Baked Oatmeal

My favorite Breakfast dish. 

And actually my kids' favorite.

Although I bake it the night before and warm it up the next morning during the school year.  Well most of the year actually.....let's be honest I'm not a morning person. 

 

Baked Oatmeal

1 c. oil

1 1/2 c. sugar

4 large eggs

6 c. quick oats

1 T. & 1 tsp. baking powder

2 tsp. salt

2 c. milk

2 Tbs. cinnamon

 

Mix oil, sugar, & eggs, beat with mixer on high speed until yellow and glossy.  Add remaining ingredients and beat until blended.  Pour in greased 9 X 13 pan.  Bake at 400 for 30-40 minutes. 

 

**Options: decrease milk by 1/2 cup and add 1 cup pumpkin.  Sprinkle with mini chocolate chips.

 

Also sometimes I serve this with Cheesecake vanilla sauce.....Which is 3 oz. box of Cheesecake or vanilla flavor instant pudding with 3 1/2 cups of milk.   

 

Easy & delicious.  Enjoy. 

the money pit...otherwise known as the completed basement

Last winter Donovan started framing our basement.  Our objective was to have an area for the kids to run and play, watch movies with friends or play the wii.  The main living room was all that we are planning on doing for now.....possibly adding 2 bedrooms, an exercise room and bathroom someday much later down the road.  Evenings and weekends he put up a couple walls here and a couple walls there.....

Then he put up some drywall & before I knew it he had the mudding & sanding done and I was ready with paint, like the very day that he was done with the sanding, I had the paint bucket and brush ready.  Patient?  Yes, very much so. 

Here is the 1st coat of paint completed.

In February when the painting was complete, he put in a small section of wood floor for a future kitchenette.  (do you like the dust particles my camera picked up??)

And after a pinterest inspiration....we decided to go with some "car siding" for a picture wall. 

 And here it is today.  Completed!  Ahhhhhh carpet, lights, walls, the whole kit and caboodle.  Well, except for some cabinet doors.

The view from coming down the steps. 

The picture wall.

Some new prints but some oldies & goodies too.

This super long wall needed something....so while in Florida last spring break I picked up this explore wall art.  Would love to figure something besides an old coffee table and legos to underneath it....maybe someday when we recover from all the $1000's of dollars we already put into finishing it.

A pinterest -- pin it & do it -- done.  boom. winning.  project.

That was super easy and cheap~that I'll blog about another day.



Another view.

Built in shelves on either side of behind the couch.  Not too shabby for his 2nd go at it. :) It was so great to unpack books and scrapbooks that have been stored away for almost 3 years.   

 On one of the shelves of the built in's....I am starting a sand collection of beaches we've been to.  Now if I could only remember to take containers of sand home with me from some of these beautiful places we've been to!!

And the built ins that are awaiting another $200-$250 worth of wood for doors and hardware. 

The view from the couch....looking towards the stairs {that is behind the wall on the right.}  And if you are ever confused about how to get out of the basement...Donovan installed an "exit" sign to help you.  A find from the Re-Store.  $10 well spent??? That's debatable. 

The floor that will someday hold a canning stove, frig, and small sink.  Until then Barbie and her friends live there. 

What a valuable space this has been.  We love it...even though none of the rooms surrounding this room are finished....this has been a great space to use. 

knitty pants

 Yesterday I caught myself holding back tears while sweeping.  Weird I know. 

 

I was just feeling the loss and a little sting of jealousy of a mother/daughter relationship I wish I had with my mom.  I guess it started yesterday at work when I was talking with a friend that mentioned the magazine her mom gave her because she was done with it.  My friend passed this magazine to me...and I was just a tad sad that my mom couldn't pass along magazines to me.  And I was wishin' I knew my mom at this stage in my life.  And I was wishin' that I could have a friendship with her.  A dangerous road to go down.  Most of the time I've grown to accept this part of my life.  Thankful for what time I did have with her before she died.  And it's been 24 years ago!  And then sometimes it hits me like a brick...while I'm sweeping the floor.  I was trying to get busy doing something to distract that road I was travelin' down of wishin' it was different.  And then I looked up and there stands Donovan who had walked in from work...and I didn't even hear him come in because of the sweeper.  (Good timing God!)  He gave me a hug and we talked. Man I love that guy!  I have so much to be thankful for...and yet the ache in my heart was so heavy. 

 

And then came today.  After a full nights' sleep I was feeling better and had this 180 degree turn around of thankfulness and gratitude.  Thanking God a million times over for this little lady right here.

Isn't she sweet?  A friend from church had asked if Isabella and I would like to go with her and her daughter to a knitting class they were offering at church tonight.

 

NOT IN 1 MILLION years did I think I would ever take a knitting class. 

But they were doing a class for beginners making scarfs. 

Well now you have my attention. I can now complete some pins from pinterest from my "Outfits I Love" board.  Boom.  Winning.

 

And although my friend couldn't make it because of her Grandfathers death~(So sorry for you Sarah!)

