Currently 11/30

The last few months I have been doing a "Currently" post.  It is fun for me to think about my week. To open up, and show bits and pieces of my daily thoughts, and life.  I'm linking up with Becky from Choose Happy.

Giving Thanks....Each Thanksgiving for the last 5 years we have made Thanksgiving cookies.  Some years are harder to get them done then others, especially since I've added 2 kids to the mix since then!!!

Our cookies from this year.  And yes there was a slight Pintrest fail!

Enjoying...These little girls are too funny.  What are the chances of my friend and I packing the same pjs for them?!?!?!?

Project...I finished my frame around the mirrors.  

Loving...My friend brought her new jewelry to show us ladies Saturday night and I grabbed a couple fun pieces!

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Currently 11/23

The last few months I have been doing a "Currently" post.  It is fun for me to think about my week. To open up, and show bits and pieces of my daily thoughts, and life.  I'm linking up with Becky from Choose Happy.

Power Outage....Some family fun even though the power went out at 5:30. Thankfully we were done eating and all the leftovers were put away.  We ended up playing a fun game of 'Life'.

 Awesome man....Even with no power, this man took out his tools and fixed the coffee table!!!!

Sister Shopping Trip...I needed to go to Ikea, since my sister had never gone before she went with me.  So much more fun shopping with someone.

Working on....At Ikea I picked up some mirrors for above my sink.  I would like to frame them in yet to look more like the windows but first I have to get use to them.  It is different and it might make me keep my sink clean!

Quote...I changed the chalkboard on top of the piano for Thanksgiving.

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Thankful Thursday Week 3

This marks week 3 of 'Thankful Thursday'.  There is so many things to be thankful for.  Many times I don't take the time to pull my phone out to take a picture of little things during the week.  This has been good for me to document those little things!

My Why....This picture right here is why I get up in the morning, why I have gray hair, why I am exhausted each night, and why I am who I am today!!!!!  And I am going to just post this one picture for my Thankful Thursday Post.

Daily Thanks....

Currently 11/16

The last few months I have been doing a "Currently" post.  It is fun for me to think about my week. To open up, and show bits and pieces of my daily thoughts, and life.  I'm linking up with Becky from Choose Happy.

Family Time....We took a quick walk on the Red Cedar Trail and then out to pizza with the kids.  Even better I think it was the best time baby girl has ever been in a restaurant so it made for a completely enjoyable outing!

Parents...My parents celebrated an anniversary on Saturday!  Even better, they are standing in the same church they got married in 47 years ago.  They are such a good example to us to follow.

More beautiful weather...Yesterday was another beautiful day!  Today not so much and last year we had snow on the ground.  So I will take the sunny days when we have them.

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This Old House: Doll House

For baby girls birthday my sister and brother in law put this ADORABLE doll house together!!!

Yellow to match our house

Yes, they even shingled it!!!!

Entry

Kitchen, when Pa and Grandma were shopping they didn't find a kitchen set that they really liked so they tend to set the dining room table up in that room.  

And yes, they scaled down their kitchen border to put in the kitchen!!!!

Upstairs hallway has family pictures like ours does.

Bedroom

 Bathroom

I couldn't of asked for a better present for her or the rest of the kids.  All four spend hours playing together with it!  Complete with a family mini van....

Thankful Thursday Week 2

This marks week 2 of 'Thankful Thursday'.  There is so many things to be thankful for.  Many times I don't take the time to pull my phone out to take a picture of little things during the week.  This has been good for me to document those little things!

Little helpers....as a mom I tend to not have enough patience for the little hands that want to help.  This week my 4 year old unloaded the whole dishwasher by himself, I had no clue he knew where most everything went.  My 2 year old unloaded part and set the table while doing it!  

Family Nights...Earlier in the week we packed the big kids bikes and took a walk on a local trail then out to pizza for a Pizza Hut Book It.  Everyone enjoyed our short walk and our beautiful fall weather for November in the midwest!

Daily Thanksgiving...For our church I have been doing a 'Daily Thanksgiving' post on our Facebook page each day.  Each day I get the opportunity touch others in such a small and simple way!

Spanish Tatortot Hotdish

Spanish Tatortot Hotdish

For my hubby's birthday I normally make his favorites.  This year when I asked him if he wanted tatortot hotdish or spanish rice while driving home, the guy he car pools suggested Spanish Tatortot Hotdish.  They came up with a whole bunch of ideas and yes, I put it together for him that night for his birthday!

Here is the recipe I came up with.

1 pound ground beef

1 purple onion diced

Taco seasoning

1 can diced tomatoes seasoned with celery, onions

1 can black beans

Tator Tots

2 cups taco seasoned shredded cheese

Directions:

Preheat oven 425 degrees.  Brown ground beef, with diced onion.  Add taco seasoning, tomatoes, black beans.  Bake tator tots on cooking sheet.  Simmer beef mixture while tator tots bake then pour into a 9x13 pan, place baked tator tots on top, sprinkle cheese over all.  Place back in the oven until cheese melts.

We topped ours with chopped lettuce, sour cream, and tortilla chips.  YUM

It was such a hit, I made 3 pans of it for baby girl's birthday party also where it was a hit again!!!!!

Currently 11/9

The last few months I have been doing a "Currently" post.  It is fun for me to think about my week. To open up, and show bits and pieces of my daily thoughts, and life.  I'm linking up with Becky from Choose Happy.

Beautiful weather...The last week we have really enjoyed this beautiful fall weather we have been getting in the midwest!  The kids found leaves in the local park to jump over and bury each other in.

Running...What better then to run for chocolate at the Chocoholic Frolic 5K.  My sister has her 1st 5K completed and she was excited on how much fun it was.  So much fun to be able to spend the morning with her and my cousin.  

Reading...Small mom's group meets each week.  I'm so thankful for these ladies.  We are going through 'Stepping Up' by Beth Moore, each day I love digging deeper.

Quote for the week....For church, I am doing a daily verse and question each day.  Last week this was one of the verse and one of my favorite verses.  So thankful that 'His love endures forever'.

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This Old House: Burlap, Lace, and Pumpkin Party

As baby girls 2nd birthday party came closer and closer I still didn't have a theme.  Normally about a month ahead of time I have an idea of what I am going to do for a theme, NOT this time!  Finally the Monday before her party I figured out a theme of 'burlap, lace and pumpkins'.  Even better, besides pumpkins I had most of everything I would need.  Anything I did need to pick up could be used for years to come.

Highlights

 Simple cake

 China Hutch Display

Gluten Free Pumpkin Spice Cupcakes

Lace covered pumpkin

  Dining Room Table

Detail of burlap with lace and pink ribbon

 Coffee Table in Living Room

Kitchen

 Can't have a fall party with out apples and caramel!

 She got this awesome doll house that my brother in law and sister decorated and put together!!!!

This week, I still have a lot of the decorations up since it a fun fall decorations.  I'm sure most of it will be out next fall also!

-Rachel