THE VIEW FROM OUR PLACE...

Life...

2011-09-30T14:48:00.000-07:00

Once again it has been awhile since I have updated my blog. My last post was in honor of my wonderful Grandma who passed away this spring. I miss calling her up and hearing her encouraging words and advice. Since then we have also had a very dear friend pass away suddenly. God has once again reminded us how precious life is. So in our house we take every opportunity to celebrate life. We are so blessed to have our little Emily Johanna!

May 31, 2011

Such a proud & overjoyed big sister!

1 month old

2 months old!

Saying Goodbye is Hard...

2011-03-30T09:27:00.000-07:00

(A poem Dad read at Grandma's funeral.) Along the Golden Streets, A loved one walks today, With wonder in her heart Faith blossomed into sight. She walks and stops and stares, And walks and stops again, Vistas of loveliness, Beyond the dreams of men. She who was feeble, weak, and shackled by her bed, Now climbs eternal hills, With light and easy tread. She has escaped at last, The cruel clutch of pain, Her lips shall never taste Its bitter cup again. Oh! Never call her dead, This buoyant one, and free. Whose daily portion is delight And ecstasy! She bows in speechless joy, Before the feet of Him, Whom seeing not, she loved, While yet her sight was dim. Along the Golden Streets, No stranger walks today, But one, who long homesick, Is Home at last to stay.

Trying out NEW RECIPES

2011-03-18T08:45:00.000-07:00

Bacon Cheeseburger pizza
Pizza dough: 1 pkg yeast
1 cup warm water
1 tsp sugar
1 tsp salt
2 TBSP oil
3 cups flour

Mix yeast, water, sugar, salt and oil together. Add flour all at once. Knead just until combined. Let rise for about 1 hr.

Brown and drain: 1lb. ground beef
3 garlic cloves
1/8 tsp pepper
1/2 large red onion

Bake crust on 14" pizza pan at 450 for 5-8 min.
Remove and cover with: 1/2 cup grated parmesan
1 cup pizza sauce
1/4 cup bacon bits (I used really bacon fried bacon and crumbled)
Ground beef mixture
1 cup mozzarella
1 cup sharp cheddar
(I substituted colby jack for both cheeses and used a little less)
Bake for 15-20 min or until cheese is melted.
This is a taste of home recipe that I modified by using my own favorite pizza dough recipe and my own homemade pizza sauce.
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Frozen Strawberry Dessert

CRUST: 1 cup flour

1/4 cup brown sugar

1/2 cup cold butter

1/2 cup chopped pecans (optional)

In bowl combine flour, sugar and nuts. Cut in the butter. Press into greased 9" baking pan. Bake at 350 for 14-16 min or until lightly browned. Cool and crumble mixture. Set aside 1/3 cup for topping and press remainder back into dish.

TOPPING: 2 cups frozen strawberries, thawed

1 cup sugar

1 tsp lemon juice

1 cup heavy whipping cream, whipped

Beat strawberries, sugar and lemon juice until well blended. Fold in whipped cream and spread onto crust. Sprinkle with remaining crumbs. Cover and freeze for 8 hrs or overnight.

SO YUMMY and simple to make.

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Fish Tacos

Sauce: 1 1/2 cup mayo

1 1/2 TBSP lime juice

1 1/2 TBSP chopped cilantro

2 1/2 tsp. chipotle puree >whisk all ingredients together

Fish Batter: 3 eggs

8 oz dark beer

2 tsp dry mustard

1 TBSP chile

1 TBSP salt

1 tsp sugar

1 1/2 cup flour >whisk all these together

Coat fish with flour, then batter, then deep fry. Serve on tortillias with sauce and shredded cabbage. If you want a cripsy crust on the fish flour, batter then coat with cracker crumbs before you deep fry.

Sorry...didn't get a picture of these. I thought these would be a little hot, but it turned out to be mild. Jay loves fish tacos...and he really liked these. :) So glad I tried them.

What I hope to learn...

2011-03-08T14:55:00.000-08:00

A few weekends ago I was able to go to the Women's Retreat near beautiful Coeur D' Alene, ID. The retreat was wonderful and it was so good to just have time to do absolutely nothing. No to do lists, no laundry to fold, no dinner to prepare. The camp where we stayed was so beautiful, right on the lake. One thing I do regret about the weekend is that I did not take much time...just to enjoy the beauty. Maybe sit in one of the big rocking chairs in the dining hall and just take in this scene.
I've been reading a great book called, bittersweet by Shauna Niequist. It couln't have been recomended to me at a better time. So many of the things Shauna talks about are a daily struggle for me. As mothers I feel there is so much pressure in our society to achieve, achieve, and "have it all together"! You know what I am talking about. There is always something that needs to get done...somewhere I need to be...another thing to do so I can check it off my list. Then, when I don't get EVERYTHING done that day...there is that guilt of failure. God has been teaching me to just sit down and read that book to my daughter...put a puzzle together with her...sit and enjoy that cup of coffee...and above all TO TAKE THAT TIME TIME ALONE TO READ the BIBLE & PRAY.

There are a few blogs I visit daily.( http://www.lisaleonardonline.com/blog/ and http://moseslakejansen4.blogspot.com/

Now I realize why. They bring me back and remind me to appreciate the little things. To enjoy the sunset.

sunset in South Dakota

DAY 3...

2011-02-15T16:45:00.000-08:00

We made valentines! I picked something super easy...
Aren't these little images so cute. Stephanie Fitzer is so talented and her designs are adorable!
http://stephaniefizer.typepad.com/blog/2009/02/a-sweet-valentines-day-freebie-for-you-.html

DAY 2....

