2012 Kickoff

This new year has kicked off to a wild start for the Reeder family!  For starters, we sold our house and moved into our new one (yay!).  Our baby, Evan, celebrated his first birthday by walking the day before (where does time go and how did he grow up so fast?!?).  And, we welcomed a new baby into the Reeder family with Ezekiel Jon, born January 1, 2012, to my husband's brother, Joel, and his wife, Kori!  That makes 14 grandkids on the Reeder side!

Just when you think you've got life figured out and by the reins, God always seems to throw another curve-ball at you to keep you on your toes.  This is good, though, right?!?  It keeps us on His path.  We are so grateful to finally be in our new house and I am so thankful I can now be a stay-at-home mom to my busy babies!  Everything about our new home is very different than where we used to call "home".  We have wooded acres on a dirt road in a small town, where it takes 20 minutes to get to a store . . . . as opposed to a house on a small pond in a neighborhood 5 minutes from a major highway and 10 minutes from the grocery store.  Very different, both great in their own ways.  We are, however, embracing the quiet peacefulness and seclusion.  And, of course, dealing with embracing the new challenges that come with our new home.  Like . . . . installing a wood burning stove, installing window treatments, trying to find and purchase a larger lawn tractor, building a closet for our bedroom, adding shelving to all closets, eventually laying gravel in the driveway, building a garage, building a pole barn, building fill in the blank, we probably need to build it.  Some of these projects have already been completed, some are on "the list".  Prayers for endurance would be appreciated :)  Despite all the work that will be involved, we are still happy to call this house "home".  Here is a picture from the loft looking into the backyard.  (I wish the camera didn't leave the glare on the window, but it was too dark not to have the flash on.) LOVE IT!!

And here is a picture of our first fire (minus the not-yet-installed wood burning stove) in our fireplace, the first night we spent at our house . . . cozy, huh?

And in the midst of moving, we celebrated that Evan is now 1!  What?!?  How did that happen?  In the busyness of life, he somehow grew up?  He wasn't supposed to do that! :)  He is such a sweetheart - we are so, so blessed to call him our son.  And he started officially walking the day before his birthday, so he's into even more mischief than before.  He's so excited he can keep up better with his sister that he's already trying to run - LOL!  I must admit, though, that he is getting pretty fast!

Congrats to Joel and Kori on the birth of baby Zeke, born on New Years Day!  Sadly, I just realized I don't even have a picture of him! :(  But I can assure you that he is as cute as can be!  He was 6 lbs when he was born - just a little guy!  So happy to have you in the family, Zeke!

Looking forward to more blessings of craziness in 2012!

Blessings to all,

Andrea

Finished chalkboard window

Well, here it is - the finished "shabby" chalkboard window I was working on!  I think it turned out decent for my first experience with chalk paint.  After the paint dried, the brush strokes were still visible, so I think next time I would use spray paint.  And the tape that was used to tape off the window frame pulled a small area of the chalk paint off of the window while I was removing it.  So I used a razor blade to cut the edge before I pulled the tape off for the rest of the window.  Despite these minor cosmetic flaws, the chalkboard is functional - and definitely "shabby"! :)  I'm somewhat stalling on hanging it since we have our house for sale on the market.  I'm hoping we will sell soon and move so I can hang it in the new house!

Chalkboard Window

There are so many creative crafting ideas out there in blog-land!  I've been finding lots of inspiration.  I recently found a very neat idea at Saving 4 Six for a DIY chalkboard from a "shabby" window.  It looks super easy and creative, so I thought I'd give it a whirl.  I picked up this window for $15 at a local barn sale.  I love it!

Instead of using spray paint chalkboard paint, I decided to try the brush-on paint.  Not sure how it will turn out compared to the spray paint, but I'm going to give it a shot.  My mom helped me with the project and with watching the kids.  (Thanks, Mom!)  At first, I tried to skip the part where you tape off the frame . . . I thought I would be REALLY careful.  Yep, this didn't work.  I only had a big, fat, foam brush to brush the paint on, and it just wasn't working very well.  My mom helped clean up the frame and then taped off the rest of the window so it would be easier to paint.  MUCH better!

One coat applied

The directions on the paint jar said to apply two coats, waiting one hour in between coats.  After the first coat, I was a little nervous because I tried to blend the brush strokes as best I could, but could still see them.  :(  I guess this is why spray paint might have been better?

I'm going to let it dry for the recommended 24 hours and see how it looks . . . . I'll keep you posted!  Keep your fingers crossed!

Spaghetti Pie

It appears I have a pie theme going on?  My previous post was all about mini apple pies.  My new favorite dinner recipe lately is a dish my mom brought over a couple weeks ago.  The kids, hubby, and I loved it and can't seem to get enough of it!  And it's quick and easy - bonus!

Oooey-gooey cheesy yummy-ness - Spaghetti Pie!

Here's what you need:
6 oz. spaghetti
1/2 c. grated parmesan cheese
1 lb. ground beef (I used our recently acquired venison!)
1 c. cottage cheese
3 Tbsp. butter
1/2 c. chopped onion
1 (8 oz.) jar spaghetti sauce
1/2 block mozzarella cheese, cut into thick slices
Italian seasoning, to taste
salt, to taste
pepper, to taste

Cook the spaghetti until tender and drain.  Stir butter into spaghetti.  Add parmesan cheese and toss until mixed.  Form spaghetti mixture into a crust in a dish.

Brown the ground beef and onion.  (I actually used dried onion).  Drain off excess fat.  Stir in spaghetti sauce, italian seasoning, salt and pepper and heat.  Spread the cottage cheese over the top of the spaghetti crust.  Top with the meat mixture.  Place the hunks of mozzarella on top.  Bake, uncovered, at 350 degrees for 20 minutes.

