Christmas 2009

I can’t believe it’s over!  Can you?  We have been sick at our house for weeks and we are finally well…just in time for Christmas!  Unfortunately, we missed at least two Christmas parties and a wedding.  So, we tried to have the best time possible on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day! 

We had a snowstorm that lasted for days!  On Christmas Eve my parents gave Emma and her cousins an early gift…bright orange sleds!  The kids had a great time sliding down the little hill in my parents’ yard that was formed by freshly plowed heavy snow.

Sled rides with Grandpa.

My niece Grace.

My niece Isabel.

(Excuse the poor photo)  Emma with one of her favorite gifts…a Barbie guitar!

Another round of fun in the snow on Christmas Day!

Because of the road conditions, we spent the night at my parents’ house on Christmas Eve and we did not return home until the evening of the 25th.  So, I was not able to put this gift together for Emma until late last night.  This morning, I was able to catch the look of surprise and delight on her face as she walked into the living room and saw her little market. (Excuse her crazy morning outfit…hee hee…she was sooooo tired, she crashed last night so she went to bed with a mismatched little “get up”)

I have had the privilege to sample several delectable ice cream treats today served a precious little girl…who is and always will be my most favorite gift of all time.  : D

I hope that you all had a meaningful Christmas!

God bless,

Tera

Yet Another Summertime Hodge Podge

TWO years ago this past week, Jason and I boarded a plane with Emma in Guatemala to bring her to the United States!

What an EXCITING day!

Can you believe how little she was on that day?  She was 8 months old and tiny.  I think she was wearing size 3 month clothes. 

She is sitting on Jason’s tray in this photo.

Friends and family members stayed up LATE to meet us at the airport with signs!

Bringing Emma home that night and then waking up to a BABY in OUR HOUSE the next morning was an amazing experience!  I can’t believe it’s been TWO YEARS!

* * * * * * * * *

Besides celebrating an exciting adoption anniversary, we are also celebrating the fact that today a very large dumpster was dropped off in our driveway along with a big pile of siding materials.  Our little rambler was supposed to be sided this past week but the contractor was delayed a bit because we had a couple of rainy days.  Soooo…hopefully…THIS will be THE WEEK!!

* * * * * * * * *

Recently, Jason was giving Emma a bath and she was playing with her tub crayons.  He called me into the bathroom because he wanted to show me something… 

Check this drawing out   ------->

Emma was drawing lines like waves and when Jason asked her what she was drawing, do you know what she said??? 

“I’m drawing a RIVER!”  Oh. My. Goodness.  My eyes almost popped out of my skull!  Truthfully, I am a TERRIBLE artist and this is probably a better river than I could ever draw!  Hee hee…  I think we might have a budding artist on our hands…  ; )

* * * * * * * * *

Emma and I were out and about doing errands and we drove past a McDonalds.  Emma said, “HEY MAMA!   That’s where cheeseburgers live!!!!”

: D

* * * * * * * * *

A few days ago, my sister and I got together with Krissy…a friend who now lives in IL with her family.  We had a fun play date!   If you are reading this Krissy, we had a fun time!  Emma has been asking about Matthew!  : D

* * * * * * * * *

Before I sign off, I’ll share a few photos of a recent outing to Minnehaha Falls with my parents…  : )

Emma with Grandpa.

My parents.

God bless,

Tera

An Early Summertime Hodge Podge

First, a home improvement update…  Aside from a few finishing touches, our new roof was completed a week ago.  Here is a photo of my Dad and Jason taken right after the last shingle was laid and the vents were caulked.  Exciting times!  Also, as of yesterday, we have a few new windows.  AND, early next week, the siding contractor comes!  So excited for that!

Emma has been in her pool a couple of times and she has had a great time!

She loves the little slide.

Emma is learning to blow bubbles.  : )

Got one!

YAY!  I did it!!

LOOK!!  Here’s another one!!!

Grandma helping Emma with her bubble blowing technique.

What a BEAUTIFUL little girl!!

We went to the Farmer’s Market this past weekend and one of the vendors gave Emma a sucker…her very first one, might I add!  What do you think she thought about it…?

SHE LOVED IT!!  Sucker HEAVEN!!  Mmmmmmmm….  I crack up every time I see this photo…hilarious!!

Hee hee…  I love the half closed eyelids…SUCKER BLISS!

Jason with two GORGEOUS hanging baskets from the Farmer’s Market.

Before I sign off, I have to post a recipe for you to try.  Usually when I make enchiladas, I use a seasoned ground beef, rice and cheese filling and I use corn tortillas and red sauce.  Recently, I came up with an enchilada recipe to use up a few leftovers from the fridge.  And, the recipe is now a new FAVORITE!!  We think that the salsa verde sauce has a wonderful tang and the corn adds the perfect amount of sweetness. 

