Hand Paint Flower

I'm like most moms, I love any art that involves hand or foot prints of my children. They are absolutely priceless, capturing their tiny hand size for me to look back on days when they are not so little. One day when my children are out of the house, and I'm old and slightly senile, I'll have my scrap book of my most treasure possessions to look back on and remember the days when I held these little hands.

Wipe Clutch Cases

A few months back, I had 4 friends who all had babies with in 6 months of each other. I wanted to get them a gift that they needed, but I also wanted to get them something cute. So I made each friend a wipe clutch. Stylish, practical, and hand made by someone they love. I also bought them a needed gift, I can't help shopping for baby items-those little new born outfits, toys, and pretty much everything that is mini is irresistible to me.

Fun Ideas to Help Make Christmas More Meaningful

I love this time of year. Its busy, packed with birthdays and holidays. Next weekend is Halloween, which means Christmas decorations come out soon, and this mama gets her shop on.

Now that we have 5 children, time seems to fly much faster. I want to make some amazing memories with my family, but I feel like we end up running out of time, and before you know it, Christmas is over, and the New Year begins. 

This year I'm going to do my best and be intentional about making memories, having fun, and celebrating Christ's Birthday. 

I'm a list person, I write lists out, rewrite them, and do a final draft cause thats the way I roll.

Here's my list of things to do with my family this fall/winter season.

Decorate for Christmas 

Play Christmas music

Make a "Thankful tree" with the kids

Go on walks 

Elf on the shelf

Cookie exchange party

Manger Craft
Pick a family ornament 

Pick an ornament for the new baby

Walk through our towns Christmas light neighborhood

Drive around and look at lights

Decorate our house with Christmas lights
Zoo lights
What Does God Want for Christmas board activity
Listen to Christmas music
Church's toy drive
Drive through nativity scene
Bake Santa cookies
Secret Santa
Watch our favorite Christmas classics; How the Grinch Stole Christmas, Home Alone 1 & 2, Rudolph     the Red Nose, Reindeer, Charlie Brown Christmas, The Santa Clause, The Nightmare Before    Christmas...
Bake for Family and Friends. I always make Toffee, cookies, do a cookie in a jar.
Read the story of Christmas in the bible
Ugly Sweater Contest
Family Ginger Bread House Contest
Make Home Made Christmas Bows
Name Of Jesus Ornaments
Birthday Cake for Jesus
Count Down to Jesus Birthday

Cherry Cheese Cake

• Once again, I wanted to share a recipe that has been in my family for quite a while. We always have this dessert for Thanksgiving. And everyone expects it to be there because its our fav. This is the only cherry cheese cake that I like (I'm really picky when it comes to fruit pies/cakes). I've also sent this with my husband to company parties, and have been requested to make this several times since by his fellow workers, and even offered money to make it...when moneys involved you know its a good thing! lol!

• Cherry Cheese Cake
• 
  
• Crust:
• 1 1/2 c. graham cracker crumb*
• 1/3 c. sugar
• 1/4 c. melted butter
• 
  
• Filling:
• 2 Pkgs. Softened cream cheese
• 1/3 c. Sugar
• 1 Tub cool whip
• Topping:
• 1 can Cherry pie filling/topping 

*With making this, use graham crackers and crush them up. If you use the pre-crushed graham crackers, it doesn't taste quite right.

Combine your graham cracker crumbs and sugar. Drizzle in the melted butter slowly, tossing the mixture well together. Spread in a 9"x9" glass baking dish, and press down evenly.

For the filling, beat the cream cheese, sugar and cool whip together. Spread over crust, and pour the cherry pie filling. Refrigerate for 1 hour before serving. 

You can use strawberry or blue berry topping. When I'm asked to make this by my hubbies work buddies, they usually request strawberry-its really yummy!

German Pancakes

"German Pancakers" are a BIG hit in this house. Its one of those recipes you try and think that no one would like it, then every LOVES it and wants more but you only made one pan so as mom you have to sacrifice your plate...Won't make THAT mistake again. I now have to make 2 batches to feed my family. Oh and be sure you have enough syrup. I always like to drowned my plate in a healthy dose of syrup. Syrup makes me happy lol!

6 eggs
1 c. flour
1 c. milk
1 tabl. vanilla
4 tabl. butter
Your fav syrup

Pre heat your oven to 350. Whisk eggs, add flour, milk and vanilla. Melt butter and pour in a 9"x12" glass baking dish and spread around the bottom. Pour your egg mixture in the baking dish and bake 40 min.
You'll know its done when it has large bubbles and is curled up on the sides.

