Happy 10 yr Gotcha Day Makenzie!

Nobody can ever know about all of the heartache, suffering and pain and pure joy that you go through while trying to adopt unless you've actually walked in those shoes and it's a bond we share with many, many other adoptives families that we have been so blessed to meet during this adoption journey.  It's a lot of work proving that you will be a fit parent for these precious children and you have worries about will it be "enough", will they pick me?  I'm sure most parents go through a lot of these emotions but it's a little different for adoptive parents because we have people come through our house for a homestudy and make sure it's ok for a child, it is nerve wracking and emotionally draining on top of all of the interviews, meetings, paperwork, fingerprinting, police records check and the list goes on and on.  Will we EVER get through this is a question we asked ourselves often.  Then the big day comes and you get a referral (we even got a picture AND a video of Kim, Sun Hwa), this adorable, chubby cheeked, black haired, almond eyed child is going to be ours after years and years of praying for a baby and exploring so many options along the way, we finally have a picture....now comes the really hard part WAITING for her passport and visa when you know what she looks like and all you can think about is that she's getting bigger and bigger and is she smiling? is she rolling over? can she say any words? is she attaching to her foster mom?  will she have attachment issues or will she bond with us? Questions, worries, waiting, happiness that you have a child in this world but you haven't met her yet...it's a swirl of emotions.  Then, the call comes in that she has a visa and passport and a lady(we love you Beverlee) that we've grown to love and trust is in Korea and is willing to bring her to us...oh happy day!  We rush to LA, California and anxiously await her arrival....but wait SURPRISE the morning she's supposed to come in we hear a knock on our hotel room door and it's Kevin's parents and my mom, they want to share this joyous, happy day with us!  Then, time seems to stand still while we pace about the LAX airport just waiting to see her and then she's here and all of the sudden all of the past 8 years of trying to have a baby fade away and are just a distant memory and our daughter is safe in our loving, open arms at last!!!  November 19th, 2000 is a day Kevin and I will never forget, God answered our prayers and gave us a wonderful, special gift of Makenzie Nicole Wedemeyer and for that gift we are eternally greatful!  The past 10 years have been the happiest 10 years of my entire life and I know it's because of this blessing sent from God with a detour through South Korea!  If you have questions about adoption please email me at adoption questions I would love to help others experience this wonderful gift!
I Samuel 1:27 For this child I prayed and the Lord has given me my petition which I asked of Him!

Please leave me a comment and tell me how your life has been touched by adoption!  November is National Adoption Awareness month!!!

Every year on our children's gotch day we eat Korean food in honor of their birth country and we give them a small gift so they know that we love and cherish them and think the day we "got" them is very special.  We look through their Korean box, which holds their baby clothes that they arrived in from Korea, an extra diaper from Korea, and any pictures that were taken while they were in Korea, some Korean money and any other items sent to the U.S. with them from their foster family.  This year we were blessed to eat lunch with the wonderful Delano family and they helped us celebrate Kenzie's 10 yr gotcha day, they are in the adoption process for a sibling group so please keep them in your prayers!

iMOM-The 30 Day Mom Challenge

This is a great challenge, one way everyday to be a better mom!  I try really hard to be a great mom but sometimes it just seems overwhelming and I wonder am I doing enough, do they feel loved, will they grow up to love me or resent me, do they have the right focus in life,  will they be productive humans, and the list goes on and on.  We have this group in town called iMOM and every month they meet and talk about ways to be a better mom, they have mom's in the area speak to us and share tips on cleaning, coupons, etc.  It's always enjoyable...especially for a homeschool mom to get out and about and talk to other mommies.  Anyway, this month they have a 30 day mom challenge and I decided to join the challenge.  Let me know if you join too and how your month goes and if it changes you in any way!  Oh, by the way, I printed off the challenge sheet and hung it on my bathroom mirror so I can see it in the morning and at night...just a helpful reminder!

Mc Linky Monday-Thankful for food

If you are like me then you just love those girls and all their posts over at the RHOK and today they are wanting to know:

What is your favorite food on the Thanksgiving table?



Well, mine is Wild Rice Stuffing!  I absolutely love it and can't stand for Thanksgiving to go by without it!  This is a simplified version on the original recipe...I like simple!  What is your favorite food on the Thanksgiving table?  Leave me a comment or even link up with the girls at the RHOK!



