The Lost Sheep

Ana telling Klara about the lost sheep. If you can't tell, she's really trying to drive the point home. The water reference at the end has to do with a picture she's seen in her Bible with that story.

Our pumpkins and our littest pumpkin

Our pumpkins from the 2011 Small Group Pumpkin Carving Contest

My "tree of life" as it was named at the party. The girls handprints making up the branches, with Lee and I's initials carved in the heart of the tree.

Lee's turtle
Lit up
Nemo for the girls
and our littlest pumpkin

Why Small Groups?!

I'm no Pioneer Woman

In an effort to try and be more frugal and less wasteful, Lee and I decided this last week that I would not make my weekly grocery shopping trip, and we would try and eat things that were in our refrigerator and pantry, or could be made from ingredients in our refrigerator and pantry. Of course, we did make a trip to purchase some bread and milk, essentials for our family. And if I knew more about bread making, like my friend, Melissa, I probably would have tried to make that too, but I don't. I did however make my friend Cydney's tortillas and they were yummy.

It was a stretching experience I tell you.

I was reminded of the memory verse Isabel has been learning in school, "Look at the birds of the air, they do not sow or reap, or store away in barns, and yet their Heavenly Father feeds them." Matthew 6:26

So it's the end of the week and our refrigerator and pantry are both looking VERY empty, but we got through the week and never missed a meal (without going out). Last night I was scouring the pantry and refrigerator. I had some chicken I could make, but not enough for everyone to have their own piece. I had some pasta, cheese, small can tomato sauce, a can of tomato juice. I decided to make a chicken parmesan, but I didn't have much parmesan, so I used mozzarella, which I think is equally as good. I didn't have enough tomato sauce so I used some milk and reduced it down and added it to the tomato sauce to make it a bit more creamy. Added some frozen onion and garlic I had on hand, which makes almost anything delicious. Anyhow, it all turned out very good! The sauce was probably the best I've ever made using ingredients I usually wouldn't use for a sauce for chicken parm. I'm no Pioneer Woman, but I was proud of this dish.

So, if you ever think you can't go another week without heading to the grocery store...maybe you just can. Give it a try.

And yes, I REALLY do need to go to the grocery store now!

Birthday in October...what???

My conversation with 2-year-old Ana while changing her diaper:

Me: Ana, when are you going to go poopy on the big girl potty?

Ana: When it's my birthday

Me: Ok, your birthday is tomorrow then

Ana: No, my birthday's Saturday

Me: Oh, your birthday's Saturday?

Ana: Yep

Me: And you're going to go on the big girl potty?

Ana: Yep, on Saturday, it's my birthday

Me: Ok

So Saturday came and went and we got busy so didn't do any potty training, but tomorrow is the day (I think, we hope, we are aiming for it). So here's to our Monday that we're pretending is Saturday, and our July birthday girl's birthday in October.:) Wish us luck!:)

On a side note, here's our little cutie dancing away when she got to go to work with daddy...love her expression when she notices she's being videotaped.

testing out the parking lot

We brought Isabel over to the new church parking lot, the perfect place for learning to ride a bike with no training wheels.

(Mr. Spence's car was not harmed in the making of this video)

Braving the cold

We braved the cold this past weekend and went to our local fire house's annual open house. We all had a great time getting up close to the fire trucks, helicopters, rescue boats, etc.

Surprisingly Ana didn't want to go on any firetrucks or rescue boats, but she wanted to drive the army helicopter...

I told her to pretend she was "to the rescue." Not too bad I'd say:)Do we have to sit here and get our picture taken?...cheese...
Fun times for all