Thursday, June 21, 2012

Ella's Birthday.

When Bruce and I started talking about what to do for Ella's 9th birthday, we knew we wanted the day to be filled with things she loves to do. We came up with a short list: hotel, swimming, animals, chocolate cake, and presents.

On Monday we took this Jost Show on the road to Kansas City! We swam, watched a movie, and got ready for the next day.
She couldn't have woken up happier.
We settled into presents early Tuesday morning and set off with Bruce's parents for a day at the Deanna Rose Children's Farmstead.

Have you been there?
It's amazing!
And Monday-Thursday it's free admission with only $2 a person on the weekends.

Ella has always enjoyed the times that she has been able to ride a horse, and I had heard that this farm had ponies to ride. (We bought a $10 package of tickets that included one of each of the following: pony ride, mining rocks, feeding the goats a bottle of milk, a hayrack ride, and fishing!)

On this day, Ella didn't want to ride the ponies.
I'll admit, I was a little sad about that, but Talia stepped up and rode twice. :)
No big deal. It was Ella's day and she wanted to do everything else!

We gave the baby goats a little bottle of milk.


We fished with real worms and Talia and Bruce caught a big one. ;)
We spent time in the barn, the school house and also mined special rocks.
Which I just realized is why my purse is currently so heavy, the rocks are still in there!!!

We got to know some of the animals a bit better, then took a hayrack ride to relax.

It was a hot windy day.
Ella's birthday is always hot.
We're used to that.
Good thing our lunch stop was near by.
Red Robin french fries with campfire sauce...oh yum.
And then back to the hotel for more presents and cake.
She chose the chocolate chocolate cake from a local grocery store. Rainbow squiggly's and all.
You can see by the look on her face that she thought the day was fantastic.
Which is exactly what we wanted for her because we think she's pretty fantastic.
All nine years of her.

Tuesday, June 19, 2012

Nine.

Happy Birthday, Ella.
Let's go ride some ponies today, okay?
It's going to be a fabulous day!

Monday, June 18, 2012

Road trip, anyone?

I've mentioned before that I love CBS' Sunday Morning show.
Yesterday I caught this segment and fell in love with Tim and his parents.



Anybody want to take a road trip to Albuquerque for a quick lunch and hug?
I'm totally in.

Sausage and Egg Breakfast Casserole

This Sausage and Egg Casserole is one that has become a favorite around here and at Craft Weekend. It's a favorite of mine, too. Not only does it taste great, but there is no prep the morning you make it. You do everything the night before.
We ate it yesterday for Father's Day, and I thought I'd share it with you today.
You'll need a some french bread, breakfast sausage, eggs, milk, cheese, butter, salt and pepper.
Start by browning your breakfast sausage.
Slice 8 pieces of bread and then cut those into small cubes.
Mix all the rest of the ingredients together, including the bread and sausage.
Pour ingredients in the 9x 13 pan and cover. Place in the refrigerator overnight.
In the morning, get up, have a cup of coffee, and throw this in the oven.
When your guests wake up, the house will smell like you have been up for hours.
I like to serve this Sausage and Egg Casserole with Cinnamon Rolls and fresh berries. I've even been known to serve it at dinner to my family. Make it up in the morning, and bake it when you get home from work. So good! I know you'll love it!

Sausage and Egg Casserole
8 slices of bread
1 lb Jimmy Dean mild breakfast sausage
1 lb colby jack cheese
1/4 c. butter, melted
6 eggs
2 c. milk
1/2 tsp salt
Dash of pepper

Directions
Cut bread into small cubes. Mix all ingredients together in a large bowl. Grease 9 x 13 pan. Pour ingredients into the pan and cover. Place in refrigerator overnight. 9-12 hours later take the pan out of the refrigerator. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees and bake for 45-50 minutes. Serve hot.

Adapted slightly from the recipe "Ham and Egg Casserole" in the Feast of Goodness Hillsboro Mennonite Brethren Church Cookbook. Oh thank you dear Connie Fast for such a great recipe!!!

Friday, June 15, 2012

Catching my Breath.

I'm stopping in to catch my breath.
I have been running from one thing to the next.
When Craft Weekend (read about it here) was finished I ran home...

...to VBS, which started first thing Monday morning.
We finished up this morning. (I'm posting more about VBS next week!)
VBS is hard work...and I only lead the music.
With a dvd.
There are plenty of others who work MUCH harder than I do at their jobs.
We celebrated Bruce's Grandma as she turned 95 on Wednesday.
In my heart she's as much my Grandma as she is his.
I love this lady as much as I have loved my own grandparents.
We had angel food cake with strawberries.
Great Grandma's favorite.
Grandma's request for her birthday was that the family that was able to come, come for a picnic.
I love that she chose us to celebrate with.
No big party.
Just us. Together in the park. On a Wednesday.
Her real birthday.
Today is my Dad's birthday.
I am having fond memories of our time together last year when we celebrated at the beach. 
I wish we could be anywhere with you today, Dad.
But mostly right now I just wish we were at Britt's Donut Shop.

Sunday, June 10, 2012

Ten on Ten:: June 2012


Take a photo every hour for ten consecutive hours on the tenth of each month. 
Document a day of your life and find beauty among the ordinary moments. 

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10
  1. First cup of coffee at the Whatever Craft Weekend Craft House.
  2. Homemade Granola
  3. Getting ready for the day in this bathroom (at the Craft House!) is a beautiful way to start any day.
  4. Waiting to take some pictures.
  5.  The "Hello Sunshine" Craft from Poppy Seed Projects.
  6.  One of the girls found this little wicker set at the antique store and spray  painted it last night. Isn't it cute?
  7. Minnesota girls Kathy and Jena. I love Minnesota girls.
  8. Little Miss Craft House America.
  9. Big Hug Mug full of double leaded coffee.
10. Popcorn for dinner. Yay.


ten on ten button


Saturday, June 9, 2012

Nine on Nine {Because I have no idea what day it is}

I woke up early this morning to make breakfast for the Whatever Craft Weekend girls. 
Armed with my iphone, I was ready to take on Ten on Ten today.

At 10:30 tonight I realized that it was the ninth.
Ever since I returned from Germany, I've had a hard time keeping track of the days. 
I've been running from one thing to another.
Usually a day behind.
But today I was a day ahead.

I came to the Ten on Ten party too early with my DPL. {Dr. Pepper with Lime.}
I made some sweet friends along the way.
And laughed with some old ones.
See you tomorrow for the real Ten on Ten.
After a nap.
I need that shirt.
-------------------------
edited: 7:50 am on June 10th.
Did I really just call this post "Nine on Nine" and post ten pictures?
Nap.
Stat.
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