Exploring The Old Market

 Our new neighborhood is the Old Market in Downtown Omaha.  It is the historic part of our downtown area.  I have lived in Omaha most of my life, I have been in the Old Market numerus times.  Many times I have walked past many of the shops, I am so glad we get to explore even more.  

One of the first places we had breakfast at was a place called The Table Coffee Co.  We had some last minute Christmas shopping to do so we decided to shop in our new neighborhood.  We ordered at the counter and found a seat.  I love that we get to explore with our youngest.  

The food was amazing!!  This is the waffle charcuterie board.  It had four waffles, eight toppings, and five strips of bacon.  Keziah and I split the board.  Marshall got a skillet of some sort.  We also orders some peppermint hot cholate and iced peppermint mocha. 

  One thing that is nice about our new place is that we can walk to tons of shopping and restaurants.  With the fact that most parking downtown you have to pay for, we are glad to not have to move our car if we don't need to.  There are so many cute locally owned shops in the area.  We love to go to the vintage shops, the two candy shops, and so much more.  We are in walking distance to a dog park, skating rink, mini golf place, and a place you can do crafts, go to a plant bar and over the top milkshakes.  We can't wait to walk to the farmers market come spring/summer time.  I hope to take you all on some of these adventures with us. 

Until Next Time,

Pitters

We Have Another Eagle Scout!!!!

 Wow, so much has happened in 2023.  In our Girls Scouts BSA troop we celebrated our second, third and fourth eagles.  The fourth Eagle Scout in our troop was my daughter Keziah.  Not only was she the fourth eagle for our troop but the fourth Eagle Scout in our family.  She followed in the foot steps of three of her older brothers.  Her eagle project was collecting pet products for a local rescues pet pantry and doing an adoption event with them.  

This was part of the collections for the pet pantry. 

This is a photo of one of the dogs that was up for adoption and the event.

In between Keziah's project and when she earned Eagle Scout she finishes up a couple merit badges and worked at summer camp.  When Keziah earned her Eagle Scout she had also earned seven Eagle Palms, meaning she had earned 35 more merit badges more than what she needed.  

Keziah's Eagle Court of Honor was in early November.  We had so  much fun putting it all together.  Her menu was soups and chili, salads, meat and cheese board, and different topping for the soups and chili. 

 We did the Scout Law candle ceremony with Bible verses that go with the Law.  The candle holder is made from a fallen tree from the Little Sioux Scout Ranch after the tornado that ripped through the Scout Ranch in June of 2008.  It was made by one of the former Scoutmasters from the boy's troop. 

 Her Eagle Court of Honor was such a fun day.  She had friends for all over the area come.  Friends from all stages of her life came to celebrate.  This is one of my favorite photos from her ECOH.  Keziah with all of her brothers.  They intended for this photo to be silly but I love it.   

Some have asked if her scouting time has come to an end.  No, it has not, she is only 15! She is currently the Senior Patrol Leader for the troop, and she also holds a leadership position in Order of the Arrow.  She plans on staying involved with the troop even after she turns 18 in a few years.  We have so many more adventures in scouts.

Until Next Time,

Pitters

We are Moving!!!

     With all but one of our children out of the house we are downsizing. We will be moving from just over 1,900 square feet to just over 1,000 square feet. We are moving from a house to an apartment. This is an exciting time for our family, but for this mom's heart a little bit sweet. We are starting to settle into our new home. Our dogs are getting used to a new routine, sounds and smells of living in an apartment. 

     We spent our first Christmas in the new place. All of the kids were over, a couple significant others and a few other people. We fit 11 people and 2 dogs in our open concept living room, dining room and kitchen. Along with a ton of gifts and lots of food. I am so thankful and blessed to have the family I have. 

     As we get settled in I am hoping to get back into writing on this blog, making videos on our YouTube channel, and maybe starting a podcast. I am working on a vision board for 2024 and I have quite a few things I would like to do.  For now I would like to leave you with a few photos of the downtown Christmas lights from the roof top lounge of our building.

Until next time,

Pitters

New Stage in Life

     Coming up in September the youngest two kids are going to start doing duel enrollment with our local community collage. So with that, We have decided as a family that I will go back to teaching full time, I am an Early Childhood Educator.  With my new job I have the opportunity to continue my education and get my Bachelors Degree in Early Child Education. I am so excited to start this new adventure. My two youngest will still be doing a couple of subjects at home, but most will be at the community collage.  

    So somethings I am looking forward to as I go back into the classroom.  I love teaching, I love seeing kids grasp concepts, and I love decorating and planning my classroom.  I will have a co-teacher, so that is good.  I am looking forward to getting to know her and the students.  I have been out of a perfectional classroom for 14 years.  To say the least I am a little nervous to start back teaching full time, but I am also excited.  I am excited with the opportunity to get my bachelors degree. 

