Friday, May 29, 2009

Pine Cone Bird Feeders.....
I wanted to make these with the kids last summer, but just never found the time. I had found the big pine cones at the park one day and so I brought them home. Now almost a year later and we made them this past week. The kids enjoyed it and it was a simple project. If your interest here are a couple of links here & here on how to make them.



Thursday, May 28, 2009

Train Video.....
Here's the video of the Train at the Zoo. The kids had so much fun riding on it.

Tuesday, May 26, 2009


Henry Villa Zoo.....
It's that time of year when it nice to get out and enjoy the weather. The kids love to go to the zoo and the nice thing about the Madison Zoo is it is free.
The kids had a nice time and mommy & daddy did too. It was a nice way to enjoy our Memorial Day weekend. We even got to go on a little try ride, which I hope to post a video a little later.


Monday, May 25, 2009








Monday: Potato Carrot Ham Soup

Tuesday: Sicilian Supper, Broccoli, Bread

Wednesday: Chicken Enchiladas, Salad, Guacamole

Thursday: Sloppy Joes, French Fries, String Beans

Friday: Leftovers

Saturday: Hearty Hashbrown Casserole, Biscuits

Sunday: Roast, Potatoes, Gravy, Corn, Bread

Friday, May 22, 2009


Salads......

I like to eat salads, but during the summer months more so. I think it's because of the warm weather and I'm not always very hungry in the evenings for a heavy meal. Well who would of thought that it would only take French or Catalina dressing to get my little guy Gabriel to be asking for a salad for lunch. It makes me happy to see him eating some greens. My kids don't like vegetables much especially Anna who is a very picky eater. Now Gabriel likes corn and salads. The kids do get pureed carrots slipped in there strawberry smoothies. Sneaky Mom!

Thursday, May 21, 2009

Gabe's Happy Birthday Video....

Tuesday, May 19, 2009

Chair's Overflowing.....
Here I am in the morning trying to enjoy a cup of coffee with all the kids and dogs. I think I need a bigger chair!!



"Be still, and know that I am God..." Ps 46:10


Monday, May 18, 2009

Here's the Birthday Boy...
He had a great birthday party. We had some friends over and enjoyed a meal of Haystacks.

Gabe got a Bob the Builder DVD, bulldozer puzzles & a Caterpillar bulldozer to play with.

Here is a picture of our friends youngest boy. What a cutie:)

Saturday, May 16, 2009

Happy 3rd Birthday Gabriel

Here is a sneak peak at the cake that I made last night. I had so much fun making this for my little guy. So do you think he will like it??

Before:

After:

P.S Grandpa & Grandma Kostman - Gabe got his card in the mail and loved it. Looking forward to seeing you soon.

Friday, May 15, 2009


Busy Weekend Ahead......

I will be staying busy today and the days to follow. Brandon is having a couple classmates over tonight and we will be having Haystacks for dinner & homemade cheesecake for desert. Then tomorrow is Gabriel's 3rd birthday. I already have the frosting made so this afternoon when I make the cheesecake I am going to make the cake too, so it can cool. This evening after company leaves and the kids go to bed I plan on decorating it. I am keeping it simple, but I think Gabriel will like it. We are also having some friends over for the party Saturday night. We will be having Chicken Enchiladas, which are simple and yummy. The biggest job will be to get my house clean, which is difficult with 3 little kids and 2 dogs, but I'm not going to stress to much about it. I am just looking forward to having company and will enjoy showing hospitality.

Garage Sale Finds:

This weekend is also city wide garage sales in Deforest. I took the kids out yesterday. We had a great day! I found a desk and chair for Anna for working on school, which was $4 total. Then the big item I found was a Pro Form treadmill. It is a older model, but in good condition. This brand retails for around $800 dollars or more and I payed $50. What a deal and last night after I put the kids to bed I worked out for a good 30 minutes and enjoyed it. Last year at this time we go ourselves a nice like new up right freezer and entertainment center for the living room. I love garage sales and how much money I can save.

Wednesday, May 13, 2009

New Hair Cuts.......
Need I say much else. Yes, Gabe's buzz was dad's doing.


Tuesday, May 12, 2009

Sham-Wow Anyone????
My husband told me I had to post this picture of Anna. It was funny because Brandon bought these micro fiber towels and Anna asked, "are those Sham-Wow". We then both busted a gut from her commit. If you have never see the infomercial go here. So does anyone know if they do really work??

Monday, May 11, 2009

It's that time of the week again and I am running behind, but better late then not at all. Simple is the name of the game this week. I have a Birthday cake to make this week for Gabriel. I am looking forward to making it especially the butter cream frosting, which is my favorite. He wants a Bob the Builder cake so I will have to see what I can come up with. To find more menu ideas go here.

