Happy Birthday, Dr. Seuss!

March 2nd is Dr. Seuss's 108th birthday, and "Read Across Nebraska" has begun.  Getting kids to read is a major accomplishment.  (Blessing #335)   To celebrate, Jillian's school held some fun "dress up" days this week, which brought a renewed excitement for going to school during the long winter months.  (#336)    All elementary children are encouraged to read for at least 30 minutes each day.  If they read at least 30 minutes each day, their name will get entered for a special drawing.  Jillian has been eager to read, now that she knows even more words.  (#337)

The kids were encouraged to dress up as their favorite storybook character yesterday.  Jillian wanted to dress up as The Cat In The Hat.  We looked around for all the things we'd need to pull it off. 

First, we added some whiskers and kitty ears.  Awwww..... adorable!  Jillian replied with a "meow."

Then, we started looking for the hat.

However, we decided that Thing One and Thing Two must have ran off with the red & white striped hat, as we never did find it.  So we went with a new style for The Cat In The Hat this time.  I kind of like the patchwork hat. 

Jillian's the one who decided that she needed a red bow, and we found the perfect scarf and gloves in an old dresser drawer.  Perfect!  Getting her up for school this week has been a little easier than normal, thanks to the celebration of Dr. Seuss.  (#338)

Adventures with Alexa

On Saturday, I offered to watch a friend's 3 yo daughter (yes, it truly was a blessing - #329) after I was finished helping with the Coaches Clinic Lunch so this sweet-pea didn't have to sit on hard bleachers, trying to stay in one spot, while her older sister played in a basketball tournament. 

No, she isn't trying to show me that there aren't any boogies up there.  Just a strange pose from a very confident young lady.

Jillian loved being able to "babysit" Alexa, and she discovered that life at age 7 is not at all like life at age 3.  (#330)

Alexa found lots of fun toys to play with in Jillian's play room, including a hoola-hoop.  Since she couldn't quite get her hips to work like they needed to, Jillian came up with the idea that they try doing it together.  The two girls, trying to wiggle their hips together, was so entertaining. (#331)

Trying to put a little more "hip action" into it:

When it was time for supper, I asked the girls if they'd like noodles or mac-n-cheese.  Jillian wanted noodles.  Alexa wanted mac-n-cheese.  That is. . . until I put the bowls on the table in front of them. . .  then she changed her mind.  Jillian kindly shared her noodles with her new little friend.  (#331) 

Jillian loves to eat noodles with chopsticks.  You know where I'm going with this, don't you. . . Which meant that Alexa wanted to "pinch" her noodles too.

She gave it a good try, which was also entertaining (#332).  However, her fingers worked much better than the chopsticks. And she wasn't about to use a fork after seeing Jillian with the "pinchers."

While the girls were eating, I had time to start making some dinner rolls.  (#333)  They're easy and fool-proof.   Plus, they are melt-in-your-mouth delicious!  And I make them often.  They're the most amazing rolls ever.  Yum!  (#334)

I got this recipe from a fellow coach's wife, and my whole family is thankful for her willingness to share.  (#335)

Teresa's Roll Recipe
1 c. water
2 TB butter, softened
1 egg
3 1/4 c. bread flour
1/4 c. sugar
1 tsp. salt
3 tsp. yeast
Place all ingredients in bread machine in order listed.  Select "dough" and let the machine do it's thing.  Grease 9x13 pan. Divide dough into 18 pieces and shape into balls.  Place in pan - 3 rows of 6.  Melt margarine and brush top of dough.  Cover and let rise 45-60 minutes or til double.  (I use a warm oven.)  Bake at 375 for 10-12 minutes.  Brush tops with butter (again). 

Enjoy!

Sweet Blessings

If you know me even a little bit, you know that I have a big sweet tooth.  I love to bake.  Not out of a box.  By scratch.  I've done lots of baking the last couple of days.  So, I have some recipes to share with you.  The blessings I'm posting today involved sugar, creamy butter, and my oven.

