LuvBug

The Sebren's at the beach!

A few weeks ago Jason and I took the kids on a much anticipated (and needed) vacation.  Weatherly had been talking about it since last year - she believes the beach is her true home.  We were hesitant at first about going in September, being Weatherly's first year in "big school", but after talking to multiple moms we decided to go through with it.  We love going during the school year instead of true summer months because it is less crowded, more family oriented and a lot cheaper.  I am totally not sure if we will continue going during the "fall" months as Weatherly gets older, and as the boys begin going to "big school" - but this year was totally fabulous - as always!

To see the LuvBug Photos go here...

Yummy Pumpkin Bites

Last spring Weatherly brought home a little clear plastic cup containing a pumpkin seed buried in some soil.  I sat it in my window seal to show how proud of her I was and to my disbelief a vine grew across my window seal.  Before too long a big beautiful orange bloom appeared.  Weatherly begged me to plant the vine in our back yard and I did, even though I thought it would not produce anything.  Well, I was incredibly mistaken!  In the beginning of September we picked our one and only beautiful pumpkin.  It was perfectly round without a blemish.  Weatherly was so proud of her little pumpkin!!  She then insisted we make something out of it - something yummy.  Unfortunately I never made it around to pureeing the pumpkin myself due to life. Little to her knowledge, I tossed the molded pumpkin away and bought a very hard to find can of pumpkin at the grocery store. Weatherly and I searched the internet until we found a perfect recipe to fulfill her desire....

The winner was (from picky-palate.com)...

Black Bottomed Mini Caramel Pumpkin Cheesecake Bites

8 whole Oreos, finely ground in food processor

1 1/2 Tablespoons melted butter

8 oz softened cream cheese

1/2 Cup granulated sugar

1/2 Cup pumpkin puree (I used Libby’s)

1 large egg

1 teaspoon vanilla

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon fresh ground nutmeg

3 Litehouse Lowfat caramel dip (comes in a package of 6 20z little cups)

12 Pumpkin Spice Hershey Kisses, unwrapped

1.  Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.  Combine ground Oreos and melted butter into a bowl until well combined.  Spoon into 12 mini cheesecake cups that have been sprayed with cooking spray.  Press into the bottom of each cup so the crust is flat.  Partially bake for 10 minutes then remove from oven.

2.  In a stand or electric mixer beat the cream cheese,  sugar and pumpkin until smooth.  Beat in egg, vanilla, cinnamon and nutmeg until combined.  Pour evenly into the 12 cups filling about 3/4 way full.  Spoon about a teaspoon of caramel into the tops of each filled cup and swirl with a toothpick gently.  Bake for 25-28 minutes or until cheesecake is cooked through.  Let cool completely.

3.  Remove cheesecakes from pan and top each with a spoonful of remaining caramel and a Pumpkin Spice Hershey Kiss.  Refrigerate until ready to serve.

12 mini cheesecakes

The cheesecakes turned out delicious, however, next time I will probably do a few things different.  Trying to find the pumpkin kisses was incredibly hard (Target is the only place that carried them out of 4 places I tried) and they didn't add that much to the overall taste to me.  I actually took mine off and enjoyed the cheesecake more without them.  I also did not like the dollop of caramel in the middle you add before cooking, I would have been just fine with the carmel you drizzle on top.  I will definitely make these little yummies again - it was an easy project for the kids and I to do and we got to celebrate growing a pumpkin together :)

