Week 8 DONE!

As the end of 7th week approached, the anticipation for our 8th week grew. Dave's 8th week will be full studying and 12+ tests. 

On Friday we celebrated the end of this week with a trip to the Yakima Fair. It was no Alaska State fair but it was still fun. Dave and I both agree we like Yakima a lot, but we love Alaska and we miss something different about Alaska each day, this time we missed the fair.
FUN Yucky NOTE: The fair had fried BUTTER!!! I am up for trying crazy foods, I really am. But I draw the line!!! *shutters* yuck!! 
We had a good time and look forward to the day we can go to the Alaska State Fair again. 

Caleb loved this goat, I could not keep his hands off

Playing in a big BIN of corn

Caleb did NOT like the corn!!

Benn with his arms up and Daddy and JJ behind

 The boys love to ride horses and were excited to get to ride.

The boys with the fire clowns

That is how Caleb felt about the Clowns

JJ and the 3 month old foal.

Saturday morning we all went down to Yakima Ave and watched the parade to officially start the Yakima Fair. It was fun to see all the floats.

Benn said: "It looks like the doors broke!!"

Each week I attempted to achieve one BIG goal. This week I canned up some yummy Ratatouille, yes like the movie! :) It is a combination of egg plant, zuchine, green peppers, tomatoes, onions and garlic. I added squash, carrots and parsley. I slow cooked a small batch with sweet sausage and I served it over rice. YUMMO! The rest I canned up for another dinner some other time.  The egg plant, tomatoes, green peppers and parsley were all out of my garden!!
Thank you Beth for the yummy and fun idea, we all loved it!

So, as we enter the 8th week. The kiddos and I are heading out to Raymond, WA to spend time with my Grandpa, Grandma and cousins. This gives Dave LOTs of extra study time. 

Week 7/White Coat Ceremony

Putting on his White Coat

 On September 17th we ended our 6th week of school with The White Coat Ceremony. This ceremony marks the student's transition from the study of preclinical to clinical health sciences. Alan and Ann drove up from Kansas to celebrate Dave's transition into the Medical Profession.

 We started the day at the school. Dave gave Alan and Ann a tour and introduced all of us to his cadaver. The smell was terrible and Benn was very interested.

 We ended the night with a celebratory dinner at "Creekside West", a local restaurant here in Yakima, the food and atmosphere was amazing! Apparently, the chef thought we waited too long for our food and was very generous to give us all desert on the house as an apology. I will be the first to say, we did not turn it down, but we also made it clear we were never in a hurry and we thought the service was fantastic!!  We had a wonderful day and enjoyed the rest of our weekend with Dave's parents.

Alan and Ann's visit

 The boys get excited when Grams and Pops come for a visit! This time, they did not fly. This time they drove. Yeah! For living in the contiguous 48 states!

 The day the in-laws arrived I took them out and put them to work picking raspberries. We picked enough for 6 jars of raspberry jam! YUMMO!!

 On Sunday we drove up to Boulder Caves and enjoyed hiking in the sunshine!

 The road up to the parking was closed but the walk in to the trail head was a good warm up for the rest of the hike to the caves.

Coming out of the caves. We forgot flashlights. oops! Good thing for cell phones. . . :)

Peach Cobbler

 This is a fun Brunch idea or add Ice cream and you have DESERT!!!
1/2 cup Organic Cane Juice
1 Cup whole wheat Flour
1/2 Cup Butter
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
Fruit (Peaches, Blue Berries, apples. . etc)
3/4 cup milk

Topping
1/2 cup Brown Sugar
1 Tbsp Cinnamon
2 Cup old fashion oats

Melt Butter the bottom of a 9X13 baking dish and set aside.
Combine Flour, Sugar, baking powder and milk together and mix into paste.
Pour paste over the melted butter.
Spread your choice of fruit over this.

Combine Brown Sugar, Cinnamon and Old Fashion oats and mix. 

Spread oats mixture over the fruit

Bake at 350 for about 30 mins

YUMMO!!!! ;)

Pasta and Roasted Veggies

I love to cook!! I love to find a recipe and make it my own, it is usually because I do not have all the right ingredients so I have learned to improvise!
The recipe I am sharing today is NOT improvised but still super yummy and easy!!

