Emma Turns 5!!!

My sweet little girl turns 5 today. Yesterday, we went to Chuck E Cheese and she ate up every ounce of attention they gave her, she loved it!!! Today on our way to church Emma says, "Mom, now that I know Chuck E Cheese is real can I meet the real Mickey Mouse?" I told her he lives far away. She said, "I know but today is MY BIRTHDAY!" We talked about being grateful for what she did get and I told her maybe some day we could go see the real Mickey Mouse. She then said, "I will be content...whatever that means." She is too funny. I feel like I need to carry around a tape recorded and tape all of our hilarious conversations.

I am so grateful that God gave Emma to our family!

Family Photo's

I have a few things...well...more than a few that cause stress in my life. But the top two are cutting my children's hair or having it done and getting their pictures done. I am so grateful to have an awesome friend that is ooober patient and amazes me with her ability to make the most of a hard situation. Yesterday, we went to WSU for a photo shoot but before we left I knew it was going to be hard. Buddy and Emma were allowed to stay up late the night before and were in tears all morning. But Stephanie was able to get some really cute pictures of the kids. This one of Buddy is one of my favorites.

After the Garage Sale Soup!

My sister called me this morning telling me about a great garage sale put on a group of Christian carpenters. So we zipped into action and dressed as fast as we could and hit the sale. It was a really great one if only I had more cash on hand I could have filled a truck. But seeing that I need to clean out my garage it is probably a good thing that I didn't buy all that stuff. I did get a card table and chairs for $8, and end table for $8, a stool, a cake carrier, and the kids got a few toys. All that to say by the time we came home everyone was oober hungry.

I misplaced my eat for health cook book so I had to come up with something off the top of my head. This is what I came up with.

*I took for carrots and a cup and a half of water and blended it in my blender until it became a soup base.
* 1 cup of red lentils
* 2 cans of chopped tomatoes
* 2 cups of chopped broccoli florets
* about a cup of chopped carrots
* a bunch of green onions finely chopped
* 2 kale leaves (I actually used it, whoo hoo)
* Tbsp pepper
* Tbsp oregano
* about a cup of prepared creamy carrot soup (left overs)
* about a cup of corn (I don't recommend corn for nutrition but my kids love it)
(If I made this again I would have added fresh rosemary and bay leaves)

I cooked it about 20 minutes or so and then put more than half of it back into the blender and blended, blended, blended.

My kids had seconds! This is truly miraculous. My kids have really struggled with all of this new food and I have started to get really run down with all of the complaining and special orders. I think their taste buds are adjusting and they are starting to get the into the groove of it.

Faux Taco's

After striking out day after day with feeding the fam food they will actually eat I finally hit a home run with diner tonight. We spent the day with some friends that are eating like we are. Shannon, the mom, warmed up refried beans and spread them on romaine lettuce leaves. Then she topped it with cut up veggies. The kids loved it! So this was my twist and adaptation of what I had on hand. I made a faux taco's...well I guess that is what I call them.


I used romaine lettuce leaves for shells.
I cooked up some chicken and used only half the taco seasoning.
I rinsed and then warmed up a can of kidney beans.
I cut up the usual toppings for taco's: tomatoes, avocado's, onions, jalapeno peppers, and then added more veggies. I lightly steamed broccoli and added thinly sliced carrots.

My kids went nuts. It may be that this meal was close to something they actually recognize that they like it so well. Whatever reason I know that I will be making this again.

I thought I would share it with you and maybe you can make some kind of adaptation to something you already add more veggies and fruit and surprise you family with a healthier alternative!

Great Soup!

I made this soup the other day. It is so stinkin' tasty I can't believe I made it. You have to try it! I am looking forward to making this for company.

4 cups of prepared tomato soup, natural or organic, no or low sodium
2 cups of broccoli florets
2 cups of prepared carrot soup
1 cup of chopped onions
4 cans of beans (you can use your favorite) I used white kidney, red kidney, and red beans
3 fresh tomatos chopped
1 teaspoon of garlic powder
1/2 bunch of fresh basil chopped
1/2 cup of raw cashews nuts
1 teaspoon of olive oil


Directions
In a large soup pot saute onions until golden. Combine all the ingredients except cashews.

Cover and simmer for 30 to 40 minutes
Blend in a blender 1/4 or cooked soup with most of the cashew nuts and add back into the soup.

Serve with a sprinkling of raw cashews on top. Yummers!!!