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Potato and Ham Soup

By Lorraine

When plans to be out for the day suddenly changed and I found I had nothing pressing to do, I knew immediately what I wanted.  I called my sister and was thrilled she was able to come for a visit. We chatted, caught up on family, laughed and ate a light lunch of potato and Ham Soup while Jared, Abbey, Erin and John popped in and out.

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Filed Under: Recipes, Soups & Stews Tagged With: Abbey, brad, Braden, Brenna, Cambrie, Easter, Grandchildren, Jared, Jill, Joelle, Keri, Noah, Ryan, shaela, Silas

Make-Ahead Breakfast Burritos

By Lorraine

I wanted to send my daughter and family and their sweet friends off with a hearty breakfast before their long drive home but I didn’t want to waste moments in the kitchen that could be spent enjoying their visit. A make-ahead breakfast helped out.

Jill, Brad and kids along with their good friends and their three sons drove here from upstate New York, spent the night, then flew to Florida for their dream vacation at Disney. After their return flight, they all stayed over again. Because they are not able to get (real) Philly cheese steaks and pizza at home, their request was to get take-out for dinner from our favorite restaurant. It took a trek through eight-inches of fresh snow and freezing temperatures to pick up three pizza’s and ten cheese steaks to fill up the twenty-four people gathered together.
Breakfast the next morning included Breakfast Burritos, Blueberry Boy Bait cake and Baked Oatmeal. 
The Breakfast Burritos, made the day before, were stacked in a dish, covered with plastic wrap and placed in the refrigerator.  At serving time, I removed the plastic wrap and warmed them in the microwave at 60% power until heated through.

Leftover burritos were wrapped individually and placed in the freezer. Directions below for reheating instructions.

Make-Ahead Breakfast Burritos
source: Taste of Home

PRINT RECIPE

Ingredients
 
1 pound Jimmy Dean® Premium Pork Sausage Roll
1-1/2 cups frozen cubed hash brown potatoes
1/4 cup diced onion
1/4 cup diced green or red pepper
4 eggs, lightly beaten
12 flour tortillas (8 inches), warmed
1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
Picante sauce or salsa (optional)
sour cream (optional)

Directions
In a large skillet, cook sausage over medium heat until no longer pink; drain. Add the potatoes, onion and pepper; cook and stir for 6-8 minutes or until tender. Add eggs; cook and stir until set.

Spoon filling off center on each tortilla. Sprinkle with cheese. Fold sides and ends over filling and roll up. Serve with picante sauce or salsa and sour cream, if desired.

To freeze and reheat burritos: Wrap each burrito in waxed paper and foil. Freeze for up to 1 month. To use, remove foil and waxed paper. Place one burrito on a microwave-safe plate. Microwave on high for 2 to 2-1/4 minutes or until a meat thermometer reads 165°, turning burrito over once. Let stand for 20 seconds.
Yield: 12 burritos.

Blueberry Boy Bait  is a yummy cake any time and it also freezes well. I baked one the day before and refrigerated. Here is the link for the Blueberry Boy Bait recipe.
I didn’t make the Baked Oatmeal ahead but did gather the ingredients together for quicker preparation in the morning.  Here is the link for the Baked Oatmeal recipe. 
After a long drive, a week of non-stop vacation, running and playing with cousins, the kids spent some less physical time on their devices as the grown-ups chatted. No doubt this generation is connected, comfortable and capable using technology! 
After breakfast, they were off on the last leg of their journey.  They arrived home safe and sound but not quite ready for…

Filed Under: Breakfast & Brunch, Recipes Tagged With: brad, Brenna, Friends, Grandchildren, Jill, Ryan, shaela

Cherry Blueberry Fruit Bars

By Lorraine

 
Easy recipe for homemade fruit bars baked in a sheet pan and drizzled with frosting using cherry and/or blueberry pie filling.
We love these cherry and blueberry fruit bars! They are easy and quick to prepare, yummy and so pretty!  Continue Reading

Filed Under: Cookies & Bars, Recipes, Sweet Treats Tagged With: blueberries, brad, breakfast, Brenna, brunch, cherries, Jill, John, Karen, Ryan, shaela

Double Birthday Party Dinner

By Lorraine

Wrapping up a whirlwind Christmas holiday with our extended family last night was the perfect ending to Jill and Brad’s visit.
Since many of our family members don’t get to see them very often and since two really awesome guys are having birthdays, we got together to celebrate.

Happy Birthday Joe (our nephew) and Brad (our son-in-law)!

These two little girls became instant best friends forever.
Does anyone know the genealogical relationship between children that share the same great-grandparents (their grandparents are sisters) ?
Cambrie is my grandchild and Olivia is my sisters grandchild ~ I think that makes them second cousins?

Our handsome, Joe married to … 

 our niece, Toni (with her cousin, Jamie’s baby Jethro) (1st cousin once removed?)

my sister, Carol, Toni, totally enjoying baby Jet and my niece, Eva 

 my brother, Frank and our son-in-law, Brad

 my sister-in-law, Arlene and our daughter Jill

 Carol, me, Carol’s daughter Chris and Chris’ daughter Alexis

Sweet Chloe
Abbey with her boyfriend, Ryan, a very nice mutual friend and our grandson, Jared

 Little one enjoying a movie in Mom-Mom and Pop-Pop’s room

Many years ago, our sister-in-law began a tradition of snapping Christmas photos of my brother (her husband) my sister and I.

