Professional Summer Kid Pics

Our favorite photographer, Lacey (my cousin), took some pictures of the kids for us a week ago.  They were Krissys "9 month" (although she's 10 months now), Allie's 3 year (she will turn 3 in less than 2 weeks), and Hayden's 5 year (he has been 5 for 2 months now).  I wanted to do outdoor pictures and it took a couple tries for the weather to cooperate!  We went to the little public garden area down by the Newburgh river.  It's a great spot for pictures!!!  Here's some of the pics Lacey took!

 I have too many favorites!  Thanks Lacey!  We love them all!!!

Progress or Procrasination by Lisa Allen

Monday's Proverbs 31 emails was really encouraging to me.  I wanted to share some bits and pieces of the daily devotional with you, in case you aren't signed up to get them!

July 22, 2013 Progress or Procrastination? Lisa Allen

"If you wait for perfect conditions, you'll never get anything done!" Ecclesiastes 11:4 (LB)

As I've observed this pattern of procrastination within myself, I find when faced with a desire and necessity to make a change for the better, sometimes I wait until I can do it perfectly before I'm willing to begin. Scripture tells us though "If you wait for perfect conditions, you'll never get anything done!" (Ecclesiastes 11:4).

I don't know about you, but I struggle with feeling that perfection is unreachable, so I push my goals to the back burner.

We wait to start consistent quiet times until we feel like getting up earlier. We wait to clean our house until there is a convenient weekend. We wait to join a small group until our schedules open up. We wait to begin a healthier lifestyle until the holidays are over.

Taking that first step is the hardest and yet most important step. Even a baby step toward a goal is better than staying in place. Aiming for progress rather than perfection can be quite freeing. So, I can't run a marathon. But I can lace up my sneakers and go for a walk. And while my home isn't in spotless, I can wipe down the counters and put away the piles of laundry around my living room. Yes, there are still dishes in the sink, but I have to start somewhere, right?

God is teaching me that I can make progress in the midst of less-than-perfect circumstances. While I still want to do things with excellence, a friend once told me I need to be willing to "take a B instead of an A+" on some things in life, and that helps bring perspective when excuses start to rise up. Plus, I'm learning to overcome my tendency for excuses by telling myself imperfect action is better than perfect procrastination.

Italian Chicken

Last week we tried these chicken tenders from a blog called Dear Crissy
We all enjoyed this meal.  It required a little planning ahead due to the chicken needing to marinate for one hour.  While we were eating, we all agreed it would have been extra tasty served on a bed of rice with steamed veggies!  Definitely doing that next time.

I doubled this recipe to make sure Kevin had plenty for work. 

Ingredients:

1 lb chicken tenders or cut chicken breasts
1 cup Italian dressing
4 teaspoons honey
2 teaspoons lime juice (fresh or bottled)

Directions:

Place chicken tenders (if using chicken breasts, cut into strips) into a large plastic bag.
Mix wet ingredients, and pour over chicken. Seal the bag and allow chicken to marinate in refrigerator for one hour.
Add chicken and liquid to a large skillet. Cook over medium heat for 30-40 minutes (I used my electric skillet), until liquid is brown and reduced and chicken is cooked. Toss the chicken in remaining liquid to glaze.

July's Mid Month Update

Outside my window . . . Our yard is a work in progress!  We are trying to get our landscape taken out/cleaned up/redone!  It's sunny and beautiful (a tad warm for me) and should be the rest of the week.

I am thinking . . . my to do list today may carry over to the next couple days... it's pretty long!

I am thankful for . . . Allie having 9 days left in her cast!  We've avoided the water all summer so she wouldn't feel left out, so we are planning on spending the whole day in a pool when it comes off. 

In the kitchen . . . I'm waiting to put my bran muffins in the oven for breakfast :)

I am wearing . . . my pjs

I am creating . . .  a list of things to look for while thrifting/yard saling.  #1 on my list is a big mirror for the hall bathroom!

I am going . . . to Walmart and PetSmart today.  

I am wondering . . . if Krissy is getting more teeth.  She has all the symptoms but I can't see any part of her gums that look super swollen.  If only she could talk....

I am reading . . . homeschool material! We are starting our adventure this month!

I am hoping . . . Shylers re-opens soon!  It's the only BBQ I want!

I am looking forward to . . . a doctor's appt next week.  This pregnancy is flying by!  I'm 16 weeks this week. 

I am hearing . . . PBS.  I usually have it on for the kids to watch while I'm getting breakfast ready.

Around the house . . . we are hoping to have an organization overhaul!  I have so many closets and drawers and baskets I need to go through and re-organize!

One of my favorite things . . . is when Kevin is off work.  The kids love having their wrestling partner home, and I enjoy having another adult in the house to talk to.

A few plans for the rest of the week . . . It's the first week we have nothing on the calendar!  I need to get caught up on everything (cleaning/organizing/laundry) and maybe spend a little time on Pinterest.  I've had good luck with some things I've pinned recently!

Easy Crockpot Pizza

It's been weeks (maybe months) since I've tried a new recipe, but I found one on Pinterest that got my attention.  It looked very easy, cooked quickly, and it seemed to be the kind of food I've been craving (think meat, cheese, carbs).  I didn't expect it to be some wonderful meal I'd make over and over because the ingredients are pretty plain.  What was I thinking?  I love plain and simple, and my belly and the kids and Kevin all enjoyed the recipe!  Definitely will be making again!  It didn't have a name, so I'll call it "crockpot pizza" because Kevin said it tasted like homemade pizza but with noodles instead of crust!

Ingredients:
3lb jar of Prego (or your favorite pasta sauce)
box of rigatoni noodles - cooked
1lb ground beef - cooked
3 C mozzarella cheese
1 package turkey pepperoni (healthier and just as tasty)

Directions:
Reserve 1-2 C of Prego for topping.  Layer half of each ingredient in order listed then repeat.  Cover and cook on low for 4 hours (after about 2.5 hours I turned my crockpot to "warm" because I didn't want it overcooking while we were gone - and it was perfecto!).
Once it has cooked (the cheese will be melted and the pepperoni will curl around the edges), serve and top it with the extra sauce if you are a sauce person!
We also served the dish with green beans and Papa Johns breadsticks (a favorite craving of mine). 

We ate close to 8pm last night and we were all so hungry I forgot to take pictures!  Here's one picture from the website I found the recipe on...