Memorial Day! and my latest project!

As you all know this past Monday was Labor day! Our family gathered at my parents home to have our usual family picnic. It was so much fun. Our mother had only been out of the hospital for a week or so and so we all brought food, and she didn't have to do anything. My brother Jerry did the grilling. We had hot dogs, hamburgers, brats, potato salad, cole slaw, pies, fudge, pickles, olives etc.

Little Louie was there and played with all the little girls. He is the only boy, and it looks as if it is going to be that way always. :-) We all had a great time. I am also working on four little jumper dresses for the 4th of july for the youngest children. I am posting pictures of that as well.

Wordless Wednesday!

Ultrasound results!

It's a ................

GIRL!!! Her due date is September 12, 2009! She truly is fearfully and wonderfully made!!

lovely blog award!

Lisa at the Behive Buzz has passed on the lovely blog award! Thank you so much Lisa!

Sew Crafty Saturday!

Sew Crafty Saturday will not take the place of my usual blog updates on our family. I just wanted to share a project with you all that I did a few weeks ago. I made a denim jumper out of some very inexpensive denim fabric I bought from Jo-ann's. I had intended to make a maternity skirt with it but after looking at some of my jumpers I figured I'd be better off making a jumper, but I didn't want all of them looking alike. I created a new pattern to make a pleated front instead of the "A" front like most of my jumpers for maternity are. I also used some scrap check fabric that was originally used for a pair of curtains for my kitchen to finish the sleeve holes and the neckline. When it was apparent there would be lots of it left I decided to make the back ties out the same checked fabric. Once I had my pattern created and my fabrics all cut out it only took me about 45 minutes to put it together. I love the finished product! I might even wear this one after the baby! LOL!! Here are the pictures of the finished product. Thank you Abby for taking these pictures!!

Frugal Fridays

The Pantry Staples:
In this entry I will give a list of pantry staples. These are items that if you have on hand you can make nearly anything with just a few other ingredients that can be purchased on sale. Make up your menu according to store sales and coupons. For instance if you purchased sausage or ground beef when it is on sale you could stock up so you will have it on hand when you will need or want it later. Also try purchasing noodles on sale when they are at reduced prices and tomatoe sauces with coupons and then you can whip up a couple of pans of lasagna and put them in your freezer for a later date.
Another good tip is to re-think portion sizes. When making meat casseroles double all the ingredients but meat and cheese. Be really chintzy with these items. Instead of a whole pound of meat for your dish, try using half a pound of meat.
So now for the Staples:
Brown rice
Beans (dried and canned)
Pastas
Canned Vegetables
Canned fruit
applesauce
Tomato sauce
crushed tomatoes
canned fish or meats
canned soups
flour
sugar(brown and white)
Honey
cornmeal
oatmeal canned milk
powdered milk
Ketchup/mustard/mayo
spices and seasonings
peanut butter
cornstarch
baking powder
baking soda
yeast
cocoa powder
salt/pepper
cooking oil
shortening
olive oil
vinegar(white, cider, other)
one good reason to keep a well stocked pantry is to survive a short-term emergency. Weather emergencies can happen with little notice. Would you be able to feed your family?
I hope you have found this helpful!
Happy homemaking!!

Wordless Wednesday!

Menu Monday!

I am still stretching my menu from the last menu Monday, so tune it next Monday when I have a new menu:-)
Have a happy day!

Random pictures

This is a mixture of Easter pictures, Savannah's birthday pictures (only a couple) and pictures of our play date with some new friends that live in our town.

Update on mom: she is happy to be home, but to me she still seems a little tired. That was lastnight so perhaps after good night's sleep in her own bed she will feel more refreshed today. She has to go back to the hospital on the 26th of this month and will then have bloodwork done and then they will schedule her surgery for a later date.

At our house we are going to be getting some new flooring for our kitchen. I picked it out this past Wednesday, and I love the way it looks. I can't wait til it is in. Our new baby will have nice floor to learn to crawl on:-) We are also planning to get estimates on our porch. We want to tear it all off and start new, enclose it and make it purposeful, so we can put some of the children's playthings in there and my sewing table, hopefully freeing up some space and giving the children a play area in the main house. We are also putting in a new window in the dining room. The old one is falling apart, and one window pane is cracked. So there you have it a brief update and some pictures. Can't ask for more than that can you? LOL!!

until another time!

