Closing in 9 days!

We're supposed to close on our new house in 9 days, clean in 10 days and move in 11 days!!!   We are getting really excited about getting settled in our new place.   And actually we've been so busy to really be anxious about getting in there.
So a bit of a virtual tour of the house - these are just some of the things that I love about it.  I'll have to give a better tour later on when I have more access to the house.

 This is part of the kitchen - I am so stoked to have a separate cook top and oven.

 First time I have seen a black sink like this  :)

A lazy susan built in!

 Living room looking out to back yard.

Dining area window.

 Back yard - it even has a couple birdhouses.

A privacy fence - okay, I need help on this one.  What color should I repaint the fence?

 Finished part of the basement

 Main bathroom - a little bit funky

A laundry chute - it's the little things

Built in closets

Wisconsin!!!

Our new exciting life is to be in Green Bay, WI!  Paul was asked to come be the associate pastor at New Hope OPC.   We are thrilled to be part of what God is and will be doing here at New Hope.

Since getting here last week, we've been house hunting and more house hunting!   And we found what we think is just the right house for our family and ministry.  We put in an offer on it last Wednesday expecting a three day wait until we got an answer.   Instead it was only 3 hours!   The inspection is Monday and our prayer is that if God does NOT want us to have this house that something would show up in the inspection.

Already I am in love with Wisconsin.  It is such a beautiful state!   I think my view of the midwest has been skewed most of my life due to my limited experience.   I can see myself here for a long time.

Sweet and Sour Meatloaf

This is not your mama's meatloaf.  This is definitely a comfort food for me.....try it, you'll love it.

Sweet and Sour Meatloaf

¾ to 1 lb ground beef

1 egg, lightly beaten

1/8 tsp pepper

¼ cup finely chopped fresh mushrooms (I use a food processor to get them really small)

2/3 c. oatmeal or bread crumbs

½ tsp salt

½ cup chopped onion

1 T soy sauce

Sauce:

½ c. brown sugar

2 T worcestershire sauce

¼ c white wine (or apple cider vinegar)

1 T. mustard

Combine and shape into a bread pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 mins. covered. Mix sauce and pour over meat loaf and bake 30 more minutes uncovered.

Exciting Adventure

Tomorrow, we begin on a new adventure in our lives.  I can't yet tell you all of it but the pieces will be coming together in the next few days.

A bit of background though - Paul finished his internships in the Phoenix area and we are in Tucson visiting family and friends.   Tomorrow we leave for Albuqueque and will be spending time with my aunt and uncle and their girls.   (And no, I don't worry about telling the "whole world" that I am leaving because I don't have a home for you to even rob.)  

Stay tuned for exciting developments in the Mourreale household.

Cousins

We had such fun yesterday with cousins!   Here are the two little ones - 5 months and 10 months

Then all five Mourreales on the couch!

10 Months Old

At 10 months...
*eating everything in sight
*playing peek a boo with his blanket
*trying to pull himself up on furniture
*still no teeth
*still not crawling
*charming, full of laughter

Random Dozen

Wow, it's been awhile since I last posted.  Moving will do that to you.  To get me back into the groove, I am participating in this week's Random Dozen.



1. Describe the best sandwich in the world, according to you.
A toasted bagel with peppered turkey, bacon, avocado and cheese

2. Which inspires you more: a good conversation, a song, a book or movie?
Definitely a good conversation - as I talk and listen, ideas seem to grow and take on life.  I'm ready for action.

3. What is your favorite board game?
Settlers of Catan

4. As you grow older, are you more or less patient with small children?
I am actually becoming more patient.   I think back to my first year of teaching and I was pretty hard-nosed and rigid.  Now with my own two little ones, I feel that I have more grace towards other little ones.

5. Name one item you never let yourself run out of.
Toilet Paper

6. Do you agree with Tennyson's assertion, "'Tis better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all?"
I think so but I often live my life as if I didn't believe it.  I don't always take chances on loving people because I am afraid to get hurt.

7. Name one national treasure or monument that you have visited.
Lincoln's Tomb

8. Which is more painful, to be disappointed in someone else or to be disappointed in yourself?
Ugh...both are so hard but to be honest I think it's more painful for me to be disappointed in someone else.  With myself, even though I am upset, I easily excuse myself and talk myself out of the pain.   With others, I can't understand why they 'failed' me.

9. What makes your kitchen uniquely yours?
My hotpot ready for tea at any moment.

10. Are you a crafty person?
I would like to be!   I dabble a bit in sewing and quilting.  I love looking at crafting projects at Michaels and JoAnns but actually doing them is another story.

