's what we use during meals for spills and wipes. When N1 was a baby, I was going through paper towels by the hundreds (or so it seemed) for each meal, everytime there was a spill or mess. Napkins and washcloths are way more absorbant, especially for those liquid spills, and when the meal is over, I just throw then in the washing machine and run them with the next load. (I mean, if they are gross, then I rinse them out in the sink first, but that's pretty rare). It's worked for me for a couple years now. :)

For more tips, visit Shannon at Rocks in My Dryer!

Szechuan Chicken by Request

This is a Weight Watcher recipe that I make all the time. :)

1 lb. skinnless boneless chicken breasts, cut into strips
3 T. hoisin sauce
2 T. cornstarch
1/2 cup low-sodium chicken broth
2 T. rice vinegar
2 T. sugar
2 t. chili-garlic sauce
1 T. canola oil
1 T. minced peeled fresh ginger
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 green bell pepper, seeded and chopped
2 medium carrots, thinly sliced on a diagonal
1/4 cup unsalted, dry-roasted peanuts

Combine the chicken, 1 T. of the hoisin sauce, and 1 T. of the cornstarch in a medium bowl; toss well to coat and set aside. Combine the remaining 2 T. of hoisin sauce, 1 T. cornstarch, the broth, vinegar, sugar and chili-garlic sauce in a small bowl; set aside.

Heat a nonstick wok or a large deep skillet over medium high heat until a drop of water sizzles. Swirl in the oil, then add the chicken. Stir fry until almost cooked through, 2-3 minutes. Add the ginger and garlic; stir-fry until fragrant; about 15 seconds. Add the bell pepper, carrots and peanuts; stir-fry until crisp-tender, about 2 minutes. Add the hoisin sauce mixture and cook, stirring constantly, until the mixture boils and thickens, and the chicken is cooked through, about 1 minute.

It makes up quickly if you have all your ingredients chopped and ready to go. If you are into counting WW points, it's 6 per 1 cup serving (rice underneath would be extra).

Recipe Requested!

To those who asked (and thank you for asking!) here are the recipes that I'm using this week ... on planning on using ... for our menus.

Chunky Chicken Soup, from Taste of Home website

1-1/2 pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into 2-inch strips
2 teaspoons vegetable oil
2/3 cup finely chopped onion
2 medium carrots, chopped
2 celery ribs, chopped
1 cup frozen corn
2 cans (10-3/4 ounces each) condensed cream of potato soup, undiluted
1-1/2 cups chicken broth
1 teaspoon dill weed
1 cup frozen peas
1/2 cup half-and-half cream

In a large skillet over medium-high heat, brown chicken in oil. With a slotted spoon, transfer to a 5-qt. slow cooker. Add the onion, carrots, celery and corn. In a small bowl, whisk the soup, broth and dill until blended; stir into slow cooker.

Cover and cook on low for 4 hours or until vegetables are tender. Stir in peas and cream. Cover and cook 30 minutes longer or until heated through. Yield: 7 servings.

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Easy Chicken Fajita Skillet
(I think this came from a Menus for Moms email)

2 cans chicken broth
1 lb. boneless chicken, cut into 1" cubes
1 tsp. chili powder
1/4 tsp. salt
2 cups elbow macaroni (preferably whole wheat), uncooked
2 cups red or green bell peppers, chopped and sauteed, from last night
1 onion, chopped and sauteed, from last night
1 lb. Velveeta prepared cheese spread, cut into 1-1/2" cubes

Cook chicken with chili powder and salt in a fry pan until cooked through. Add broth and bring to a boil. Stir in macaroni and cover, reducing heat to medium-low. Simmer 5 minutes and add peppers and onions and Velveeta cubes. Cook until cheese is melted, stirring frequently.

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And the red beans and rice recipe I'm using is one that I found on Michele's - This One's for the Girls. It's sounds delicious (and EASY!)

Did I leave anything out? :) Off to run a few errands with the girls this morning!

A-hem

Um, yep. Baby #3 is due around May 5, 2007.

Um, yep. We're soooo excited.

Um, yep. I'm freaking out.

Um, yep. Natalie and this baby are going to be 15 months apart.

God is so good.

Menu Plan Monday

Monday - Up in the air because of the holiday!
Tuesday - Chunky Chicken Soup in the Crockpot
Wednesday - Red Beans and Rice with cornbread (crockpot)
Thursday - Szechuan Chicken with Peanuts, served over rice (stirfry)
Friday - Pizza Night
Saturday - Easy Chicken Fajita Skillet

I'm jumping on board Menu Plan Monday over at Organizing Junkie ... I'm a menu planner at heart, but I've been lax about it the last few weeks and since we're tighting the grocery budget, I need to get my routine back in shape. :)

30 Days of Marriage, Day 3

Pray that your husband will be humble and quick to agree with God about his sin. Pray that his heart will be tender toward the voice of the Lord.

Ps. 51:2-4:
Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me. Against Thee, Thee only, I have sinned, and done what is evil in Thy sight, so that Thou art justified when Thou dost speak, and blameless when Thou dost judge.

Micah 6:8:
He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?

30 Days of Marriage, Day 2

Pray that your husband’s relationship with God and His Word will bear fruit in his life. Pray that he will be a man of wisdom and understanding, fearing the Lord.

Lord, thank you for the fruit of Travis' relationship with you. I see that in how he parents his girls, how he treats me, how he serves the youth at our church. Give him wisdom as he walks in a difficult situation with one of our youth ... let Your wisdom be what is heard and not fleshly desires and choices.

Prov. 3:7:
Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and turn away from evil.

Prov. 9:10:
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.

Ps. 112:1:
Praise the Lord! How blessed is the man who fears the Lord, who greatly delights in His commandments.

30 Days of Marriage, Day 1

Pray that your husband will grow spiritually and consider his accountability before the Lord. Pray that he will guard his heart by developing spiritual disciplines—Bible reading and study, prayer, meditation, scripture memorization, etc.

This is something that I am extremely grateful for in Travis, but I defintely don't think about it or pray about it enough. God has truly blessed me with a husband that loves to study and search out the Scriptures.

I remember when we were first married, Travis was reading through the minor prophets in the evenings. Sometimes he would fall asleep with his Bible open across his chest while he lay on the couch, having read so long that I went to bed and left him in our living room to fend for himself. :) That amazed me. I honestly have longed for that hunger of the Word but it has always seemed just outside of my grasp. Where you forsake all other entertainment, whether it be TV or books, and just spend time in the Word because of the immense draw of God's truth. Thank you Lord that you have keps his first love of You strong in His heart and that He continues to pursue You daily.

Tonight took this love of the Word and being a student of the Lord to the next level. I proofread (for typos only!) his first assignment for a class he is currently taking with Dallas Theological Seminary ... the first in a new journey and step for our lives together.

2 Peter 3:18:
...but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory, both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.

Proverbs 4:23
Watch over your heart with all diligence, for from it flow the springs of life.

And, in my fiction sabbatical, I've made it one day so far. I feel sure the tremors and shakes won't start until next week sometime. :)