Friday Family Fun Night: Belle

This Friday Family Fun Night was inspired by my princess...

LouLou came over and we took the kids to a yummy dinner and then went to see Beauty and the Beast in 3D. The highlight was Anna's sweet dance that she performed as the credits played. Here is a pic of the kids in their 3D glasses (notice Anna holding her Belle princess doll)!

Dinner Divas

Once in a while someone or something comes into your life that completely changes things. I can think of a few off of the top of my head:

Jesus Christ
TX

Willie

Nate and Anna

Legacy PCA

Each of these has changed my life! About a year ago, the Dinner Divas joined that list. As a mommy who part-time home schools, works, and balances motherhood, marriage, a clean house, etc. my divas have changed my life!

Once a month, 8 of my sweet friends and I get together. We all bring 8 prepared recipes to our host's house. At the end of the evening, I come home with 8 meals ready to go. These meals last me the entire month. I do not have to cook dinner...EVER! Life changing! Brilliant.

 Preparing for the Dinner Divas.

This month, I prepared Dressed-up Meatballs. YUMMO!


I came home with:
Lentil Soup w/Knockworst
Breakfast casserole
Penne Pasta with sausage in a cream sauce
BBQ pulled pork
Chicken Spaghetti
Turkey Empanadas
Spaghetti Casserole (w/homemade noodles...yeah, Jennifer!)
and of course, my own meal: Dressed Up Meatballs

We bring the meals to our hosts house frozen and ready to go. All we have to do is heat, defrost, and enjoy!

Here is what a Dinner Divas' freezer looks like:

Have you ever seen anything more beautiful? ;)
I actually have about 13 meals in there. We're fully stocked since we were out of town for a bit in Dec. Each Divas meal last for at least 2 nights. 

We have a blog where we post recipes and cooking instructions. This way we can make sure we don't double up on too many chicken or casserole dishes in any given month. It also puts all of our recipes and cooking instructions in one place. Genius.

One of the best parts about Dinner Divas is that we try new recipes every month, and our family does not get bored with the same old 15-20 meals that I cook. It adds variety to our lives. Fabulous.

Each month's meal costs me anywhere from $60-$80. So, for that amount I come home with a month's worth of meals to feed my family. Economical.

And, alas, here are my divas (minus Marci and Kim...props to our "subs" this month Anjanette and Kristin)!

"We make freezer cooking look good!"

What recipe do you cook that freezes well? Comment below and let me know. I'm always looking for new recipes for the Divas! 

Ft. Worth Adventure

One of my very favorite friends from my Baylor days lives in Ft. Worth. Several years ago we agreed that we would always make an effort to get together for our kiddos birthdays. For the past 5 years, we've done a pretty good job of keeping that promise. This year, Willie had to work on Saturday, so I packed myself and the kids in the Suburban to head to Ft. Worth solo for Maddie's 5th bday.

All was going well, until I found myself lost in downtown Ft. Worth with no phone and two very tired and cranky kids. Luckily, some good Samaritans and my husband were able to help me find my way to Angie's house. The 4 hour journey was worth the trip. The kids had a blast at the bday party, and I had precious time with my friends, Angie and Natalie (and Dustan and Steven, too)! 

Here are a few pics from Maddie's gymnastics party.

 Anna and Maddie playing with the parachute. Look at their curls!

 Nate on the rope swing.

 Time for cake!

 Nate and Barbie.

 Anna and Noah playing after the party.

 Nate, Maddie, and Brynlee

I couldn't believe that I didn't get a picture with my friends this weekend. It's amazing how times change. It's all about the kids now! 

Happy 5th Birthday, sweet Maddie!

This year...

...will be better than last year.
Even though I've already strained my IT band...and have a 1/2 marathon coming up.

Even though Willie's bank card # was stolen, AND used...

Even though Nate was shot in the head with an airsoft gun.  
Even though my load at work is a lot heavier this semester. 
Even though I got very very lost in Ft. Worth, with two kids, with no phone. 

Even though our roof has a leak...and it rained, and rained, and rained yesterday.
AND it's only January 10th!

All of the troubles and burdens make me think of one of my favorite poems:

God has not promised skies always blue,
Flower-strewn pathways all our lives through;
God has not promised sun without rain,
Joy without sorrow, peace without pain.

But God has promised strength for the day,
Rest for the labor, light for the way,
Grace for the trials, help from above,
Unfailing sympathy, undying love.

God has not promised we shall not know


Toil and temptation, trouble and woe;


He has not told us we shall not bear


Many a burden, many a care.

God has not promised smooth roads and wide,


Swift, easy travel, needing no guide;


Never a mountain, rocky and steep,


Never a river, turbid and deep.

But God has promised strength for the day,
Rest for the labor, light for the way,
Grace for the trials, help from above,
Unfailing sympathy, undying love.

Perspective: Things could be so much worse, and really God's blessings are surrounding me! Legs to walk on, money in the bank, healthy kids, a roof over my head, a job...And really, I know others are carrying much heavier burdens.
 
 "Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him." James 1:12

Christmas 2011

Christmas 2011 will be one that we never forget. It was our first Christmas to celebrate without Morris, and that hurt...a lot. We had a wonderful vacation with the Eickenhorsts and made new memories to hold on to. God's blessings are always abundant even in time of loss. 

We returned home from Breckenridge on Christmas night, so Santa visited that night rather than on Christmas Eve. Here's a pic of the kids putting out Christmas cookies for Santa.

Christmas morning at our house.

As soon as we opened our gifts and played for a little while, we headed over to Mimi's house.

LouLou and Jake came over to our house later to eat dinner and exchange gifts.

 It is important to note that we are not TX Rangers fans! ;) We are Astros fans, but Jake bought Nate a Rangers hat so that they'd match, and I think that's pretty sweet!

 Anna and all of her Disney Princesses...

 Playing dress up for LouLou and Jake. She wanted to show off all of her new princess clothes from Santa.

Too late...?

Can you believe we're still on break? Just one of the MANY perks of University Model schooling! Our first day back is on Monday, and we've definitely enjoyed the extra week! Here our some pics of our gingerbread house that we were finally able to make...way after Christmas. Oh well! The kids enjoyed themselves! 

Frosting.....yummmmmy!