I am thankful for my family!

Thanksgiving and cornbread dressing

I know there are thousands of dressing/stuffing recipes out there, but all I have ever grown up with is cornbread/sage dressing that's what we make. None of that apple, nut, fruity stuff for us!!!! :-) Both of my grandma's make the exact same dressing which is interesting since not many people make it on the west coast (I don't think...). One grandma is from Arkansas and the other from Texas. 

Step 1: Make cornbread - not that sweet kind! 

3 cups white corn meal

1 cup flour

2 eggs

1 tsp salt

1 1/2 tsp baking powder

2 1/2 cups milk or buttermilk (if using buttermilk add 1 tsp baking soda)

Step 2: Make biscuits (most any kind will do...Granny makes them from scratch and Momo used canned) 

Step 3: Let them dry out (2 or 3 days) then crumble

Step 4: Make dressing

1-Saute up one large onion and lots of garlic cloves (actually my grandma's both put the onions in raw and do not use garlic...that is my little twist :-)

2-Hard boil a dozen eggs and dice finely

3-Add cornbread and biscuits

4-Add sage, salt, and pepper to taste (LOTS!)

5 - Add 5 cans of chicken stock plus several spoons of turkey drippings

6- Cook at 350 for 40-45 minutes until top is brown and crispy! Yum, yum!

Okay, let me hear from all you "fruity" dressing people why yours is better. Not that I'll believe you!!!!!!!!! :-) 

Veterans Day Parade

The kids and I went to our towns Veteran's Day Parade and had a great time. It is the largest in the state of Washington. There were sooooo many school marching bands from all over the state. I was amazed at the distances that some of them travel. 

I was especially moved by the elderly veterans in the parade. They were so proud and it was an honor to see them! I became emotional several times throughout the parade thinking of how much they gave for our freedom. 

There was a group of veteran bikers all decked out in their leather and bald heads and cheering, saluting, and thanking every veteran that passed. It was VERY cool to be standing by them. 

The saddest part of the day was when the family members of those lost in the current war walked by holding large banners with their pictures of their lost brothers, sisters, daughters, sons, husbands, wives, etc. It was so sad and the reality of loss so vivid. 

I talked to the kids about what it was all about. I'm not sure how much they understand, but by simply exposing them to veterans and the reality of what our freedom costs hopefully they will appreciate it more. When we got home from the parade we called my grandpa and said thank you for serving!

Thank you veterans!

I've been trying really hard to work on crafty stuff with Reagan more. She LOVES it! Javon was more into bookwork type things where Reagan loves to draw, paint, glue, glitter, bead, cut, basically the messier the better! 

Here's our attempt at a straw skill. I drew lines on straws for Reagan to cut and then she was supposed to put them smallest to largest. Well, she didn't think that would 'look' good so she decided to do it HER way instead. I was trying to talk her into placing them in size order but she seemed to be placing them in random order. 

It is hard for me to BALANCE creative play with constructive school skills. I know that there are MANY different ideas about the BEST way, but I can only do what I feel is best for us. I tend to be more 'this is the way it's supposed to be' kind of person. 

Anyways, I thought she was placing the straws in total random order and not 'getting' what I was trying to teach her. BUT then she raised her hands up in triumph and said, "Look I made a house Mom!" I was very proud of her and her imagination! Wow, I have to remember that we all think differently. She looked at those straws and thought to MAKE something. I was just looking at it totally black and white and she was using her imagination! What a smart girl!!!

To my faithful few followers - Sorry that I've lapsed on my blogging. I've been trying to prioritize my time better and watch less TV and have less computer time. I feel like everyday is so jammed packed! 

Here's what I've been up to the past two weeks:

1) Cleaning out our attic/bedroom! We have our bed at one end and storage at the other because we don't have a garage. There were boxes of stuff that we haven't used in the three years we've lived here and I decided it was time to get rid of "stuff". I worked for a week on it and feel SOOOOOOOOO great! I get emotionally attached to things and find it hard to get rid of them, but I figured I hadn't seen it in years anyways and wouldn't miss it. Although I did have to take it to my mom's house and haver HER take it to Goodwill because I just couldn't do it. :-) I could have saved it until summer and had a yard sale but then I would have been in the same boat of having it in my attic for the entire winter/spring. I LET IT GO! Plus Josh had a lot of clothes that don't fit him anymore since he's lost 75 pounds. He hardly has any clothes left, but he wears the same things over and over anyways. If he has a couple of work shirts, a couple of church shirts, and a couple of church shirts he's happy. I also went through my closet and got rid of stuff that I've had forever and haven't worn. Again the emotional attachment thing. I don't know why I'm like that (remember the thing about not using the Strawberry Shortcake bandaids?!). So anyways, I feel such an overwhelming since of accomplishment! We have spent the past week upstairs doing school. I took a small desk upstairs for Javon and we LOVE it. 

2) Learning the songs/motions for our Christmas play. I can't believe how much work goes into a kids' Christmas play!

3) Going through our Christmas closet and organizing it. 

4) Painting and redecorating the downstairs of the church for our new SuperKids room. It's been a lot of work but the kids and teachers really like it. 

5) And then there's the normal things like school, work, wrestling, laundry, cooking, cleaning, kids, etc. 

My goal for this holiday season is to be prepared early, not spend much money, and keep on top of things EVERY day to eliminate stress of things adding up. Help me Jesus!

Tons of love and prayers..............