Breakfast EnCHEE-LAH-DAs

See when you say "enchilada" you have to say it the way they do in Meh-HEE-co. Got it?

I got this easy and delicious recipe off Look Who's Cookin Now, my favorite recipe blog. It's just ham, cheese, green onions and eggs, plus a few other things. You simply must try this amigos. I used leftover ham from my mom's Christmas dinner...total score! I didn't take pics so I stole the one off her site, but trust me, mine looked pretty much like this. I highly recommend for breakfast, or for dinner like we had them. They could easily be eaten alone, but we had them with leftover homemade refried beans from my brother's Christmas dinner. Ole!

Ok fine, I guess that's enough Mexican references for now...by the way, she assembled hers the night before and then baked in the morning. I think this step is just a time saver because I made mine for dinner and assembled right before baking.

You can find the recipe here.

Well we are off to Idaho for the next week, so hasta la vista!! (i couldn't resist)

Merry Christmas!

Source: auntielolocrafts.blogspot.com via Karen on Pinterest

My Heart

Pretty much my favorite picture ever.


Charlie girl after a bath. She is the sweetest baby. I just love to snuggle with her


Spoiler alert! This is Carys' Christmas dress. She likes to wear it every night.



Charlie goes through about 6 bibs a day. Drool central.

Christmas Vacation

How about spending it here? Don't mind if I do...

The Igloo Village of Hotel Kakslauttanen in Finland boasts 20 thermal glass igloos that allow visitors to enjoy incredible views of the Aurora Borealis from the warmth and comfort of their own geodesic hut. What is geodesic you ask? I don't know but I think I like it.


One of the world’s seven natural wonders, Aurora Borealis results from the collision of gaseous particles from the earth’s atmosphere with charged particles released from the sun. Although the hotel does not guarantee a view of the Northern Lights, they keep constant watch over the weather conditions and ring a signaling bell for visitors to look to the sky when the phenomenon is visible.

"The heavens declare the glory of God, and the firmament shows His handiwork."
-Psalm 19:1

Seasons in Swing

I can't believe Christmas is just 2 weeks away! We got all our decorations and lights up. Every day Carys will ask, is it Christmas yet? Charlie is crawling aroud super fast, its so cute! Me and the girls are staying busy during our days. I was invited to this bible study on Wednesday mornings that has a great kids program also. Its an awesome pre-school style class for Carys to go to, and I get to have a weekly study and make some new friends, so why not? I'm excited about it.

Here are a couple things on my alternate reality Christmas list:

Since I'm so tall, womens pj pants are always too short for me. But these babies come in long...too bad they are 45 bucks! I will need to hit up the mens department to get some that fit me, haha so sad.


I saw this Cuisinart Griddler Grill in the Williams Sonoma catalog and I keep looking at it and drooling. You can make paninis, pancakes and even grill a steak! Yes please.

Star Rock

If you happen by my house on any given day, chances are you will find my daughter in her "star rock" dress. I've told her that its a rock star dress but she doesn't want to say it that way.


She also loves to put together things with these toys, not sure what they are called. This here she called a giant boat and it was really cool. I happen to think she is quite a genius :). When she puts things together, she likes them to be even and orderly, she is like her dad that way.

Thanksgiving Week

We made it through Thanksgiving week and now even more appreciative of everything and everyone we have been blessed with. Last Monday our next door neighbor Bary suffered a massive stroke and several ruptured brain aneurisms. He is currently on life support and fighting for his life, we are reminded once again how precious life is, and every moment is truly a gift from the Lord above, whether we acknowledge it or not, that is the truth! We are continuing in prayer for Bary and know that God is still in the business of working miracles. Him and his wife Janice have been wonderful, supportive neigbors to my grandparents for many years, and now to us.

Here are some pictures of our first hosted Thanksgiving....




We used my Grandma Clark's china and flatware that was passed down to me. I really love how it turned out with the gold chargers. Plus we have enough kids now that we could have a kids table there in the background.


Playing in the leaves


We had a "thankful tree" where we wrote out what we were thankful for on paper leaves and hanged them up


OK so we haven't perfected how to use the lighting on our camera yet, but Nathan managed to get a picture of us with all the delcious grub!

Hallelujah!

"Hallelujah" is one of those terms you hear all the time in praise and worship music. Whenever I sing it I am thinking it means the highest praise, which it is, but it also is something deeper. Here is a post from John Piper's blog on what it literally means. Very cool.


Helping You Sing “Hallelujah” with True Exuberance

The English word “hallelujah” is a transliteration of two Hebrew words, "hallelu" and "jah". The first word, "hallelu", is the second person imperative of “praise.” The second word, "jah," is the short form of "Jahweh" (or "Yahweh").

So when we say, “Hallelujah!” we are exhorting others (people and angels) to join us in praising Yahweh.

What gives a punch to my singing, “Hallelujah,” is that Jah (= Yahweh) is not a generic word for God, but the personal name of the God of Israel.

To shout, "Hallelu Jah!" — "Praise Jah" — is like standing in the council of the gods and boldly saying, “Not to you, Molech!” “Not to you, Baal!” “Not to you, Dagon!” “Not to you, Artemis!” “Not to you, Zeus!” But to Jah, and Jah alone, I give praise. And I call you to join me! Praise Jah!