Chicken and Corn Enchiladas with Verde Sauce

Ingredients:

Package of 8 fajita or taco size flour tortillas

3 large cooked chicken breasts (or 4 – 5 medium size), shredded into small pieces

2.5 cups shredded cheese (I used medium cheddar)

4 green onion tops, chopped

1 bunch fresh cilantro

1 container sour cream (14 –16 ounces…reduced fat would work)

16 ounce jar salsa verde (I used Ortega brand)

10 ounces of frozen sweet corn (cooked)

Spices:  salt, cumin, garlic powder, pepper

Finely crushed tortilla chips (optional)

Instructions:

Season the cooked chicken with cumin and garlic powder to taste (salt lightly).  Set the chicken aside.  Put the following ingredients into a blender:  sour cream, salsa verde, 1 hefty handful of cilantro leaves, sprinkle of garlic powder, sprinkle of pepper, 1/2 teaspoon cumin.  Blend until well incorporated.  Cover the bottom of a 9x13 inch pan with a thin layer of the sauce.  Set the rest of the sauce aside.  Fill each tortilla with chicken, corn and cheese (I think that I used about 1.5 cups of cheese inside of the enchiladas).  Roll up the tortillas and place in the pan, seam side down.  Pour the sauce over the enchiladas and top with 1 cup of cheese.  Lightly top the cheese with crushed tortilla chips and then top the chips with chopped green onion tops.  Bake at 375 degrees for 35 – 40 minutes.

God bless,

Tera

Preparing for the Weekend

Did you have a wonderful Mother’s Day?  We had a nice one…it was pretty low key…we went out to brunch and it was really yummy! 

Below you will find a few pics of my FIRST dandelion bouquet from Emma.  So sweet!  I am SO blessed to be Emma’s Mommy and this little bouquet meant so much to me!

Notice the kiss mark on her cheek?  Hee hee.  : D

We are gearing up for the upcoming weekend.  Weather permitting, we are going to tear our shingles off (two layers) and then begin to re-roof the house and the garage.  It’s going to be a BIG JOB!!  Thanks so much in advance to our helpers!!  I will be cooking, cleaning, etc. etc. for the next few days and they I’ll be busy this weekend keeping everyone hydrated and fed.  : D  So, if you don’t “see” me around here, you’ll know what I’ll be up to!

God bless,

Tera

If I Had a Hammer I'd Hammer in the Mornin'...

It has a been a while again since my last post.  I have sat down a few times to blog but I have been just too beat.  We have been working on household projects.  Also, because it has been so nice outside (finally) we have been spending A LOT of time outside and that makes me extra sleepy by the end of the day.  And, Emma has really been struggling for the past couple of weeks with not wanting to eat, reflux, spitting up and vomiting.  : (  It has NOT been fun.  Right now, she is kind of in a pattern...  She can go a few weeks without vomiting and then for whatever reason, she will vomit...and, it's like that one time of vomiting reminds her "oh yeah, I vomit...that's what I do..."  : /  and then she has a whole streak of vomiting.  Ugh.  And, we are currently in a streak of vomiting.  : / I don't know if it's teething or what (teething can really exacerbate reflux)...she is drooling a lot and her diapers have been yucky.  Anyway, this is all why you haven't seen a post from me...we have been pretty wiped.  We could really use prayer right now for Emma.

Between all of the craziness, we have been up to other stuff too.  : )  Warning...  LOTS of photos ahead!  : D

I titled this post "If I Had a Hammer I'd Hammer in the Mornin'" because of this...  Jason has been building a fence for the past two mornings. 

When we were first married, I had to show Jason how to hammer a nail...sad but true (don't shoot me, honey).  And, he has slowly become more and more handy as the years have gone by.  : ) 

Our old fence was pretty dilapidated.  Above you will see him tearing down the old fence...

Here he is putting up the new fence.  : )

Oooooo...the new fence complete with a gate!  Way to go, Jason!!  Now we just have to treat it with some sort of protective coating.

While we are on the subject of Jason, here are photos from Father's Day!  I LOVE this sweet photo!

I LOVE this pic too!!!!!!!!!!

Emma the morning of Father's Day.  I love this cute top (Target).

 

"Hey Izzy, I am diggin' this coupe.  THANKS for letting me have it for keeps!!"

Pool time with Emma's cousins Grace and Isabel.

Emma and Izzy.  Emma loves Izzy.  If we are at a store and Emma sees a young girl with blond hair she points and yells, "IZZY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

"Oh Gracie, you are SO FUN!! I love you!!!!!!!!!!!!"

Here are a few other fun pics from the past week...

Emma loves books.  This is a Sesame Street book.  She can say quite a few Sesame character names...  "Cookie", "Elmo", "Bert", "Ernie", "Bird" and "Grover".

Silly smile.  : )  Here is Emma in her Guatemalan soccer jersey.  She could not wait to get in the pool!

Watering Mommy's "pweety fwowahs"

My "fwowahs" are WELL WATERED.  ; P

She is getting more and more brave in the water.

Such a sweet and smiley baby girl!  (Yes, she is still a bebe to me!!)  : )

God bless,