Weekend Ahhh-way and Crochet, crochet, crochet...

Last weekend Ryan, Naomi and I escaped to the Northwoods to stay at the family cabin in Minocqua and had some much needed "reconnect with the family time".  Naomi really is a good little traveler and we pushed the limits by leaving town around 6 pm so we didn't get to Minocqua until around 8...she then stayed up until almost 10 which is way past her normal bedtime...she slept OK that night but was still up at her early bird 5:00 time so we both were feeling a little cranky that morning.  This is going to sound ridiculous but I don't care, Minocqua has a really nice Wal-mart so I like to stop in when we are in town just to browse around well...apparently my browsing got boring because I lost my shopping partner:

It may or may not have had something to do with getting 2 hours less sleep.  Any who.  We got back to the cabin and then had lunch and we had the TV on in the background and US national of gymnastics or something like that was on and she was GLUED to that TV.  I always loved watching gymnastics when I was younger and still do so that was cute, then she pulled out the sweetest, funniest thing...she looked at Ryan and I to make sure we were watching then did a somersault, rolled across the ground and then stood up and twirled then threw her hands in the air.  So. Stinkin'. Cute.  I literally could have bawled.  My baby is growing up WAY, way, way too fast and catches on to everything.  The rest of the weekend was fairly uneventful, just more crocheting (more on that to come) and a nice walk and just time to enjoy our little family.  It was a very restful weekend up at the cabin.
Here are some silly pics of Nay, she is becoming quite the little poser for pictures! :)

So, I have a bit of an addiction problem.  The first step is admitting it right?  Well, I'll admit it, I'm going to sound a tad crazy but I can't stop crocheting.  It's a real problem.  It is so fun and therapeutic and I can't even put in to words how great it feels to make something out of a literal piece of thread.  So, my dear friend Alice was kind enough to have me over for lunch one day last week and I brought my bag of troubles (an odd assortment of sewing and crocheting related questions) and she helped sort them out with me...and also taught me how to make a hat!!!  How fun is that??  I made one in about an hour and a half and the little pom-pom ball at the top took almost just as long but Naomi REALLY likes her new hat...so OF COURSE I made a matching one for myself so we can be complete dorks and match :)  Whatever, don't judge me - haha.  This is probably doubly bad of me because not only is she my daughter so I obviously think she is the best thing since anything but I also made the hat but I don't know if there is anything cuter than this.  Ahh love, love, love.  It's a very good thing.

I am back on the wagon for recipes, this one I have had in my recipe box for years but never tried, it was super easy and convenient because the crock pot did all the work, I literally came home and boiled some frozen corn and magic supper was ready!

Slow Cooker Tex Mex Chicken and Beans courtesy of Martha Stewart Living (displayed in our "fine china" Naomi's Hello Kitty bowl - haha:

Ingredients

• 1 cup dried pinto beans, rinsed
• 1 jar (11 ounces) mild or medium salsa (1 1/2 cups)
• 2 tablespoons chopped canned chipotle chiles in adobo sauce
• 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 1 1/2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs (about 8)
• Coarse salt and ground pepper
• 1 medium red onion, chopped
• 1 red bell pepper (ribs and seeds removed), chopped
• 1/4 cup reduced-fat sour cream, for serving
• 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro, for serving

Directions

1. In a 5- to 6-quart slow cooker, stir together beans, salsa, chiles, flour, and 1 cup water. Season chicken with salt and pepper; arrange on top of bean mixture. Scatter onion and bell pepper on top of chicken.
2. Cover and cook on low heat for 8 hours. (Do not open lid or stir.)
3. Remove chicken from stew; shred into large pieces and return to stew. Serve topped with sour cream and cilantro.

Things I did differently (because I am horrible at following an actual recipe)  I doubled the amount of chipoltle chilis but that did make it pretty spicy, in addition to the sour cream and cilantro I added chopped up tortilla pieces, cooked corn, black olive and a little cheese - I am from WI.  I really liked it and this made a large enough batch that we ate our dinner and I have some tucked away in the freezer for a lazy day.

My final note of the week, we went to my nephew Ryan's birthday party today - I cannot believe that he is 5 already, I can remember him as a little baby so well.  He was my little snuggle buddy and I could get him to fall asleep so easily. 

Love those kiddos, it's a great to be so close in proximity and relationships to my siblings that we all actually get to know each other's families and the little things that count.  I'll tally that up on my list of things to thank God for tonight at prayers.  I snagged a few candid moments on film that I want to post and share...

I think that this happens often, I am a person that is much more comfortable behind the camera than in front of it but today  I asked my niece Brooke to take a picture of Naomi and I.  Every time that I have a picture taken with Naomi it makes me thankful to be her mommy and makes me think back to my mom and how much I miss her and wish she could see how her family has grown.  It's hard to believe all of the things that have changed since she's been gone.  I was talking about this with my Dad the other day and he told me, which I don't know why it surprised me but coming from him it did, that she does know, that she is watching and that she is proud.  Sweet sentiments that I will carry with me.  Back to the point of the picture, I have VERY few pictures of my mom and myself and I cherish the few that I do have greatly.

Based on the fact that I have so few pictures of my mom and I,  I try to not be so harsh on myself when a picture of Naomi and I is taken because who knows in this crazy world if that photo may someday mean the world to her.  Family is what you grow with, not just until you leave the comfort and safety of your parents home but the relationship with your parents and siblings is constantly evolving and I love the new discoveries that come from that.  So, for anyone reading this whose mother is still with them, please give them an extra hug or I love you because you just never know.  Much love and many blessings :)