• Mother’s Day Celebration!

    Happy Mother's Day! Family Picture!My family

    Thankful for an opportunity to be a Mom! Being a Mom is an amazing honor and privilege that quite frankly scares me some days.  It’s good to know that the call of Motherhood is not a place for us to be alone, but a place where we get the opportunity to live life alongside other Mothers and sisters who can pray, encourage, and support each other throughout this incredible journey.

    I am thankful for my Mother and the many Mothers and sisters in my life that continue to make an impact on my heart.  We live in a broken world full of broken people therefore it is impossible to be perfect and being a Mom tends to make that oh so clear.  It is essential and refreshing to have people who are willing to speak truth and love into your life on a regular basis.  I am grateful for each and every one of these ladies in my life.

    Mother's Day - Breakfast in Bed

     Breakfast in bed – fresh cherries, fresh pineapple, yogurt, and an omelet (ham, cheese, mushroom, spinach, and tomatoes)!  Delicious!

    Jake and the girls made my Mother’s Day extra special.  I received breakfast in bed, hugs, and well wishes.  After breakfast we went to church together and heard a powerful message that hit home in my heart.  When we got home Jake and the girls (okay, mostly Jake) made an amazing lunch followed by a relaxing evening.  The girls gave me sweet cards, beautiful flowers, a blueberry bush, a swing cushion, and other goodies.

    It is not always easy being a Mom, however, there are more good days and great memories than I can count.  Some days are a little tough and I get frustrated with myself for not being able to do better, but I never regret becoming a Mom.  Motherhood is one of life’s greatest gifts and callings.  It is an honor and a little scary at times raising kids.

    Although life gets a little crazy at times I wouldn’t change it for anything.  It has been a wonderful gift seeing these two little blessings grow up.  They continue to amaze me and it is awesome seeing them use their talents.

    Happy Mother's Day

    One of the several beautiful and Sweet Mother’s Day signs.  This one is from Karlie and I discovered it sitting on my desk!  Love my girls!

  • Flashback Friday: Growing Up

    Brina thinking about how to get to Daddyc

     Brina trying to figure out how to get across the floor to Daddy!

    Today’s Flashback Friday goes back 10 years.  The girls were 6 months old and starting to learn so much every week.  They are more mobile and on the go.  They love babbling back and forth to each other and to others.  It is fascinating to watch them explore and learn new things.  Our family is blessed with these to sweethearts.

    Brina is the more mobile one, but Karlie is only a day or two behind her.  Karlie is the more verbal one, but it doesn’t take Brina to catch up.  They challenge each other and neither one wants to get left behind so they do a lot of their fun activities together.

    It is cute to see them working together like a small team.  Some of their jibber jabber we don’t understand, however, they seem to understand all of it and will randomly bust out laughing about some inside joke they share.

    Flashback Friday - Brina playing on the kitchen floorc

     Sweet Brina pausing to say “Hi” to Mommy!

    Give us smile Karliec

    Karlie is always quick to offer a sweet smile which makes my heart happy.

    Say CHEESE, Karlie and Brinac

    It’s only been a month since they started eating rice cereal and “solid” food.  The first time we had a lot of tears because they didn’t like it and wanted their bottles.  Now they are all smiles when they get into their high chairs .  They look forward to meal time (I think they consider it another form of play time only messier)!  Oh, how quickly things change in just a few weeks.

    Silly Brinac

    Having fun with Brina as we get her dressed for bed.  She doesn’t look too thrilled, but puts up with her goofy parents anyway.

    Talk to the Hand (Brina and Karlie)c

    Brina – “Quiet Karlie, it’s my turn to talk now….”

    Flashback Friday - What's so funny Daddy - Karliec

    Karlie – “What are you laughing at Daddy?”  She is all smiles and has no idea she has tape on her forehead!

    Flashback Friday - Brina so proud of being able to stand on her ownc

    Brina so proud of her standing ability.

    Flashback Friday - Cutie Pies, we love you - Karlie and Brinac

    Karlie and Brina, they had such pinchable and kissable cheeks at this age.

    Flashback Friday - Brina - I told you I was good luckc

    Daddy’s unique way of giving Mommy some cash.  Brina wasn’t too sure about this new toy in between her toes.

    Karlie - what Mom, I was just trying to get her to be quietc

    Brina would get very upset if she tipped over and couldn’t get herself back up again.  This time when she fell over I think Karlie was concerned about her crying because she stuck her fingers into Brina’s mouth (maybe to make her be quiet, who knows).

    Flashback Friday - Brina a little unsure about the cow rockerc

    Brina’s first ride on the rocking cow (with pillows on either side and Daddy next to her just in case).

