{Christmas 2011}

Christmas morning was quite fun. We spent the night at my parents on Christmas Eve. Jennifer and I slept out in the den. I was on the love seat and she was in one of the chairs---yeah...we didn't get a lot of sleep. Now, THAT would have been a great picture, but so sorry for you that I didn't get one of those!!

 Joshua had a bit of a theme this Christmas---it was a Wes Welker Christmas. He got this jersey from Aunt Jen and a fathead from my parents--so Wes---or flat Wes as I like to call him, lives in Joshua's room now. Very cool!!

 

 This is Shannon's husband, Bill. He has a tradition of putting on every article of clothing he receives on Christmas morning---without removing any of them---seriously---it's hysterical. This cracked me up---it's crazy Bill---he's the fun uncle---do you have an uncle like that?

 Hannah had a Tom's Christmas---she received THREE pair of Tom's shoes for Christmas---so we gave away three pair of Tom's as well---I love that about this company.

I was able to get Joshua an XBOX console with Kinect with my American Express points. This was such a blessing---I have had my Amex card for YEARS and have never used my points, so I had a ton of them and was able to get Joshua a Christmas gift I never could have bought him! He was TOTALLY surprised---

The immediate hug---SO sweet---yep, I was bawlin'---

so much fun to give something special!

I have no pictures of our lunch or anything else from that day---we all had a lovely day though---
I HAVE had other things happen since Christmas that I hope to share with you, but this is it for now. Thanks again for visiting!!

{Christmas Eve 2011}

Christmas--yes, it's February 13th and I'm just now posting about Christmas--


Caitlin and Carson spent Christmas and the following week in Rocky Mount with Carson's family, so we celebrated Christmas with them on Christmas Eve. We had a Nelson favorite---Tacoritos-- for dinner.  David's family used to eat these at a restaurant they frequented when they lived in Colorado and Barbara asked to have the recipe. It has become an "always" food when the family gets together. I've included the recipe below with my own little twist.

This will be a post full of pictures of THIS sweet girl---so sorry in advance. 

Shannon and Bill gave Eve this wonderful Pottery Barn chair---she looks

SO cute in it, don't ya think?

My parents gave Carson this pistol--this was one of our favorite memories from the holiday! My Dad had owned this for years, but had only fired it once or twice. He wanted to give it to Carson,  but was worried it may be loaded or something----so he took it up into his attic and fired it---just to see what would happen. IT WENT OFF---IN HIS ATTIC!!! When he told us this, we all just cracked up. 

Josh never wants to smile in pictures anymore---but I LOVE this photo---

a captured moment!

When Joshua and I went to the Panther's game in October, he bought this shirt for Eve--neither of her parents care a bit about the Panthers, but her Uncle Josh does, so she can wear it for him!

Shannon and her family were here for Christmas this year---and my sister Jennifer, too.

My nephew, Nathan with Eve.

 My mom with Eve

My daddy with Eve

Caitlin wanted a macro lens for her camera----which is just like my camera, so it would fit if I ever needed it......very nice!

Babies make things so much fun---what a joy to have Eve around this year---she brought joy into what could have been a hard season. It was truly beautiful. I'm so glad we were able to spend this time with them---

Here are the Tacoritos and the recipe(s). Mmmmmmmm, cheeeesy!

Nelson Family Tacoritos

meat mixture:

1 lb. ground beef (or you could use turkey)

1 T. chili powder

1/2 t. garlic powder

salt & pepper to taste

1 chopped onion

(I don't measure the spices---but these are the measurements from the original recipe)

sauce mixture:

2 cans cream of chicken soup

1 can water

1/2 t. oregano, sage, cumin each

2 - 4 T. chopped chili or jalapenos

filling:

shredded lettuce

grated cheese

diced tomatoes

refried beans

Burrito sized flour tortillas

Brown onion and meat with spices until meat is tender. Simmer 30 minutes.

While the meat is simmering, mix soup, water and spices in a sauce pan. Simmer until meat is finished. Place a layer of beans & 1/2 c. meat mixture in the center of a flour tortilla. Top with lettuce, tomatoes, cheese and a bit of sauce. Close tortilla and place seam down in a casserole dish. Pour sauce over tacoritos and bake on 350 for 15-20 minutes. Top with remaining grated cheese and bake until melted.

Serve with guacamole and sour cream. 

Lately, I've been changing the meat to this recipe below. I make this recipe and use it in several recipes. It's a great starter to all things Tex-Mex.