    I am going to be learning a new work, school, life balance.  I am so thankful that I know a lot of crockpot and instant pot recipes.  I will be working on meal prep recipes and stocking the freezer before going back to work and starting school.  I will also be working on meal prep for lunches.  With the kids going to in person classes a couple days a week, my husband works full time, plus a part time job, and with me starting to work a full time job, it will be nice to have home made lunches on the go.  I will be working on recipe and blog post for all of that, including what lunch boxes and containers we will be using.  As I get ready to go back I will be posting a what is in my teacher bag, things I have in my classroom, and so much more about going back to the workforce after 14 years. I can't wait to take you along on this new journey, and still give you content like I have been. New recipes, what God is teaching me, homeschool life, cleaning and organizing, meal prep ideas and more. 

Until Next Time,

Pitters

As Summer Comes to a Close

 With the beginning of August our summer is slowly coming to an end. We will start school up again, and the two kids left homeschooling will start a new adventure and take duel credit classes through our local Community College. Although we have at least two more months of hot/warm weather, my thoughts are turning towards decorating for the fall/Halloween. I will not start until September to decorate for the fall and then October 1st for Halloween. I am going to be working on projects for Fall and Halloween decorations over this next month. 

With fall also comes some of my favorite meals. I love making hardy soups, homemade bread and other comfort foods. I will be sharing some of my favorite recipes during the fall. I will be working on doing cook with me videos on my YouTube Channel this fall as well. I have already started on a few that are up now. 

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLjcWW-Vdvv6zR6g_YoADFQ

I have finally finished my home office. I just took me some time to get pictures for you all.  My office is set up to also be an online classroom and makeup area for my daughter and I.  She is really into doing makeup and the office is a great space for us to share.  It is also a space that is for working on things my husband and I need to work on for our scouts troops, we are Scoutmaster for.  

This fall is a lot of new for us, but it is all good.  We have our 19 year old that is leaving the nest, but will not be to far from us. He is starting his Freshman year in college and we are so excited for him.  Well I am getting ready for our crazy week ahead. 

Until Next Time,

Pitters

Hummus Dish

 I have found a new love in hummus.  Until attending summer camp with my scout troop and spending most of my afternoons in the kitchen help out the staff, I never really liked hummus.  The chef at the camp made a snack for the volunteers, I plate of hummus with all kinds of goodies on it.  So here is my take on what he did.

Ingredients:

1/4 cup plan hummus ( store bought or your own recipe) 

1 teaspoon of homemade garlic oil (Recipe below)

3-4 grape tomatoes cut into rounds

1/2 shallot dice small

1-2 Tablespoons of crumbled fetta cheese

1/4 cup mix of baby arugula and baby spinach torn into smaller pieces 

salt and pepper to taste

1 Tablespoon of balsamic glaze

Chips or any other thing you like dipped in hummus 

Step 1: Smear hummus onto a plate, add salt and pepper to taste

Step 2: Add the garlic oil

Step 3: Top with tomatoes and shallots:

Step 4: Top with fetta cheese, arugula and baby spinach :

Step 5: Drizzle the Balsamic Glaze:

Homemade garlic oil:

2 cups olive oil

8 cloves of crushes garlic

heat oil in a pan with the garlic for 15 to 20 minutes.  Do not over cook or the garlic will become bitter. Strain the garlic oil into and air tight container. You can keep the garlic cloves but they mush be used within a day or two.  Store in an air tight container in the fridge for a week.  

You can use garlic oil when cooking things like eggs, pizza crust, or for sautéing veggies.

Enjoy trying something new. Until next time!

Pitters

What a Whirlwind of a Year So Far!!!

    After starting off our new year with Covid, having my Father-in-law put in the hospital because of Covid, then he was in rehab so he could get strong enough to come home, then less than 4 hours after coming home he was right back in the hospital.  After being in the hospital for the second time, we found out he had stage 4 colon cancer.  He went home to be with the Lord early Easter Morning.  

    Then in May our 19 year old went on a leadership and mission trip to Virginia with some people from our church. He just came back home last week.  Also last week my husband and I took our two scout troops to summer camp for a week.  Our 17 year old is working at scout summer camp for the 4th summer.  

    In March I started to do administrative work for a online/in person dance studio and they have other classes. In May I got the opportunity to start teaching some of the essay tutoring classes, Storytime and art classes, and I got to sub for a drama class as well.  This coming Friday I am starting to teach outdoor play classes for kids age 1.5 to 8 years old and their parents/guardians. I am able to work my work schedules around my kids needs with homeschooling and I am loving that.

    

    This school year will be our 15th school year.  In the fall we will have a senior and a freshman.   I am not sure were the time has gone but here we are.  It is crazy to me that I am in my last 4 years of homeschooling my kids. 

    I am going to be working very hard at writing on the blog more and other thing surrounding it.  I am almost done with my office so that blog and maybe a YouTube video will be coming soon.  

Until Next Time,

Pitters