Wild Rice Stuffing

1 (6 oz.) pkg. long grain and wild rice mix


1 lb. bulk sausage

1 1/2 c. sliced mushrooms

1 1/2 c. chopped onion

1 c. bias cut celery

1 (8 oz.) pkg. herb seasoned stuffing mix

1/2 c. fresh snipped parsley

1/2 to 1 tsp. poultry seasoning



Cook rice according to package directions. Meanwhile brown sausage (partially) in large skillet. Drain off all but about 2 tbsp. fat. Add mushrooms, onion and celery to sausage. Saute until celery is crispy tender.

Prepare stuffing mix according to package directions. In large bowl combine stuffing mix, rice mix, sausage mixture, parsley and seasoning. Toss to combine. Use to stuff a 14-16 pound turkey or goose or turn into 2 greased 1 1/2 quart casseroles. Bake at 325 degrees during last hour of roasting time. Yields 12 cups. Can add the cooked and ground up giblets and omit mushrooms. (sometimes I add cranberries to it too)


 
Thanks for the encouragement Dawn, I love you!!!

Chewing light!

Light up your smile with Triboluminescence and yes we can make a lightning like effect with wintergreen candy just by chewing them in the dark!  That's what we did today as a science experiment!  We bought wint o green lifesavers (don't try the sugar-free ones they won't work as well), the 3 of us squeezed into the 1/2 bathroom, put a towel in front of the door and shut off the lights and started crunching on our candy!  WOW, sparks were flying and this was easily one of the kids favorite science experiments for the year.  We also tried it with a pair of pliers and it worked too!  Then, we tried mixing sugar in a glass bowl and it was sparking also!


Explanation:

You are generating light energy by triboluminescence because each time you chew the candy your teeth are tearing apart the chemical bonds that were formed when the liquid candy was molded into a solid lifesaver. Wintergreen contains molecules that exhibit triboluminescnece.

This was our chapter on light from unexpected sources...very cool!!!

How to make homemade pumpkin puree

A lot of you have been asking me how I make my pumpkin puree and it's so simple that you will be making it too!  Why, you ask do I make my own pumpkin puree?  The first time I made it was because I had run out of canned pumpkin and I just happened to have a pie pumpkin as a decoration so I decided it was time I learned to make pumpkin puree, it was cold and rainy outside and the kids were taking a nap so I couldn't just run to the store.  I've used homemade pumpkin puree in soups, cookies, pie, pumpkin dip, pumpkin butter, muffins, pancakes and bread.  Homemade pumpkin puree gives such a great flavor and texture to any recipe that I don't think I'll ever go back to canned puree plus it really doesn't take that much effort to have this wonderful, distinct fall flavor!

 Step 1- Cut a clean pumpkin in 1/2 (make sure you wash the outside of the pumpkin first)

 Step 2-Scoop out the stringy insides and all the seeds (save the seeds for roasting later on)

 Step 3- Cut the pumpkin into smaller sections and boil for 10-15 min.

 Step 4-When the pumpkin will basically fall off the rind then drain it

 This is what the rind looks like with the pumpkin out of it

Step 5- I then take a handheld blender and blend the pumpkin up for about 2 min. (a food processor would work well if you have one)

Step 6-Now, I usually put 1 cup per ziplock baggie and freeze what I won't be using right now and then I try to start storing up for the winter! (if you fold back the edges of your ziplock and place it in a smallish glass it's so much easier to stick your gooey goodness inside, then I force air out and seal it up to freeze)

There are many ways to make pumpkin puree but this is fast and easy for me!  You can bake it, microwave it and boil it, if you use another method please leave me a comment, I'd love to hear from you!  I'm headed into the kitchen to try the microwave and baking method and I will let you know what I find out.  I did find that the Pioneer Woman bakes hers and every single recipe that I've ever made from her is delicious...now I can't wait to try mine baked and see if it tastes the same or different.

Cook's Essentials Handblender

Several years ago I bought this really awesome hand blender from Cook's Essentials on QVC and I've come to love it and depend on it almost daily until the unthinkable happened.  I used it one too many times and a piece broke off...I"m so so very sad.  I wrote to QVC and I've tried finding just the main piece to replace but no such luck!  Do you have a favorite kitchen item that you love and would be upset if it broke?  What is it?  Please share all your cooking info!

