Mamut Cake

Here on the field life is a little different, we are aware our children miss out on somethings their counterparts in the U.S. have and do.  In light of this, we try to create traditions that the kids can look forward to, that make life unique and special and create memories.  For example, we did not have room to bring Christmas decorations when we came to Mexico, so we have a tradition of making decorations every year.  This year we made Peppermint ornaments, which you can see by (clicking here).  We also do Tostada Tuesdays, which you can see by (clicking here).  Another tradition is letting kids choose what kind of birthday cake they want to be made for them.  One year everyone wanted ice cream cakes, the next year everyone wanted cheesecake.  This year Josiah wanted pecan pie.

So this week Haden and I walked to the store for some carrots I needed for dinner.  He asked if he could bring a few pesos to buy a treat.  As we were walking along and he was thinking about his treat, he said he wanted a Mamut cake for his birthday.  I was a little confused, so he explains this is his favorite sweet treat at the tienda.  I tell him I have no idea what it is and need to take a look before I can promise anything.  After two tiendas we find carrots and mamut, which is what we called Moon Pies when I was growing up.  A round cookie sandwich with marshmallow filling, covered in chocolate.  When we got home I typed "Moon Pie" into the Pinterest search engine and there were actually several recipes for homemade moon pies.  Figuring out how to modify the recipe to make it the size of a cake was pretty easy.  It turned out very yummy, very sweet, but very yummy.

The kids and I had fun with the PicMonkey edits.

Mamut means Mammoth, by the way!  Before you get too impressed with my Spanish, I only know that because one of the kids told me.  This is the blog where I found the recipe for homemade Moon Pie. (Click here)

Pinterest Fail

When we moved to Mexico our Christmas ornaments were one of the things that just did not fit.  So, we began a new tradition of making Christmas ornaments.  We have made popcorn chains with chilis, popcorn balls (very yummy, they make great gifts also), paper snowflakes, origami cranes, dried apples and oranges (bonus: they smell great), cute little peanut snowmen, gingerbread cookies, ect.  The kids love this tradition.  

I turned to Pinterest for inspiration this year and I found this neat idea that SEEMED very easy and staight forward.  The idea was to place peppermint candies in cookie cutters and place them in the over to melt together, producing {these} cute ornaments.  Honestly, I thought the hardest part would be finding peppermint candy in Oaxaca, Mexico.  Super, mega easy...right?  I mean, I'm crafy...right?  :)

I think this is when you say...NAILED IT!

In the end, we did get a few to turn out nice enough to hang on the tree.  

How about you?  What Christmas tradition do you enjoy with your family?

Tostada Tuesday

Almost every Tuesday, and especially since the kids started school, we have tostadas.  For the most part we have also adopted Comida.  The tradition of eating your large meal in the early afternoon.  This works out great since 1.) Sam works a lot of evenings and dinner is over and cleaned up well before he needs to leave  2.) The kids come home hungry and waiting until dinner just makes them more hungry.  We have actually had left overs eating on this schedule.  That's pretty much a miracle with two teen boys.  3.)  Dinner is over and cleaned up and you have the rest of the evening free to do other things.  We usually have a lighter meal in the evening, something easy to fix and easy to clean up...like cereal, a sandwich, or left overs.

Tostadas are perfect for this schedule, especially on Tuesdays and Thursday.  On these days the kids workout hard the last hour of school and I try to go workout also.  When we get home everybody helps get toppings out while the beans reheat and dinner is ready!  One of our friends told me tostadas are comida floja...or lazy food.  Lazy or not, it is defiantly easy.  It is really that fast when you have refried beans that you took out of the freezer in morning.  Once upon a time, I blogged my bean recipe, but that blog platform isn't even available anymore.  I'll try to repost the recipe soon.  

Toppings always include beans, cabbage, and salsa.  Other options are sour cream, cheese, tomatoes, avocado, and chilis.  Everybody makes their own, which is even better.  

What is your favorite "comida floja"?

Giveaway Winner! & Recap 2013

Coffee and Cup Giveaway Winner!

And we have a winner!  Congratulations Emily from Oklahoma.  She got extra entries by posting a comment.  Can not wait to hear what you think of the coffee.  

