What is Playing Wednesdays

I am a huge music freak. I love everything about it...finding someone new to listen to, going down memory lane with something from my past, getting caught up in the emotion of a song. Everything!

So I decided to post on Wednesday's exactly what it is that I am currently loving and this week it is the new double album from David Gray titled Foundling.  I have loved David Gray for quite sometime now, and this album is my new favorite. It is bittersweet, full of simple, subtle haunting songs...and I'm in love with him all over again! I think that with all of the rain and the amount of hours that my husband has been working lately is what led me to this album...it seems to fit my mood. Check it out!


Here's a video of my favorite David Gray song, "This Years Love"...it's from a couple of years ago, but still one of my faves!



Have a great rest of the week!

Have I finally cured my picky eater?

Tonight was a milestone in our house...I actually got my son to try everything on his plate! To some people this might not sound like much, but in our household this is a HUGE deal. I think anyone with a picky eater understands this dilemma. You know this kind of child...it's the child that thinks that chicken nuggets and mac & cheese are a full meal. The child that acts like vegetables were created by the devil and that everything must be dipped in either ketchup or ranch.

But not tonight...not in my house. Dinner tonight consisted of my hubby's fall-off-the bones tender bbq'd pork ribs, baked beans and peas. Any my little one ate a little bit of everything on his plate.

That's right...he even ate his vegetables! I just about fell out of my chair when this happened. And then I praised him and my hubby and I high-fived.

Needless to say, it was a successful night in the Schell household. Let's just hope that this begins a new trend around here!

Caleb & Coach Daddy

So now that fall has arrived (at least in theory, 'cause it's still over 100 degrees down here!) and soccer has started again!

Caleb & Chris before their first game

And Chris signed up to coach Caleb's team again. It is so great to see the two of them out there on the field together and Chris is really good at coaching! He's great with the kids and does a good job of trying to teach the basics and making sure the kids learn good sportsmanship. 

Caleb is doing better this year...he seems to actually get the point of the game, even though he needs to work on controlling the ball a little bit better. (If he gets the ball he just goes with it as fast as he can, not paying attention to what direction he is going, who is in his way or where the goal is!)

Chris with some of his team, the Blaze

The back of my little number 5

Caleb on the ground after running into a kid on the opposing team.

One bonus of getting involved in sports at this age is that it is pretty fun to watch. The kids are all so cute and they all have so much fun playing "bunch" ball. (Our nickname for soccer since it's just a bunch of kids chasing the ball around!)

Cheesy {Easy} Beer Bread

I love to make bread...but there are days that I just don't have the time to wait for it to rise.  This past week, I really wanted fresh warm bread to serve with dinner so I decided to make a great savory quick beer bread made with cheddar cheese, green onions and some italian spices. It turned out great and my little one even loved it...onions and all!

 Cheesy Beer Bread

• 2 1/2 cup All-purpose Flour
• 2 Tablespoons Granulated Sugar
• 2-½ teaspoons Baking Powder
• ½ teaspoons Baking Soda
• ½ teaspoons Kosher Salt
• 1 teaspoon Italian Seasonings
• 1-½ cup Beer (1 bottle)
• 1 cup Freshly Grated Cheddar Cheese
• 2 green onions diced up

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Spray the bottom and sides of a  loaf pan; set aside.

2. In a large bowl, place flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, salt and Italian seasonings. Whisk to combine.

3. Add beer, onions and cheddar cheese. Stir until everything is just moistened. Do not overmix!

4. Pour batter into loaf pan. Bake at 375 degrees for 35-40 minutes, or until top is golden brown, and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

5. Cool for about 10 minutes, and then remove from pan to either slice and serve warm, or let it finish cooling on a wire rack.

There are so many variations that you could try with this recipe...I was thinking of trying pepperjack cheese & jalapenos for a good spicy bread or maybe Asiago cheese & rosemary. It seems like the options are just about endless!

I hope that you enjoy!

Big shoes to fill

Recently I caught my little monkey walking around the house in his daddy's shoes. All that he could talk about was how big he was getting and how one day he would wear even bigger shoes than daddy.

I agree with him...he IS getting so big! But it's all happening a little too quickly for this mommy. Do you think it's wrong for me to wish that it would all just slow down? I wish my little monkey would stay little forever!

Why can't our little ones just stay sweet and small like this forever?

Missing Fall

One of the things that I miss the most living in Arizona is the change of seasons. My most favorite season of all has always been fall. I love the changing of the color of the leaves, the crisp mornings and the smells of fall! Don’t get me wrong, I love living down here, but it’s so hard when it is still 100 degrees in September and when I have to make Halloween costume decisions based on how hot it will be to wear around in October. I want to go to a football game outside and have to use a blanket to keep warm while drinking some hot cider!

So to all of my friends and family up the Pacific Northwest enjoy the changing of the leaves, take in and appreciate the beautiful colors and crisp cold, clean air…and, jump in a pile of leaves for me!

Story Time

Last weekend I could hear my little one "reading" one of his books. Following the voice I found Caleb reading to our boxer Roxy.

It was one of the cutest things that I have ever seen him do! But I don't think that Roxy knew what to think of it...

Caleb was so intent on reading that he didn't even notice me taking photos.

He managed to get through two of his favorite books before...

He completed what he set out to do...He managed to put Roxy right to sleep!

Have a great weekend!