Cuneiform writing

Over the past week we've been learning about the Sumerians and ancient Mesopotamia.  Today, the kids have a fun project of writing the Cuneiform alphabet, which was done on clay tablets in ancient times BUT our clay is actually sugar cookie dough and then we will bake it and eat it! YUMMY!  It's so fun to be a homeschooler.

Chore Wars

I thought I had tried everything to make the kids do their chores, including punishment, grounding, rewards, allowance, and the list goes on and on.  Kenzie was happy to do everything EXCEPT keep her room picked up and Kylan didn't want ANY part of it.  Of course we keep trying new things, well the latest thing is Chore Wars and WOW the kids were so excited that they jumped up and ran upstairs and had half the list finished in record time so they could reach the next level on this "computer game".  Some people may not be into it because of the scary looking avatars or the "dungeon like" comments but my kids are LOVING it.  If you want to play along with us let me know and I will send you a link,  the competition between kids is helping keep our house clean!

Pumpkin pancakes

It's Fall Y'all and Kenzie and I thought it was thatt time of year for Pumpkin Pancakes....ohhhhhh awwwww and my kids are doing the happy dance!

Ingredients:
2 cups of dry pancake mix (we used a wheat one)
3tbsp dark brown sugar
2 1/2 tsp pumpkin pie spice
1 1/2 cups of milk (or water)
1 cup canned pure pumpkin puree (not pie filling)
1 egg beaten
1 tsp vanilla

In a large bowl combine pancake mix, brown sugar and pumpkin pie spice. In another bowl mix milk, pumpkin, egg, and vanilla. add the pumpkin mixture to the dry mix and stir.

I spray Pam (or similar spray) on griddle (med. high).  Pour your pancakes out and wait until bubbles form then flip.  Serve with homemade pancake syrup.  ENJOY~~

Also, don't forget Tasty Tuesdays so head over to Alicia at A Beautiful Mess, she made some yummy Healthier Halloween ideas and not only are they healthy but they are FUN!

Then, cruise over to Tempt My Tummy Tuesday with Lisa, she made a delicous Taco Soup.

Plarn

Makenzie and I were searching for a new craft project and I came across plarn.  I'd NEVER heard of it before, have you?  It's plastic yarn made out of bags, so it's environmentally friendly and gives you a use for all of your old Wal-Mart bags, or actually any type of bag, some of the crafters were using bread bags and they turned out great! I was wishing they still had the blue Wal Mart bags so we can make some blue plarn.  It so easy to make plarn but I added a video so you can see for yourself just how easy it is!


Our first project was to make little dish scrubbers out of the plarn.  I think our next project will be a plarn bag or purse.  We plan on making water bottle carriers, doll clothes, and an outside rug.   Just type plarn in your search engine and a LOT of thigs will come up!

 Makenzie made a scrubbie and so did I, they are super easy!

Here are a couple of sites that have directions for plarn crafts

Fat Bottom Bag

Dishcloth and plastic scrubbies

Waterbottle Carrier

All American Bag

Plarn rug

New blog name???

Ok ladies and maybe some men out there, I need some help with a new name for my blog.  I've had a couple of people tell me that they thought my blog name was ridiculous because we aren't supposed to try and keep up with the Jones, Wedemeyer's...insert last name here.  I really didn't even think about it like that I was thinking about keeping up with us....staying in contact, etc, because we are so busy.  Someone on Facebook suggested the name Wedeminute, kinda like wait a minute.  Still not sure about it but thought it was a cute idea.  Any ideas out there? 

Cooking with Kenzie-Triple chocolate cake

This is actually super easy because it's made from a box of Duncan Hines Decadent Triple Chocolate Cake.  This was Kenzie's choice for this week though so I'm going with it!  It's REALLY DECADENT, they aren't kidding!!!

Please go check out what Alicia is cookin at A Beautiful Mess for her Tasty Tuesday blog hop and then head on over to Lisa's Tempt My Tummy Tuesday at Blessed with Grace, both of these ladies have been whipping up some yummy goodness in the kitchen!

McLinky Monday-You Tube Swagger Wagon

Ok I know that I've already shared The Swagger Wagon You tube video with all of you BUT the Real Housewives of Oklahoma have a McLinky Monday and this monday is share your favorite You Tube video.  I laugh EVERYTIME I watch Swagger Wagon!  I hope it makes you laugh too!!!