My favorite Mexican Casserole

~ Mexican Casserole ~

1 lb. ground beef
1 16oz. can kidney beans
15oz. taco sauce
8oz. tomato sauce
1 tablespoon chopped onion
1 1/2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
1 cup corn chips, crushed
1 1/2 cup sour cream

sliced black olives *optional

Brown beef and onion in skillet. Combine with kidney beans, Taco sauce, tomato sauce. Add
cheese and corn chips.

Pour into greased 2-qt. casserole. Bake uncovered @ 350 degrees 20 to 25 minutes, until bubbly. Spread with sour cream and 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese. Bake 3 to 5 minutes longer, until melted. Serve with chips.

{We double this and make it in a 13x9 baking dish when everyone is here. It goes fast!}

This recipe has been one of my favorites since I was a little girl. My grandma first got the recipe where she was working as a nurse in Colorado...probably in the 70's. My family loved it and made it often. We always got to pick what we wanted for our birthday dinners, and I remember I almost always picked either Mexican Casserole or Lasagna...with a strawberry chip cake for dessert :)

Its been awhile since I've made it, but I was craving it last night. Ashleigh wasn't too sure about it as she mushed it around on her plate. "Does it have beans in it?!" she asked.

"Only the good kind." I told her. Then I told her how I used to pick it for my birthday dinner and that made all the difference! She ate it AND liked it ;)

Monday's Simple Woman's Daybook

For Today... March 2nd, 2009

Outside my window... MUD!! After recieving a dumping of snow on Saturday, then sunshine yesterday, today is wet & mushy.

I am thinking... how so many people let their emotions rule what they believe is love.

From the learning rooms... planning some fun spring lessons, nature journals, lots of park play.

I am thankful for... our Pastor who isnt afraid to speak the truth, no matter how hard it may be for us to hear it. Raising the standard of our convictions.

From the kitchen... mexican casserole & tortilla chips. One of my favorite family recipes. I will try and post the recipe tomorrow.

I am wearing... jeans and a sweatshirt.

I am reading... my newest mops magazine.

I am hoping... that all goes as planned this week and we can get out of the house to play when its 70's thursday & friday.

I am creating...some ice-breaker games for moms to play at our MOPS Comedy Night tomorrow.

I am hearing... the tv quietly in the background.

Around the house... dishes that need to be loaded in the dishwasher tonight. And little toys laying around that somehow got missed in our clean sweep earlier.

One of my favorite things...surprises in the mail. Today we got one from my neice, who has recently moved to Colorado. Two tiny little Denver Bronco's onesies for the new baby :)

A few plans for the rest of the week... schoolwork, MOPS, praise night at church, 1st spring playdate at the park with friends, hopefully a relatively simple week.

Here is a picture thought I am sharing with you...spray from a water-fountain in Branson.

Our Branson Vacation part 1

Touring the Titanic Museum

Ashleigh & Logan playing at the resort

View from our patio - Table Rock Lake, in February

Ash & Logan plus 7 friends - out front of The Landing


Taking a break with our friends - the Staver family

Our Branson Vacation part 2

In front of the huge-normous aquarium wall at Bass Pro

Shopping at The Landing - here comes the Trolley!

Auntie Anne's Pretzel break


Playing at the fountain

Me & my Sweetie :)

Monday's Simple Woman's Daybook

Check out The Simple Woman's Daybook and take a little look into the day plans and thoughts of those of us who are focusing on simplicity...the beauty of the everyday moments around us.

Here is my Daybook entry for today ~ Feb 23rd 2009

Outside my window. . .its a cheerful, sunny almost-spring afternoon. Ashleigh is running around the front yard...jumping rope with little friends.

I am thinking. . . about what a great weekend-getaway we had. 2 days & nights in Branson.
From the learning room. . . well, we didn't get to school today. Unpacking and catching up on laundry! Maybe tomorrow?

From the kitchen. . . meatloaf with a new seasoning mix I picked up at the Amish Country Store. Trying to decide on how to fix the potatoes....probably baked. Corn on the cob sounds good :)

I am wearing. . .volleyball t shirt and yoga pants. Stretchy & comfortable...will be needing maternity clothes soon!

I am going. . .to plan a Comedy/PJ night for next week's MOPS meeting. We'll have pajama contest, popcorn, and I'm trying to get a hold of Anita Renfroe's new dvd.

I am reading...emails, and The Simple Woman's Daybook blog

I am hoping. . .to have enough energy left this evening to get on the treadmill.

I am hearing. . .the ice cream truck coming down the street! How am I supposed to convince my kids it is TOO COLD to eat ice cream?!

Around the house. . . suitcases still need unpacked.

One of my favorite things. . .a store we discovered in Branson - Bath Junkie - where you pick from hundreds of essential oils and they mix up whatever bath-type product you want...in your fragrance & color.

A few plans for the rest of the week. . . making a menu-plan for the rest of the week, grocery shopping, starting a new book, our church's 30-somethings get-together where we will create amazing and crazy hamburger toppings (kinda like a Fuddrucker's theme)

Here is a picture thought I am sharing... while in Branson, we visited the Titanic Exhibit. The tour was about 90 minutes long and very, very, neat. Brought history to life. Was fascinating and sad at the same time. I will say, I had a very emotional time getting through the tour! sigh...pregnancy hormones :)

Monday's Simple Woman's Daybook

Check out The Simple Woman's Daybook for a list of other ladies Daybooks.