Skate Night

Last night was our 1st real school fundraiser - we had a Skate Night!  Weatherly has never been to a skating rink before and Tennyson has never had on a pair of skates.  So we decided to brave it out with the other 500 (not really sure of the number, but it was a lot!) students & have some family fun.  The kids were pumped, including Mikel (I think he was pumped because big sis and big bro were running around screaming in excitement), and Jason & I were unsure of what to expect.  The line was out the door into the parking lot once we got there and that is how is remained the entire time we were there.  I have never seen so many kids running around crazy - they were everywhere running into people & things aimlessly.  All of the sudden I had a flashback to the 80's remembering all the times I had gone to the skating rink.  I could not wait to put on a pair of those nasty brown skates that had countless amount of feet in them!  Once everyone was tied up we practiced skating on the carpet - which went pretty well.  Then we dared to go onto the pretty shiny waxed floor that was super slick.  I was exhausted - Trying to hold up a 5 year old and a 3 year old while skating can cause a girl to sweat.  What a workout that hour was!  We had so much fun I want to go out and buy some skates with the kids and practice in the neighborhood.  There is just something about a stinky dark skating rink that elicits some great childhood memories :)

It's Offical!!

It is offical, our stress of the adoption process is over :)!!  Mikel is now a Sebren - Jason and I are now on his birth certificate and his legal parents.  Of course he doesn't realize a difference, but now I can breath a little easier, I can add him to my insurance and I can enroll him in pre-school as a true Sebren.

The day of the adoption I could feel my heart beating outside my shirt.  The butterflies in my belly were fluttering around so fast I could barely eat.  It was the excitment I felt the day I got married.  Going to see the judge with the family (which included the kids, Jason's mom and 'Mr. Ken') was truely amazing!!  The judge was fabulous - he was so gentle, so loving and so excited to be doing this for us.  By the end of our time in his chambers I had tears in my eyes.  My family is completely intact :)!  Thank you Lord, you are so amazing!! Mikel, like my older two children, is a gift from you and will grow up knowing you.  I can not thank you enough for ALL your blessings!!

Weatherly's 1st Day of School

This week has been crazy - Weatherly started Kindergarten on Monday.  This whole summer she could not wait to start school and to load the school bus with all the "big kids".  Weatherly and I actually argued over the fact that she wanted to ride the bus and I did not - I really wanted to take her to school and pick her up everyday (no, I was not ready to cut the cord!).  But in the end, after speaking to multiple moms, I gave in and told her she could ride the bus.  She was PUMPED!!  At least until Sunday night.  On Sunday night reality set in and she became very anxious.  Weatherly woke up multiple times during the night with an upset belly.  She begged continually to be able to stay home because she had a "bug in her belly".  After multiple times to the bathroom we finally lured her to the bus stop & watched her climb the stairs into the dreaded yellow bus.  Her face was unforgetable, watching her try to hold back tears as a few escaped her water filled eyes was harder than I could have ever imagined.  I so badly wanted to grab her and run back home as fast as I could.  Could I not sent her to pre-school one more year?  As the bus slowly drove away, I too tried to hold back tears while I watched her sweet little face that was pressed against the glass drive away. Once she could no longer see me I let my tears stream down my face as I slowly walked back to my house.  I had just watched my first baby make the large leap into "Big Kid" childhood.  Now, God is empasizing this monumental moment - Weatherly has a loose tooth.  She is truely growing faster than I can keep up with.  Before I know it she will asking me for the car keys...

After I returned home Tennyson and I decided Weatherly needed a surprise when she got off the bus.  We ran to the grocery store and picked up some materials to make Weatherly a school bus cake.  Tennyson and I designed and made her a cake in the shape of school bus to surprise her after her long day of Kindergarten.  She could not have been happier...

It ended up being a great day :)!

Agua De Jamaica — Hibiscus Flower Water

I have had a week full of ups & downs.  This morning was no different.  As I was eating my breakfast feeling a little depressed from the day before I noticed our friend Ken drive up.  Jason went outside to talk to him because I was still in my pj's & I just figured it was ministry related.  A little while later Jason came inside with his hands behind his back, a twinkle in his eyes & a grin larger than life on his face.  I closed my eyes in response to his request then found a wonderful surprise lying in front of me once I reopened them. For the past year Ken & Jason have been looking for my favorite drink I found while we were on a mission trip last year in Cancun - Jamaica (ha-my-ka) which is a very popular drink in Mexico  (resembles the taste of cranberry juice).  Ken found dried hibiscus flowers at Ingles & a receipe for me to make it.  I was thrilled!  And I felt so loved by some very wonderful people!

