Casita de Alaniz

Wordless Wednesday...Momma's shoes are made for walkin'

2009-11-11T06:52:00.000-06:00

Tuesday TRUEism

2009-11-10T09:37:00.002-06:00

{image courtesy of diencastillon}

KNOCK, KNOCK...who is there?

2009-11-06T15:26:00.010-06:00

We were richly blessed by a visit from Kay and Darrell (my second cousin and her husband) from California and also by my cousin Serena and her son Jayden from Carrollton. They graciously took a day out of their vacation to drive down and meet Cade and Gracyn!

We spent the day chatting, munching, playing, exploring,

taking a walk and reminiscing about old times.

What a beautiful day of family F-U-N!

{Mr. Jayden}

How handsome is he?

Thanks for taking the time and effort to drive down to our little 'ole casa for a visit.

Y'all come back soon now,

ya hear!!!

ALMOST a Wordless Wednesday

2009-10-21T07:14:00.000-05:00

Dear Nani,

Just so you know, I plan on sending the "parent note"

straight to your door

next year in kindergarten when his teacher says

he enjoys crafting airplanes out of his papers,

instead of working on them!

Thanks for the life lessons!

We love you dearly.

Tuesday TRUEism

2009-10-20T07:10:00.000-05:00

{NOTE TO SELF}

Menu Monday

2009-10-19T09:50:00.003-05:00

After a busy, but fun weekend {filled with LOTS of college football & a date night to Octoberfest} we invited friends over last night to share a pot of chili, cornbread, and a chocolate chip pie! This little pie is a fast fix, only requiring 7 ingredients and 10 minutes to stir! Baking takes the longest, but it's totally worth it. YOU GOTTA TRY IT :) I can't really describe the deliciousness except to say...it literally IS just like eating a chocolate chip cookie, except in chewy, gooey pie form! Top it off with a generous dollop of Blue Bell Vanilla Bean Ice Cream and you have a crowd pleaser! I make 2 pies when I have groups over to the house and it's always gotten rave reviews. Quick. Simple. Delicious...what's not to love!

Now go get to baking!!

Nestle Chocolate Chip Pie

1 unbaked 9-inch deep-dish pie shell*, completely THAWED
2 large eggs
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) butter, softened
1 cup (6 ounces) semi-sweet chocolate morsels
1 cup chopped pecans or walnuts

Serve with ice cream (optional) But not optional if your name is Becky!!!

DIRECTIONS: Preheat oven 325 degrees. Beat eggs in large mixer bowl on high until foamy. Beat granulated sugar and brown sugar, followed by the flour. Beat in butter. Stir in morsels and nuts and spoon into pie shell. Bake for 55-60 minutes. Cool on wire rack. Serve warm.

*I recommend using Mrs. Smith's Deep Dish Pie Shells, I have found that they turn out the best of all the brands I have tried. Also, be sure to thaw your shell completely prior to baking!

Recipe from Nestle Classic Recipes, 2003

Fun Fridays...FIELD TRIP!!!!

2009-10-16T11:32:00.004-05:00

We arrived back in town yesterday {from a week of visiting family in Irving} just in time to attend Cade's first official preschool field trip of the year to the pumpkin patch! All four of us went last year and enjoyed it, so we were excited to be returning. Lo and behold would you believe who was the first person we saw after stepping out of our car? Our soccer coaches' sweet wife, Coach Amy and her son Landon were out and about manning the pumpkin fields and reading stories! How fun!

We really bundled up this year because a cold front moved in over night and our car temperature was reading 59 degrees on our way over! Brrrrr....bring it on FALL, we love you! Fall and spring are my two favorite seasons here in Texas. Mainly because I would not really classify our "winter" as an actual "winter"...especially when it's 70 degrees on Christmas Day and our summers just seem to be getting hotter and hotter every year! The fall air is so cool and crisp and always smells like rain and firewood to me :)

Fall, thank you for blowing in & refreshing my spirit!

Cade and Gracyn,

I had the best day with you today...

because of your beautiful spirits.

Photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Words of Wisdom, on Wednesday

2009-10-07T08:52:00.001-05:00

Reading through the book of Proverbs this month and this one stood out to me today. Luckily it fit right into a photo I snapped in our yard too!

So much wisdom to be gleamed from Solomon, I am loving my quiet times...

Menu Monday...on Tuesday!

2009-10-06T09:11:00.004-05:00

So I'm a day late and a dollar short...In this season of life, I am just happy to actually be making time to post! Fall has swung in with a vengeance this year. I started feeling sick this past Friday with body aches, low grade temperature, a severe headache and exhaustion. After resting over the weekend and taking Tamiflu, I am feeling much better! But I must admit, I wanted something simple, quick, and low mess to whip up for dinner on Monday. Thanks to my sweet friend Jennifer, who gave me this recipe, my wish was granted. This recipe is definitely worth

posting! Once you taste it, you won't give me a hard time for running a day behind...trust me.

