Corona del Mar

We miss San Antonio dearly, but we have learned to love a few things here in Orange County. One of our favorite and most relaxing things is to go to the beach. I love, love, love the ocean. The kids are now old enough to play in the sand and get their toes in without me being such a helicopter mom. It was beginning to seem like we would never get out of the stage of Camryn trying to eat the sand, but she is now perfectly content to run around in the sand with her pail and shovel. Kathryn enjoys studying the tidal pools and collecting shells, and Logan is like an architect building his sand castles.

This past Saturday we were in Newport Beach running errands and decided to stop by Sprinkles cupcakes http://www.sprinklescupcakes.com.

Ronnie's favorite is the red velvet and my favorite is a toss-up between the red velvet and coconut. They also have seasonal flavors with the current ones being pumpkin (spiced pumpkin cake with cinnamon cream cheese frosting) and caramel apple (spiced apple cake studded with granny smith apples and frosted with a caramel cream cheese frosting). They didn't have the pumpkin on Saturday and the caramel apple was completely sold out (I may have to make another trip over this weekend just to try it), but I was perfectly happy with my coconut cupcake. We then drove a minute to the beach (Corona del Mar is our chosen place to one day own a second home- in our dreams) and parked on Ocean Blvd. This little spot of paradise has become such a special place to our family and I hope that our children will always remember the fun times that we had on the beach.

We only need about $2.1 million to buy this second home...

We did not have our suits (and it was a little chilly), but we did have a wall-e blanket in the car and our camera, so we plopped down in the grass overlooking the walk down to the beach. The sun was beginning to set, the boats were drifting back into the harbor, I had my three precious children and handsome husband with me- and sprinkles cupcakes. Could life get any better? In this uncertain time of presidential elections, the country in an economic crisis, and the current fight in California over gay marriage, I find myself sick with worry about the direction our country is heading and trying to raise three children in a Christian environment. But, in quiet moments like these in Corona del Mar, I am able to look out at the magnificent ocean, say a quick prayer, and be filled with a wonderful peace. God is good.

A Few of My Favorite Things

Mamamia had a request for a few of my favorite fall foods and here they are. I would love to hear your favorites as well! It seems like fall is always so busy and I love anything that can go in a crockpot (pot roast, chili- yum!) or needs minimal prep time. Here are a few of our favorites- I cannot go wrong with these and they make large quantities for 3 hungry kids!

Perfect Winter Beef Stew

3/4 cup Zesty Italian Dressing
2 lb. beef for stew, such as beef chuck roast, cut into 1-inch chunks
6 slices Bacon, chopped
3 cups sliced mushrooms
1 cup chopped onions (about 1 large)
3 cups sliced carrots (about 6 medium)
1-1/2 lb. potatoes, peeled, cut into large chunks (about 4 cups)
1 can (14-1/2 oz.) stewed tomatoes, undrained
1 can (14-1/2 oz.) beef broth

POUR dressing over meat in large resealable plastic bag. Seal bag; turn to evenly coat meat with dressing. Refrigerate 30 min. to marinate. Meanwhile, cook bacon in large saucepan on medium heat 5 min. or until crisp, stirring occasionally. Remove bacon from saucepan; drain drippings.
ADD mushrooms and onions to same saucepan; cook on medium-high heat 10 min. or until tender, stirring occasionally. Remove meat from marinade; discard marinade. Add meat, carrots, potatoes, tomatoes, broth and bacon to saucepan; stir.
BRING to boil, stirring occasionally. Reduce heat to low; cover and simmer 1 hour 15 min. Uncover; simmer an additional 15 min. or until meat is cooked through and sauce is thickened, stirring occasionally.



Chicken Tortilla Soup
1 Large Diced White Onion
3 Large Diced Tomatoes
4 1/2 Cups of Chicken Stock (or Bouillon Cubes)
2 Cups of Picante Sauce
3 Chicken Breasts
Salt, Pepper, Cumin to taste
1/2 Cup of Chopped Cilantro
Bring the chicken to a boil in the chicken stock. Once the chicken is cooked remove from stock and add tomatoes, onion, picante sauce, salt, pepper, and cumin. Let simmer for 15 minutes. Dice cooked chicken and add to stock. Simmer for another 15 minutes. Once your tortilla soup is done, then add cilantro.
Put some monterey jack cheese in the bottom of your bowl. Pour your soup in the bowl and add tortilla chips, sliced avocado, and more cheese on top.
Serve soup and enjoy!



