Tasty Tuesday

Basic Meatballs

I have gathered a few different recipes and formed my own with them. Here are the meatballs I came up with that we just LOVE! (I usually make a big amount and freeze some and use only what I need in my dish! So this recipe is already doubled)

2 1/2 lbs. ground beef (You can use all pork or 1/2 beef and 1/2 pork too)

2 eggs, slightly beaten

1 tsp garlic salt

1 tsp salt

1/4 tsp pepper

1 box stuffing mix (has bread crumbs and seasonings all included!

2 Tbsp minced onion

3 Tbsp Worcestershire Sauce

Combine all ingredients and mix it together.. I use my hands, it’s easier to break up the meat and get it all mixed up well! Shape into 1 inch meatballs and place on a foil lined cookie sheet. Bake 7 minutes at 350*..If freezing..let cool freeze in a single layer, then you can transfer them to a freezer bag and put back in the freezer till you are ready for them!! If using immediately you can continue to cook them in the oven about another 5-8 minutes, or go ahead and add them to you dish..(ie..spaghetti sauce..they will continue to cook as your sauce cooks). We’ve eaten them on hoagie buns for meatball sandwiches, in spaghetti, in a gravy over rice, or just plain with a little barbecue sauce or ketchup, etc..the possibilities are endless and delicious! Let me know what you think of this recipe!

Hilarious!!

I'm this kind of mom!

Sunflowers

J grew some Sunflowers this year. He did it a few years ago too and they were gorgeous..Last year they didn’t work out at all, and this year he had quite the struggle with sticky little neighbor friends..but alas! He ordered some online for pretty cheap and they are so pretty! …falling over, but pretty! The regular, yellow ones that you usually see I didn’t get a picture of in time, but these are the other 2 colors he grew! Aren’t they pretty! The color is actually distorted a little, the red one is actually deeper than it appears in the picture.

The other day we also found a HUGE caterpillar, I would say a good 4 inches at least. It was bright green and very pretty. It was crawling up our back screen.. “Dreaming of wings and flying away” is what G keeps telling me (it’s from the ‘signing time’ dvd’s!)

That is G’s shoe if it gives you any perspective..He was very excited about it!

HAHAHAHAHAHA

Random Happenings

This is what happens when I am blogging away and my son asks me for a drink and I keep saying..in a minute..in a minute..just another sec…

He got out the pitcher, and a big straw and started drinking the Orange juice!

E has mastered the stairs. Just yesterday she came to the top wanting me to carry her down and I told her to turn around and slide down. She understood me and did it! She was so proud of herself!!

Sorry it's so dark!

Home again Home again

Well, we’re back home, and back to life. I still don’t feel completely settled. The summer was a lot busier than I had anticipated, but it was a blast. I feel like a lot is happening right now in our life and it’s not going to slow down for a while. J has about 1 year of school left! He enters the ‘Student’ Clinic this tri which is a big step we feel like we’ve been waiting for for a while. A lot of changes are happening in our little ‘village’ with people graduating, moving in and sadly-out..and I think a lot of changes happening with me too. Not sure exactly what..just figuring  things out I guess! Refining myself I think. Even with all the excitement this summer, I feel like I have learned a lot about myself. It has been a blessing!  I feel I am very blessed to have a husband that works so hard to provide for us now and or our future. Blessed for my two wonderful, sweet, amazing kids that bring so much joy and happiness each day. We have many comforts that we enjoy that we try not to take for granted. I feel blessed to have some close friends, an amazing group to work with in my calling and family that supports me in whatever life throws our way. So, we’ll see what tomorrow brings! G’night!

 

Some things I have learned this summer..

My Grandmother’s are AMAZING women! I mean, I knew it before, but being able to spend time with them, as an adult myself, I feel I appreciate the women they are more deeply.

I love my Grandpa R. He is my rock! He is so loving and genuine and full of FAITH. He is a great example, and it helps me want to be a better me. I love that, even with 20something grandchildren, he takes the time to call me specifically to tell me he loves me and that I am special.

I miss my Grandpa G. He was a great man. Life it too short. We need to tell the people in our lives how much they mean to us. And never forget them when they are gone.

I like to read! I read a couple books so far this summer and it was so enjoyable. I want to read to my children more often and help them develop that love! (we went to the library today!)

