Make a digital greeting card

Happy Adoption Day to us!

August 4 was the 2 year anniversary of our Adoption Day!  We had dinner at a very authentic and incredibly delicious  Chinese restaurant, thank you Gold Mountain!  It was so good that we don't even want to go back to the 2 places that are only a couple miles from home. 

We started a tradition last year of taking a family photo for Adoption Day.   Here is this year's pic. 

It doesn't seem possible that it was only 2 years ago that we were in China meeting our baby girl and learning about the place and culture of her heritage.  

Easter

 Me & my girls Easter Morning

Easter Baskets!

Easter was a traditional day with church & family.  We were up early, I got the ham in the oven (I LOVE my new oven with the delay timer, it's such a luxury to stick your food in there, program it to start, and come home to the aroma of a roasting ham) then got the girls up and got them dressed.  After a quick breakfast the girls opened their Easter baskets.  We left for Sunday School and a special fun Easter activity.  We made pinatas and then had an Easter pinata to break.  The message I taught them is that there is a surprise inside the pinata but the best surprise ever was when the women went to the tomb but it was empty!  Our surprise is that JESUS LIVES!!  After church we came home & the girls had time to find the eggs the Easter Bunny had left all over the house before Gerry's famly got here for Easter dinner.  We had a wonderful afternoon with Grandpa & Grandma, Uncle Duane, Aunt Eileen, and Megan. 

I thought it was Wednesday all day...

I was planning to start doing Wordless Wednesday and missed it, it's one of those weeks again! 

 A rainy day to wear her new monkey rain poncho and pose by my new tulips!

Snuggling with HER new cat, Donut!

American Diabetes Association Type 2 Diabetes Risk Test

If I can get at least 1 person to take the risk test this post will be worth it. If I can get my friends to share it too, even more worth it!


American Diabetes Association Type 2 Diabetes Risk Test

Spring Break

We had a longer than usual Spring Break this year.  With a whole week and an extra day off we had lots of time for lots of fun. 

It started off with Grace's Spring music program at the end of the day Thursday.  The little guy in the picture in the suit is our neighbor, he informed us that he was looking very "dapper" in his suit that day! Dallas is always good for a laugh!

Grace had a zoo class on Sunday.   Lila and I wandered around a cold & breezy zoo while Gracie learned about beavers.  I didn't take any zoo pictures, we're there so often that I am at the point that I don't take the camera.  I did take a picture of the project Grace made.  I was really impressed by her beaver drawing and lodge building. 

Monday was an extra-fun mini vacation day for the famly at Coco Key waterpark!

 Our little Queen-of-the-Beach!

 

And the Splash Princess!

Gerry even had time to get busy on the shower and made a lot of progress.  The plumbing, electrical, and duct work are done.  We made a trip to Menard's to pick out the vanity, tile, and flooring!  We can see enough progress that we are all getting very excited to have this big project DONE!!

Helping Daddy hammer those screws in...

Building an airplane from construction scraps.  I laughed when she was doing this because of the memories it brought back.  I was in first grade, just like Grace, when my parents started the major remodel of our family farm house.  I used to take scraps of wood and nails and nail them together into many creations.  I guess she gets it from me.  ;-)

Too good to not share

I joined Weight Watchers in February.  Their website has lots of wonderful new recipes that I am trying but this one I had to share!  Cordon Bleu is one of Gerry & my favorites this version is much lower calorie than the frozen ones at the grocery store. 

Chicken Cordon Bleu

1 pound(s) uncooked boneless, skinless chicken breast, four 4-oz pieces

1/2 tsp black pepper, freshly ground, divided


1/4 tsp table salt


1 oz Casa Italia Prosciutto, or other brand, very thinly sliced


2 oz low-fat Swiss cheese, or Jarlsberg, thinly sliced


1/3 cup(s) dried bread crumbs, plain-variety


1/3 cup(s) parsley, fresh, minced


2 Tbsp all-purpose flour


2 large egg white(s)


2 spray(s) cooking spray


1/2 Tbsp unsalted butter


1/2 Tbsp olive oil


Place chicken between two sheets of wax paper; using a rolling pin, pound chicken to 1/4-inch thickness.

Rub chicken with 1/4 teaspoon each pepper and salt. Evenly divide prosciutto and cheese over chicken; fold chicken in half to cover prosciutto and cheese and press down to hold shape.

In a shallow bowl, combine bread crumbs, parsley and remaining 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Place flour on a plate. In another shallow bowl, whip egg whites until soft peaks form.

To coat chicken, dredge each piece of chicken in flour; turn to coat. Then dip each chicken breast in egg whites; turn to coat. Next, dredge chicken in bread crumb-mixture and press down to make sure all sides are covered. Repeat until all four chicken breasts are coated.

Coat a large skillet with cooking spray and set over medium-high heat; add butter and oil. When they begin to shimmer (about 1 or 2 minutes), place chicken in a single layer in skillet; cook, flipping once, until nicely browned and chicken is completely cooked through, about 6 to 8 minutes. Serve immediately. Yields 1 chicken breast per serving.

I left out the butter, cooking spray, and flour because they seemed unncessary also the parsley because it had been in the frig too long and was in really sorry shape. I covered the skillet for the last 5 minutes of cooking to hold in the heat and cook the chicken completely through.  We really enjoyed this meal and hope you will too!  
 
I"m making their peanut butter dip next week when I host Bunko so will share that if it's a success.