Friday, May 31, 2013

{Happy Birthday, Ella!} Hey, Hey!

Happy 1st Birthday, Ella!


  
You've got the cutest little baby face!
 

 
 
 
 
My Facebook posts from 5/31/2012:
  • another reason to visit Wilmington! (yikes - I better get there soon!!)
  • no internet at home for now, but I'm excited about my Sprint bill I just got!
  • Text message at 1:55 am Central time: "She's here! Ella Taylor, 2:24am, 7lbs 13oz., 19 in."  Congrats to Jake, Meg, & big sister Lily!!!!!

Thursday, May 30, 2013

{Celebrating 4 Years}

 
Happy Anniversary, Jess & Luke!

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Wednesday, May 29, 2013

{A Year Ago} on Not the Last to Know


This day in {my} history.

2012

  • Email from Dad: Took Mom to doctor...not a cold, allergies, or pneumonia...it's her heart...he gave her medicine to slow her heart rate which is like she was taking until we moved here. Heart rate was 125 (should have gotten a ticket for speeding) and accounts for her shortness of breath...recheck next Monday to see if there is a need for increased dosage.
  • Carsten had a baseball game tonight. It was a bit chilly, but we survived :)
 
Carsten Baseball
Click to Enlarge

2011

What's for dinner...

What's for dessert...plus many to share!








What did you do last year on this day?

Tuesday, May 28, 2013

{A Year Ago} on Not the Last to Know



This day in {my} history.

2012

  • Spent the day helping mom - she's been sick for a week. Hopefully going to doctor tomorrow. Drove back home late afternoon. The trip was uneventful. I was concerned there might be extra traffic from the holiday weekend, but it was just fine.

2011

Sunday Afternoon with Carsten
Click to Enlarge






What did you do last year on this day?

Monday, May 27, 2013

{A Year Ago} on Not the Last to Know


This day in {my} history.

2012

  • Drove to mom and dad's after morning church. It was a quiet drive. I stopped at Sonic for lunch on my way out of town. Picked up mom a strawberry limeade slush and one for me. It was delicious! Jan and Dale were at Mom and Dad's for the weekend too. Mom was home sick and didn't go to church at all. She perked up a bit for the slush, but that didn't last long.
 

2011

Evening out - Old Spaghetti Factory and Arsenic & Old Lace at the Guthrie with Lindsay, Cheryl, and Shirley
Click to Enlarge

2010

Ethan at Morgen's violin recital






What did you do last year on this day?



Saturday, May 25, 2013

{A Year Ago} on Not the Last to Know



This day in {my} history.

2012



2011

Our building lawn crew missed a spot...I guess it was a little soggy...


2010

Morgen graduates kindergarten

2009



2008




What did you do last year on this day?

Friday, May 24, 2013

{Little Peanut} Margot Louisa Levang

Rejoice with those who rejoice...
 
Romans 12:15a
 
This week, while a bit quieter at work, kept me hopping after work: Monday was Morgen's birthday celebration, Tuesday was free, Wednesday was Lindsay's Master's Essay Presentation, Thursday was taxi for Morgen to swim lessons, and Friday was a fun surprise...Lindsay had her baby!
For readers who wonder who Lindsay is...well, she's my sister-in-law Meg's sister which makes her one-sixth of the Auntie-hood for Lily and Ella. Oh, and she used to be my upstairs neighbor until last July when she got married to Chris. 
This morning I was getting ready for work (and running late) when I got a text from Lindsay that Margot Louisa Levang was born at 1:26 am. She weighed 5 lbs 15 oz and was 19.5 inches long.
Since I didn't have any plans except working out after work, I asked Lindsay if I could come meet her tonight. I went up to the hospital around 7:30 pm to meet Margot. Her great-grandparents from Iowa and her Grandma Tuttle were there giving her lots of love. I got to steal her away from Great-Grandpa and hold her for a bit. She is sooo cute!
I realized today it's been five years since I held a one-day old baby! I've added two nieces in the last 3 years, but I'm thankful I got to see them when they were about a month to six weeks old.

Mother's Day ~ 12 May 2013
Lindsay Levang ~ Master's Essay Presentation ~ 22 May 2013
Graduation is Saturday, but one graduate will be missing! 
 
 
 Margot Louisa Levang ~ 24 May 2013
 
 
Congratulations, Levang family!
 
 

Tuesday, May 21, 2013

{Recipe} Peanut Butter Protein Power Ball

After trying these at Jen's one day, I was hooked. If you like eating cookie dough, this will definitely be something you like, too!

