Oh Dang

Now I'm craving a big juicy burger.

I've been doing so well lately.

Geez.

Thanks, Pioneer Woman.

WARNING: You are about to look at the prettiest, tastiest looking burgers on the planet.

Delicious Disaster

We went to TCBY with some friends the other night.

It was already past bedtime.

Our little outing was a complete disaster whole lot of fun. :)

Let's just say the kids were loud, they didn't want to listen, they were running into the parking lot and around the building. There was wrestling (mostly on my kids' part) and there was a lot of sticky mess.

We, or at least I, could have gotten easily irritated, but instead we laughed it off.

We're making summer memories. Fun ones and chaotic ones.

*The pictures below do not reflect the disaster.*

What did I learn from this little trip to TCBY? 

1. Kids will be kids. They aren't perfect and I can't expect them to be.

2. Relax

3. Making memories is worth the chaos.

4. This is a big one--  Do NOT order the rainbow cream flavor for my kids EVER again.

WATER

We have been playing in the sprinkler a lot this summer. We have 2 awesome kiddy sprinkler things that attach to the hose and make things extra fun for the kiddos.

Today we are having, what seems to be, the first dreary day of the summer, so i'm missing those sprinkler attachments right about now.

Toddler are so darn cute when they are wet :)

Yummy summer dip, salad, condiment.... whatever you want it to be :)

Thought I would share a quick, easy, and healthy recipe from my kitchen.

We will call it "Schluchter Caviar". I think it has a great ring to it :)

Ingredients:
1 can black beans- drained and rinsed
1 can black eyed peas- drained and rinsed
1 lrg can sweet corn- drained
1 bell pepper- finely chopped
1 -2  jalapeno peppers (hardly any heat with one, nice kick-but not too spicy- with 2)- finely chopped
1 small or 1/2 large red onion- finely chopped
1/2 bunch green onion- chopped
1 handful of cilantro- chopped
juice of 3 limes
3 tablespoons of olive oil
1/4 cup of red wine vinegar
sea salt and pepper to taste

mix these ingredients together and chill for at least 2 hours before serving.

Leftovers are even more delicious!

Serve with tortilla chips, frito's scoops (my fave), pita chips, etc

OR

Eat as a salad, top tacos or nachos, put in a sandwich wrap.

I like multi- purpose foods. Don't you???

(Apologies- the picture is a little blurry!)

The Recipe makes a lot more than this picture shows.

This is leftover from a weekend party.

It's still DELICIOUS!

P.S. It compliments a margarita nicely!

New Home

Don't get too excited. I'm not about to show you pics of our new home.  I haven't really taken many. (But don't worry. There will be a house post soon!)

It's fun having a new home and getting to make it your own.  There are lots of projects to be done, lots of things that need to be bought. The thing is, we don't have a lot of time and we definitely have a budget. So, it will be a long while, I'm sure, before our house is the way we want it...before it really reflects our style.

I came across THIS blog today.

I could move right in her house and be happy. The decor is ME. So, if you have ever wondered what my style is, this would be it.

I'm inspired.

....if only money grew on trees :)

A girl can dream, right??

P.S. Look what I bought this past week at a garage sale! Currently deciding what color to paint it.

It's an old school desk. 

((Maybe I should have taken a pic with it right side up. Oh well.))

Maybe I'll do something like this...

Photo found HERE

Maybe in turquoise...or orange....or green.

TYPICAL

Just wanted to share a typical chain of events from the Schluchter household.  Can any of you relate?

two cute boys hiding with each other under a blanket. playing nicely. it makes a mother's heart glad. :)

looks like it might be getting a little rough under there...

yep. full blown war. 

children surface.

one child looking guilty, the other in pain.

Happens all the time.

Can't we just play nicely?!?

Ups, Downs, Uncertainties

This past month has been.... well, i don't really have a word for it.... so, I'll just say, crazy.

In the last month we have packed up our lives and moved from Birmingham, AL to Omaha, NE.

We spent two weeks trying to settle in and establish a new normal.

Then a storm came. A life storm.

My brother- in- law went to be with Jesus.

My sweet family, especially my sister, has experienced great heart ache in the last couple of weeks.

We went back to Birmingham to walk along side my family through this gut wrenching pain.

We watched my sister endure something I never thought life would bring her way.

We watched her transform to be more like Jesus - and become more in love with Him.

We watched God's faithfulness, comfort, peace, strength, and even joy fall on all of us.

We left Birmingham, again, to go back to Omaha. (this time was even harder than the last)

My biggest fear about moving has/is happening.

I wasn't at home when tragedy struck. I'm not at home to help pick up the pieces. I'm not able to physically be with them to encourage them and lift their spirits. I'm having to grieve without the people who relate most by my side. It's hard.

We made it back to Omaha just in time for Noah's 2nd Bday. (pics in the post below)

We're grateful to already have "family" here to help us celebrate life.

We were able to have a super fun, last minute planned party with people we love.

We have had a weekend full of parties and get togethers, and I don't feel alone.  (That's a blessing!)

We don't know what the future holds, but this we know for sure... our God is faithful. He provides. He has a plan. And in the midst of this storm, He is already proving it. And, we will praise His great name.

**I'll share more about my awesome sister and brother- in- law in time, but for now, read about him.  God is using his life, still, here on this earth as he rests in the arms of his Savior.**

My sweet brother- in -law, Dr. Ben Wadsworth