Settling In...

We're settling in. We have found the Target and the Publix. We've played in the beach (South Beach, at that!) and two different playgrounds. I've driven to the boys' school to see if I could find it. (It takes about 30 minutes to get there, even though it isn't that far away.) I've driven on the freeway down here and despite getting cut off by a police man I think we survived. (The whole "monkey bus" cheered when I crossed four lanes of traffic in less than a mile to make it to the Dunkin' Donuts exit!)

The church is just fine. They've been very generous to us and have helped us move in. Chris was installed last Sunday and the service was nice. We were blessed that an old pastor friend was able to come down and do the sermon for the service. It was nice to see a familiar face. The parsonage is lovely and it is about twice the house we used to have. While I'm loving all the neat little details of this house (hardwood floors, huge master closet, gigantic kitchen, and hot tub in the Florida room) it just occurred to me that it will be twice the effort to keep clean!!
The yard is huge and full of all sorts of tropical fruit trees.. so I can use any recipes for mangoes and avocados. It is also full of all sorts of new and exciting creatures from crab spiders and locusts to lizards and iguanas.
The boys are enjoying the extra spaces to play and Aaron loves that he doesn't have to share his bedroom anymore. They've enjoyed riding their bikes and scooters in the church parking lot. We have to wait until just about bedtime to ride bikes, though, because it is so warm during the day.

Well, I'm off to break down another box...

We're Here!

We made it!! We are in our new house and loving it!
Our trip down was uneventful, for which we are thankful.
Most of our things made it out of the moving van unscathed. Some things now have a scar from moving, but a little of that is expected, I guess.
When we were almost here we turned off the turnpike because it was so crowded, thinking we could find our way. (Hhhhaaaaaaaaaahahhhhhhahaha...) We stopped to use the restrooms and to ask for directions, but in the traffic hubby went one way and I went another. Then I saw him zip by and I followed him. I called him on the cell phone and said, "OK, I'm right behind you." Then I did get right behind him at a stop light. Hey, where is all the stuff in the back? Hey, where is my son? Hey, That isn't my husband!! That's right I followed somebody else's husband for miles out of my way.
Anyway, tell me why it is that when you are lost you are never lost in a gated community? I always find myself lost in THAT section of town. You know tattoo parlors, half dressed women, bars on the windows and stores that D asked what kinds of "toys" they were selling.
Phew, anyway. We're here.

MOOOOOO

Ving Day!! Please pray for safe travel and smooth transitions!!

Did You Miss Me?

We're home from a spectacular vacation...
I know you want to see some pictures, but I'm going to bed!! The next few days will be busy, busy, crazy busy, but I'm going to try to get some photos up.

WFMW: 5 or Less Recipes

Now, who doesn't love a quick recipe? I really love a recipe that has just a few already-in-your-cupboard ingredients. And, hey, I don't mind if it is tasty, too!

This week's Works for Me Wednesday entry is for recipes that have 5 or less ingredients, so here are a few of my favorites and for an apple dip I've not tried yet, but boy it looks yummy! Shannon, over at Rocks in My Dryer has more recipes links you'll want to try!

Toffee Apple Dip

1/2 bag of Heath Toffee Bits

1 block of Cream Cheese

1 tablespoon Vanilla

1 cup of sugar

1 cup of brown sugar

Mix well and serve with green apples soaked in pineapple juice.

Meatball Bubble Biscuits

can of biscuits (12 oz can), each biscuit separated in half

10 frozen meatballs, thawed and cut in half (gasp! I never eat these things, I am a homemade meatball kinda gal, but for this recipe they really work!)

2 sticks of string cheese (cut into 10 pieces)

Italian seasoning & garlic powder & Parmesan cheese (Look, if I write it all on one line you can count that as one ingredient, right?)

Marinara sauce

Preheat oven to 375. Squash each biscuit half flat and thin. Place a meatball half and a piece of string cheese into the biscuit half and seal it up. Place it seam side down into a round, ungreased pan. Sprinkle the tops with Italian seasoning & garlic powder & Parmesan cheese. Bake 20-25 minutes. Serve with marinara sauce for dipping.

Butter Pecan Bundt Cake

1 box of butter pecan cake mix

1 can of coconut pecan icing

3 eggs

3/4 cup oil

1 cup water

Put all ingredients in a bowl and stir until moistened. Then beat with a mixer for 2 minutes. Pour into a greased and floured bundt pan. Bake at 350 for 50 minutes or until done. Cool for 15 minutes and flip onto plate. FABULOUSLY moist and delicious.

Fruit Tea

Make tea using 12 cups of water and 9 tea bags. Stir in 1 1/2 cups of sugar. Let cool and add 1 12 ounce can of lemonade concentrate and 1 12 ounce can of pineapple orange juice concentrate.

Zoo Food

Dried banana chips ~monkey food

Craisins (dried cranberries) ~bear food

Goldfish crackers ~crocodile food

Sunflower seeds ~bird food

Serve the zoo food in a flat-bottomed ice cream cone.

CHEESE DANISH

Ingredients:

2-8 ounce cans of crescent rolls

1-8 ounce package of cream cheese ( not low-fat )

1 cup sugar

1 egg

1 tsp almond or vanilla extract

cinnamon and sugar (I'm not counting those as "ingredients" since they are just sprinkled on and not measured ;) )

Filling: Beat together cream cheese, egg, sugar and extract. Butter or spray a 9x13 and spread a can of the rolls in prepared pan and up the sides, being sure to close all seams. Pour filling into the crust and then cover with the other can of crescent rolls. Seal well and sprinkle with cinnamon and sugar. Bake at 350* for about 20 minutes

Amish Chicken and Noodles

cooked, chopped chicken (1 cup to 2 cups)

1 can cream of mushroom soup

1 to 2 cans chicken broth (depends how much "gravy" you like.)

cooked noodles (I cook up a whole bag)

mashed potatoes

Mix the cooked chicken, mushroom soup and broth and simmer. Stir in the cooked noodles. Season to your liking (salt, pepper, garlic, parsley) and serve it over the mashed potatoes.

*I know, I know. Isn't that a carb nightmare? Why, yes it is, but just trust me on this. Yummy... And go eat your salad!!