Crockpot Sloppy Joes

Goodmorning!  The kids are outside right now helping Trav clean up the yard and I'm inside cleaning and posting odds and ends on Craigslist (or I'm supposed to be... instead I'm blogging :) ).
A few weeks ago I came across a delicious recipe for Crockpot Sloppy Joes.  It was off of a cooking website... which one I don't remember!

We've had the sloppy joes once a week since I've found the recipe and they are a HIT at our house! 

Make them for your family on a busy night next week!

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Crockpot Sloppy Joes
1 1/2 to 2 pounds ground beef

1/2 onion chopped
1/2 green pepper chopped
1 large can of tomato sauce
1/2 cup water
1/2 cup ketchup
1/4 cup brown sugar
2 tbsp. vinegar

2 tbsp. mustard
1 tbsp. chili powder
1 tbsp. worchestire sauce
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 cup flour

Brown the ground beef, onions and peppers in a skillet.
Once browned put that in a crockpot with the rest of the ingredients.
Cook in the crockpot on low for 6-8 hours.
Serve on buns!

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Time to get back to work! Have a great weekend!

*The other day Emma came up to me wearing a pullup (a clean one :) ) on her head...

love her sense of humor ha!*

Update...

Hello!  I'm still here and still big and pregnant :)  

Where to even begin with what I've been up to.........

Perhaps this picture will be a tad bit of a give away?

Yes...that's a packing box! And yes... we are moving!  

It has been a crazy past few weeks filled with more praying than I've ever done and also more 

de-cluttering and cleaning than I've ever done :)

Travis got a new coaching job as an offensive coordinator (for football) at another school.

The tentative plan is that we'll be moving as soon as school is out in May.

Which means that our sweet little blue cottage is hopefully going on the market some time next week!

It's been so incredible to see how God has orchestrated the turn of events so far.

Some might think we're crazy for putting our house on the market and moving when we have a baby due in a month.  Perhaps it is.

But we both know that God has a perfect plan for our family and we are SO excited to see what it is!!!

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We've been spending quite a bit of our afternoons outside this past week.  

Reason number one-because the weather has been fabulous this week!

Reason number two- to keep the inside of the house clean :)

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I've recruited Emma to help me with a few new chores around the house.

Her newest job is to fold all the washclothes and put them away. 

My plan is to train her to fold ALL the laundry and put it away by the time she's 4...

 just kidding... ha! Wishful thinking :)

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I'm pretty sure Colt is going through a major growth spurt.  The boy could eat ALL day long if I would let him! 

 A few days ago he insisted on wearing a bib for most of the morning.  

Little genius was using it as storage for his snacks :)

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So there you have it.

A short and sweet update of where I've been!  I have a feeling the blog is going to take a back seat for awhile until after Cade is born and we get moved.  I'll do my best to check in a bit more frequently.... but don't hold me to it :)

Hope all is well with you! Have a great Wednesday tomorrow :)

Happy Birthday Grandma!!!

Happy Birthday to Mom/Grandma!

We love you and hope you have a great day!!!

And just a peek back at our Happy Birthday Grandma photo shoot from last year :)
Amazing how much they've grown!!!

Unexpected vacation and Applesauce Pancakes

Goodmorning friends!

What a week this has been!  Tuesday morning started out with school being cancelled due to an ice storm that rolled in.  Travis spent the day home with us and we made sure to pack in lots of movies and lounging around in our pajamas.  Wednesday rolled around and school was cancelled again.... then Thursday and no school... and here it is Friday and school was cancelled again!!!! I have LOVED having Travis home for so many days in a row!  We were laughing because this week has been one day short of being as long as spring break.  What an unexpected treat! :)

We've spent most days in sweatpants and pajamas.  Our little hundred year old cottage has been struggling to stay warm so a lot of our time has been spent snuggled on the couch or in the bed together watching movies on Netflix!  Oh and for those of you who had asked... the Netflix can be accessed right from the internet to our computer.  

From Tuesday until yesterday morning we went without hot water because the pipes were frozen.  I felt a little bit like Ma Ingalls from Little House on the Prairie heating water on the stove for dishes and washing up.  Thursday morning the pipes unfroze and I had the most glorious HOT bath!!!  :)  

Emma and I have also been spending quite a bit of time by the kitchen table together.  She crafts while I've been sewing spring and summer clothes for her!

*Thank you for the stamping set Macey and Ms. Melissa!!!*

This little guy can easily be distracted with the fishing game.  

*And someone had asked the name of it... "Let's go fishin" *

It can get a little wild at times :)

This morning we woke up to quite a bit (at least for here!) of fluffy snow!

After our third pancake breakfast (new recipe below!) of the week we headed outside for a little play time.

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We LOVE pancakes at our house!  Typically I just use a box mix and call it a  day.  On Wednesday I thought I'd try something different and looked up a recipe for Applesauce Pancakes. 

I thought they were VERY delicious!  Travis thought they were okay and said he preferred regular pancakes.  :)  

The serving suggestion was to top with either maple syrup or apple butter.  

Applesauce Pancakes

Ingredients

2 cups dry pancake mix

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon 

2 eggs

• 1 cup applesauce
• 
  
• 1 teaspoon lemon juice (I didnt use any and they were good!)
• 
  
• 1/2 cup milk

Directions

1. In a large bowl, stir together pancake mix and cinnamon. Make a well in the center of the pancake mix. Add the eggs, applesauce, lemon juice and milk; stir until smooth.
2. Heat a lightly oiled griddle or frying pan over medium high heat. Pour or scoop the batter onto the griddle, using approximately 1/4 cup for each pancake. Brown on both sides and serve hot.

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Time to head off of here... my beautician Emma Kate has a beauty parlor set up for me in the other room.  

Wish me luck :)

Have a great weekend!