 Here's the proof that this meal was a crowd pleaser . . .

Abby:  "I love spaghetti!"

Happy to have a full tummy and be messy - pure delight!

. . . . . And then it was bath time :)

Mini Apple Pies

Our family made a trip to the orchard this fall and I still had a huge bag of apples left over, even after my batch of applesauce and apple bread.  I wanted to find something different to make with it and I found this amazing recipe for bite-size apple pies at the Lady with the Red Rocker.  Did I mention I love bite size snacks?  And I have to tell you that I was not disappointed!

This is all you need!

1/2c. sugar
2 tsp. cinnamon
1 pkg (2 crusts) refrigerated pie crust
3 tbsp. melted butter
2 medium apples, cut and peeled into 8 wedges (I used Jonathan apples)


Preheat the oven to 425 degrees.  Mix the sugar and cinnamon in a bowl.  Cut the pie crust into 8 strips.  Coat each strip with melted butter and sprinkle with the cinnamon sugar mixture.  Wrap each apple slice into the crust by rolling it up.  I also coated my apple slices with the cinnamon sugar mix - you know, just to make sure they had enough :).

Getting all bundled up for the oven!

Place each apple pie onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.  Coat the tops with more melted butter and sprinkle with more cinnamon sugar mix.  Bake for 10-13 min.

All lined up ready for baking!

My little helper :)

Here it is finished!  A quick, easy and yummy little treat!  I bet it would be perfect with a scoop of vanilla ice cream?  And a cup of coffee?

HAPPY BAKING!  ENJOY!

Easy Angel Costume

Last week, my sister-in-law asked if I'd have enough time to put together an angel costume for my sweet  niece, Olivia.  It couldn't be that hard, right? I was right!  So super easy!  The materials were provided by my SIL . . . she picked out white satin fabric (2 yds.) and silver sequin ribbon.  Here's how I made it (minus the wings and halo):

First, I measured Olivia.
          chest - 32"
          length - 41" from shoulder to ankle
          arm - 21" from shoulder to wrist

I unfolded the fabric and re-folded each side onto the center fold (this allowed me to use less fabric in order to have enough length).  Using half of her chest measurement, I measured from the fold and cut two pieces (for the front and the back).

Then I cut the length.

I used a T-shirt as a guide for my pattern.  I cut the width according to my measurements, allowing an extra inch or two for the seam.  I wanted the costume to be a little big so she could wear warm clothes underneath for trick-or-treating :) My chest measurement was 32", so the front and back needed to be about 18" each.  I took approximately half of that measurement and used 11" for my width for the pattern.

Using my arm length measurement, I used the T-shirt again as a guide for the sleeves.

I hemmed the neckline for the front and the back, then attached the two pieces together making a shoulder seam and the side seam with RIGHT sides together.

I attached the long side of the sleeves with RIGHT sides together.

 To attach the sleeves onto the body, I found it easiest to turn the sleeve back to RIGHT SIDE OUT and slide the sleeve into the body (the body should still be INSIDE OUT).  Line up the seam of the sleeve with the side seam of the body and pin.  Pin the sleeve all the way around the arm hole and stitch.

After both sleeves are attached, I turned the whole costume right side out.  I hemmed the sleeves and the bottom to finish the edges.  To give it a little sparkle, I added the silver sequin ribbon around the neckline and the bottom of the sleeves.  I've never sewn on sequins before, but I just stitched it right onto the fabric on each side of the ribbon - it was so much easier than I thought it would be!

And . . . voila!  Nothing fancy, but sweet and simple!

 I can't wait to see it with wings!

I'm BAAACK!

Geez, it's been so long since I've written a blog, I had to give myself a tutorial for the website!  What a busy summer!  Lots has happened since my last blog for Evan's dedication, I don't know where to begin.  The kids are getting so big - Evan will be 9 months on the 19th and is now crawling everywhere and pulling up standing next to, um, everything!  And of course getting into all sorts of new trouble :)

Abby turned 2 years old on September 4, and started dance classes this year.  She loves it!  I was worried she would be too young, but she does so good!

We had a great summer swimming and riding our bikes together.  Jeremy and I both got new bikes and bought a pull-behind trailer for the kids.  They have fun sitting next to each other riding on the trails and around the neighborhood.

We also took a vacation to Hocking Hills, OH late June.  We had a great time with Jeremy's family, where most of us stayed in a huge log cabin that we rented.  So nice!  Jason and Julie stayed in a nearby campground with their 6 kids.  It was so nice to spend that time together!  We made a day trip to the Columbus Zoo, which the kids loved!

Jeremy's youngest brother, Jonathan, and his wife, Kelly, got married July 9th.  A beautiful wedding in Holland on a scorching hot day!  At least it didn't rain!  Welcome to our family, Kelly!  We are so blessed to call you a sister now!

A more sad event was the passing of my grandmother, Rosemary Zaskiewicz.  She was 85 and had been in poor health the past few years.  In and out of the hospital on a regular basis, we all knew she wouldn't live much longer.  On September 27th, she passed peacefully at St. Mary's Hospital after a lethal diagnosis of pneumonia.  It gives me peace to know that she is in a better place and no longer suffering.

We recently put our house on the market for sale, as well.  I'm feeling lead toward being a stay-at-home mom, and we can't afford to stay in our house on one income.  It is bittersweet, since we built our house together.  There are so many memories here, from staying here for the first time on our wedding night to bringing home both of our children to this house.  All the meals cooked and shared, the laughs, the cries, the prayers, the birthday parties, Christmas parties, and the list goes on.  Pray that we can sell quickly and move onto the newest chapter in our lives!