Italian Tortellini Soup

Serves 6:

1/2 pound ground beef

1/2 pound Italian sausage, casings removed

15 ounce jar marinara sauce

1 C. sliced mushrooms

14 1/2 ounce can diced tomatoes

9 ounce pkg. cheese filled tortellini (refrigerated)

1 C. Mozzarella cheese, grated

Brown beef and sausage (i use the mild Italian sausage for the kiddos) in a skillet over medium heat. Spray inside of crock pot. Mix meat mixture, marinara sauce, mushrooms, and tomatoes in crock pot. Cover and cook on low for 7 to 8 hours (or on high for 4 to 6 hours). Stir in tortellini (i use the new whole wheat variety); sprinkle with cheese. Cover and cook on low for about 15 minutes more or until tortellini is tender. You can add a little water to thin, if needed.

Serve with toasted Italian bread, sliced thin or Italian bread sticks!

Recipe courtesy of Jennifer Locklin

{The kids and I also baked a delicious poppy seed bread yesterday! I will post the recipe very soon}

Tuesday TRUEism

2009-09-29T11:34:00.002-05:00

love life, not stuff

"Realize that life, not stuff, is what matters. Objects are just objects — if you lose them, if they get stolen or destroyed … it’s not a big deal. They’re just objects — not your life. Your life is the series of moments that is steaming through your consciousness right now, and how you use those moments and what you fill them with is what truly matters, not what you fill your home with. At the end of this short journey, you’ll look back and remember your experiences, the people you loved and who loved you back, the things you did and didn’t do.

Not the stuff you had."

from Zen Habits

Soccer is the Season

2009-09-28T11:25:00.017-05:00

Cade's first official soccer game was Saturday morning at 8:30 A.M. We pulled out of the drive way around 7:45 with Mimi and Grandpop in tow, to venture out into the big world of pee wee soccer! Cade informed us on the way to the game that his team was "MEAN GREEN" - - I said you guys aren't mean Cade, your shirts are just hunter green. I was quickly corrected on that subject as he continued by informing me that Coach Mark said that's who they were. And if Coach Mark says it, it's F-A-C-T.

So...I stand corrected.

After getting lost trying to follow our printed map, we called our friend Brooke to get exact directions, and thank goodness we did because the soccer field is half way to Louisiana from our house! Grief. And we will be driving there every Saturday until early November!

Once we pulled in and parked, Grandpop suited Cade up in his ankle pads and shin guards...Man, if Grandpop had a quarter for every time he'd done that, he'd have a HUGE mess of quarters!!!

They practiced kicking the ball around a little and then the big game was underway! Three on three, no goalies! Cade's first goal was for the other team, but he made up for it by scoring 6 more goals...for the "mean greens."

All in all he really played great! If you can actually call it "playing" at age 4. He ran after the ball, practiced stopping it before it went out of bounds, had a couple of successful steals, used good sportsmanship (even when another kid deliberately pushed him down), gulped down Gatorade with the best of 'em and looked like a handsome little stud in the process! What more could any mother ask for!

We are proud of you Cade Matthew!!! Your "can do" attitude and sporty spirit bring happiness to our hearts. I know this is probably the first of many games to come in your future, but it was a special one all the same.

Cade in Action...

{sorry about the fuzzy-ness, this was shot in video mode on our camera}

GO Mean GREEN :)

Wordless Wednesday

2009-09-23T06:57:00.003-05:00

Tuesday TRUEism

2009-09-22T07:31:00.001-05:00

{image from here}

Love this!

It makes me realize just how silly some of the things

I ask God for really are...

Menu Monday

2009-09-21T13:32:00.006-05:00

Marinades, especially store bought ones are totally underrated in the world of food in my humble opinion. So many times when I flip onto Food Network, they're talking about "homemade marinades this" or "adding sliced ginger to that"...which is all well and good at times.

But seriously...

let's

take

the

help

where

can

get it

girls.

Let me introduce you to one of my favorite marinade mates:

DALE'S steak Seasoning

YES, that red spot says they've been making it for over 50 years {since 1946} and with good reason. It literally goes with everything! I love it mixed in with hamburger meat, or used as a marinade over steaks, pork, venison, and I've even marinated chicken in it with success! It just really is THAT delicious! Plan on adding a dash of DALE'S STEAK SEASONING to something on your menu this week.

In the mood for something new? Click on the DALE'S website for a complete list of recipes using beef, pork, poultry, and vegetables.

Welcome to the wonderful world of easy marinating!

The real secret behind melt in yo' mouth, flavorful meat!

Tuesday TRUEism

2009-09-15T20:11:00.000-05:00

{Image from here}

Sunshine on a Soggy Day

2009-09-14T20:32:00.006-05:00

My kids enjoyed a FULL batch of chocolate chip buttermilk pancakes on Saturday morning! They devoured them...LITERALLY. Gracyn ate 4 and Cade scarfed down FIVE and I had to cut him off there because he was still asking for more! As I glanced up from my own mound of buttermilk bliss, I tried my best to to sear those sweet faces into my heart.

Luckily I also had a camera near by

to record it for all of you :)

Mommy, I know you're taking incriminating photos of me to use at my sweet sixteen!

