Minnesota Wild Rice Soup

When the weather was blustery outside, I couldn't resist making some good ol' fashioned Minnesota Wild Rice Soup.  Here is an easy recipe that tastes like home.  Sooo nummy!

Minnesota Wild Rice Soup
2 T butter
1 T minced onion
1/2 C flour
2 (14.5 oz) cans Swanson's chicken broth
2 C cooked wild rice
1/3 C (or more) finely grated carrots, I used one whole carrot, optional
1/2 tsp salt
1 C half and half (I used fat free)
2 T dry sherry


Melt butter and saute onion until tender.  Blend in flour.  Gradually add broth, stirring to avoid lumps.  Cook over med to med-hi heat, stirring constantly until mixture thickens slightly.  Stir in rice, carrots, and salt; simmer about 5 min.  Blend in half and half and sherry; heat to serving temperature.

Variation: add in ham and/or chopped slivered almonds with rice in recipe above.

The best wild rice soup ever....yeah, sure, you betcha!

Samson

I went back to MOPs after taking some time off. Turns out, it is a form of therapy for me. Being with other moms in the same parenting stage as me, deep in the trenches, is just plain comforting.

It helps me feel normal.

 

They learned about Samson in Treyton's class.  He came out with muscles and paper hair.

For the rest of the day I had a superhero running around. 

And I loved every minute of it.

"I can do all things through Him who gives me strength." - Phil 4:13

Lord, thank you for the reminder of YOUR strength, working through a 4 year old Samson-wannabe to bring it to my heart.

"I'm Happy at You"

It's a wonder how kids pick up on things. The other day I heard Treyton shout, "Galina, I'm mad at you!" I understood. She is gifted at messing things up.

For the next few hours Treyton kept reminding me, "Mommy, I'm mad at Galina." As if I could forget. The battling went on most of the morning.

A few days later I got a hug from this motley lady. She can't hide emotions.

It's just not in her make-up.

I am growing to accept this.

Anyways, what came out of her mouth was so endearing to me. Embraced in a leg bear hug to my legs, I heard a little voice say, "I'm happy at you Mommy."

"I'm happy at you." The world is a wonderful place indeed...messed up or not.

Moments

Happy moments...PRAISE GOD

Difficult moments...SEEK GOD

Quiet moments...WORSHIP GOD

Painful moments...TRUST GOD

Every moment...THANK GOD

Galina Ballerina

Galina has been taking dance class since summer. She had her first "show" a couple of weeks ago. So I packed up the kids (including Bryce) and headed over to the studio. Here we are waiting anxiously as the dancers are on deck.

Wall-ah! The dancers come from back stage to take their place.

I had absolutely no idea how she was going to do. If you knew Galina, you'd know what I mean.

I was anxiously awaiting her performance, quite literally.

The teacher came out to introduce herself only to be interrupted by none other than you-know-who.

"Hi, I'd like to welcome you all to our show. My name is Miss Kim..."

"And I'm Miss Galina!!!!"

Now that the whole audience knew her name, and Miss Kim finished her intro, it was time for the dancing to begin.

All the world's a stage for Galina. This was simply a natural outflow of her normal everyday experience.

Next they went back to get ready for their Sugar Plum Fairy dance.

She was groovin'!

What a ham!

Tap was next.

She loves tap more than anything and had to wait for the other girls to get their tap shoes on.

You can tell she got ready herself. Notice the shoes.

Tap shoes on the wrong feet won't stop her, however! She was amazing!!!! Born to dance!

There is nothing more wonderful than seeing happiness in children. And when it's your own children....words can't express the joy it brings.

This realization made me think: Just as a parent delights in his child, I believe God delights in us. This was a good reminder for me during this season. Enjoy what He has given me, relish in the day to day, and thank Him for each and every opportunity that comes my way. Often the to-do list ominously overshadows the day. I vow to work on preventing that from happening and instead soak up the moments of happiness as they come...just as my Galina ballerina does.

"I have come that they may have life and have it to the full." -John 10:10

Cozy Creamy Tomatoey Soup

Sitting by the fire, bitter coldness looming outside, a good family movie on the TV, and this soup make an ordinary night extraordinary.

