Sweet Potato side dish

This is a favorite side dish around our casa.  It is easy to make, and SUPER easy clean up.  you can make it on the grill or in the oven... along side whatever you have cookin'.

Directions:
1. Peal 2 medium sweet potatoes

2.  Thinly slice sweet potatoes- (the thinner they are the quicker they will cook)
3.  Slice up an apple
4.  Place sweet potatoes and apples on sheet of tin foil
5. Add a few slices of butter
6. Add 1 tsp of water
7. Sprinkle with cinnamon

8.  Sprinkle with a tablespoon of brown sugar, OR drizzle with a little bit of Agave juice
9.  Sprinkle with walnut pieces (optional) 
9.  Fold tin foil closed, seal up so no moisture can escape.  Sometimes, I will even add a second layer of tinfoil to make it more sturdy and sealed!
10.  Throw on grill (or in the oven at 350 degrees) until apples and sweet potatoes are soft, about 25 minutes.

Enjoy!!

It works for me- eliminating fruit flies

My sweet mother-in-law was here last week, and I soaked in every minute we had with her.  Her calming presence, her joy, perspective and godliness is a true blessing to be around!  Seriously, she is amazing!  I could go on and on... but that can be for another post : )

Anyway, this last visit she gave me such a practical and efficient tip that I had to pass along to you... How to kill fruit flies!  Up until now, my attempt at annihilation was to try to catch them by clapping them in my hand.  Umm, INEFFECTIVE!

Here is the easy- sure proof method...
Take a small dish and pour in some Red Wine Vinegar - the fruit flies are attracted to the vinegar.
Then put in a drop of dish soap- the soap in the mixture makes them stick and unable to fly away.

Put the little dish by your bowl of fruit

And check back in a few hours.

1st one down...

Today I had 6 floating in the dish within 3 hours!  Made me feel like I accomplished something : )
My FIL said that if you get 5 in a day you are an "ace"

I'll add that to my resume, "ACE!"

Lemons

When life gives you lemons, make lemonade... or just funny faces...

 

 

 lemons and pickles are the best entertainment for B-man at restaurants... and they provide perfect photo ops too!  Good thing the kid loves them, he keeps coming back for more : )

up to...

life is still so busy, so much to still do... here is what I have been up to:
unpacking
buying knobs
ikea run
front yard hang-out time with new neighbors
home depot run
fixin' meals
perfecting my plumbing skills
time with my M-I-L (oh how I love her so)
bookshelf building
kid lovin'
watching my baby take steps
unpacking
swinging on the front portch
organizing
park-hopping
re-organizing
drain de-clogging (can I say NASTY hair... i will spare you the details)
sorting items for donation pile
finding old pics... reminiscing
swimming-lessons (for the kids not me, though I could use some)
breaking down boxes
play-room arranging
check writing/ credit card swipping
living amongst boxes
hot date with Mr. Steady to a wedding
5:45AM walk with neighbor
beach-towel drying
counting my blessings

Ohhh, life is full!  Trying to enjoy each moment!

... just a picture of our chaos... Oh, messy garage...

We moved...

Well, I have been absent on here for over 2 weeks!  I think that might be the longest blogging break yet : )  But I have a good excuse, we moved into our new house!  Wooo Hooo!  It has been a joyful and great experience for us, but not void of stress.  I have been hardly keeping up on normal life, let alone unpacking, so blogging was on a temporary hold. 

This last week has been such a whirlwind!  I have barely been keeping my head above water... especially as a mom!  There have been days this week were I failed in the realm of parenting.  Everything is feeling somewhat overwhelming, no one's needs are being met perfectly, everyone is having some major/ minor behavioral issues.  My patience is being constanly tried and my heart is full of selfish ambitions (like un-packing)... Uggh, it has been hard!

This time of transition has been hard on all of us, especially my littlest peeps.  My kids worlds have been turned upside-down.  They are in a new home, new bedrooms, with new beds and lots of changes.  Bug especially seems to be feeling really insecure with this change.
There is not a single room in our house that is safe yet for B-man, which makes my day harder, my arms stronger and my baby frustrated that he is always being picked up and pulled away from whatever "fun" he is ready to devour.
 
I am trying to find the balance of being consistent with rules and expectations and being sensitive to their hearts in this transition into our new life (giving more grace).  The other balance I have not yet mastered is having fun times planned with the kids and then time for mommy to unpack (not so fun for the kids).  We will get there, someday all these boxes we be unpacked : )  Good thing Grammy is coming to town next week!!!

***************

We are LOVING our house and feel so very blessed to be here!  We love the layout, our super driveway for H to play basketball on or Bug to ride her bike.  Our neighbors are very sweet and friendly.  We have loved living close to the park and pool!  God truly blessed us with this house.  Praying that our home can be a place of love, encouragement, comfort and prayer, not just for us, but for everyone that comes in our door.