Random Act of Kindness

Around noon today I received a call from the local library. Assuming it was in regards to Topher’s overdue book that has mysteriously vanished I only half listened. As the gal continued to talk it dawned on me that she was saying "Nathan." Well, instantly I was upset that he had a book that had some how eluded me too. Still not really paying attention I thought it was odd when she gave me someone's name, mentioned Toys 'R Us and gave me a phone number.


Huh?

I replayed the message only to find out that a very kind woman had found Nathan's wallet in the Toys 'R Us parking lot and the only ID was his library card. Thank goodness he had that at least! The woman contacted the library, left her contact info and the library took the time to look him up and call the number on file - me.

I called the good Samaritan and she agreed to meet me near the Toys 'R Us right then to return the wallet. I thanked her over and over and she explained she also has sons and knows how boys can be.

Usually so careful, I have to admit I was disappointed that I hadn't even noticed he had dropped it. We were at Toys 'R Us at Nathan's request so he could spend the remainder of his money on a gift for Topher. It would have been so sad for him to lose his prized wallet after such a thoughtful trip for him.

At this time of year we have so much to be thankful for, including random acts of kindness by wonderful strangers.

Have you experienced or given any random acts of kindness this holiday season?

Soup-er Saturday

I feel like a need a nap just looking at this hearty stew.  All-in-one and so easy, what more can a busy Mom ask for?

Ingredients

1/4 cup all-purpose flour
2 pounds boneless beef chuck roast, trimmed and cut into 1-inch cubes
2 tablespoons canola oil
1 can (10-3/4 ounces) condensed tomato soup, undiluted
1 cup water or red wine
2 reduced-sodium beef bouillon cubes
3 teaspoons Italian seasoning
1 bay leaf
1/2 teaspoon coarsely ground pepper
6 white onions or yellow onions, quartered
4 medium potatoes, cut into 1-1/2-inch slices
3 medium carrots, cut into 1-inch slices
12 large fresh mushrooms
1/2 cup sliced celery

Directions
Place flour in a large resealable plastic bag. Add beef, a few pieces at a time, and shake to coat.


In a large skillet, brown meat in oil in batches; drain. Transfer to a 5-qt. slow cooker. Combine the tomato soup, water or wine, bouillon and seasonings; pour over beef. Add the onions, potatoes, carrots, mushrooms and celery.


Cover and cook on low for 4-5 hours or until meat is tender. Discard bay leaf. Serve with noodles or French bread.
Yield: 8 servings.

Visit A List Makers Life for more yummy, cold weather must-have soups.

Snow Babies

First snow of the season!

Even Curious went outside to see what all the fuss was about... and then quickly ran back inside, gingerly tip-toeing through the flakes.

Dad and Me Cut a Tree!

"Children, listen carefully," said the man in the red knit cap.  "You are here to cut a Christmas tree.  What you may not know but soon will see is that the trees are scattered far and wide.   The good ones are cleverly hidden among the bare and sickly looking ones." 

"Also, to make it even more interesting, to us anyway, there are fewer good trees than families here to cut them.  On my mark you may rush through the pine branches searching for 'the one' or you may step over to the open hatch of my Subaru for a bite of stew, a homemade brownie baked by goodness knows who and some hot chocolate.  Of course, it is completely up to you which you do first." 

"Oh, you should know that we only have 3 saws to pass among all of you, they are small so I suggest allowing your children to do the cutting...

...so, with that said - Good Luck!"

Thank goodness my husband is the master at making things right when it comes to our kids and overcoming a poorly executed community event.  Next year we will be visiting a normal old tree lot and skip this "experience" of cutting our own.

Soup-er Saturday

Here is what we are trying out this weekend....

{photo courtesty of Betty Crocker.com}

Cheddar Melt Chili

1 lb lean (at least 80%) ground beef

1 1/3 cups hot water
1 box Hamburger Helper® Cheddar cheese melt
1 cup Old El Paso® Thick 'n Chunky salsa (any variety)
1 2/3 cups milk
1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon chili powder
2 cans (15 oz each) spicy chili beans in sauce, undrained
3/4 cup shredded Cheddar cheese
1 large tomato, chopped (about 1 cup)


1. In 4-quart Dutch oven, cook beef over medium-high heat 5 to 7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until thoroughly cooked; drain.


2. Stir in hot water, sauce mix and uncooked pasta (from Hamburger Helper box), salsa, milk, chili powder and beans. Heat to boiling, stirring frequently.


3. Reduce heat; cover and simmer about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until pasta is tender.


4. Remove from heat; stir. Sprinkle each serving with 2 tablespoons cheese and tomato.

Katie is heating things up at A List Makers Life with even more yummy soups, go on over and see for yourself.

35 of 52

 

Me and Lilly, being so silly,

while Daddy reads,

and I sneak in for a snuggle!