Spaghetti Pizza Pie
1 box of angel hair pasta
3/4 cup grated parmesan cheese
2 eggs, lightly beaten
1 1/2 pounds of ground beef, cooked, drained
jar of spaghetti sauce
1 pkg. shredded mozzerella cheese

Toss cooked spaghetti, parmesan cheese, and egg. Place in 2 9-inch pie plates (spray them with Pam). Press along bottom and sides to form a crust.
Mix cooked meat and spaghetti sauce. Spread meat mixture over spaghetti crust. Sprinkle with mozzerella cheese.
Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.
Serve with a garden salad and garlic bread- leftovers are awesome!



Easy Bistro Chicken
2 tsp. oil (extra virgin is great)
3 cups sliced fresh mushrooms (omit if you don't like mushrooms)
1 medium onion, chopped
1 can (15 oz) stewed tomatoes, undrained
1/4 cup zesty italian dressing
3 tbsp. tomato paste
4 small boneless skinless chicken breasts
1 cup mozzarella cheese
4 slices of bacon
angel hair pasta

Heat oil in large nonstick saucepan (I use my huge electric skillet). Add mushrooms and onions, cook 5 min stirring occasionally. Stir in tomatoes with their liquid, the dressing and tomato paste. Add chicken and cover. Cook 12-15 minutes or until chicken is cooked through. Cook angel hair pasta during this time.

Sprinkle with cheese and bacon, simmer uncovered 5-10 minutes or until cheese is melted. Serve over hot angel hair pasta.



Chicken and Sausage Jambalaya
1 can cream of celery soup
1 can french onion soup
1 can rotel tomatoes (mild if your kids don't like spicy)
2 cups raw rice
1 diced white onion
1 diced bell pepper
1 package of Hillshire Farms beef link sausage sliced
3 cooked and diced chicken breasts
salt and pepper (and cajun seasoning if you like spicy)

Spray large rectangular baking dish (3 qt pyrex?) with Pam. Mix all ingredients together in baking dish. Put a couple of pats of butter on top and cover with foil. Bake at 400 degrees for 1 hour. Serves 8-10 (leftovers are great).

It's The Great Pumpkin!

Kathryn took a fabulous Jr. Master Gardening class last spring and we have continued to "tend" her garden plot. We went yesterday to cut her "fairytale" variety pumpkin and pick a few tomatoes for dinner and took some pictures. Isn't this pumpkin cool? It looks a lot like some decorative pumpkins that I bought several years ago and decorate my credenza with each fall. Logan had fun chasing lizards and Camryn slept through our entire garden visit.

Fall is my absolute favorite season. I love the chill in the air, football games, soups and stews in the crock pot, pumpkin and apple cinnamon candles in the house, and brightly colored mums everywhere. I know that the fall leads to such wonderful holidays and time with family and friends. Hope you are all having a happy autumn as well!

My baby is NINE!!!

Kathryn dancing on the table while her class sang "Happy Birthday"

Kathryn turned 9 this Sunday! Impossible to believe that my 9 pound, 2 ounce baby girl is growing up so quickly. She celebrated with my parents (they left Hurricane Ike's mess and flew in from Houston last Wednesday) and many of her friends here in California. She had cupcakes at school on Friday- seriously, the cupcakes from Costco are the biggest I have ever seen!

Kathryn with 2 of her friends

Happy Birthday To You!

Camryn enjoying birthday cake

We then had a swim party Friday evening at our neighborhood pool. The weather was perfect and everything turned out great. It was the easiest party I have ever done!

Logan and Camryn climbing trees in San Diego

Saturday morning we drove to San Diego (an hour away) with my parents and checked into the Marriott Marina. We spent most of Saturday climbing trees, flying a kite and hanging out around Seaport Village before taking a quick swim and then dinner at Kathryn's favorite San Diego restaurant, Filippi's Pizza Grotto.

Logan in Seaport Village

Pool time with Mommy and Pawpaw

Let's Go Fly A Kite!

Filippi's Pizza Grotto

You have to walk through an Italian grocery store to get to it and it is authentic, yummy food! We had breakfast Sunday morning at the hotel before heading to the San Diego Zoo. I love the zoo- especially the koala bears- and we had a great time. It was so nice to have Nana and Pawpaw with us for a week and we are missing them already. Hope they return soon...

Nana and Pawpaw with Logan and Camryn