The Fingerprints on My Heart

Pinterest... oh how I love you!

I  pretty much spend  time daily on Pinterest.  It is where I head to decompose and reset my frame of mind (when I don't have time to pick up a book).  It only takes 5-10 min ( really - ha ha)  to check  and see whats new.  The thing I really like about this form of "wasting time" is that it is actually useful!  So really it's not a waste.  I've made crafts, gotten inspiration for pictures and scrapbook pages, been cheered up by silly pins but my main love is all the amazing recipes that I have found there. 

One of my New Years Resolutions as a family to cut back on our  processed food intake.  If I can make it without using a canned ingredient I am a happy girl. Bean Burritos are a staple in this household. Refried beans are one of  my kids favorite foods.  Sometimes I wonder if they are half Mexican instead of Dutch with the amount of Mexican food they consume! 

The recipe  is from  Laura at  Real Mom Kitchen

Crockpot Refried Beans

• 3 cups of dry pinto beans (rinsed)
• 1 onion, diced
• 9 cups of water
• 5 tsp salt
• 1 3/4 tsp pepper
• 2 Tbsp minced garlic
• 1/8 tsp ground cumin

1. Put all the ingredients in a crockpot and cook on high for about 8 hours.
2. After they are done, drain all of the liquid out and SAVE THE LIQUID!!
3. Mash beans with a potato masher or whatever you mash with. Add liquid, a bit at a time, to desired consistency, but remember you want them a little runny because they thicken over time. (makes about 6 cups)

***** I had a busy morning and didn't get them in the CP on time -they turned out perfect at 6hrs. 

 

What I loved about this recipe is you don't have to pre-soak your beans and of course that it is cooked in the crockpot is always an extra bonus!

 

Enjoy.

5....4....3.....2....1.... Happy New Year!!!!

New Year's Eve was going to be a  low key family evening at home.  Things changed a bit and we ended up hanging out with some of our neighbors.

It started out with Paul grilling some chicken and steaks ( a rare (ha ha) occasion - b/c we are trying to eat on a budget) and a bottle of my new favorite wine.  I love the Cupcake label - a friend brought it to one of our GNO a few months ago - I've been hooked since. Depending on where you pick it up( CostCo is the cheapest I've found so far) its around $9.

 

After dinner Paul set up the projector and the kids watched  "Tron"  outside on the garage door.     The dads were inside playing pool.   The kids loved it!  Not such a great picture.  It was the perfect weather for it.  They were warm enough in sweatshirts along with some hot chocolate, of course.  

After that we came inside, hung out and played a few games ... 

and then it was time to ring in the New Year.

Chloe crashed 10 minutes before the big countdown but her sibs woke her up . 
Then it was off to bed.

I can't wait to see what the next year has in-store for everyone. 
Happy New Year from the Browers :)

Christmas

While Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday, Christmas comes in a close second.  We had a fantastic Christmas this year.  Everyone was spoiled but we are really blessed all year round.  We spend Christmas Eve with Paul's family at Oma's house.  We were missing many people ( and you were missed! )  but had a nice relaxing evening with some great food. After we headed home and everyone put on their new Christmas Pj's!

Christmas Day started the same as always.  We have our family Christmas at home before a breakfast of Cinnamon rolls - this year I made Grandma Heim's Monkey Rolls b/c I was short on time.  Then we headed off to Providence for a fantastic Christmas service.  We are so lucky to have a savior who loves us  and sent us His Son and to live in a country were we are free to worship Him. 

After church we headed over to Papa and Grandma Eisenbeisz house.  We had a great time opening presents , eating yummy food and being visited by Santa.  I must have been nicer than I thought because I had a ton of presents this year.   It was a great day but I found myself missing my sister and her family.  Maybe we can head to Idaho for  next year's celebration!   

Pokemon is always a hit at our house.

Opening gifts at Papa and Grandma's

My handsome hubby

Haley, looking so grown up to me.

Jonny LOVES Monopoly and to have it paired with Nintendo well it just doesn't get much better than that.

Chloe is my future artist.  She spends hours each day creating masterpieces.

Josie got herself  bone twice as big as her.

Christmas morning opening our presents.

Christmas Eve in their new Christmas pjs.

Jonny keeping Nettie entertained :)

Chloe, completely impressed with getting MONEY for a gift.

I hope you had a Merry Christmas :)

Santa came to town.....

Santa came for a surprise visit while were at Papa and Grandmas this year.  :) 

 

soccer weekend

This past weekend was all about soccer.  Chloe had her first indoor game. Go Galaxy- Paul is coaching her again.  They did great from what I hear.  I didn't get to see the game this time.  This is her and Haley in game day cloths :)

Chloe showing off her ball skills.

Haley's team played in the Orange County Tournament of Champions

They played 3 great games and then had a rough finish in the final championship match.  Haley did score 2 goals this weekend.  They have 2 more tournaments to go then the season wraps up for her. 

pre -game huddle

2nd place

 

Thanksgiving pics

 

Crazy cousins

Chloe loves her Aunt Tracy

and her Allie

The attack of the aliens!!!!

Chloe opened Happy Salon.  She did nails, lips, hair and gave backrubs.

Grandma must have said something funny.

Lunch at the beach.

My niece and nephew - how I wish we lived closer together.

I love my kids <3

The pelicans where crazy. I have never seen them diving for fish like they were that day.

Ruby's on the peir.

They have the best shakes ever.

We watched this amazing sand artist.  The closer you look the more faces you will see.

Brothers

The beach is one thing that I LOVE about Califonia - the trafic on the way home not so much!

Day 3 of the party.

The little kids table praying about all they are thankful for.

The big kids table. ( It took me forever to get here)

Smile

A little cousin time with the Brouwer side of the family :)

Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday for so many reasons. I love time spent together with family and friends. An entire day set aside to remember all the things we are blessed with and to be thankful for them. This time of year I always reflect on the hard start my son Erick had in life. After 2 plus weeks in the NICU on so many different machines he came home on Thanksgiving day. 10 years later he is happy and healthy with no side effects.

My sister visited this year. Her visits always go way to fast. We didn't go anywhere big this time. Just spent time together and the kids had a blast just hanging out . Papa had one of his famous parties for them ( more on that later). Here is a quick breakdown of the week and some pictures. I haven't downloaded them all yet.
Sat - picked up the Zarate family at the airport late at night
Sun - hung out around the house and then off to day 1 of Papa's party. Tracy and I snuck off for a sisters night out and caught Breaking Dawn Part 1
Mon- Rubios for lunch, hair cuts and a trip to the park. Day 2 of papas party. Parents went out for Thai food ...lucky me with a bad reaction to something ended up in urgent care.
Tue - pictures and hanging out together.
Wed - Oceanside Pear - such a beautiful day on the water. Then dinner here with everyone.
Thur- Day 3 of Papa's party and Thanksgiving day spent with Papa and Grandma and then down to the Brouwer's for dessert.
Then heading out for a little black Friday shopping
Fri- Zarate family left 5am ish :(