Southwestern White Chili

This was a hit at Emma Jane's birthday. It is so quick and easy, and people always go back for 2nds!



Southwestern White Chili





2 tbsp. Zesty Italian dressing

1 lb. boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite size pieces

1 small onion, chopped

2 (15 oz) cans white beans (I used Bush's Great Northern Beans)

1 (14.5 oz ) can fat-free reduced sodium chicken broth

1 (4 oz) can chopped green chilies, undrained

1 tsp. ground cumin

Toppings: shredded cheese, cilantro, tortilla chips

Heat the dressing in a large saucepan over medium-high heat. Add chicken and onion, and saute until the chicken is cooked. Stir in beans, broth, chilies, cumin, and bring to a boil. Simmer on medium-low heat for about 10 minutes.

Serve over tortilla chips and top with cheese and cilantro.

Ta-dah!!! Yummy dinner in no time at all! :)

I Believe it was My Great Grandfather who said, "Your Bladder is Behind Your Eyes"

Okay... These pregnancy hormones are turning me into a total sap. Examples below.

1. Clark went to work today--a totally normal occurrance. As he was backing out of the driveway, I got teary and thought of all the wonderful ways he took care of me this weekend and what a fabulous daddy he is and how blessed Emma and I are to have him, etc. etc. etc., and I got all teary. I told Emma, "Let's pray for Daddy," and I led Emma in a choked up prayer about her wonderful daddy.

P.S.: He is coming home today... normal time... I'm just crazy.

2. As Emma Jane was eating her vegetable soup for lunch, she decided to be brave and try the carrots and potatoes, normally completely avoided. She said, "YUM! Like it!" and kept eating them, and my eyes got all watery, and I thought I was going to cry because I was so proud.

?!?!?! It was carrots. Really, Katelyn?

3. Naptime arrived. I took Em upstairs and was going to read to her, but she asked for her paci, and she said, "Mommy, rock you?" Normally she just lies down and falls asleep on her own for her naps, but I couldn't resist. My eyes again began to water, and I said, "Of course Mommy will rock you!" She fell asleep within two minutes, but I just kept rocking her and thinking about the fact that I only have 4 more months of just Emma and Mommy time. I know I'm going to like this little squirmy boy living inside of me right now, but I already love Emma Jane SO much. It is hard to fathom loving another equally. Ugh. I'm getting weepy just typing about it!

If I hadn't just finished a stomach bug, I would be scarfing down double stuffed oreos and telling these hormones to suck it up. But, alas, a tender tummy calls for Jello and a day of surrendering to watery eyes. Maybe I can watch Beauty and the Beast and just get all the tears out in one fail swoop.

Messy House, Warm Hearts

Note to self: Never try to force a strong-willed, nearly 2 year old to take a nap when she is really not very tired. Inevitably, frustration will ensue.

Our house feels like it's closing in on me as I am between seasons decorating-wise... I have the tubs out from my fall decor. I keep finding pumpkins and leaves in places I had forgotten about, so I have to keep tossing them in the giant tupperware container. I also have my Christmas tubs out since I have begun to decorate for my favorite time of the year. The mantle is mostly decorated, I have the Nativity up, our 10 foot tree is in place, but the rest of the happy holiday goodness is hidden under red lids in my den, playroom, and closet. I may claim tonight as a "get'er done" kind of night...

Emma has been incredibly cuddly today. She has started leaning against me periodically and just saying, "Miss you." Heart melts. Of course I missed her, too, while I was making my coffee, folding clothes, or starting another load of wash! It makes me really stop and try to give her the attention her little heart craves and deserves. Emma has a friend over this afternoon (they are both napping now-- I'm not just ignoring them to type...), so when they wake up, we are going to make tri-bead ornaments (or so that's the plan). I want to give them both a lot of love and attention... I mean, what could I really be doing that's more important? Getting stuff out of the red Christmas tubs? Nah. We will just go to a room that is not yet closing in on me and ignore the mess until little hearts are sleeping this evening. Thank you, God, that you have given me the privilege of being hugged and missed by a curly-headed two year old.

