Looking forward to spring flowers....

Feeling some tenderness.....

Menu planning

Have taken many months off from posting menus, well...pretty much from blogging in general, it is good to be "back". I will blame it on the trauma or drama of living in the remodeling process with all three components of the "man clan" in the midst of it on summer break...all star baseball practices, summer camp, then football practices and games, back in school again...then the busy-ness and travel throughout the holidays this would be the first month in a long time that the weeknights have not been spent doing sports...laundry is getting done before midnight:-) Perhaps after all these months normality is returning.

Don't get me wrong, I love sports. I love seeing the boys pour their energy into something they love and find challenging and competitive. I love the life lessons they are learning there. Suffice it to say...it has felt good to get just a little caught up in other areas of my life.

Truth be known, I have still been jotting down a menu on my printed copy of "local grocery deals". Just had not been taking the time to post them to the blog and link the recipes. What I had not been doing was taking the time to think through the breakfast and lunch plan...so my mornings (ie breakfasts) have been unnecessarily more hectic than normal. As with most everything in life...planning is so very beneficial:-) It just make me feel really good when I have a plan...

Lovin" Lego Creativity

Can you guess what this is?

It's my vacuum, MOM.....

Clean, Baby, clean!!!!

Drawers cont....pantry unit

Drawer 1: snacks...just some snacks...ever changing...


Drawer 2: THE TEA DRAWER...see the infuser...it was my grandmother's. She liked tea too.


Drawer 3: Bev, Jello and pudding drawer...odds and ends..


Drawer 4: Rice, Legumes and Pasta


Drawer 5: Canned goods...you can see it all!

Drawers, Drawers, Drawers....yes more drawers

That was not all....lest you wonder at my level of sanity...if you ever are able to get this many drawers...you will thank God daily....I promise I do!

Each section has a purpose and "zone"...

Pots, pans and food service and storage zone housed here!


Pantry, snacks, one whole drawer for tea:-)....we like tea!...soup drawer...etc.



Kitchen/ home office drawers....

In the mudroom/converted "breezeway"....
MLC's own drawer, flower arranging supplies, and utility towels


Only about 5 years of planning went into the cabinet design. The cabinet shop owner commented that there was no denying that I had done my homework....I waited for God's timing. There is no denying that His provision is perfect in His time.....I marvel...I stand in awe!

Drawers, Drawers, Drawers....Love, Love, Love!

for the past 13 years I had functioned with only 2 drawers in my kitchen....drawers a plenty...is my pleasure now and it has made my kitchen experience very pleasant...

Home schooling Tiffany's Twin Toddlers

I finally got permission to post this from Tiffany...via her sister, my friend...Jan. Thank you for sharing your ideas and gift of teaching with us!
Home school 2009 Week 1 Intro to ABC's

Home school 2009 Week 2 Letter A

Home school 2009 week 3 Letter B

Home school Week 4 Letter C

Home School Week 5 Letter Review

Home School Week 6 Letter D

Home School Week 7 Letter E

Home School Week 8 Letter F

Home School Week 9 Letter review: D, E, F

Home School Week 10 Letter G

Home school 2009 Week 11 Letter H

Home school 2009 Week 12 Letter I

Home school 2009 Week 13 Review G, H, I

Home school 2009 Week 14 Letter J

Home school 2009 Week 15 Letter K

Home school 2009 Week 16 Letter L

Happy Birthday to my lovin' JOC 2 of 3!

Grandparents call to sing "Happy Birthday".....always delights! See the sparkle in his eyes!


Much anticipated Auburn mug of his own....Orange and Blue all the way, Baby!



Tebow has many just a little conflicted...at least we can still say "Orange and Blue all the way, Baby!" (B-day cake...I am slippin'. no pic before it got cut!) We were eager to eat cake!



Happy times celebrating with best bud and pizza...nothing like the laughter of kids! They were being entertained by our most hilarious 3 yr old...MLC 3rd of 3!


