Casita de Alaniz

Way Back Wednesday

2009-12-16T10:14:00.004-06:00

Can I just say it for the record...

I love posting on "Way Back Wednesdays."

It is so exciting to dig through my photo archives and look at all the treasured

moments we captured on film.

Today's photo is from December 2007, 2 years ago today.

This was Gracyn...all 8 lbs. and 6 oz. of her.

Having been blessed with one healthy little boy and a brand new baby girl truly made it a

December to remember!

What is it in your life that's making THIS December one to remember?

Way Back Wednesday...2, Two Year Olds

2009-12-09T08:27:00.003-06:00

Cade Matthew at 2

Gracyn Avery at 2

Tuesday TRUEISM

2009-12-08T08:10:00.001-06:00

I'm BEHIND!!!!!!!!

Normally at this point in December, I have...

- mailed out my Christmas cards

- completed my Christmas shopping

- wrapped most of my gifts

- planned out my holidays

This particular year, I cannot check any of those things off my list.

But you know what I'm NOT going to do,

P-A-N-I-C.

You know what I AM going to do,

take it one day at a time.

It will all get done before December 25th and no one

will be all the wiser.

Except for my loyal blog readers, of course :)

Just keeping it real on truthful tuesday...what are you behind on?

Ree and Me...a recipe for fun!

2009-12-07T07:37:00.002-06:00

Thursday night my friend Jennifer and I loaded up the Tahoe, set the GPS, and headed south to Austin for a book signing with none other than the pioneer woman herself!

That's right kiddies, we got to hob nob with the undisputed QUEEN of food blogging,

REE DRUMMOND

What a fun night. We arrived at the bookstore around 6 p.m. and by 7, you couldn't stir 'em with a stick! It was packed. Ree briefly came down and did a quick Q&A session with the crowd then proceeded to sign copies of her first cookbook, The Pioneer Woman Cooks. Which is chalked full of down home yummy southern recipes and beautiful photography and stories...just like her blog!

My favorite question that someone asked was,"How many packages of butter does she go through in a month!" In true Pioneer Woman form she replied, "That's too personal of a question, I'd rather not answer that!"

HA!

Let me tell you that she was as delightful in person as she seems on her blog! She even hooked everyone at the book signing up with a free t-shirt which her husband a.k.a. Marlboro Man toted to the event!

Now...my only dilemma is what to cook first!

What's that?

You have never even heard of The Pioneer Woman?

Well good grief.

Crawl out from beneath that rock and go visit:

http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/

She ROCKS!!!!!

Oh and if you want a great Christmas gift for the chef in the family you can pick up her new cookbook at a great price from amazon.com!

Terrific T-W-O

2009-11-30T20:16:00.010-06:00

Gracyn Avery is TWO!!!!

My sweet little ladybug celebrated her second birthday!

Time really does fly by when your having fun.

I made a banner to hang over our fireplace with one photo from each month of her life over the past year! You could really see just how much she has changed and grown into a toddler by following her progression through the months.

Come on,

Follow me through the past year.

December/January 2009

February/March

April/May

June/July

August/September

October/November

Gracyn,

You are a ray of sunshine in our lives. Your beautiful smile and hearty laugh bring happiness to the hearts of all your friends and family. No one can resist giving you a squeeze or stealing some sugars from those sweet cheeks!

You love your brother...he is quickly becoming your favorite toy! Both of you are at just the right age to really truly begin playing together and becoming the best of friends. I love to hear Cade whisper all his giant plans and schemes as the two of you entertain each other in the playroom.

You love to put on pajamas {or any random clothes you can find around the house, for that matter}. You love to wear your shirt over your head with your arms still in where your tummy shows.

You love to be read to, to be held and cuddled, and you absolutely could not survive without your soft "piwwow" at bedtime.

You love to carry around your sippy cup full of "pom-gwanit" juice, your purse, and your "chip-chap" --translation -- chap stick!

You love to eat raisins, applesauce, bananas, green beans, turkey roll-ups, mozzarella sticks, rice, popsicles, beans and almost anything else we put on your plate!

I LOVE to hear you say, "Hi Mommy" every morning when I walk into your room...

like you've been waiting for just that moment. I love to hear you call Cade "bubby." I love when you say "do it myself." I love to watch you splish-splash in the tub. I love when you prance around in your pretty dress up shoes that brother gave you at your party. And I love to hear you talk to you babies in such a gentle way.

My sweet 2 year old girl, I love you with all that I am.

Party Pics & Party Peeps

Chocolate covered strawberries on cookie sticks!

You wearing your "pwetty, pwetty" shoes from bubby!

Happy Birthday to you, Gracie girl!

I anticipate the next 12 months of your life will be filled with many more memorable moments.