Wipe the drool off your keypad and go here for the recipe!

I posted it back in 2008!

2009-09-01T06:55:00.000-05:00

Kristi's Blog Design and More

is having a

GIVE-AWAY!

Tap, Tap, Tap your little keys on over to

to enter to win.

TWO lucky gals will win a set of baggie taggies (2 per set)

and one

lucky winner will take home a deluxe set of FAMILY tags!

The Baggie Taggies from Kristi's are a little different....they are on a metal ring to avoid the usual tearing that other taggies sustain over time. And they are contained in a plastic pouch instead of the traditional laminated one. The plastic is more durable and will hold up a lot longer. Each comes with coordinating ribbon. They are two sided: one side for a monogram or name, the other for identification information or a scripture.

Enchanting Eye Candy...

You can use these on any item that needs a name...

* luggage *

* lunch box *

* back pack *

* sports bags *

* dance bags *

* golf clubs *

* travel stroller *

* diaper bag *

and I think these would make super fun

party favors!!!!

Fingers and Toes crossed we are one of the lucky ducks who wins :)

Menu Monday

2009-08-31T16:58:00.003-05:00

I don't even think this would even be considered a "recipe" but I thought I would share a secret to spicing up the weekly green beans! When we have Italian food I like to drain some of the liquid out of my french cut green beans before adding them to my pot. Then I add a couple of generous squeezes of Kraft Italian Dressing to them. Follow up by seasoning with a little salt and pepper and warm as normal on your stove top! It's a quick and easy way to give'em a little kick! Try laying off the butter and picking up the salad dressing to make your green beans and your kids feel a little SpIcY!

Tuesday TRUEism

2009-08-25T07:39:00.000-05:00

{photo from here}

School Days, School Days, Good 'Ole Golden Rule Days

2009-08-21T09:40:00.007-05:00

Dear Cade,

Today is your first day of PK-4! I feel in some ways that it's your first LAST day of being my "little" boy. Next year, you will be in the big world of public school....a kindergartner! You were slow to wake up early this morning, but once you got yourself dressed you were ready for a school year full of new adventures, new friends, and new lessons. You ate your favorite breakfast before school, a bowl of Cheerios and sliced strawberries with a glass of pomegranate blueberry juice. You asked me if you could take your Dick and Jane reader to school and when I tried to pack it into your bag you insisted on carrying it yourself! I know you'll enjoy reading it to your new friends today!

My heart swells with pride each and every time my eyes fall on you sweet boy! You are one of a kind. A smart, curious, playful, kind-hearted, athletic, helpful and handsome little fella. There are no words for me to express just how much I love you Cade, so I make it my mission to show you each day! Just as the Psalms say, you were, "fearfully and wonderfully made." I continue to pray for you to grow in knowledge and in truth.

Truth that transforms!

I Love you,

Mommy

Way Back WEDNESDAY

2009-08-19T21:30:00.001-05:00

Cade Matthew @ 7 1/2 Months

August 2005

Fayetteville North Carolina

Put me in coach, I'm ready to play!

2009-08-18T21:12:00.008-05:00

Our new nightly routine is fix dinner, eat dinner, clean-up, and run outside as fast as we can to play baseball with Cade. Thanks in part to the fact that the back of our house faces east, so our lawn is shaded around 7 p.m. Everyday he reminds me, in his most serious tone, that he has a baseball game to play tonight! He even begs me to invite his friends over to "watch" him play!
No self-esteem issues here folks.

He has a tee, but he really likes it when Steve pitches to him! He keeps telling us he doesn't want to play t-ball because that's really NOT baseball.

He'd rather play, and I quote, "just plain baseball" instead :)

We even have our own field groomer...cutest one on the block!

{I'll give you a hint...she's got the cutest

KANKLES

this side of the Mason Dixon}

{And the longest lashes}

{And the biggest most beautiful brown eyes you ever did see}

Wordless Wednesday

2009-08-12T16:07:00.001-05:00

Hawaii Day Dreamin'....on a rainy day

Tuesday TRUEism

2009-08-11T06:55:00.000-05:00

Don't ask yourself what the world needs.

Ask yourself what makes you come alive,

and then go do that.

Because what the world needs is people

who have come alive.

{Howard Thurman}

Playgroup Pals

2009-08-10T16:59:00.006-05:00

Every Monday summer, spring, fall and even winter we meet up with our playgroup pals from church! Sometimes we meet up at a special destination: zoo, museum, chick-fil-a, mickey d's, someone's home and sometimes we just take over the gym at our church. But no matter where we meet, we always manage to have SO MUCH FUN!!!

Meeting with this group on a weekly basis for such a long time now has been a real blessing to each of us. We've made new friendships as well as strengthened old ones. The kids forge special bonds with each other and it's neat just to simply watch them "play" together! The Moms get to swap stories, strategies, strengths and sorrows and just be there for each other in general. I think one of the best things any stay at home mother can do is find a group/community to be a part of, for yourself as well as your kids.

They say "it takes a village" and I couldn't have picked a better group of Moms and kids to plow through life with....thanks Lord for placing me where YOU want me to be.