Frugal Fridays

For frugal Friday I am posting my recipe for hot dog casserole.
I purchase the turkey hot dogs in the biggest package I can find, but you can do what suits your family best, making allowances for your own tastes:-)
First I cut lengthwise all the hotdogs, but don't cut them all the way through. I then place them in casserole dish and put ketchup or tomato sauce in the center of them (in the sliced section). I them make a huge batch of mashed potatoes or use leftover ones. You can also use instant. I pour this over the top of the hot dogs making sure to cover thouroughly each and every one. This then gets baked at 400 for about 45 min- 1hour. After the cooking time is up I then place cheddar cheese on the top and pop it back in the oven with the oven off, but still hot. After about 10 minutes it is ready to be eaten. I also like to serve this with a cooked veggie of some form and home canned fruit. Very yummy!! This is a very filling casserole and can be used as leftovers for lunch or supper again as it warms up easily.
Try some hotdog casserole! Your gonna love it:-)

a very good doctor's appointment!

Today was my first OB appointment. First I had to visit with the RN so she could get all the info. She had some information for me as well which after having 8 pregnancies I already knew. Then on to see the doctor. My blood pressure was very good, and everything sounded very good as well. The baby's heart beat was healthy and strong! I figured a due date of September 15th but doctor thinks that might not be correct she thinks I might be a little further along because of the size I am. So I am scheduled for an ultrasound on May 25. It would not bother me one bit to have the due date a little earlier. I am always so awed by my God's loving hand when he fashions each little baby. I LOVE hearing my unborn baby's heartbeat. It is such a thrill to this mama!
I am feeling very good now, and look forward to my ultrasound.
Of course ones first visit isn't complete without a trip up to the lab for bloodwork! I have become so used to it, it seems like a second home these days LOL!
We are also hoping for mom's return home this Saturday. The doctor's keep giving her dates when they will release her, and then they decide to keep her in. She is looking at being discharged on saturday and then having to go back for a major surgery. Since she got to the hospital they have moved out of her 20 stones and there are still more! They have just started letting her have solid food as well. She is in very good spirits and loves to visit via phone or personal visits to her room. She is really looking forward to coming home.

OKAY FINALLY wordless wednesday!!

was suppose to be wordless wednesday! sorry

can't figure out why blogger won't let me post pictures??

Menu Monday!

Okay Im back with Menu Monday! Sorry for the neglect of my blog as of late. My mother is in the hospital.
My menu for this week is:
Poor Man's Steak, Peas, Mashed Potatoes

Pizza Casserole, and taco salad

Biscuit Bake, this is hearty one dish meal, but I also add a salad on the side

Mushroom pork chops, corn, and potatoes

leftovers- we ususally have these on Wed.

Vegetable soup, garlic bread, pears

tuna casserole, veggie of some form and bread

Chicken patties, salad, and fruit.
Hope you all have a wonderful week! Hope to see you for frugal Friday!

Wordless Wednesday!

there once was a sleepy little blog...............

Okay, I know, I know! I have been terribly neglectful of my blog, but that just means my family is getting my full attention right? Well whether or not that is the case here I am back on under the elm. We have not been sick or anything like that just terribly busy.

One thing I don't think any of you know is that our 19 yr old daughter has an opportunity to live in Wyoming for six months starting in June. She got a job offer to work at a store deli (Mennonite owned) and stay with a family we know that is from our area. Mom, you would remember Darla Kauffman? It is her family that Jess would be staying with. They want a six month commitment though. Of course she would be able to come home it's not a prison sentence LOL! At the end of the six months if she doesn't want to do it anymore she will be free to do something else. At any rate I talked to Jess lastnight about it and she is leaning more towards moving out there. She hates the cold so I wonder if she'll be able to stand the harsh climate. She wanted to go where it was warmer not where they get winter in Oct. and it lasts until June LOL!

On March 31 Steve's grandma died at the age of 97! She had a stroke and then died a couple days later. Her body had been shutting down for a few months prior to her death.

I'm sure if I sit here long enough I could give you much more news but my little ones are outside and I must get out there with them.

Today however Emily took some pictures of them, and I pirated them from her facebook so here they are. I hope you all enjoy looking at the little ones who are looking so grown up these days.