2009-11-24T07:23:00.000-06:00

THOUGHTS TO KEEP IN MIND

-The most useless thing to do…. ……..Worry
-The greatest Joy…………… ……Giving
-The greatest loss…………….Loss of self-respect
-The most satisfying work………Helping others
-The ugliest personality trait…………Selfishness
-The most endangered species………Dedicated leaders
-Our greatest natural resource……………Our youth
-The greatest “shot in the arm”……….Encouragement
-The greatest problem to overcome…………….Fear
-Most effective sleeping pill…. ….Peace of mind
-The most crippling failure disease…….Excuses
-The most powerful force in life………………Love
-The most dangerous pariah………………A gossiper
-The world’s most incredible computer… …..The brain!
-The worst thing to be without………………. Hope
-The deadliest weapon…………………..The tongue
-The two most power-filled words……………”I Can”
-The greatest asset………..Faith
-The most worthless emotion…..Self-pity
-The most prized possession…………….Integrity
-The most beautiful attire………………….SMILE!
-The most powerful channel of communication…. …Prayer
-The most contagious spirit…………. ….Enthusiasm

Fun Fridays...My Favorite Things

2009-11-20T07:44:00.001-06:00

MOVIE CLIPS

I randomly came across this clip the other day and had to post it!

It's my absolute FAVORITE SCENE from the cute movie,

My Best Friend's Wedding.

Shining in spite of the scars

2009-11-19T12:31:00.002-06:00

I read an incredible article the other day about this soldier.

Spc. Logan Burnette

He was sitting in the back row of 30 seats on Nov. 5, waiting to see a doctor for a final review. Hurry up and wait. Just another day in the Army.

Out of nowhere he overheard {who we now know was} Major Nidal Hasan shout

"Allahu Akbar"

before he began firing on a building of unarmed soldiers and civilians.

In an attempt to thwart Hasan, Spc. Burnette stood up and threw a folding table at the shooter. In response, Hasan aimed at him and a bullet tore through his left hip,

his abdomen and upper and lower intestines.

Burnette took another bullet to his right hip. Which is still there to this day.

The article stated that Burnette didn't know if or where he was shot and tried to stand up.

More bullets came and he got hit in the left elbow, knuckle and pinky finger.

Burnette fell again and crawled to a nearby cubicle.

He continued to drag himself across the floor and finally made it to the front door

and low-crawled five meters up a hill to another building.

Burnette made it to the front door, and a staff sergeant – he wishes he could remember his name – grabbed him by the collar and dragged him into an office.

The staff sergeant locked the door and performed first aid.

Burnette could still hear gunshots exploding in the nearby building.

There were a lot of heroes that day, Burnette said after tearfully recounting

his experience to the Killeen Daily Herald.

"By no means did my actions take precedence over anyone else's", he said.

He even added matter-of-factly:

"There are a lot of heroes still in Iraq and Afghanistan."

Here's what really struck me about this incredible story...

When asked what his goals were, Spc. Logan Burnette replied,

"Recover and return to duty as soon as possible."

I am so struck by the profound sense of loyalty and duty

our men & women in uniform show each and every day

of their lives.

Let's remember to smile at them.

Let's remember to thank them.

Let's remember to find ways to honor them as the holiday season approaches.

And most importantly, let's remember to pray for them and their families.

This event was a violent reminder that none of us

gets to choose how we die in this world,

but we do get to choose how we live.

Way Back Wednesday

2009-11-18T08:29:00.002-06:00

My Precious Cowboy...

with a black eye!March 2006
Fayetteville, North Carolina

Tuesday TRUEism

2009-11-17T19:58:00.000-06:00

{courtesy of the green light}

Menu Monday...a recipe for true friendship

2009-11-16T17:48:00.001-06:00

Friendship

is the cooperative and supportive relationship between two or more people.

In this sense, the term connotes a relationship which involves mutual knowledge,

esteem, affection and respect along with a degree of rendering service to

friends in times of need or crisis.

Friends will welcome each other's company and exhibit loyalty

towards each other, often to the point of altruism.

Their tastes will usually be similar and may converge, and they will share

enjoyable activities.

They will also engage in mutually helping behavior, such as the exchange of

advice and the sharing of hardship.

source: wikipedia

"Friends are the sunshine of life."

John Hay (1871)

{Ginny & Addison Grace, holding Cade}

{December 31, 2004}

"A friend loves at all times."

Proverbs 17: 17

{Ginny, Me, Ashley: ALL PREGNANT -- December 2007}

"People are like stained glass windows. They sparkle and shine when the sun is out, but when the darkness sets in, their true beauty is revealed only if there is a light from within."

Elizabeth Kubler-Ross

{Addi + Gracyn = Cuddle Buds}

{January 2008}

"A friend is a present you give yourself."

Robert Louis Stevenson

{Sweeties}

"In the sweetness of friendship let there be laughter,

and sharing of pleasures."

