Honest Abe Part 2

Remember last year when I posted pictures of Asher & Papa with Abe Lincoln at the Courthouse?  Well it just so happens that Dad came to lunch almost exactly a year later.  How could I miss a picture of the two of them together again - this will pry be another of those yearly pictures, much like picking up ducks at the fair.

And, same as last year, someone thought my Dad was my husband.

No, I'm so not joking.  I know that it could be possible given that we are 22 years apart.  But come on - it was even our weekly waitress at Bernardi's that asked Mom after me, Asher & Dad walked out if that was my husband.  Mom just laughed and said "no, he's mine."

This is much like a couple of months ago when we went out for pizza in Cullom and the waitress thought Mom was my sister and Taylor was like the "nanny." 

Note to self: have kids young so that people can't tell if you are their parents or not... this is a great way to embarrass your children.

Freezer to Crock Pot

So, in case you were wondering about those freezer to crock pot meals I made last week here are the recipes.

Chicken Ropa Vieja
2 Boneless chicken breasts
1 tomato
2 sm onions
1 green pepper
Garlic
1 pkg of taco seasoning
1/2 c tomato sauce

Put the chicken, tomato, 1 diced onion, garlic & taco seasoning in gallon freezer bag.  Freeze. 
When it comes time to make it thaw it out the night before.  Dump the contents of the bag in the crock pot and cover with water.  Cook on high 4 hours or low for 8.  When it is done cooking remove the chicken and shred.  Cut up your green pepper & other onion and saute in olive oil until tender.  Add chicken, 1/2 c tomato sauce and 1 cup of cooking liquid from crock pot to the peppers and onions.  Cook on medium for 10-15 mins.

We actually did eat this one the other night.  I served it with Zatarans Spanish rice.  I thought it was really good, but Dustin doesn't like chicken so he wasn't thrilled.  I thought it had really good flavor and I knew Dustin wouldn't eat just shredded chicken so he put it on flour tortillas.  Add some sour cream and I thought they were pretty yummy!

Chicken Enchiladas
 1 lb chicken breasts
2 15oz cans of Enchilada sauce (I used green sauce cuz I like it better)
4 oz can of green chilies
flour tortillas
shredded mexican cheese
sour cream

I put the chicken, enchilada sauce and green chilies in gallon freezer bag.  Freeze!
When it comes time to cook thaw out the bag and dump it in the crock pot.  Cook for 8 hrs on low.  When it's done shred the chicken.  Put 1 cup of the juices in the bottom of a 9x13.  Roll chicken mixture in flour tortillas and place in pan.  Cover them with the rest of the juice then shredded cheese.  Cover and bake at 350 for 20 mins.  Then uncover and bake 5 more minutes.

**I made this one but have not tried it yet.

Janet's Farmer's Pie (this is not for crock pot but I did make & freeze it in a foil pan)
13 oz can of chicken
1/2 c fried onions
1 can cream of chicken
1 can green beans
3-4 cups mashed potatoes (I used the ready-made Bob Evans)
1/2 c shredded cheese

Combine chicken, Cream of Chicken, Fried Onions & green beans.  Pour into small cassarole and cover with mashed potatoes. (at this point I put them in a foil pan and froze)  Cook at 350 for 20 minutes.  Cover with cheese and bake 10 minutes more.

Crock Pot Banana Bread
1 3/4 c flour
2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp baking soda
1/3 c butter
2/3 c sugar
2 eggs, well beaten
2 T dark corn syrup
3 ripe bananas, mashed

Grease & flour crock pot.  Mix dry ingredients together & set aside.  Cream butter with mixer.  Slowly add sugar, eggs, syrup & bananas.  Beat until smooth then add dry ingredients.  Pour into crock pot, cover and cook on high for 1.5-2 hours.  Let cook & invert on platter.

I made this and it was really pretty good.  My CP seems to cook really hot so I went with the 1.5 hours and still burned the edges so keep an eye on it.  I just shaved off the "over done" part and it was fine.

Sometimes, I even impress myself...

Let's face it.  We all know I'm not a "Domestic Diva."  My house is usually strung from one end to the other with toys, I really only cook 1 day a week and my Grandma does most of my laundry. 

But last Monday - Labor Day - I got all domestic.  I made laundry detergent and fabric softener.  Like in a pot, at home.  Yes you heard me right!  I saw the laundry detergent recipe on Laura's blog and thought it looked really easy.  Plus its like $6.00 to make enough for 576 loads.  Then while I was at it I decided to look around online and see if there were any recipes for fabric softener.  There are all kinds but this is the one that we used:

2 cups hair conditioner (I used the cheap Suave stuff)
3 cups white vinegar
6 cups water

That's it!  I whisked it really good and poured it in a big bottle.  Just give it a lil shake every time you use it!

