What to eat Wednesday- Quiche

This is the last of my breakfast items for my What to Eat Wednesdays-

This one is kind of any anytime of day meal... but I kind of think of it as breakfast/brunch!
Everyone here likes it (with the exception of 1 child)- and I like to use it after I have bought a lot of fresh spinach and I need to use it up.
This recipe came from my mother in law Carolyn.
I like to mix up all the wet ingredients, and I usually use 3-4 eggs ... depending on how much spinach I have.
I put the spinach in the pie crust then pour everything else on top. I think this is best the next day, after it has had time to settle.

Quiche
Carolyn Spear gave me this recipe.
She always has wonderful ideas and delicious recipes.
9 inch unbaked pie crust
1 cup shredded Swiss cheese
6 slices bacon cooked and crumbled (1/2 cup)
¾ cup ham minced
Green onion sliced and chopped
½ green pepper chopped
eggs slightly beaten
1 cup light cream (half and half)
½ teaspoon grated lemon peel
½ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon dry mustard
spinach chopped

Mix all ingredients and pour into unbaked pie crust. Cook 325 degrees for 45 minutes.

today

this is what was happening ...





while I took care of all of this ...

SPT-economic stimulus

Lelly's challenge this week was:

"It has been suggested that, "the rebates could trigger a spending spree. When the money reaches the American people, [they] will use it to boost consumer spending."
Your challenge this week? Find your last receipt from the gas station (or if you are filling up over the weekend, make note of what you spend.) how'd you do? $35.00? $70.00? $100.00+?? What if you could take THAT amount and spend it on something for you?? To make it a little more challenging, let's just say that you can only buy ONE item, and the cost of that ONE item must be within $5.00 of what you spent at the pump."

I thought maybe I might use the 50 or so-
(this is how much it cost us last week before the gas prices jumped up-
and we only had to fill a little over 1/2)
to go shopping at Pottery Barn..
or James Avery...

But what kept coming back to me over and over was to just wait. Hang on to it.
So
I would walk over to the kitchen cabinet, open the door, reach up to the top shelf and pull this out.
Then I would put the money in.

I got this teapot at my bridal shower- 13 years ago.
There was a note with some money saying that every woman should have a place to keep her "pin money"-
So this is where I put unexpected money that comes my way.
Sometimes my kids will put little notes in it.
Or I might find a few dollar bills in there as a surprise.
I even put the money I find while doing the laundry in here.

Right now I have the feeling to just wait until there is something I really want- I am sure that won't take long. And when I come across something I really want- that money will be waiting for me.
In my cute little teapot.

5 years ago

we measure time in increments and we count by 5's
this year our 3rd child turned 5-
his birthday is in January - for almost 1 whole calendar year he stays the same age
so for this whole year-2008...I will be thinking about 5 years ago...

the ultrasound-laying on the table with Savanna and Jack in the double stroller- seeing on the screen too much "space" around his lip and nose before the tech says anything- then hearing her say "did you say your husband had a cleft? This baby does too."

me calling Jay in Oregon- to tell him over the phone- wishing there was someway we could just be together right there at that moment.

people saying at least its not life threatening

drs. asking me about jay and how things were when he was born and not knowing

people saying it must be so reassuring that your husband has been through it
and how it wasn't

researching dr.s and interviewing

deciding who would operate, and what technique we would use

before birth, being so nervous and scared, and feeling so horrible that I felt that way

birth-how everything was just right, so-exactly- normal- as- can- be (emotionally)-everything was as it should be
feeding..the pumping around the clock and not being able to nurse

washing all the parts of the bottles- the nipples, and valves

not wanting to waste even the tiniest bit of that "white gold" (pumped breastmilk)

appointments-driving to Portland

handing Luke over for his impression of his mouth

handing Luke over for his 1st surgery-latham appliance

how long it took for him to eat, and how we rejoiced when he finally took to the bottle again
(never did I ever think I would be excited for a child to take a bottle)

