The Tween

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Friday Felicities ::: October 23

Just for fun today... :) Click to enlarge.

Crockpot Comfort Food ::: Angel Chicken

This is a recent family favorite that I discovered in the Kraft Food & Family Magazine. (By the way, if you are not subscribed to this free magazine, you should be! They have great recipes in there ... did I mention free?) :)

Anyway, being a big fan of the crockpot, I tried this one out and it's a winner.

Angel Chicken

4 oz. (1/2 of 8 oz. pkg.) cream cheese, softened (I've used regular and fat-free, both are fine!)

1 can cream of mushroom soup (regular or fat free is fine here, too)

1/4 cup italian dressing

1/4 cup dry white wine (I used cooking wine)

1 1/2 lb. boneless skinless chicken thighs, cut into bite size pieces

1/2 lb. angel hair pasta, uncooked

2 Tbsp. chopped fresh parsley

Beat cream cheese, soup, dressing and wine with whisk until blended; pour over chicken in slow cooker. Cover. Cook on High 2-3 hours (or on low 4-5 hours).

Cook pasta as directed on package about 15 minutes before chicken is done; drain. Serve topped with chicken mixture and parsley.

Hope you enjoy it!

Memphis Zoo

Several of you asked about our trip to the Memphis Zoo - we loved it! :) Nashville's zoo is a work-in-progress and while it is growing and changing, we enjoyed the different animals that we saw in Memphis! The size was just perfect for a day trip. We were able to walk the whole thing in one day and even BBoo was able to keep up (for the most part.) :)

One thing that I really like about the Memphis Zoo is that they have some of their animal exhibits grouped by region. All the animals that are native to an area are housed together and even the architecture and building reflect that part of the world. The pandas, for example, are housed in a building that reflects Chinese architecture and there are statues and carvings that go along with this. Their new exhibit, Teton Trek, gives the feeling that you have walked right into Yellowstone National Park. This section has grizzly bears, wolves, antelope - all animals found in that part of the country. I especially loved this section as it brought back great memories of our honeymoon at Yellowstone. I can't wait until my girls are old enough to take there!

If you want to see some of the photo highlights from our trip, I've uploaded them to Flickr and they are here. My husband also worked some of his video magic and you can see a short video of some of the things we saw (as well as hear some of the kids' commentary which is pretty funny). This was a great trip for our kids (plus cousin Bubby who tagged along with us) and I will look forward to making a return trip down the road.

Memphis Zoo from Travis Shepherd on Vimeo.

The first layout of (I'm sure) several from our day-trip to the Memphis Zoo. This is a free digi photoshop template from Shimelle and the font is CK Man's Hand.

The Lightening Thief by Rick Riordan

"Wait," I told Chiron. "You're telling me there's such a thing as God."

"Well, now," Chiron said. "God - capital G, God. That's a different matter altogether. We shan't deal with the metaphysical."

"Metaphysical? But you were just talking about-"

"Ah, gods, plural, as in, great beings that control the forces of nature and human endeavors: the immortal gods of Olympus. That's a smaller matter."

"Smaller?"
"Yes, quite. The gods we discussed in Latin class."

"Zeus," I said. "Hera. Apollo. You mean them."

A few weeks ago when we rented a movie, I saw a preview for the movie Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightening Thief. I had never heard of the series of books by Rick Riordan and was intrigued enough by the trailer to reserve the first book, The Lightning Thief, at the library. This is my somewhat convoluted review. :)

This book is the story of Percy Jackson ... a kid who is in and out of schools and doesn't really fit in anywhere. Between his dyslexia and penchant for finding trouble, he is branded as a misfit. Little does he know, he is a misfit for a good reason. Through a series of misadventures (some with tragic results), Percy finds himself at Half-Blood Camp - a summer camp for children who are half-bloods. Each has one mortal (or human) parent; their other parent is a Greek god or demi-god (think Zeus, Athena, etc.) You can imagine Percy's shock at finding out that the gods of Olympus weren't just the myths that he learned about it his Latin class ... and that he was related to them!