I need to spend less time involved with electronics and more time being a better person! (as I sit here catching up on my blog!) ~More time improving and perfecting myself

I am loved. I deeply love people.

I need to learn from my mistakes and let the past be the past. Repent, forgive, and move on. To be happy.

….anyway..that is just a few things.

Hiking in the Mountains!

 

Fresh Spring Water. The water up there was delicious! The first tap water I drank when I got home I almost spit out..yuck! ..and our water is good!..but there’s was AMAZINGLY good! Better than bottled!:)

Oh how lovely was the morning!

 

It was such a beautiful place. Good friends and good times were had by all! I hope we get to visit again soon! ((especially ‘cause I didn’t get 4 generation pics with Gma and Gpa K and Mimi, J, and the kids. :( ))Love and miss you all!

Happy Birthday Baby Girl!

I can’t believe you are already a year old. How the last year has flown. You have grown so quickly and have brought so much joy to our home. You are quite a determined little girl and very happy and affectionate. You love your “buuuu” (brother) SO much and I love to watch you play together. You love your daddy and mama too. You love to give kisses and sing and dance, to do somersaults, swing upside down, and you are so cute when you are meeting new people..acting shy and burying your head into my shoulder. I love your little growl! And you are a little tease too..hehe..you make me laugh. I love to watch you and know you will be an amazing woman some day. (but don’t rush it!) I know you have many talents and you want to share them with the world. Be patient, you’ll get there..you have so much potential and are a wonderful spirit. I love you.

Picnic at the Lake

G kept telling me these boys were his best friends! Besides one at home he missed that he was pretending to play with the whole time we were there! These are 2 of his second cousins. G is the oldest and the other two are only 4 and 6mo. younger. They had so much fun together!

     

Throwing rocks in the river!

Birthday cake! Brother helped blow out the candles. We sang to E and to my mother-in-law whose birthday is only 2 days later!

Opening presents!

 

Gpa and Gma K’s

It was so fun visiting Gma and Gpa in Arizona. We had a blast and what was only 1 short week seemed like 2 or 3. I think because we were away from life. In the mountains and fresh air. No schedule to keep, no cell phone service and my computer cord has been broken, so not much of that either. It was so peaceful and wonderful. We spent our days going to the different little shops in town, ‘playing’ with their many kittens, movies, hiking some, having birthday parties, card games, and lots more. Lots of family to visit, gathering pinecones for Gpa for fire starters, and doing some fun crafty stuff. It was wonderful! We really need to have getaways like that more often!! It was so relaxing. G got a hat and gun that was the cutest thing..he went around saying he was “Woody” from Toy Story..then Gpa got him a little snake and he told everyone he “had a snake in his boot!”

We stopped by Trader Joe’s on our way there..sure wish they had one in our town!

 

The Cliff’s. Just a few yards from Gma and Gpa’s house!     

We collected some pinecones for Gpa to use as fire starters through the winter! G had to show off his gloves too! :)

Briefly Home

We were happy to be home again. We got home on a Tues night, and Wed started Finals week. Luckily for J..he didn’t have any till the following Monday. He studied hard and did a WONDERFUL job!! His grades averaged to a 3.7 for the tri which will bring his overall GPA up too! He will be in the clinic next tri which we are VERY excited for. Tender mercies are all around. After finals and a few days break, I was missing my boy, so E and I headed to Yaya’s house to be with him and after Board Review, J joined us and we headed on yet another trip!

Visiting Gma’s House

I took my kids to meet my Grandpa on the way to Gma’s house. It was a wonderful moment. I really enjoyed feeling Grandpa there. I wish I could visit his grave more often. He passed away 10 years ago now and I miss him a lot.

Then we headed on to Grandma’s house and saw a bunch more cousin’s and had some good eatin’ and good times!

Riding motorcycles with Uncle Don!

fI got to go fishing a few days with my dad, sister, brother and brother-in-law

Caving

It was the County Fair while we were there so..there were a couple more parades and of course more FUN!

Cool sunset!

E really enjoyed the dog..Boomer is 14 years old. He has arthritis in his joints, poor guy, but is very patient with babies!

Heading home was bitter sweet. We missed J a lot and were ready though. G drove back with Yaya and Papa and Uncle D, while E and I flew back. She did GREAT and it was nice not to have to drive the 18+ hours home!!