    Good Morning Smiley Karliec

    Sweet Karlie

    Karlie figuring out the rockerc

    Karlie’s first ride on the rocking cow.  They were a little unsure about this moving cow at first, but as they got older it became a popular toy at our house.  They loved it.

    Karlie is ready for a fun dayc

    Happy Karlie girl

    Karlie pretending to drink from her sippy cupc

    They are learning how to use a sippy cup.  Karlie sometimes would “act” like she was drinking or play around instead of actually drinking so we had to make sure she was getting enough water.

    Flashback Friday - Brina does not like falling over, she gets madc

      Brina tipped over Mr. Octopus while playing and couldn’t get back up.  She was not happy!  Once I sat her back up again she was fine and her happy self again.

    Whose got Karliec

    Surprised Karlie woke up to a massive stuffed animal on the swing with her.   Where did this come from?!  “Butch” was a large stuffed dog I got as a kid from Grandpa CE and Grandma Willa.  The girls loved to roll around, climb, and play with it when they were little.

    Karlie happy to be hanging out with Daddyc

    Life is good – Karlie

    Flashback Friday - Brina - come close so I can touch youc

    Brina is fascinated with the new toy which we called “Giggles”.  It would giggle and move around the room.  She loved to followed it around the room and knock it over so it wouldn’t run away.

    Karlie concerned because it is getting closerc

    Karlie on the other hand was a little suspicious about a laughing and moving toy.  She was fine with it at a distant, but the first time it bumped into her arm she was hysterically screaming like it attacked her.  After watching it a few more times she eventually got used to it and enjoyed it.

    Brina on the hungry hippo, sitting by herselfc

    Brina riding the “Hungry Hippo”!  They could ride on the hippo and as it moved it would pick up block and other toys off the floor and put them into a storage bin under the seat.  It made “clean up” more fun for the kids.  They both loved riding on it or being pushed around the house picking up scattered toys.

    Flashback Friday - Brina and Karlie playing on Mr. Clownc

    Playing together on “Mr. Clown” mat.  They initially would both fit (with all their toys) and stay on the clown mat now they are getting older they never stop moving so even though they might start there they don’t stay very long.

    Karlie happy playing the pianoc

    Karlie is happy to play music for the rest of us.

    Brina showing off her belly button while Karlie waits for the picturec

    Brina talking and showing off her belly button while Karlie sits there nicely for the picture.

    Karlie - here let me check out your eye; Brina let me check out your mouthc

     They loved talking (or babbling) to each other.  This was one time while I was getting them dressed.  Karlie was talking away so I sat Brina up on the changing table with her and they talked back and forth for several minutes.  Who knows what they were saying, but they were having fun.  They were fascinated by the words and noises coming out of each others mouths and would stick their hands inside the others mouth trying to figure out how it all worked.  Loved these little interactions and the cute gibberish they made.

    Karlie curious about the hat and waking up in a strange placec

    Daddy let Karlie borrow his hat.  He was concerned about her getting a sunburn.

    Karlie cutiec

     Karlie sitting quietly, but not entirely sure about this thing on her head.

    Looks like a cute baby in the laundry basket - BrinacA whole lot of Brina mischief was found in my laundry basket.  They used to love playing in our laundry baskets.  Once they were older they made it a game to climb in and out, wonder how that started?  Sweet Brina is distracted me from doing the laundry, but hey that can wait until tomorrow, right!?

  • Mother’s Day Celebration

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    Huge Mother’s Day chalk message on the driveway from Karlie!

    I am blessed.  Yesterday I was reminded again of how much God has given me.  A family that loves me despite all my imperfections.  Jake and the girls showered me with love on Mother’s Day.  Even though Jake was on call this Mother’s Day weekend and was a little busier than normal, he made time to celebrate.  It was a great day with the family.

    They made me breakfast in bed.  We went to church.  Jake and the girls made an amazing lunch.  That afternoon we relaxed, read books together, opened gifts, played games, and had fun.  Thankful for my family and a chance to spend the day together.   Their thoughtfulness made me feel loved and appreciated.

    Mother's Day Celebration - Family P1420533c

    Breakfast in bed – cheesy scrambled eggs, ham, and sauteed mushrooms! Delicious!

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    Fresh flowers from the girls (they got them from Children’s Church)

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    Putting together the pinwheel steaks!

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    They choose what ingredients to stuff the steak with for lunch

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     Pinwheel steaks ready to go into the oven!

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    Stuffed with tomatoes, swiss cheese, goat cheese, bacon, ham, spinach, mushrooms, sunflowers, cranberries, and more goodies!

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    My steak was AMAZING!

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     Huge stuffed portobello mushroom!  Stuffed with spinach, hummus, and topped with toasted granola – so tasty!

