Christmas Eve Devotional

My family always does a devotional Christmas Eve, where everyone is asked to come prepared with a song or poem or story about the true meaning of Christmas (okay so Cratey's is not spiritual at all, but it was a last minute idea and had to be on his level!). We don't do any gifts and it's always a neat evening and just a great chance to focus on the Savior.

Free Patterns

Hey all, I came across this website where this gal is giving her patterns out for free. (Have I mentioned how much I love the word "free"?) Out of all the crafty things I like to do, sewing is not one of them. I have been known to do it on the rare occasion (seems like it's always around this time of year), but I find it incredibly painful. However, I got the patterns for some baby shoes that were way cute and I'm thinking I might just have to give it a try!

Anyway, here's the website that explains it and you just have to click on the gray link to get to her shop to buy the patterns. http://myhomespunthreads.blogspot.com/

A Stolen I-Phone

I uploaded the pictures from Ric's phone onto our computer the other night and just for nostalgia's sake Ric and I stayed up looking through them and reminiscing. Imagine our surprise when we came across the following sequence...

Hee, hee! I know it's gross, but it was just so hilarious I couldn't resist! There were actually about 20 pictures he took in all, but blogger only let me post this many at a time and I didn't think you actually wanted to sit through all of them. However, it was quite an interesting commentary on what life looked like through the eyes of our 4 year old!

Just Pictures

So my husband and children are disgusted that this "has turned into a food blog". In an effort to appease them, I am posting pictures (of them). No, there is no theme to these pictures, just cute ones I've taken recently. Sorry family, I do love you more than food! (Well, usually.)

I think Keely's waving in this one.

This next one was tonight. A momentous occasion: all 3 kids in the bathtub for the first time. (Ric thinks I'm weird, but I can't help it - I love bathtub pictures!) Directly after the picture I got Keelian out and let the boys continue playing. I came back later to find the bathroom under 1/4 inch of water and more flooding out onto the carpet just outside the door. Creighton.

He was put in time out (naked) while I started to clean up. I brought him back in a few minutes later to show him what a mess he made. That backfired as he was totally delighted to see all the water - animatedly told me he dumped the water out of the tub because "it was sinking!" - like it was some life or death situation. It's sure tough to discipline someone who's so totally excited about what they did wrong. :/

The boys were too impatient for me to pull out all the decorations in the Christmas boxes so they started without me. Creighton obviously doesn't yet understand all this Christmas hoopla, but he did find a good use for some of the decorations!

And speaking of messes...

Love you, my family! ;)

Chicken Tortilla Soup

3 cups cooked, chopped chicken breast (I used 3/4 jar of home bottled chicken)

1 onion, chopped

2 teaspoons minced garlic

2 cans chicken broth (about 4 cups)

1 (16 oz.) jar of salsa

1 heaping teaspoon chili powder

1 heaping teaspoon ground cumin

2 heaping tablespoons lime juice

½ (16 oz. bag) frozen corn

1 teaspoon chipotle rub (optional)

Sauté onion and garlic with cooked chicken breast until tender, about 3 minutes. Add chicken broth, salsa, chili powder, cumin, and lime juice, bringing to a boil. Reduce heat and cook 10 minutes and add corn, cooking for a few more minutes.

To eat immediately: serve with tortilla chips, avocado, cheddar or pepper-jack cheese, and sour cream.

For a freezer meal: cool to room temperature, transfer to freezer bags, label and freeze for no longer than 3 months. When ready to eat, defrost and reheat over low heat. Serve with tortilla chips, avocado, cheddar or pepper-jack cheese, and sour cream.

*I tried this one out this week and it was oh so easy and really good! I altered this recipe a bit from the original in Holly Clegg's Freezer Friendly Meals book. As with most soups, you really can just kind of dump and adjust to what you like. This adjustment is perfect for one meal for my small family (2 adults, 2 small children) with not much extra, so if you're cooking for more, dump in a bit more chicken broth to stretch it. ;)