Cheesy Mostaccioli

Tonight I made a favorite dish of ours that I've been making since before Lexie was born. (I believe it's a Pampered Chef recipe.) As I was making it I thought about how easy it is to prepare. I know I always love getting new, easy recipes so I thought I'd pass this onto you. The greatest part is that you probably have most of the items in your kitchen already! Just add a salad and some bread and you have a great meal for the whole family! (The leftovers are great too!) I hope you enjoy it!


Cheesy Mostaccioli
1 package (16 oz) mostaccioli/penne pasta, cooked
1 to 1 1/2 lbs ground beef, browned & drained
1 t. ground black pepper
1 t. Italian seasoning
1 jar (28 oz) Prego spaghetti sauce
1 can (11 oz) cheddar cheese soup
3 cups (12 oz) shredded mozzarella cheese, divided

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Prepare pasta according to package directions. In frying pan brown meat and drain. Add pepper and seasoning to meat. Stir in spaghetti sauce and soup. Combine pasta, sauce mixture and 2 cups cheese in pan of your choice. (I use the Pampered Chef Baking Bowl but you can make it in a lasagna pan.) Mix to combine. Sprinkle remaining cheese on top. Bake 40 minutes. (Makes 12 - 15 servings.)

Time Management

I've recently taken over the kitchen desk as my own little "home office" space.
For the last year and a half it was Lexie's but she's only really used it as a spot to drop all her junk. So I've moved her junk to the scrapbook room - since I can close the door and hide the mess. (We'll get around to organizing it later.) I know it doesn't really look like much but I am so excited to have my own little desk to keep all my paperwork organized, etc. Obviously I still have some work to do - like buying a chair/stool instead of using our step ladder as a seat. :)

My only worry is that this beautiful clean desk will quickly become messy with my stuff if I don't work out a system for dealing with all my paperwork. But where do I start? The answer came while I was watching a decorating show yesterday. They were re-organizing a home office which of course turned out great. However, the best part of the show for me was when the personal organizer told the woman she couldn't keep the room neat without time management. She went as far as having the homeowner schedule time in her blackberry for all household chores including paying bills, grocery shopping, laundry, etc. When the organizer said that it was like a light bulb went off in my head! That's excactly what I need to keep my paperwork in order and more!

The idea of time management isn't new to me. I've written out my daily schedules a lot over the years, especially after I had Lexie. (Don't worry, I know I'm wierd.) However, I haven't done a new one since the summer. Of course a lot has changed since then, the biggest thing being my job. And since I've started working again, I've really struggled with keeping up on all the household chores while still finding time to spend with Lexie and Dave. And of course there's always guilt that goes along with either choice - "I should be doing that instead of what I'm doing right now."

So last night I sat down and started my plan - I went "old school" and hand-wrote it since I don't have a blackberry. :) First I wrote a list of all the tasks I wanted to get done during the week and then I wrote down how many times during the week I'd need to do each activity. (For example, I need to deal with paperwork once a week, make dinner every day and I'd like to scrapbook a few times a week.) Then I broke my day into 1/2 hour increments and plugged in the different activities to the times/days I thought they'd work.

So now I have a rough schedule and I'm excited to implement it! (I know, I know - wierd, that's me.) I'm happy that I now have a plan for all the chores that I never seem to find enough time to accomplish (like cleaning the house, making dinner, laundry, exercise, etc.). But what I'm most excited about is making time for the activities I like to do that I'm always trying to squeeze in but never seem to have enough time for (like scrapbooking, blogging and reading). I really hope this works! Wish me luck!

A Christmas Eve I'll Never Forget

I've been wanting to write this post since Christmas Eve but wasn't sure exactly what to say. I wanted to get it perfect. I also worried that I didn't have the "right" to do this post since it's not just my story, it involves my whole family. But after running it by my mom, I'm finally ready to share the story of a Christmas Eve I'll never forget.

It all began when I spoke to my mom the day before Christmas Eve. I could tell when she said "Hi" that something was up - there was something in her voice that seemed different. She said something like, "Remember the son I gave up for adoption?" I said "Yes." She continued, "Well, he found me and he wants to meet all of us tomorrow." (He lives in North Carolina and was only going to be in Michigan for a little bit for the holidays.) I'm not sure what kind of reaction my mom expected but I said something like, "I think that's great!!!" As she talked and shared all the details she knew about my brother Kevin, I got more and more excited to meet him. (Technically he's my "half brother" but I don't think like that - he's my brother plain and simple.)

Though I've known about Kevin for over 20 years my mom and I have never really talked about all the details surrounding his adoption. In fact, I have learned more over the last few weeks than I have my whole life. When I was in my teens maybe even tweens my mom told me and my sister that she had placed a child for adoption shortly before she met my dad. She told me that it was a boy and that his family already had a lot of kids when they adopted him. (Turns out he has 5 older sisters and 1 younger sister!) Besides that I didn't know much else. I could tell when my mom told us that it was difficult for her to talk about. Even at my young age I think I knew this was a painful subject for my mom and I think I avoided the subject so that I wouldn't make my mom sad.

