Archive for April, 2009
April Ellie-isms & Zach Attacks
Here’s your monthly dose of Ellie-isms and Zach Attacks. I must warn you: Zach definitely ruled this month with his kid quotes. He is hysterical! But Ellie collected her crown for drama and funny faces. I love it. ENJOY!
Zach: “I’m faster than a race car, and you’re slower than a slow race car.”
Grandma: “Can I have one of your cars?”
Zach: “If it’s way cool, then it’s not for you.”
Zach, while riding his bike: “I am stronger than this hill!”
Zach, also while riding his bike: “Look at me. I’m going allegro!”
Ellie: “When I grow up, I’m going to have five children. No — NINETY-five children!”
Ellie: “I wish this park had a ‘No Dogs’ sign. TWO?! 
That’s too much. I’m going to make signs for this park!”
Ellie: “Mommy, look at your daughter’s face. Does she look happy or sad about what you just said?”
Zach: “Mama, look who’s sticking their tongue out and wants to go to sleep.”
Ellie: “Look who’s not sticking their tongue out and wants to go to the mall.”
Zach: “I know what these are for. This knife is for cutting boxes and those scissors are for cutting paper and paper covers rock!”
Ellie, with swollen and itchy eyes, thanks to seasonal allergies: “I like life better when I don’t feel like this.”
Zach, upon seeing our pollen-covered car: “Oh, no. Mom, the sun pooped on our car.”
3 comments April 30, 2009
Mama Loves: Little imitators
Yesterday I wrote about how I want my kids to choose me as their best friends. For a while, I’ve got that. They LOVE me! They want to be just like me. For now anyway. I love that in spite of all my many, many mistakes — maybe because of my mistakes — they still love me. They still want to imitate me.
Now, some days the imitations are really annoying. I hate seeing myself in them — like when they repeat me saying I hate something. Ellie has recently declared “hate” as her favorite word. Once again God uses my kids to remind me of my shortcomings. I don’t like seeing my failures or the areas where I need to grow. That part’s not fun. But I do love seeing me through their eyes. I love seeing how wonderful and fun they think I am. I love that they think me worthy of imitation. I know I’m not always, but it’s nice to know that once in a while I do something right.
Lately the most frequent imitation (other than using the word “hate” far too often) is playing guitar. I’ve mentioned in previous posts that Rick bought me a guitar for my birthday this year. I LOVE it! I’ve wanted to learn to play forever, but could never justify the cost for something I didn’t think I’d ever have the time to work on anyway. It was a wonderful suprise, a perfect gift. Anyway, I am finding time to learn and am having SO much fun with it. Practice time is tough, though, because it almost always gets hijacked. Like this.
I love it. To use one of my Mama’s expressions, it tickles me to my core. Yes, the control freak part of me tenses at the possibility of a three-year-old dropping my precious guitar, but the real part of me remember that that three-year-old is way more precious than a hollowed out chunk of wood and strings.
Your turn! What can you find joy in this week? How can you focus on the lovely, the true, the pure, the good of life?
7 comments April 28, 2009
Friends or not
I watched two neighbor girls, ages seven and eight, swat each other’s behinds while running across my front yard. One of them tried to explain: “That’s what best friends do. You’ll understand when Ellie is older.”
I saw my daughter stare at them with obvious envy. She wants to be in their little clique. Meanwhile my insides silently scream in protest.
It’s not that they’re bad kids. It’s not that I don’t want Ellie to have friends. It’s that I want to be her best friend.
Okay, so maybe I’m selfish and naive and a little sadistic, but I want to be the one Ellie longs to be with. I want to be the one that she learns from and strives to imitate. I want to be the one from whom she seeks approval and gains her self image. Friends, without exception, influence each other. I want to be the only one who influences my girl.
I know it won’t happen. I know she’ll grow and make many friends throughout her life, including these most impressionable years. I know very few kids really want to hang out with their moms, and never all the time. (However, I will say I rank pretty high on the “cool factor” so far. All the kids want to hang out with me! At least I’m convinced of such for now.)
I also know this is how God feels about me. He wants to be my best friend, my hero, my idol. He wants to be the One I long to be with, to be like and to please. Am I chasing after His likeness and His approval? Or am I following others? Am I allowing my self image to be formed by those who hardly know me? Who do I imitate?
“Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children; and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma.”- Ephesians 5:1-2 (NASB)
“Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.”- James 4:8a (NASB)
Oh, Lord, plant in me a craving for You. I want to desire You more than anything else. Make me insatiable for your Word. May I never tire of seeking after You. Forgive me for chasing those things that only make me less like You. I long to be exactly who You made me to be: a unique reflection of You. Lord God, hear my prayer.
Add comment April 27, 2009
Recipe Swap Sunday: Cedar Plank-Grilled Salmon with Avocado-Orange Salsa
It’s MUCH easier than it sounds and it tastes DELICIOUS! This recipe comes from Cooking Light, but with a few of my changes. The original recipe included Cointreau, an orange-flavored liqueur. I don’t mind liqueurs, but I do mind paying twenty bucks for a huge bottle of something when I only need a couple tablespoons. So I modified the recipe to skip the reduction. It still tastes amazing and now saves me money and time.
Another note: the salsa is great just by itself! If you don’t like salmon or simply need an appetizer for a party, this makes a perfect solution. It’s sweet and flavorful, fresh and light. You can make it in about five minutes and serve with chips. Yum!
Cedar Plank-Grilled Salmon
- 1 cedar grilling plank (15 x 6 1/2″, 3/8″ thick)
- 1/4 c maple syrup (You’ll probably need less; I rarely measure.)
- salt and pepper to taste
- 6 (6-oz) salmon fillets
Immerse and soak the plank in water for at least one hour; drain.
Prepare grill. Salt and pepper fish fillets.
Place plank on grill rack and grill for 3 minutes or until lightly charred. Carefully turn the plank over and place fish on charred side of plank. Drizzle fish with maple syrup. Cover and grill for about 12 minutes, until fish flakes easily, or until desired doneness.
Top with Avocado-Orange Salsa and serve. (Serving size: 1 salmon fillet and 1/4 c salsa)
Avocado-Orange Salsa
-
1 large orange, peeled, sectioned and cut into 1/2″ pieces (1 cup)
-
1 avocado, peeled and diced (3/4 cup)
-
1/4 c orange juice
-
2 T finely chopped red onion
-
2 T finely chopped red bell pepper
-
1/4 t salt
-
1/8 t pepper
Combine all ingredients and serve.
1 comment April 26, 2009
Works for Me Wednesday: Guacamole Mix
Last summer Tastefully Simple released their Giddy Up Guacamole. It is AMAZING! There are a couple problems, though.
Problem #1: It’s expensive — $6.99 for a box of two packets. Basically, you’re paying $3.50 plus shipping and the price of avacados to make one batch of guacamole. A little steep for my budget. Oh, but it’s SO GOOD!
Problem #2: You can only get it through them.
My Solution: Concord Foods Guacamole Mix. It’s only $1.09 per pack and available at every grocery store in our area! You can find it in “mild” or “spicy.” It’s easier to make and tastes just as good. The “mild” version is definitely more mild than Tastefully Simple’s mix, but that makes it more palatable for preschoolers. My kids love it. If you want a little more spice, a little more like the “Giddy Up” version, buy the “spicy” pack and simply add in an extra avacado or two, depending on their size.
Problem solved, and my wallet thanks you.
BONUS:
Lately I’ve slacked off on my Recipe Swap Sundays and I’ve already got a Mexican theme going today, so I’m going to give you my Taco Ring recipe! It’s kind of an American version of empanadas.
At one of my bridal showers (over ten years ago), each guest brought a copy of their favorite recipe (or two). It was a great way to start a marriage — with time-tested and well-loved recipes! This recipe is one of those and definitely a favorite around here, partly because it was one of the few recipes we didn’t have to severely alter for Zach’s allergies. Pilsbury crescent rolls are dairy- and egg-free, so I simply made a separate “ring” without cheese. (For those who don’t know: Zach suffered from major alleries for the first three years of his life. He couldn’t have any dairy, eggs or peanuts. His eyes would swell shut within seconds of ingesting a touch of cheese or un-approved bread. His whole upper body would be covered in hives. Scary stuff, but — PRAISE GOD!! — Zach outgrew ALL of these allergies last summer. Woo-hoo!) Without further ado …
TACO RING
1 lb ground beef
1 pkg taco seasoning
2 cans crescent rolls
1 large tomato, diced
2 c lettuce, shredded
1 ½ c shredded cheddar cheese (or “taco blend”)
1 avocado, peeled, pitted and diced (optional)
¼ c sour cream (optional)
Any other taco toppings you like
Preheat oven to 375’. Meanwhile, brown ground beef in a skillet. Add taco seasoning and water according to packet instructions, but make sure it’s not too runny.
