Wordless Wednesday

I'm not even going to try to explain...we are just messed up parents!

Recipe of the Week

Its been a while since I've done my recipe of the week, but I thought I would get back into it. I will say however that I am not a very adventurous cook, but I like to try new recipes all the time. And when I find a good one, I like to share! So none of my recipes are "original"...they are copied!

King Ranch Casserole
(from Southern Living...my favorite recipe source)

1 onion chopped
1 green bell pepper, chopped
1 garlic clove, minced

Saute those things in butter. Start with onion for 6-7 minutes. Then add pepper and garlic for 3-4 min.

After these are done, add the following...

1 can cream of mushroom
1 can cream of chicken
1 can rotel, undrained
1 tsp oregano
1 tsp cumin
1 tsp chili powder
1/8 tsp ground red pepper (or less)

Simmer, stirring occasionally for 8 min.

Take above ingredients, along with 3 cups cooked chicken, 3 cups shredded cheddar, bag of tortilla chips (we like to use the hint of lime ones!)

Assemble like this...
half chicken
half soup mixture
1 cup cheese
half chips - crushed
Repeat layers once.
Top with remaining 1 cup of cheese.

OR, do like this... (my personal preference)
Throw all the chicken in the bottom of a 11x9 (greased), then pour all soup mixture on top, layer some cheese on top of the soup, then hand crush some chips over cheese. (Add one last layer of cheese for the last 10 min of cooking.)

Cook about an hour or until bubbly. Let stand 10 min.

P.S. Have some extra chippies on hand for eating with the casserole. My hubby likes to eat it as if it were dip!

Throw some corn on the stove or microwave and call it a meal!

Just in case you haven't heard...

One thing I love about the blogging world is that you get so many fun ideas from others. I wanted to share two things with you that we at the Martin household LOVE.

One is this DVD:

If your kids are learning their letter, letter sounds, or beginning to put those sounds together to read, then this DVD is perfect! It is only about a 30 minute movie and has a catchy little song for learning the letter sounds. After watching it just a few times, Micah already picked up on half the alphabet. Yes, the TV taught my kid and I'm proud of it! Ha! Anyway, it is a great buy!

The other thing I wanted to share with you is the Highlights' Magazine High Five. It is specifically made for preschool up to early readers. Micah was given a subscription for his birthday a couple of years ago and he absolutely love it! He can do the Hidden Pictures and other puzzle-type pages on his own, and we read the short stories to him. The other cool thing is they have an audio version on the internet, so sometimes he will just sit with it in front of computer and it reads it to him! Either way, he LOVES it!

What are some ideas you have found that you love?

4 Months

Wow! I can't believe Haleigh is 4 months old today!

Here's the latest on the princess of the house...

-She still is very content watching her brothers play, although I am beginning to see her getting restless. I'm sure she can't wait for the day when she can join in the fun!

-Just yesterday, Caleb came over and used a burp cloth as her blanket, rubbed her belly, and said "Sshh, ni-night." Caleb still feels the need to take care of his baby sister...and let me tell you - it's ADORABLE!

-Haleigh is now sleeping 12 hours at night!!! Yay!!

-She is now taking a bottle!! Yay!! I left her last weekend for 24 hours for a short women's retreat and she did really well taking the bottle!

-She is still sucking her thumb, but will also take the paci...we shall see which one will prevail!

-I'll find her stats out at the dr when we go, but I know she is growing! She has been at the top of the charts for her weight, and about 75% for her height.

-She has gone through a little bit of separation already. She knows when I drop her off, she watches me leave, and puckers out the bottom lip. She is a momma's girl!

-Her hands are in her mouth CONSTANTLY! Teething, maybe...micah got his first two teeth at four months.

-She's laughing! Or should I say learning to laugh! Sometimes it is the cutest little giggle, and sometimes it comes out as this force of noise - mostly when she is tickled!

Always?

One of my goals this year is to read more. I enjoy reading most of the time, but it has just become one of those things that has gotten pushed aside in the midst of life. But in addition to spending time in the Word, there is much wisdom in so many books that are out there...and a lot of books that shouldn't even be in print! I am currently reading Crazy Love by Francis Chan.


Let's just say it is really good. Its funny, I actually started reading it last summer. And you know those times you pick up a book to read and its just not the right time. You can't get into it. Well that was me. I read the first three chapters and just wasn't feeling it. Then I decided to pick it back up and I've been flying through it. It's the right time!