Isabella and I still went to pick out some yarn at Hobby Lobby and we went. 

 And I just had to thank God over and over for this little sweet pre-teen of mine.  She has a great, sassy, little, fun, sarcastic way about her. And I have no idea where she get's that from??  

 She's a hoot.  She had me laughing till my cheeks hurt with little lines like, "Well aren't you a little, fast, knitty pants?"  Is knitty even a word?

 Well anyways....Yep! You gotta know she was jealous of my beginning knitting skills.

What a turn around the last 24 hours has been.  Emotional? Yes! Thankful? Yes!  Grateful? Yes! 

 

Still wishin' I could borrow a magazine from my mom....but thankful for the promise that someday I'll see her again and so very, very thankful for the chance to have a mother/daughter relationship with 2 of the sweetest girls I could ever ask for.  I love you Isabella Rose & Suzanna Faye. 

"F" in parenting

Before Suzy went to Kindergarten last year I took her to the Dr. for her Kindergarten physical.  This visit comes complete with a preliminary eye exam.  Which she passed.  So I just never worried about taking her to have her eyes checked by a REAL eye doctor. 

Well in 1st grade all students at our school each child receives an eye exam by the school nurse.  This was this past Thursday at Suzy's school.  And she failed the test.  As in....Please have your child seen by an eye Dr. as soon as possible.

The eye doctor that our family has had for several years now no longer takes our insurance.  BOO....for having to shop for an eye doctor!!!

So I've been at 2 different eye doctors this week.  The first time on Tuesday for Isabella because she was almost out of her years supply of contacts.  And although they were nice and friendly....it felt just a little like a drive thru. 

And then through a recommendation of my mother in law...I visited a different eye doctor in Granger for Suzy.  I hesitated about the 35 minute drive but then realized that they are in our insurance plan and they are in the plaza along with Super Target.  BOOM. WINNING. Decision made. 

I Loved Dr. Longenecker!!!  I loved how her related to her and took time to explain what is happening with her eyesight.  He would tell me what medical name of her condition and then again in mom terms.  And what is happening with my little 6 year old now is that her eyes were starting to cross or turn in slightly to try to focus on things.  (I've never noticed that)  Her eyes I was also told were becoming "lazy" because they were working so hard to try to focus but couldn't figure out what things were.  With her glasses these things can be corrected. 

And this is where on my report card for parenting I receive an "F" for parenting.  She had to start out with such a strong prescription :( But I am so thankful we at least caught it now.  Dr. Longenecker was so gracious when I told him...."Oh my goodness...I should've had her here over a year ago."  He responded that I'm just glad your here now and we can help her."  So a repeat check up in 10 weeks so that Dr. Longenecker can recheck her.  She tells me everything is "BIGGER." 

Suzy loves her glasses.  I love her glasses.  And at least if I failed in this area of getting her to the doctor sooner....I get an A for picking out some pretty cute frames.  Amen? 

Because You Asked

Because I have had several friends ask for the recipe of my Homemade granola bars....I'm posting it for them and you today.  They are a great addition to a packed lunch or an after school treat.  Something I don't always have the time to do...but this week I did.  Enjoy!

 

Granola Bars

Bring to boil:

1 1/4 cup corn syrup

1 cup brown sugar

 

Then add:

1 cup heaping creamy peanut butter

 

After peanut butter melts into mixture, add:

2 cups mini marshmallows

 

Remove from heat & add:

4 cups oatmeal

3 cups Rice Krisipies

 

Grease 9 X 13 (or larger pan if you want them thin) and put 1/2 of granola mixture in pan.  Sprinkle with mini chocolate chips (I skip this step...because I'm such a "health nut" ha ha ha) Put the rest of the mixture on top and press until flat.  {like Rice Krispie Treats} Sprinkle with mini M & M's or mini chocolate chips on top. 

 Speaking of after school I found these pictures when I uploaded the granola bar picture.  This is Donovan & Suzy as we are all waiting for the last of our kids to come home on the first day of school.  Donovan is like a little kid when it comes to this mega phone.  He hooked up his iPhone to the mega phone by some "cord" and had Justin Beiber playing when Isabella walked up the drive. 

Mainly because our kids all think Justin is......well.....not their type of music.  As a middle schooler Isabella was tormented by her dad playing music and talking on the mega phone as she walked from the bus stop.   {Don't worry-the bus and the other kids getting off the bus were long gone} William and I may have been break dancing in the drive as she walked up.  Just for a fun embarrassing factor.  It doesn't take much to get her "feathers" ruffled. 

Didn't realize Donovan got this picture.  But this is my {apology for embarrassing her} welcome home  hug.

Ahhhh....I love her.  She reminds me of myself when I was in 7th grade.  Only I got embarrassed by my parents big brown maxi van that had lots of rust and a loud muffler.   HA HA HA.  I remember asking my mom to drop me off down the block from school.  :) I'm pretty sure it's pretty common for this age to embarrass easily...right?