First, I made Peanut Butter Cups.  (Blessing #326)  Today was the Holdrege Coaches Clinic, and as wives, we were in charge of making desserts for the coaches along with helping serve the noon meal.  I also made Peanut Butter Swirl Bars (#327) for the Clinic, but they weren't as good as the other two recipes so I don't think I'll post that recipe.

Peanut Butter Cups
Melt 2 sticks of butter.
Add:
1 3/4 cups Rice Krispies (measure 1 3/4 cup, then mash them into crumbs and add enough grahm cracker crumbs to make 1 3/4 cup total).
Mix in:
1 cup creamy peanut butter
2 1/3 c. powdered sugar
Pat into 9 x 13 pan.
Melt 1 1/2 cups chocolate chips and frost over the top.  Put in fridge to set.  Then cut into small squares.


I made 2 pans of sweets for the Clinic.  And it's a good thing the girls & I each grabbed one (or two) from each pan, because there were no leftovers to bring home.  So this afternoon, I decided to bake something for our family. 

I browsed the Pioneer Woman's blog for some brownies to bake, which lead me to the Tasty Kitchen blog.   And it was on the Tasty Kitchen website that I found the recipe for . . . CONGO BARS!!

Oh, my stars!  Congo Bars!  I found the recipe for one of my absolute favorite brownie-type of bars.  (Blessing #328)  When I was in college, my friends and I were excited each time we saw "Congo Bars" on the menu at the Cafeteria.  We loved them!  But I could never find the recipe.  I googled the recipe again a couple months ago and couldn't find it.  So imagine my delight when the Pioneer Woman led me to the recipe!  They are amazing!   Even better than I remembered.  (I borrowed this picture from her.)

Congo Bars
2 3/4 c. flour
2 1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
Sift these items together, then set aside. 

In another large bowl, mix:
2 c. brown sugar
2/3 c. butter, softened
3 eggs
1 tsp. vanilla
1 pkg milk chocolate chips (I used up what I had left in 3 different bags:  Semi-sweet, milk chocolate, and white chocolate - which ended up being 2 cups.  It was a delicious combination!)
1 c. chopped pecans (optional)

Do not use mixer.  (If you want them to be perfect, stir them by hand.)  Stir brown sugar into softened butter until butter disappears.  Add eggs, one at a time, mixing well after each addition.  Add vanilla, chips, and nuts and mix well.  Then add the dry flour mixture and stir until well combined.  Spread into greased 9 x 13 pan.  Bake at 350 degrees for 30-40 minutes.  Don't overbake.  Test doneness with toothpicks.  If top begins to get too brown, put a piece of aluminum foil over the top for the last 5-10 minutes of baking. 

I used 3 kinds of chips in my batter:  white chocolate, milk chocolate, and semi-sweet chocolate.  It was an AMAZING combination! 

Look at this beautiful batter, which I borrowed from the Bakerella blog: (you can find the recipe there, too)

And the end result is amazing!  They're a cross between cookies and brownies. 

Okay. . . I'm going to go get another one. . . I'll be back later.

More Artwork

Jillian loves to draw.  (Blessing #325)  And she's really pretty good at it.  She notices so many little details, that most 7 year olds don't recognize.  She drew another picture today, as inspired from her movie "Courageous."  This is the rookie policeman, David. 

And here's a picture of Jillian with Rapunzel-length hair.

When it was "Pastor Appreciation Month", our church had caricatures made of each of the pastors, and they were on display for all to see that month.  Jillian studied those drawings one Sunday, and she decided to draw her own caricatures of our pastors during church.  After church was over, she gave each picture to each of our pastors.  But when we got home, she was feeling a little sad that she gave away her artwork.  So she drew them again.  Here's Paul, Doug, Murray, and Neil. 

  

"Courageous"

Jillian has a new favorite movie.  It's the movie "Courageous", which we gave Chad for Valentine's Day.  Great movie, BTW.  (Blessing #323) Chad & I saw it in the theater, but the girls didn't.  Jillian caught the tail end of the movie when we watched it last week. . .  The part where there's gunshots fired between the policemen and the "bad guys."  She instantly became glued to the TV, and begged us to start it over, so she could see the whole movie. 