June, July and August 2013 Recap

Even though our time on the coast was very busy, it is hard not be be a little more relaxed when the beach is within walking distance. 

The end of June we found ourselves packing up and heading to the coast of Oaxaca.  The mission was two-fold; level three of language school and aiding a national pastor with his church.  Pastor Victor and his wife were receiving hostile treatment for refusing to abort their baby.  An apple size tumor was discovered by ultrasound during a routine prenatal.  The timing was perfect, they were able to stay in our house in the city and see a specialist and we were able to help with their church on the coast.  

At first the tumor caused pain, but mom and baby were doing well.  With time, the tumor unexplainably began to shrink!  She was even able to give birth naturally, where months before a tumor blocked the way.  I know many were praying for this baby, her mother and family.  It was a joy to walk beside this family and see their strong faith during this difficult time.

A grateful mother giving public thanks for the precious baby she is holding.

Meanwhile, on the coast, Sam did his best to teach and preach to the small congregation, while keeping up with his Spanish studies.  He used the opportunity to do lessons on how to study the Bible.  We knew God was using this situation to move Pastor Victor to the city to start a church in an area were the is almost no evangelical work.  The coast was Pastor Victor's home area.  He moved there several years ago after a successful church plant near the border.  He has a burden for his home town.  A lot of people knew him, but they did not except that a boy from their little town could know anything about the Bible.  In his own puebla, he was threatened with jail several time for starting a church.  We are praying God sends the right person to take over the work he began with much adversity.  You can CLICK HERE to see what life on the coast is like.

It was a privilege for Sam to translate for his brother during a service.

We are thankful Lindsey was with us.  She stayed with Samuel, Adelina and Haden while we at language school and two children of another missionary family.  Her servant's heart was such a huge blessing.  

One treat for us during this time was the visit of Sam's brother and his family.  We had so much fun while they were with us.  The time flew by.  Sam got to interpret for him at one of the church services.  It is always an encouragement to have friends and family visit.  

We hosted a Fourth of July celebration.  Teachers, students, neighbors and friends joined us.  Above we are getting the fire ready.  Testing out our marshmallow substitute and warming up the instruments.  

The language school we attended is designed for missionaries, so there are missionary families from all the world.  They will serve in various Latin American countries when they complete the four levels of Spanish training offered by the school.  Since we live in Oaxaca, we have chosen to do a seven weeks level whenever we can.  We began in 2012 at level two and completed level three this time.  I do not know when we will have the opportunity to do level four, but it is a very important level.  We are so encouraged by how much our Spanish has improved through the school.  This time God provided funds for Hannah and Josiah to attend level two.  CLICK HERE for more info on the school.   

Lazy Summer Days

I can see the children happily playing from the kitchen table where I am checking emails and drinking my coffee after only reheating it once. I usually reheat it three times and dump it down the drain figuring after being in the microwave three times it has more radiation than one should really consume. They are really enjoying the time off from school. We "out sourced" their education this past year and they got a huge dose of "real" school. The kind of school where you do a lot of book work and sit in your seats a good part of the day. Don't get me wrong, they still have no idea what public school would be like, but they are appreciating some time off.

The morning chores went well, so I have a clean house. Josiah and Samuel got in a tiff about something and it distracted them from their work, so I got a clean bathroom out of that deal. While the kids finished up Haden and I took a walk together around the church property. He enjoys some special time with his mama. We didn't see Sam much this morning. He got up early for prayer and bible study and then got to work finishing up a construction project on the front of the church. Boy, I sure did marry a handy one. I took him his carrot, blueberry, and strawberry juice and we took a little morning walk. It is nice having him around more after all we have been through with the Army.

So all in all in all it looks to be a nice day. The sun oven is already heated to 150F at 9:40 AM and it is only about 70F outside. I put left over soup in it to heat for lunch. We still don't have it completely sealed or the reflectors, so I am really pleased with it. We are using a make shift reflector right now, but it seems to be working well. Once we get the kinks worked out I will post about the project, including drawings of the children's very clever designs. I can't wait to bake bread in it, for Sam it's all about the chocolate chip cookies.

Have a great day.