Break-Fast Dinner

I love eggs for dinner-- here are some of my favorite so easy and yummy recipes

{strata or fritata}
(pictured)
6-8 eggs
cheese of your choice (swiss, cheddar, mozzerella, colby jack-- all good and use about a cup of any)
about 1/2 a cup of milk
salt and pepper
vegetable of your choice (I do tomatoe, mozzerella and spinach together; cheddar and sliced pottoes together
and add meat of your choice-- salami, prosciutto, ham, sausage-- or omit meat for vegetarian

mix eggs and milk. add cheese and add ins and pour into a pie diesh or small caserole pan and cook at 325 till eggs are no lounger soupy-- about 30 minutes
Garnish with some dill or chives


Breakfast Casserole

8-12 eggs depending on casserole dish
1 cup of milk
salt and pepper
1 cup of grated cheddar cheese
bacon
shredded hasbrowns
bacon

place hasbrowns in casserole evenly across the bottom. Mix eggs and milk together and pour over the potatoes evenly. Add cheese layer on top. Place bacon strips across the top and bake at 400 for about 30-40 minutes. season with salt and pepper and enjoy :)

The best kids Bible ever

This is the best children's Bible ever-- it doesnt water down the story or go from Noah to Moses to David-- Gideon, Samuel, Deborah, and Jephthah are covered as well. Plus, it doesn't give you the short version, but goes into great depth at a wonderful speed-- and the illustrations are really enjoyed by my kids. I am blown away by what they have been able to grasp and incorporate into their playtime and life. They have such a hold on the flow and history of God's chosen people the Israelites.

I have to be honest, when this was a suggested book in the Sonlight catalog, I thought, "Really-- do we need another kid's Bible with the little feel good concise stories?" Then, I found a used one on Amazon and decided to try it and have been so happy and impressed, but most of all-- it has been an immense blessing to our family.

"snowed" in ideas

Well, it's winter in PA and we have been getting a couple little snowfalls here and there and it is very chilly :) I love snow- if it has to be cold, it can at least look pretty right?

Snow is so Magical.

So, we have been inside a lot-- I mean a lot! We have been making good use of playdough, dance parties, blocks, animals, games, puzzles-- all that stuff that might get a wee but ignored when its nice out and we're out and about soaking it all in.

Oh yes, we have been reading lots too. My five year old can read a bit (thanks to teach your child to read in 100 easy lessons) and my daughter doesnt mind listening for a little while, but while he practices, she reads in the big circle chair snuggled up with a blanket. I love it. Books are so wonderful-- they become treasured friends.

Funny story-- I was reading a mommy book and trying to finish it because it was so good and so I had it out while the kids played next to me and my son said, "Mom, all you do is keep looking at your book-- are you gonna start reading it?" So cute-- he didnt understand silent reading yet :) Someday soon I hope they still spend winter days buried in books....

Buying in Bulk

We do our grocery shopping once every two weeks and we save some money, but mostly a lot of time (and time is money, right?). I buy my ground beef in the big bulk packages and it is so much cheaper! So, once I have it I make a few meatloafs and bake them altogether and then once they have cooled, I freeze them in freezer safe bags. This saves me more time later on since I can just pull them from the freezer and heat it with no fuss or extra prep. Then, I will do either one of two things.

1. Take the remaining 2/3 and make a huge batch of meatballs. I freeze portions in bags and then just heat with my sauce and they are done by the time the pasta is

2. take 1/3 and make some seasoned hamburgers. I freeze these before cooking and will just take them out that morning to heat on a skillet at dinner time.

This has saved me tons of time and money. Happy cooking all :)

Oh, Christmas Tree

This has always ben my favorite times of year and the kids and I have been having fun keeping busy while daddy is at work (this is his busiest times of year). Last week all 3 of them helped me decorate our tree-- well, it has becomemore theirs then mine. What did I ever hang on my tree before kids? I know we only had one Christmas alone as newlyweds, but I am thinking it was a pretty bare tree those first two years. Now, I love all their picture and hand made ornaments and how they hang them all around the same spot. They like to take them off and look at them and as long as they are not glass (those are high out of reach) i don't care since its only up for a little time andI want them to feel like they can enjoy it how kids enjoy things-- by exploring. They have been playing prarie Christmas and placing things from around the house under the tree and then crawling under it for a fort (we dont put the bottom two rows of branches on our tree since we know it makes a nice little hideout). They can only do this if I am close by just in case it tips, or, per se, Mommy wants to put her head underneath and play too. We have also had to take some ornaments o hot glue gun hospital, but they are the same ornaments that get glued every year and by the time the kids leave me (sniff sniff), the will all have rather long necks and legs and will be some of my favorites since they were so loved by little hands. merry Christmas!

Daddy- Daughter date time

My husband works weird and not your typical 9-5 job, but he loves his kids and tries to get creative with each of them. We have one daughter in between two boys and we want to be sensitive to her needs but also making sure that she is well, daddy's little girl. I want her to one day say, I want to marry a man who loves Jesus just like my daddy does.

Now that she is getting older and much more in to girly things she gets the idea of a "date night" much more. So, here are some ideas:

- going to a local restaurant when its not as
- a trip to the park for a bike ride, hike, time on the swings...
- ice skating or roller skating
- shopping at a more girly store and then maybe a daddy store so she can be well rounded ;)

I'm sure you get the idea. It is our prayer also to get some things set up through our church, so please pray as we take the lead on something new. Blessings,

Becky

p.s. here are some more ideas

http://theideadoor.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=458

Cute winter cupcake ideas

How cute are these little cupcakes? I love snow and snow men so I think I will be whipping up my own version soon :)