photo about-44.png photo behind-1.png photo recipe-1.png photo hope-1.png photo contact-27.png photo subscribe-10.png

Wednesday, September 22, 2010

Face Lift

Our blog's getting one.  Courtesy of this amazingly talented woman.

I'm really excited.  But also worried she may jump through her T1 and strangle me before the whole process is over.

I'm kind of high maintenance in the design department.

P.S. Someone else got a face lift, too.  A REAL one.  A WAY more expensive one.

But I'm not sure I'm supposed to talk about it yet.  Hi mom! :)

Here's a picture of our disaster of a family (minus the kiddos) taken at my brother's engagement party last weekend.  Me, still portly.  Kennah, still ridiculous.  But doesn't my mom look great?  Even though her eyes are closed and she is mid-sentence, reprimanding my 30 year-old brother.

And don't the rest of us look horrific?  Worst family pic EVER.


Sunday, September 19, 2010

Eat. Pray. Love. And a Sketch Van.

I made my dear friend Krissie's amazing mac and cheese recipe a few weeks ago, took pictures and figured I'd save it for a time when I didn't have much to blog about.  Or a time (like now) when I feel like I have TOO much to blog about and just want to sit in a corner somewhere and eat lots of cheesy, yummy comfort goodness.

Yesterday, Hope Church received final approval from Sunnybrae Elementary School to meet there on Sunday mornings.  Which means our little church will be moving out of Grandmums house and into a good-sized multi-purpose room with a second room for our children's program.  Our first service there will be on 10/10/10 @ 10 AM.  (Dave's always been a geek about numbers so he is especially thrilled...) THREE weeks from today.  Which means  a ridiculous amount of work to be done in a very short amount of time.

The guys left at 5:45 this morning and headed up to a certain white trash region of our state to purchase a super sketchy van which will act as our church storage unit.  A van that will remain parked somewhere FAR away from our house.  This van that my husband just texted me a picture of with "Bam" as the subject.


A super creative and talented friend is in the process of creating our logo and website design.  We'll then have banner signs and flyers to be printed and sandwich boards to be made.  There are details to be finalized for our children's program.  Tote bags to be made for those children.  Insurance, instruments and sound equipment to purchase.  Books to order.  Communion sets and a pulpit to decide on.

And I'm sure a zillion other things I can't remember or we haven't thought of yet.

Also, Jesse Sloan is bringing 10 students up from Masters College to help with the launch.  They arrive on October 6th and will stay until Sunday night, October 10.  We're super excited to welcome and meet them, pray with them and fellowship with them.  And more than thrilled to have the extra support because there is so much work to be done.  And I'm hoping, for their sake, that none of it involves driving in the sketch van.  Because that would just be mean.

We've been "planning" for quite some time.  But now it's all SO very real.  And the work that is ahead of us can only be completed with much prayer for God's help and provision.  He has been SO faithful so far that we are able to proceed with confidence that it will remain so.  And for that reason, this  is a very exciting time for us.   And one that makes me want to eat lots of mac and cheese.  Because cheesy carb amazingness makes exciting times all the better.


Ingredients: salt, 1 lb elbow macaroni, 6 tbs. unsalted butter, 1/4 cup flour, 3 cups milk (heated to simmering), 1/2 lb. sharp cheddar cheese (shredded), 1/2 lb. jack cheese (shredded), Tapatio hot sauce, 3/4 cup Italian style bread crumbs

Directions: Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Lightly butter a glass baking dish.    Bring a large pot three-fourths full of salted water to boil.  Add the macaroni.  Stir well and cook for about 6 minutes.  The macaroni will still be quite al dente; it will cook further in the oven.  DO NOT overcook.  Drain thoroughly.

While the pasta is draining, return the pot to the stove.  Add 4 tablespoons of the butter and melt over medium heat.  Whisk in the flour and reduce the heat to low.  Let the flour mixture bubble, whisking occasionally, without browning, for 2 minutes.  Gradually whisk in hot milk, raise the heat to medium and bring to a boil.  Remove from the heat, add the cheeses and stir until cheese are melted.  Return the macaroni to the pot with the melted cheese sauce and mix together.  Season to taste with salt and hot pepper sauce.

In a small saucepan, melt the remaining 2 tablespoons butter over medium heat.  Spread the macaroni evenly in the prepared baking dish.  Sprinkle the top with bread crumbs.  Drizzle the melted butter evenly over the bread crumbs and macaroni.  Bake about 40 minutes, until the sauce is bubbling and the top is browned.