Kahil Gibran

{Sunday Afternoon Swing}

{November 2009}

In the words of the immortal Golden Girls theme song...

THANK YOU FOR BEING A FRIEND.

Wordless Wednesday...Momma's shoes are made for walkin'

2009-11-11T06:52:00.000-06:00

Tuesday TRUEism

2009-11-10T09:37:00.002-06:00

{image courtesy of diencastillon}

KNOCK, KNOCK...who is there?

2009-11-06T15:26:00.010-06:00

We were richly blessed by a visit from Kay and Darrell (my second cousin and her husband) from California and also by my cousin Serena and her son Jayden from Carrollton. They graciously took a day out of their vacation to drive down and meet Cade and Gracyn!

We spent the day chatting, munching, playing, exploring,

taking a walk and reminiscing about old times.

What a beautiful day of family F-U-N!

{Mr. Jayden}

How handsome is he?

Thanks for taking the time and effort to drive down to our little 'ole casa for a visit.

Y'all come back soon now,

ya hear!!!

ALMOST a Wordless Wednesday

2009-10-21T07:14:00.000-05:00

Dear Nani,

Just so you know, I plan on sending the "parent note"

straight to your door

next year in kindergarten when his teacher says

he enjoys crafting airplanes out of his papers,

instead of working on them!

Thanks for the life lessons!

We love you dearly.

Tuesday TRUEism

2009-10-20T07:10:00.000-05:00

{NOTE TO SELF}

Menu Monday

2009-10-19T09:50:00.003-05:00

After a busy, but fun weekend {filled with LOTS of college football & a date night to Octoberfest} we invited friends over last night to share a pot of chili, cornbread, and a chocolate chip pie! This little pie is a fast fix, only requiring 7 ingredients and 10 minutes to stir! Baking takes the longest, but it's totally worth it. YOU GOTTA TRY IT :) I can't really describe the deliciousness except to say...it literally IS just like eating a chocolate chip cookie, except in chewy, gooey pie form! Top it off with a generous dollop of Blue Bell Vanilla Bean Ice Cream and you have a crowd pleaser! I make 2 pies when I have groups over to the house and it's always gotten rave reviews. Quick. Simple. Delicious...what's not to love!

Now go get to baking!!

Nestle Chocolate Chip Pie

1 unbaked 9-inch deep-dish pie shell*, completely THAWED
2 large eggs
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) butter, softened
1 cup (6 ounces) semi-sweet chocolate morsels
1 cup chopped pecans or walnuts

Serve with ice cream (optional) But not optional if your name is Becky!!!

DIRECTIONS: Preheat oven 325 degrees. Beat eggs in large mixer bowl on high until foamy. Beat granulated sugar and brown sugar, followed by the flour. Beat in butter. Stir in morsels and nuts and spoon into pie shell. Bake for 55-60 minutes. Cool on wire rack. Serve warm.

*I recommend using Mrs. Smith's Deep Dish Pie Shells, I have found that they turn out the best of all the brands I have tried. Also, be sure to thaw your shell completely prior to baking!

Recipe from Nestle Classic Recipes, 2003

Fun Fridays...FIELD TRIP!!!!

2009-10-16T11:32:00.004-05:00

We arrived back in town yesterday {from a week of visiting family in Irving} just in time to attend Cade's first official preschool field trip of the year to the pumpkin patch! All four of us went last year and enjoyed it, so we were excited to be returning. Lo and behold would you believe who was the first person we saw after stepping out of our car? Our soccer coaches' sweet wife, Coach Amy and her son Landon were out and about manning the pumpkin fields and reading stories! How fun!

We really bundled up this year because a cold front moved in over night and our car temperature was reading 59 degrees on our way over! Brrrrr....bring it on FALL, we love you! Fall and spring are my two favorite seasons here in Texas. Mainly because I would not really classify our "winter" as an actual "winter"...especially when it's 70 degrees on Christmas Day and our summers just seem to be getting hotter and hotter every year! The fall air is so cool and crisp and always smells like rain and firewood to me :)

Fall, thank you for blowing in & refreshing my spirit!

Cade and Gracyn,

I had the best day with you today...

because of your beautiful spirits.

Photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Words of Wisdom, on Wednesday

2009-10-07T08:52:00.001-05:00

Reading through the book of Proverbs this month and this one stood out to me today. Luckily it fit right into a photo I snapped in our yard too!

So much wisdom to be gleamed from Solomon, I am loving my quiet times...

Menu Monday...on Tuesday!

2009-10-06T09:11:00.004-05:00

So I'm a day late and a dollar short...In this season of life, I am just happy to actually be making time to post! Fall has swung in with a vengeance this year. I started feeling sick this past Friday with body aches, low grade temperature, a severe headache and exhaustion. After resting over the weekend and taking Tamiflu, I am feeling much better! But I must admit, I wanted something simple, quick, and low mess to whip up for dinner on Monday. Thanks to my sweet friend Jennifer, who gave me this recipe, my wish was granted. This recipe is definitely worth

posting! Once you taste it, you won't give me a hard time for running a day behind...trust me.

