10 Stumpfs on 16 Wheels

This year we decided to forgo buying our annual zoo pass and put the money toward a trailer for the van. We've enjoyed hauling out bikes all over our county and beyond on 4-H rides and some impromptu tours. Bryan does more than his share of hauling - carrying the three youngest in front and behind. Nothing like an extra 100 pounds when going uphill!

Ready to take on Turkey Run State Park

Hunter tries out the "Kermit" seat. We've since put him in the trailer with Brigitta and put Heidi up front to help stear.

Jacob ditched the training wheels this past weekend.

Cozy quarters in the caboose!

Menu Plan Monday - June 8, 2009

What a wonderful summery weekend we just enjoyed! This is my favorite time of year – warm days and cool nights. We start swim lessons this week for five swimmers from Brigitta to Ted.

Emelie is teaming up with our friends’ oldest daughters to watch Heidi and Hunter as well as their two little ones. As a bonus, the girls plan to have lunch ready when we drag through the door. Two 13-year-olds and one 11-year-old preparing lunch for 19 people! They even planned the lunches and provided the moms with shopping lists. Makes me a little teary to see good organization in the younger generation!

And in the midst of everything, this is what the Stumpfs will be enjoying this week:

Monday – Ham & Bean Stew (crockpot), Cornbread

Tuesday (Dad Night Meeting, 4-H) – Hot Chili Cheese Dip, Fritos, Fruit

Wednesday – Turkey Ranch Wraps with Homemade Tortillas (Family Favorite!)

Thursday – Ham & Noodle Casserole, Broccoli

Friday – Bible Study: we’re serving Tacos!

Saturday – Cheese Enchiladas, Black Beans, Salad

Let me know if you’d like a recipe!
Lainie

Streamlined Baby Changing

Hunter currently sleeps in the master walk-in closet, and will until he sleeps well enough to not disturb his brothers. I had kept his clothes near his crib, while his changing pad was on our dresser in the bedroom. This was an OK solution, but it did present problems when I realized a new outfit was called for after the changing process had already begun. And then I had those lovely situations when the outfit ended up so disgusting that I didn't even know where to safely put it while decontaminating the baby.

A few weeks ago we moved Hunter's "closet" into the laundry room. Look at how happy he is about it! Now I can place dirty clothes into the sorting bins and revolting clothes directly into a washer. Sad side note: About 5 minutes before I took this shot, one of my washers gave up the ghost by blowing a transmission. It was unexpected and sudden. We are in mourning. >sigh<

Diapers, wipes, and all his various creams are at the ready. Things stored in tubs are a wonderful canvas for my label-maker!

Bryan installed this shelf to double as a clothing rack. He is so patient with my organizational rampages.

Simple Drink Recipe - Horchata

Since we have Mexican inspired food at least once a week around here, a few years back I went searching for a good Horchata recipe. For the uninitiated, Horchata is a drink readily available in the Mexican restaurants of Southern California (our homeland). Delicious and refreshing!

Little did I know the labor that went into this refreshment: grinding rice and almonds, letting it stand overnight, draining through cheesecloth - not something I'm going to labor through on a regular basis.

Eventually I did find a great recipe for "faux" Horchata. Meghan (9) whipped up two batches for dinner last night which was promptly sucked down by the horde, followed by demands for more.

Horchata Stumpf-Style

2 C Milk

2 C Water

1/2 C Sugar

1/4 tea. Cinnamon

1/2 tea. Vanilla

Blend and enjoy!

This is also great in a pinch when you need to "stretch" the last of the milk in the jug for dinner :-
)

Lainie

Project Complete - Sampler Afghan

Three weeks ago I started crocheting an afghan after being inspired bya free pattern from Knit and Crochet Today. Tuesday afternoon, I finished this fun project for the girls’ room. I haven’t done much else these last few weeks, but it was so much fun that I’ve already purchased the yarn to make another one!

After finishing the 12 blocks


The finished product!

