Christ Community Church MOPS

Let’s Get to Know our 1/3 Ladies…

Thanks Katie, for sharing your table with us!

Back Row:  Jessica Reade, Michelle Kazor, Katie Wheat, Kimberly Storm, Jessica Beck, Stacy Meyer

Front Row :  Susan Friesen, Bethany Doyle,Stacy Heavican

 

Easter Memories

By Katie Wheat

I have many fond memories of Easter as a child, and many nightmares of the matching Easter dresses... with my mom( FYI, never a good look...). I loved getting up Easter morning and going down into our Victorian styled living room. Jelly beans were "hidden" in every nook and cranny of the elaborate furniture and decor. My dad would always tell us about Jesus and all he had done for us and then we would get to search for our Easter baskets. As soon as every Easter basket was found, the mad dash for the jelly bean collecting began!

One of the greatest things about being a mom for me is now getting to experience the joy of the Holidays through my kids. I have always enjoyed Holidays but there is something about seeing the excitement of my 3 year old, or hearing the squeal of my 1 year old as they experience these traditions for the first time!

I may not have a little girl that I can torture with matching dresses, but I am so thankful for the two precious little guys who I know will love their very first Easter basket/ jelly bean hunt, and I can't wait to experience it with them!

 

 

What's a funny one liner you never thought you'd say to your kids...

·         Because God made me the mom. You can complain to Him about it." (Jessica Reade)

·         Did you just eat that" My kiddos are great at finding crumbs, snacks on the floor, in the car...just about anywhere. (Stacy Heavican)

·         "Don't lick your brother" (It's the only one that is fresh in my mind...I used that one just this morning!) (Stacy Meyer)

·         "Hurry up in there! This isn't a fashion show!" (Michelle Kazor)

 

 

What's your favorite go to dinner when you are short on time or cash?

·        Chicken Tortilla Soup- It's basically chicken and four cans of veggies. (Jessica Reade) ~ Recipe below

·        Spaghetti and garlic bread (Stacy Heavican)

·        Brinner! My family loves breakfast for dinner. There aren't many meals quicker or cheaper than whipping up a pan of scrambled eggs and pancakes! (Stacy Meyer)

·        Cheesy Chicken Bake (Bethany Doyle) ~ Recipe Below

·        Hamburger or Tuna Helper (Michelle Kazor)

·        Taco Soup (Beth Sanchez)

 

Favorite book you read last year...

·        Oooh, that's hard!!! "Grace Based Parenting" - non-fiction "The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society" – fiction (Jessica Reade)

·        The Lucky One by Nicholas Sparks (Stacy Heavican)

·        I'm not much of a book reader.  I love my subscription to US Weekly though.  I need short stories/paragraphs that I can read in one sitting.  It's my guilty pleasure to read about celebrities and see how the other side lives. :) (Stacy Meyer)

·        The Light Between Oceans by M. L. Stedman (Bethany Doyle)

·        I don't always have time to read but, I love listening to books on CD. Bringing up Boys by Dr. Dobson has helped me understand my little boy better.  I also enjoyed reading Hinds feet on High places. (Beth Sanchez)

Do you have any cute ideas for Easter crafts or recipes?

·        This year we're going to put glue dots on eggs and roll them in glitter for some sparkly, girly. Polka dot eggs. Gotta love Pinterest! (Jessica Reade)

·        Mine isn't specifically either a craft or recipe, but my kids love it when I fill those bright, plastic eggs with their snacks or meals.  I sometimes put their after school snacks in them.  Or, I put a few in their school lunches.  I fill them with crackers, blueberries, fruit snacks, pretzels...whatever fits!  It's always more fun to eat out of a cute container! (Stacy Meyer)

·        Make your own s'mores but use "peeps" for the marshmallows (Michelle Kazor)

·       One of the things we do every year to prepare for Easter is the Resurection Eggs. I know Jessica already mentioned this but we are going to experiment with the glitter Easter Eggs as well. (Beth Sanchez)

 

Let’s Eat…

Chicken Tortilla Soup (from Jessica Reade via Jana Murphy)

1 lb. chicken breasts, cooked and shredded

1 can Rotel

1 can black beans

1 can pinto beans

1 cup salsa

Bring all ingredients to a boil and then let simmer for ten or so minutes. Serve with sour cream, shredded cheese and tortilla chips if desired.

You can also throw ingredients into a crockpot on low for a few hours.

Cheesy Chicken Bake (from Bethany Doyle)

2-4 Chicken breasts, butterflied (or 10 chicken tenders)

1-1.5 cups shredded Mozzarella cheese

2 (10 3/4oz) cans cream of chicken soup

1/4 cup milk or white wine

12 oz of stove top stuffing

3 T butter, melted

Place chicken breasts in 9x13 pan. Sprinkle cheese on top of chicken. Mix soups and milk/wine, pour over chicken. Sprinkle with Stove Top stuffing. Drizzle over with melted butter. Bake at 350 degrees for 40 minutes. Cover if getting to dark.

Optionally~ can be done in the crockpot on low for about 6hrs. Prepare the same way but pour 1/3 cup chicken broth over top.