I'm a little late to the link up but all of the other Moms were right on time, go see them at Forever in Blue Jeans, if ya fancy a gander.

********************52 Weeks********************

52 Weeks is a year long challenge for YOU to be in a picture once a week for 52 weeks. We are always the ones behind the camera, this is YOUR chance to get out in front and be in the pictures with our family. We are glad you are joining this challenge. More importantly your family will really enjoy having you in the picture. Thanks for playing along! Oh, you can just jump in now with 1 of 52, you're not getting off that easy! Now go take a picture!

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Soup-er Saturday

Thanksgiving is a memory and Christmas is now officially in full swing.  Have you started your shopping yet?  How about planning the Yuletide menu?  I, personally, am going give this tummy warming soup a try. 

Ham and Bean Soup Recipe

Ingredients

3/4 pound fully cooked ham, cubed
1 medium onion, chopped
2 garlic cloves, minced
2 tablespoons butter
2 cans (15-1/2 ounces each) great northern beans, rinsed and drained
3 cups chicken broth
2 cups water
1 cup diced peeled potatoes
3/4 cup diced carrots
3/4 cup diced celery
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1/2 cup frozen peas
2 tablespoons minced fresh parsley

Directions
In a large saucepan, saute the ham, onion and garlic in butter until onion is tender. Add the next seven ingredients; cover and simmer for 30 minutes or until vegetables are tender. Add peas and cook for 5 minutes longer or until heated through. Stir in parsley.
Yield: 8 servings (about 2 quarts).

The only thing that would make this soup even better would be a free ham to use in it.  Jingle bell hop on over to Katie's at A List Makers Life for your chance to win!

34 of 52

I did it! 

I finally attended and completed the Course 3 cake decorating class by Wilton. 

I learned fondant and it is all I had hoped it would be.  Using frosting to make flowers is an exact skill done with a careful hand, something I seem to lack.  Whereas fondant can be made and remade until it looks just right, it is fussy and so am I, a perfect pair!

For our final class the instructions were to make and assemble a two-tiered cake.  In light of the painful fact that I am getting sick of cake and have no desire to have it sit around my house, tempting me at every turn, I decided to make it for Thanksgiving instead.  Well, I really wanted to make an adorable sky blue cake covered in little fondant flowers, but that does not say "holiday" to me and thus felt the need to create a fondant turkey.  He turned out so cute.  Note: it does not bode well for the piped on border if you have had a few tasty 007 mixed drinks, which my dear sister Angie mixed very strong... and my hand was a bit unsteady

My play-doh like cake frosting medium inspired young Topher and he spent hours (no kidding) working on his own Thanksgiving turkey.  I baked him a special little cake to perch his artwork on.

A big thank you goes to my strange, yet loving little brother for snapping the pictures of our Thanksgiving cake adventures.  He couldn't resist being seen with the turkey bling.

Visit Forever in Blue Jeans for fun photos of great Moms.

******************52 Weeks********************

52 Weeks is a year long challenge for YOU to be in a picture once a week for 52 weeks. We are always the ones behind the camera, this is YOUR chance to get out in front and be in the pictures with our family. We are glad you are joining this challenge. More importantly your family will really enjoy having you in the picture. Thanks for playing along! Oh, you can just jump in now with 1 of 52, you're not getting off that easy! Now go take a picture!

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Life Skill: Gratitude

We have much to be thankful for.  It is important to us that the kids never take what the do have for granted and that they differentiate between WANTS and NEEDS.  That is a big bill to fill for children as we live in a me-me-me society that caters to demanding children with the need to be constantly entertained.  So, as the holidays approach, we step back from everyday life to be grateful and remember those who have supported us through the good and bad times.

To show our Gratitude to the special people in our lives we used these fun postcards from abcteach. 

Happy Thanksgiving!

Soup-er Saturday

In honor of Thanksgiving this coming week I thought this would be a fabulous recipe.  With budgets stretched thin you are sure to make the most of the turkey while enjoying a warm and satisfying meal.  I can't wait to try it!

Homemade Turkey Soup Recipe

Ingredients
1 leftover turkey carcass (from a 10- to 12-pound turkey)
2 quarts water
1 medium onion, halved
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 bay leaves
1 cup chopped carrots
1 cup uncooked long grain rice
1/3 cup chopped celery
1/4 cup chopped onion
1 can (10-3/4 ounces) condensed cream of chicken or cream of mushroom soup, undiluted

Place the turkey carcass in a stockpot; add the water, onion, salt and bay leaves. Slowly bring to a boil over low heat; cover and simmer for 2 hours.

Remove carcass; cool. Strain broth and skim off fat. Discard onion and bay leaves. Return broth to the pan. Add the carrots, rice, celery and chopped onion; cover and simmer until rice and vegetables are tender.

