Joe FINALLY got in his new Wicked visor for the truck. It may have taken him most of the day, a lot of cursing and some worn out drill bits, but he got it installed and was so happy. Pictures don’t do it justice on how much it really covers his windshield, he should have no problems driving into the sunset now!
I have to admit, I have been very busy this March. All kinds of things have gone on, some good, some I’d rather not revisit.
So when it came to finding time to snap the items on my set list, I wasn’t really in the mood. Instead, I’m going to share with you some of the photos I have taken this month. For no other reason than this is my life. These are the things I’ve seen and they are more important to me than any list could contain.
Branches with new life.
Spring rain.
Morning fog.
A new beginning. (congratulations!!!!)
Our morning routine, not for long!
The Pea returns. *squeak*
Easter eggs.
I’m looking forward to the rest of Holy week and Easter, but more importantly moving forward.
Maybe next moth I can get back on the photography track! Hahaha…we’ll see.
I was on Pinterest a couple months ago and picked up the tip of a better way to cook your hard boiled eggs. Easter seemed like the best time to try it out, so I’ll share the steps with you.
In a preheated 325 degree oven, place your eggs in a muffin tin. Cook/bake for about 25-30 min. My oven needed the full 30 minutes, so time does vary.
Once those were done and cooling, the boys set out the cups and dye. A little teamwork and they were ready to go.
They drew on them with crayon first to make secret designs. Apparently both boys forgot about this from last year and were amazed by it…..I love kids!
Happy Easter everyone!
When daddy doesn’t come home on a weekend, we all take it pretty easy and try to find things to do instead of wish he was here. And it appears this also is the case with our animals.
I finally fixed the squeaker in Buck’s favorite toy, The Legendary Pea.
I’m pretty sure this made him very happy.
It’s hard work squeaking it so much. Making up for the lost squeaks over the past few months.
One. Last. Squeak. So tired.
Ajax…not amused.
When you just want something different, sometimes it’s hard to pull off. It seems we have many of the same meals repeatedly and sometimes you just get bored with it!
So tonight I wanted to make something different and use left overs, not always an easy task in this house.
Enter, the Breakfast Burrito. It may sound like gas station food to you, but to us, it’s a special treat.
Not often do we splurge and buy the gluten free wraps (really they are just non-wheat tortillas). Nor do they usually taste anything worth the $4 to $7 they cost.
Luckily, the last time I was at a health food store, my mom spotted these! And they turned out to be quite good! Instead of being made of the usually rice and other gluten free flours, there are made with Teff and Millet Flour. (This bread is actual common in Ethiopian cuisine!)
With these I decided to make a burrito of sorts. Turned out to be one of my better food ideas! Even my pickiest critic, Nathan, LOVED THEM!
I just took out some left over rice from the freezer that had some ground beef already in it and stir fried it up with an egg. (Quinoa would be ideal in this the next time! Also, don’t be afraid to put in anything you like! Avocado, artichoke hearts, onions, spinach, etc.) To keep it from sticking in the pan, I added a little bit of Earth Balance Buttery Spread, it also helps put some moisture into the mix.
Next, I cut the wraps in half, I found they were much easier to work with. Then, I spread them with some soft Chavrie Goat cheese. This helps keep the rice/egg mixture inside the wrap and adds such a wonderful texture and creaminess. Next, I shredded some hard goat cheese on top.
Then place a spoonful of your rice/egg mixture in the wrap and roll it like a burrito. Because these wraps aren’t as pliable as a normal wheat tortilla shell, just rolling them up works the best.
Then in a hot, greased (we used coconut oil) skillet, place seam side down and cook until golden brown.
That way, they cook shut and won’t fall apart.
Serve with some dipping sauce and enjoy! These were so very good! I will be making them again, and hopefully coming up with a tasty recipe for some wraps of our own!
Day 1 Sweet Rest
Day 2 Whimsical
Day 3 Upside Down (my cat is so weird)
Day 4 Two
Day 5 Lucky
Day 6 Full Speed (semi-truck)
It frustrates me to no end when something simple can’t be done. Especially, when it comes to my children.
I make it simple for everyone, especially those entrusted with their care at school. I send any and all food they need, I give out my phone number just in case there are ANY questions regarding food or anything else for that matter. Not to mention, they have someone IN THE BUILDING that knows the answers to any of said questions…my mom! What more can I do?!
Luke had a follow-up at the doctor’s today. He said that food is still the reason Luke is having problems and until I can control what he gets completely, he’s still going to struggle.
So, it looks like I have no other option but to medicate him. Because I CAN’T depend on anyone else at the school to understand or follow these simple rules. I have to give him chemicals to “help him” because they can’t follow directions. And these are the ones I’m entrusting with my children all day?! Seriously? I understand misreading labels, it’s happened to me before. But when you hand a dairy and wheat intolerant child an ice cream bar….please.
I’ve been praying on this, praying really, really, really, times infinity(!) hard on this. And I’m pretty sure Joe and I have come to a conclusion. We will give Luke the medication he needs to get him through the rest of this year. I will talk again with his teachers to remind them they are not to eat ANYTHING THAT I DON’T SEND!
And then next year we will enter into a world that scares me to pieces. But I’ve prayed and prayed and prayed and prayed on.
Homeschool.
It would take a book to hold all of the doubts, reasons not to, and fears I have about homeschooling. If you can ask it, I have already thought it in my mind. The time, the patience, the organization for Pete's Sake!!!
But how can I know there is another path, and not take it? When you feel as pushed as I do to get them out of public school as I am, you know you have to listen to Him. Because God’s the only one who I’ll trust to lead me there and through it. This is not some rash decision made out of frustration, it’s been a heavy thought of mine for quite some time.
Now, I'm not ignorant enough to think it's going to be easy. Aside from being a parent, this will probably be one of the biggest challenges I face. Not only will I have to teach myself something people go to college for, it will change each year and I will be facing children who have special needs. I am still actively exploring what will best help the boys, be it just different teaching methods or a combination of multiple things. But I know that whatever I end up doing, it needs to have their best interest in mine. My comfort zone be damned. Their lives literally depend on it.
I realize, I'm an art major, not a teacher. But I have the time, I have the resources and it's ultimately my responsibility to educate and care for them. It's a daunting task, but I'm not going it alone, so it will be ok. God said so.
I heard once that the more right something is, the harder the devil works to make you doubt it's possibility of completion. And I have been through the ringer on this subject.
Luckily, I have the best husband in the world. And only through his support could I even attempt to do this. Not to mention, I've got the biggest thing in eternity, God. It's promised that He's got my back, so if this is what He wants me to do, I'll walk with the faith of a mustard seed.
These were actually a bit of a challenge for me, so let’s move forward with artistic interpretation in mind, shall we?
Day 21 Performance (yes, this is an old pic, but it fit so well!)
Day 22 Swing
Day 23 Framed (this is more of shadow play, but I wasn’t happy with any of my others…)
Day 24 For the love of music
Day 25 Cup of morning Joe!
Day 26 From the side
Day 27 Essential Equipment
