Tuesday, April 25, 2006

who lives in YOUR neighborhood?

Someone sent me the most beneficial weblink the other day...

The website was created by John Walsh, the man who created and hosted "America's Most Wanted" after his son was abducted back in the 80's.
It has the National Sex Offenders Registry, completely updated, and in map form...so you can type in your address and find out who lives in your area. It has mug photos of the offenders and tells what their crime was.
They will also update you by e-mail if an offender moves into or out of your area. We just got an e-mail yesterday about a woman who moved down the street from us. Her offense did not involve a child, but I still showed her picture to the kids and explained that they needed to stay away from that house. Nicole then told me late yesterday evening that she saw the lady driving by.
Anyway, I figured all of you with children would appreciate the link:




P.S. Don't forget:
Psalm 5:11
But let all who take refuge in [Him] be glad; let them ever sing for joy. [He will]spread [His] protection over them, that those who love [His] name may rejoice in [Him].

Thursday, April 20, 2006

chloe sings emma a song...

chloe likes to sing, she likes to sing all the time, she likes to sing very random silly songs all the time... here's one from her latest album, written just for emma, on the fly... :)

emma notices her own hand...

this is sooo funny:

some funny faces at the bailey house...




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Tuesday, April 18, 2006

Easter, our way...

We spent Easter with our friends Noelle & Jon and Holly & Jason out at the Big Griggs...what a beautiful home.

We had our annual "Leaven Hunt" in leiu of the traditional Easter Egg Hunt...

Basically, we, the parents, wrap up small bits of bread in pretty plastic wrapped with ribbon, signifying "sin" with it's attractive enticements.

We use yeast bread, because the Bible talks of how "even a little yeast can work it's way through the whole dough..." which is what unconfessed sin will do in us.

We then hide the sin around the yard, and the children hunt it down!

They then bring the sin to us and turn it in for presents, signifying the mercy, grace and blessings that God gives us when we humble ourselves and confess our sin and recognize and turn from it.

We then burn the "sin" to signify that it has been taken away for good.

We have been wiped clean and made anew.

As Christians, we walk this road daily, and it is not always so "fun", but it is so neat to see it reinforced in such a creative way and to appreciate the grace and mercy we are given that we do not deserve...



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The Big Griggs beautiful home...

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Jon and Noelle telling the story of the leaven...





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Looking for sin...





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We don't hide it too much, because sin is easily found when sought...





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(Nicole in her new birthday outfit...)





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Maggie Griggs turning in some sin...




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Chloe gets a gift...




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They each got a new kite to fly...




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Chloe and Brennah





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My beautiful daughter...




"If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness."

I John 1:8,9

Happy Easter Everyone.

surfer chick...

Emma is finally old enough for surfin'...



Thank you Jake, Alisa and Roger for the playmat!!!




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Nicole's 10th Birthday

Saturday was Nicole's 10th Birthday! I can't believe she is that old already! It feels like just yesterday that I brought her home from the hospital... Wow.
We have a tradition that the birthday person gets to pick the dinner menu for their birthday dinner, so, of course, Nini picked Red Beans and Rice...our little cajun queen...(when she was two and we were visiting the fam in New Orleans, she traded her scrambled eggs for Aunt Flora's seafood gumbo...yeah...TWO...yeah...SEAFOOD GUMBO... :)
So, I started the beans the night before, and cooked them half of Saturday, and then.... I burned them. On to plan B>>>>>> Bistec Empanizado...or better known to my anglo friends and family, breaded steak sandwiches...YUM! I have customized the traditional Miami version of these, and everyone around here gets glazed eyes when they hear we are having that for dinner. Now, for those of you who are skeptical of ANY variation from the traditional cuban fare, know that it took me a while to have any desire to try it differently than just lime and salt, but once I did...I will never go back...NEVER!!! oohoohoohoohahahahahaha....ahem, okay, so I was saying...
I'll post the recipe at the bottom...
Nicole got "Chronicles of Narnia" for her birthday from Noelle and Linda Griggs...they had been waiting to see it with us as a family, so we did that on Sunday night (with the exception of Chloe, who is too young, so she went to bed early).
She also got a game for her new Nintendo DS (she had saved ALL her Christmas money and money earned since then to buy it, and finally got that last week).
Timmy bought her a case for it...hence the brotherly love so apparant in the 3rd and 4th pictures below.
All in all, it was a prosperous, wonderful evening, the only thing lacking was all of YOU! :)






Bistec Empanizado a la Bailey

Very thin cut round steak

eggs (beaten)

breadcrumbs

Adobo seasoning or garlic powder

oil

salt

Cuban Bread (or soft french if cuban is not available...)

Pico mixture...recipe follows

Mayonnaise

Sliced Pickled Jalapenos

Heat oil in skillet on medium to medium high

Rinse meat thoroughly

Sprinkle liberally with Adobo or garlic powder

Dip in eggs

Dredge in breadcrumbs

Fry in oil (only for about 1-2 minutes per side)

Place on paper towels to drain

Sprinkle with salt

To make the pico:

Blend together the following

about 3-4 tomatoes , chopped

1/2 sweet onion, chopped

about 1/8 cup of chopped cilantro

NOW....

Warm bread so that outside is nice and toasty, but inside is slightly crusty.

Slice open longways and lay steak on bread

Add mayo on bread side

Add pico on top of meat

Then on top of the pico, add either sliced pickled jalapeno,

or just the juice for the timid tongues...

Close sandwich, smoosh it together and ENJOY!

PS. the jalapeno is the best part, just TRY it... :)

Monday, April 17, 2006

Raspberries!!!

Emma learned to blow raspberries!!!
Here she is:

Wednesday, April 12, 2006

play ball!!!

We had Timmy's first Major League Baseball game last night. They didn't win, but they played an awesome game and didn't lose by much. Here's some cool pics of everyone...

swing batter....




awww mom....


look at that arm!!


ready to run...


sweeeet catch timbo!


taking a breather...

chloe brought her dolls so they could watch the game too!

check out the "hip" pants on the GI Joe dude...(pun intended)

emma hanging out with daddy...


nini with her infamous notebook...

emma wearing daddy's hat at pizza hut after the game...
so cute...

coming home...

Little clip of Timmy crossing home base!