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    Mother’s Day cards from Jake and the girls.  Karlie’s was the kitten and Brina’s the puppy.

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    Brina picked out a beautiful pink rose bush for me!

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    Karlie picked out a gorgeous red rose bush for me!

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    Adorable handmade flowers from my girls!  Brina made the bright yellow one and Karlie made the blue and red one!

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    A place to sit and talk with Jake or read with the kids.  Very comfy!

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     Sweet note from Brina.  The top says “I am thankful to have a Mom like you because you are nice to me and play with me.”   The bottom has a cute little poem!

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    Colorful Mother’s Day Butterfly from Brina

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    Cute card from Brina

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    Mother’s Day note from Brina wanting to know if I can play or cook with her!  Love my girls!

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    Vibrant Mother’s Day drawing from Karlie

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     Sweet poem and note from Karlie on the back of her drawing.

    Roses are red,

    Violets are blue,

    But no one a flower,

    Just like you!

    Happy Mother’s Day! Hope you are having a nice and relaxing day.  Do you like the card and rose?  The rose is a rare blue rose that only grows on Neptune!  May you please read to me on the deck? 

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    Thankful for my family!  I treasure these times we have together.  I am blessed.

  • Heart Reflections: Raising My Girls

    My Girls - Brina and Karlie

    Sweet Brina Bee!

    I am so thankful for my girls!  They are growing up too quickly.  It doesn’t seem like it was that long ago when they were little ones crawling around the house.  God chose to bless us with these girls.  It has been a fun adventure raising twins!  Not everyday has been perfect, but we have so many reasons to be grateful for these two blessings.  They have made me grow more as a person.  They bring more love and laughter into my life than I ever realized was possible.

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    My sweet Karlie Kool Kat is always game for a road trip!

    Both girls are very different, yet perfect and gifted in their own special ways.  I pray that God will give us as parents the wisdom to raise them into amazing young women.  I know I will make mistakes as their Mom along the way, but hopefully they will overlook those mistakes and  know that I love them despite those not-so-good-moments.   It is my prayer that they will seek God’s wisdom and direction in their lives.

    I want to go through life focusing more on the good memories and letting go of the little things that get my feathers ruffled.  Life is too short to not have fun, smile, and enjoy the blessings God gives us everyday.  For those of you who are new to my blog these two girls were the inspiration for my blog, Blessings Multiplied.  They continue to amaze me with their creativity, learning, talents, and their love for life!  I look forward to many more awesome memories with these two sweet girls and seeing how God uses them to make an impact in the lives around them.

  • Dear Mom…

    Dear Mom,

    I love you Mom!  Can you read to us?  Skipper loved her bone.  As I write this letter Skipper is looking at me.  Can you play with me Mommy?  I love to play.  It is cold outside.  I had a fun day.   Love, Brina

    I found this letter and picture one morning from my sweet Brina.  These little gestures from my family makes my heart want to burst.  Not every day is perfect or easy as a parent so seeing these sweet letters totally make my day brighter!  In case your wondering, yes we read, played, and had fun together that day.  Love my family!

  • Family Celebrations: Catching Up with Family Over Spring Break

    Cousins Riding Together on the John Deere Gator! Fun Times!

    The girls and I had the opportunity to go visit family over their Spring Break this year.  We had a lot of fun spending time with Grandparents, Great Grandparents, Aunts, Uncles, Cousins, and more!  It had been a few months since we had been in the Midwest yet I was amazed how much the girls remembered.  They LOVED seeing family and spending time on the farm.  Each night they would crash from their busy schedule but they would be up early the next morning ready to (as Karlie put it so nicely) “Go explore more of Kansas!”

    I am thankful the girls have an opportunity to spend time with my parents and all four Grandpa and Grandma’s on my side of the family.  Each one has a special place in my heart and I am thrilled the girls get to have such wonderful memories of them as well.  It has been a nice adventure full of old and new memories.  It was such a blessing to see so many family members throughout our stay in Kansas!

    Here are just some of the exciting activities we participating in during our stay in Kansas (I hope to have some more pictures to show in a few days):

    • Riding Horses – Brina and Karlie LOVED Sassy
    • Playing with Dogs, Cats and Farm Animals
    • Watching them Work the Calves
    • Easter Egg Hunts
    • Kids 4 Truth Activities
    • Spending Time with Grandparents, Great Grandparents, Uncles, Aunts, and Cousins
    • Playing with family and friends
    • Riding the Gator
    • “Hunting” (Brina’s paraphrase) for Corn Cobs for the Horse
    • Coloring Easter Eggs
    • Crafts
    • Seeing Grandpa’s Big “Sprinkler” (Center Pivot)
    • Lots of Pheasants
    • Seeing a Coyote chase the Pheasants
    • Gathering Eggs in Grandpa Verlyn’s Hen House
    • Feeding the Turkeys
    • Homemade Food (including special Waffles)
    • Hot Chocolate
    • Helping Grandpa Russell on the Farm
    • Shooting Uncle Lee & Uncle Josh with Nerf Guns
    • Puzzles
    • The Big Hole
    • The Pet Cemetery
    • Grocery Shopping with Grandma Penny
    • Reading Books with Grandpa Russell & Grandma Penny
    • Planting Flowers
    • Learning More About our Family’s History
    • AND SOOOO MUCH MORE!!!!!!!

