My Hope!

First off, this post has nothing to do with debating my vote or your vote!  It's over and done with and we are where we are!  I don't want to argue with anyone about who is right or who is wrong.

Yesterday I wasn't putting all my faith in Christ.  Yesterday I was fretting and worrying about things that were out of my hands.  I was praying throughout the day but my mind was not focused on The King being The One and Only King!  I know all of that and believe all of that but I let my competitive spirit get in the way of what Jesus was trying to show me all day long!  I managed to chew every single finger nail to the quick.  (I know I have issues and probably need counseling on how to deal with stress without making my fingers bleed!)  Gonzo had to go to a junior high football game last night.  He had planned on taking Adda with him.  Ella and I gladly tagged along because I was not interested in watching the results.  In fact I joked to my mother that I might take three Benedryl and just go to bed.  I said joking, but if I didn't need to give two children a bath and nurse the youngest before she went to bed I might have taken the pills!  It was too close to watch and I just didn't want to see it.  Then the results were final and I had a moment of anger, fear, disbelief, and worry!  Then I read what a friend of mine posted to Facebook.  He said, "Believer, go to bed with the same hope you had last night, Jesus.  Pray for our President.  Serve and love those around you."  I thought to myself, why do I fear, where is my hope?  I don't need to fear because my God, The Only God, is in control.  He has my hope!  "Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go." (Joshua 1:9)

I will continue to rely on my Savior!  I will continue to pray for the USA!  I will pray for our leader today and the days to come!  My God is bigger than all of this and then some!  "Every person is to be in subjection to the governing authorities.  For there is no authority except from God and those which exist are established by God." (Romans 13:1)  As a Believer, I have to know that God is in control!  I have to know that He has a plan for our President!   

Words from the song "Our God is Greater" by Chris Tomlin

Water You turned into wine
Open the eyes of the blind
There's no one like You
None like You
Into the darkness You shining
Out of the ashes we rise
There's no one like You
None like You

CHORUS
Our God is greater, our God is stronger
God You are higher than any other
Our God is Healer, awesome and power
Our God, Our God...

Into the darkness you shining
Out of the ashes we Rise
There's no One like You
None like You.

Our God is greater, our God is stronger
God You are higher than any other
Our God is Healer, awesome and power
Our God, Our God...
Our God is greater, our God is stronger
God You are higher than any other
Our God is Healer, awesome and power
Our God, Our God...
[ Lyrics from: http://www.lyricsty.com/chris-tomlin-our-god-is-greater-lyrics.html ]
BRIDGE
And if Our God is for us, then who could ever stop us
And if our God is with us, then what can stand against?
And if Our God is for us, then who could ever stop us
And if our God is with us, then what can stand against?
What can stand against?

Our God is greater, our God is stronger
God You are higher than any other
Our God is Healer, awesome and power
Our God, Our God...
Our God is greater, our God is stronger
God You are higher than any other
Our God is Healer, awesome and power
Our God, Our God...

And if Our God is for us, then who could ever stop us
And if our God is with us, then what can stand against?
And if Our God is for us, then who can ever stop us
And if our God is with us, then what can stand against?
Then what can stand against?
Then what can stand against?

Our God is greater, our God is stronger
God You are higher than any other
Our God is Healer, awesome and power
Our God, Our God...
Our God is greater, our God is stronger
God You are higher than any other
Our God is Healer, awesome and power
Our God, Our God... 

 

A Few New Things...

Here is my list of a few new things!

1. Cupcakes
I used a new cupcake recipe to make cupcakes for a friend who needed them for a baby shower.  I messaged my cousin, who is in the culinary field, for this recipe.  The problem I have with my cupcakes is they almost always pull away from the liner after baking and they never have a nice round top.  Well, her recipe deserves a round of applause!  It was a really nice batter and baked wonderfully!  I had to trim the sides of a few that I overfilled a bit and tested the scraps!  Delish!  Thanks Lauren!  Glad I have a new cupcake recipe that works!  I also borrowed a new Cricut cartridge from a friend to make the cupcake holders!  They turned out super cute! 

2. Oven
We have a brand spankin' new oven!  That's right, you heard me say it!  After alllllll that mess with the oven, and calling, and calling, and waiting, and waiting, and calling, and calling, and waiting, and waiting, and...well you get the idea!  They called and told me it was a LEMON!  They gave me a dollar amount and said to pick one out from Sears!  The amount they approved was much more than I was expecting because appliances are more now that what we paid six years ago.  I went with a GE Profile to match the new microwave above.  The only thing this one does not have that ours did is a warming drawer.  I think I only used the warming drawer once or twice with the old one.  I really only used it for storage.  I felt like upgrading to stainless was more beneficial than a warming drawer.  Besides, my new microwave has a warming setting on it.  If I really need that feature I can pop it in there to keep it toasty! 

