suggestions?

So Jordi was due yesterday and Little Miss Sayla Grace still isn't even stirring... no contractions (well, she had one this morning... but that's it- just one), no trouble sleeping, nothing. While we're thrilled that Jordan isn't too uncomfortable, and while we've actually had a super productive (and fun and relaxing) week, we'd love to meet the teensiest Remke. Especially because mom is only here until Thursday and Burke and I are only here until September 9th and we'd love to actually be helpful... you know, with an actual baby. While I'm sure the meals and cleaning are great for now, I think our assistance might be more appreciated in those crazy days after they first bring the beebs home.

Any ideas for getting this party started and 'helping' Jord's labor come more quickly???

ps- Jordi was asked by three different people at church this morning if she's due in November... that's how darling and non-nine-months-pregnant she looks still!

crafting and crafting some more

If you've been on our kojo blog lately, you know that august has been a round two of invitation season for jordi and I (weird, huh?). My craft room, living room, dining room table and office all have remnants of various projects scattered around them currently. It is fantastic to have the work- just a little messy! :)

one spunky kid

I've posted before about how much I love my niece, Keadryn. And seriously, she just gets funnier. I love her little personality... I love how much she loves Baby Burke and how she tries to share her water, Chex Mix, wipes (whatever she loves, really) with him. I love her little dances and twirls. I love her spunky smile. I love it that she is such a girly girl and that she's drawn to purses, high heels, lip gloss, and anything that shimmers and sparkles. I love it that she's tough too- that she loves to tackle Drew and play rough. She is funny, spunky, just darling!

trouble

We made an interesting discovery while we watched the Olympics every night these last couple weeks- Burke loves, and I mean loves, the TV! If he's laying on his tummytime bug on the floor, he will tilt his head backwards to watch it upside down... and if someone is holding him, he will twist his whole body around to catch a glimpse of the shiny, colorful box. He especially loves Papa and Nana's huge tv (probably for the high definition... I've heard babies love that stuff!).

I haven't gone online to find out exactly WHY TV is bad for babies, but I am certain it is. What a wreck!

not as easy as I thought

I know I always post when we find a great, cheap dinner or when I spend pennies at the grocery store to get bags of groceries... but life in the world of the megastrict budget just isn't always that wonderful and I thought I'd post about that side too.

Don't get me wrong- I am thankful for the Lord's provision! We aren't in need of anything... And really, in the grand scheme of things, it just doesn 't matter whether I can have my dearly beloved diet-Coke-with-extra-vanilla from Sonic this week or not.

But there are definitely some not so fun aspects of living below the poverty line. For example, I know the cost-per-item of almost everything in our pantry and fridge... and when I've already reached my daily quota, it stresses me out to eat anything else (even when the salad-from-the-garden dinner just didn't fill me up). I also hate saying no to things like a night out with friends because we can't afford to go out... or to pay for parking (or the lightrail)... And I worry about what will happen if our car breaks or if Burke needs new clothes. Mostly the rough parts are the little changes in daily life- just really not being able to afford pretty much everything.

Here are the things that I KNOW to be true: God intended for things to go just this way... if He'd wanted me to work while Adam was in dental school, He would've gotten Adam in earlier. I know that we have more than we need. I know that I am far too attached to things that really are luxuries (fast food, new clothes, restaurants, the aforementioned Sonic drinks...). I know that God will take care of us. I know that Burke joining our family was timed just perfectly.

Just sometimes, it isn't that easy to be here.

happy birthday dad!

Funny things about my dad:

-how his 'engineer-ness' spills over into all areas of his life... he loves to tinker with things and make them more efficient (christmas tree stands, doggie bowls, headlamps are some examples that come to mind)'

-his affection for small town living (and hatred for traffic and lines)

-his goofiness, joke-telling and tiger-shirt wearing at every opportunity

-the way he passed on to each of us his love for being outside... some of my greatest childhood memories are of hiking, skiing, camping, backpacking (with llamas no less), learning to cast in the alley behind our house...

-his willingness to help us with the projects we undertake (an elaborate acid rain science fair project when I was younger... bathroom tiling and cable re-routing now)

-he makes KILLER green chili- mmmmm!

-his warm cuddly-ness

-how he used to end every conversation with "make good choices"

Happy Birthday Dad!!! We love you!

made for this

For as long as I can remember, I have hoped for the opportunity to be a stay at home mama. I know I haven't been doing this for very long, but this new role suits me. Yesterday, as we were driving home from lunch with some friends, I was telling Burke how thankful I am that he and I get to spend our days together. I think our weeks are going to be a bit of a mish mash between kojo (jord and I are working on a few sets of invites right now and thanking the Lord for the chance to earn some extra income doing something we absolutely love), substitute teaching (maybe once a week?), finding deals to resell on ebay (you know how I love a good sale), finding groceries and other essentials for supercheap, making delicious (inexpensive) dinners, and keeping the house clean (which I am so so excited about!). But even with the busyness, I can't imagine doing it any other way!

welcome parents!

I spend a decent amount of time each year scheming, researching, pleading and cajoling, trying to get my family to all live in one place. So when we found out that my dad had accepted a job in Denver (thus transplanting my parents from their home in Coeur d'Alene to right here in Colorado), we were thrilled beyond belief! It will be so fun to go on walks with my mom during the day (good thing I am now a stay at home mom, eh?), to celebrate birthdays with them, to see them at church... And I am so excited that Burke will be able to share everyday life with both sets of grandparents- what a lucky kid!

