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'.

Click on the link below to join others at Choose Happy's link up of 'Currently'.

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

Thankful Thursday

Weather... This week the weather has been AMAZING!!!!  Many hours of fun outside.  Earlier in the week the littles ones and I took the big pumpkins from baby girls party and wrote 'Give' on them, as my oldest suggested.  Fun to have such a creative kids.  They come up with great ideas.

Thankful leaves....Our family thankful banner is up and each day someone gets to write what they are thankful for.  I really enjoy seeing what everyone is thankful for.

Family and Friends...I have a great support system.  Even better they have shaped me into I am today.  And always there when I need them.

God's Steadfast love....This week I started a daily Thankful post for our church.  It has a verse and a question each day.  It has been such a blessing.  Here is one of my favorite verses.

There is so many things to be thankful for each day.

-Rachel

Currently 11/2

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.


Sewing...Pillows to tie the love seat, couch, and chairs together in the living room.

My sister had the GREAT idea to take a current pillow from the green couch that was falling apart and make a couple stripped pillows to make everything match.  So glad for my sewing knowledge to be able to make it happen.

Project....Revamped coffee table.  All that is left is to find baskets that fit and poly the top.

Yummm....Last week my hubby and friend came up with the idea for a different tator tot hotdish.  It turned out SO yummy that I made it again for the birthday party yesterday.  And so simple!

Party....Yesterday we had baby girl's 2nd birthday party of 'Burlap, Lace and Pumpkins'.  More pictures later this week!

My sister and brother in law put together this house!  AMAZING

Linked up with Becky from Choose Happy, click on the link below to join in the fun!