Taco Soup

I promised this recipe to Bryce, but I have been slacking- sorry!

1 can each:

stewed tomatoes

corn(drained)

black beans(rinsed and drained)

pinto beans(rinsed and drained)

kidney beans(rinsed and drained)

2 cans diced tomatoes

1 lbs ground beef

1 onion, chopped

1-2 cloves garlic, minced

1 pkg. taco seasoning

brown meat with onions and garlic.  Drain.  add all ingredient to large pot and cook until heated through(or as long as you want).  Serve with tortilla chips, shredded cheese, diced avocado and sour cream.  Enjoy!

It's been a long time....

about 10 years anyway, since I have been in the work force.  I am back in the saddle again!  I got offered a position as a framer(pictures, not houses) at Michael's  Craft Store!  I am really excited and also somewhat nervous!  They are more than willing to work with me and Chris's schedule.  That way he will be home with the kids while I work and I will be home with them while he works and maybe we will get to see each other sometime.  It shouldn't be too bad- I will only be working 3-5 days a week and only the 4-5 hour shifts.  This way he will get to spend some one on one time with the kiddos and I will have a break.  Though I will really miss being at home with my babies.  :(
   I am glad that I was able to find work that I really enjoy doing though. It is always fun to see the different things people bring in to get framed and I really enjoy putting it all together.  Plus I should be getting a great discount on craft supplies(hooray!) not that I need any more paint and foam stickers, but they are always fun to have around.  My manager seems really nice and I am excited to work for her.  Wish me luck! 

It's HOT!

I know it's been a while and I have really been meaning to up date- but other than the fact that it is hot, really HOT, there hasn't been much going on.  We are on day 24 of 100+ degree weather, so we usually stay inside during the day.  Emerging only after the sun has gone down and then we play at the park(don't throw water on the kids while they are on the play scape then chase them.  That leads to painful falls and bruised knees and chins).  It's still hot after sun down, just not as hot.  My sister and I have been walking in the morning(it's about 83 degrees then).  We do about 2.5 miles with a little mini sprint to boost our calorie burn although the only thing that is burning is my lungs.  Which is really sad because I don't think we have run more than 3-5 seconds at one time.  But it's all about building endurance, right?  At this rate, we will be able to run a full marathon in about 50 years! 
        School is starting back up soon.  I alternate between being ready(more than ready)for the kids to go back to being sad that 4 of them will be going this year!  I got the back to school list and I am just wondering- do schools actually BUY any of their own supplies any more?  What happened to getting a couple of folders and note books along with some pen and pencils?  Now I am buying colored paper, drawing paper, scissors, crayons, markers, glue, colored pencils, rulers, gallon baggies, Kleenex, plus the tons of paper, folders, pencils etc. that they want.  And they are even specifically requesting name brand items(crayola crayons and markers instead of Rose art) and certain brands of paper(the colored paper and drawing paper cannot be the tear out kind).    School shopping should be fun to do with my kids, but these lists just make me grind my teeth(4 boxes of crayons for 1 kindergartener, 42 pencils for my 6th grader). 
   I need to stop now or I could go on forever! :)  
So that is the update for now.  I am hopefully uploading pictures before too long(that means within the next month).