Ag Fest '08

This weekend we had the joy of having my friend Kristal's kids here again. We decided to take the six to Ag Fest in Salem. It was a lot of fun...but tiring! I am typing this with a brain full of mush, because I went to bed waaay too late and woke up waaay too early. ;) What's my problem? Do I not learn the elementary science equation: no sleep + being a mom= EXHAUSTION!!!???

Anyway, we had a really good time looking at all the animals, watching a sheep get sheared, eating a "down home" breakfast (thumbs down), and just generally enjoying the sunshine while trying really hard not to lose someone.

It's always really great having the kids get together. They are all the same age, and it's neat to see them together when they aren't fighting. What is it about kids that they see each other for only a few days after not seeing each other for months, and all it takes is a matter of minutes to start a fight? I don't get it. I guess that's what comes along with being 30 and learning a thing or two. Hee-hee.

Enjoy some pics of our day! Love y'all! (Excuse the cowboy language, too many hours amongst the farm folk! ;)

So, here's some funny pics from today:

Daddy helping Momo with homework while Jadon sits on his shoulders.

Momo having a hard time getting it. ;)
Carmel lookin' fly in her new suit!

Following The Trend...

Chicken and Black Bean Enchiladas with Gooey Jack Cheese

So, I am following the trend and adding a recipe that looks soooo yummy to me!!! I can only eat this on my cheat day, but next weekend here I come! It looks so warm and yummy....doesn't it???

2 teaspoons olive oil
1/2 cup chopped onion
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1-inch pieces *see cook's note
1 (15-ounce) can black beans, rinsed and drained
1 (4-ounce) can diced green chiles
1/3 cup prepared salsa, mild, medium or hot
2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro leaves
4 (8-inch) flour tortillas
1 1/3 cups shredded Monterey jack and or Cheddar

*Cook's note: this is enough chicken to make this meal and another meal. If you are only making this meal, use 1 pound chicken.

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.

Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add onion and garlic and saute 2 minutes. Add chicken and saute 5 minutes, until golden brown and cooked through. Remove half of the chicken and reserve for another use.

Stir in black beans, green chiles, and salsa and simmer 5 minutes, until sauce thickens and reduces. Remove from heat and stir in cilantro.

Arrange 4 tortillas on a flat surface. Top each tortilla with an equal amount of chicken mixture. Roll up tortillas and place side by side in a shallow baking dish. Top tortillas with shredded cheese (1/3 cup per tortilla).

Bake enchiladas 15 minutes, until cheese is golden and gooey!

Copyright, 2006, Robin Miller, All rights reserved

My Big Helper

Need Some New Threads?

Ok Girls, so I've had a couple of comments lately on my attire. So, I thought I'd share my dirty little secrets. I shop at the Buffalo! Wanna know what that is? Well, then join me and just a few other girlfriends...TBD, but soon. We are going to hit downtown Buffalo and see what kind of things we can find! It's a chain of consignment stores, that only accept in trend, very gently used clothing. I don't have a lot of mullah to spend clothing myself, but I like to look like I care.

So, make sure you let me know if you want to come along, and I'll let you know when the Buffalo van can pick you up! :) Also, I found a great site that carries designer jeans for a fraction of the price. They pick up random sets when they can find them, so sizes and selection is limited. But, I picked up a great little number for only $17.95!

Check this site out for some really inexpensive cute stuff: Heavenly Couture . Some styles are too junior for me to pull of, but you can search around. When you look through the jeans...they aren't all designer. Some aren't that cute, but if you search and check back often, you just may find a gem! I also do Ebay for specific styles of jeans...namely Seven For All Mankind, Blue Cult, MissMe, and Hudson, to name a few. You have to be careful you don't get fakes, but with some careful study, and observation on who you are buying from it shouldn't be a problem.

So, anyway...thought I'd let you in on some secrets. And, if you come on the Buffalo day, make sure you round up all of your clothes that you don't wear, don't fit, or just don't like anymore. It needs to be in good condition, and not out of style, or they won't take it. They give you cash on the spot for it. So, even if you don't have a lot of $$ to shop with, you can trade in some things to update your wardrobe!

I usually hit the Buffalo Exchange in Eugene...for some reason Eugene gals are really hip. But, I am hoping that P-Town BE won't disappoint! Hope you'll come along!

The Church of Oprah

So, a friend of mine sent me this important piece of information that I really think we stay at home moms should be aware of. I know many of you don't watch Oprah, but I do, and have noticed a steady decline in what shows I can watch. I turn it off unless she has Dr. Oz on, or an interesting story in which I'd like to know more. She had a great story on either Thursday or Friday about the girls that had mistakenly been mixed up and one family thought their daughter was dead when she was really alive in the hospital with the other family.

Anyway, not to get sidetracked! I am really going to pray and seek the Lord...he might just want me to shut her down completely. But, for many of you on the fence about her, I thought I'd give you a little insight into what she truly believes and the sad place she is turning many Christians. I also just wanted to share with y'all this verse:

Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God." 2 Thessalonians 2:3-4.

Be in prayer that those in our families and those in our church body will not fall away and be drawn away by the teaching of the enemy. I know that he is trying so hard to get his claws in those that are living in the gray. As Brett likes to say: "It's not about what can I get away with and still make it to heaven. It's about how radical can I be." How much garbage can we get rid of on our way to heaven? We're not perfect, but we need to follow what 1 Thessalonians 5:14 also tells us:

And we urge you, brothers, warn those who are idle, encourage the timid, help the weak, be patient with everyone.