Of course many years later as Dave and I turned to adoption as a way to add to our family, I couldn't help but think about my brother and what my mom had gone thru so many years ago. At one of our first meetings at a potential adoption agency Dave and I were told that most domestic infant adoptions aren't from young teenage mothers like most people think. The majority of birthmothers are actually single mothers in their 20's who already know how hard it is to raise a child on their own. I couldn't help but think of my mom.

As I mentioned before, this is not just my story, it's my mom's (and Kevin's). So it's not my place to talk too much about what happened 40 years ago. However, I can say that my mom was a single mother going thru a divorce and raising my brother Chris who was around 3 1/2 at the time she discovered she was pregnant. It must have been so hard for her back then - working and raising a young son on her own. When she discovered she was pregnant and then the father (who turned out to be married) disappeared I can only imagine the fear and anguish she must have felt. She must have been so worried about how she would be able to provide for another child, since she was already struggling with one child. After my mom had Kevin she tried to keep him for a few months but ultimately decided that adoption was the best thing for him. I can't even begin to imagine the immense love and deep pain my mom must have felt as she gave her small baby to his new family. What a miracle that almost 40 years later she got to hold him in her arms again!

I met my brother Kevin and part of his family on Christmas Eve. In his words, "the only wierd thing was that it wasn't wierd." Of course at first it seemed a little strange - I felt like I kept staring at him to see if he looked like any of us. (I kept thinking he reminded me a little of my uncle - my mom's brother - when he was talking. Then when we got the pictures back I thought he and my mom had the same kindof smile. As I study the pictures more I wonder if I see myself and my brother and sister in him too - the eyes, the shape of the face?)


Kevin turned out to be a really great guy! He also brought his wife, his youngest daughter who's 17, and his granddaughter who's 2. We all got along so well - especially considering that we just met.


The kids - Lexie, my 2 1/2 year old niece and Kevin's granddaughter - got along really well and had a great time playing. Here they are dancing together:



As the kids played Kevin talked about how he found mom. While looking for addresses for Christmas cards this year Kevin plugged mom's name into whitepages.com and that's how he found her! It turns out he had a letter that my mom had sent him when he was still a baby so he had her name from that. He has always known that he was adopted which I'm so glad about. I know back at that time adoption was often a big secret. I'm so happy for him and for us that his parents were honest with him from the beginning.

One of the coolest things about the day was that Kevin brought a scrapbook of his life that his wife had made which he GAVE to my mom. It included pictures of him as a baby, all his school pics, pictures from adulthood and a page for each of his kids and one for his granddaughter. (He has 3 kids - 2 girls ages 20 & 17 and a boy age 19.) This scrapbook meant so much to my mom and to all of us. It was cool to be able to see a little bit of the almost 40 years we've missed. (My mom and I are already planning a scrapbook for him - a scrapbook about our family so he can learn more about all of us.)

The whole night felt so comfortable! It was pretty amazing! He got to my mom and dad's a little after 1pm and didn't leave until after 7pm! I think he probably would've stayed even longer but his granddaughter was tired. When I hugged him goodbye I said "Thank you for finding us." As I was hugging him (and holding back tears) I couldn't help but wonder if this was it. Would he want anything more to do with us? Did he feel as comfortable with us as we did with him? Did he like us as much as we liked him?

Well, all my fears were put to rest a couple days later when my mom told me that Kevin had called her. He now talks to her a couple times a week & has even begun calling her "Mom." He called me a couple weeks ago and we talked for over 20 minutes. He's also talked to my brother Chris (who lives in Florida) on the phone a few times. They're even making plans to meet each other soon!

I'm so excited to get to know Kevin, though it's all kind of surreal. I've thought so much about my mystery brother over the years, especially since Dave and I decided to adopt. I can't believe Kevin and his family are now a part of our family! What a wonderful Christmas gift! God is good!

Adoption Profile Slideshow

I've been working for a couple months on this Dave & Jenn's Adoption Profile Video. I spent ALL day today finishing it up. I'd love to know what you think before I post it on YouTube and Bethany's website. Just click on the link above and you should be able to just watch it. Please let me know if you have any problems looking at it. Thanks for your feedback!

All I want for Christmas is my two front teeth!

It finally happened! It took over two months but Lexie finally lost her first tooth! We were eating tacos Monday night and Lexie said her tooth hurt. I looked in her mouth, saw that her tooth was barely hanging on and their was some blood. So I twisted her tooth a little and it came out! Lexie was so excited!



I had to go to a school meeting that night so Daddy helped her put the tooth in her special pillow. (It's actually the same pillow I used when I was a kid.) She also wrote the tooth fairy a note that said "Dear tooth Fairy I lost my first tooth today and it is a bottom one I lost it by eating a taco! Love - Lexie PS if you would give me something for my tooth right now it would be a Foohy" (A "foohy" is a type of eraser that a bunch of kids at school have - they look like monkey heads.)