You can see the new cupcake recipe being put to good use!  You can also see Adda with the cookies she baked in her oven on the floor in front.  She was watching the cupcakes!

I was a tiny bit sad to see the old one go.  It was the first appliance Gonzo and I bought together and paid off interest free!  He surprised me with that oven for our first Christmas in this house!

3. Prunes 
Ella ate prunes!  My poor little monkey has been a little stopped up lately!  I decided to make a batch of prune baby food to give her with the vegetable I am feeding her.  It's super easy to make.  All you do is buy a bag of prunes and cover them with water in a pot.  Bring them to a low boil and cover.  Let them simmer until they begin to break up.  Blend with the water they cooked in and add more if necessary.  I am sure some of you are thinking I am torturing my child by giving her prunes.  I love prunes and always have.  My granny used to have a jar of prunes that she kept in the corner of her kitchen that I would raid every time I went over to visit.  She would always laugh and ask me if I really wanted to eat a handful of prunes.  Adda likes prunes.  In fact she ate one before I cooked them.  So, I wasn't thinking it would be a problem for Ella to down a container in seconds.  It also was going to be her first fruit to eat. 

First bite!

 Oh, I don't know how I feel about these!

 Let me taste it again!

 Oh, okay I don't think so!

She gaged and shivered with each bite she swallowed!  After about four bites Gonzo said, "maybe she doesn't really like it!"  So we didn't make her eat anymore!  But, her big sister begged for the rest of the container!  And, I let her eat them!  They are good for you!  Besides, everyone needs to be cleaned out every so often!  About an hour later Adda was running to the bathroom!  About 15 minutes after than she was running again!  About five minutes after that we heard our 3 year old yell from the living room "Oh no, I had diarrhea real bad in my panties!"  Gonzo said, "Is she sick or is this really the prunes!"  I said, "Prunes all the way!"  We tried the prunes again for Ella tonight but I mixed some with her acorn squash and she loved them!  I just gave her about an ounce with her two ounces of squash!   She should be back to normal in no time!

4. Fajitas Sunset Style
Gonzo and I have a favorite restaurant in Ft. Worth!  It's called Mi Cocina!  They have fajitas there that will knock your socks off!  We like to get them Sunset Style!  Meaning: Fajitas layered on rice and queso and topped with fried onions!  Yes, fried onion!  Between the queso on the bottom and the fried onions on top these fajitas will make you want to slap your mom in the face!  (That is a saying that Gonzo says when something tastes really good!)  I would never really slap my mom in the face over these fajitas.  I might grab her cheeks and tell her how I felt about the fajitas, but no slapping!  Anyways, they are sooo good!  I decided to replicate this for dinner on Saturday night!  According to Gonzo these fajitas were delicious!  In fact he said he might want that for his birthday dinner!

 I will post the recipe for my rice later this week!  It's a great and very authentic Mexican rice! 

Here a Flower, There a Flower!

A friend of mine gave me a flower costume for Ella a while back.  Her sister used it for her two girls, and she used it for her daughter.  I wasn't sure it would fit Ella because it was a size 12 months.  When I tried it on her a month ago it fit and I was glad I had Ella's costume out of the way.  Adda told me she wanted to be a tiger.  I had been looking all over for ideas of what to make for a tiger costume.  After Adda saw Ella in the flower costume she decided that's what she wanted to be too!

I didn't really have plans to make them matching.  I went to target looking for a plain shirt and leggings and found the shirt and skirt for $10 total.  The rest was felt, thread, hot glue, and a head band!  Easy peasy, and Adda was happy!

 Ready to go!

 With Kendall at Barbara and Mike's house!

 Ella and Barrett checking each other out!

 They are 10 days apart in age!  I'm sure they will be good buddies in the very near future!

 I was trying to tell Barrett to teach Ella how to crawl.  He has been crawling for a month and a half now! 

 She was thinking about going to get Barrett!

 Leaving Barbara and Mike's house!

 Picked Daddy up from the field house and headed out to trick or treat!

 Before we started!

 Heading home!  Notice how full her bag is!  Gonzo is pretty fired up about that!

We went to the grocery store today and a lady asked Adda if she went trick or treating last night.  Adda replied, "Yes, and Mommy hid my bag and that's a no no!"  The lady laughed and said, "Oh I bet she did hide your bag!"  For the record I haven't eaten any of her candy yet!  But...I think I might go get a piece right now!

D is for Donut!

