Remember these?
So what the 6-12 month Easter shirt had to be returned! We might be in 12-18 months instead, and fitting more nicely in Liam’s size 5 diapers then I ever thought possible, but that’s OK. I love my big mushy CHUB!
Boys! I have LOTS of them! And I’m totally in love! What lucky girls Sophia and I are.
Bigger brothers
Fun. We have fun when we’re together.
This is an absolute FAVORITE around here (it made it into Asher’s choice for birthday dinner picks this past year). Apparently it was also a favorite for those of you who got to try some at the surprise gathering for Pastor Rick after the service this past Sunday. For those of you who have asked (I was told there were MANY, too many to count, so PLEASE pass it along as I was busy keeping tabs on and feeding my kids to notice this was such a hit) here it is. And if you’re just someone who stumbles upon my blog you’ll want to make it too!
1 pound bacon cooked and crumbled up
1/2 cup red onion diced
1 1/2 quarts 1/2 and 1/2
8 oz EXTRA SHARP cheddar cheese
3-4 garlic cloves minced
potatoes (I’ve used red and russet. Depending on how potatoey you like it will determine how many you use. I like lots. 6-7? I like skins. Peel if you wish. Cut into little cubes.
Box of Uncle Ben’s original recipe long grain and wild rice
pepper (I LOVE pepper) at your discretion
I have a nice big griddle that I cook the bacon on first. While that’s frying I follow instructions (minus adding the butter or whatever it calls for ”extra”, and I’m not sure why I do this. I certainly love butter. I just always have done it this way! Old habits die hard!) for the rice on stove top and cook that separately as well as cut up my potatoes and add to 1 quart of the 1/2 and 1/2 on the stove top in a bigger soup pot on low-medium heat.
When bacon is done and off the griddle I saute up the diced onion and garlic in some of the bacon juice aka GREASE/FAT for a few minutes because it’s just SO good! and then add to soup pot.
When rice is done I add to soup pot along with 8 oz grated cheese.
For bacon: soak up as much grease with napkins before crumbling up. I’ve done the crumbling by hand and it’s just messy! Use a sharp knife. Works much better. And you can do a lot at once.
It tends to be a thicker chunkier soup so I save that 1/2 quart of 1/2 and 1/2 (I’ve even used milk) to add along the way once everything is cooked and combined. Don’t be afraid to add more as well when heating up for left overs. Again milk will suffice.
By the time rice and bacon are done, potatoes are cooked enough to just simmer on low a bit or keep warm in a crock pot if you use that.
And now just because when I make things like this (or pretty much anything for dinner) I have such an amazing helper to entertain a certain someone… and I love it!
Enjoy!
I have a WONDERFUL no knead bread recipe to share at some point as well. Yes, I said NO KNEAD. It’s every housewife’s/mother’s/one’s dream COME TRUE who loves delicious homemade bread. And it’s to die for…
Stay tuned.
But you might have to remind me! 
But DO because you will love it!
This book is silly!
And intense!
New to us appliances and an afternoon spent painting (yesterday).
Drawing (of course!)
A new table allows for PLENTY of space for ALL!
I believe that just went much too fast.
(all taken yesterday)
Polly Pocket meets Lego pirate and they have a grand ole time!
This girl loves this baby and tells me many times a day, “I thought it was a GIRL but I LOVE this boy baby SO much and I’m so glad he was a boy.” And that’s when I say, “God just knows doesn’t he?!”
Our “SUPER budget friendly kitchen button-up” (which kinda just happened) as we’re calling it is well under way! This is the current state, however today is the LAST day I will use these particular appliances. My parents will be on their way up this afternoon to hand over their more up to date ALL white appliances to us! Other plans are as follows: finish sanding and painting the rest of the cabinets white, extending the island to gain an extra cabinet to hide that trash can, add a drawer above, and extra counter space for another stool/seat. The blue laminate will be leaving the Ockrin home as well. A new to us white porcelain sink will also be joining the budget friendly set up too. 
Thanks Dad and Marmee!
This kitchen has served us well! Although the blue and high gloss oak cabinets were never my thing, I certainly found much to be thankful for when this became MY kitchen as it first stood, one being a dishwasher! Another of just a tangible way the Lord provides exactly what we need with a purpose well filled. To me this kitchen was something out of Better Homes and Garden compared to what we had come from . This was actually Gabe’s idea to revamp the space a bit and I’ll say it caught me a bit off guard. Home improvements have kinda been the last thing on my priority list, but I know I will be blessed by it all nonetheless so I’ll enjoy it! And I know he just wants to bless me so it works. I am EXCITED!
I’m guessing once the hired out work is done we’ll still be chipping away at it (cabinets) HOWEVER that is perfectly fine by me. Gabe has been extremely busy with his job which is actually something we are both very thankful for (it means he has a job!). Most nights all I want to do is sit and talk with him for those moments he can spare or have him play with the kids or just rest. That word doesn’t seem to exist in his vocabulary and it’s important to me that he gets it.
It’s in these times that I am MORE than thankful for a mom who always showed tangible ways of being content, understanding, and patient with anything material. I sure hope I give off that attitude like she does. It’s rare these days. Someone is already lined up to take these all working appliances and that makes me happy, more than you could imagine!