Broccoli Casserole

• This is by FAR the BEST ever broccoli casserole I have ever had the pleasure of eating! This recipe has been in my family for over 25 years. Not sure where it originated from, but holy moly is it good!
  Broccoli is one of my favorite veggies, so it is exciting to eat this. I know-weird-o right? I look forwards to this dish each Thanksgiving, in fact my brother and I fight over who gets the left overs...why are there left overs when its supposedly the BEST by FAR you ask? Because I double, sometimes triple this recipe so I'll have leftovers and I'll be able to enjoy it the next day. So when you make it, you may want to double it...just sayin'!

• Broccoli Casserole 
• 
  
• 1 1/2 C water
• 1 stick butter
• 4 tabl. diced onion
• 1 bag frozen broccoli florets
• 1 1/2 c instant rice
• 1 can cream of celery soup
• 1 8 oz. jar cheez whiz
• 
  
• Pre heat oven to 350. Bring water to a boil, add butter, onion, and broccoli. Boil for 5 min then remove from heat. Add rice and let stand for 5 minutes covered. Add soup, and cheez whiz. Bake 40 min. Uncover dish for the last 15 minutes if you want it crispier.

To Moms of One or Two Children from a Mother of Five

I happened to stumble across this article the other day, To Moms of One or Two Children from a Mother of Five and it was spot on. I have 5 young children, so the title alone caught my eye, anything about having 5 children catches my interest.

It made me see how far I've come in my "mothering stage" of life, or I should say how far God has brought me...sometimes dragged or carried me along, but He did get me here one way or another.

In the beginning when it was just my first and second child, things were much different. I depended on my self more, and depended on God with more surface type issues. As our family grew with more children, I noticed I couldn't handle it all on my own. Thats when I started depending on God more.

He began by gently chipping away at my selfishness. And I had-still have a lot of selfishness, but God was at work. Looking back I can see how far He's brought me, and looking forward I'm excited to see where He'll take me. He's making me reflect more of Him each day, and using my children to do so.

"Mothering is easier for me now than it used to be. For one reason: I need God more." I need God more! Don't we all? I know I can't do this on my own, like I used to try. Mothering is hard stuff. It isn't just about growing your kids to be responsible adults, its about introducing them to Christ, helping them to build a relationship with their creator, and eventually (hopefully) watching them as they take on the faith you have passed onto them, and make it their own, a relationship with God! 
Yes, I need God more, it seems like each day that goes by I need Him more and more!

Roasted Acorn Squash Soup

Delicious! That's what this soup is...was. I saw some acorn squash at the grocery store on sale and decided to have a go at making some soup with it. I've never had acorn squash soup before, and after this I know it will be on my menu often. Such a great fall lunch! You can have it for dinner too...but why wait?

My only disappointment was not making a double batch. Next time my friends!

My daughter recently had roasted pumpkin seeds, and when she saw the seeds inside the acorn squash, she asked if we could roast them...Ummm not sure if you can. Never heard of roasting them before, but now I'm curious and will search it.

Delicious recipes like this, makes me wish I were a better photographer. I can snap shots of my family and have them turn out great but with food...NOPE!  I hope you enjoy the recipe. 

Roasted Acorn Squash Soup

1 Acorn Squash
1 tabl olive oil
2 tabl butter
1/2 medium onion-chopped
1 garlic clove-minced
1-1/2 c. chicken broth
1/2 c. heavy cream
1/4 tea cinnamon
1/8 tea allspice
1/4 tea salt


Heat oven to 400F. Cut the acorn squash in half, scoop out the seeds with a spoon, and brush on 1 tablespoon of olive oil.
Roast the squash in the oven cut sides down for 45 min. Remove from oven and allow to cool for 15 min.
Meanwhile melt butter in a pan over medium low heat, and add onions. Sauté onions until translucent, then add the garlic. Cook about 2 min.
Scoop out the inside of the squash into a blender, add the onion/garlic mixture, and chicken stock and blend for 2 minutes. Add the seasonings, salt and heavy cream and blend for another 2 minutes.
At this point I added my finished soup to a pot to heat before I served it. And let me tell you, my kids ate this all! 2 of my kids are picky eaters, so I was surprised!

*There are so many things you can do to jazz this dish up, crumbled bacon, parmesan cheese,  roasted chopped cauliflower or carrots for more texture...