Wednesday, April 21, 2010

Overheard...

Why did the banana go to the doctor?
Because he wasn't "peeling" well...

Why did the ice cream go to the doctor?
Because he had a "cold"...

Knock knock...who's there?
Dwayne!
Dwayne who?
Dwayne the bathtub, I'm "dwowning!"

Groan! E is very proud of the jokes she's been learning at school. We've heard them over and over and over and over and over....

Monday, April 19, 2010

Beauty: a three-year-old's perspective, part 2

Love is bringing your mommy wildflower "weeds" from the yard...
and having mommy proudly display
them in a little glass bottle on the kitchen windowsill!

Sunday, April 18, 2010

Unique birthday treat...



Have you noticed that more and more companies are offering birthday freebies to customers or birthday discounts and coupons? Our local garden center sent me a coupon for $5 off my purchase as a birthday "gift". What did I choose? This groovy "Tumbling Tom" tomato plant. I didn't realize until I got it home that this big boy actually produces yellow tomatoes....how cool is that? They had red and yellow varieties. I thought I grabbed a red, but actually got yellow....which now that I think about it, makes it even more cool! Happy birthday to me!

Saturday, April 17, 2010

An afternoon at the park with Mommy...







E's been struggling with napping lately. After an hour of her sitting in her room messing around and NOT napping one day earlier this week, I decided we'd get out of the house for the afternoon to run errands and check out a new-to-us park that some friends have told us about.

What a fun time! The park has a big swath of water that cuts through it, and we found a bridge that was a perfect hiding place for the ducks. Luckily, we remembered to bring bread to feed them. The bonus? We even found a mom duck and her seven cute babies. After feeding the ducks, E ran from play structure to play structure, getting hot and sweaty and having a blast. She "did" the twisty slide over and over and over, and loved riding in and driving the pretend school bus. I'm sure we'll go back soon!

Friday, April 16, 2010

Domestic Diva: Pepperoncini Beef


We love pepperoncinis...on salads, on sandwiches...mmmmm. But when I saw this slow cooker recipe a few years ago, I was skeptical....isn't this a weird combination? And would it be too spicy?

Don't worry! This is an easy, delicious combo, and even sweet E eats the meat (sans peppers). It's a mellow, yummy flavor, not flaming-spicy. We love the meat served roast-style topped with the peppers alongside veggies, fruit, salads or other sides, but it's also great on rolls with some yummy cheese and mayo as a delicious sandwich. Shredded, it would also make great taco filling!

I promise, this is probably the easiest slow cooker recipe you'll ever make!

Pepperoncini Beef

Place roast of your choice (we always use beef but you could use pork, I'm sure)
in the slow cooker, frozen or unfrozen.
Dump one jar pepperoncini peppers, with juice, over roast.
Slow cook all day on low until done.

See, wasn't that easy? If you try it, let me know what you think! Mmmmmm.

Wednesday, April 14, 2010

Monday, April 12, 2010

Domestic Diva Experiment: Waffles with blueberry syrup



E has been asking for waffles for breakfast for a while now. (Side note: I think this line of questioning came from E seeing an abandoned waffle in the parking lot at her school. I am sure some poor, hurried mom gave her child a frozen waffle to eat in the car while on the way to school, because there is just never enough time in the mornings. E was so sad that someone "lost" their waffle in the parking lot....that transformed into a need for mommy to make waffles!)

Although we received a spiffy Belgian waffle maker for a wedding gift, I learned afterwards that hubby prefers waffles with the "little holes"...so my mom and I made a trade. I received her ancient with-little-holes waffle maker and she has the spiffy new model. Ahem.

Anyway...I made a double batch of waffles during an installment of breakfast-for-dinner late last week. And since we had a batch of blueberries that needed to be eaten, I made some homemade blueberry syrup/sauce to go with them. Um, yum!

Sunday, April 11, 2010

Picnic in the backyard...







On Friday, hubby was off work and the weather was gorgeous. Sweet E requested a picnic lunch in our backyard...a concept she was introduced to the weekend prior, when we spent all day (including meals) Saturday outdoors enjoying such pretty weather. Such fun memories eating outside on a beautiful day in our own backyard with my sweeties!

Saturday, April 10, 2010

Easter Sunday fun





Glimpses of Easter Sunday 2010:
Sleepy Sunday morning smiles...
up early for church Easter Breakfast and early service
Hugs with sweet church best-bud Hailey
(...and mutual Easter dress admiring)
Lunch at Gramma's, complete with treats
A new bug catcher, perfect for watching caterpillars
And Easter Egg hunting, of course!

Friday, April 9, 2010

Domestic Dude and Little Domestic Diva: Veggie Garden





Hubby and E installed the bigger, better, expanded version of our veggie garden last weekend. E's favorite task? Watering the plants! Hubby is excited because we're putting our rain barrel to good use. The runoff from our house collects in this rain barrel, conveniently located right by the garden. "Free" water, and easy to use!

Thursday, April 8, 2010

Domestic Diva and Little Domestic Diva Experiment: monkey bread




We tried a version of The Pioneer Woman's Monkey Bread over the holiday weekend. E and I made it to take to our church Easter breakfast. Our twist? We used canned cinnamon rolls instead of canned biscuits, because it's what we had on hand. The result? Cinnamon-y, butter-y yumminess!

Tuesday, April 6, 2010

Sprucing up for Spring






Last week, E has a blast going with me to the "flower store" to pick out geraniums, begonias and her very own moss rose. We had such a great time planting together! She especially loves watering the plants! Too fun!

Monday, April 5, 2010

Gramma Mondays: at the "big park"






For the second year in a row, a dear family friend has given us an annual pass to the local Arboretum. E loves going to the "big park" and seeing it in all of its splendor in each season. Autumn with its glorious mums and many pumpkins was the favorite....until last Monday. We visited the spring festival at "the big park" and were amazed at the plethora of tulips and the gorgeous blooming cherry trees! The weather was perfect! We had such a beautiful day.

And the icing on the cake? I ran into bloggy buddy R! We've never met before, but I consider her a dear friend. R, it was so awesome to finally meet you and your sweet babes!

Sunday, April 4, 2010

He Lives!


I know that my Redeemer lives;

What comfort this sweet sentence gives!

He lives, He lives, who once was dead;

He lives, my ever living Head.

He lives, all glory to His Name!

He lives, my Jesus, still the same.

Oh, the sweet joy this sentence gives,

I know that my Redeemer lives!