And not only is Jah God’s personal name, but it is the one he gave himself to distinguish himself from all the gods. And it is thrilling in meaning.

When Moses asked God what name he should use to identify God in Egypt, God said, “I am who I am. Say this to the people of Israel, ‘I am has sent me to you’” (Exodus 3:14).

The name Yahweh is built on the words “I am”. So God put his absolute, transcendent, self-sufficient being at the center of his identity. “All the gods of the peoples are worthless idols, but Yahweh made the heavens” (Psalm 96:5).

So, the next time you sing “Hallelujah” pause for a split second between “hallelu” and “Jah” and say it like a name. We praise you . . . Jah! You are above all gods . . . Jah! Join me, all you heavenly hosts, and praise . . . Jah! He is! He simply, eternally, absolutely, independently, gloriously Is! Hallelu . . . Jah!

All or Nothing?

Do you ever have so much that you want to get done, that you end up getting nothing done at all? That's how I've been feeling lately, and putting way too much pressure on myself while I'm at it. Also we are hosting Thanksgiving at our house this year for the first time, and I am really excited about it.

Here is a list of the things I've been wanting to do:

1. Create an amazing Thanksgiving tablescape, the likes of which have never been seen in our family (setting the bar too high perhaps? I think so)

2. Paint our front door glossy black.

3. Paint our media cabinet some other color, any other color than what it is.

4. Get a nice throw blanket for our couch to cover up stains (why is it so hard to find one?)

5. Landscape our front yard planters to avoid being the eye sore of the neighborhood.

6. Organize all of my photos into albums (yeah right! why are albums so expensive?)

7. Go thrift store shopping and create an inexpensive yet incredible new wardrobe that doesn't look cheap so people can say, "what? you got that where??)

8. Re-model both bathrooms.

9. Read a book...any book.

10. Blog all the time about all the fun, creative projects I am doing.

I could go on, but it just feels good to make a list doesn't it? At the end of the day, I know the only thing I can do is be a good mom to my kids and a good wife to my husband, and any thing else that doesn't get done....well, it's just going to have to wait.

"Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have.
For He Himself has said, I will never leave you, nor forsake you " Hebrews 13:5

Thank you Lord for that!


Here is a picture of a tired but happy mom. :)

Dance class

This week Carys got to wear her costume to dance class. Needless to say, it was pretty dang cute!

Mental Vacation

Hello Fall

Every year I want to make a fall wreath, and I never do it. Well this year is different my friends. I was able to make this baby on a small budget with my trusty glue gun. The wreath was $4, the pinecones $5, the ribbon was $2 and the little owl was maybe $2, all at Michaels. Plus I already had the burlap. Welcome Fall! Now go away 90 degree weather, I am over you.

I got this little W too but it didn't make the cut, I didn't want to over do it.


Martha Stewart is that you?! Well not really, I totally copied one of the wreath ideas here: DIY Fall Wreath Roundup

Last week we went to the pumpkin patch to buy our pumpkins...

Some were less excited about it than others.

6 Months and Solids

Charlie girl just turned 6 months old! Its such a trip how fast these little things grow isn't it? In 6 more months she'll be walking, and talking, and doing long division (almost). She just started eating solids too and is loving it. I also decided to make my own baby food and so far it is super easy. I thought it would be a pain, but it's not at all. If you have time to cook your family dinner, you have time to make your own baby food. Trust me. Plus I am saving money and its fresh. Win!


Still working on my camera's manual settings...as you can see :)


She is happy that her feet are finally touching the ground in this thing


Look! I made this. Glorious carrots.

Blog love

I'm not sure if any of my 3 readers noticed, but I re-did the blog section on the left margin over here. I divided them up into categories: Design & Lifestyle, Food, Fashion, Parties, and Kids stuff. Don't know if that helps anyone, but I am on this organizing kick so it makes me feel good.

I've found some new (to me anyway) blogs that I love. Here are a couple:

Small Shop talks about design and fashion, one example:

Look Who's Cooking Now has a tons of great recipes that are doable and look delicious. She just posted one for Chicken Tarragon using store bought rotisserie that I need to try. We already tried another recipe, ribeye with egg and goat cheese and it was EPIC. And I never use that word so you know its good:

Evolution of a wiggle worm

Looks like I will need to find something else to entertain her while I cook. The bouncy seat is no longer working for baby Charlie....






And saved by her sister!

Wedding Time

Andrew and Adriana's wedding was on Saturday, it was awesome. Everything looked beautiful and we had a fabulous time. I really didn't get as many pictures as I wanted on my camera, that's what happens when you're toting around a 6 month old I guess! My sister in law got a lot more, so I'll just have to wait for her to get her download on to get the really good ones.

The kids with Andrew & Adriana before the ceremony

Me and my girls getting ready

Dancing with Daddy, yes I did her hair! A very proud parenting moment for me

OK so I dropped the ball on this one's hair, but look how cuddly she is!

Little princess

Gettin' it done!

With my Dad and my brothers, love these guys!

David and Michelle in the dance contest, no pressure....needless to say, my hubby opted out of this one :)

My dad and stepmom Phoeby doin their thing. They did a fox trot, tango and a waltz. Very cool!

Beautiful!

Here is my flower girl Carys with my niece Sydney. She did such a good job! And by good job I mean she didn't freak out, couldn't ask for more than that