Black Bean Hummus

Black Bean Hummus

1 clove of garlic (I love garlic...and use 3 cloves)
1 (15 oz) can black beans (drain and reserve liquid)
2 TBS. lemon juice
1 1/2 TBS. Tahini (at health food stores)
3/4 tsp. cumin
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. cayenne pepper
1/4 tsp. paprika

Process everything in blender with 2 TBS. of bean liquid.  Add more liquid if needed.  Add toasted pita bread & magazine.  Enjoy!

7 X 70

The 1st day of school was a success!!!  Everyone came home so excited about their teachers and it was so fun to hear about their days!!  William said, "MOM!!! MY TEACHER IS SO NICE!"  And Jack said pretty much the same thing, "MOM, I LOVE SCHOOL again!  My teacher is so nice to us." Awww....pitter patter.  I love to hear those kind of reports.  Suzy had a good day too and was all smiles, but said that there was one boy who kept getting in trouble and had to put his head on the table TWO TIMES!  Made an impression on her little mind. :) 

So this year I have 4 children in 3 different schools.....SO....I have 3 drop-offs in the morning.  When taking my 2 youngest to school at their elementary building.....I noticed that my friend in front of me in the drop off line ~having her daughter {that goes to the same school as Jack} get out to go and hop on the "connecting bus" that will take students needing a ride over to the Intermediate School building (4th & 5th grade building) to their school.

I told Jack, "HEY! You could ride the connecting bus!! That would save me time and gas!!" Which he responded, "Nah! I don't really want to.  I won't know anyone.  I probably won't get an assigned seat next to anyone I know.... Isabella didn't like when she had to ride that connecting bus...."

ARGHHHH!!!  MY KIDS AND TRYING NEW THINGS!!  I told him...."Well you would know Cassie"  To which he responded...."Yeah, But she probably sits with her friends--that are GIRLS."

I told Jack, "Well maybe sometime you could just give a try!"
And then I dropped it.

And then he noticed as we were dropping off the younger 2 a couple of the new songs I put on my iPod that was playing over the sound system in the van.  To which I figured he would complain...because they were some worship songs on forgiveness.  Something God's working on my with right now.

Anyways....Jack is more the upbeat song kinda guy.  He loves music and esp. electronics & iPods.  I just didn't figure this was his genre.  [Still working on the glass is 1/2 full mentality with this one.]  But when 7 X 70 came on he said he wants this song on his iPod too!  I said, "Really?" How do you know this song Jack?"
"Because we learned about it in music class last year."
"Really?  Who is the artist?"  {Wanting to know if he really knew what he was talking about..}
So he replied, "It's Chris August.  He had a really hard childhood and he's singing about his life right now.  His parents used to fight a lot.  This must have been really emotional for him to sing this, right mom?" 
WOW! The heart strings pulled!!  And all of a sudden from behind my sunglasses I had "something in my eye" syndrome!
It opened up a conversation about forgiveness and what God asks us to do. 
And just like that we arrived at his school, and after he kissed me good-bye, he says, "Time to rock and roll." I love his sense of humor and colorful ways of putting things.

Man I humbled by this job.  It moves me to see them develop and at the same time the things that God develops in me.  To have these little snippets of time that all too soon will be gone.  Something I was irritated about {him not riding a bus} turning to a really special little conversation. 

Thank you Mrs. Cinamon Short for being my kids' favorite music teacher!  Thank you for introducing them to Chis August, and for the way you love your job and students.  Thank you for the ways you teach them to get interested in the musicians you study.  You are an amazing lady making an amazing difference in so many lives.

{Photo borrowed from facebook}

In case you haven't heard the song....

"7x70"

I've been living in this house here
Since the day that I was born
These walls have seen me happy
But most of all they've seen me torn

They've heard the screaming matches
That made a family fall apart
They've had a front row seat
To the breaking of my heart

7 times 70 times
I'll do what it takes to make it right
I thought the pain was here to stay
But forgiveness made a way

7 times 70 times
There's healing in the air tonight
I'm reaching up to pull it down
Gonna wrap it all around

I remember running down the hallway
Playing hide and seek
I didn't know that I was searching
For someone to notice me

I felt alone and undiscovered
And old enough to understand
Just when I'm supposed to be learning to love
You let me doubt again

7 times 70 times
I'll do what it takes to make it right
I thought the pain was here to stay
But forgiveness made a way

7 times 70 times
There's healing in the air tonight
I'm reaching up to pull it down
Gonna wrap it all around

I lost count of the ways you let me down
But no matter how many times
You weren't around
I'm all right now

God picked up my heart and helped me through
And shined a light on the one thing
Left to do
And that's forgive you

I forgive you

7 times 70 times
If that's the cost I'll pay the price

7 times 70 times
I'll do what it takes to make it right
I thought the pain was here to stay
But forgiveness made a way

7 times 70 times
There's healing in this house tonight
I'm reaching up to pull it down
Gonna wrap it all around

Yeah, I'm gonna wrap it all around

I've been living in this house here
Since the day that I was born