Ian's trip to the Museum

Last week Wednesday Ian and his classmates journeyed to the Grand Rapids Public Museum for the day. I decided to drive for the field trip and had a wonderful time exploring with the kids and going to the Planetarium. Here are some pictures that we took.

Ian and 3 of his classmates overlooking the Grand River. From left to right - Kinzie, Gabrielle, Ian and Noah.

Ian asked to use the camera for a little while....he takes great pictures. This one is of the huge clock that ticks away your time at the museum...we learned it was originally in the city hall in Grand Rapids.

There is a huge fin whale skeleton that Ian really liked...here is is picture of it!

They even got to sit by santa....too bad it was a fake one:)

Crazy Hat!

This "hat" is actually a cover that goes on any type of helmet. Be it a bike helmet, ski helmet, roller blading helmet, you name it helmet. Ian got it for his birthday from his aunt Stacy and all of his siblings had to try it on. It does look better on a helmet, but it was funny seeing it on them anyway....oh by the way it is supposed to be a puffer fish.:)

Ian Turns 8!!!!!!!!

Ian's Birthday was Saturday, but we had his big birthday party on Sunday!!! He decided on a blue two layer cake with a big number 8 on it.

Ian got a shirt and journal from his Aunt Megan and Uncle Josh. This shirt is from India and is hand printed with a Tuk-Tuk (a little 3 wheeled "taxi" they use alot in India like places:)

Ian also got a picture of a bald eagle for his room. He loves any raptor like birds and loved the picture. He also received a few games, books, a cool bike helmet cover and some new PJ's.

Blowing out the candles (Lucas was helping from afar.)

Trick or Treat!

This is sad mouse Gavin because he doesn't have any candy in his bucket yet. Gavin loved trick or treating. He would boldly walk up to every house, say "trick or treat" come back with his candy in hand, show me what he had gotten then state "I need more candy." He, even when we were all done told me that he didn't have enough candy...and I thought mice liked cheese:)

Ian came up with his own haloween costume this year...he decided to be a basket of dirty laundry! The kid got a ton of compliments and used his basket to collect his candy...clever isn't he!

This is ghost Kendra...not to be mixed up with ghost Lucas. They both wanted to be ghosts...this one is pink underneath! It was cheap, easy and they were really quite cute!

And ghost Lucas! He didn't think he needed near as much candy and Gavin and wanted to poop out about half way through. I think now he is glad he kept walking:)

It started to rain while we were trick or treating but we were blessed with a beautiful double rainbow....God is so good! It was even more amazing when you turned around and saw the most beautiful sunset I think I have ever seen...the sky was orange just like a pumpkin and the sun was shining....pictures just didn't do it justice! All I kept thinking was GOD IS SO GOOD!! And to think I had been in a bad mood and was calling myself the mom monster...I think the sky was just for me!

Great New Recipe

Well, I have a recipe that I tried earlier this week that I highly recommend to all! Here it is:

Taco Lasagna

1 lb. ground beef
1 cup total - diced onion, diced green/red pepper and celery
3 garlic cloves, minced
1 Tbs. chili powder
1 (24 oz.) jar mild salsa
1 (15 oz.) can kidney beans (drained) - I think I would use black beans next time:)
1 (10 0z.) can enchilada sauce
10 oz. corn (I used canned but you can used frozen too, just thaw first)
16 (6 inch) corn tortillas
4 cups shredded Mexican four cheese blend
Toppings: sour cream, chopped tomatoes

Cook first 4 ingredients until meat is no longer pink and veggies are tender. Stir in salsa and next 3 ingredients. Cook for 5-10 min. until heated through. Put in lightly greased pan. Layer 1 cup of meat mixture, then layer 6 tortillas - overlapping then 2 cups of cheese. Then 1/3 beef mixture, tortillas, the rest of the beef mixture, more tortillas and the cheese. Bake at 350, covered, for 40 min. Remove foil and bake 10 min. more. Let stand for 10 min. before serving.


Enjoy!

I am just now eating the leftovers and it is just as good the second time as the first!!

Pumpking Carving

It was a cold and blowy day on Saturday so we decided to go to Grandma & Grandpa Feenstra's house and carve pumpkin's! Grandma has a great big garden and this year it grew many tall pumpkins. Why? We don't know....they were just tall not round like you think pumpkins usually are. Anyway, we spent the whole afternoon there....digging out the pumpkin "guts" then drawing the faces out on news paper so mom and dad could carve them into the pumpkins! After everything was done we made doughnuts! Nothing is better than homemade doughnuts!!!

The kids with their pumpkins!!!

Ian making a face like his pumpkins face.

Kendra with her pumpkin...it even has curls on the sides....even though you can't see them....they are really there!!!!

Lucas with his scary pumpkin!

Gavin found the only round pumpkin in the bunch!

Painted Pumpkin!

This one is for you Megan! Here is the finished pumpkin that Megan (my sister) and I painted. The kids think that there should be cookies in it, but I disagree because I know they wouldn't last long and the possibility of it being broken is high! Enjoy and enjoy fall!