    The girls and I had a grand time seeing so many family members and spending time in Kansas.  A big thanks to everyone for a super fun trip!  It is a Spring Break that the girls will be talking about for years.  And yes, they found out that Easter does come to Kansas too!   Although we made a lot of wonderful new memories during our trip the girls are ready to see Daddy again.  Hopefully he is ready for us!

  • Book: “Guess How Much I Love You” by Sam McBratney

    I was thinking about some of my favorite books I enjoy reading to the girls.  The book Guess How Much I Love You by Sam McBratney is one I have read to our girls many times.  It is a great book for parents to read to little ones.  The book is about a small rabbit who is asking how much he is loved and comparing the love to things / objects around him.  It helps put “love” in a perspective that our children can understand.  The book is a good reminder to the kids and parent both.  It is important that we show our love and appreciation for our children not only by reading the book to them but in many other ways throughout the week – a hug, listening, spending time with them, and just appreciating them for who they are as individuals.

  • Family Recipe: Mom’s Beef & Broccoli

    In honor of my Mom’s birthday this week I picked one of my favorite recipes that she makes.  My Mom is a great cook and I actually made Beef & Broccoli last weekend so thought I would share it with you as well.  I love this recipe and it is delicious!

    Mom’s Beef & Broccoli:

    • 3/4 lb fresh Broccoli
    • 1 lb lean boneless Beef Steak (top round, flank, or sirloin work well)
    • 2 tablespoon Soy Sauce (I used low sodium soy sauce)
    • 1 clove of Garlic, minced or pressed
    • 1/4 cup Salad Oil (or olive oil)
    • 2 tablespoon of Water
    • 1 1/2 tablespoon Corn Starch
    • 1/4 teaspoon ground Ginger
    • 2 tablespoon cooking Sherry
    • 1 1/4 cup regular strength Beef Broth
    • Dash of Red Pepper

    Cut broccoli and set aside.  Cut beef with the grain into 1 1/2 inch wide strips then across the grain in 1/4 inch slices.  In bowl mix beef, soy sauce and garlic.  Let marinate 15 minutes.  Prepare cooking sauce corn starch, ground ginger, dash of red pepper, cooking sherry, and beef broth.  When wok is hot add 1 tablespoon of oil, add half of the meat mixture.  Stir fry until browned (about 2 to 3 minutes).  Repeat with second half of meat and 1 more tablespoon of oil.  Add the remaining 2 tablespoons of oil and stir in the broccoli for about 1 minute.  Add water cover and cook about 3 minutes.  Add cooking sauce to meat and stir until the sauce has thickened.

    When I made this dish last weekend I added in some mushrooms and onions that I needed to use up.  I cut back on the oil and didn’t have the Sherry so that was eliminated however since I added the additional juicy vegetables it was still tasty.  This recipe is amazing as is but feel free to add in extra items that your family enjoys eating.

    Photo by gkdavie

  • Family Recipe: Green Bean Tator Tot Casserole

    My Mom is a great cook and this is one of the recipes I remember her making when I was a kid.  It is a great mix of flavors and the perfect casserole to take to someone for a meal or if you want to make two and freeze one for a busy day later that month.  One thing I really love about this meal is that you can use what you have on hand in your pantry or freezer (you don’t have to buy a “special” type of green beans, hashbrowns, or cheese) to make it tasty!

    Green Bean Casserole

    • 2 lbs Hamburger, browned
    • 1 can Mushrooms (optional)
    • 1 pkg Shredded Cheese (Mozzarella or Cheddar or Mix)
    • 2 to 3 cans Cream of Mushroom Soup
    • 1 pkg frozen Hashbrowns or Tator Tots
    • 3 cans Green Beans (any style)

    Brown the hamburger then add the mushroom soup and canned mushrooms.  Stir and place on the bottom of a casserole dish.  Then layer the green beans on top of the meat mixture.  Spread the hashbrowns over the top of the green beans.  Sprinkle shredded cheese over the hashbrowns.  Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes to an hour.  Until cheese is golden.