Lexie woke the next morning to discover that the Tooth Fairy had taken her tooth and left some special gifts for her. In the pillow, where the tooth used to be was a $1 coin. The Tooth Fairy also left a Cheetah Girls muscial toothbrush, a tube of toothpaste and a note.
The note said "Dear Lexie - Congratulations on losing your first tooth - it's a beautiful tooth! I can tell you've been taking great care of it. I hope you enjoy the new toothbrush and toothpaste I'm leaving for you. Sorry I didn't give you a Foohy but maybe you can use this special coin to buy one for yourself (or you can save it for something else). I have a feeling I'll be visiting you again real soon! Until then, keep brushing and flossing! Love - The Tooth Fairy" The Tooth Fairy also accidently left some of her fairy dust all around the pillow and gifts! Lexie was very excited about everything and didn't seem disappointed at all that she didn't get a Foohy. She was very curious though about how the Tooth Fairy gets in the house and what she does with the teeth she collects. :)

Then yesterday Lexie ran into my bathroom in the morning with her finger in her mouth. There was blood all over the tip of her finger and all around her other loose tooth. This tooth was a little harder to get out but after a few twists it did come out. Lexie left it in her pillow last night and woke up this morning to find a $1 coin and more fairy dust!

Lexie told me on the way to school yesterday that she thinks that the Tooth Fairy uses all the teeth she collects in her wand instead of batteries. (How cute is that?!) She also decided not to save her money but instead she plans to use her $2 to buy a Foohy. I just think it's funny that our little girl can sing "All I want for Christmas is my two front teeth" this Christmas. :)

Winter Fun

Now that winter is really here I don't know about you but I don't feel like doing much of anything! I always feel so cold - even when I'm inside! My favorite place to be right now is bundled up in a thick blanket - reading, watching TV or watching a movie. It is WAY too cold to do much of anything else!

Don't get me wrong, I LOVE going sledding with Lexie - it's actually one of my favorite things to do in the winter but lately it's been too cold to do even that! But one cold day late last month Lexie and I managed to brave the cold weather and build a snowman! Last year I bought a snowman kit that had everything you needed to make a snowman except the snow and the sticks for the arms and this was the first time we used it. Lexie and I had so much fun - Lexie even tried to make a dog on the right side of the snowman. The face is on the right, the tail is on the left, closest to the snowman. (Don't tell her I said this but I kindof think it looks like an armadillo.) :)

Ever since Lexie was 2 we've been making Gingerbread houses together as a family every December. This year I bought a gingerbread train kit instead. So on the same day we built the snowman, the 3 of us put the train together. We were so focused on doing it, I almost forgot to take pictures!
It was just as much fun as the gingerbread house and it was nice to do something a little different. Lexie even decided to name the train "The Polar Express" and make a sign for it.

The Cheetah Girls ROCK!

On December 2nd I took Lexie to her first concert - The Cheetah Girls - One World Tour. She was so excited! I was upstairs getting ready and when I came downstairs I discovered Lexie making a "poster" for the concert.
It was sooo cute - she actually ended up making 2 posters, one for me and one for her. :) We got to the Palace early so there weren't that many cars but Lexie couldn't believe all these people were going to see the Cheetah Girls. She thought there must be some other event going on. I assured her that the Cheetah Girls were it!

We had GREAT seats - 4th row on the right side of the stage! (Thanks to a business contact of Dave's who gave him the tickets!) I made sure to let Lexie know that normally you don't get to sit this close for a concert. In fact, I've never sat that close so it was pretty cool for me too!
When the opening act - The Clique Girlz - started Lexie just kindof sat in her seat and stared at them. Lexie and I had never heard of this group - Lexie said they looked like 3 Hannah Montanas. :) I also thought they seemed like a female version of the Jonas Brothers - since they look like sisters.

Anyway, by the time the Cheetah Girls came to the stage Lexie was warmed up and ready to rock!
She stood up most of the concert, danced around, sang and screamed...at least I think she screamed - I actually had ear plugs in my ears so I couldn't hear her (but she looked like she was screaming). :) Lexie wore ear plugs too - I think it would've been WAY too loud without them, especially sitting that close and having all those screaming girls around us. (I know, I know, I guess I'm getting old.)

It was a great concert! My favorite part was when the girls sang above the stage, each in their own individual chandelier chair.
There was also a cool part where the girls gatherered together and sat and sang while a slide show was going - they were so close to us!
Lexie loved it all, especially when her favorite Cheetah girl came over and sang right in front of us and even waved to us.
But her favorite part of all was at the end when they sang "One World" while standing on these columns which were raised out of the stage and then confetti was dropped on us. Lexie was so tired at the end but I could still tell she had a GREAT time! We both agreed, the Cheetah Girls definately rocked!