Once Percy finds this out ... and finds out who his Olympian father is ... he is called to embark upon a dangerous (most likely fatal) quest to find a missing object and settle a quarrel against the gods before war breaks out. With the help of a satyr and a daughter of Athena, Percy must journey across the United States to catch a thief who has stolen the original weapon of mass destruction – Zeus’ master bolt. Along the way, he must face a host of mythological enemies determined to stop him.

This story is very well written - full of adventure and excitement and an incredibly original storyline, in my opinion. If one enjoys the likes of The Mysterious Benedict Society, the Eric Rex books, Artemis Fowl, Harry Potter, etc., then these would be right up your alley. The part that I question is how heavy the books are into Greek mythology. Yes, this is fiction. Yes, the gods of ancient Greek are history and part of any classical education. I'm sure this is something that (down the road) N1 and I will spend some time reading about and discussing. However, there is a difference between studying something and rubbing it all over yourself and letting it become part of you, which is sort-of what happens to me when I find myself in a good book.

All that said, this was a really, really good book. I'm going to hold off final judgment a bit and read the second book in the series, but if I was a parent of a 5th/6th/7th grader, I would preread this series before handing it over to my child.

Friday Felicities ::: October 16

Things that make me happy:

- my coffee

- jacket and long sleeve weather

- dried fruit (we have been on a little binge eating dried cherries/berries)

- my purple comfy couch

- a weekend with (practically) empty squares on the calendar

- little noses that are NOT runny anymore (for the time being) :)

Happy Friday!

Wordless Wednesday

Children's Classics ::: Island of the Blue Dolphins

My husband recently bought me a used copy of Island of the Blue Dolphins by Scott O'Dell while we were out one Saturday. He had asked me if I had read it and while I had, it had been a LOOOOOONG time ago. This weekend, we took a quick over-night road trip to the Memphis Zoo and I popped this book in the bag and read it on the way down. I enjoyed this book and was glad to be reminded of it!

Island of the Blue Dolphins tells the story of Karana, a young Indian girl. She is about 12 when the story starts, living with her tribe (and family) on the island. Because of a series of events, her tribe decides to leave the island and start over somewhere else. However, as the ship is sailing away, she sees her brother left behind on the island and she jumps over the side to stay with him. The ship will return for us, she tells him. Unfortunately, he meets with a tragic accident soon after and she is alone on the island for nearly eighteen years!

As I was telling my husband about the story, I was amazed by how resourceful she was for such a "young age." Then I had to remind myself that at 12, in her Indian culture, that wasn't probably so young! She knew how to catch her food, prepare it and store it for the winter. She made weapons (bows & arrows, spears) to catch and clean her fish and to fight off the wild dogs on the island ... one of which later becomes her beloved companion. She builds her own house, makes her own clothes, and all the while watches for the return of the sails and her people returning to get her.

I didn't realize until I read the author's note at the end of the story, that this book was based on true events. There was a young girl who lived alone on an island for 18 years, from approximately 1835-1853! This was a very interesting return to a childhood read and I'm glad to be reminded of it. (My niece will turn 12 this winter and I think she may get a copy of this book!) For more Children's Classics, visit Five Minutes for Books.

10 on the 10th

We have had a week of sickies here (still a couple of us left) so not a lot has been accomplished this week! Well, I take that back ... N1 and I did school. She and I also had her first Girl Scout Daisy meeting, although that involved some scrambling as we were supposed to host it and couldn't because of the germs. We did get out yesterday and run a few errands, unbeknownst to us that girl #3 was coming down with the bug.

All that to say! :) This list is what I would like to try and get done on this cool cloudy Saturday while taking care of my littlest munchkin and blowing my nose every two minutes.