Crockpot Spicy Beef (or Chicken)

2 lb. Boneless Beef Chuck (or chicken)

1/4 c. Salsa verde

2 cloves minced garlic

1 bunch chopped cilantro

1 medium onion, chopped

1-2 fresh jalapenos, seeded & chopped

2 t. chili powder

1/2 t. cumin

1/2 t. salt

Place the meat in the crockpot. Mix all other ingredients together. Pour the mixture over the meat and toss until well coated. Cook on low 6-8 hours or high 4 hours.

I always have extra meat, so I'll make tacos one night---or put it in the freezer for another meal in the future.

 YES---the kids STILL get pajamas on Christmas Eve---this is the only gift they get to open.

And then, the obligatory picture with Santa's cookies---and yes, we give him a bottled Coke---we are THOSE people. I think he must be tired of milk by the time he gets down South....and he likely needs the caffeine.

 

AND, of course, the silly picture---I love that my 20 year old isn't too old for this!

 

Thanks for checking in--I have another post in the que---I'm just going crazy! ;D Have a great day!!

{the boring stuff}

"It might sound boring, but I think the boring stuff is the stuff I remember the most."
                                                                  Russell from Up, to Mr. Fredericksen

Have you seen Up? You remember, the first Pixar movie that had you bawling in the first five minutes when the love of Carl Fredricksen's life, Ellie, dies before he can take her on their dream trip to South America. WAAAAAAAAAAHHHH!!! I'm crying just thinking of it. Wilderness Camper Russell is a surprise stowaway on Mr. Fredericksen's adventure to fulfill his dream. At one point in the movie, he's telling Mr. Fredericksen about his experiences with his father---who is somewhat absent in his life. He tells him about sitting on the curb and eating ice cream with his dad, "It might sound boring, but I think the boring stuff is the stuff I remember the most."

That's where I've been----I've been doing the" boring stuff". I am so grateful to have the opportunity to treasure the boring stuff---a clarified life---that's what I'm living these days---So, below is some of the boring stuff (and not so boring stuff) I've been doing since my last post---over TWO MONTHS ago. I'd LOVE to post more often---perhaps I can make time for it---I have been asked how I posted everyday in November if I have no time for it now. I posted VERY late at night---I made a commitment to do that for one month--but I can't do that everyday! I'd love to, but I think it might be uncomfortable for my students if they had to wake me up when they came into my classroom.....

Christmas Eve---pun intended---I have a post coming out on this tomorrow

Christmas Day--working on a post for this as well

And Josh's 11th birthday---more of this, too---

BUT, all of THIS is not the "boring stuff". These are pretty major events in our lives---Below is the everyday life---the stuff I've learned to treasure. I LOVE the holidays and birthdays, but let's face it--MOST of our lives are lived in the everyday--not the special days. So I'm focusing on THOSE days....as Russell says---"the boring stuff"

 Helping Josh with homework....

 Keeping Eve so Caitlin & Carson can have a date night.....

 Going to lunch with my mom and both girls before Hannah had to go back to school

 Keeping Eve----who isn't really crazy about the carseat--bummer!

 Staying home with a sick boy---he was feeling a bit better here 

when we went to see the doctor and he had a funny moment.

 Eve found a nerf dart and HAD to have it in her mouth

 I finished Project Life---my 2011 scrapbook of everyday life. OH, and I'm almost finished with my December Daily album, where I scrapbook a page for each day in December. I'll post some of that when I'm finished.

 Caitlin and Eve came over for dinner and she was graciously helping Josh with homework

 ummmmm, this was in the back of someone's truck when I came out of church one Sunday morning and I HAD to put this in here---

 Joshua helping with Eve---so sweet!

My messy desk---full of stuff to do, papers to sign, and a sweet picture 

of my five year old boy.

These are just a few of the moments of life I've experienced in the last few weeks---I'm hoping to type up a few more posts on this cold, peaceful Sunday---but we'll see! My lesson plans are done and I have a bit of time....but that can always change! Life seems to do that--for instance, Sophie just went out to the back and started barking like crazy--a BEAUTIFUL Blue Heron was in my backyard---not even in the creek---Sophie went right for it and it took off flying----such a beautiful sight. Our gracious Heavenly Father allows us to live in such a beautiful world---It all happened too fast for a photo---too bad.

I'm so glad you stopped by---Here's hoping for a few more posts in the coming weeks!

Blessed~