2011-02-11T16:24:00.000-08:00

We made valentine cookies.
Of course we had to decorate them.

Valentine's Day is coming...

2011-02-08T13:15:00.000-08:00

I have decided to do one thing every day with my little Valentine to celebrate.
Yesterday we made these heart garlands out of leftover card stock! So simple, but so fun.

Christmas Traditions...

2010-12-16T17:49:00.001-08:00

One of our traditions is to hike up into the mountains and cute down our tree. This year we couldn't have asked for a more perfect day!!! The snow was falling and it was so beautiful!

Jocelynne had fun taking a ride in the sled and Jay got a workout pulling the tree. :)

We also make a gingerbread house.

This year our house had icicles, requested by Jocelynne.

...I'm back.

2010-12-06T16:04:00.000-08:00

This cute little book just grabbed my attention the other day when I was out thrifting. For those of you who haven't already guessed...yes, I am pregnant!

There are some really cute pictures in the book too. I thought I could frame a few of them for babies room.

This one is my favorite.

...some great gift ideas!

2010-10-07T15:00:00.000-07:00

I love these fun ideas...of course they take time, but isn't that what makes them special?

http://sixoneseven.blogspot.com/2008/03/dolores-park-cowl.html

http://www.ohfransson.com/oh_fransson/2010/09/mod-mosaic-floor-pillow.html

http://presserfoot.blogspot.com/2010/06/inspiration-anthro-catch-and-release.html

http://theadventuresofroryandjess.blogspot.com/2009/09/memory-game-tutorial.html

Fun, Fashionable and Affordable!!! (UPDATED!!!)

2010-04-22T11:31:00.000-07:00

Well, I have been working on a few projects. You will be happy to know that these projects are not only to look at, but can also be purchased! AND IT GETS BETTER! In honor of my "GRAND OPENING" I will also be giving some of these goodies away. YES, I will be giving one package (includes 2 burp cloths) of either boy or girl prints that are pictured below.
Simply post a comment here on my blog by April 29th if you would like to be entered into the drawing. The winner will be announced on April 30th!

BOY - JUNGLE GREEN (SOLD OUT)
These burp cloths are made of fun, flannel prints and lined with cozy, striped chenille.

Each is sown with special care and tagged with my personal logo : mama's touch

GIRL - POLKA DOT PRETTY

The bundle is then wrapped in ribbon. Available in packages of either 4 or 2 burp cloths.

If you wish to purchase any these packages please e-mail me at: mlkruse@yahoo.com

Available while supplies last. More prints coming SOON!

....WHERE HAVE I BEEN?

2010-04-20T16:30:00.001-07:00

JAN 2010 - OUR little girl turned 3 (not so little anymore)

I couldn't keep from sewing something...so of course I made this birthday banner.

Got inspired and made some coat pins from felt.

FEB - Jay worked on some projects!!!

Spent some time making cards :)

Had a very fun visit with Lori (Jay's sister) and Jaedon & Charisma (Lori's kids)

Went and visited Uncle Craig's baby goats.

MARCH - Jocelynne had fun kicking the ball around!

Loves riding her scooter!

APRIL ...We took a much needed vacation to the Oregon coast!

Grandma came to visit for a week.

Its almost summer...love seeing her strawberry stained smile!

Please pray...

2010-01-14T13:13:00.000-08:00

My heart is very heavy for my dear friend, Michele's sister and their entire family. Please take a moment to pray for them today.

Fun in the snow

2010-01-12T09:44:00.000-08:00

Not sure how this pic turned out like this...but I think it looks cool! My sister and I are taking a ride behind a 4wheeler.

My cousins, Uncle Phil and his wife Amy invited us over for some fun sledding!

Jocelynne with Jay's sunglasses on.

FROST...

2010-01-11T13:22:00.001-08:00

The following sequence of photos were taken by my dad...the day after we arrived in SD.
It truly looked like a winter wonderland with all the frost.

Of course he had to photograph the empty bee hive boxes.

This one is my favorite. It makes you stop and look and try to see what is behind that fence. I think he did a great job taking these.

... And then the guys were off to do some rabbit shooting.

Christmas with our dear friends...the Erlenmeyers.

2010-01-11T13:00:00.000-08:00

Before we left on our trip to SD we exchanged gifts with the Erlenmeyer family....

It was very fun to see their faces as they opened our gifts. They got us a very cute picinic basket filled with goodies for our trip...not sure why I don't have a picture of that.

Grandpa Tim read the First Christmas Story.

And the kids...were just too cute.

This is my personal favorite!

Christmas baking!

2010-01-11T12:45:00.000-08:00

My friend, Sharon and I have done a little holiday baking day for the past two years. The kids especially like it...
This year we tried a few new recipes. These are neopolitan bars.

Also, Sugared Citrus Peels...

We tried Lemon, Grapefruit & Orange peels. Lemon was the favorite.

I just love these vibrant orange shades.

Christmas continued...

2010-01-11T12:23:00.000-08:00

I started making my Christmas cards a little later then usual...but I was excited at how they turned out. This was the design I finally decided on.

We decided to opt out getting a tree this year...so I used our little tree branch from thanksgiving and redecorated it.

Of course we ate the cookies...

Christmas 2009!

2010-01-11T10:45:00.000-08:00

I have so many pics to post for Christmas...I had better get started.
First, was our annual gingerbread house decorating with our weekly bible study friends.

A few of our finished houses...as you can see there was still plenty of candy left over...

...and look who has a mouth full! Can't hide it with that smile.

After, I got down our nativity set and the kids had fun setting up the figures as Jay read a child version of the Christmas story.

Giving Thanks....2009

2009-12-08T09:41:00.001-08:00

Table decor...name placecard idea from pottery barn.

