Homemade Mac & Cheese concoction....

I actually had fun making today's lunch for the boys, but didn't like some of the ingredients so I ate something else.

I cooked till almost done tricolor pasta and edamame

Put that in a small backing pan (I used an 8X8 one like you would use to make brownies)

Cut up frozen fish nuggets into bite size pieces and added some basil tomato pasta sauce and tossed it all together and put in the oven--350 degrees

Once every 5 min or so checked it and turned it over, repeated until fish tenders were done (all white and flaky)

Turned off oven and mixed in some shredded cheddar cheese and then put a good layer on top of the pasta mixture.

Placed it all back in the warm oven just until the cheese was melted.

Everyone that ate it loved it!

Creative ways to save

I found this on another friend's blog and decided to do it, too. Being a pastor's wife and a 90% stay at home mom, I have to tap deeper into my creative brain to find and take advantage (in a good way) of opportunities like these where I can put in some effort, some creativity and be blessed by some free product.

Having a love for graphic design and photography, this one really touched my heart. I need to write a blog post about http://www.shutterfly.com/

I did a lot of research when I was pregnant with Joseph for his birth announcement. I like this one

but they have SO many beautiful ones at http://www.shutterfly.com/cards-stationery/birth-announcements

I like SO many of the Christmas cards on Shutteryfly...but there's something that I REALLY like about this one...

http://www.shutterfly.com/cards-stationery/cards-stationery/bright-merry-story-christmas-5x7-folded-card?sortType=1&storeNode=93495

There's room inside for additional pictures and family updates. This would be so great for us, because, being a pastor's family, we are often busy when our friends and family are free to talk. As a result I love the idea of being able to give an update for each of us. It would be a nice way to connect with all of our friends that live so far away. Joseph turned two this year and MANY people have never met him and MANY have not seen him in over a year. The picture uploader is easy, too... http://www.shutterfly.com/upload-pictures/ A picture really does say a thousand words. Joseph has changed so much between ages 1 and 2, it's truly amazing. I look forward to getting to share it with everyone (and some great pictures) this Christmas season.

Merry Christmas (in advance)!!!!

Sunday

Sundays are weird days for us. This "day of rest" is the busiest, craziest day crammed into about 4 hours. Those of you who go to church every Sunday morning may think you know what they are like. Let me tell you, life in a Pastor's house on Sunday mornings are different. Other PK's can attest to this. If you're a PK and life wan't like this, PLEASE tell me what your pastor parent did to avoid this.

Here were a couple of highlights of this Sunday at home, before leaving for church.

Jon asked "How seriously do we want to take the golden rule?"

Translation: "when do we wake a sleeping baby?"

Isn't he precious? So big. So soundly asleep...it's been a long time since I got to take a picture of him sleeping. (stay tuned for the upcoming saga of transition from crib to big boy bed)

Meanwhile....Downstairs, coffee was a-brewing!

Yes, our coffee make has a gauge that looks just like the gas gauge on your car, just a different kind of fuel.

And on Sundays, for 2 adults, we have 3 mugs. It's a two mug morning for Jon, one cools a bit while he downs the other one.

THEN, we go to church. Where Jon finishes his sermon, script, powerpoint (with Joseph in his office), I get lots of audio equipment set up in the sanctuary and practice with the choir.