This week we have been working on letter D.  We have read books about, dogs, dress up, Daisy Duck, driving a bus, dinosaurs, dog food, and dancing!  We have sorted dinosaurs by size, matched dinosaurs by color, looked for big D and little d, and decorated our own donuts.  If Gonzo had not gone to work before the donut shop was open we would have also eat a few donuts!  Oh well, maybe next week!  And yes, Gonzo does go to work that early!  Especially this morning so he can get home to trick or treat with us.

  Here is a picture of their d-d-d-decorated d-d-d-donuts!

Adda told me "Oh no, we forgot about our donut hole!"  I guess she thought we were also decorating the hole and it also needed sprinkles!

   

Chicken Pot Pie

If your looking for a really good and easy recipe for a chicken pot pie, this is a good one.  My friend Kristen made this for us when Adda was born and I have been making it ever since.  Most of the time I don't even look at the recipe while I'm making it.  It's that easy!

Chicken Pot Pie

1 can drained green beans

1 carrot- chopped and steamed

1 1/2 cups broccoli -chopped and steamed

5 small new potatoes - chopped and steamed

3 chicken breasts - boiled and chopped 

(Kristen uses a rotissere chicken)

1 can cream of chicken soup

2/3 cup milk

1 cup cheddar cheese

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 tsp pepper

2 pie crusts

Combine all ingredients in a bowl.  Add to bottom pie crust and top with second pie crust.  Pinch edges together and cut slits in the top.  Bake at 425 for 30 minutes or until crust is golden brown and the inside is bubbly.  

I have only used green bean a few times.  Only because I can't seem to remember they are in the recipe when I am at the grocery store.  I have also chopped my vegetables, drizzled them with EVOO, and roasted them in the oven before adding them to the other ingredients.  Last year during the fall I made it with carrots, sweet potatoes and butternut squash.  It was delish as well!  The possibilities are endless.  I always add way more vegetables than it calls for.  

The day I was at the store they did not have any rotisserie chickens ready so I bought these chicken pieces because they were on sale.  I rubbed them with EVOO and seasoned them with salt and pepper and baked them for an hour on 350. 

I always add a little more milk and cheese because I add extra vegetables. 

When Kristen made it for us to eat when we brought Adda home from the hospital she cut hearts out of the top!  How cute is that! 

  I love this meal!  It is one of my very favorites!

Acorn Squash!

We finished our green peas and have started a new vegetable this week.  Ella's favorite so far is acorn squash!  She ate two the first night and could have sucked them with a straw if I had let her. 

Cut the squash in half and scrape the seeds out.

 Put the two halves in a baking dish and add a little water to create steam under the foil while it bakes.  

 I baked them for an hour on 350.  Scrape the cooked pulp out of the skin and put it in the blender with breast milk, formula, or water.

 Blend until you get the consistency you want.

 That one squash made 11-2 ounce containers of baby food. 

 I hardly cleaned her mouth with the spoon as she ate it because she literally sucked it off the spoon.  

 It was the first time she ate two containers at once!

1 acorn squash from Trader Joe's $1.29

I did not buy organic because acorn squash is a vegetable that does not have to be organic.  If it has a peel it is not exposed to chemicals on the inside.  Just make sure you wash the outside well before cooking.

It made 16 total ounces (actually a little more each container had a little more than 2 oz.)

That's $0.08 per ounce.

Walmart-Earths Best brand winter squash (a mixture of butternut and acorn squash)

12 pack of 4 oz. jars $19.08

That's approximately $0.40 per jar 

It would have cost me a total of $3.87 to make 48oz.

If I had bought this from Walmart it would have cost me $19.08 to get 48oz.

That is a HUGE difference.  I think I'll keep making the baby food!  This one blew me away!  

Pumpkin Patch!

After we voted I took the girls to the pumpkin patch.  It was a day of catching up.  I have been meaning to take them to the pumpkin patch for a while now and it had not happened yet.  I also knew we might get rain over the weekend and I didn't want to go to the pumpkin patch after a rain!  Yuck!  Doing that by myself with Gonzo at work did not sound like a fun activity at all!  They had fun and I managed to get a few good pictures of them both.  We left with two baby pumpkins and a big pumpkin for Daddy and I!

 She's really good at saying cheese and not looking at the camera!

 Again!

 Really interested in the hay!

 And, it's in her mouth!

 All those teeth make a really cute smile!

 I love these two girls!

We had a really good win that night at the football game!  The cold front hit and we were bundled up big time!  Two games left in district!  This season has been a whirlwind so far and I can only remember a few plays from all the games combined!  All I care about is a W! 

Tackling Daddy after the game! 

 Singing the school song!

 All bundled up!