Cozy Creamy Tomatoey Soup

• 2 (28 oz) cans crushed tomatoes
• 1 (14.5 oz) can chicken broth
• 18 fresh basil leaves minced OR 1 tsp dried basil
• 1 tsp sugar
• 1 C whipping cream (I used fat free half and half instead which worked great)
• 1/2 C butter or marg (I used 6 Tbsp instead which worked great)

In a large saucepan, bring tomatoes and broth to boil. Reduce heat, cover, and simmer for about 10 min. Add basil and sugar. Reduce heat to low; stir in cream and butter. Cook until butter is melted. Enjoy!

Our Shepherd Boy

Last week was the infamous Christmas program at Treyton's preschool. I went last year. My hopes were high but the program could be summed up in 3 words: long, long, long. So this year I packed everyone up without a spring in my step, I'm sorry to say.

We headed to the near-by church that held the event and had some wait time before the show began. Galina found a friend. This sweet grandma helped watch the two little girls. I love sweet grandmas that help moms who have their hands full. Note to self: be one some day! Of course I brought things to do. Barbie, coloring...it didn't last long.

But before she got up on stage to entertain the crowd by lifting up her dress (like last year), the preschoolers arrived. Here is Treyton's class. Treyton is right next to his teacher.

Since Galina was actually sitting still, I do whatever I do when I have down time these days....try to get Brielle to smile.

It didn't work but my attention was diverted to the front. The four year olds were up!

Treyton's class is the top row (minus one boy who went skiing that day...they must've been at the program last year).

And look! Darling Gracie, who Treyton has already proposed to. She is in the front row, second girl on the left dressed in black. They were in the same class last year and share music and recess together this year.

After their songs, Treyton came over to get ready for his role in the upcoming nativity scene.

He was chosen to be a shepherd in this year's program.

Okay, now I was excited. My boy! Chosen to be a shepherd!

Meanwhile, Galina and Sweet Grandma were checking out the scene. Sweet Grandma found another kid to take care of. Curly haired cutie who will never outgrow her lap, I am sure.

The other student from Treyton's class in the nativity was Addison. She's the majestic angel below.

He's lucky that I was holding Brielle for I would've embarrassed him profusely with a blanket of kisses had I been baby-less.

His job was to bring the sheep up to the manger and then stand near-by.

Look at him! The best shepherd I've ever seen!

And there is the whole preschool for the grand finale. What?!?! It's over already? How did it go by so quickly this year? Okay, I admit...it was the shepherd boy's role that distracted me from the singing, singing, and more singing.

Next was the bus ride three blocks back to the school. The kids love this bus. They were able to ride it to practice twice before the big day of the program. It ranks right up there with a Disneyworld ride for some unknown reason. A highlight. My memories of hundreds and hundreds of hours traveling to and from school always come back when I sniff the fumes and hear the hum of such a traveling vehicle. NOT a highlight, let me tell ya.

Back at the ranch were cookies and punch.

My sweet boy filling himself with sweet treats.

Galina mooched more snacks that she was allotted by her charming personality, the little stinker. Don't other parents realize they should ask before feeding a two year old more treats? This child has plenty of energy to spare before eating cookies!

Treyton and Mrs. Kerby, his teacher.

But look at this. Here's Addison again (the angel). She tackled him with a hug before we headed out. Treyton gladly returned it. Move over Gracie, I think his affections are changing.

This picture now hangs in Treyton's room by his request. A shepherd and an angel? I could think of worse combinations. Where is that mistletoe anyway?

Minnesota International Version

Apple Cider Cake

The best recipe I've come across lately is simple, simple, simple. A wonderful treat to warm up your inners.

Just take a spice cake mix and switch out the water for apple cider. Bake as directed.

Then take your favorite powered sugar frosting recipe and switch the milk for apple cider. Frost when cake has cooled.

I made this cake using 2 round pans and stacked it with frosting in the middle and on top. Sorry I don't have any pics, but we (mostly me) ate it all up! Oh soooo yummy! I'm tellin' ya, you've got to try it. Mmmm, mmmm good.

Catch-all Christmas Tree

This last minute craft was a hit! I simply cut out Christmas tree shaped pieces of construction paper. Here's Treyton with good ole' friend Seiban.

Then I raided the house for "flair": pieces of tin foil, string, hole-punched holes, marshmallows. The kids happily decorated their trees in fashionable styles. Speaking of fashionable styles, notice Galina's boa. Fancy!

The marshmallows were a hit. I told each they could have 5.

Galina's were gone in an instant.

Here are the finished products. Seiban's went home with him before I remembered to take a picture.

Can you guess whose this one this is?

Galina the opportunist!