I found this old branch from a tree and decided to have it as our Thanksgiving tree.

I hung acorns and miniture pinecones here and there...then we each hung our leaves after we wrote what we were thankful for.

Jay's awesome mash potatoes.

Playing some games...while the turkey was baking.

The awesome feast....can't believe I didn't get a pic of all the desserts!

Playing cards afterwards...so much fun!

Of course my sister and I had to do some holiday candy making....my grandma's chocolates.

YUMMY!

Parties, Projects, Playdates & More

2009-12-06T14:29:00.000-08:00

Harvest Party at the Erlenmeyers included some fun pumpkin painting!

A visit from her cousin,Morgan was the highlight of Jocelynne's month.

She also had fun with MacKenzie.

Candy Land Harvest Party at our church. Jocelynne was a little ladybug.

Jocelynne and Delhia not interested in getting their picture taken with all the fun & games.

In October there seemed to be lots of little friends having birthdays. This little cutie is our neighbor's girl at her party. We opted for a few homemade gifts...like this bunny hooded towel made from a huge white towel and a few pink scraps of fabric.

This chair was a $3 find at bargain town. When I get it recovered it will go in Jocelynne's room, which is getting a "big-girl" makeover these days. More to come...

The Last wedding of the year....

2009-12-03T13:12:00.001-08:00

I was also in Jay's sister, Julie's wedding. It was a very fun wedding, but a super cold day in Seattle.

Jocelynne was also a flower girl for this wedding along with her cousin Morgan.

And....of course the happy couple...Julie & David. We love you both and wish you all the best.

Photos: courtesy of: Nickles Photography

My Cousin, Beth's wedding...

2009-12-03T12:11:00.000-08:00

I loved her beautiful flower arrangements..espcially the kangaroo foot.

Beth & Jon presented some beautiful gifts from China...this was a shawl for her mother.

Beth's, sister showing us how to wear the beautiful scarves we got as bridesmaids gifts.

Beth and I just before the wedding ceremony.

The happy couple in their authentic Chinese wedding clothes. They wore these during the rehearsal. Please pray for Beth & Jon as they will be returning to China next year to continue their missions work.

The LAST of Summer..

2009-12-02T10:06:00.000-08:00

I know....I have been taking my time "catching up" on my blog. My goal is to get caught up by the end of the week. So check back tomorrow for more pics! Our last summer hike at Deep Lake.

The last lavender picked from my garden...

I decided to make a few little pillows out of them for gifts.

One of the last giant cucumbers from our garden.

....camping at Mt. Rainier

2009-11-05T08:15:00.000-08:00

Most of our time was spent under this tarp....trying to stay dry.

We went with Jay's brother, Jeff and his family.

We spent a lot of time by the fire trying to stay warm.

All in all...this weekend will go down as one of the "most memorable"

The last days of Summer (August)

2009-11-04T12:54:00.000-08:00

We had so much fun at the aquatic center this year. Every last warm day was spent soaking in the sun.

I found this recipe for s'mores...very fun for kids!

Large marshmellows, hershey bars and crushed graham crackers.

Toast the marshmellow over a fire or grill. :)

Dip it in melted chocolate and then the graham cracker crumbs. yummy! I used lollipop sticks for the marshmellows after they were toasted.

Back to WA...

2009-11-03T22:06:00.000-08:00

We said our good byes and headed back to WA.

I hosted a shower for Jay's sister Julie in Seattle. Here are all the sisters who attended.

Later that evening we had a fun bachlorette party on the beach...complete with a bonfire,

...and of course, yummy s'mores.

Catching UP!

2009-11-02T21:27:00.001-08:00

I was in several weddings this year...the first was my sister Andrea's. I had so much fun spending a week with her before the wedding, doing last minute preparations and just having fun. Here are few pics from the wedding day!

The morning before the wedding it was sprinkling off and on, even while we were taking pictures. When the ceremony started the clouds opened up and the sun was shining! What a wonderful day it was.

Jocelynne was a flower girl. Here are few to show off my little cutie pie...

She did such a good job!

...and this is my favorite pic of them all.

WELL....

2009-10-30T14:57:00.000-07:00

....I know, I know, I have some explaining to do. First off, I started my 7 days, 7 dress challenge a little to close to our vacation to Sequim, WA at the end of July and a two week visit with my family in South Dakota before my sisters wedding. So, I really didn't give myself enough time to get ready for the trip with all the sewing I was wanting to do. Here are few pics to catch up on things. Relaxing at SequimJay had a blast fishing in Seque!

Cleaning the catch...

Day 2: Dress Challenge!

2009-07-23T11:35:00.000-07:00

BACK VIEW:

I thought I would take a few pics...even though this dress is not completely done. This is definitely one of the "harder" dresses I am trying to make. A lot of ripping out and resewing goes on, especially when there is no pattern. I hope to get it done soon and share some photos with Jocelynne wearing it.

Here are the little bloomers which made this dress even harder to resist making.

This is my inspiration for today's dress...from Chasing Fireflies. There are three dresses from thier catalog which I am attemping to make. Of course most of their clothes are way out of our price range, so I feel very vindicated that the total cost was only $10 to make this dress.

7 days, 7 dresses...

2009-07-22T23:39:00.000-07:00

I decided to give myself a little challenge. This is the first dress I made.

The straps are gathered.

I used some rick rack for trim on the hem. Check back for more tomorrow. :)

The art of Jam Making...

2009-07-22T23:25:00.001-07:00

1. pit and chop fruit...in this case apricots.

2. boil fruit with a LOT of sugar...