Jillian LOVES the movie!  She can't get enough of it.  In fact, she carries the DVD case around with her, looking at the 4 policemen on the front.  She even knows their names.  She talks about the funny parts, and loves watching the "bloopers" on the DVD.  I didn't think this movie would hold her interest, but it does.  She laughs and laughs at the "Snake King Gang" scene with Javier.

In fact, she no longer wants to be a "hair cutter" when she grows up.  She wants to be a "police girl." 

She told all her friends in school about the movie, "Courageous." 

And when Jenica asked Jillian to draw a picture for Jenica to put on the front of her 3-ring-notebook, she drew. . . a policeman.  Not just any policeman.  Adam Mitchell, the main policeman from the movie.

We reminded her that Uncle Paul is a policeman, which spawned a multitude of questions.  What color is his shirt?  How about his pants?  Do his pants have a stripe down the sides?  Does he wear a hat?  Does he carry a gun?  Has he ever shot a bad guy?  What color are his shoes?  Does he have a "thingy" on his shoulder that he talks into so other policemen can hear him?  Does he have patches on his shoulder?  I guess she was very observant in the movie. 

Tonight, Jenica and some friends are going to the movie downtown, and we promised Jillian that we'd watch Courageous while they are gone.  (#324)  I've heard about 50 times already, "when are we gonna watch the movie "Courageous"?  (as she carries it under her arm)

Plum Thicket Tea Room

This morning started out with a beautiful bright-pink and dark-purple sunrise.  (Blessing #317)  I love to sleep in, and I would much rather stay up late than get up early.  However, the blessing of getting up early is that I get to see the sun rise.  My definition of "early" probably isn't the same as yours.  "Early" in my book is 6:30am.  After I catch a glimpse of the sky as we're getting ready for the day, I always tell the girls to "look at the awesome sunrise that God put in the sky for us today!"   (#318).  

As soon as I pulled into the garage after dropping off the girls at school, our friendly little cardinal flew over to my passenger side mirror and began his normal routine of fluttering back and forth from the mirror to the reflection he sees of himself in the car window.  Back and forth, back and forth.  The pretty song he sings brings a smile to my face, and the girls and I try to mimic his tune.  (#319)

He's been living in our evergreen trees for several years, and is so proud of his appearance that he loves to check himself out in our mirrors every day.

I've been looking forward to today, as I love hanging out with my best friend from college. (#320)  Lanise and I go way back to grade school, but we became great friends when we went to college.  She's always so upbeat, positive, and a very genuine person.  So, today was a special treat when we met in Grand Island for some girl-time.

Lunch was fun!  (#321) We ate lunch in a beautiful Victorian Tea House, called "The Plum Thicket".  I wish I would have taken a picture from a different angle, so you could get a better look at the beautiful turret and lead-glass bay window.  Everything inside was decorated in the traditional Victorian style.

The home is a Montgomery Ward turn-of-the-century mail order house, and was built in 1904.  These mail order homes were sent by rail, and the buyers had 10 days to unload it, according to the brochure at our table. 

The tea room and gift shop are open from 10 a.m.-3:30 p.m. (Tuesday through Saturday) and Lunch is served from 11-2.  I ordered the "Combo Lunch," which is half a sandwich (I chose chicken salad), salad (I picked fresh fruit), cup of soup (I had wild-rice chicken soup), and dessert (which was girl scout cookies today).  Their iced tea was a mango-infused tea today.  It was all delicious!! (#322) However, it's not at all a place where Chad would want to eat.  It's much too girly for him.

They also serve gourmet coffees and teas, muffins, cheesecakes, cookies, and ice cream sundaes.  And their gift shop is full of pretty things.  Here's a peak at one of the rooms on the second floor.  Even the closets are full of gift items. 

Everything is fancy here.  "Fancy Nancy" (one of Jillian's favorite beginner's book series) would love the Plum Thicket. 