Yummy foods are cooking and baking for a fun evening and day tomorrow with Grammy and Grampy. I already told A & S they will be sleeping in their sleeping bags in our room with Grammy and Grampy 
!!! Tomorrow morning they will join us for Upward, of which Asher is ecstatic! I ‘think‘ to have them see him play basketball?, but it could just be to show them the “snack shack”! This will all be very fun and funny indeed!
This is where my Liam comes from, not to mention this is where my fat babies come from! And I love it! Maybe it will make sense now to the rest of the world where these big babies of mine in fact come from. I am guessing I am 5-7 months based on the season. Gabe was no shrimp either with the nickname “chipmunk cheeks”. You get the point.
This is Asher, and it took my breath away as it looks just like Boaz! Scary, those Ockrin genes run thick!
O.K. now to make something for dinner! Old pictures sure are fun BUT distracting!
1 month
I am still VERY much in the process of reevaluating and fine tuning the day and routine and how to make it better. And yet every part of my being KNOWS it’s more important to reevaluate and fine tune attitudes. Especially mine. It’s just one big work in progress here, and I really AM thankful to be able to teach the kids more about having a good attitude as opposed to having the perfect day. Those don’t exist by the way. And the start to a perfect day doesn’t mean I made my bed or got dressed before 9am, or really anything that I accomplished.
The ‘best’ days I’m finding (besides the ones where my bed never actually got made and I lived in my sweatpants until I went back to bed at night) are sometimes the hardest days because things surfaced that desperately needed to and therefore got dealt with. One hoarding feelings of bitterness learned the importance of forgiveness. Another saw the gift that repentance and restoration of a relationship is to both parties. Or more times than not, the kids saw me at my worst and…Oh, Mom really needs Jesus too! And this is how you seek forgiveness and grace from the only One who can sufficiently give it. And with His help we can give forgiveness and grace to others. And, WOW, I really love you! I just saw Jesus in your face or in that action or in that choice!
Honestly, if at the end of the day it seemed to run a tad bit too…smoothly? I’m wondering what was missed or maybe what didn’t get brought to a head. That’s not to say I am laying my head down at night in a worrisome and frenzied state. Quite the contrary. I don’t think Gabe and I can fall asleep fast enough! It is however a reminder the task is great, the responsibility HUGE, and thankfully the Lord that much bigger! It’s an area not to be taken lightly and with lack of diligence. It’s those things that, for me, can ALWAYS be reevaluated. And it’s always a new day, always. Or a new start to the day no matter what time it is. Attitudes and perspective are key.
Mine being on the forefront.
Me to the kids after breakfast: “Remember to brush your teeth really well, how mommy and daddy have shown you, so you don’t get cavities.”
Sophia: “Or gravity.”
Sophia: “Mom, can I have some gum?”
Me: “No, we’re going to eat lunch in an hour.” (Not to mention you’re never allowed it again after getting it all in your hair yesterday and needing to use a scissors to cut it out!)
Sophia: “That’s in 2 minutes.”
Sophia: “Mom, I’m going down to get some paper in the critter.”
Me: “In the WHAT?!”
Sophia: Yelling from half way down the stairs, “The CRITTER!” (printer)
Me: “OK, Asher wants to do play-doh. Do you want to do it too? You need to find something to do because it’s quiet time while Liam and Boaz sleep.”
Sophia: “No, I don’t want to do anything. I just want to wait patiently until we go to Upward and then Grammy and Grampy’s.”
Me: “Sophia, that’s not for 2 days.”
Sophia: “I’m just gonna wait.”
Mopped floors in I don’t know HOW long. Good thing I don’t really care, because they are of course, dirty…again.
6 week old baby boy wearing 6 month old clothes. And a clean one finally at that!
An early surprise arrival home by Gabe late last night! He wasn’t due back from a trip out of town for the work week until tonight, possibly tomorrow! Let’s just say I am not cut out to be a military wife. Many thoughts and prayers went out to those I know who are.
School at a slow and steady pace and a boy who is reading and writing, LOTS!
Coffee, since I drink it now. Most days 2 cups!
A clean organized and rearranged new set-up for the play room downstairs.
My high, Jesus. My other high, throwing things out! LOVE IT! Don’t worry, Gabe encourages this. We are both minimalists (or try to be!).
A three year old’s precious prayer on the chair by the fire with Mom and Asher to ask Jesus into her life!
Phone calls one morning (all morning long!) to a mom and sisters.
Lots of facetime with Gabe while he was away.
A night out to Upward to watch Asher practice. SO funny and really precious too (all those kids!). What a great ministry! And proud of my man for heading it all up at that.
Coffee milkshakes, or bagel milkshakes, or really whatever I eat/drink turned into a ‘milkshake’ for Boaz. This, the kids came up with!
Thoughts about my dad and how awesome he is and how much I love him. Boaz really has the coolest name because of him!
“Bo Flo”. Not sure about this one. Ask Sophia.
Confirmed news of a niece on the way! (sister Randi’s bun in the oven!)
Grace. Lots of it. And for my children too!
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