Product Review - Tell Me More Spanish

We recently purchased a new Spanish computer program for Emelie (13) and Teddy (11). It was time since our Rosetta Stone software was the oldest version and we’d misplaced the second disc years ago.

I came across Tell Me More through the Homeschool Buyers Coop. It seemed like a good value, so we decided to go for it. So far, Emelie is loving it. She says every time she works on it how she likes it so much more than Rosetta Stone.
I purchased the older version to save $$. The newer version has different buying options. Check out a demo here.

Here are the highlights:

Covers reading, writing, listening, speaking, vocabulary, grammar, and culture (RS focuses on the first 4). "Culture" even includes geography.

The most powerful speech recognition technology available, allowing you to improve your pronunciation

Most extensive offer on the market with 950 hours of Spanish learning
4 levels included: Complete Beginner, Beginner, Intermediate and Advanced. (RS is one level for a comparable price)

Learn Spanish in an interactive and engaging way with more than 5,000 exercises and 37 types of activities (RS exercises are all the same)

Headset included - my children say they feel like airplane pilots

Easy to track the student's progress.

Easy to install. I was even able to network the database.

While it is pricey, I love an educational program that the children are enjoying during their summer free time.

Lainie

Menu Plan Monday - June 1, 2009

Whoops! Running a little behind this week. I’ve crashed early the past couple nights (an unheard-of event), so my blog-time didn’t happen. Below are two recipes requested by Lisa from last week’s MPM. Hope you enjoy – we sure did!

Beef ‘n Bean Torta
1 lb. ground beef
1 small onion, chopped
1 can (15 oz.) pinto or black beans, drained
1 can (10 oz.) diced tomatoes and green chilies, undrained
1 can (2.25 oz.) sliced black olives, drained
1 ½ tea. Chili powder
½ tea. Salt
1/8 tea. Pepper
4 flour tortillas (8 inches)
1 C (4 oz.) shredded cheddar cheese
Salsa, sour cream, lettuce, tomato, cilantro

Cut four 20 in. x 3 in. strips of heavy-duty foil; crisscross so they look like spokes of a wheel. Place strips on the bottom and up the sides of a 5 qt. slow cooker. Coat strips with nonstick cooking spray.

In a skillet, cook beef and onion, drain. Stir in beans, tomatoes, olives, and spices. Layer meat mixture, cheese, and tortillas ending with tortilla and cheese.

Cover and cook on low for 4-5 hours. Using foil as handles, remove the stack to a serving platter. Serve with toppings. Yield: 4 servings

Stumpf Notes: We tripled this recipe (heavier on the beans, lighter on the meat). I baked them in round cake pans at 350 for about 30 minutes. To please the more particular eaters, I pureed the tomatoes and chilies so no offending chunks were present.

Waffle Fry Nachos
1 pkg (22 oz.) frozen waffle fries
10 bacon strips, cooked and crumbled
3 green onions, sliced
1 can (6 oz.) sliced black olives
1 medium tomatoes, chopped
2/3 C salsa
1 ½ C shredded cheddar
1 ½ C shredded Montery Jack
Sour Cream

Bake fried according to package directions. Transfer to a 10-inch over-proof skillet. Top with the bacon, onions, olives, tomatoes, salsa, and cheeses. Return to the oven for 5 minutes until cheese is melted. Serve with sour cream. Yield: 6-8 servings.

Stumpf Notes: I couldn’t find Waffle Fries as Super Wal-Mart. I’ll look at a regular grocery store when I get the chance! (Bryan was gone that night so we ended up eating frozen pizza while watching a movie.)

And here is what the Stumpfs will be enjoying this week:

Monday (Lainie night meeting) – Tomato Soup and Grilled Cheese

Tuesday (Bryan night meeting) – Taco Salad

Wednesday (4-H/Bryan night meeting) – Franks n’ Beans, Corn Pudding

Thursday (Bryan night meeting) – Sandwich Braid

Friday (Lainie night meeting) – Sour Cream Beef & Beans

Saturday – Spaghetti & Meatballs, Breadsticks, Salad

Let me know if you’d like any recipes!
Lainie