Balloon Messages sent to Heaven 10/26/11

On October 26, 2011 we celebrated the 16th Anniversary of my dad's passing.

Most of the grandkids are now old enough to understand that Grandma Jan aka Mee Mee once had a husband that lived with her, who got really sick and has gone to live in Heaven. We wanted to do something special that the kids could all take part in and create memories of their own with their Grandpa Junior,
so we sent balloon Messages to Heaven. 

Each grandchild (all 6 of them) had their own balloon, we attached special messages on a sheet of paper with their names on them. We released the balloons all at the same time and watched till they were out of our site.

Miss Amari Grandchild #3

Miss Taycee Grandchild #5

Miss Ainsley Grandchild #4

Miss Addisyn Grandchild #2

Miss Ahlera Grandchild #6

Mr. Kayson Grandchild #1

The crew

Ainsley, Miranda, Ahlera, Addisyn, Taycee, Melanie, Amari & Kayson

getting ready for our balloon release

there they go

on their way

to Heaven

We love you Grandpa Junior more than any words can say-
people often say it gets easier with time, but I have come to realize that with time comes, graduations, weddings, babies, baptisms and birthdays that always have a void in them.

It was uplifting to create a memory with all the grandkids that celebrated my dad, their grandpa and we look forward to doing a balloon release each and every year!

Smoogles!

Taco Biscuit Bake



Taco Biscuit Bake

Prep: 20 Minutes

Bake: 25 Minutes

Servings: 8 Servings 

Ingredients:

1 pound lean ground beef

2/3 cup water

1 envelope taco seasoning

2 tubes of refrigerated buttermilk biscuits or 2 cans of cresent rolls

1 can chili con carne ( I used Hormel Chili w/beans)

1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

Directions:

1.  In a larger skillet fry up hamburger till no longer pink and drain

2.  Mix in water, taco seasioning and simmer for 4 mintues or till the water is absorbed

3.  Meanwhile quarter the biscuits (or keep them whole)

4.  Layer in a greased 9X13 pan along with the Beef, Chili and Cheese

5. Bake uncovered at 375 for 25-30 mintues or until cheese is completely melted and biscuits are golden brown.

Suggestions:

1. chop up and add an onion, green chili, and or jalepenos and fry with hamburger

2. leave out the biscuits and serve with tortilla chips

Toppings:

Sour Cream

Salsa

Black Olives

Super Easy to Make  and it's Delicious!

*****
Five Stars

I made this yesterday for daycare and the kids All ate it up!

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First snowfall

I came across this picture of my nephew and godchild Kayson and had to share it

-it was taken on our first and only snowfall thus far this year-I asked him what he was doing and he said in a tone as if i should have known "I'm eating snow aunti"-I asked him why he was laying on the ground and he replied with "cause my legs are tired" -of course i should have known Kayson!

-what I didn't capture in this picture was moments before my Ainsley (2 1/2) was laying next to him on the ground as well, eating snow in sync-thanks Kayson fore being the "Big Brother" Ainsley doesn't have :)

It's Back: Happy Harry's Penny Sale! 2013

Happy Harry's Bi-Annual Penny Sale

Thursday April 25th 2013 starting at 8am!!

(while supplies last)

Click below to see the featured wines and a price list

(categorized by country of origin)

***below is an old wine list-the new list is not out yet for 2013

Happy Harry's 2011 Wine List

***print out the list select what you would like and bring it with you-the staff there is great and can help with any questions

For a list of Coupons and Events at Happy Harry's visit their website:

http://www.happy-harrys.com/

Click HERE for the location information

(Happy Harry's currently has locations in Fargo & Grand Forks, ND)

Cheers!

Thankful Tree

Thankful Tree

This thanksgiving we traveled back to our home town of Bismarck-we were lucky enough to have two Thanksgiving dinners-one hosted by my husband's brother Chad and sister in-law Alicia and also one at my mom's house. It's a good thing Chad & Alicia's house is so great for gatherings as 35 of our family members on my husbands side we able to gather together this year-quite a crew we have-we were only missing my husbands twin Reed and his wife Emily and their 2 boys who live out in Grand Rapids, Michigan

-as Grandma Great Marge said " we are all one good looking family" -i had to chuckle at the one-she is probably alittle biased-but I must agree with her!

After we stuffed our faces at the Dietrich's we went to my moms's and awaited the arrival of my brother Mathias and his wife Courtney-they now live out in sunny San Jose, CA. -we hade not seen them since last Christmas when they drove back to attend my Grandma Gerti's funeral. -miss Ahlera now 6 months and some change was very excited to meet her aunti and uncle for the 1st time.
They are also the Godparents to my middle child Miss Ainsley Mathias (2 1/2) and they were able to win over her heart with some yummy Sponge Bob & Dora fun fruits!

It was a fun time spent with family this past week, the kids along with their Aunti Melanie and some help from their Uncle Math aka the lumberjack who cut down the branches (and to my understanding almost killed himself on the way down) & Aunti Courtney they made this Thankful Tree
-the kids cut out colorful fall leaves and wrote on them what they are thankful for-the sticks are placed in a metal vintage basket stacked full of pine cones
-it is much bigger than it looks in the picture and truly captured what things at Thanksgiving we should truly be thankful for-our family, friends and our health!

I hope this Thanksgiving you and your families were able to gather with family and friends and enjoy a plentiful Thanksgiving!

Our Elf on the Shelf

We were greated today when we returned from our holiday vacation with an "Elf on the Shelf"

for those of you not familiar with the story-check out http://www.theelfontheshelf.com/

We read the book 3 times the first night and gave our elf the name "Abby" which just so happens to also be the name to my brother and sister in-laws dog. The kids were so excited to get up the first morning to see where Abby had gone to next-she somehow landed on the dining room light fixture-she has been a great learning tool at our house-always keeping an eye on things so she can report back to Santa who has been naughter or nice! I over heard Ainsley this morning having a conversation with Abby telling her she is a big girl and slept downstairs all night long-that she did-now only if she would have slept through the night this mama would have gotten some sleep!

*for those of you wondering about the girl name-they sell the elves as boys but if you would like a girl elf you can purchase the little white skirt from online or in stores, they have a movie coming out on DVD soon!

You can go to http://www.theelfontheshelf.com/ to pre-order your copy for Only $9.99+shipping

You never know who is watching-so be good for goodness sake ;-)