I love being a Mom

I am so blessed to be a mom!

This is the first year I got to celebrate Mothers' Day.

My wonderful husband got me a card that Levi "signed" and a heart necklace with his birthstone in it.

 Levi and me out in front of our house.

He's 9 1/2 months old.

 My happy baby boy!

 First time in a swing! 

He's thinking "Not too sure about this..."

 I love his eyes in this one.

 I just love this face!

My hubby and me

Happy belated Mother's Day to all the mom's out there!

Have You Ever Tickled a Tiger? -My Son Loves Books!

Have you ever tickled a tiger? Have you ever poked a penguin? Have you ever nudged a hedgehog?

These are all lines from the book Have You Ever Tickled a Tiger by Betsy E. Snyder. My son loves this cute and colorful touch and feel book. He’s even figuring out how to use his little fingers to turn the pages, and we’ve read it many times. I’m sure there are lots of other moms that can quote a book just from reading it over and over.

My son is only nine months old, so one thing about this book that appeals to him is the fact that it is touch and feel. The tiger has a furry tummy. The walrus has fishing line for whiskers. And the ostrich has fluffy feathers. I feel that these sensory spots on the pages help foster my son’s interest in books. Hopefully, this will turn in to a love of reading as he gets older!

Tuning into my son’s desire to touch every furry patch or Velcro spot, I quickly put on hold all of the "touch and feel” books that the Library owns. Ok, so maybe not ALL of them since there are 93 juvenile “touch and feel” books in the MCPL catalog. Listed below are a few of his favorites.

The Very Hungry Caterpillar - Board Book by Eric Carle

Have You Ever Tickled a Tiger? by Betsy E. Snyder

Dinosaurs by Ticktock Media

Baby's Very First Touchy-Feely Lift-the-Flap Play Book by Stella Baggott

Usborne Touchy-Feely Cars by Fiona Watt

The library offers books for every stage of your child’s life: durable board books for babies, picture books full of wonderful illustrations, easy chapter books, and everything in between. I look forward to seeing my son grow up and enjoy all of the books the library has to offer!

Beth Moore Bible Study- Jesus the One and Only

Beth Moore Bible studies remind me of my college days. That's because in our college group at church us ladies would do these studies together. They were such a blessing. I always looked forward to getting together, watching the videos and having some heartfelt, meaningful conversations.

 So, I dug out this study- Jesus the One and Only. It is one that we didn't do in college. I can't even remember where I got this workbook but it's been sitting on my shelf for over 5 years! Time for a good study- the Lord knows my heart needs this. 

Does anyone else ever get in a rut? I have a pretty consistent quiet time- where I read a little from the Bible and journal my thoughts and prayers to God. But sometimes a good, deep study is what I need. And I'm loving it so far!

See the big box? With the yellow paper on it? Yeah, my library is awesome! They got this for me outside of our library system. It's the videos that go along with the workbook. 

On VHS! But that's ok, because I do have a VHS player.

The only problem with getting the videos from the library? This item is a two week loan. Her study is 11 weeks! Oh well, I shall watch all the videos ahead of time and continue the workbook for the next 11 weeks.

My morning devotion spot- Hot cup of coffee, comfy couch and a napping baby.

Right now we are studying Elisabeth and Mary and their stories of having John and Jesus. So sweet!

Has anyone else ever done a Beth Moore Bible study? The Lord sure has blessed her with the ability to teach women the Word of God. Thank you Beth!

Homemade Tortillas and a Rainy Day

Today I made some delicious tortilla! Actually, I made a batch Sunday and put a Salmon, rice and spinach mixture in them. My husband loved them! So, this time I made three batches.

 

I got the recipe from this brand new book: Wraps and Roll-Ups by Dona Z. Meilach.

So simple!

Flour, baking powder, salt, butter and water!

 I made three different styles.

1. Spinach

2. Light wheat (1/2 c.)

3. Wheat

*I also use unbleached all-purpose flour

 I made 6 smaller balls(top right) to use for fish tacos tomorrow. Mmmm!

 After I rolled all the balls I cleaned up my MESS!

This is halfway cleaned up.

I am so thankful for my food processor.

I probably wouldn't make the tortillas if I didn't have one.