11. What is your favorite traditional picnic or bbq (cookout) food?
Pulled pork sandwiches

12. Name one leisurely activity you enjoyed over Labor Day Weekend.
Swimming with friends

Splash Pad

Recently we went to the local splash pad and had a play date with some friends.   What a HOT day!   Abby had a blast playing in the water.   Are splash pads just an Arizonan thing or are they around the country in your area too?

Totally Attached

Abby loves her blanket.  It is her comfort and security.   The other day I desperately had to wash it and then I hung it out on the line.   Abby was very upset about this and went outside to be with her blanket.  I think she was out there for at least 15 minutes!

Zambia Outfit

My sister, Andrea, who lives out in Zambia had the cutest outfit made for Silas.   We got it when he was really tiny and it now fits!!!!    The pants do not have snaps for diaper changes which makes me wonder if it is only an american thing.   Totally cute!

Pool Time

Enjoy this short video of Abby jumping in the pool.   She also really likes jumping off of the sides but this will give you an idea of her time in the pool.

Silas on the other hand just likes to hang out and "chill"

We get the pleasure of hanging out with some friends and swimming with them!

Grilled Pizza

I wish I had taken some pictures of this process - maybe next time.  

Grilled pizza tastes great but don't make it for company the first time you try it.   (Unless you have adventurous company).   I think it will take some tweaking to get it just right.

A couple of things we learned the hard way
1)   Make sure you only have one level to your grill.  We had the upper wire on and it got in the way of flipping the pizza.
2)  Heat up some olive oil with garlic.  Then baste onto the top of the rolled out dough.   Place this side face down on the grill.  Spread olive oil on the new top.  Allow crust to bubble up and get brown.  Then flip it over.
3)  Have your sauce and toppings READY!!!!   You have to get them on right away since the crust cooks so fast.   Have your grill at the lowest setting and cook until the cheese melts.
4)  Don't roll your crust too thin -   it will burn.
5)  If any toppings need to be cooked, do it ahead of time.

We made two different kinds tonight.  The first was meat (bacon, salami and pepperoni).   The second one was a veggie, pesto pizza.   I broiled the veggies ahead of time so that I could just put them on the crust.   Totally girly and totally yummy.   Pesto, pine nuts, carrots, zucchini, squash, red onion, feta and mozarella cheese.

I probably left something out so please ask if you have any questions.

8 months old!

Silas turned 8 months old last week!   We didn't get pics until quite a few days later (already I'm doing what I said I would NEVER do).   The first child should NOT get all the pics, right?    I was going to be on top of it, writing in their journals, making their books, etc.   Oh dear, if it is this hard with two, imagine with more!!!  

But here are the most recent of Silas and then a few with Abby as she wanted in on the 'fun'!

Pool Time

Abby and Silas have been loving pool time this year.  Sometimes we get to be in a big pool and sometimes just our little inflatable one on our porch.   

Abby all ready to get outside in the pool at Grandpa and Grandma's house.

Silas in our little pool.   He is so content just to sit and play.

Abby is not so content to just sit and play.  She always has to be moving about or running around.  In the big pool, she loves jumping off of the edge.   At our friend's house, she even jumped off of the edge over the waterfall and into the water.   She goes under about a foot and then pops right back up with a huge smile on her face.   She is quite the daredevil!   I'll have to post some pictures later of her doing this.

Just playing around with this last one but thought it was kind of fun.

Accidental Cinnamon Rolls

Paul had bought a bag of frozen bread dough but in little balls for rolls. So one evening, I tried to have rolls but the dough had apparently dethawed and refrozen at some point in time. As it continued to thaw, it became on large gooey mess. What could I do with all of this? Cinnamon rolls sounded good. I put them in a baking pan, let them rise and then put them in the toaster oven (since we are trying not to use our regular size oven). I guess I put way too much in this one pan for they rose and overflowed quite a bit. Also for the sauce, I didn't have all the ingredients so I substituted. I thought these were going to be a lost cause but instead, oh my! these were the best tasting ones I have ever made.

One year Anniversary

One year ago my sister Debbie and her fiance Erick got married.  Mind you, this was only a 2 week engagement (long story short, my missionary family was about to go back to Africa and in order to have everyone at the wedding, we had the wedding in Colorado at the seminary where Paul attended).   It was amazing - God gave us such beautiful flowers, a friend helped with the cake, another did the photography, another friend arranged the flowers, more friends helped with the reception, and on and on it goes.   What a blessing everyone was!    But here are so great photos of the grand event.

Check out the beautiful bride!

 Her handsome groom

I think they make a pretty good looking couple, don't you?

We were blessed to have the whole fam-damily there for the event.   (Silas was in my tummy at the time)

One of my favorite pictures is this one with Debbie and Abby and Ian.

Here's to many more wonderful years together Debbie and Erick!