Mid week catch all post

What have I been up to?

I've been sewing on an American flag inspired quilt that a son requested. His birthday is in April and I hope to have it finished for that. 

I also made 1 visit to 1 thrift store. 

I got all these nice Oneida spoons and forks for 25 cents each.

I also got this pile of children's clothes- minus 2 pair of jeans that my daughter was so tickled to see as they were like new and fit long legged and slim Elizabeth perfectly.  This pile was surprising as most of the clothes are for the older grands.  Like I mentioned before, the bigger size children's clothes are harder to come by so this was a good buy. 

This is an odd fabric product- it feels more like a heavy interfacing than fabric - not sure what I will do with it but I really like the kitchen theme design.  It is 1 yard of 60 inch wide and was 50 cents. 

Beside the Valentine family party,  we had another big weekend event.  We went to a gender reveal ultrasound for grand baby #7 who is due late July.  

In this photo, the baby is looking right at the camera and has both arms up beside the head.  We also saw a yawn and a thumb suck.  So sweet! 

Before we went to the ultrasound, we had lunch with the parents, another aunt and the maternal grandparents.  A friend made these pretty cupcakes with pink and blue mini pacifiers so we could predict what the baby might be.  

They were delicious, but most of us were wrong,  we pedicted a boy baby but 

It's a girl! 

And just what big sister Andie requested.  

Happy Valentines Day 2015

We just had a very fun family Valentines party. We celebrated with pizza, snacks and homemade Valentine  boxes.

We started doing this years ago when we homeschooled. The one thing the children missed most about public school was the parties. So we decided to sort of replicate a school party at home with homemade Valentine boxes. 

There were some especially creative boxes this year. 

Gavin used a basketball with a slot cut in it.

Son in law John made a Bat Mobile. 

Daughter in law Sheena made a very cute frog princess. 

The grandchildren really had fun - they like playing with their cousins and glow sticks and of course they like the candy, 

We just fill the boxes with little gifts and treats for each other.

Hope you all had a happy Valentine's Day too! 

Oriental Stir Fry - our newest favorite Aldi product

I like to watch YouTube videos while I am doing home things.  One homemaker I like cooked this Aldi Oriental Stir fry.  Hers looked very good so I bought some on my next trip to Aldi.

It comes in a 32 ounce bag in the freezer section and sells for $2.89 here.  There is also a teriyaki with noodles version but we have not tried that kind. 

The bag contains lots of nice vegetables and a packet of a thickened soy and slightly ginger sauce. 

The ingredient label is not scary either. 

It is very quick to prepare. Just heat 1 tablespoon of oil and then stir in the frozen vegetables, cooked covered for 5 minutes, stirring a few times.

Then add the sauce packet and heat through. 

We had it last night with rice and some chicken my husband smoked.  

That is his plate below.  

The sauce tastes like a good sauce from a good Asian restaurant and we enjoy it very much. 

This is a product I will be keeping in our freezer, especially for busy meal times.

I've cooked it twice and both times have cooked it plain just as the bag describes. 

The YouTube homemaker added frozen scallops and shrimp to hers and I think she also got her seafood at Aldi.  

I may sauté an onion next time to add to ours next time I cook it.