Bacon Broccoli Cornbread

                                Bacon Broccoli Cornbread

• 2 jiffy corn muffin mixes
• 1 can cream corn
• 1/2 soup can of water
• 1 med. onion, diced small
• 1 lb. bag frozen broccoli, thawed
• 5 strips bacon, cooked and chopped                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           Mix all ingredients. Bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour in a greased 9X13 pan. Cool for 5 minutes before serving. 

        

Sam

  Our oldest Sam, will be 16 soon. He is very private, but I got his permission for this post. Sam was born when I was 20 years old. I had a really tough pregnancy! I was on bed rest, had ALL day sickness, premature labor,(thankfully the DR. could stop it) among other things. When he was born, his heart rate dropped too low, and they had to use measures to get him out quickly. It was a little scary! I was young, and he was our first. When he was 18 months, he was not walking or talking. I addressed these concerns with our DR. She was also a little concerned, and suggested I contact Ottawa Area Center. We had Sam evaluated at that time by a speech therapist.
   Her name was Val, a great therapist. She came over to our house and evaluated him. She told me that he acted, and had only met the bench markers of a 6-8 month old! A little overwhelming! Sam immediately started therapy! I read any and every book I could get my hands on child development... anything that could possibly help.
   Sam slowly began to say words, along with signing words, we had showed Sam.  He was very uncomfortable around others! Stayed to himself, things always had to be done in the same order. Change of any kind completely set him off! He continued therapy till kindergarten. Than he started seeing the school therapist. It was just a struggle for everything with him! I tried diet changes, different supplements, we saw ALL kinds of alternative medicine DRs... anything and everything!!! Finally when he was 7, he was diagnosed with PDD-NOS and anxiety. It was heart breaking!! PDD-NOS is on the autism spectrum. But...we kept going, and working! Trying everything! I honestly would cry to Jeremy, because I thought he would never be able to leave the house as an adult. There were just soooo many struggles and issues we were working with.
   But... With hard work on our part, therapist, and a ton of work from Sam, and LOTS of prayers, He is now in the 10th grade, taking AP classes, and has been on the honor roll since  the 6th grade!!!!!!! He is so smart! He is one of my biggest blessings! He is responsible, funny, and a great kid! I am crying writing this, thinking of all our struggles, and all our victories! He is growing into being a great man! He is a true testament of what hard work and prayers can do! He is still shy, but you would never know he struggled with all the things that he did! He is just a normal teenager, who rolls his eyes at his Mom and Dad, and picks on his brothers and sister. :)

Fall Harvest Stew

This is one of my favorite stews. Its easy, its good, and it fills you up! Best of all its made in the slow cooker! I LOVE slow cookers! I have 3. My husband thinks I have a problem with kitchen appliances. I don't! (maybe I do)  But, when you have a large garden and raise your meat, cook almost everything from scratch, you kinda need some things. Just sayin' So here is my stew recipe.

Fall Harvest Stew

• 2 cans diced tomatoes
• 4 med. russet potatoes, diced into 1/2 inch pieces
• 1 med. sweet potato, diced into 1/2 inch pieces
• 5 C. cabbage, copped
• 1 med. onion, diced
• 1 t. garlic powder
• 1 t. salt
• 1 can of corn, do not drain, plus one more can of water
• 4 C. of left over pork roast or chicken breast, diced
• 1 T. corn starch
• 1 T. water

Spray slow cooker with non-stick spray. Place first 8 ingredients in slow cooker. Cook on high for 3 1/2 hours. Add pork or chicken. Cook for 30 minutes more. Mix corn starch and water. Add to slow cooker and cook for 15 minutes longer, on high.



2 Birthdays in 2 Days

  My 2 youngest boys were born on 11-04 and 11-05, 2 years apart from each other. Elijah was born on the 4th in 2003, and Matthew(who we call Chewy) was born on the 5th in 2005. We have a tradition of me making what ever they request for their birthday supper. So this week Elijah turns 12 years old, and he wanted crab rangoon, and pumpkin pie. Not a great combo to cook! Crab meat and pumpkin pie spice... not such a great combo!!! But I am a Mom... and that's what we do! Cook and make our birthday boys happy. Today is Chewys birthday! He is 10! He chose hamburgers, hotdogs, coleslaw, baked beans, mashed potatoes, and monkey bread. If you are wondering... yes, I bought Tums when I got groceries this week! Sigh! But Happy Birthday boys!!! You are great kids(most of the time:) You make me smile, make me happy! I am a very blessed Momma!

Elijah

Chewy

And yes, I know I will be in big trouble for these pictures! :)

Here Comes the leaves!

  Let me tell you about one of our neighbors down the road! (Sigh) He has a SERIOUSE addiction to... his leaf blower!!! I mean "needs an intervention" kinda problem! All summer he blows grass clippings and than in the fall, he goes NUTS!!!!!! He starts as soon as the sun comes up, and typically does not end before 5-6 pm. It is relentless everyday! It makes me crazy! We needed to get a new blower this year, we thought about asking him what he has, because he really puts his blower to the test! We didn't ask him, but we did get a new leaf blower this weekend, and Sam decided to do this to his sister...

Sam and Anna. Chewy running to her rescue


 Just after I took this picture, this happened. Brother and sister love!

  

This is Matthew James, aka Chewy. He is turning 10 in a few weeks! He is my youngest! How is he almost 10?! He is smart, kind, and loves to fight with his brother, Elijah! He loves sweat pants, hates jeans, loves jokes about cows (for some reason)! Anyway...He has been saying for the last year that he, and his family someday, are going to live with Jeremy and I to help with all the farm chores. Cute! So cute and sweet! Than this happened... Last night we were all hanging out, watching tv. Than that cute little face said, "Can I live here after I am grown up?" I say "Sure Chew that's sweet". Than Chewy says "Cuz I can take care of you old folks!" looking at Jeremy and me!!!! What???? I am 36! I am not an "old folk" Chewy James!!! What 10 year old says "folk"??!! Too funny! :) He is one of a kind! :)

Date Night

  Jeremy and I have been married for 16 1/2 years. We rarely go on dates, because of the kids having things going on, we don't have the money... All the normal, everyday stuff that gets in the way. But when we do... they are EPIC!!!! Let me tell you about our exciting date night! Brace yourselves...

We were just going to go out for dinner. But we decided since we were all ready out, to do a few errands. (this is where it always goes off course) I needed to go to the fabric store, to get a gift for my cute little niece Ruby. She loves to craft when she is here! So I wanted to get her something crafty. Than we were off to Menards for a chainsaw blade, and oil. I also bought laundry detergent. After that Walmart! I know... its getting super romantic at this point! We bought new pillows for the whole family

 

 

 

 

and Wonder Woman pajamas for Anna.

 

Got gas for the mini van. Decided just to come home, because the hockey game was going to start. I made pizza sandwiches, and cheese dip to eat while we watched the game. Did dishes, laundry, cleaned the house a little.

 

 


Than this happened.

 

 

Not really a date night, but I spent it with all the people I love the most! We had fun, laughed, screamed at the TV while watching the game, I saw Anna become Wonder Woman! Pretty good! Its so nice to be married to your best friend, that even in the most normal everyday things of life, you can have fun! I am a pretty lucky girl!