Here is my Daybook entry for today ~ Feb 16th 2009

Outside my window. . .the bright sunshine is very deceiving. It looks so spring-like, but is actually very brisk. Our yard is full of robins, back from the south.

I am thinking. . . who can I find to babysit at the last minute for tomorrow!

From the learning room. . . our 2nd semester of homeschool co-op classes have started. We now are involved in classes every Thursday, so that is something to get used to. Ashleigh loved the Art Workshop last week. I will be helping to teach a 2 hr scrapbooking class.

From the kitchen. . . homemade doughnuts! A lot of work, but so worth it. We don't get them very often.

I am wearing. . .flannel jammie pants & a tshirt

I am going. . .to figure out something for lunch. Kids have eaten, but I am hungry...while being nauseas at the same time.

I am reading... Growing Kids God's Way-Reaching the Heart of of Your Child With a God-Centered Purpose. On wednesay nights our church is watching a dvd series that goes along with the book.

I am hoping. . .for a warm spring...soon!

I am hearing. . .Ashleigh & Logan chattering & playing. Ashleigh trying to convince me we need a treehouse with a pulley system to haul stuff up & down.

Around the house. . . I need to catch up on some cleaning. I have let too many things go.

One of my favorite things. . .the smell of a clean new baby.

A few plans for the rest of the week. . . ob & ultrasound appt tomorrow, MOPS Spa night, library storytime, a late Valentine Date with my husband

Here is a picture thought I am sharing... Logan, one nice day last week.

Monday's Simple Woman's Daybook

Here is my Daybook entry for today ~ January 19th, 2009

Outside my window. . .it was sunny and warmer today. Ashleigh enjoyed being allowed to ride her bike, even for a short bit.

I am thinking. . . about by Mom's birthday tomorrow...wishing I could be there. Hoping she has a blessed day :)

From the learning room. . . we have stayed consistent with our lessons this week. I have noticed such improvment in Ashleigh's attitude. The one-on-one attention has been good for her. We started reading "Betsy Tacy" together at bedtime this week. This is her first real chapter book and she loves it...doesnt want to stop with just one chapter.

From the kitchen. . .I just cleaned-up supper dishes. Grilled chicken salad.

I am wearing. . .jeans, black hoodie sweatshirt, socks & slippers I am creating. . .a comforter for Ashleigh's bedroom makeover. I am going. . . to catch up some email and go to bed early tonight.

I am reading... Daring Chloe by Laura Jensen Walker

I am hoping. . . that God will guide our nation's new leader. That tomorrow will be a peaceful day.

I am hearing. . .the furnace running, again.

Around the house. . . the kids bedrooms are undone. We are sorting and rearranging so that they can have room to play and enjoy their rooms better.

One of my favorite things. . .a glass of cold milk and m&ms.

A few plans for the rest of the week. . .teaching our MOPS group how to make an eye-spy bag tomorrow night; registering Ashleigh for the new semester of our homeschool co-op;

Here is a picture thought I am sharing... Ashleigh being wild & goofy!

Check out The Simple Woman's Daybook where you can read about the lives of many more interesting women.

What should have been yesterday's Daybook :)

Here is my Daybook entry for today ~ January 13th, 2009

Outside my window. . .it looks decievingly warm. We actually had a skiff of snow on the grass this morning.

I am thinking. . . about my day, and how I need to get busy!

From the learning room. . .Ashleigh is really enjoying phonics. She informed me yesterday how much she LOVES school.

From the kitchen. . .we are getting ready to bake a batch of banana bread.

I am wearing. . .sweatshirt & jeans & fuzzy slippers.

I am creating. . .a menu plan for the next week.

I am going. . .to work on updating my blog soon.

I am reading...The Stand-In Groom by Kay Dacus, I think.

I am hoping. . .to get to springfield this week. Need to trade a bunch of books at the used christian bookstore.

I am hearing. . .Logan singing and Ashleigh playing with her magnetic dress-up doll.

Around the house. . .I have laundry to finish...and more laundry to start. Vacuuming to do.

One of my favorite things. . .hearing my children laughing.

A few plans for the rest of the week. . .finish cleaning the house. Finish shopping for MOPS creative activity night thats coming up. Write my part in a round robin story for a writing group.

Here is a picture thought I am sharing... Logan & Ashleigh's first time at a japanese hibachi grill! They were facinated with the chef's show...and the chopsticks.

Fallen Behind

Wow, so I opened up my blog this morning planning on catching up my Simple Woman's Daybook, when discovered how far I have fallen behind in my blogging. When I first started my blog, I wondered if & how I would ever have time to blog very often. But to my amazment, I enjoyed it so much, that I found a way to work it in to my day (or night!) somehow.

Since my Dad passed away in September, I am dissapointed to say, I have let much of my life fall behind. Even homeschooling. Its been hard to get interested in anything. My mom was here over the holidays, and stayed until last week. Through prayer and determination, we both knew we needed to start fresh this week...as the start of this new year.

So here I am. Armed with a planners & schedules (which won't directly keep me on task, but will at least motivate me). I know that God has given me peace & strength. And as long as I keep my trust and focus on Him, He will see me through this.

So here is to a new year. 2009

Expect some gradual changes & updates on my blog. New music. And more frequent posting :)