Monday: Grilled Barbecued Chicken, Barbecued Beans & Rice

Tuesday: Spinach Artichoke Chicken Pizza

Wednesday: Ravioli, Broccoli, & Homemade Bread

Thursday: Leftovers or kids choice

Friday: Papa Murphy's Pizza

Saturday: Haystacks, Birthday cake for Gabe's 3rd B-day

Sunday: Chinese "Mom's Choice"

Saturday, May 09, 2009

Here's the plants that I started a while back...
I was hoping they would be a bit bigger. I guess we will just have to see if they take off when I get them in the garden. I also went to the green house today and bought up a bunch of other plantsl. I am hoping to fill all of my jars with tomato fixings at the end of the summer and have enough vegetables in the freeze to get us through till the end of next summer. It should not be to much of a problem. So how is everyone garden plans coming along?

Friday, May 08, 2009

Anyone want some Superman ice cream?????

Thursday, May 07, 2009

It is time for the May's Recipe Box Swap! This month's theme is no-theme at all, meaning you get to post any recipe that suits your fancy! This makes it easy for me to choose because I have rhubarb coming up in the garden, which is my favorite and makes such yummy deserts. I recipe I came across a few years ago was Rhubarb Custard Bars. Once I made it I was hooked & it's super easy,which is a bonus.


Rhubarb Custard Cake

Ingredients:

  • 1 package (18-1/4 ounces) yellow cake mix
  • 4 cups chopped fresh or frozen rhubarb
  • 1 cup Granulated Pure Cane Sugar
  • 1 cup heavy whipping cream
  • Whipped cream and fresh mint, optional

Directions:

Prepare cake batter according to package directions. Pour into a greased 13-in. x 9-in. baking dish. Mix the rhubarb, sugar & cream together and slowly pour over top.
Bake at 350° for 40-45 minutes or until golden brown. Cool for 15 minutes before serving. Garnish with whipped cream or refrigerate till cool and then spread the whip cream over the top. Yield: 12-15 servings.


Homemade Whipped Cream

1/2 pt. whipping cream
3 Tb. sugar
1 tsp vanilla

Whip cream with mixer. Be careful not to over beat or else will get too thick like butter. When it begins to thicken, add sugar and vanilla; stir. Refrigerate.



Rhubarb Custard Pie




1 pie crust in pie pan and ready to go

1 1/2 c. sugar
1/4 c. flour
3/4 tsp. nutmeg
3 eggs
4 c. fresh rhubarb cut in small pies.

Place rhubarb in pie crust. Then beat up the sugar, flour, nutmeg & eggs. Pour over chopped rhubarb in pie pan.

Crumb Topping

1/2 c. flour
1/4 c. sugar
1/3 cold butter

Cut butter into the sugar & flour till it is a nice crumbly mixture. Then pour on top of pie. Bake pie at 400 degrees for 25 mins then turn it down to 350 degrees for 15 mins or cook till the top is nice and golden brown. Let cool, refrigerate & enjoy:)

Wednesday, May 06, 2009

Having fun with our little neighbor girl.......
I have a feeling that the kids will be playing with Avery a lot this summer, which will be fun for all of them.

Monday, May 04, 2009

Landscaping
We have needed to get shredded oak mulch for a while, but just didn't find the time. Well this year it got done and I am so happy. Here are the pictures to prove it. Why didn't we do it sooner?
Before:

After:


Here's a few more pictures.....
I have lots of pretty daffodils, which Anna loves to pick. I will definitely be sad when they are done blooming.


This is behind the house, but I was only able to do part of it. I ran out of mulch and I have rocks to pick up first. Hopefully I can get my kids to help me pick up rocks so we can replace the ugly rocks with shredded bark.

Sunday, May 03, 2009








Monday: Grilled Hamburgers, Baked Beans, Squash

Tuesday: Grilled Marinated Pork Chops, Sweet Potato Fries, Asparagus

Wednesday: Tacos with Guacamole

Thursday: Leftovers

Friday: Fried Fish, Rice & Corn

Saturday: Barbecued Grilled Chicken, Season Baked Potatoes, Sting Beans

Sunday: Pizza or Breakfast Food

Friday, May 01, 2009


Happy May Day.....

Yesterday was the first day that Noah decided that he could climb down the stairs. So now early this morning he was already over to the stairs and climbing down. It's so nice because now when he gets to the top he does not have to scream and cry that he wants down.

Today is the first day of May. I am planning on making May Day baskets with the kids. I found this site A Bit O' Shine with a nice and easy idea that the kids will like to make. I am planning on using construction paper with yarn as the handle. I will probably find some nice flower stickers and cut out some flower construction paper flowers. Or maybe even better yet find one of my gardening magazines and cut out some flower pictures and don't forget the spring stamps.

I am also hoping to get out with the kids and go to a few garage sales. The kids always enjoy it and it's nice to get out and find some great deals. Hope it does not rain????
Now I'm Dangerous.....
He went from climbing down the stairs yesterday to climbing up on the chair to the table top today. There is no stopping him now:)