Just one perk of a December b-day...it gets to last all month. His class party...we had 12 boys, one Dad (ie official), and 1 girl....a fun day...

a month later...after Christmas and New Years.....











contemplating the wish....


His expression after reading a card signed....."your girlfriend"



Love the tenderness here b/t brothers....

party favors....

Supplies: Ice Cream cones, Candy melts, Sprinkle power...(another story), classic candy, cello party favor bags (clear), ribbon

Melt those candy melts and dip those cones!


Yep, this would be the sprinkle power....get it on there!


Let them set and harden...it does not take long! They look so happy! Have I ever mentioned that silpats make me happy too?


Oh, yes...all your favorite classic candies!!!! Keep it colorful and happy!



Even boys like candy necklaces...I promise you...not a one turned 'em down!!!



clear cello bags...



This works best with the top folded down...about half way...helps in loading the cone with all the delicousnesses....
oh, yep that's a word!


Not the greatest pic, but I was loading these, photographing it with one hand in the wee hours of the morning...no natural light working in my favor here....


This shows them in their cuteness...waiting for their orange and blue ribbons!


Basket full of sweetness...........oh, I wish I had a pic of the look on my son's face when he saw these! The smile and hug I got and the, "Aw thanks, Mom!"....made it worth the late night!


I saw a version of this made on Semi Homemade by Sandra Lee on Food Network...could not find a link; however to post here....hers were very "girly"....we don't do girly around here:-)

New Kitchen Features

THE SINK:


The day the sink was found, I was hard pressed to return home with a sink...per the contractor's orders.... I had hoped for a very deep sink, but after I priced them online I resigned my desire to God and had come to the conclusion that I would get a stainless steel 7 in deep sink....nothing extra special just the basic and functional. I entered the showroom on an agenda to pick out a faucet and sink that was in stock and I could carry home the same day. Little did I know that so many of the showrooms for lighting and fixtures place orders.

This black beauty sat in the showroom; set aside with a handwritten note stating its price...far reduced from its original price. The drains were already set, which is usually an additional purchase. One less decision I had to make.

The sinks are deep. It is e-granite. The Lord knew my needs and the desires of my heart and blessed me with this. Someone had ordered it and changed their mind....the sink was ordered for me in reality.

Once again...Thank you, Lord for my sink!

New Kitchen Features

Above and beyond the amount of counter space I ever thought possible in this kitchen...now the challenge is keeping it this neat!!! I love having the challenge!

New Kitchen Features

Appliances:

Refrigerator

The remodel permitted me to have a fridge in the kitchen and one in the mudroom. Feeding the man clan, loving to hostess, and generally being a foodie....it is really a good thing to have 2 refrigerators.

Microwave:

Not the microwave I had ordered, but due to unexpected information from my contractor, it necessitated a change and this is what the appliance man offered to exchange for my other model...and it is the same brand as my stove and dishwasher. A more expensive model....The whole way through the process I was amazed at God's provision being better than the appliance for which I had ordered........

Dual Fuel Slide-In Range:

Stove and Oven of my dreams...and it is not a Viking, but the oven capacity surpasses. I am able to cook on 5 shelves at the same time! The oven has the option to bake, broil, convection bake, convection roast, convection broil. It has a "perfect turkey" setting, defrost, dehydrate, bread proof, keep warm, and slow cooker options. The gas burners are instant heat: 5,000 BTU, 18,000 BTU, 9,500 BTU, and 14,000BTU. Loving this Electrolux...so thankful for the Lord's provision. It is amazing that the Lord's timing also provides for His perfect provision as well. The stove that I had chosen 2 years prior was not this...what I perceived to be a delay was truly right when I needed it and far better than I could have planned!


Dishwasher with very deep shelves...so much capacity...a must for this man clan!

Wordless Wednesday

wordless wednesday

07/21/08