my blessed life

I'm overdue for a weekly plan!  Last week I didn't make one since we were fresh off of our trip and I had to hit the ground running, so to speak.  I have to say dinner time went better than I thought it might, planning off the top of my head.  I actually got pretty creative, using up some leftovers and what I already had around. Also, I know I haven't mentioned this yet, but I should...for accountability purposes and all that...Vince and I have joined up with some local friends for some friendly weight-loss competition.  So that means I am trying much harder to make healthy dinners!  This past week went pretty well, I must say.  I am looking forward to incorporating more healthy recipes this week. Monday {Apr 30}: -Home Economics day (gotta get this house cleaned UP!) -Dinner: Beef & Noodles  (not the healthiest, but not the worst and it's already on hand) Tuesday {May 1}: -Homeschool -Do ironing/clean out laundry room cabin...

Where in the world has April gone?!?  Wasn't Easter just last week?!  This month has really flown by.  As I began wrapping up this past week, I realized it's been about a month since I did a wrap-up.  Oops!  It's just been that busy around here. It's been a great month of homeschooling!  We've stayed on schedule, finished our last co-op until fall, had Spring Break, and more! Us all at Pizza Hut using our Book-It coupons! The sweet notes that The Princess wrote and sent with us to open on our anniversary getaway (their spring break). The Princess writing her final essay for her unit on  The Sign of the Beaver . Mr. B  learning via Reading Eggs . Incorporating some Lego fun into school A science project (it didn't turn out, but we had fun anyway) a sample from our co-op art exhibit (more on that later) visiting the Rainforest Cafe on a family fun day helping build the Lego Sponge Bo...

This past week on our anniversary getaway we enjoyed a beautiful drive through the Great Smoky Mountain National Park .  The thoughtful people from whom we rented our cabin had provided some great brochures on the park for us and one of those was all about the wildflowers that are native to the Smokies.  During our drive we (I) got a little carried away snapping up pictures of the beautiful flowers all over.  It was sort of like a scavenger hunt and Vince was gracious enough to pull the car over every time I thought I saw one I hadn't seen before.  I've included the names of the ones I've been able to identify, but some I'm not sure of.  Feel free to leave me a comment if you know the name of them.  I think wildflowers have the most charming names! (Robin's plantain) (fringed phacelia) (yellow trillium) (lyre-leaf sage) (sweet white trillium) (thyme-leaved bluets) (blue violet)

This past week Vince and I celebrated 15 years of marriage (boy, does time fly!).  And he surprised me by planning a romantic getaway in the Smoky Mountains.  It couldn't have been more perfect!  He rented us the. most. charming. little cabin in the woods...and I do mean woods.  We were miles and miles off of the beaten path, utterly surrounded by the beauty of the Smokies.  We drove in late (read: way after dark) our first night there and we drove so far on little one-lane paved roads that turned into one-lane gravel roads, never meeting another car along the way.   I told him I hadn't realized he wanted so badly to get me all alone...heehee   Today I wanted to share some of the beauty of the Smokies with you. the (paved) road to our cabin the sign for the turn to our cabin the (gravel) road further into the woods to our cabin now arriving at *Foxglove*, our cabin in the woods our back deck with the oh-so-relaxi...

Today Vince and I celebrate 15 wonderful years of marriage!  We've been through all kinds of things we never thought life would bring our way and so many wonderful blessings we never knew we would experience.  Can't wait for the next 15 years!!  I love you, Vince!!!

A yummy spring meal--made healthy, too! Creamy Spring Pasta 1 tbsp. butter 1 cup plain bread crumbs 3 garlic cloves, minced and divided 1-1/2 cups (2-inch) diagonally cut asparagus 1 cup frozen peas 6 oz. uncooked fettuccine or spaghetti 2 tsp. olive oil 1/3 cup finely chopped sweet onion 1 tbsp. flour 1/4 cup fat-free, low sodium chicken broth 1 cup 1% low-fat milk 3 oz. 1/3-less-fat cream cheese 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese 1/2 tsp. kosher salt 1/4 tsp. freshly ground black pepper parsley ***** Melt butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat.  Add 1 garlic clove to pan; saute 1 minute.  Add breadcrumbs; saute 3 minutes or until golden brown and toasted.  Remove breadcrumb mixture from pan; wipe pan clean with paper towels. Steam the asparagus and peas in a bowl with a little water in the microwave for about 3 minutes or until crisp tender.  Drain and set aside. Cook your pasta until al dente; drain and keep warm. Heat...

I made this for our Easter luncheon this past week and it was AMAZING!  Definitely a hit with the family--especially my kiddos:) Strawberry Cream Pie 3 Tbsp. cornstarch 2 Tbsp. all-purpose flour 1/4 tsp. salt 1 cup sugar, divided 3 cups half & half 6 egg yolks 2 tsp. vanilla extract 1 (9-oz) pkg. chocolate wafer cookies (I couldn't find anything that just said "wafer cookies", so I used the same amount of Oreos) 4 oz. semi-sweet chocolate chips 1/2 cup butter, melted 1 qt. fresh strawberries 1/4 cup grape jelly 1 tbsp. orange juice ***** Whisk together the cornstarch, flour, 2/3 cup sugar, and salt in a medium-size heavy saucepan.  Whisk together half & half, egg yolks, and vanilla extract; gradually add to the cornstarch mixture, whisking constantly.  Bring to a boil over medium heat, whisking constantly, and cook, whisking constantly, 1 minute.  Remove from heat and transfer to a bowl; cover and chill 4-24 hours. Preheat ...

0536. the calm after a storm 0537. the smell of freshly-cut grass 0538. writing out lesson helps on an old-fashioned chalkboard 0539. creating art with my children 0540. fresh spring air coming in an open window 0541. forgiveness 0542. home cooking after too much fast food 0543. little kiddo giggles 0544. bubble baths 0545. girls' nights out 0546. the feeling of satisfaction after cleaning my house 0547. singing 0548. singing with my sister 0549. new magazines in the mailbox 0550. grace

I hope you have had a blessed Easter weekend!  Ours has truly been blessed with the grace of God, the love of our family and friends and more yummy food than we needed! Our church egg hunt...let the hunt begin! Checking out their candy loot:) Go-cart rides at the church eggstravaganza! The Princess took off all by herself and, boy, did she ever  hit that gas pedal! Dyeing Easter eggs with Aunt Kari. I just love Easter eggs--they're soooo pretty! Reading Scripture along with our Resurrection Eggs . Easter Sunday morning My parents and sister were with us for the whole weekend! Easter baskets!! First time to make * birds nests *...mmmmm What a wonderful celebration weekend-- Christ is risen indeed!!