Pre-Thanksgiving Leftovers

I roasted a delicious 12 lb. turkey the other night, and the week before Thanksgiving, I was already contemplating the best way to use "Thanksgiving" leftovers. What I came up with was extremely simple, and though the ingredients didn't change all that much, it was just enough change to feel like it was a new meal.

Clark called it Thanksgiving Stromboli, but it had more of a pot pie taste...

1 can crescent rolls
2 Tbsp. butter, softened
1/4 tsp. poultry seasoning
leftover turkey meat, in pieces
leftover stuffing

Preheat the oven to 375. Roll out the crescent rolls on a cutting board. Press the perforations together, forming one large rectangle of crescent roll deliciousness. Spread with softened butter, and sprinkle with poultry seasoning. Cover with a single layer of turkey. Press stuffing on top of turkey. Roll the rectangle into a log starting at the short end of the dough. Slice the log into 4-6 slices and place crescent roll side up on an ungreased baking sheet. Bake for about 15 minutes, or until the crescent roll is a deep golden on top and everything is warmed through. Serve with yummy veggies (i.e. roasted brussel sprouts), and enjoy!

In Keeping with Tradition...

I am watching my DVRed "Throwdown" where Bobby Flay is challenging Ree Drummond, the Pioneer Woman, and I am getting SO HUNGRY!!!!! Oh my heavens, their food looks amazing! Isn't it funny, though, how their recipies look so delicious, yet inevitably we will all have the same things we have had on our table year after year--delicious or not!

For example: The only person in my family who likes marshmallows on top of sweet potatoes is my dad, but year after year, we have a 9x13 dish of the casserole leaving the rest of us to scrape the marshmallows to the side... How about green bean casserole? I am lusting over the roasted brussel sprouts I see these chefs prepare, but I am pretty sure there will be cream of mushroom soup covering canned green beans wherever my hungry self lights Thanksgivng Day.

Maybe for Emma's 2nd birthday I will prepare a Thanksgiving Feast using only recipies I have never done before... ??? That could be fun! AND TASTY!!!!


PS: If you haven't received a text or seen on facebook, we are having a BOY!!!! And, boy, was he proud of the parts that make him male! As soon as the technician began the ultrasound, there he was, in all his glory! Later he was even kind enough to move his hand down to display his goods.

I didn't have a prefrence, but I am so excited to think of Emma having a brother. I just think how much I love my brother, and the special bond Emma and her little brother will have. I also feel like Clark will have his boy, and even though he says he would have been just as thrilled with a girl, I feel like he will be happy to have his mini-me. So as far as names go, we are thinking Anthony Ransom Fertitta, and he would be called Ransom. Ransom is actually my Grandma Jane's middle name, and her father got the name from Thomas E. G. Ransom, a general of the Union Army in the Civil War. Ransom in means "warrior's shield" or "deliverance, rescue" and is of English origin.

The little guy is moving right now. What a wonderful feeling!!! Emma is waking up from a 3 hour nap... Life is good! Thank you, God, for all the blessings and privileges you have given me. I pray that I will be a good steward of all you entrust to me.

No More "Jaws Theme Song" Playing in My Head...

The surfboards are gone.

Well, they are at least on the floor in bits and pieces rather than hanging proudly as a border.

Today I chose completion over a nap, perhaps because I was embarassed when Leah came over and saw the mess, or perhaps I was challenged by what Beth Moore said last night: "Finish the work, and finish it well." While this is not the tabernacle in the wilderness, I do want this room to be a sanctuary for Emma--a place where she can find rest and come to know the love of her Savior as her mommy and daddy try to flesh it out daily. Before we moved, I purchased some of that vinyl lettering that you stick to the wall in the words of Psalm 139:14 ("I praise You, because I am wonderfully and fearfully made...") with plans to put it in the baby room. Now I'm not sure. I think I may want to put it on one of Emma's big girl room walls... As she grows from toddler to little girl to young lady, I want her to constantly be reminded that God put thought and effort into her creation, and that she is a work of art!

So, sans surfboards, it is time to choose paint and make that room beautiful for my beautiful little girl! She says she wants it to be purple... I think Clark is less intimidated by lavender than pink, so we will see...

