Recipe

So I am stealing this from another friends blog.. (hope you don't mind Krista)... she posted some recipes that she has made with success... so.. since I am stuck home with my foot... wheeling around on my knee walker while I heal (yeah.. i feel old)... I have had some time in the kitchen while the twins nap and have made some yummy dinners... here is one that I have now made a few times.. Mike likes it.. Brev likes it and I have made it for two friends and their families and they all loved it... so I have to share!!

Mexican Goulosh

1 pound lean hamburg
1 small onion chopped
1 packet taco seasoning
1 small can tomato paste + 2 empty cans (tomato paste can) of water
1 can corn drained
1 can black beans.. drained and rinsed
1/2 lb cooked macaroni noodles - drain but do not rinse.. need that starch to mix well
2 cups.. generous cups of shredded cheese  :o)

Brown 1 lb ground lean hamburg with one small chopped onion (drain any grease) in a large skillet pan... then add one packet of taco seasoning and stir well

In a seperate bown mix together one small can of tomato paste with two empty cans full of water... pour over Hamburg mixture and stir well... add one can of corn (drained first) and then one can of Black Beans (drained and rinsed first).. beans are optional... the recipe calls for it but I have made it without and it is just as yummy!!  Then add 1/2 lb cooked and drained (do not rinse) macaroni noodles... stir
Then add 2 cups of shredded cheddar cheese... stir well till melted and then serve!!

This makes a HUGE amount so make sure you use a BIG skillet pan!!
Hope you enjoy!!

2011

 2011.... it always amazes me when I look back on a year how FULL that year was.. I tend to think I have a boring life but when I look back.. I cannot believe all that we pack into a year!  I have tried and tried again and again to organize my pictures in the time that they happened but my computer is not letting me do this.. so the pictures are NOT in order at all.. .but here is what we did throughout 2011.. and I know I forgot a few things!



I went on an amazing trip to Boca Raton, FL with an awesome friend!!



We went to Frankenmuth!



Had Easter at our house this year!









Playing at the waterpark at Kensington









We went to the annual Balloon Festival.. is you haven't been to this...you really should go.. SO much to do and SO much fun!

 

We made it out to my Uncle Dave's who lives on a lake for a family gathering

 

We went back to the Wisconsin Dells with some friends... SUCH a good time... we literally have so much fun that I cry when I have to leave!




Brevin drove a race car!!!





I did a TON of canning with my good friend... so much fun to do!






Brevin turned 7 and had a birthday party at the RollerRink!



Brevin started Football.. and although I wasn't thrilled about it.. I ended up LOVING it.. I was team mom and we met such wonderful people... what a fun season!



 



Brev broke his left arm and Mike pulled his tendon on his left arm... Picture of them both with bad arms!



Surgery on my left foot

The Twins turned TWO!!

Blue is getting older but still hanging with us!

Our family, Christmas 2011

Brev played t-ball in the spring




My lilac bush in memory of Troy was georgous this year!







We celebrated my Mom's 60th Birthday with a surpise party in Ludington!! The best part.. watching her dance with her Dad!!



We finally got a Memorial for Troys grave... a bit of closure but he is still thought of and missed EVERY single day!



Alex got tubes put in his ears... August



Playing in the orchard!



First Haircut.. Ian





Brevin broke his arm in Football


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Alex's first haircut




We went to a Nascar Race





Ian got tubes put in his ears also.. October





Mike got his first deer!



Brevin trying to find that perfect pumpkin!







Winter Wonderland.. loving it!

Our Back Yard

I love this winter weather we are having... looks like Christmas outside!! We got a lot of snow this past Tuesday night so soon as I took Brev to the bus stop.. I hurried home and got the twins all dressed up to go outside and have some fun in the snow!  They tried to ride their bikes but that didn't work... Alex was a little timid about the snow... he walked around in it but would fall and would not get up.. he didn't want to touch the snow.. eventhough he had gloves on... it was so cute.  So after some time of walking him around and picking him up after he would fall.. Ian was about 5 feet infront of me.. I was focused on Alex at the moment.. getting him to get up and wiping snow off his gloves and when I looked to see what Ian was doing.. he had his hat off.. his gloves off.. his coat zipped half way down and his boots were off and he was walking through the front yard with only socks on laughing! Oh boy..only Ian!! He was so mad when I took him into the house... so our whole experience of the winter snow only lasted about 1/2 hour.... I got some good pictures though!!

The snow was so heavy that it split our bush in half!

Ian trying to ride his bike

Alex on his bike

Alex and Ian in the snow!

Alex

Ian

Alex and Ian

Our back yard

Our Side Yard