So today I made some fresh Jamaica to enjoy...

Aqua de Jamaica

2 cups dried hibiscus flowers
1 1/4 cups sugar

Bring 8 cups of water to a boil, add the flowers and the sugar and stir why the mixture boils for about a minute. Pour into a non-staining, noncorrosive bowl and allow to steep for about 2 hours.

Strain the mixture through a sieve pressing to extract as much liquid as possible. Taste, if too "tangy" add more water, if too "tart" add more sugar. Cover and refrigerate until time for serving.

(This is me enjoying a Jamaica in Cancun last year - I loved it!!!)

Having fun with photography

This week Jason & I took the kids downtown to take pics for Mikel's 1 year birthday.  I usually take the kids to Portrait Innovations, but we are strapped for cash due to the adoption process so we decided to do it ourselves.  We figured we had nothing to loose, and if the pics were awful we at least had a fun time as a family.  I took over 200 pics, but narrowed it down to about 60 pics we actually liked. Since then Jason & I have also been experimenting with Photoshop some & we have really enjoyed what you can do with Photoshop brushes.  After playing with these pics some I REALLY want to learn more, just finding the time might be difficult.  So until I have some free time I will experiment - but if any of you have any pointers please share :)

You can go to this link to see 20 of our favorite pictures from the photo shoot....

Below are some of our Photoshop experiments...

The Westbrooks Wedding

On May 2, 2009 our good friends, Ken & Laura, were married in a very fun & unique wedding.  Jason officiated their wedding & I had the honor of being their photographer.  We were so proud to have part in such a wonderful time in their lives.

Laura was a beautiful bride, & Ken could not have been more handsome!  To see a "few" of their photos please click here.

Fish Tacos

Tonight I decided to cook something different, something yummy, and something that would make Jason really happy :).  I bought a grilling magazine last week to get some new ideas for the grill when I found a fish taco recipe that sounded delicious!  I had to cook without the grill (Jason wasn't home and he is my grill man) so I popped the fish in the oven and kept on preparing....

It turned out terrific, my two oldest kids even ate the fish! 

Open invitation next time we cook :)....

Tacos

1/2 pound cod or other mild whitefish fillets (I used talapia)

1 tablespoon melted butter (I used butter spray Pam)

1 pkg taco seasoning mix

1/2 cup sour cream (I used reduced fat)

2 tablespoon milk

8 hard corn tortilla shells or soft flour tortillas

4 oz cheddar cheese, shredded

Toppings

chopped avocados

chopped tomatoes

shredded coleslaw mix

sliced green onions

Directions

1.  Heat gas grill on medium or charcoal grill until coals are ash white.  Arrange fish fillets in single layer on heavy-duty aluminum foil.  Brush with milted butter; sprinkle with 2 tbls taco seasoning, turning to coat.

2.  Place aluminum foil with fish on grill.  Grill until internal temperature reaches at least 145 degrees or fish flakes easily with fork (10-12 minutes).

*(I totally omitted the above steps concerning the grill.  Instead I heated up my oven to 425 degrees, sprayed my fish with butter Pam, squeezed a fresh lime on the fish and then rubbed the 2 tbls of taco seasoning onto my fish.  I then cooked my fish in a shallow baking dish for about 15 minutes, or until the fish was flaky)*

3.  Meanwhile, combine sour cream, milk and remaining taco seasoning in the small bowl.  Heat taco shells as directed on package.

4.  To serve, cut fish into bite sized pieces; place into taco shells.  Sprinkle with cheese; add toppings, as desired.  Drizzle with sour cream mixture.  Enjoy!

Happy 1st Birthday Mikel!