~Pasta and Roasted Veggies~
1 Large Zucchini
1 Large Yellow Squash
5-10 mushrooms. I like Cremini, but your favorite will work too.
1 Med Onion
1 Red Pepper
1 Green Pepper
Italian Seasonings, create your own or buy the already mixed bottle
26 oz of your favorite spaghetti sauce
1box whole wheat pasta (penne, shells, rotini your choice)
A white cheese (Monetary jack, mozzarella, Italian mixture, your preference) 
Sweet Sausage (optional)

If using sausage brown and set aside, also preheat oven to 400 degrees.

Place a pot of water on stove and bring to a rolling boil, cook pasta according to directions on box
While waiting for water to boil chopped all veggies and place them on a baking sheet
Coat veggies with EVOO (Extra Virgin Olive Oil) and Italian Seasons. I like A LOT of seasonings!
Bake Veggies at 400 degrees for 15 mins

After the pasta and veggies are cooked combined them in a BIG bowl, along with the spaghetti sauce and mix to coat (If you browned up sausage add it at this time)
Pour pasta mixture into a BIG baking dish
Cover will a lot (or a little) cheese and bake in the 400 degree oven for 20-25 mins until top is golden brown!
ENJOY! This is perfect for a crowd, freezer meal, or just a family dinner.

TIP: If one of your friends just had a baby. Prepare this meal all the way the way through, but do not bake it. Cover with foil and take it to your friend. She can bake it whenever she is ready.

Slow cooker MAC AND CHEESE!!

One of the fun events SAA puts on are recipe exchanges!! Last month it was a brunch theme, this month it is a crock pot theme!!! I love the slow cooker, it is by far by my best friend on busy days.

Here is the recipe for Mac&Cheese I made for the exchange. I have tried to make this healthy. . . alas, the only thing I changed was the whole wheat pasta.

Next time I want to try this recipe from Paula Deen!!

 Slow Cooker Mac & Cheese

1 1/2 cups milk

12 ounce can evaporated milk

1/4 cup (1/2 stick) unsalted butter, melted, cooled to room temperature

3 large eggs

1/2 tsp salt

3 cups (12 oz) shredded Italian cheese

1/2 pound whole wheat elbow macaroni or mini penne tubes, par cooked and drained (cook about half the time the box instructs you)

Freshly ground black pepper to taste
toasted
bread crumbs + Italian seasoning for topping, optional

Spray the inside of your slow-cooker with cooking spray or grease it with olive oil. Combine milk, evaporated milk, eggs, butter, and salt in slow cooker and whisk until until smooth

Add the shredded cheese and macaroni, sprinkle with black pepper. Stir gently with a spatula to coat evenly. Cover and cook on HIGH for 30 minutes.

After 30 minutes, reduce the temperature to LOW and cook for 2 to 2 1/2 hours, until custard is set in the center and the pasta is tender. The macaroni and cheese may sit in the cooker on the KEEP WARM setting for 30 minutes before serving. Sprinkle with toasted bread crumbs and Italian seasoning if desired.
Enjoy!

Week 6 DONE!

We started school this week!! Benn loves school and is eager to learn!

 ^{Deuteronomy 31:6} Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.”

Baby Loves corn on the cob

GLORY TO GOD!! We give glory to HIM. He is the reason we are here in med school and He is the reason Dave is doing phenomenal in school. He is the reason I feel like a super mom and have not pulled out my hair. God is the reason Dave has awesome guys to study with and God is the reason I can home school my boys AND keep the house in order. God is the reason. . . if it were not for Him. . .well. . .I do not want to think about it.

Benn helping Daddy replace the brakes

God is the reason Dave can work on our vehicles, not only are we saving a LOT of money, but we also do not have to hassle with dropping off our only car to a mechanic and trying to get it back.

Josiah is also starting school. Pre-school!!

Some of you may be asking: "Why have the Abel's choose to home school?" The simple answer is, This is what God is asking us to do.
However, more on this topic in another blog.

The boys both started soccer and are enjoying their time on the field.They are both full of energy and love to run and run!

Benn's team is the "Green Tigers"

Josiah's team is "The Blue Big Guys" 

Benn loves to build things with his Legos. So the other day him and I built this super cool tower to touch the ceiling!!! Glory to God for holding it up so I could snap a picture.

We are doing better then we deserve and guess what? It is all because God has blessed us. As Dave and I strive to instill God based values and disciple our children, we want them to know that we do NOTHING on our own power, but EVERYTHING is done in Gods Power.

GLORY. TO. GOD.