My Fur Babies

Lucy: Shepherd Mix (7 years old in March)

Oscar: Pomeranian/Chihuahua (4 years old)

Time To Register For Camp!!!

I mentioned we are going to Colorado this summer. Well...now that I know I have SO many adoptive and foster family readers, I wanted to pass this amazing opportunity on to all of YOU!!!

We are going to Adoptive and Foster Family Camp at Horn Creek, Colorado Aug. 7-13th. This camp is open to ALL adoptive and foster families all over the country, and the really fun thing is that any child(ren) that have entered your family in the past year...gets to go free! It is a week of outdoor fun and family bonding. Adoptive and foster families eat all meals together provided by the camp, and will spend the evenings together. You also have the option to pay for white water rafting and horse back riding!

So go check out the Tapestry Blog that will lead you to the details.

Early bird registration ends very soon...so don't delay!

We are really looking forward to this time with some of the families we have known over the past 5 years and would LOVE if some of you bloggers brought your families too!

How much fun would that be? :)

Wow!!!

Thank you all who have come out of the "lurking closet" and left your mark on my blog during roll call!! I did not expect SO much love to pour out in the form of way more regular readers than I really thought I had...over years, even! Wow! I am so glad I did this. It has felt like a gigantic group hug! (If you haven't commented yet, please feel free to go down to the post below and say "hi!" You can click on name, you don't need to have a blog account)

During naptime today, I visited every single one of the new blogs left here and I have to say I stand here amazed at your stories. I did not know I was stepping into illnesses, infant loss, death of parents, adoptions falling through, children with reactive attachment disorder, recent miscarriages, and all the mess that is real life. I wanted to say to you,"thank you, friends". Thank you for coming here to read about what goes on in my four walls while so very much is going on in yours. Thank you for blogging about your journeys and heartbreaks...you have taught me much today in my short time visiting your home on the web. Your words have made me laugh, made me tear up and my jaw drop, made me smile, and inspired me to be a better Mom. Thank you for the gift you have given me and all those who have the privelege to be a part of your world in such a small way. Blogging has been an immense blessing to this stay at home Mama who doesn't get out much in the adult world with 3 little ones at home. Blogging has allowed me to process life in a forum of love and acceptance. Reading your blogs has allowed me to open my mind and heart to the ways other people do things, to change and grow. The kids sing a song at church that goes "My God is a Big, Big, God...He holds us in his hands...." Meeting all of you here, and reading your stories, has spoken to me today just how BIG our God really is.

ROLL CALL!!!

Just this week alone, I have gotten several emails from people who read my blog, that I never knew did! Feel free to email, anytime!! I will reply and I love to hear your stories! Sometimes I come across acquaintances in real life who will comment on something my kids do and I will say "you must read my blog!" to which they nod and smile. It can also be awkward at times to live my life transparently in this format and not have a clue who knows! So I am doing my annual ROLL CALL! Please leave a comment on this post so I can get an idea of who comes here. You don't have to explain yourself or how you found the blog. You don't have to post any identifying information, and can sign in under name or anonymous and just leave your first name. BUT if you want to leave your blog address or the state you live in, that would be awesome too! It will be nice to get an idea of who really cares about our mundane life.

Comfort Crockpot Meals

Bonus Recipe!! Chicken Tacos in the Crockpot:

Take out about 5 large frozen boneless chicken breasts...don't waste time thawing, there is no need! Put them in the crockpot. Dice up one onion and toss it in there (can you tell I am a fan of the onion?!) Sprinkle one packet of taco seasoning over the frozen chicken. Pour one can rotel (or a jar of salsa) and half a can water over chicken. Put lid on and cook on low for 8-10 hours. Thirty minutes before serving the meal, take the lid off and fork the chicken into shredded strips, stir it all up, and add a can of drained corn and/or a can of rinsed black beans. Cook on high for 30 min. to heat up those items. Put into flour tortillas w/your choice of taco toppings and enjoy!

**For the kids I put their chicken/veggie portion in a strainer and rinse under warm water. This takes off the spiciness and cools the chicken!

With winter, comes comfort meals around here!

And the crockpot is the perfect setting for a low maintenance dinner.

Vivi and I will demonstrate how to make Meatball Stew! First put on your pinkest outfit and wash and peal enough potatoes to feed your family plus leftovers! Do NOT let your child use the peeler...a few bandaids taught us that lesson the hard way!

Then stir one packet of Slow Cooker Beef Stew mix in with about 3 cups beef broth.

Take a break to munch on celery...and adjust your dress!

Pour the broth sauce over the potatoes, then pile on plenty of chopped onion, carrots and celery!



Then layer on one bag of frozen meatballs (no need to thaw!)

Add a can of diced tomatoes and some more onion (if desired), then pour the rest of your box of beef broth over all of it!

If you want to, you can add a can of green beans the last 30 minutes of cooking.

Remember, do not lift the lid and stir throughout the day, just when you add the beans!

Enjoy!

(*Note- take your children's portion out about 15 minutes before dinner because it will be HOT!)

I will post a photo with a bonus recipe for chicken tacos in the crockpot later today!

No Good Very Rotten Weekend...

Billy has been sick all weekend with a bad throat infection that resulted in a penicillin shot in a not-so-fun place. This photo was NOT taken this weekend, as noted by the smile on his face and the fact that kids are piled onto him...however the pajamas are authentic. He has been in extreme pain and very, very shall I say...not happy. Which means Mama has to do all the work for the 5th day in a row, AND deal with a grumpy husband (who can't even talk to me :( which has made me very grumpy as well. I have paused to take note that if one of us was disabled, this would be our life. So I have tried to serve the family with a generous spirit, but my selfish side has reared its ugly head a few too many times. All of this combined has made for a very BAD weekend. The highlights have been...The Cosby Show, Skyping with my sweet Gloria (and daughters!) who is due to deliver her 3rd baby any moment now, taking the kids out for lunch today, starting some of my Valentine's decor projects, and seeing that the kids CAN play alone and with each other in harmony...sometimes.

This week I look forward to a new playdate with Isaac's 2nd BFF from school and his Mom, and her 3 year old brother who happens to be in J's class at school! She said they moved from out of state at the beginning of the year and have not made many friends...so I think it will be great for both of us to venture out and start a new relationship. And her son has the cutest face and disposition ever! When I take Isaac lunch, Caden sometimes sits with us and is just so sweet.

So...we will put this weekend behind us with pizza and America's Funniest Videos. And I will never be so glad to see two days end in my life!