Today we celebrated Mikel's 1st birthday.  Weatherly & Tennyson were so excited!!  We ate marinated grilled chicken, zucchini & onion kabobs, corn on the cob, baked potatoes, and hot dogs for the kids (and 3 unexpected boys from the 'hood).  Weatherly & Tennyson baked Mikel a cake and bought him a few toys.  It was perfect - just enough to have fun, but not too much to be overwhelming.  The lawyer called today and gave Mikel another birthday gift - a date for the adoption to be final.  We will be going in front of a judge on August 6, 2009 to change Mikel's last name to Sebren :) - Yay!!

Queen for a day

On Mother's Day I was treated like a Queen.  My kids decided I needed a strawberry cake with cream cheese icing, a tiara, matching earrings and a huge pink "diamond" ring.  Jason and the kids decorated the kitchen and den with pink and white balloons and streamers before they left for church.  I met the family at church after work and they took me out for lunch to eat sushi.  After lunch we all came home and I was surprised with the beautiful decorations and delicious cake.  I truly felt special :)!!  It is wonderful how much time and excitement they spent on me to make my Mother's Day wonderful!!!

Check out the little video they made me to tell me how great they think I am....  My family cracks me up :)!!

Momma's Day party video from sebren on Vimeo.

Meeting Nations

Today was a little stressful - Today we met Nations (Mikel's birth mom) for lunch at the Varsity for the first time since we picked him up in March.  When the adoption process started we promised her we would keep in touch and let her see Mikel periodically.  I made a hard decision on that day, whether I wanted the adoption open or closed.  In the end I figured it would be best for Mikel to know who his birth mom is for a few reasons:  he will one day realize I am not his biological mom (hmm, I wonder why..);  Nations does love her children and that is why she wanted them to have a better life;  we want to continue to love Nations and show her the love of Jesus.  However, realizing those factors and acting on them are two different things.

So this week we decided to grant Nations' wish and meet for lunch.  About 2 p.m. we drove up to the Varsity, all the while I felt like a rock was in my stomach, and Nations walked up to the car.  I unbuckled Mikel and she immediately took him from me.  At first I felt a little resentment, Mikel is now my baby, but then I remembered that she didn't want to run away with him, she just wanted to hold him.  We went inside with Nations, Mikel's big sister (Tatiana), and Tatiana's adoptive family and ate lunch.  The whole afternoon went well.  All the kids played together, Nations got to visit with us and her children, and we all bonded a little closer.  After two hours we were all exhausted and went our own ways.  Once we got in the car I was drained from emotional stress, but I felt like we had made the right decision.  I know we will get together again, and it will get easier with each passing event.  I also know with each passing event we will get closer with Nations and she will feel more like extended family instead of the "other mom" or just "the birth mom".  God gave us all such comfort and peace when we were around each other today, and I know he will continue as long as we let him :).

Strawberries!!

Yesterday I went with Weatherly to pick strawberries with her preschool class.  We learned how strawberries grow and how to pick them properly.  Weatherly absolutely loved picking strawberries and eating them straight off the vine.  I have to say those were the best tasting strawberries I have ever put into my mouth - they tasted like they were sprinkled with sugar.  I almost felt guilty, like it was candy I wasn't suppose to be eating.  We brought a gallon home to share.  After everyone ate until their bellies hurt the kids helped me make a strawberry pie - Yummy!!!!

Happy Birthday to The Vine!

Jason and I have been attending a new church in Braselton, GA since the fall of 2008.  We have totally enjoyed it and we love everyone there!  It is a new church plant and it's 2 year birthday is this month - Happy Birthday to The Vine :)!!  So I wanted to show you a one year recap of what The Vine has been up to the last year, it is very impressive :)....

Jason's Testimony

I love every part of my husband!  He is a loving best-friend, a great father, and  a man who loves God with all of his heart.  Jason has a very unique testimony that shows how awesome God is, take a look....