Daughter 2 - #38

#38 - have professional photos with Terry.  Completed Nov 2, 2010

this was easier than i thought it would be.  i pictured begging, bargaining, and lots of work to convince him to do this.  but no, he was easy, "if it makes you happy", and he smiled all the way.  personally i think he enjoyed it more than i did.  now i have something more than us balancing our camera on rocks for a photograph. 

photographer was sarah robinette from alifetimephotography.com

Daughter 1-#50

#50-Find 20 new recipes that my family will enjoy
(This post will be a work in progress until I complete all 20 recipes)

1. Cheesy Broccoli Rice and Turkey

• 1 can (14 1/2 oz) chicken broth
• 2 cups cooked turkey (I substituted chicken)
• 2 cups broccoli florets
• 2 cups white rice (uncooked)
• 6 oz Velveeta cheese product (cut up)

Combine broth, turkey, and broccoli in large skillet. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low, cover and simmer for 5 min

Add rice and Velveeta, cover. Remove from heat. Let stand for 5 min or until rice is fully cooked.

Stir until blended. Makes 4 servings of 1 1/2 cups each.

*Recipe located in Food and Family magazine (Holiday 2006)*

2. Tater-Topped Casserole

• 1 lb ground beef
• 1 small onion (I just used onion powder)
• 1 can condensed cream of mushroom soup
• 1/4 cup milk
• 1 cup frozen mixed vegetables (I used 2 cups)
• 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
• 1 lb frozen tater tots (I didn't bother measuring this. I just used enough to cover the top)

 

Heat oven to 375. Brown meat and onion in skillet until brown. Drain and spoon into baking dish.


Mix soup and milk. Pour over beef. Top with layers of vegetables, cheese, and tater tots.


Bake for 45 min or until tots are golden brown.

*Recipe located in Food and Family magazine (Fall 2008)*

Daughter 1-#27 Completed

#27 Get brave enough to leave Ava with a "regular" babysitter!

Completed November 4, 2010

Okay, so I don't know if I ever would have completed this task if it weren't for necessity. Kerry's Airman Leadership School (ALS) graduation was tonight and I really had no other choice. Up until this point, Ava had never stayed with anyone other then our family and one other couple who are our friends. Since we are stuck in Germany without any family members around, I asked our friends for help. For reasons that I won't go into, that was unable to happen. Bummer! So a babysitter was our plan B, technically our only other option. I found our sitter, Katie, on the local military yardsale/job site. I explained Ava's post surgery restrictions to several applicants and none seemed comfortable with the situation except for her. So Katie it was! I asked her to show up a few minutes early so that Ava could have a chance to get comfortable with her while I was still lurking around. To my great pleasure, Katie sat right down on the floor with Ava and started playing. Ava totally didn't even need me! *tear* I'm not even sure if she realized I had left at all. Although a small piece of me wanted Ava to cry (at least for a few seconds) and to miss me terribly, I am happy that it worked out this way instead. Ava had fun playing with her new friend, Katie said Ava was an angel (no surprise there), and now Kerry and I feel comfortable enough with her that perhaps we can go on and enjoy a monthly date night!

Daughter 1-#32 Completed

#32 Make a Tutu for Ava

Completed October 18, 2010

While I was in TN, I had Mom help me complete a Tutu for Ava's Halloween costume! It was so easy and I think it turned out great!