Easy dinner for a cold night

It's really cold here in OKC so I found an awesome recipe for Taco Soup in my Southern living holiday book. It's probably one of the healthiest recipes I've seen and Erik says this is his favorite soup of all time.

1 lb lean ground beef
2 (16 oz) cans pinto beans, rinsed and drained
1 (32 oz) container low sodium chicken broth
1 (15 oz) can black beans, rinsed and drained
1 (14.5 oz) can petite diced tomotoes
1 (11 oz) can shoepeg corn
1(10 oz) can diced tomato and green chiles
1 pack taco seasoning
optional toppings: sour cream, cheese, lime juice, corn chips

cook ground beef in a large dutch oven over medium heat; stirring until beef crumbles and is no longer pink; drain and return to Dutch oven. Stir in pinto beans and next 6 ingredients. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat. Simmer; stirring occasionally, 15 minutes (I usually let mine simmer for 45 minutes on low to let the flavors really mix).

I serve this with regular corn muffin mix that I add cheese and green chiles to.

Hopefully the weather isn't as cold where you live, but if it never breaks 35 degrees, this meal is a winner!

Jacob at 9 months

Jacob had his 9 month appointment a couple of weeks ago and he was 22 lbs and 30 inches long! He was born at 6 lbs 12 oz and 19 inches long so he's been a hungry, growing boy. He also was a little trickster and for 8 months led us to believe he wouldn't be walking by kindergarten and in 3 weeks he rolled over, crawled, pulled up, and now....he's STANDING. OH MY GOODNESS. He sure had me fooled. He pretty much eats what we eat and drinks his bottles like a champ. He has also started holding his own bottle which has been WONDERFUL. He is still such a joy and still he lovessss his momma. He also starting talking more. He says "baba" (bottle), "buba" (brother), "dada", "momma", and his most recent "tha" (what's that). Here are a few pictures.

Look dad! I can stand!

Happiest when he's eating:)

Our family at Jacob's dedication at church.

holding his bottle.

Same song different verse

I'm sitting here in Alaska, I mean Oklahoma, watching the thickest, heaviest, biggest snow of my life fall to the ground...AGAIN. 2-3 inches fell in less than an hour. And still falling. One more day of no driving. Probably no school for Jack tomorrow. No playing outside for a while. This is starting to become a familiar situation here in Alaska, I mean Oklahoma. A 4 wheel drive vehicle must be in our immediate future. Where is the Taco Diner patio when you need it???

Changin' it up

Jacob and I met Erik for lunch at Cantina Laredo and I snapped a few pics of Erik's bow tie debut. He's worn a suit and tie everyday to work since the day he graduated college so he figured why not change it up a bit. Jacob played with it so it's a little uneven but you get the picture:)

Momma's.Boys.

Today after a mere 10 minutes of cardio at the gym, I hear "paging Jerica Olson to the Kids Club" about 3 times over the loud speaker. As I get closer I hear Jack crying "I want my mommy" and Jacob crying "mamamamama". Seriously boys? We'll work on this hopefully in time for them to go away to college without me:)

Goodbye Rock n Roll Hello South Beach

In March I will have to withdraw my entrance to this...

so Erik and I can spend some much needed time relaxing on South Beach.

(I have another half scheduled here in OKC in April but I am sad to miss Rock n Roll..I hear it's fun!)

Indoors

This weather is so crazy. In Texas when it snows you hurry outside to touch it before it falls to the ground and melts! Here the snow stays for weeks! The kids here haven't been to school since last Wednesday. I'm running out of things to do inside. And I cannot drive until the roads aren't covered in layers of ice/snow/ice/snow/ice. It took almost a month for the last snow to finally melt so hopefully we'll get to play outside by March!!!

trying on my heels for entertainment:)

playing together

the snow had just started in this picture and Jack's feet are already covered

Our house today (4 days after the winter storm)

Jack got to ride his gator in the snow for about an hour then the snow got too deep.

The frozen tundra (our backyard) today.

I found a recipe for homemade snow ice cream and the boys loved it. Jacob even got to try some!

Erik REALLY liked the ice cream.

Jack seems to love trying on my shoes:) Hopefully we can go outside soon so he can play in the mud instead of my tall boots and heels!