Hanging out with Cousins

My brother-in-law sliced his hand open (it's a really nasty cut) in an accident at work yesterday, so I kept my nephews with us for the day.  My sister called me with her "SOS" around noon when the doctors in Holdrege referred him on to a hand specialist in Kearney for out-patient surgery that afternoon.   I'm glad I could help her out.  (Blessing #314)

The girls & I had made plans to see a mantinee in Kearney after school got out (Chad was working at a basketball game at the High School), so when I picked them up from school, they were excited to hear that Xander and Hayden would be going with us.  (Blessing #315)  It's a bummer that Dave had this accident, but the kids were all thrilled about spending several hours together.  They love hanging out with each other, which just doesn't happen often enough for them.  Even though we live in the same town, our schedules keep us going in opposite directions, it seems.  Jillian and Xander are in the same grade, but they go to different schools.  And Hayden is 2 years younger than Jenica. Looks like Jillian really missed her cousin.

We all piled into the car and went to the movie "Journey 2: The Mysterious Island". 

Even though we weren't planning on a 3-D movie, that's the only version of the film they had in Kearney, so we made our way into theater #2 with our groovy glasses and a large bag of buttery popcorn. 

Jillian knew from the previews that there would be some intense scenes, so she was quick to remove her glasses and grab my arm when the action picked up.  She isn't quite as scared when the screen is blurry.

It was a coincidence that Jenica & Hayden each wore their Estes Park sweatshirts to school yesterday.  And they've been asked more than once if they are brother and sister.  Their grandpa Marshall & Grandma Patty took them on a camping trip to Estes last summer - hence, the shirts. 

It's a blessing to live close enough to the Rocky Mountains that we can drive there about once a year.  (#316)  My dad shared his love of the mountains with me at an early age, and it stuck with me.  And now, he's trying to pass it on to his grandkids.

Winter Fruit Salad

I made this yummy salad for our small group gathering last Sunday.  It's one of my favorites!  And from the looks of the empty bowl, it was everyone else's favorite also.  The recipe originally came from Bonnie, and I'm so glad she shared it with me.  (#313)

Winter Fruit Salad

1/2 cup white sugar 

1/3 cup lemon juice

2 teaspoons diced onion (opt)

1 teaspoon Dijon-style prepared mustard

1/2 teaspoon salt

2/3 cup vegetable oil

1 tablespoon poppy seeds

1 head romaine lettuce, torn into bite-size pieces (or 12 cups)

1 cup shredded Swiss cheese

1 cup cashews

1/2 cup dried cranberries

1 apple or pear - diced

In blender, combine sugar, lemon juice, onion, mustard, and salt.  Process til blended.  With machine running, add oil in slow steady stream, processing until thick and smooth.  Add poppy seed and process just a few seconds to mix.

In large serving bowl, toss together the lettuce, cheese, cashews, cranberries, and apple.  Pour dressing over salad just before serving; toss to coat.

Enjoy!

Happy Valentine's Day

Valentine's Day Blessings 

A special surprise from my valentine.  (#309)

Valentine's Day always reminds me of my grandpa Harold.  Today would have been his 100th birthday.  He is celebrating in Heaven again this year, and we are certain he's enjoying a rootbeer float today.  (Or maybe something better than rootbeer floats.)  So, in honor of Grandpa's birthday, we went to Dairy Queen for rootbeer floats after school today.  (#310)

 

This week is Parent Teacher Conferences, which means school gets out at 1:30 for the kids all week. (#311)  

After our stop at DQ, Chad had to go back to school for PT Conferences, so I had another surprise for the girls. We took some day-old popcorn to the park to feed the ducks, geese, and swans. (#312)  After a couple days with temps in the teens, we hit 40 degrees today and Jenica thought it was warm enough for shorts.