On a large baking sheet (a pizza stone is perfect!), arrange the cresent rolls into a sunburst pattern. (See picture at right.) Add beef and cheese (if using) around the center ring; fold points over to seal. Bake at 375’ for 15-20 minutes, until golden brown and no longer doughy. Serve with tomatoes, avocado, sour cream and other toppings. Guests can pile it high or keep it simple as they like.
Serves 4-6.
Prep Tip: How do you dice an avocado? Using a very sharp knife, cut down the center through the skin and flesh. Twist the halves and separate. The round pit will stick to one half. Slam your knife into the pit, twist and remove. Use a large spoon to scoop the flesh out of each half in one piece. Dice. After you dice the avocado, squirt a little lime juice on it to prevent the flesh from oxidizing (turning brown).
Alternatives: Instead of using a full pound of ground beef, fill your ring with two layers: first refried beans, then a half pound of taco meat (seasoned ground beef or turkey). Also, if you’re in a rush, use Pilsbury’s “Crescent Creations” instead of crescent rolls. Fill the flat, rectangular layer in a long line and roll up to encase. It’s not as pretty, but tastes just the same!
Visit We Are THAT Family for more Works for Me Wednesday tips.
4 comments April 22, 2009
Mama Loves: Spring
Mama loves spring.
It’s filled with sunny days at the park, fresh flowers and new beginnings. At our house it looks like this:
Gorgeous, right? Except that makes us feel like this:
3 comments April 21, 2009
Reminder: Today is the last day for the book giveaway!
I had a WONDERFUL weekend, which is why you didn’t find me here. I’ll have a new post up by tomorrow, though.
In the meantime, don’t forget to sign up for the great book giveaway Kathi Macias is hosting in honor of her blog tour. It’s simple. You only need to leave a comment — any comment! — on my post from last week about Kathi’s newest book. Click here to see that post and leave your comment.
Add comment April 20, 2009
Talk to me!
Hey, all! I’ve been thinking about this for a while and have noticed a few other bloggers wondering the same things, so today I’m inviting you to sound off. PLEASE comment or email me with your thoughts on this! I want to know what you think.
- What do you want to see on this blog?
- Which types of posts are your favorite? (devotional/spiritual, parenting, book reviews, random thoughts, helpful tips, recipes?)
- Which don’t interest you at all?
I’ve maintained this blog for over two years. At its genesis every post was like a devotional. Little by little I started including more of my life: my random thoughts, book reviews, quotes from my kids and silly life encounters void of specific spiritual application. At times it feels a little too mish-mashy.
Since you’re the ones reading it, maybe you can give me a little direction. Do you like the mental goulash I offer? Or do you want more cohesion on the site? If you like a little more consistency of content and, perhaps, a more defined purpose, let me know which direction you think I should take. Talk to me!
9 comments April 17, 2009
Hearts at Home and a new Bookshelf page
Hearts at Home
Recently I partnered with Hearts at Home as a blogger. Over time I hope to share with you the many resources this ministry has to offer (old ones and new). To learn more about the Hearts at Home Blogging team go here. This organization was created to encourage, educate and equip women in the profession of motherhood. Hearts at Home helps thousands of moms love their lives through their many resources including conferences, website, and books.
I encourage you to explore their website and blog for an immediate dose of mothering encouragement.
New Bookshelf!
In other news, I’ve added a Bookshelf page to this site. Obviously, I read a lot of books. The Bookshelf page is where I’ll list what I’ve read, am reading and what currently waits patiently in my To Be Read stacks. I also rate each of these on a 1- to 5-star system. If you ever visited my old site (the one with blogger), you’ll remember the Bookshelf there where I posted full reviews. Well, I’ve kept that book review blog and have now linked it up here. You can visit it at www.TanyaDennisBookshelf.blogspot.com or access specific titles through the Bookshelf page on this site. Check it out and let me know what you think.
3 comments April 16, 2009
