Thankful Thursday

This week I'm thankful for...

490. Fun visit with Emily and her boy Owen just before baby #2 was born (see #499)
491. Easter celebration with my family
492. Great group of people and good worship at home group Sunday night
493. First pair of skinny jeans for $15 (75% off) (and I think I like them)
494. New wagon
495. Mowed grass
496. Sunshine
497. Christian fiction that is encouraging
498. Picnic with Matt and kids
499. Hearing news that Emily's baby was born (so happy for their family of 4)
500. Making it to 500 on my thankful list (remember the goal is 1000).  I'm thankful for this because this list has encouraged me to be thankful and thank the great giver, God.  I'm glad I haven't given up but that I allow myself time to reflect on how much I have to be thankful for.

Caleb - 13 Months

Running across the room toward the camera.

Caleb turned 13 months this week and is quite a little toddler.  Grace doesn't even let us call him a baby anymore.  I told her once that he is a toddler and she always corrects me if I say baby.  It's pretty cute.

I'm hoping to do monthly updates for a couple more months but I'm not sure how long they will last before they become less frequent.  So the update...Nothing has really changed in the sleeping area this month.  As far as table foods and solids go nothing has changed in that area too.

The big change is as of Monday Caleb is officially done nursing.  Shortly after his birthday I dropped his afternoon feeding and have just been nursing him in the morning.  I was ready to sleep in every once in a while (because Matt likes to take care of the kids in the mornings while I sleep, score!) so I just decided Monday morning I was done. I told Matt that I wanted to keep sleeping and I did!  So, Monday I slept until 8:30 and Tuesday I slept until 8:00.  I haven't slept past 7:10 since Caleb was born so this was glorious.  I'm looking forward to sleeping in even more in the future.

Caleb has also gotten really really good at walking this month.  He can walk on uneven ground outside and with shoes on now.  Grace likes to imitate him and "waddle" around.  He has also started climbing on things.  Mostly low chairs and kids sized things.  Grace didn't climb on the couch until around 18 months so we'll see how long we have until Caleb does that.

Finally, Caleb has been fun to watch communicate this month.  He can say ball and book now (although they sounds exactly the same).  He also says mama and dada clearly. He says "ta tou" for thank you whenever you hand him something.  He also signs for milk or drink constantly (he is obsessed with water bottles and sippy cups.)

I love this age so much. It's tiring but so fun.  He's always learning new things and I'm constantly surprised with what he knows and understands.  He's so fun and playful and even turning into a pesky little brother.

Wagon!

Remember this post from two years ago when I professed my love for the Radio Flyer Pathfinder Wagon.  I have never stopped loving it and have never stopped searching for a pre-owned copy of it.  So, I was thrilled when a friend emailed me last week with a post from Craigslist for this very wagon.  I was so nervous I wouldn't get it that I lost about 20 minutes of sleep.  But fortunately I was the first one to contact the owner and even though others offered him more than what he was asking he honored me as the first person.  I was planning on offering him a little less but decided against it and got the wagon (that appears to never have been used) for half of what I'd pay for it new!  Thank you Craigslist.

The kids love it too!  They giggle and tickle one another while riding in it and Grace tries to climb in it every time we walk by it in the garage.  It is not great for fitness walking (I still prefer the double stroller) but it works for lazy strolls around the neighborhood or walks to the park.

Thankful Thursday

This week I am thankful for...

481. New "gigantic" TV in the family room
482. My Dad who turned 59 this week
483. My Grandma who turned 85 this week
484. My brother in-law (and his family) who turned 34 this week
485. Celebrating Christ's resurrection
486. Spending Easter Sunday with my parents
487. Grace's ability to play independently for a decent amount of time
488. New episodes of "Dance Academy" on Netflix
489. The fact that my kids don't care if their laundry has been left unfolded for a week (and a husband who probably wouldn't care if I did the same to his either)

Easter Sunday

We had a wonderful and relaxing Easter Sunday this year.  After last year (we had a 1 month old and not only was I up all night feeding him but up all night with food poisoning) it was great to go to church well rested and celebrate Jesus.

The church service and the worship was great.  Our pastor reminded us that we will never be good enough for God.  But, we have Jesus and don't need to be good enough.  He loves us just as we are! Always a great message to hear.

Then we went home and my parents came for the day.  Matt grilled ham steak (marinated with brown sugar, maple syrup, and spicy brown mustard) and we had baked beans, mashed potatoes and gravy, and a spinach salad.  My mom made the potatoes and salad and I bought a cake from the church bake sale for dessert.  So it was super easy on my part to prepare!

The rest of the afternoon consisted of the kids sleeping, making homemade granola (in the microwave!), dying Easter eggs, and playing in the yard.  We capped the day off with homemade pizza for dinner.

Unfortunately I didn't take a picture of the kids together in their Easter best but here's 2 pics from the day.

Running around, happy as can be.

Dying eggs with Grandpa.

What Grace is saying 3....