1 Corinthians 13:13 ~ And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

Lots To Be Thankful For

Blessings #285-308

• Hanging out with friends at small group Sunday
• Snuggling with baby Alivia as I fed her a bottle
• Remembering the days when I snuggled with my own babies as I fed them their bottles
• Having Jacob home from College for the weekend.
• Listening to Jacob play "Ode To Joy" on his new acoustic guitar. He sent me a text late last night to let me know that he's learned 2 more songs now.
• The men who get up extra-early to plow snow or spread gravel and salt on the icy roads so we don't slide in the ditch on the way to school in the morning.
• Helping Jenica and her friends with their hair, as they got ready for their Jr. High Dance Friday night. 
• Chatting with other moms who also helped sponsor the Jr. High Valentine's Dance.
• Watching "Property Brothers" on HGTV with my hubby, who loves the show as much as I do.  (I'm also thankful for our DVR so we can watch our favorite shows whenever we want.)
• Enjoying lunch with a friend Friday
• Washing never-ending loads of laundry, because it means that I have a family to care for.
• Baking an assortment of treats for my hubby to take to school for the teacher's lounge when it's his turn to provide snacks.
• Watching "Brady Bunch" with Jillian - it's her new favorite after-school TV show.  And remembering the day I met Bobby's real life mom and got a tour of her fabulous home.
• Chicken Enchiladas
• Making hot cocoa for Jillian after she's been playing in the snow.
• Being loved by my husband, even when I'm crabby and irritable.
• Steamed salmon with fresh vegies for lunch.  My Curves steamer is my favorite kitchen gadget. 
• Helping Jillian make her "Valentine's Box" for her school party.  (made from a Fruit Loops box)

• Oatmeal Scotchies
• Getting updates from my parents and knowing that they're having a great time
• Knowing that my grandma's gall-bladder surgery was a success, and that she was able to go home the same day.
• Coming home from working-out Saturday to find that my husband washed all the dishes for me.
• Reading to Jillian's class as their "Guest Reader" during the Golden Sower Award voting process.  I read "Willoughby and the Lion" and "Ms. McCaw Learns to Draw."  The Guest Readers are reading 10 new books to the students throughout January and February, and then elementary students all across Nebraska get to vote for their favorite book.  The winner gets the Nebraska "Golden Sower Award" and a pretty gold medal on the cover of their books.

And give thanks for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
~ Ephesians 5:20

Flat Stanley

Jillian and I have spent a lot of the time in the public library this school year (Blessing #280), reading books while we're there, and checking out a stack of books to bring home.  One of the books we found last fall was "Flat Stanley."  I read it to Jillian, and she loved it!  But, then, who wouldn't love Flat Stanley and the story of how he got so flat?  (#281)

Jillian received a letter from her friend Meigan last month, and also in the envelope was Flat Stanley!  Flat Stanley came to visit us!  (#282) 

Meigan is actually a friend we met while we were in China (#283).  Her family adopted Meigan the same day we adopted Jillian.  Another cool tidbit is that Jillian and Meigan lived in the same orphanage together.  She's a year older than Jillian, and her 2nd grade class is sending Flat Stanley all over the country to learn what life is like in other areas of the US. 

On the first night with us, Jenica read a book to Jillian and Flat Stanley. 

The next day, Flat Stanley went to school with Jillian and she introduced him to her class.  Mrs. Peterson welcomed Flat Stanley into their classroom, and she read a book to the class about Flat Stanley. 

Here's a picture of them when I picked them up after school.

  That night, we had another beautiful Nebraska sunset across the sky (#284), so we stopped at the park for a great photo opportunity. 

Flat Stanley and Jillian played with our dog Rollie on our deck.

We took Flat Stanley to the North Park to show him around. 

Jillian took Flat Stanley to her school playground to play.

We took him downtown to see a new bronze sculpture by our courthouse.

And we took him to Runza for supper.  Flat Stanley and Jillian both preferred the mini-corndogs over the Runza. 

  

Flat Stanley also made an appearance in church.  And then he got to experience our big snow storm.

Flat Stanley's time in Nebraska is coming to a close, and we'll be sending him back to Meigan in Ohio on Monday.  Jillian has enjoyed showing Flat Stanley around and will be sad to see him go.  The nice thing about getting squished by a bulletin board while you're asleep, is that you can fit into an envelope easily, and travel the United States with just the cost of a stamp.