School tests & cupcakes

With the end of school coming we received a note in Kabe's folder that his class is going to be taking tests this week for end of year assessments. The note also added that the students appreciated snacks during this time, so feel free to send something in if you like. Being in second grade and a 'big kid' we haven't had a snack rotation all year, so we only contribute snacks on birthdays or special holidays.

Of course, that meant cupcakes! Adam had seen these Cherry-Limeade Cupcakes and thought it sounded like a fun snack for a bunch of second graders. They turned out super cute. Isn't my hubby Awesome?!





And he finally got to use his new knife. woo-hoo! :)

Where to begin?

Last week when we left Illinois it was cold. We'd had snow and ice earlier in the week, but it had melted rather quickly. We'd gotten word that we were headed toward snow in Iowa....lots of snow, but that didn't really worry us. We've traveled through some pretty severe conditions to see family.


But after being on the road about 45 minutes, we were in complete white-out conditions and after two hours, we were routed off the interstate to some county highway .... completed ice covered where travel was a mere 40 miles per hour due to ice. Not cool. This is the view of the Mississippi River as we crossed.

A little while later as we headed north, we saw a rainbow ... just before we began driving through snow drifts.







Kabe was so excited to see Grandpa Gene...







and Grandma Gene (aka Connie). He had to give them his presents right away.







And Adam was put to work helping his dad put the tree up so it could dry out (covered with snow) and then Kabe could help Grandma Gene decorate.








Of course, Adam was also assigned to figure out the lights.

The Great Pumpking Patch!

Saturday we finally went to a pumkin patch....and boy did we have fun! We'd never visited this patch before, set in the middle of Illinois' largest Amish settlement. I'm sure there are larger patches to be seen, but I have never seen so many pumpkins and gourds displayed in such fun and unusual ways!

I have about a bazillion pictures, but rather than make this post a mile long, below is a slide show. If you'd like to look at them closer or more individually, you can click on the slide show and then look at them in leisure. Enjoy!

Home Cookin'

I think I mentioned in a previous post that our church, therefore, all small groups are going through a study on finances using ABC Financial by Barry Cameron. We've had a budget for years, but there are things, financially, we'd like to take care of. As a way to assist in this we're making more of an effort to make meals and eat at home. I've been trying to plan menus ahead of time, which I realize is very common for many of you, but is something new to me. I'm sure my mom did something like that, but it's not something I ever saw, so this is a totally foreign concept. Adam really likes to decide his evening meal on the premise of 'What am I hungry for right now?' so he really isn't a big help in planning these menus. Not to mention, I don't really enjoy cooking. I don't abhor it, it's just not something I'm totally confident about. I'd rather be the sous-chef, the assistant, the right-hand, cleaning up and filling in...not in charge.

Well, tonight, I had something planned for dinner, a quick fix, but something edible and something the guys would eat and something Kabe especially, really likes. Adam called to check on the dinner plan & see about changing it to one of his winter fav's ... seeing as it's cold, rainy and in the low-60's. Well, naturally, we made Taco Soup together and of course, we needed something sweet to go with it! So Chocolate Chunk cookies were on the agenda too! Uhhh, yum!

Do you cook with your spouse, significant other, best friend? I know, I know...some of your guys don't want to eat real meals or get into the kitchen, let alone be anywhere near the kitchen, but be creative...get them involved somehow! It's awesome! Give it a try! We don't do it nearly enough anymore and it's something we both thoroughly enjoy ... even though we do things *entirely* differently. ;)

Now for the good stuff - the Taco Soup Recipe! YUM!

1 lb hamburger
1 medium onion, chopped
2 cans pinto beans, rinsed
1 can Rotell tomatoes with chili's
1 quart tomato juice
1 Taco Seasoning Packet
1 lb Velveeta cheese
16 oz sour cream

Directions:

Brown hamburger adding chopped onions; then combine all ingredients except sour cream. Add Velveeta to mixture. Warm through. Add sour cream and stir.
Serve over Fritos.

Problem Solving

So, I've told you before how much I totally l.o.v.e. my Blackberry, right? I mean, it's like an extension of my right hand. Adam on the other hand, would really like an iPhone, but we're with Verizon for a number of reasons and won't be switching to AT&T in order for him to get the iPhone.

Have I ever mentioned before that I'm really good at problem solving? No, I mean, like when I took a class on spiritual gifts it's an area where I have a gift. No - it's not exactly a spiritual gift, but something I'm good at and sort of something I'm passionate about. Give me a problem, I'll try to find you a solution. It's what I do. Bear with me, I have a point and it's not about tooting my own horn, I promise! (***PLEASE NOTE - Follow through on said solved problem is not my gift ... but I can get you a solution =). Now back to the story at hand.

Well, wouldn't you know, the makers of my beloved Blackberry have now come out with the Blackberry Storm. I've seen pictures, but below is a pretty badly taken video (sorry, I only grabbed it off youtube...) of the finished product. Sooo, I started thinking about that iPhone Adam wants and it looks like it could be a compromise for that iPhone. Now, obviously, this is a bird's eye view and will take a bit of a critical eye, which I can tell you, it will definitely get when we go & spend an hour or three at Verizon looking at the precious jewel. But for now, it's looking like a good fit and something fun! Might be fun to Twitter on this! Any thoughts?

My Guy

About a week ago Adam surprised me with a new look. I'm very pleased with this look and thought I'd show it off to you guys near and far. What do you think?

Hula Hoops

Did you ever try a Hula Hoop when you were younger? I always thought they were the coolest thing. I would try and try and have always been totally amazed at all those really cool people who could make it work right. Unfortunately, I am not one of those people.

A few days ago I had the opportunity to try wii fit. One of the activities on it is a Hula Hoop challenge where you start off just using one hula hoop, swaying your hips (virtually...watching your mii [= self] on the TV screen) and then eventually people begin throwing hula hoops at you that you are to try & catch over your head. I thought I would finally be able to redeem myself. Unfortunately, I failed and you know, that stinking mii mocked me! It was just like 1st grade recess all over again.

Wanting some company, trying not to be the only nerd in the room, I talked Adam in to partaking of the challenge.
He wasn't too pleased to be captured digitally.


But he did prove to be quite good at the challenge.


He even managed to catch a number of hula hoops over his head. GO ADAM!

We don't have the wii fit yet. But should the time come that we do own it. I think I'll be practicing the hula hoop a lot...in private.

Be still my heart....

Man....I love these two.

Another Blessing

My guy is one of the best out there ... for LOTS of reasons. One of the biggest being that he puts up with me and my many moods. =) We both work outside the home. At day's end it can be tiring to get things done, but he is my helpmate. Unlike many of my friend's homes, Adam is right beside me assisting with dinner, dishes, laundry, Kabe's homework or whatever it is that needs to get done at the end of the day. If I am being totally honest here, I would have to admit that many times, I am the one assisting him. Adam - You know I love you, but I don't tell you enough how grateful I am for all you do. You ROCK!

Oh yeah -- AND -- he irons!!