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

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 :)

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!

A Dedication and Mama Returns!

Tonight, Jeremy and I dedicated our son, Evan, to the Lord at the evening church service.  We did Abby as a baby, too.  Evan blesses us everyday with his smiles and gentle spirit, and we can't wait to raise him to know our Savior, Jesus Christ!  And how awesome it was to feel the Holy Spirit within us as the congregation prayed over us!  May the Lord continue to bless us and guide us as we raise our children according to His word.  After the service, we had everyone over for pizza and cake.  Fun for us and all the kids loved playing with their cousins, aunts, uncles, and grandparents!  Thanks, everyone, for your love, support, and prayers!

 Can't seem to get a good shot of Abby cooperating for the camera :(

 But she loves her cousin, Ruby!

On another note, we witnessed the mama rabbit returning to nurse her baby bunnies (see previous post)!  Yay!  We were even able to catch a quick snap shot.

Playhouse fun

The kids and I met with Aunt Julie and cousin Zaria today for a play date at DeAnna's Playhouse in Holland.  For those of you who have never been there, it is like the treehouse at River Town Crossings Mall times, like, 20.  We had only been once before, but both forgot our cameras that first time.  There are so many things for the kids to play with and the kids love it!  Among the many toys there, they have a pretend bank, construction site, store, house, a music room, an art room, a stage complete with dress up costumes, and a room especially for babies!  They also have a designated area to eat your packed lunch with complimentary coffee, baggies with cheerios for the kiddos, and magazines.  I made sure to bring the camera today to get a few quick snapshots.

Thanks, Julie and Zaria, for the fun morning!

It's a start

First things first - let me tell you a little about myself and my family.  I am a twenty-something year old married to the man of my dreams, Jeremy.  We had a speedy courtship - we met and were engaged within 4 months and married 6 months later.  During our engagement, we built a lovely home together, from the ground up.  I remember someone telling me during that time, "If you can build a house together, you can do anything together!"  That person had a lot of wisdom!  Those 6 months we built our house were some of the most busy, stressful months of our relationship!

Thankfully, we made it through and decided we still wanted to get married - lol!  We were married December 6, 2008 in a winter wonderland :)  I prayed so hard the weeks before the wedding for there to be soft, fairytale-like snow falling, and that is exactly what God gave us!  It was absolutely beautiful!

Soon after the wedding, we were blessed to find out we were pregnant with our daughter, Abigail.  She was born September 4, 2009.  Not long after she was born (I think she was 8 months), we found out we were going to have another addition to our family!  Evan was born January 19, 2011. 

What a whirlwind of the past couple of years!  I can say, though, that they have been the best 3 years of my life!  I believe that God has brought Jeremy and I together for great purposes,  and by relying solely on His ultimate timing and wisdom, we have been blessed beyond measure!