What's For Dinner?

There was a challenge on the 2 Peas site on what our favorite family meal is. I have so many, my kids are really good eaters:

MEXICAN STIR FRY

1 lb stew meat cut into small pieces.

1 green pepper, diced

1/2 an onion, diced

1 can petite, diced tomatoes

1 can black beans, drained and rinsed

1 can of whole kernel corn

1 zucchini, sliced and halved

1 cup salsa

cook meat, onion and green pepper until meat is brown. Drain grease. Then add remaining ingredients. Bring to a boil. Turn down to low and cook covered for 20 minutes. Can be served on a bed of rice or can be spooned into a tortilla and add cheese and some sour cream to make a tasty burrito.

I hope you enjoy this recipe as much as my family.

Is It A Store or A Museum?

THE KIDS ARE OFF TRACK!!!

I get so stressed out during these 3 weeks. I want to keep the kids busy, but not wanting to go broke doing it. Monday was also the first day Steve had off and there was no where else either of us needed to be. So after lunch Steve suggested we load the kids up in the car and take a family trip to his favorite place...CABELLA. For those who don't know, Cabellas is an outdoorsman's superstore. Now you probably think hips boots, binos and fishing gear, but OH NO!!

It is like a natural history museum. There is hundreds of animals that are on displayed throughout the store. There is a huge safari display that had warthogs, lions, tigers, etc. Then there was a desert diplay with mountain lions, prairie dogs and such. There was even an artic like display that had a polar bear.

Of course there were moose, deer and bear. The kids were fascinated. Then upstairs there was a shooting gallery. We bought some tokens and let the kids practice their aim. It was a lot of fun. Steve and I even got into it. We thrive on competiton. I think we tied.

Then after we left the shooting gallery we went to the restaurant and bought a boar sandwich and some drinks and let the kids have a chance to try soem thing different. They loved it. We were there for 2 hours and had a fabulous time as a family. Even better I have some more pictures to scrap.

Got Snow?

Yesterday we got a little snow. Just as I was about to leave to take the kindergarten to school it was blowing and the roads were ucky. I opted not to do my shopping thinking I would wait until today. The weather report last night said we might get a little snow, but it did not sound very significant. Fast forward to 6:00 am this morning and my being woken up by our neighbor's snow blower going. I was thinking, "what on earth could he possibly be blowing". I also had thoughts of where he could put his snowblower, but I won't go into detail. I rolled out of bed and looked out the window and saw inches of snow on the ground.

I am so excited. I love the snow. I love the way the air smells and everything looks so clean and pure. It is during snowy days that I want to curl up on the couch in our front room and watch the kids build snow forts or sculptures with Steve as I drink my hot cocoa and read a book.

Katie and Becky put on their snow suits and head out and began playing. So of course I had to follow and take some pictures. Katie decided she would try to make a fort in the front yard and Becky just wanted to "frolic" making snow angels and eating the fresh snow. I am hoping Steve will have some time today to do a snow sculpture and I will be able to share that will you also.

My Box of Goodies

I finally got my layout and goodies back from Scrap Trends magazine. The layout in the middle of the picture is the one that was published in their October issue. Then I got lots of paper from Paperloft with coordinating alphabet stickers, phrases and file folders. I got a clip art CD, bubble letters, acrylic phrases, some stickers, some Chatterbox stuff, a pack of miscellaneous paper and 2 issues of the magazine that has my layout in it. This is only my 2nd time being published so I have not yet become jaded by the goodie box yet. I am hoping this will be the 1st of many of the same kind of deliveries for this year.

Book of Mormon Feast

In October Steve and I were asked to teach during our ward's Book of Mormon Feast. We actually had turned down the opportunity last year and felt we should accept it this time. We met with the coordinator of the event, Shawn, a member of the Bishopric and 7 other couples. Then were assigned our section that we would be teaching to the youth (ages 11 to 18 years old). Steve and I got Alma 8-35. So this is how this works. You read through your section and then plan lessons to last approximately 8 hours. You are assigned about 8 children that will be with you the whole day and you teach them that one section you have been assigned. (the photo is of the kids that were in our group)Initially I was quite overwhelmed. I thought, "how on earth are we going to keep these children's attention for 8 hours. " We game up with object lessons and a few activities to do and we did lots of reading as a group. We would teach for about 45 minutes and then have a 10 minute break. During the break the kids would go into the cultural hall with stones and coins, that we had passed out to them during class for answering questions and reading, and buy candy, arrow head, feathers, and other stuff. Different adult men in our ward took time out of their Saturday to man these store fronts and also to walk around in costume and quiz the children on what they were learning. The characters would even come into our classroom and even help bring the scriptures to life. We also had tons of volunteers that manned the kitchen and prepared lunch and snacks during those breaks. There were committees that worked on decorating the rooms in what ever way the instructors had chosen they wanted their them to be. (ours was a throne room)

This was one of the COOLEST things I have ever been a part of. The children were so receptive and the feeling that was within the building was incredible. I am not sure if I would teach again next year, but I would for sure volunteer to help and would like to teach again in a few years.

Becky's Lost Tooth

Becky has been excited to have a loose tooth for weeks now. It seems that daily she comes to me and says, "wiggle it now Mommy" and I wiggle it to find it has hardly changed from the day before, but being the good mom that I am I say, "ooooo, it's getting close Beck". Well tonight she came downstairs and that tooth was almost horizontal in her mouth. Now, this was quite an exciting moment in the Weber house. Zack and Belle both lost their first tooths at school. So every one gathered in that small bath and watched as Becky pushed the tooth back and forth.

Steve brought up the video camera and began taping and I being the "fabulous scrapper" that I am hand the camera ready to go. Zack made up a cheer to sing to her. Belle being the drama queen began covering her eyes saying she didn't want to see the blood. Katie went to her room and began to cry because Becky was loosing her first tooth without her. She was jealous and sad at the same time I think to realize that they really are two different people. Then before we knew it the tooth was out. Then there was me, beginning the sentimental baby that I am, began to cry because my baby had lost her first tooth. She was excited knowing that the tooth fairy would be visiting tonight.

Scrappin' at My House

Last night I hosted our neighborhood book club. We had read "Their Eyes Were Watching Heaven". There was a good turn out and the discussion was pretty good. I had printed off some questions off the computer and then while I started to read them I realized they were kind of boring. So we just talked about our favorite parts and what we thought of different sections. We will be reading "The Posionwood Bible" for next month. Then about 8:30 a group of other women I had invited over to scrap began rolling in. They hung out for a while with the book clubbers and chatted and then we all retreated to the basement to beginning to the scrapping. For Christmas Steve had gotten me to 6 foot tables so I was a little excited to christen them. I love having some of the girls over to scrap book. I admit I am actually not too productive, but I enjoy the hanging out and conversation. I love that we just giggle and get a little silly. I have been very lucky to become friends with so many neat women in my neighborhood and ward. (clockwise from the left: Tammie, Me, Jill, Sandra, Dayna, Wendy, and Maryanne)
So in preparation for last night I had bought veggies & dip and Chips and Crackers for snacks. And some Miss Meringue cookies. Steve was a little shocked that I had not made brownies or cookies. Because truly my scrapbook philosophy is that it isn't a crop without a table full of chocolate. I am 6 days into this whole weight lose thing and really want to be successful this time. My friend Sandra had brought Krispy Kreme donuts over (OH MY!!!!!) I did well though and did not have one. That is truly a huge accomplishment if you know how much I love a good Krispy Kreme. Well, I am off to try to finish my entry in a friends circle journal and get it into the mail.