In the past three and a half months I've made a version of this recipe three times. On my third try, I think I found my permanent version. :)

You can find the original recipe here and work out your own version, OR read on to learn my secrets! ;)

The ingredients come in quantities for about 4-5 batches. It's worked really well for me to make up a batch, split it into two bags, freeze one bag and take the other bag to work. I keep it in the refrigerator and pull one or two protein balls out when I need a snack mid-afternoon or some protein after a workout.

Pictured below is the finished product, the ingredients, and how much mess this recipe makes - you're welcome! :)

Click to Enlarge


Peanut Butter Protein Power Ball Recipe 

Ingredients:
1 cup Peanut Butter (I’m using up a huge jar I have from Aldi, but all natural would be better for you)

4 scoops of Protein Powder (I’d like to try chocolate sometime, but so far I’ve only used vanilla)

1 cup of Honey (Anyone know where to get local honey?)

1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract

3-4 Cups of the Following Ingredients:  

Almonds

Peanuts

Mini-Chocolate Chips (The first two times I made this I used regular-sized chocolate chips, but I think the mini will work the best)

Oatmeal

Flax Seed (ground)

Directions:
Mix the protein powder, honey, vanilla extract, and peanut butter together in a bowl. You can use an electric mixer or food processor if you want, but a strong spoon will suffice as well. If you decide to use granulated sweetener instead of liquid sweetener you may have to add a drop of water, just to thin out the mixture a bit. If you have used a particularly oily brand of natural peanut butter, you might need to add more protein powder.

Next add all remaining ingredients except chocolate chips to blender and blend for rough texture (I use whole almonds and peanuts and I prefer not to bit into a huge piece). Pour half of blended ingredients and all of the chocolate chips into peanut butter/honey mixture and mix together with large spoon or spatula. Add remaining blended ingredients and mix together until mixed thoroughly. If you have used all 4 cups of additional ingredients, you might need to add more honey.

Roll scoops of the batter into balls. Place balls onto wax paper and put in freezer for a 10-15 minutes. Store peanut butter protein balls in a Ziplock bag. Refrigerate or freeze them if you want them to stay round.

Makes approximately 30 balls about one inch in diameter.
 
Enjoy!!

 

Monday, May 20, 2013

{Lilacs in Bloom} Happy Birthday, Mo!

Happy 9th Birthday, Morgen!

How do we know it's your birthday?  
Because the lilacs are blooming!! 
What do I tell you every year?  
Stop getting big...but I can't stop!

Morgen Rae Markgraf was born on May 20, 2004 around 8 or 8:30 am. She made me an aunt for the first time. I still remember the day she was born: I worked a half day so I drove from Watertown straight to the hospital in Minneapolis, and I spent the next week helping out at the Markgraf house.

Back to that special day - for a good hour into my drive I was waiting for a call from Eric about her name. We knew she was a girl and that maybe her name would be Meg, but all other name possibilities were kept a secret. I eventually got the call and found out that they made up her name that day: Jen and Eric's little lamb was born in the morning - Morgen (German for morning) Rae (Hebrew for little lamb).

This little lamb changed my life. She knows this and eats it up. Morgen, or More-Jen as the sisterhood has named her, is the first to compliment your outfit, your jewelry, your shoes, or your hair. She's the queen of all shopping queens - out doing her own mother if given a chance.

I love you, Mo!!

2004
 
Left 2005 - Morgen ~ Right 1976 - Auntie Bek 

2005 - Easter trip to Watertown

2006 - Strummin' with Aunt Anna in Indiana
 
2007 - Taggin' along with Dad
 
2008 - Fun at the Mall
 
2009 - This girl loves her Pedicures! (Click to Enlarge)

2010 - Snoovies!
 
2011 (Click to Enlarge)

2012 - Hawaiian Birthday Girl


Click here for more posts about Morgen.

{A Year Ago} on Not the Last to Know


This day in {my} history.


Happy Birthday, Dear, Morgen!
 

2012


2011

Thank You note from Morgen

Plans for new space at new work building

2010


2009

Thank You Note from Jen


Friday, May 17, 2013

{A Year Ago} on Not the Last to Know


This day in {my} history.

2012



2011



2010



2009



2008






What did you do last year on this day?

Wednesday, May 15, 2013

{Ethan is 5} No More E4

Happy Birthday, Bubba!

Ethan Brandt Markgraf was born May 15, 2008. He spent some time in NICU before he came home. He was a bit small, but that didn't stop me from nicknaming him Bubba. He quickly grew into that name.

When Ethan was three my dad asked him what his name was and he said, "E3" - that nickname has caught on with the whole family except we've changed the number after every birthday.

 
2008
 
2009
 
2010
 
2011
 
2012
 
2013
 


Click here for a few Ethan posts over the years.