3. Seal in jars...

well, its not as easy as 1,2,3....but Sharon and I spent most of Monday evening canning apricots. This is the 250lb. tote of the first picking and we didn't even make much of a dent after the 40+ jars of jam!!! Its all worth the effort and satisfaction of a job well done.

Our weekend...

2009-07-22T23:08:00.000-07:00

This last weekend was very busy. I went garage saling with Sharon. We also checked out the NEW bistro in town. What a fun place...and very delicious food! Did some boating and relaxing on Moses Lake. Then on Sunday we took a little trip over to Spokane.
A couple gave us the extra bread they had....

So we fed some ducks at the Riverfront park in Spokane...My uncle and his family were also visiting from SD. We spent some time with them and had so much fun! This is my sweet little cousin, Kate. (or Weewa) Such a cute nickname for such a cute little thing, don't you think?

Wedding preparations...

2009-07-15T15:41:00.000-07:00

the flower girl dress for Jocelynne...

is finally done. :)

What is Summertime without...

2009-07-15T15:20:00.001-07:00

... Fresh fruit for a yummy fruit pizza!

... Juicy watermelon for a snack.

...some cool shades.

...having some fun in the sun.

4th of July weekend Fun!

2009-07-14T08:53:00.000-07:00

We decided to take Jocelynne to the Point Defiance Aquarium & Zoo. I love the look on her face.

The sharks, fish and otters were facinating to her.

Jay and I were invited to the Erlenmeyers at Morton Lake. What a beautiful place! Jay and I took a little canoe ride before the fabulous firework show started.

Jocelynne had fun with her cousins at a park near their house in Mill Creek.

The park also had a little petting farm. All in all it was a very fun weekend!

Grilled Pizza continued!

2009-07-11T13:42:00.000-07:00

Here is the tried and true, best homemade pizza dough ever. There is a little secret for making the dough: Mix all the liquid ingredients, plus sugar and salt in a separate bowl. Then put the flour in the bowl you are going to let it rise in and make a little well. Step 3 very important: pour liquid mixture into flour and knead just until the dough is formed. Leave in the flour and let rise for about 45 min.
This does take some practice... so don't be discouraged if it doesn't turn out the first time.

Ingredients:
1 package of Yeast
1 cup warm water
1 tsp sugar
1 tsp salt
2 Tbsp vegtable oil
3 cups flour

Grilling: I rolled my dough out on flour (leave pretty thick). Then folded it in half and half again. Slide it onto a cookie sheet. Keep the grill set at 200-250 degrees. Unfold dough and slide onto grill. Turn it over after about 8 min. (or until it is lightly brown on one side) This works best if you use your cookie sheet a spatula to flip the dough. Add toppings. And grill another 8 min or until lightly brown.
Happy grilling!

Summertime Grilling...

2009-07-10T10:55:00.000-07:00

I love to grill...especially during summertime. Just a few weeks ago, I tried grilling homemade pizza for the first time. Jay said it was the best I've ever made.

I have to agree. Since then, I have tried grilling a few other things...like meatballs. So good.

Fun at VBS!

2009-07-10T10:28:00.000-07:00

Jocelynne was great at her first year in VBS. I was amazed at how well she did. Of course she had a favorite leader as well. (Kelly)

After a busy morning...kind of worn out, but still distracted by all the fun!

Weeks in review...

2009-06-20T00:26:00.000-07:00

It seems I am always playing "catch up" on this blog. Time just slips away, especially when you are having so much fun! Here is a little recap of the most exciting, recent events.
1st hair cut.
A little water action on the slide at the aquatic center.

Catching some rays!

The first strawberry picking of the season...and it looks like they are sweet!

Danica Patrick...watch out, there is a little competition in the house!

Spagetti never tasted better...

2009-06-04T19:11:00.000-07:00

It was a hectic weekend...

2009-06-03T12:50:00.000-07:00

We did manage to squeeze in a little soccer...

...found a little rope and some sticks...

...and had a little fun. :)

2009-05-26T16:08:00.001-07:00

Well, I found this cute little cabinet for $3 at Bargain town. I really liked the color, but it didn't go with the color scheme in the bathroom....so I painted it...and now I'm not sure I like it !!! I was thinking I would distress it. What do you think??? I need a little imput here. (also, the green color is a little darker then this picture portrays)

Birth...

2009-05-26T15:49:00.000-07:00

It isn't every day that you get to watch puppies come into the world. Sharon invited me to come over and see Bela give birth to 9 English Springer Spaniel puppies. You get more info about them at: http://www.erlenmeyerphotography.blogspot.com/

Birth is amazing...no matter what the species...and aren't they cute!

On the GO!

2009-05-26T15:31:00.000-07:00

It is very hard to get a good picture of Jocelynne these days. Lately, her favorite thing to do is run. I caught her doing this little dance and then she was off again!

Youth Spring Retreat!

2009-05-21T10:30:00.000-07:00

Our youth group has a spring retreat every year. It has been really fun to go and also learn from God's word along with the youth. This year we went to Camp Camerac, just outside of Leavenworth, WA. It was so beautiful! I haven't uploaded any pics from the trip yet, but follow this link and you will see one of the fun things we did. http://www.photoreflect.com/pr3/orderpage.aspx?pi=0XPF00231A0009&po=9
I am the one in the navy adidas visor. If you skip to the next picture...you will see why I am bracing myself!

Fun for a $

2009-05-15T15:38:00.000-07:00

Lately, I have been trying to find some fun, but inexpensive things for us to do together. Since she is getting older there is so much more that we can do! I was so excited to find this little package of beads for a dollar.

At first, she kept asking me if it was candy. :) I thought when we got home she would be disappointed that it wasn't. After I showed her what we were going to do, she was so excited.