Remove turkey from the bones; cut into bite-size pieces. Add turkey and cream soup to broth; heat through.

Yield: 8-10 servings (about 2 quarts).

Now, lets think about ham... my favorite Christmas main dish.  Head over to A List Maker's Life to enter your recipe and have a chance to win a free ham.  Yum!!

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Making the wedding bliss last another week - here is a snapshot of Patrick and I at the reception.  Nothing fancy and no kids but a picture with me in it none-the-less.

Carins boys are having a lot of fun over at Forever in Blue Jeans, give 'em a visit.

******************52 Weeks********************

52 Weeks is a year long challenge for YOU to be in a picture once a week for 52 weeks. We are always the ones behind the camera, this is YOUR chance to get out in front and be in the pictures with our family. We are glad you are joining this challenge. More importantly your family will really enjoy having you in the picture. Thanks for playing along! Oh, you can just jump in now with 1 of 52, you're not getting off that easy! Now go take a picture!

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Mama’s Holiday Wish List Meme

Mama’s Holiday Wish List Meme


TodaysMama and Provo Craft are giving away a sleighful of gifts this holiday season and to enter I’m sharing this meme with you.

1. What 5 items are on your holiday wish list this year?
     ~a nice {we're talking top-of-the-line} digital camera
     ~a car or nice pickup, I'm not picky
     ~a Cricut
     ~a laptop
     ~a trip to New York City to watch the ball drop on New Year's Eve

2. What is your favorite handmade gift you have received?
     ~a quilt made for us by a wonderful woman from our church back in Alma, it is 10 years old and still on our bed {we do take it off occasionally to wash it...}

3. What handmade gift have you always wanted to tackle?
     ~a completed scrapbook for each of my children

4. What was the best Christmas gift you received as a child?
     ~my brown teddy bear from my Dad, he is still in my closet and so worn out he can't sit up anymore

5. What items are on your kid’s wish list this year?
     ~Topher, a Nintendo DSi
     ~Nathan, a Skateboard
     ~Lillian, Anything that shows on commercials on Disney channel 

6. What is your favorite holiday food?
     ~Wassail - not a food per say but a must have none the less!

7. What will you be hand-crafting for the holidays?
     ~I am going to try my hand at Modge Podge this year and a Cricut would sure come in handy!

8. What is your favorite holiday movie?
     ~How the Grinch Stole Christmas

9. Favorite holiday song?
     ~Carol of the Bells

10. Favorite holiday pastime?
     ~Looking over the collection of ornaments hanging on our Christmas tree, collected over the past 11 years, and remembering what each one signifies from the time and place we bought it

32 of 52

I {heart} weddings, especially when the person getting married is by far the most deserving person of everlasting happiness. 

I met my dear friend Meggan over 10 years ago when we both worked Guest Service at Target in Mt. Pleasant.  We were both attending CMU at the time and quickly became great friends. 

I am so touched by Meggans happily-ever-after because she is the most unselfish person I have ever met.  She listens with uninterrupted curiosity and asks questions that show she is really listening to what you have to say.  Patrick and I have always spoke highly of Meggan and her ability to be an amazing friend to so many people.

Despite the distance, she came to visit after the birth of each of our children.  She always made it a point to come visit us and meet the newest Schweri.  She visited Lillian nearly 4 years ago, and with the decision to stop with that gem of a baby girl {God has one heck of a sense of humor} it meant that was the last time we had the opportunity to visit with her.

Until this past weekend, that is. 

Meggan surpassed the image of a beautiful bride and I found myself holding back tears as she exchanged vows with her amazing groom.  He is truly a lucky man and so deserving of such an incredible woman.

Every detail was thought of from the wedding to the reception.  So much so that by dinner Patrick and I could hardly eat because we had been so well fed up to that point.  The meal was amazing, we were served small portions of both Grand Traverse Chicken (with an incredible cherry gravy) and Filet Mignon.  Even the presentation was remarkable. {uh, huh - you betcha I took a pic of the food}

I was so happy to spend this incredible day with Meggan and her new husband.  Though they live in Nashville now I hope to visit her in the near future, perhaps when she has her first child. 

There are a lot of busy moms, go see their fun posts at Forever in Blue Jeans!

******************52 Weeks********************

52 Weeks is a year long challenge for YOU to be in a picture once a week for 52 weeks. We are always the ones behind the camera, this is YOUR chance to get out in front and be in the pictures with our family. We are glad you are joining this challenge. More importantly your family will really enjoy having you in the picture. Thanks for playing along! Oh, you can just jump in now with 1 of 52, you're not getting off that easy! Now go take a picture!

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Veterans Day

"What is today?"  I asked my children and Topher's friend Aiden this question after school today.