So far I'm pretty impressed with how well these work.  So if you're looking for a little rainy day project give it a try.

That same day I did about 6 loads of laundry.  Beacause it was Monday.  Nana Jane usually comes on Monday.

Mom & I had gone to the grocery store that morning and I bought a TON of groceries becuase we had no food.  Then I went home and made 3 dinners.  I found some recepies online that you can assemble in gallon freezer bags - thaw them out the night before - and then throw in the crockpot when you go to work.  When we actually eat one of these I'll post the receipe if it's worth a shit.

Then I made banana bread in the crockpot.  Seriously, I think you can make anything in there!  Mom & Dad came for dinner and Ray and Sue stopped by.  It was a great day :)

PS.  I placed my first print order last night - and it wasn't my Mom.  I'm beyond excited!

My Lil' Man

I love this Lil Man!

Meet Jose

Meet Jose.
Also known as Dustin, Mom & Dad's pool boy.

I don't know too many people as anal-retentive as my husband.

Well, maybe except for Milissa's Husband.

Let's take a little walk down memory lane with the pool.  It's amazing that this thing came together in just 10 days.

Day 1 ended with a big hole. 

Day 2 saw lots of activity! 

Holy Shit.

That's Jeff the pool guy under there. 

Asher was more interested in the sand. 

A couple of days later the guys came to pour the concrete. 

Dad & Chris were the first ones that got to "swim." 

The day after that Jeff the pool guy came back and cleaned it.

Can you believe the difference? 

Asher got to go swimming.

It might take him a while to warm up. 

Boo wasn't too thrilled either. 

But he's a good little swimmer! 

Sister and I hung out by the pool all day on Sunday.

We drank "goon juice" 

And Dad squirted us with water.

I can't wait until next summer when we can really use it!

3 Years Ago...

Three years ago I wrote posted this post. (yeah, yeah.  Don't laugh)

It was my first post ever!  In the last 3 years I have written 503 different posts about anything and everything.  How fitting  that the post today is about almost the same thing!

When we went to Shelbyville this weekend I really didn't get my camera out much besides taking John and Brenda's pictures.  But we did get a couple while out on the lake.  Dustin was on cloud 9 with the new boat and his stitches were out!

1... 

2... 

3!

Dustin's cousin Jaime just announced that she is 10 weeks along!  Can't wait until they come back in December. 

Her husband Craig had a relaxing day. 

As did mine :)

Baby Axel

Friday and Saturday Dustin and I loaded up the truck and headed down to Lake Shelbyville to spend a couple of days with the Popejoy side.  Not only did we have a couple of great days on the lake but I also got to use Dustin's cousin John and his wife Brenda for some maternity pics!  Baby Axel Thomas is due the middle of November.  We got another surprise when we got there - John's Sister Jaime and her husband Craig are expecting in March!  Soon there will be lots of little Popejoy's running around :)

Dustin got his first taste of helping me out.  I think he actually liked it!

And its nice to have someone there to run and get things for me!

What I Love in August

 So I'm totally stealing this idea from Katie but I love to read about the products and things that she loves.  Thought I'd share some things I'm loving with you!

Didn't I mention the other day that I had 12 zits?  I have no idea what is going on but thank God for Bare Minerals Bisque.  It covers like nothing else I've ever tried!

My favorite morning drink.

I mix up one of these with skim milk almost every morning.  Yummy.

If you like really country music and Miranda Lambert you should really take a listen to Pistol Annies.

I love a good man hater song every once in a while :)

This last one I actually have a love-hate relationship with.

I got a couple of $5 Thomas the Train movies at target a couple of months ago and I think Asher has watched them 10,000 times.  I love that it keeps him occupied but hate that I'm singing the songs in my head all day long. 

Maiden Voyage

 On Sunday our new boat took its Maiden voyage!  We had a great day with Kevin & Kolby and Kristen, Jamie, Connor & Camden.  We were so excited to now have a boat big enough to take friends. 

Conner, Camden, Asher & Kolby 

The little boys thought they were big boys and wanted to jump off the back! 

But Asher didn't quite get the concept of jumping so I had to throw him. 

Look at that hair.  LOVE it! 

Ouch. 

Dustin wanted to wake board since the boat has a wake board tower.

He hadn't done this in about 2 years.  And he is now 30.

I told him that he shouldn't get out there but he never listens to me. 

I bet he wished he would have this time because we ended up in the ER with 8 stitches.

When he went down the wake board came up and got him right in the head.

THERE WAS A LOT OF BLOOD.

I was trying not to pass out at the site of Dustin's skull through the huge gaping cut he had.

But of course Dustin was more concerned about not getting any blood on the boat.