"Look, mom! cute!" she says, as she holds out her wrist showing off her new bracelet. To me that was priceless.

Last Weekend...

2009-05-15T15:16:00.000-07:00

Along with Mother's Day we also celebrated Jay and Scott's(Jay's brother) birthdays with the Bong family. They always have fun when they get together.

Jocelynne especially enjoys playing with "Uncle Cott" as she calls him.

He was scaring her and then they would both laugh hysterically. It was so fun to watch.

A few fun projects...

2009-05-14T15:32:00.000-07:00

I saw this fun idea on http://bakerella.blogspot.com/2009/05/candy-cup-caps.html
So I decided to make some for the seniors at Senior Honor Night at our church. It was fun.

This is my first attempt at making a "hooter hider". Yes, thats what they are called, just a fancy name for a nursing cover up. :) I got the pattern from a friend and was suprised at how easy it was!

Jay's Birthday

2009-05-14T15:11:00.000-07:00

Jay doesn't really like cake that much...so I thought I would do something different this year. Jocelynne and I made fudge brownies. (out of the box) As you can tell she loved helping out.

Then I made some homemade fudge sauce to top the ice cream and brownies...delicious!

Here is the recipe for the homemade fudge sauce:

1 cup heavy whipping cream

1 cup sugar

1/2 cup butter, cubbed

1 cup baking cocoa

In a large saucepan, combine cream, sugar and butter. Cook and stir until sugar is dissolved. Bring to a boil, without stirring. Reduce heat; simmer uncovered for 3 min. Cool for 3 min.

Place cocoa in a heat proof bowl. Whisk hot liquid into cocoa until smooth. WARNING: VERY RICH!

April showers bring May flowers...

2009-05-01T14:08:00.000-07:00

I believe it was only a few days ago that I was complaining about the rainy, cloudy and cold weather we were having. Then yesterday it was so nice out! A dear friend stopped by with these beautiful, fragrant lilac blooms and a few other amazing flowers...like this vibrant tulip below. God does bring beauty from the rain.

Since it was so nice out, I decided to started the dreaded job of pulling weeds and getting the soil turned in my little garden. I am ashamed to say I have waited this long and the weeds are out of control now! I couldn't help but think of how long I wait to tend the "weeds" in the garden of my heart, before long they have deep roots and hard to get rid of. Father, please help me to "weed" those nasty thoughts, words and yes...complaining out my heart each day, so I can grow to be more like YOU!

Getaway to the OR Coast!

2009-04-28T09:49:00.000-07:00

Last year we took a mini-vacation with the Erlenmeyer family to the Oregon coast. It was fun, but traveling with kids can be tiring. So this year we decided to go without kids.

We did a little eating out at some great seafood resturants. Tidal Raves Seafood Grill was my favorite!

We toured the Yakina Head lighthouse. This picture does not do it justice.

And of course we spent a lot of time at the beach....exploring tide pools with all sorts of amazing creatures....

....watching the sunset as the tide was coming in...

....and last but not least, spending some much needed time together.

It was refreshing, relaxing and so much fun! But we were very excited to come home and see our little girl. This picture was taken by Michele Jansen. She is so good at capturing those timeless expressions in her photography. You can see more of her work at: http://moseslakejansen4.blogspot.com/

Our little guest...

2009-04-28T09:16:00.001-07:00

Jocelynne had a little friend over for a few days. I know she enjoyed having a playmate, even though it meant sharing her daddy.

To Have & to Hold

2009-04-27T22:28:00.000-07:00

I caught Jocelynne sneaking some mints. :)

Last weekend was Ashley (Jay's sister)& Grants wedding. Here she is walking in with her dad.

Jay's brother, Craig played for the reception. Jocelynne was thrilled to help out.

Jay was an usher. It was a long day for the kids with pictures etc.,but Jay was happy to get to hold his little girl.

Jocelynne is having fun with her cousin, Charisma.

We rented a condo with most of Jay's brothers & sisters. It was fun spending time with family.

Just Because...

2009-04-08T15:26:00.000-07:00

Today isn't a special day or anything like that, but this was on my mind, so I didn't want to put it off another day. In one month and six days, Jay and I will have our 4 yr. wedding anniversary. I just wanted to dedicate this post to him and tell him how much I appreciate him. I love him for so many reasons...too many to list all on here. There are a few things that stand out in my mind. So here it goes....Jay, I love that you are so genuine and caring.I love that you show me how special I am to you. I love that you are such a fun & doting father to Jocelynne. I love that you bring out the fun side and help me to not be so serious about everything. I love that you have such a big heart for others and helping others in need. Most of all, I love your heart for God and that you are open to what He wants in your life and our family. So, thank you for marrying me almost 4 years ago. I am blessed to have you.

A Flip-flop Weekend...

2009-04-06T12:33:00.000-07:00

It was definitely a weekend to break out the flipflops, enjoy the sunny weather, and just be outside. And thats what we did.

No...where to go, but time to dress up and look pretty.

Play-Doh Cookies???

2009-03-31T14:22:00.000-07:00

Thats what I thought when I saw a picture of these play-doh cookies. I am always looking for fun things to do with Jocelynne and when I found this idea...I saved it for a rainy day. Here is the link: http://myplumpudding.blogspot.com/2007/12/play-doh-cookies.html This website also has other fun ideas & crafts.

I liked the lollipop version best, so this is how ours turned out. :)

Take time to smell the roses...

2009-03-26T12:20:00.000-07:00

Spring is here and there may not be roses yet, but these are a few things we have been enjoying lately.

Tanner's visit

2009-03-18T12:59:00.000-07:00

Jocelynne had so much fun "mothering" and playing with little Tanner.