turning the screw every day in his mouth to close the gap in his gums


handing Luke over for the 2nd surgery -lip repair & Latham removal

waiting for him to come out of surgery..being so sad about changing the way he looked

dr coming out and telling us how things went, saying Luke's nose was a little dimpled

seeing him for first time -I will never forget, how I felt at that moment
(and having a photographer there documenting the whole experience-priceless photos)






coming home & Savanna being so sad about how he had changed

arm restraints

smooth sailing except for ear infections-knowing we did not have to go back until the fall

big boy, no growth problems


preparing for palate surgery

handing him over for his palate surgery ear tubes & a little lip revision

waiting for him to come out of surgery

its taking too long for him to come out of surgery- why have they not come for us yet?

being angry & throwing his legs

his searching eyes

feeding again

follow up steroid shot

last appointment, knowing that was it, until he turned 5

So here we are... 5 years later
and
We have made the appointment for his nose repair, 1 month from today
We are sticking with same surgeon (but he has moved to California)
We are talking with Luke openly about having surgery
When we asked him why he was going to have a surgery he said "because my nose is so low"
(we have never ever talked about his nose being low- interesting for him to put it into words.)
Dealing with the feelings of changing "his look" again.

This is a very exciting and strange time.

We wonder how it will all go.
How will Luke be coming out of the anesthetic this time?
How will he be with not touching his face?
How long will the recovery be?
How will our other children react to Luke going into surgery, and me needing to take care of him?

I can feel the calm come around me though, as I ponder things, and realize I need to let go.
Knowing that our Father in Heaven is aware of our needs.
My job is to just go with the flow. Let things roll.
As the Mom, I will be setting the tone of our trip.
Prepare for what I can prepare for. Make the trip as fun as possible for the before, and as relaxing as can be after.
And be so grateful that we will have another 3 years until his next major surgery.

Playlist of my life

I was listening to... and I was ...

Telephone Hour (Bye Bye Birdie) - 12 & performing a remake of this song for a roadshow
(now I will also think about the kids performing from the first musical Savanna was in)

18 months oops 19 months!

Wait- how did a whole month go by?
I had this whole thing in my mind written about our littlest being 18 months. A year and a half. Old enough to go to nursery.
But somehow it never got written!
So I am going to recap-

Tucker
You have grown- You are now 27 1/2 pounds(65%) and 34 inches long(90%)
You love your belly button


You think you are one of the big kids






You are so happy-(except for when your not)
You have a loud scream (it even bothers your brother Luke)
You are so busy!
You have a cute way of motioning with your fingers for me to follow you- when you need something, or want to show me something.
You do a very funny thing with your lips when we say "pinch"- (from the honda commercials)
You give me cheesy smiles if I have the camera out.
You love, love, love music. You "lead" it whenever you hear it.
You have the cutest little head tilt when you are pleased.
You are very curious- if there is a hole then something must go in or out of it.
You don't speak much, but
You are sleeping through the night- (and I will take sleep over talking!)
You make us melt!

Sunday thoughts

I finally attended church for the first time in over a month.
It was one of those mornings that would have been so much easier to stay home.
I was passing Jay in the hall and I said- "I am getting to church no matter what"- and he laughed.
I told him that I was serious- last week Tucker was sick, the week before that was Savanna, then there was conference ... So it was march, when I last attended.

I got there.

Made it through Sacrament meeting with the three while Jay took Tucker out .
(ahhh thank you- it was nice having you there)

Went to Primary and a little girl came to me kind of grumpy like and said,
"I did not want to come today-"
and I said "I know what you mean, but we are where we are supposed to be."

She kind of looked around, then leaned in a little closer and said, "I don't like the song we are singing either."
And I said, "that's alright, its ok to not like every song. You don't have to like it."

Then she put her hand in mine, and we shook.
Almost like she was making a pact.
She had made her peace- and then she went and sat back down.

It was so interesting for me to think about this little exchange.