 They have become cherished memories for each of us.

shivering kiddos giving their good-byes before cousins head home to upstate NY
~ regretfully, I did not get photos with Jamie, Josh, John, or niece Caitee ~

{happy sigh}… next comes January. A welcome time for me after the (enjoyable) hustle and bustle.
I love the newness of January and the whiteness of snow (hopefully) and a time to refresh.
Wishing you all the best in the New Year!

Filed Under: Family, Grandchildren Tagged With: Abbey, Birthday Family, brad, Brenna, brother, Caleb, Cambrie, Chloe, Christmas, Jethro, Jill, Keri, Noah, Ryan, shaela, Silas, Sisters

when you take a boy fishing…

By Lorraine

he concentrates on everything his PopPop says to catch his first fish
 then littlest sister picks up a pole, casts the line and in an instant, gleefully catches her first fish
 before you know it, another sister takes a turn and catches her first fish
 then somehow, a friendly competition begins as his mom and dad try to out-fish each other
{but mom has the advantage of fishing this same lake a gazillion times when her dad brought her as a kid} 
 someone (Aunt Abbey) determines to get that BIG one everyone sees swimming near the water edge
(but settles for a small sunnie)
there are lots of laughs over yucky worms and  hearing dad moan as he untangles lines
and messy moments pulling the hook out of the fish before tossing him back
(not to mention the expression of someone when a flipping fish splatters, splashes and slaps about their face)
when you take a boy fishing
everyone has a good time

Sharing: Seasonal Sundays @The Tablescaper

Filed Under: Family, Grandchildren Tagged With: Abbey, brad, Brenna, Grandchildren, Jill, John, Ryan, shaela

a day in the city

By Lorraine

Wondering how we got back across the river?
We could have turned and headed right back over the bridge the way we came, but we had more plans.
 We walked from the base of the bridge through Old City to a sweet cafe located at Welcome Park where we enjoyed General Tso’s Chicken and finally rested.  We planned to do most of our walking prior to lunch keeping the end of our adventure a little easier.

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Filed Under: Family, Family & Friends, Travel Tagged With: brad, Brenna, Grandchildren, Jill, John, Lorrie, Ryan, shaela

Walking the Ben Franklin Bridge

By Lorraine

When our grandson, Ryan arrived from New York with his family for a visit, he had two requests.  Walking the Ben Franklin Bridge and to go fishing with PopPop. Today was beautiful, so we put on our sneakers and set out for a long day of walking.
Walking the Ben Franklin Bridge

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Filed Under: Family, Grandchildren, Travel Tagged With: brad, Brenna, Grandchildren, Jill, John, Lorrie, Ryan, shaela

With Our NY Kids

By Lorraine

A few days after Christmas, John and I traveled to New York to spend some time with our daughter, Jill, Brad and their children, Ryan, Brenna and Shaela.
 Our 5 1/2-hour drive turned into an eight+ one but we finally made it safe and sound.

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Filed Under: Family, Grandchildren Tagged With: brad, Brenna, Christmas, Grandchildren, Jill, John, Lorrie, Raider, Ryan, shaela

Think on These Things #18 ~ Fathers

By Lorraine

Thank you , Dear LORD, for the fathers in our family. Strengthen those still with us, guide them and give them Your wisdom as they seek to raise the children You gave them, in a manner that reflects Your kindness, patience and love. The task is great, LORD. The influence of the world is unrelenting. Draw them ever closer to You and be their constant help.
Nineteen children are represented by the men in this photo.Continue Reading

Filed Under: Faith Tagged With: AJ, Bible, brad, Daddy, Encouragement, Faith, John, Josh, Love, Poems, Think On These Things

Philly with the NY Kids

By Lorraine

 It was blustery and windy but bright and sunny as we walked down Market Street.

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Filed Under: Family, Grandchildren, Travel Tagged With: Abbey, brad, Brenna, Christmas, Grandchildren, Jared, Jill, Ryan, shaela

August means Fun!

By Lorraine

Jill, Brad and kids arrived for their two week stay in New Jersey on Friday evening.
As you can see from all the photos, it has been busy fun at our house.

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Filed Under: Family, Grandchildren Tagged With: brad, Brenna, Caleb, Cambrie, Ella, Erin, Grandchildren, Jamie, Jared, Jill, Keri, Noah, Patio, Ryan, shaela, Silas

Jane & Alex

By Lorraine

Our trip to New York a couple weeks ago was short (Friday evening to Sunday afternoon) with every minute filled to the brim and so exciting. Time with our kids and grandchildren as well as (our son-in-law) Brad’s family was the best.
I even found time to teach Rudy (a little yorkie poo) how to shake with his paw.
Brad’s sister, Jane asked me a year and a half ago, if I would take pictures of her wedding.
 

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Filed Under: Family, Family & Friends Tagged With: brad, Brenna, Grandchildren, Jill, Love, Ryan, shaela

Hi! I'm Lorraine. Welcome to Grateful Prayer Thankful Heart. A place to find food for your tummy, projects for your hands, and encouragement for your heart.

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