Who wouldn't? Look at that big smile!

This is what the wind blew into our backyard!

2009-03-15T20:03:00.000-07:00

The red you see is the top of our 6 foot fence. My 10'x10' garden is back in that corner and is also filled with these tumbleweeds! I don't think we have ever had this many before...I just had to take a picture. :)

FABULOUS FRIENDS + GREAT FINDS = SO MUCH FUN!

2009-03-09T11:30:00.000-07:00

A few weekends ago, some of my girlfriends and I went thrifting & antiquing. It was so refreshing to just talk and share about life with each other. I am so blessed to have such great, christian friends to encourage me and be there for me. Thank you...Michele, Sharon & Marie. Below are a few great finds.

I am so excited to get flowers in this tea kettle! Spring is on its way.

This last find has a little story behind it, so I have to share and give credit to whom credit is due.

Sometime ago I commented casually to my friend, Sharon that I wish I had a jar of old buttons. You know, the kind that you would find in your Grandma's attic or her sewing things. I know that sounds weird. Who wants a jar of old buttons? Oh, the possibilities you could create with old buttons... scrapbooking,cardmaking or anything really! Never, in my wildest dreams did I think I would find an actual jar of old buttons. I was thinking that I would have to just make my own jar of old buttons. My next thought was, it would probably take years of collecting from here and there. So, I just mentally scratched it off of my wish list. On our little outing, we stopped at a 2nd hand shop, not expecting to find much. We were looking around and Sharon came up to me and presented this jar....

I was so suprised! I actually can't recall what I said next. Hopefully, I said thank you. :) I pictured an elderly woman bringing it to the this 2nd hand store. How many buttons had she sewn back onto pieces of clothing that were special to her? Why would she get rid of this jar of memories? Was the little marble one that she had picked off of the floor numerous times and kept as a fond memory of her child? I'm sure, so many stories could be told of the old buttons in this jar. To me its not just an old button jar. Now, I have a story to tell. I hope to use the buttons soon and add a few of my own here and there to replenish it. For now, I will keep the jar up where I can see it every day to remind me that nothing is too trivial to ask God for. (Phil 4:6,7)

Thankful Thursday

2009-03-04T21:50:00.000-08:00

I Tim.6: 6 Godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and we can take nothing out of it.

Lately I have been constantly asking myself...."Am I content?" Not contentment with what I have, but with who I am. Am I content being wife? Am I content being a mother? Am I content to fold that pile of laundry? Am I content to wash another dirty dish? You know what I am talking about. Then I read a verse like this and I am reminded that even what I am has been given to me by God. When I start focusing on what I am thankful for, I forget that I even had a reason to not be content. So today I am making a list of what I am thankful for.

Thankful for the little walk I took outside with my daughter.

Thankful for Jay and his hard work ethic.

Thankful for such great neighbors.

Thankful for all the wonderful friendships I have.

Thankful that I have clothes to fold and dishes to eat off of.

Thankful that I am a mother.

...and yes, thankful to be a wife.

Porkchop Recipe

2009-03-02T10:45:00.000-08:00

I am always on the lookout for great, EASY recipes. Recently, I was going through my recipe box and found this one. Normally I don't like pork, but I really liked this recipe. Enjoy! And if you need a recipe card to copy it out on...there are some fun ones to print out here: http://www.flipflopsandapplesauce.com/2009/02/peacock-recipe-cards.html

Loveless Cafe Brazed Porkchops

Makes 2-6 medium sized porkchops. Use a large skillet with lid. Brown both sides of porkchops in a little oil. In a separate bowl mix all sauce ingredients together and pour over porkchops.

Sauce: 1 TBSP mustard
1 tsp garlic salt
1 TBSP red wine vinegar
2 TBSP brown sugar
1/3 cup water
a little bit of worchestshire sauce

Simmer for 1 hour. Remove porkchops and boil down sauce to a glaze, stirring constantly. Pour over porkchops and serve. mmmmmmmmm.

Sorry, I didn't take any mouth watering pics.

Now that I am "caught up"....

2009-02-26T16:27:00.000-08:00

with all the the photos etc. that I should blog. I feel like I can post something fun. :) Just a little pic to get you curious. I won't say "when" you will find out more about it, because you all know how bad I am at posting on a regular basis. ha ha. If you think you have an idea of what it may be please leave comment. :)

just a few fun pics from this week....

2009-02-26T15:51:00.000-08:00

I guess that makes two worn out at the end of the day....

My little asian helper. My cousin, Beth works in China. She gave this little dress to us when Jocelynne was still really little. Lately I have been letting her pick out her own clothes to wear for the day...this is what she chose. (and she didn't want to take it off) It fits her perfectly! If you are reading this Beth...thank you so much!

District Youth Conference

2009-02-26T15:36:00.001-08:00

This is my second year of being a youth leader at DYC. Once again I am amazed that God did a work in my life while I was there,and here I was praying that the students would learn something. :) These are some of the girls from our group. We are standing in front of a "graffitti wall". The students could paint the truths that they learned during the weekend.

Our looooooooong bus ride home. I got to know the youth better and we had fun playing games.

Grandpa & Grandma's visit

2009-02-26T15:24:00.001-08:00

My parents came for a suprise visit the first week in Feb. Here are a few of my favorite pics from their stay. My dad enjoys reading and so Jocelynne would join him on the couch.

Vovo(Grandma) and Jocelynne reading books. Her favorite thing to do.

This is by far my favorite...of the week. Dad doing back exercises. Looks like he found someone to join his daily routine. :)

happy Valentines day!

2009-02-14T16:43:00.000-08:00

Our finished product!