Yummy Dinner

It feels soooooo good to make a dinner that has your honey purring and later telling you, "That was really good", especially if he is a man of few words and scarcely uses adjectives. Since dinner tonight was a success (and really easy), I think it deserves posting. It is inspired from something I saw Jessica Seinfield make on Oprah the other day, but I didn't get the recipe, and I don't measure, so... here it goes!

MENU

Lemon Rosemary Chicken

Root Vegetables

Biscuits

Lemon Rosemary Chicken

1 whole fryer (I used a 3lb. chicken)

1 lemon

rosemary sprigs

olive oil

salt

pepper

kitchen string

Preheat your oven to 375 degrees. Clean the chicken, removing the innards, neck, and tail. Place on a large baking sheet. Rinse the lemon and use a pairing knife to cut random 1/2 inch gashes in the lemon. Stick the whole lemon in the cavity of the chicken. Add 4 or 5 rosemary sprigs to the cavity. Pour about 2 Tbsp. olive oil on the outside of the chicken and give it a good massage. Salt and pepper both sides of the oily bird generously. Tie the legs together tightly with the kitchen string, tuck the wings under the front of the chicken.

Root Vegetables

Parsnips (Look like big white carrots)

Carrots (I used baby ones to save on time)

New Potatoes (I used purple potatoes from Randall's-- AMAZING, and very pretty)

Peel parsnips and carrots. Cut in 1/2 inch chunks. (You can leave the baby carrots whole.) Cut the potatoes in halves. Place vegetables around chicken on baking sheet. Drizzle vegetables with olive oil, and sprinkle with salt and pepper.

Roast chicken and vegetables in the oven at 375 for about an hour and a half.

Biscuits

I cheated and used Pioneer baking mix, and they were YUMMY! :)

Hope you and yours enjoy this meal as much as my little family did! :)

Surf's Up!

This is the border that the previous residents thought was a good idea. It is also the border that Fannie Mae thought was so great they would take the time to paint around it (they painted right over all but one other-- the turtle mosaic in the guest bath--equally impressive).

This is what I discovered when I removed the border! The khaki on top is the paint color original to the house. The blue is the color the room was to coordinate with the surf board border. The WHOLE ENTIRE ROOM (minus the border) was that color blue.

Wall one: completed.
I started wall 2 during Emma's nap today, and I hoped to have it finished before I went to bed tonight. HOWEVER... Emma choked on a Nilla Wafer in the car on the way home from the store and threw up in her carseat. Later on this evening, Clark, while helping me look for something, knocked my glass grease jar onto the kitchen tile. Then, the Cowboys game was on, so I got bath duty. Because these "projects" got a lot of unplanned attention, normal chores have been pushed to this time instead of continuing my dewallpapering, but hopefully I will get much done tomorrow!

ADD

Today I took note of the projects I have started or in which I have invested some time and/or money, and I noted how many of those projects have reached completion, and I have determined I have Attention Deficit Disorder.

FOR EXAMPLE:
I bought tons of flowers, ribbon, and clips because I was going to go into the bow making business (at least for Emma Jane). I think I made maybe 5 bows, 3 of which I gave away... The flowers and ribbon are in my craft closet waiting to be used.

I bought yards of assorted flannel to make baby blankets for shower gifts. The flannel is folded neatly, untouched, ungifted, in my craft closet.

Emma's big girl room, currently a guest room, has a nardly surfboard border wrapping around the 4 walls. The first step in getting this room ready for Emma is taking this horrendous border down. About 3 weeks ago, I pulled up a corner just to see how well stuck it was. Three days ago, I tried the fabric softener/water trick. Tonight I tried the iron. As of right now, one wall is done. This is the furthest I have gotten on a remodeling project other than taking out the shower door, but Clark helped on that one.

At MOPS last Wednesday, we made these super cool clip boards that I decided I would make some more of for Christmas gifts. So, I went to Hobby Lobby and bought all the materials (Modge Podge, scrapbook paper, embellishments, etc.) minus the actual clipboards. I figure I will get those at Wal-Mart when I can set aside my dislike of that store and go there.

Just Friday I went to Hobby Lobby and splurged on 6 yards of beautiful decorator fabric to make curtains for the playroom. It is still in the Hobby Lobby bags in my room. I did, however, move a desk and my sewing machine into my room, showing I have great intentions...