I heart the morning

This is what we see when we go in to wake Burke up in the morning (I know, I know, parents don't usually wake up babies who are still happily sleeping... but if we don't wake him up by 8:30ish, his last feeding isn't be until 11:00 or 11:30 at night. And let's be honest, that's just too late).

Side note aside, this little one is so funny and happy and smiley and babble-y in the morning. It delights my heart to get him up!

dollar dinners and the 4 pound zucchini

My darling dad helped us plant our first garden this year and we have been LOVING having all sorts of fresh vegetables, berries and spices this August. In fact, our zucchini plant is taking over our yard! Besides the tried and true- grilled zucchini and zucchini bread- it has become apparent that we're going to need some other zucchini recipes in order to utilize these baseball bat-sized veggies.

Earlier this week we tried out shredded zucchini and chick peas over polenta from cheap healthy good. DELICIOUS! And for less than $1.50 a serving- it fits right in the new budget. :) So if you have a zucchini plant taking over your yard like we do, or if anyone offers to give you some zucchini from their garden, you've just found a seriously fabulous way to put those suckers to good use!

Shredded Zucchini & Chickpeas Over Polenta

1 1/2 pounds zucchini (about 3 medium), ends trimmed and cut crosswise into 2" pieces1 heaping teaspoon of kosher salt

3 cloves garlic, sliced thinly

1⁄2 teaspoon olive oil, divided

Cooking spray

1 15-ounce can of chick peas, drained and rinsed

1 scant cup of marinara sauce (we used a can of tomato sauce with some basil from the garden)

1 package of pre-made sundried tomato polenta, cut into 1⁄4" rounds

2 cups mozzarella cheese (the original recipe calls for goat gouda, but we didn't have any around)Salt and pepper to taste

1) Shred zucchini on the largest setting of a box grater. Toss with a heaping teaspoon of salt, place in a colander set over a bowl, and allow to drain, 15-30 minutes. Squeeze out as much liquid as possible.

2) Coat a non-stick pan with 1⁄4 teaspoon of the oil with several sprays of cooking spray, and heat over a medium heat. Add the garlic and sauté until aromatic and starting to browned, about 30 seconds. Add the zucchini, stir, and cook through, about 6-7 minutes

.3) Add chickpeas, and cook through, 1-2 minutes. Add sauce and saute until heated through, about 3-4 minutes. Transfer the mixture to a separate bowl, and season with salt and pepper.

4) Wipe out the pan, and heat the remaining oil over a medium heat. In several batches, add the polenta rounds, and sauté until just browned (roughly three minutes per side). In the center of each plate, arrange four polenta rounds so that their sides are touching (or in a "diamond" pattern). Top with a light coating of mozzarella. Mound the zucchini mixture on top, and sprinkle with more cheese.

Approximate Price Per Serving $1.39

Calculations

1 1/2 pounds zucchini (about 3 medium or 1 gigantic garden one): FREE

3 cloves garlic: $0.10

1⁄2 teaspoon olive oil: $0.02

Cooking spray: $0.03

1 15-ounce can of chick peas, drained and rinsed: $.89

1 cup marinara sauce: $0.50

1 package of pre-made sundried tomato polenta: $3.99

1 cup mozzarella: $.83

Kosher salt/pepper: $0.01

TOTAL: $5.56

PER SERVING (TOTAL/4): $1.39

total savings

Adam and I picked up cereal (8 boxes), meat, cookie dough (2 packages), granola bars (4 boxes), and a 24 pack of Coke Zero at Safeway last week for $2.56. We laughed when we looked at our two receipts and they read: "Total Savings 93%," and "Total Savings 100%."

Since the dental school budget is fully in effect and we now have $140 a month for groceries, shopping trips like this are a huge help! :)

darn cute

Adam's mom has this favorite baby brand, "Bunnies by the Bay." She is always getting Burke the cutest little gifts by them...

Today it was a little chilly, so we snuggled him up in his little bunny hat and bunny slippers (we were inspired by his little friend Perry who was wearing the girl bunny slippers this morning).

weird kid

Anyone who has heard me sing knows that it is just not my gifting from the Lord... However, Burke LOVES it when I sing. The cutest thing is when he tries to sing along with me. His favorites so far include Be Thou My Vision and I Lift My Eyes Up... Weird kid. :)

four years in coming

Adam starts dental school today! We are so excited (and maybe a little nervous) for this new season...

chunka monka

Squeezable cheeks- check.

Double chin- check.

Muffin top- check.

Chubby thighs- check.

Moobs- double check.

Our problems with Burke not being able to keep weight on are definitely a thing of the past... we are loving this chunka monka baby!

lake city!

Adam's family has been vacationing in the little mountain town of Lake City, Colorado since before he was born.  We were thrilled to be able to join Adam's parents and friends Paula and Steve this year for some fantastic fly fishing (followed by a glorious meal of grilled trout), hiking, raspberry picking, bingo in town, and great company.  Burke thinks that the Baby Bjorn is his new home... :) 

city of brotherly love

Our week in Philly for Aji and Trish's wedding was fantastic... lots of time with family, time in the city for historical sites, the reading terminal (a big market), and cheesesteaks, and of course tons of crafting and assembling and helping with the wedding.  It was fantastic to meet Tricia's family (love them!) and to see old friends from F-town and Grove City. 

welcome to the fam

Trish, we prayed that the Lord would bring Aji someone who loves Jesus, who loves people and who would fit perfectly into our wild and crazy family. You are the answer to that prayer... we are thrilled to have you as the newest member of our family!