Monday's Simple Woman's Daybook

For Today...March 23rd 2009

Outside my window... a windy, sunny, March day is turning into a dark afternoon as the storm clouds start to roll in.

I am thinking... what a wonderful time I had this past weekend. I turned 32; had a 3-day visit from my mom, sister Janie, and sister-in-law Carol; and went to the first garage sales of the season!

From the learning rooms... just finished up spring-break.

I am thankful for... my sweet family and friends who made my birthday special.

From the kitchen... there is a left-over piece of birthday angelfood cake & strawberries calling my name. We'll probably grill tonight, before the rain hits. I'm craving grilled hot dogs & some of Tammy's baked beans!

I am wearing... my new maternity jean capri's from a garage sale find and a comfy gray t shirt,...oh and my orange Estes Park Colorado ballcap.

I am reading... some old letters from my Dad, that my mom brought down.

I am hoping... I can find a flower-girl dress this week, for Ashleigh to wear at my sister's wedding in June.

I am creating... don't know, but it feels like chaos!

I am hearing... thru the open windows -children playing & flying kites; and the ice-cream truck coming down the street.

Around the house...lots of laundry, book cases being sorted & moved around, 4 "new" wooden dining room chairs that need polished.

One of my favorite things... looking at scrapbook magazines and making plans for new layouts to do someday. I was excited to discover a huge stash of such magazines at a garage sale saturday...61 in all!

A few plans for the rest of the week... more spring cleaning, starting some seeds for our little garden, homeschool co-op class, catching up with an old friend.

Here is a picture thought I am sharing with you...a favorite sign of spring. Our blue hyacinths are blooming this week.

Fred's Monster Burger

My family watches a lot of cooking shows on tv. And we cook a lot too. So when we first saw some of the giant cheeseburgers around the country, Fred immediately wanted to try his hand at making one!

He has talked about it and planned for years now. Finally, last week - -
IT WAS TIME.

He made it for our church's 30-something's group on a Saturday night. Our theme was a burger bar...with many various (some odd) toppings.

Fred's burger alone fed alot of people!

The stats on the Monster Burger:

3 1/2 Pounds Beef

1 Pound Thick-sliced Bacon

10 Slices American Cheese

2 Tomatoes1 Head Lettuce

1 Gigantic Sourdough Loaf

1 Cup Miracle Whip

Super-Yummy!

Monday's Simple Woman's Daybook

The Simple Woman's Daybook was created to be a place where women can come that's simple, uncluttered and slow in order to share the truly "good life" that is in Christ. A place to journal/blog and reflect on the little simple happenings in our lives that we often overlook or take for granted. To read other women's posting in the Daybook, check out Peggy's site at The Simple Woman's Daybook

For Today... March 9th, 2009

Outside my window... neighborhood kids playing together after school. Little girl drama unfolding.

I am thinking... how happy I am that the nausea is beginning to go away, now that I am at 15 weeks. And how exciting it is to feel that first flutter.

From the learning rooms... nothing today. Ashleigh was recovering from a sinus migraine.
I am thankful for... naptime!

From the kitchen... leftover grilled steak, mashed sweet potatoes, shells & cheese, corn on the cob. But Logan chose cold leftover pizza.

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

I am reading... Betsy Tacy book with Ashleigh. For me, catching up on emails...facebook.

I am hoping...the severe weather goes around us tonight. Not wanting tornado warnings.

I am creating...nothing at all.

I am hearing... Dancing w/the Stars on tv.

Around the house... getting back into finishing sorting thru the closets. I had started a few weeks ago, and it kinda got put on hold, due to prenancy exhaustion & nausea. But now its way past time to clean up the mess!

One of my favorite things...Blue Bell Mocha Ice Cream!

A few plans for the rest of the week...finish the closets, take bags of clothes to the Free Store; help Ashleigh with more phonics; shop for silk flowers with my sister to make her wedding bouquets.

Here is a picture thought I am sharing with you... Logan in his spiderman tshirt & spidy snowboots that he insists on wearing daily.

"Ta-Dah!"

Kids Say the Darndest Things

This is a cute idea. Copy this note, ask your kid the questions and write them down exactly how they respond. Tag me back if you haven't done this, I'd love to hear the answers.

Here is my 5 yr old, Ashleigh's, version of her mommy - me! :)

1. What is something mom always says to you? no

2. What makes mom happy? Me being good

3. What makes mom sad? When we don’t obey

4. How does your mom make you laugh? Making jokes

5. What was your mom like as a child? Messy..and she liked birds

6. How old is your mom? 18

7. How tall is your mom? About 8

8. What is her favorite thing to do? Laundry!

9. What does your mom do when you're not around? Eats lunch and watches tv

10. If your mom becomes famous, what will it be for? Writing books

11. What is your mom really good at? Tucking us in at night

12. What is your mom not very good at? Snapping her fingers

13. What does your mom do for her job? Leave phone messages

14. What is your mom's favorite food? goulash

15. What makes you proud of your mom? That she helps me when I’m sick

16. If your mom were a cartoon character, who would she be? The go-meat girl

17. What do you and your mom do together? Make cards

18. How are you and your mom the same? We wear the same make-up

19. How are you and your mom different? We don’t have the same color of hair

20. How do you know your mom loves you? She tells me!

22. Where is your mom's favorite place to go? Incredible pizza

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 :)