Serve hot, directly from the baking dish.

Enjoy!  And pray for us while you eat it.


Thursday, September 16, 2010

House Call


"If you're diligent in your recovery you will be out of this clinic in two weeks, Ashlyn.
Now sit still.
And be diligent."

Tuesday, September 14, 2010

A Letter from a Soccer Mom


Dearest AYSO,

I grew up loving you but things are starting to change.  Felt and glitter glue, I hate you, too.  And picture day?  Don't even get me started.

My daughter has ZERO interest in the sport your organization represents.  But I forced her to play anyway.  By promising her she could play goalie.  So thank you very much for eliminating that position in her division this year.  Spectacular.


Also, I'm a bit concerned about these new 6 person teams.  "Everybody plays?"  Might be time to change that motto.  "Everybody has ample time to pick grass on the sidelines..."


or "Everybody touches the felt stars and glitter glue on the banner that team mom worked DAYS on."  Those are just a few suggestions.

Now, let's talk picture day.  I know it's not your fault that traffic was ridiculous due to a freeway closure for an accident investigation but does it really have to be a 4 hour ordeal?  Must we take 5 pictures of each child?  And can you NOT have snow cones  for sale if you want us to keep our uniforms clean?

I will say that your coaches are just as wonderful and supportive as I remember.


And I love that the most popular half-time snacks are still orange slices and Capri Suns.  Way to keep it old school, AY.


Who am I kidding?  You'll always have my heart.  I'm just a little crabby from all the felt glue.

Sincerely,

One who now carries a hammer and metal stakes in her {fake} Prada

Saturday, September 11, 2010

11 Years Ago, Today

I married Vanilla Ice.


And took the weirdest beast bride picture ever in my parents living room.


I made my bridesmaids wear two-piece?? maroon ensembles.  Sorry, girls.  You know I love you.


My aunt looked WAY hotter than me.


And the floral halos.  Sweet Holy Mother Margaret of Mary.  There are just no words.


My mom had a few issues to overcome.  My brother was no help.


My dad forgot he was walking me down the aisle and thought he was running for Congress.


Our videographer clearly missed the memo that nothing is EVER allowed in the baptistery but flowers and people getting baptized.  Busted.


The only pictures that look decent of the ceremony are the black and whites because the sanctuary lighting is hideous.


See...


Our reception chairs were more hideous than the sanctuary lighting.


Cake FAIL.  Fresh flowers were supposed to be provided by cake people and layered in between.  Florist (thanks, Aunt Nancy!) saved the day with gardenia clusters that were meant to decorate cake table but became new cake flowers.  Bad, cake people.  Bad.  Bad. BAD.


Father/daughter dance was ridiculously long.

We also thought balloons would hide the odd 70's light fixtures.  Not so much.


And our deejay rocked a legit mullet.  Hard to see.  But it flowed with the beat.


I also married the love of my life in the church we met at and grew up in.


Surrounded by our family and friends.


On the most glorious, September day ever.


And I wouldn't change a thing.

Thursday, September 9, 2010

Toffee Crack

I've never been one to dabble in narcotics.  But I am imagine this is about as close as it gets.


I bootlegged the recipe from this blog that I used to love but now I'm starting to hate and made it for the guys meeting on Tuesday night.    And woke up to WAY too much left over the next morning.

Which only left one option.

Ship the leftovers to all the skinny girls at college.

Kayla included notes.  This one's  my favorite.



Boots, we're just not quite sure if we miss you or not.



Wednesday, September 8, 2010

The Ranch

Kayla's friend's family owns property out on the coast.  And it's officially the coolest place on the planet.  We headed over the hill on Sunday and joined them for a Labor Day BBQ with a few other families from school.  Great fun was had by all, except for maybe the chickens when the kids
took over their coop.












Saturday, September 4, 2010

Wednesday, September 1, 2010

Back To Sanity

These last two weeks of summer have been dragging.  The weather's been weird.  The girls have been fighting like junior high boys.  We've blown through every DIY toy kit at Michael's.  And Ashlyn is starting to mimic Tom and Jerry.  So, all that being said, I'm kind of happy for this day.


Kayla starts 2nd grade with Mrs. Rhodes and Mrs. Esposto.  Both are new mommies and will be co-teaching.


Ashlyn continues at her preschool program with Teachers Jackie, Renee, Maria and Marie.  She'll also have speech therapy with Teacher Kjirsten and physical therapy with Teacher Bridgette.


It's been real, summer.