1. Make cinnamon rolls for my girls. Our Saturday morning tradition, whether sick or well.

2. Clean the bathroom. It just needs to be done today!

3. Make a going away card for Mr. Bob. Mr. Bob is an older gentleman who has been part of our church family for many years. He is moving next weekend to a retirement facility in Florida and our church is very sad to see him go. Tomorrow is his last Sunday with us. Mr. Bob and his wife were missionaries for many years in Korea and his knowledge of Scripture is so inspiring and encouraging. We will miss him muchly.

4. Work on my Christmas notebook. Yes, it's time. Every year I debate whether it should be a separate little notebook or something as part of my everyday listy journal that put a hodge-podge of everything else it. Today I will decide and move. forward. :) As a Christmas side-note, I would love to buy this for my nephew for Christmas. How cool is that?! May have to forward that idea to the grandparents...

5. Think happy thoughts. This may sound random, but today a bunch of my friends (including my BFF) are at the Living Proof/Beth Moore conference in Memphis. I realllllllly wanted to go, but because of many reasons I couldn't and I'm a little bummed to be missing it. Especially after a week of sickness, it sounds even more fun.

6. Pack! Why, you ask? Well, as part of N1's birthday (unbeknownest to her) we are taking her, her cousin Bubby, and the girls to the Memphis Zoo very, very soon! (There will be pics next week, I'm sure). I am very excited - the Memphis Zoo has PANDAS! and PENGUINS! and their new exhibit opens this weekend featuring GRIZZLY BEARS!

7. Fold the bulletins. Nothing glamorous here. :) Every Saturday night I fold the bulletins for church on Sunday. One of the perks of being in a small church - we don't outsource these jobs! However, for the most part I don't mind. It's about 30 minutes after the girls go to bed where I can sit and listen to something on my iPod or veg.

8. Plan a time to watch Anne of Green Gables. It's Fall and I'm feeling the need for some time in Avonlea. That movie, Sense and Sensibility, Runaway Bride, and You've Got Mail are my fall movies that I seem to gravitate too this time of year.

9. Celebrate my nephew's birthday. Today is his "friend" party for his birthday - kind of a SpongeBob/Star Wars cross-over theme. Not something we normally pick around here. :)

10. Rest. And with that my list is done. I am going to try and rest a bit today so this cold doesn't beat me and I can enjoy the weekend (and more) with my family.

Hope you all have a great one! If you have any lists of 10 laying around that you are dying to post, head over to Mer's and link up!

The Last Word by Kathy Herman

I was recently sent a copy of The Last Word by Kathy Herman. This is the second book in the Sophie Trace Trilogy. (I reviewed the first book, The Real Enemy, here.)

This book is another good example of well-done Christian mystery/suspense fiction. The main character Brill Jessup is still the police chief of Sophie Trace. This time, however, the threat that has entered the town is looking for her. An old case from her past has return, leaving injured (and worse) officers in its wake. Unfortunately, Brill is unable to focus on fully on the case at hand. At the same time officers are been attacked under her watch, there is an upheaval on the homefront which blindsides both her and her husband.

This is a book where it is obvious that the author is not ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ and that is played out surprisingly in the last pages of the book. (Not giving away any secrets here). :) I found myself rooting for and sympathizing with the characters.

If you are a fan of authors like Dee Henderson or Terri Blackstock, I heartily the suggest Kathy Herman's Sophie Tracie Trilogy. At least books 1 and 2! I'm glad that there is one more book in this trilogy to look forward to ... I'm enjoying them!

In the interest of full disclosure, I have received no compensation for this review other than a copy of the book to read and review!

Friday Felicities :: October 9

• Libraries and books on hold waiting for me to pick up
• memorizing verses with N1
• that while I now have a stellar head cold, I didn't catch the flue that T & N2 did
• for full cabinets and cupboards which folks were under the weather
• the privilege of praying for and with friends, both in person and online
• fall temperatures (the high tomorrow is 64*!)
• Emergen-C & Hall's
• The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Prisioner's Dilemna
• family movie nights
• going to bed early-ish and sleeping all through the night

For more felicities, visit Becky!