Taco Night

Last night we had some friends over and we had a Taco Night. I wanted to try my hand at making home made refried beans. My best friend, and resident Mexican, let me know how she usually does it and I tried. I figured it was worth a shot. They turned out great! I would prolly half the recipe I did last night, I have so much left over. I now have a great Spanish rice recipe and a great bean recipe. I'm so excited. I love when you try something new and it turns out good. I think I'm going to try my sister's White Chicken Chili tonight...

MAY THE LIGHT ALWAYS FIND YOU ON A DREARY DAY.
WHEN YOU NEED A HOME MAY YOU FIND YOUR WAY.
MAY YOU ALWAYS HAVE COURAGE TO TAKE A CHANCE.
AND NEVER FIND FROGS IN YOUR UNDERPANTS.
-an anonymous scandinavian

Crock Pot Pepsi Pork

So yesterday I made a delicious slow cooker recipe that has quickly become a favorite. My SIL, Michelle, and I found it while we were visiting in Pennsylvania. We used Coke instead of Pepsi, which was good...but I used Pepsi and it was even better. So here is the recipe...

Pork Tenderloin
1 12oz. can of Pepsi
1 pkg dry onion soup mix
1 can cream of mushroom soup

Carrots & Potatoes (add as many as you need)

Quarter potatoes and place in bottom of crockpot, place carrots on top of potatoes. Season tenderloin with salt and pepper and place on top of carrots and potatoes. Mix cream of soup and dry onion soup mix together. Add pepsi and stir (it will be a little chunky). Pour mixture of pork. Cook in crockpot on high 5-6 hours.

This is so good. This is not sweet or too soda tasting. I think the pepsi helps keeps the pork tender. Try it, you'll love it, I PROMISE!

Quote of the Day...

I love to give homemade gifts...
Which kid would you like?

THREE WISE WOMAN

Would have asked direction
Arrived on time
Helped deliver the baby
Brought practical gifts
Cleaned the stable
Made a casserole
and there would be
Peace on Earth

Saw this in a magazine and thought it was funny..

Pictures with Santa

The Child Development Center on our base held a Santa's Village today. The girls got their pictures with Santa (they're below). Jo had less of a good time with that than Rye did, but I expected no less. Rye also learned to make snowflakes and got a few ornaments to color at home.
We also got Rye's face painted. The lady doing the faces was amazing. Rye's isn't that elaborate but some of the others were crazy, in a good way. We also got to watch a dance & gymastics show from the center on base. Rye is now more determined than ever to have classes. We'll have to see what we can do. Our friends daughter Maile danced too, very cute. So it was a fun morning.

What did the Mommy Tomato say...

...to the baby tomato when she was lagging behind? "KETCHUP"
Just what this post is about. Catching you guys up on the pictures I've been taking. They're really only of the family. What else do I have to take photos of? So, I will now share the cuteness of mi familia.
Jo reading her book in the kitchen. She loves these board books.

She carries them with her around the house, looking for just the right spot to plop down and read.

Eric likes to make himself smoothies some mornings. This particular morning Joey wanted a taste. She loved it. Kept wanting more.

The girlsies playing in the living room with their hats.

I just love Jo's grin in this one

My big girl...she could pose infront of the camera for hours

Shady lady

Playing in Rye's room

Trying to lift Rye's toys is her favorite past time

Rye being...well...Rye.

Kisses

She loves opening these doors on Rye's doll house. She opens them, shoves stuff inside, closes them, opens them again, takes the stuff out and repeats

PEEK A BOO, I SEE YOU

Giving herself some love

Walking home from the bus stop. Rye had picked her up and was holding her. Joey loved it, for a minute

This was a fun pic I took to document our winter weather in Hawaii. Though we still have warm & sunny days, we also have lots more rainy ones. Yesterday it was raining so bad that Rye's school was cancelled @ 10 am, roads were closed, power went out and yards were flooded. I don't mind the drizzly days, but I could do with out days like yesterday.

Isn't it funny when...

you put clothes in the dryer and you get everything set and you push the button and nothing happens...then you push it again and nothing happens? And when you're done cursing said dryer to high heaven you look down and realize you haven't closed the door from putting the clothes in. You just have to laugh at yourself then, don't you?

Just an Update

I know I haven't been on here much. I will try and be better. PROMISE.
I always have so much I want to do but so little motivation to do it. I have pictures to post on here, I need to catch up on my Christmas Journal pages...I have not started a one and I need to decorate for Christmas. We didn't do it last weekend because we were busy all weekend. We went to Charles & Malinda's house on Thursday, Buck & Layla's on Friday, Eric's 1stSgt's on Saturday and by Sunday, when we could have decorated, we were too pooped to do it.
So this morning I got all the boxes out of the shed, quickly so Rye wouldn't see her new bike, and told Eric that the tree must be in the other shed and asked if he could get it. He went out and checked the other shed and said it wasn't in there. That's when we both remembered we got rid of our old tree last year because half the lights were out (what are you supposed to do about that?). So now I have to wait until we can find a tree...I guess I can decorate the rest of the house and do the tree once we get it. sigh.
I did get a few things done. I got some calendars ordered, the Christmas cards sent out and the presents bought. Yay me.
I have a wee child crying at my side right now so I should say goodbye. Teething toddlers take such patience.