It would be very hard to incorporate the butter and water.

 I then set up my assembly line.

Having both my griddle and pan lets me cook three at once.

 Try to work quickly because towards the end my dough balls were getting dried out.

 A pile of warm yumminess!

 8 Wheat, 4 Light Wheat normal, 6 Light Wheat small, 8 Spinach

 I packaged up 12 of the shells with wax paper between 3 layers.

So: 4 shells, paper, 4 shells, paper, 4 shells

So then they would be easy to remove.

 Now on to making something yummy to go in my tortilla shells.

I couldn't do anything with meat b/c it is all in the freezer.

So I decided on a breakfast burrito!

Voila! Spinach, Veggie Breakfast Burrito with Fresh Chives on a Homemade Spinach Tortilla Shell.

And this little guy kept me company the whole time!

 Step 1: Crawl to the door.

 Step 2: Get onto my knees.

 Step 3: Pull myself up.

 Step 4: Realize the door knob is way too high.

Step 5: Beg Mommy to let me go play in the rain.

Thrift Store Treasure: A Mason Jar!?

I love to peruse the local thrift stores. (Good Will and RedRacks) and I usually find something I can't live without. As long as it's a steal of a deal! Well, my mom and I were on our way to check out when this little glass jar with an orange lid caught my eye.

I love kitchen items! And the price was only 99 cents! Only problem?? Not quite sure what I'm going to do with it. I bought it anyways. I'd find a use for it! My mom suggested a bug jar for the little bugs Levi catches. He's 8 months! Not quite time to put it to that use. :D

In the mean time I need a good use for it. So, if you have an idea please let me know! Otherwise it will just sit on my shelf and look cool.

 

And Scotch has some new labeling tape out. I had a coupon so I figured I'd try it! Looks pretty fun on my food jars! (I sprinkle Chia Seeds on my oatmeal and salads and such.)

Venison and Quinoa Sloppy Joes on Homemade Hamburger Buns with Homemade French Fries: Yummy!

Today I made a classic meal with a twist. Last fall my husband got a couple of deer so we have a freezer full of deer meat. And I had some leftover quinoa. The other day I cooked up some quinoa for Banana Chocolate Chip Quinoa muffins(I'll post that recipe later). I'm a huge fan of stretching my meat recipes. For example, I like to make taco meat with ground beef, lentils, brown rice and black beans. Much cheaper and you get some healthy foods in there too.

So... back to the sloppy joes. I made it easy by using a can of Manwich. Usually I make my own, but I just so  happened to get the Manwich for super cheap.

For my homemade hamburger buns I had some bread dough sitting in my fridge. (This bread recipe is a No Knead dough that can sit in your fridge for up to nine days.) I made a Batard a few days ago with half of it.

I got the recipe from this book- 200 Fast & Easy Artisan Breads by Judith Fertig. I've been to one of her classes- where I purchased a copy of this book. And she signed it! :D

My husband and I love bread! And I just might eat one of these later with some butter and honey...

I love making homemade french fries. This french fry cutter is one of my favorite kitchen gadgets. Just drizzle on some oil, salt, pepper and, if you like, some chili powder, garlic powder or cornmeal(we added this way when I was little)

One last note- I love to melt the cheese! Just put the bottom half of the bun on a cookie sheet, top with your cheese and pop it in a turned off oven for 5 minutes. (Should still be warm from baking your fries)

Does any one else love Ooey Gooey Messy Burgers? (HUGE Mary Kate and Ashley fan when I was little- remember It Takes Two?)

No nap for me Mommy!

Hi blogging world. So sorry for the long leave. Mommyhood has kept me very busy and the last thing I want to do at end of the day is be at the computer. (I know myself too well to know ten minutes easily turns into an hour.)
Right now I'm relaxed on the couch with an almost asleep baby in my arms. He's been up since 7 with only a few snoozes in my arms. Sometimes the transfer to the crib wakes him and then he stands up and either smiles like his ten minute snooze was a long two hour nap or he cries.
Not napping today is unusual for him. He naps in the morning. Naps in the afternoon and sometimes even a short one around 5. And I'm very lucky that he sleeps through the night.
And I think today I just might stay on the couch with my boy, cuddle him close and take a nap too. Everything else can wait.