Looking at this post is overwhelming! There are so many fun things (yes, these things seem fun to me) that I want to do, but just so little time to get them done. I go from one good thought to another, reaching completion on so few! The craft stores have got to LOVE me!!!!! Imagine the shoes I could buy with the money I would save from not having as many crafty compulsions!

My goal for tomorrow: During Emma's nap time, do my Bible study, and then get out of this comfy yellow chair and get my butt up to the guest room and de-surfboard at least one more wall! I will try to post tomorrow evening to see what really gets done!

Fantastic Switch

Lately Emma Jane has been very mommy-centered, partially stemming, I think, from lack of Daddy time. He had some late work nights, softball games, church, etc., and she hadn't gotten to see him much this week. My name (Mommy) was being said more often than ever, and it felt like I was the only one in the world who could meet her needs... slightly overwhelming at times. Last night, Emma re-fell in love with her daddy, and today, Daddy has been the only one she needs. They have made trips to Lowe's together, planted Amaryllis bulbs, carryied dirt around the yard, played football, and eaten meals together. She has insisted that Daddy get her out of her carseat each time and that Daddy change her diaper. I know it's a small thing, but it just assures me that God intended us to parent together... in a pair... Just when I had reached my breaking point, Daddy was there to meet the needs and wants of a somewhat needy and wanty 22 month old! Maybe by the end of this weekend I will be jealous for her time and affection, thus ready to face another week with little daddy time, but at this moment, I am in love with my little girl's love for her daddy!

Renovation Success!

Clark got me a fantastic early birthday present--- a new laptop!!! Yea! So now I can type wherever Emma is playing which will hopefully help me stay on top of email and blogging!

This weekend, we tackled our first renovation project! We took out the sliding glass doors on the tub in the guest bathroom and replaced them with a curved shower rod and a beautiful white "shabby chic" shower curtain! We scrubbed all the fixtures and knobs until shiny and mildew free! Clark replaced the overflow cover with a nice brushed nickel one. It is so clean and fresh looking, and the total reno came to about $40! This project has encouraged me in so many ways! It was easy, Clark and I had a fun time working on it together (family bonding), and it didn't cost much to make a big difference! My new old house has hope! :)

I will try to post pictures soon. After 4 months of no pictures, I finally bought camera batteries today, but now I can't find my camera. Figures.

Hugs to all!

Cleaning Fun!

I don't know if I have posted a link to this website before or not, but it is a great site for motivation and direction when trying to figure out where to start in the house cleaning process!

www.flylady.net

Happy Cleaning!

Try again?

This morning, Emma and I watched the Sesame Street episode where Jack-be-nimble tries to jump over 8 candlesticks but stumbles on his first 2 attempts. It takes the encouragement of dear friends to get him to try again, resulting in not just success, but surpassing greatness. THUS, I am going to try again at blogging, determined to far exceed my own expectations.

Last night, God and I talked. It was at a service at church which I was a little skeptical about at first, but which turned out to be a really good thing. We prayed in different styles, took Lord's Supper, and sang praise songs. It was a really emotional night for me. Clark was unable to make it, but I am kind of glad because I had no distractions. I just got to be real before Jesus, and bring Him my pleas and petitions mingled with my thanksgivings. Of course on the forefront of my mind was our house selling. At one point people were asked to go up and pray with the prayer ministry volunteers if they had a need for physical healing in their lives. I was so broken just watching all the people go to the front, some of them with pains I was aware of, others' hurts unknown to me. Right before that portion was wrapped up, I realized--HEY! I am sick! I didn't move, but I just sat in the pew and cried. Happy tears. Sad tears. Prayerful tears. I have still been taking meds for anxiety since post-partum, and though I feel great, I don't like having to think of it in light of getting pregnant again or as a forever problem. I am thankful for the meds and the doctors' wisdom that have helped me so much, but how I would love for Jesus to just take this struggle away from me. I don't know what His will is... for me to remain on happy pills for the rest of my life, or for it to just be a short chapter, but I do know I want His will to be done, not my own. His will and way always surprise me with more pleasure than I ever could have conceived, and I am so greatful that at the end of the day it is Him who authors my story and not me.