{A Year Ago} on Not the Last to Know


This day in {my} history.
 

Happy Birthday, Dear, Ethan!
 

2012

  • Ethan's b-day today. We met at Red Robin and then for cake at Jen's. Can't believe Bubba is 4! 
Red Robin Birthday Celebration for Morgen & Ethan
Click to Enlarge

2011

Thank You Note from Ethan

2010


 

2009


 
 
What did you do last year on this day?

Tuesday, May 14, 2013

{A Year Ago} on Not the Last to Know


This day in {my} history.


2012

Red Robin Birthday Celebration for Morgen & Ethan
Click to Enlarge


2011

Thank You Note from Ethan

2010


2009




What did you do last year on this day?

Monday, May 13, 2013

{250th Post} What have you missed?

My 200th Post was posted almost a year ago and has been my most-read post of all time.

So let me say THANK YOU to my faithful readers :)

You would think this, my 250th post, should be something exciting, but instead I'm going to highlight a few posts of late...I've got nothin' else...so, enjoy! :-)


  • {Kickstarter} Grace Alone - please check out the Grace Alone project that the Deo Cantamus organization is sponsoring. You don't want to miss out on this!

  • {Love from Littles} = Worth Being Late - Jess & Luke's foster boys have been back with them for 5 weeks now. At this point we still don't know how long they'll have them, but we're certainly enjoying being able to love on them while we can.





Any ideas for my 300th post? At the rate I've been posting, it should be sometime this fall. Stay tuned! I'll try to work on something awesome for ya! ;)

I'll leave you with a collage of pics from this weekend of Jess & Luke's boys. They were loving playing in Aunt Cheryl & Uncle Jon's backyard.

Click to Enlarge

{A Year Ago} on Not the Last to Know


This day in {my} history.

2012



2011

My house: warm and cozy
Click to Enlarge



What did you do last year on this day?

Saturday, May 11, 2013

{Kickstarter} Grace Alone

So, hey, All!

I thought I should let the dust settle on my last fundraising effort before I started in on something else, but I need to let you know about a great project that you can be a part of from the ground up.

Have you heard of Kickstarter? It's an online way of raising money, but the donor actually gets something in return for donating. Also, you don't actually give any money until all the money has been pledged. The "kicker" is that is has to be done within a 30-day time limit.

So, what's this great project?

All my readers should be familiar with the singing group I'm a part of, Deo Cantamus, so it should come as no surprise that the organization is working with a local musician and composer, Josh Bauder, to record 11 hymns. The hymn texts are not necessarily new, but the music is.

Josh is a brilliantly talented, grad student who goes to my church, and I've been privileged to sing his work before. In fact Jen, Jess and I sang one of his songs at my mom's church ladies lunch just a few weeks ago. Also, the Deo Cantamus group has also sung some of his works in previous concerts.

So, on to the point of my post...

Please go to the Grace Alone Kickstarter page to learn more about the project directly from Josh himself, as well as the Deo Cantamus leader, Al Hawkins. They've put together a great video. After you watch the video, you can pledge to donate $1, $10, $25, $50, or $100. Each level of donating has a little incentive gift - i.e. if you give $10, you will get a free download of the album when it's released.

So, what are you waiting for?!
 
Go donate! Thanks for participating in this great opportunity!

{A Year Ago} on Not the Last to Know


This day in {my} history.

2012



2011



2010



2009




What did you do last year on this day?

Friday, May 10, 2013

{7 Things to Know}


This week’s edition of 7 Things to Know...


  1. I can't post pics with their faces or give you names of my foster nephews. It's really too bad. They. Are. Cute!
  2. My parents drove over Thursday to give Ethan his birthday card and hang out with us. It's nice that they live close and that they come see us a lot!
  3. My local sisters took my mom shopping on Friday morning for her Mother's Day gift. It was a successful venture.
  4. On Tuesday I finally went grocery shopping. It's always good to have a well-stocked larder. I make healthier choices when I don't eat on the run and when I have meals planned.
  5. Speaking of healthy choices - I worked out three times this week. I wanted it to be more, but I took a rest day on Tuesday (to go grocery shopping) and Thursday (to spend time with my family). I feel like the three times I did work out were productive: Monday-30 min elliptical; Wednesday-20 min circuit weights; Friday-20 min circuit weights (with more weights and reps than Wednesday), 10 min elliptical.
  6. My weekend plans keep changing but they include rest, family, and friends.
  7. I'll leave you with a couple of pics from a cool evening walk tonight with Jess, Luke, E, V, & F...





P.S. Stay tuned for birthday week! Tomorrow we start the celebrating!




Make it a great weekend!