Here's a few more from the past few months.  I wish I was better at writing things down but then it might be overkill:)

• Me: I spy with my little eye something white. G: Is it my bottom? Me: No. G: I spy with my little eye something eating my book. Me: Is it Caleb? G: Yes. (January '12)
• "I'm sick of you both.  Mommy and Daddy are crazy and sing crazy songs." (She did say this kindly and was being silly after singing with us during breakfast.  I think she just wanted us to stop.) (January '12)
• "I'm going to wand you up" (Waving her wand and casting spells on one of my friends) (January '12)
• "Mommy, who took the 6?  Is it ok if people take the numbers?" (After noticing there is no 6 on our clock  ) (February '12)
• "When I grow up I want to be a mommy.  But first I'm going to eat my dinner." (March '12)
• "Mommy, it won't stick to me.  Am I plastic?" (A couple of days after I told her a magnet wouldn't stick to something because it was plastic) (April '12)

Thankful Thursday

I've been a big time slacker on writing things down I'm thankful for over the last TWO weeks.  I sort of forgot to post last week.  And by sort of I mean I chose to ignore the reminder that I put on my calendar and decided most people wouldn't notice if I didn't do a "Thankful Thursday" post.  I've been feel extremely thankful lately however I can't remember all the little moments (since I haven't been writing anything down).  So to continue my list from 2 weeks ago here is some of what I have been thankful for lately...

469. Matt has a job
470. No potty accidents in a week (including poop!)
471. The chance to teach kids again at church (had to step back for a couple of months because of Caleb's schedule and need to nurse)
472. Parks
473. Walks
474. Bike rides with Grace
475. Daffodils and tulips blooming
476. New episodes of "Switched at Birth" on Netflix
477. Making it through the first 25% of my One-Year-Bible plan in 25% of the year and not more
478. 2 days watching one of Grace's best friends, L
479. Salsa Soup
480. Grace's streak of good naps (after a streak of bad naps)

Salsa Soup

This is one of my favorite soup/foods.  I haven't had it in so long that I forgot how much I love it.  It's even a great soup for the spring or summer.  I believe the recipe is a Racheal Ray recipe.  It's really yummy with sour cream, cheese and tortilla chips (and it freezes well too if you're interested in freezing). Enjoy!

Salsa Soup (6ish bowls)

Ingredients (I chop everything in the food processor so it's super fast.)

• 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, 2 turns of pan, plus some for brushing tortillas
• 2 jalapeno peppers, seeded and chopped (Don't seed them if you like spicey!)
• 1 green bell pepper, seeded and chopped
• 1 large onion, chopped
• 3 ribs celery, chopped
• 3 cloves garlic, chopped
• Salt and pepper
• 1 (28-ounce) can stewed tomatoes
• 1 (28-ounce) can crushed tomatoes
• 2 cups vegetable or chicken stock
• 3 tablespoons chopped cilantro

Directions

Heat a medium soup pot over medium-high heat. Add 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, 2 turns of the pan and the jalapenos, bell pepper, onions, celery and garlic. Season with salt and pepper then saute veggies 5 minutes, add tomatoes, crushed tomatoes and stock and bring soup to a bubble. Reduce heat to a simmer and stir in cilantro.

Pizza Sunday

Mmmm...Pizza.  I like my cheese a little browned. So Yummy!!!

For the last several months I've been working on making my own homemade pizza. At the beginning of 2012 I decided to make pizza every Sunday night for the year and have been getting better and better at it.  I'm not a fancy pizzaioli (had to look that up and that's what a pizza chef is called), but my family seems to love my Sunday night pizza.  And we always have leftovers for lunch on Monday.


Here are my recipes for the crust and the sauce....


Double Homemade Crust (I got this recipe from a friend but I'm not sure where she got this from.  I always use one crust and freeze the other for the next week.  Sometimes I even do this twice so I have 3 frozen crusts ready to go.  This is a no-rise pizza crust so you can use it right away or throw it in the fridge until you are ready to use it.)


Ingredients:

• 2 cup warm water (105 to 115 degrees F.)
• 2 Tbsp. active dry yeast 
• 2 tsp. sugar
• 2 tsp. salt
• 4 Tbsp. (1/4 cup) coconut oil (vegetable oil works too. I just have been trying to use coconut because it is healthier.)
• 5 cups white whole wheat flour (could also use a half and half combo of white flour and red whole wheat or all white flour)

Directions (I do this all in my KitchenAid Mixer but I think you could easily do it by hand):

1. Dissolve the yeast in the water in mixing bowl (8-10 minutes) 
2. Add the rest of the ingredients in and knead with the dough hook (speed 2) for 2-4 minutes
3. While kneading add more flour as needed by the tablespoon until dough clings to dough hook and cleans sides of the bowl
4. Dump onto a floured surface and divide in half (can freeze half or make 2 pizzas:)
5. Roll out and press down onto a greased pizza pan or use pizza paddle and pizza stone (which is what I've been using lately and love!)
6. Top with pizza sauce and toppings and cook at 450 for 12-13 minutes

No-Cook Pizza Sauce (I stumbled across this on All-Recipes and on Pinterest so I had to try it and it's awesome! This is enough for 2 pizza's so again use one and freeze the other and you're ready for another pizza)


Ingredients:

• 1 (12-ounce) can tomato paste
• 12 fluid ounces warm water (Just fill the empty tomato paste can)
• 1/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
• 2 teaspoons minced garlic
• 2 teaspoons honey
• 1.5 teaspoons onion powder
• 1/2 teaspoon dried basil
• 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 1/4 teaspoon dried red pepper flakes
• 2 teaspoons Kosher salt

Directions:

1. In a bowl, combine all ingredients and stir until well combined.
2. Allow to sit for at least a half hour for flavors to blend. Refrigerate if it will be sitting for more than 30 minutes.
3. Use anywhere you would use pizza sauce.