Making fun valentines cookies.

mmmmmmmmmmmm. m&m's. can I eat some mom?

Such a big Girl!

2009-02-14T16:27:00.000-08:00

Stickers seemed to work so good with potty training for us. She was so proud of her accomplishments and excited to wear Curious George panties. :)

The "cup" Cake

2009-01-29T13:02:00.000-08:00

I finally got Jocelynne's cupcake cake decorated that same week of her birthday and so of course we had to have a few friends over to help us eat it. :)

The squealing of childlike delight....over a piece of cake(and frosting)

"Want a piece of this cup cake, Jesse?"

Blow out the candle!

Cupcake Party!

2009-01-22T15:33:00.000-08:00

January...already! Another year has come and gone and our little girl is growing into a little lady. To celebrate her 2nd birthday she had 2 little girlfriends over for a cupcake party! (and their mommies) What fun!

More Holiday Fun with Friends & Family

2009-01-22T11:42:00.000-08:00

We had brunch in Leavenworth one day and of course toured the shops. It was snowing and that made everything so beautiful.

We also went to Mission Ridge for a day. Jocelynne loved playing the "copy me" game in the lodge with Tia Andrea.

Meanwhile the professionals where out snowboarding. Jay & his brother Scott. :)

Some skiers in the mix had a little fun too. Jodi (Brett's sister), Andrea & Brett

Later we warmed ourselves by the fire back at the condo we all stayed at.

We had a little fun with the gingerbread house making!

The beautiful and creative finished products.

December Recap...

2009-01-21T16:46:00.000-08:00

5. Jocelynne having some fun with Tia Andrea.

4. My brother (in law, well almost), Brett sporting a new Carhart coat. I am pretty excited to have a brother and he is great. So fun and easy going and perfect for Andrea!

3. My sister, Andrea came for a visit with her fiance and family. I love this picture of her because it shows her smile. This the first thing I think of when I think of her. She is always laughing about something and bringing joy to others.

2. I had so much fun making out Christmas cards this year. Our Christmas picture was taken by the lovely and talented Sharon at Erlenmeyer Photography. You can see more of her work at: http://www.erlenmeyerphotography.blogspot.com/

1. This little girl keeps me on my toes.

Well, I never seem to get these pics uploaded in order. I figure since I haven't been on here for a month I should explain what has been keeping me busy. More to come....

Grandma's Chocolates

2008-12-24T22:32:00.000-08:00

Well, I had hoped to post a few projects I have been busy working on this last week, but I don't have any real good pictures of any of them. So, I will try to post them tomorrow. Below is just a little something I wrote about a tradition that my Grandma started and one I hope to pass on to my family. My chocolates are still waiting to be dipped....but I did make them this year.

The story is told that one winter my grandma was very sick and bed ridden. Those who know her well, know that this was a very unlikely situation. It is very hard for my grandma to be “doing nothing”. Subsequently, she was reading through the newspaper and found a recipe for chocolate candies. She later tried the recipe and ever since made them every Christmas. As a child I especially looked forward to Christmas at Grandmas. They were few and far between since we lived in Brazil. I remember exactly how the evening would go. After a scrumptious meal, the dishes were cleaned up. My grandpa would read the Christmas story and we would exchange gifts. Finally, the desserts were served. Usually, homemade peppermint ice cream and a crown loaf. Don’t get me wrong, all of this was very delicious, but I believe almost all of us saved a special spot in our stomach’s with those chocolates in mind. We would all wait in anticipation to hear Grandma descend the stairs to the freezer where a sturdy, square, green box was kept with such care. She would then let them get to room temperature, (because this is how they tasted the best) before opening the box for us to savor them with delight. My mouth waters as I think of all the creamy, rich flavors...cherry, (with real cherries inside) mint, orange, raspberry, and walnut. I would not know how much love and care were poured into these special treats until one Christmas when I received “the Recipe” as a gift. It was not a card, but a detailed little book with pictures, and all the techniques my grandma had learned over the many years. Since then I have made these same chocolates every Christmas. I have learned a few secrets myself along the way, the kind of things you learn only by doing. They are truly an art I hope to master some day...but I will always treasure and appreciate my Grandma’s chocolates because they are by far the best I have ever tasted.

Christmas Eve Candlelight Service

2008-12-24T22:22:00.000-08:00

Jocelynne was fascinated by the candles at the Christmas Eve service at our church. This is a little dark, but I like the way the candle lit up her face.

Gingerbread Houses

2008-12-24T22:17:00.000-08:00

We were invited to make gingerbread houses at Erlenmeyers. What fun the kids had...eating candy that is. :) Cramers were there as well. Mark is such a smiley little boy.

Getting our Tree!

2008-12-24T21:36:00.000-08:00

This year when we went to get our Christmas tree there wasn't very much snow, but we had fun finding our tree anyway. We stopped by Starbucks to get some coffee and warm up. I like the expression on Jocelynne's face.

Tree Lighting Frock GIVEAWAY!!!!

2008-12-11T15:23:00.000-08:00

Tree Lighting Frock GIVEAWAY!!!!

2008-12-09T20:06:00.000-08:00

Jocelynne has been stacking anything she can find lately. Then of course she knocks it over!

Imagine Children's Museum

2008-12-09T19:54:00.000-08:00

Building a little car for Jocelynne to ride in. :)

Miss Bong the bus driver. Watch out everyone!

Jocelynne had fun milking this cow. Water would come out when you squeezed the tits.

The day after Thanksgiving we took Jocelynne to this museum in downtown Everett. It was so much fun. Jay and I were even having fun with all the cool stuff they had there!

Dinner Party Frock GIVEAWAY!!!!