Sometimes I don't "like" what I need to do.
But I need to do it anyway.
And only after, do I receive the blessings.

I wondered how this little girl felt later on.
Did she feel better, by the end of church?
Did we sing any songs that she did like?

weekend recap

so many photos to share of the last 4 days- over 200
But my camera won't let go of the photos!

So here is a recap-
and I will edit and insert photos-
no actually I will probably give them their own post at some time!

Bye Bye Birdie- on thursday night, friday matinee & night, and saturday night
Savanna got to be in the teen chorus of the all school musical-
this included grades 5-12 she had so much fun- and was so darling- she had such a crush on the guy that played conrad- she had been planning for months to "hug" him at the cast party- she even had it on her palm-
well... she hugged him, and then ran-
it has been fun having her be involved in this, and getting a "taste" of what its like- I am certain that this is just the beginning of her involvement- she is hooked!

Jay and I had a date on saturday to the arts festival- it was so nice to go out during the day- we were not tired, there is so much more to go do during the daylight (for us!) we were able to visit-

Still trying to recover from whatever I had last week- yesterday wore me out- I am hoping to get caught up on a few priorities in the next couple of days-

Hope to share photos soon-

Overheard

After Luke had spent the day with my mom- he said "hey mom there is something we need to get"
and then launched into this-

Aqua Globes

"all you do is fill it up with water
and press it into the soil
its that easy, it waters your plants for you.
There is red and blue, and green and multi color.
Call now and you'll get four!"


So how can I put this memorization to good use ...

no what to eat wednesday

feeling yucky-
can't possibly think about food-
glad I had leftovers in the fridge for the kids (spagettio's from my mom, and tortellini spinach soup)
glad my mom took the kids today so I could sleep
(she told me I could never move- what would I do on days like this?)

SPT- earth day

"if this is your first earth day spt, do you consider yourself a part of "the green generation?"


I think that we are making strides in our home to be a little better-
I have posted about it here and here.

We have not had recycling here until this year. I have called once or twice a year since we moved into our home asking when we would get recycling for our city.
Now, I know that it was not my phone call that made our city decide to start recycling. BUT I like to think that my phone call along with others made a difference. One little action added with others made a change.




So once we got recycling, then I had to get organized to start doing it.
We have to go drop it off, so designating a spot for it in our garage was the first step.
Finding something to put it in was the next.
This is where I almost stopped, because of perfection.
I wanted to find "just the right" container- or else I could not do it. Finally I just grabbed an empty storage bin and started using that.

I am glad that I did. It has helped me evaluate what kind of container I want to use to separate all the different kinds of things we have to recycle -paper, glass, plastic aluminum, and tin.
(and I am using what we have instead of buying something new!)
I was really surprised to see how much we throw away- and how much can be recycled.
I would say that is the biggest thing we are doing- A very big step for our family. (for me because I am the one that loads it up and drops it off!)

I am a long way off from being all green-

I use the disposable toilet bowl cleaners.
I use disposable diapers.
I use the dishwasher.
I use ziploc bags. (a lot)
I use a washer and dryer- multiple times in a day more than 1 or 2 days a week.
I have lights on a lot because I need the light.
I decorate for birthdays with crepe paper and balloons.
And I am sure I could come up with many, many, more things that are not "green"-

But I am making small adjustments...Poco a Poco-
A little bit over time will make a difference.

Here are some things that I am doing-(in addition to dropping off the recycling)

I decided to stop using paper towels for cleaning- (this was big-the last roll is stuck behind the washer and dryer and I just did not buy any more)
I have always enjoyed using linen napkins- and now am pulling them out for other times besides just dinner.

Encouraging the kids to reuse paper- like using the backsides of paper for something else this is easier with the younger kids-

Reusing what I can to make something else (in my crafting -this is one of my favorites)

Next up on our "green" list?

continue what we are doing and find solutions for

Water bottles
our multiple lunch box baggies
the never-ending supply of plastic bags from the store.