One of the things I was challenged with I want to share with you. Recently, I've been reminded of the verse "Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!" (Phil 4:4) In my day to day life at home with the kids, constantly cleaning, cooking, etc, it is really easy for me to get bogged down, stressed out, and almost have a pity party. I get overwhelmed and feel like I just can't do it all. I get in a rut where I don't enjoy the very thing I've wanted to do all my life. How selfish of me! So then I read this in the book...

When I am consumed by my problems - stressed out about my life, my family, and my job-I actually convey the belief that I think the circumstances are more important than God's command to always rejoice. In other words, that I have a "right" to disobey God because of the magnitude of my responsibilities.

Worry implies that we don't quite trust God is big enough, powerful enough, or loving enough to take care of what's happening in our lives.

Stress says that the things we are involved in are important enough to merit our impatience, our lack of grace toward others, or our tight grip of control.

Basically, these two behaviors communicate that it's okay to sin and not trust God because the stuff in my life is somehow exceptional.

So by the grace of God, may I rejoice more in the midst of all of my circumstances whether I see them as "good" or "bad". And if you need a book to read, I highly recommend this one!

Back at it again...

Today was a milestone for me. I went to the Y. It has been a year, almost exactly, since I have regularly worked out. Last year, when I found out I was expecting our third child, I told myself that this time I would work out as long as I could, even if it was just walking on the treadmill. Well that goal didn't make it past the first week of the first trimester.

So after a very long pregnancy, the newborn stage, then being attacked by every sickness known to man, we were finally all well, and ready to venture out.

Now a little background...I have always had a slow/fast/whatever metabolism that gave me the ability to eat virtually whatever and it not affecting my weight, that much! I mean, I am human. After Micah, I lost my baby weight almost immediately. Then after Caleb, I lost it all but took a little while longer. With Haleigh, well I don't even have a scale, so who knows how much I weigh. But I know my body is not looking that great! So needless to say, I have been chomping at the bit to get back to the gym.

So this morning, I got all geared up to go. Put on my yoga pants, and sported my Maryland t-shirt (because I'm proud of my terps!), laced up those tennis shoes, packed the diaper bag, grabbed my pink water bottle (at least I didn't have a monogrammed sweat towel that some girl had...I mean, really!), and headed for the Y.

After I dropped off two screaming, literally screaming, kids. Yes, it was a quick drop off...Bye kids, love ya, but mom's gotta go drop the weight that you so lovingly put on me! No sympathy here! Anyway, I excitedly walked into my Bodyshape class, which was just that - to shave off that flub and give me a six pack all in one session...right?!

After I gathered the step, a mat, three sets of weights (yeah, I was optimistic), and the ball, I anxiously waited for class to start. Soon Aerobic Paula greeted us and said, "Pick up your heaviest weight." I knew from then on, it was going to be a rough one. After telling us we had two rounds of exercises to do, she went on to introduce me to 8 of my new least favorite exercises from reverse lunges to mountain climbers to push-ups with weights! As if push-ups aren't bad enough...let's add weights!! After the first round, I was hoping the childcare people would come get me because my kids were still screaming...but that didn't happen.

Second round...I really thought at one point I would pass out. I mean I didn't know I could be so weak and out of shape. It was pitiful! I gave up on all my weights, and stuck to the 5's for the "heavy" weight exercises. At this point all pride was gone, and I was just trying to complete the class. I had hope though that this would end, knowing the core was next. So we finished, Paula looks at the clock and says, "Oh, we have more time. One more round!" Are you kidding me?

Third round...yikes! But I will say that at that point several people left. I would never leave a class early, unless it was an emergency. I don't care how hard it is, I'm not going to give up. So as about half the class trickled out during the third round of the worst exercises ever, I pushed through. Then we finished the class by working the core.

As we cleaned up all the equipment, my body was shaking from the torture. Paula, I'm sure, thought I was just a lazy girl. The worst part is I was trying really hard! I'm that out of shape. I really surprised myself. I'm weak and out of shape! How pitiful! As we walked out of the room, Paula said, "Oh, you will be sore tomorrow...and the next day!" Man, I can't wait to wake up tomorrow! Yay Paula!

Now back at me...

I LOVE the Old Spice commercials...

Last night while watching LOST, Ed and I cracked up laughing at the commercials below. And we were still laughing today about it...and Ben Linus' funeral speech last night.

Enjoy...

The Man Your Man Could Smell Like

Did You Know