"Wednesday!" both Nathan and Topher yelled with huge smiles on their faces.  I was fairly unsure of why Wednesday brought so much glee to them, something I need to investigate further I suppose.

"Not just that," I prompted, "what else is important about today?"  On their rosy little faces, flushed from enjoying the brisk fall weather, blank looks abounded.  Not wanting to drag this out any further I offered, "Today is Veterans Day."

"Ooooh," they chimed in unison.

"So, what is a Veteran?" After nothing but silence answered me back I wondered if I was pushing my luck.  

Thankfully Aiden spoke up.  "A soldier who died in a war," he told us.

In an effort to expedite my cold self back in to the warm house I quickly explained that Aiden was correct but that the term covered all service persons.  I am fairly sure that is about all they could handle seeing as how I interrupted their outdoor fun time.  

I then handed each child, even Lilly, a Care Package Scavenger Hunt list that I assembled. 

In preparation for this I visited www.anysoldier.com and requested a female soldier from Michigan.  A wish list was then available and that is what I used for my hunt. 

The content of the scavenger hunt list were items I was fairly sure we already had in the house.

Suddenly the kids had a great burst of enthusiasm and quickly came inside, grabbed a list and a writing utensil.  I gave Nathan the box and told them we needed to hunt until it was full. 

As they reflected upon each item listed, and after I explained how to pronounce "pantiliners" {their spelling} and "non-perishable," they worked together to look through the house and decide on what food to put in and how many of each item one female soldier might need. 

After each find they marked off the item on their list and searched for something new.

By the end of their hunt we had successfully filled our box.  Much to my surprise Lilly put her treasured brand-new bag of flavored mini-marshmallows on top.  I will return those to the pantry because I don't think they will travel well but I was incredibly impressed with her act of generosity.

 

After the box was overflowing with the found items we all sat down to write a letter or draw a picture for the soldier.

I am very excited to mail out our care package and hopefully even make one for a male soldier soon.  I would have LOVED to mail this out today, but much to my dismay, the post office was closed - duh - it is Veterans Day!

A huge thank you to all of our soldiers, we owe so much to you and all you do.  We are forever grateful!

Anysoldier is an incredible program and I strongly encourage everyone to visit this website.  Soldiers sign themselves up as a contact person and when someone from back home sends a package, marked "any soldier" the contact person gives it to a soldier who does not receive mail very often or at all.  Their wishes are basic and it makes all of the difference in their time overseas.  

Lego Mania!

Sunday we made a trip over to the Henry Ford Museum in Detroit, for the Lego Exhibit.

There were giant Legos,

pink Legos,

absolutely amazing pieces made entirely out of Legos,

a catapult simulation to see if you selected the right components to make a secure Lego wall,

a Lego castle - complete with locked up treasure and a booby-trapped key,

a royal throne with an incredible transparent Lego stained-glass window behind it,

a 9-year old dork who happens to be standing in front of a very cool portrait made of Legos and thus is the only reason this photo made it on to my blog,

and more giant Legos,

this is an impressive Knight constructed of nothing but Legos with unbelievable definition,

young Lillian, dressed in her medieval finery, poses with one of many cute cardboard cutouts around the exhibit,

jousting with clever colored horses, whose jousting lances are securely fastened to their sides, was a favorite to be sure,

but overall the favorite seemed to come back to the giant Legos. 

I highly recommend to anyone in the area that you visit the museum and take some time to find your inner child at the Lego Exhibit.

Soup-er Saturday

Slow Cooker Steak and Black Bean Chili


2 lb beef top round steak
1 envelope (1 oz) onion soup mix (from 2-oz package)
2 cans (15 oz each) black beans, rinsed and drained
1 can (28 oz) diced tomatoes, undrained
1 can (8 oz) tomato sauce
1 can (4.5 oz) Old El Paso® chopped green chiles, undrained
3 teaspoons chili powder
1 teaspoon ground cumin



1. Trim fat from beef. Cut beef into 3/4-inch cubes. In 3 1/2- to 4-quart slow cooker, mix beef and soup mix (dry). Stir in remaining ingredients.


2. Cover and cook on Low heat setting 8 to 10 hours.

This is very good and filling.  Even better for lunch the next day, scooped up with crackers.

Get more soup ideas at A List Maker's Life, yum!

31 of 52

Trick -or- Treat

Goofy 'ol kids!

and a naughty Old Dad.

Visit Forever in Blue Jeans to see more moms.

******************52 Weeks********************

52 Weeks is a year long challenge for YOU to be in a picture once a week for 52 weeks. We are always the ones behind the camera, this is YOUR chance to get out in front and be in the pictures with our family. We are glad you are joining this challenge. More importantly your family will really enjoy having you in the picture. Thanks for playing along! Oh, you can just jump in now with 1 of 52, you're not getting off that easy! Now go take a picture!

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