Italian Tortellini Soup

Serves 6:

1/2 pound ground beef

1/2 pound Italian sausage, casings removed

15 ounce jar marinara sauce

1 C. sliced mushrooms

14 1/2 ounce can diced tomatoes

9 ounce pkg. cheese filled tortellini (refrigerated)

1 C. Mozzarella cheese, grated

Brown beef and sausage (i use the mild Italian sausage for the kiddos) in a skillet over medium heat. Spray inside of crock pot. Mix meat mixture, marinara sauce, mushrooms, and tomatoes in crock pot. Cover and cook on low for 7 to 8 hours (or on high for 4 to 6 hours). Stir in tortellini (i use the new whole wheat variety); sprinkle with cheese. Cover and cook on low for about 15 minutes more or until tortellini is tender. You can add a little water to thin, if needed.

Serve with toasted Italian bread, sliced thin or Italian bread sticks!

Recipe courtesy of Jennifer Locklin

{The kids and I also baked a delicious poppy seed bread yesterday! I will post the recipe very soon}

Tuesday TRUEism

2009-09-29T11:34:00.002-05:00

love life, not stuff

"Realize that life, not stuff, is what matters. Objects are just objects — if you lose them, if they get stolen or destroyed … it’s not a big deal. They’re just objects — not your life. Your life is the series of moments that is steaming through your consciousness right now, and how you use those moments and what you fill them with is what truly matters, not what you fill your home with. At the end of this short journey, you’ll look back and remember your experiences, the people you loved and who loved you back, the things you did and didn’t do.

Not the stuff you had."

from Zen Habits

Soccer is the Season

2009-09-28T11:25:00.017-05:00

Cade's first official soccer game was Saturday morning at 8:30 A.M. We pulled out of the drive way around 7:45 with Mimi and Grandpop in tow, to venture out into the big world of pee wee soccer! Cade informed us on the way to the game that his team was "MEAN GREEN" - - I said you guys aren't mean Cade, your shirts are just hunter green. I was quickly corrected on that subject as he continued by informing me that Coach Mark said that's who they were. And if Coach Mark says it, it's F-A-C-T.

So...I stand corrected.

After getting lost trying to follow our printed map, we called our friend Brooke to get exact directions, and thank goodness we did because the soccer field is half way to Louisiana from our house! Grief. And we will be driving there every Saturday until early November!

Once we pulled in and parked, Grandpop suited Cade up in his ankle pads and shin guards...Man, if Grandpop had a quarter for every time he'd done that, he'd have a HUGE mess of quarters!!!

They practiced kicking the ball around a little and then the big game was underway! Three on three, no goalies! Cade's first goal was for the other team, but he made up for it by scoring 6 more goals...for the "mean greens."

All in all he really played great! If you can actually call it "playing" at age 4. He ran after the ball, practiced stopping it before it went out of bounds, had a couple of successful steals, used good sportsmanship (even when another kid deliberately pushed him down), gulped down Gatorade with the best of 'em and looked like a handsome little stud in the process! What more could any mother ask for!

We are proud of you Cade Matthew!!! Your "can do" attitude and sporty spirit bring happiness to our hearts. I know this is probably the first of many games to come in your future, but it was a special one all the same.

Cade in Action...

{sorry about the fuzzy-ness, this was shot in video mode on our camera}

GO Mean GREEN :)

Wordless Wednesday

2009-09-23T06:57:00.003-05:00

Tuesday TRUEism

2009-09-22T07:31:00.001-05:00

{image from here}

Love this!

It makes me realize just how silly some of the things

I ask God for really are...

Menu Monday

2009-09-21T13:32:00.006-05:00

Marinades, especially store bought ones are totally underrated in the world of food in my humble opinion. So many times when I flip onto Food Network, they're talking about "homemade marinades this" or "adding sliced ginger to that"...which is all well and good at times.

But seriously...

let's

take

the

help

where

can

get it

girls.

Let me introduce you to one of my favorite marinade mates:

DALE'S steak Seasoning

YES, that red spot says they've been making it for over 50 years {since 1946} and with good reason. It literally goes with everything! I love it mixed in with hamburger meat, or used as a marinade over steaks, pork, venison, and I've even marinated chicken in it with success! It just really is THAT delicious! Plan on adding a dash of DALE'S STEAK SEASONING to something on your menu this week.

In the mood for something new? Click on the DALE'S website for a complete list of recipes using beef, pork, poultry, and vegetables.

Welcome to the wonderful world of easy marinating!

The real secret behind melt in yo' mouth, flavorful meat!