2008-12-09T10:49:00.000-08:00

Dinner Party Frock GIVEAWAY!!!!
What a fun dress! You should check out all of Grosgrain's outfits. They are so creative.

Holiday Baking!

2008-12-05T17:11:00.000-08:00

Most everyone has tried recipes for leftover turkey. This year I was inspired by Chrissie from Flipflops & Applesauce to use my leftover pumpkins from Thanksgiving! Her blog: http://flipflopsandapplesauce.blogspot.com/ is packed full of fun ideas, crafts & recipes to try with your little ones. This recipe below is from her blog and is so easy. I of course used my own pumpkin, but the canned pumpkin is just as yummy!

Ingredients:

1 box spice cake mix

1 15oz can pumpkin (not pumpkin pie mix)

4 egg whites or 1/2 cup egg substitute

2 Tablespoons water

Allspice-add to taste.

Mix all ingredients in a large bowl until creamy. Fill muffin cups. Bake at 350 degrees for 18-23 minutes.

1. Cut the pumpkin in half and remove seeds

2. Cut in chunks and steam. Cool and remove skin.

3. Puree the pumpkin.

4. Make these delicious, moist cupcakes. I made miniture ones for Jocelynne.

5. Serve while still warm. Jocelynne especially liked the bite size muffins. :)

Giving Thanks with Family

2008-12-05T15:49:00.000-08:00

Plenty of cousins and Aunties to play with.

Plenty of yummy, delicious food to eat.

mmmmmmmmmm....good!

Reading our blessings & thankful messages from each other on our place cards.

Auntie Julie & Jocelynne.

Sitting around chatting and eating some more!

Is that three men in a tub???

2008-12-05T14:54:00.000-08:00

Well, 2 little men and 1 little lady.

Having fun with the help of their daddys.

A noise maker.

A mess maker.

A hungry little eater.

Lets just say they all could fit any of these titles.

Downtown Holiday Jacket and Pant GIVEAWAY!!!!

2008-11-26T11:50:00.000-08:00

Downtown Holiday Jacket and Pant GIVEAWAY!!!!
Such a cute little jacket and pants. I want to make one for Jocelynne now.

Thanksgiving Decorating!

2008-11-15T10:29:00.000-08:00

This wreath I made in honor of Jay's 1st Pheasant Hunt.
The lantern was 1.25 bargain find as well as the old box, thanks to a dear friend. :)

I was listening to a talk show on "ways to cut costs during the holidays" I always love to get ideas and tips. So here are just a few I took note of:

1. Use Candlelight

2. Decorate only three focal points of your home: Front door, Mantle (or stairway) & Dinner Table.

Harvest Party!

2008-11-15T10:20:00.001-08:00

Well, I couldn't get Jocelynne in her costume. It was a little big, so maybe we will use it for next year. We had fun at the harvest party hosted by Tim & Marla E.

A fun hayride for everyone! Jocelynne especially like it and kept asking for "trator"

A cozy place by the fire and lots of goodies to eat!

Our SD Trip

2008-11-03T10:02:00.000-08:00

Visiting my sisters.

Jocelynne loved playing on the tractor at my Aunt Barb's.

Taking a wagon ride with Grandma.

Playing with Grandpa.

Fun with 2nd cousins and Joseph & Jesse.

Jay went Pheasant Hunting.

2008-11-03T09:48:00.000-08:00

Almost forgot...

2008-11-03T09:39:00.000-08:00

After, we had some of the most delicious, creamy Country Mercantile Ice Cream. mmmmmmmm.

Fun at the Pumpkin Patch

2008-11-03T09:20:00.000-08:00

Well, this got uploaded wrong, but this was taken after we got home from the pumpkin patch.

Look mom, I found some corn!

Running between the rows of corn stalks.

We found the perfect pumpkin!

Marie-Therese Gown GIVEAWAY !!!!!!!

2008-10-22T22:16:00.000-07:00

Marie-Therese Gown GIVEAWAY !!!!!!!

This creation is AMAZING! All the detail on this costume is unreal!

Shenandoah Costume GIVEAWAY !!!!!!!

2008-10-10T15:49:00.000-07:00

Shenandoah Costume GIVEAWAY !!!!!!!
Isn't this costume so intricate and adorable!

My little girl is growing up.

2008-10-10T09:12:00.000-07:00

I put Jocelynne's clothes on and then started doing stuff around the house. Not long after, she came out to show me that she had put her shoes on all by herself. She was so proud.

This is her demonstrating how she did it.

Red Riding Hood Jacket GIVEAWAY !!!!!!!

2008-10-03T13:23:00.000-07:00

Red Riding Hood Jacket GIVEAWAY !!!!!!! Click on the link to this blog. Just a mom who loves to sew and can sew the cutest things!

Free Amy Butler Fabric!

2008-10-03T13:13:00.000-07:00

http://sewmamasew.com/blog2/ Its free Fabric Friday again!!! Check out their blog and leave a message and you'll be entered to win some fabric!!!

Talking on the Phone

2008-10-01T12:26:00.001-07:00

Beautiful Inspiration

2008-10-01T12:12:00.000-07:00

A young couple who just got engaged.

Jay's sister, Ashley & her fiance, Grant

My husband, being such a good daddy.

Polished, smooth river rocks.

The beautiful colors of the fall leaves.

Dollhouse Frock GIVEAWAY !!!!!!!

2008-09-27T14:01:00.000-07:00

Dollhouse Frock GIVEAWAY !!!!!!!

Fun Idea

2008-09-26T14:44:00.001-07:00

I saw this idea not long ago. So when I found this lantern on sale, of course I had to get it. Someday it will be full of earings.