Slow Cooker Chicken Caesar Sandwhiches

It's been awhile since I have posted a recipe, and since January is over, I figured I better get at it!  It's my goal to post at least 1 new recipe a month in 2012!  I have tried a few new recipe's in the last month, but they were both a complete FLOP-OLA! I pouted about it awhile, but am over it now.  Let me just say, it is super-de-duper depressing when you spend money on groceries for a new recipe that you can't even choke down.  And to make it even worse, one of the recipes made enough food for one meal to eat, and one meal to freeze.   Anyway, on with the Chicken Caesar :)

My mouth waters anytime I see Chicken Caesar on a menu.  If they have a Chicken Caesar Salad, or a Chicken Caesar wrap, 9 times out of 10, that's what I order.  I found this Slow Cooker Chicken Caesar Sandwich recipe on Pinterest a few weeks ago.  I prayed it wouldn't be another recipe disaster.  Prayers answered! 

YUM!  I loved it, and so did Derek and Boston!  Brigham, not so much, but he isn't eating anything lately.  However, he did manage to shovel more cheeto's in his mouth than it could hold.  That made for a cheesy mess, but a happy baby, so we went with it!

Next time I make this we are going to try it on a wrap!  ENJOY!

Slow Cooker Chicken Caesar Sandwhiches

2 pounds boneless skinless chicken thighs  (I used breasts because that's what I had on hand!)
1 cup of your favorite Caesar dressing
1/2 cup shredded Parmesan cheese
1/4 cup fresh chopped parsley, or 2 teaspoons of dried parsley (I used dried)

1/2 teaspoon ground pepper

2 cups shredded romaine lettuce

12 slider buns or 4-6 regular sized hamburger buns

• Place chicken in a slow cooker with 1-2 cups of water, cover and cook on low heat for 4-6 hours.
• Remove chicken and drain the water from the slow cooker. Place chicken on a cutting board and pull chicken into shreds, discarding any fat.
• Place chicken back in the cooker and pour dressing, Parmesan cheese, parsley, and pepper over the top.  Stir until mixed evenly. If you think it's a little dry, add some more dressing!  Cover and cook on high heat for 30 minutes or until mixture is hot.
• Put the mixture on your buns and top with extra shredded Parmesan cheese and lettuce to serve.

And this my friends, was one delicious supper!

FYI:  If you ever need to reference a recipe from my blog, just click on Cooking 101 on the right hand side of the blog.  That will take you to ALL of my recipes! 

* Updated 2/28: We tried the wraps and they were delicious!  I bought 2 bags of Mission wraps.  The Garden Spinach Herb & Sun Dried Tomato Basil flavors and we added chopped tomato, lettuce and Caesar or Ranch Dressing to the wrap.  YUMMY!

 

'When you're up there, and I'm down here..'

Boston got a car molding kit for Christmas, so yesterday afternoon I secretively set the molds, since it took 6-12 hours for them to dry.  I was smart and spared myself the 'Are the cars dry yet mama?' every 10 minutes. Last night, as I was tucking him into bed I surprised him with the cars!  He thought they were really cool and he couldn't wait to paint them today!  This is where the conversation went from there..

Boston: You know that heart shelf I made you that hangs by the washing machine? Maybe we could put the cars on that after I paint them?
Me: But nobody will see them in the laundry closet.
Boston: Well, when you die..
Me: (I put on my pouty, sad face.)
Boston: Well I'm just saying.. When your up there (he points to Heaven) and I'm down here (he points to the floor) I'm going to get your house.
Me: Oh really?! You think when mama dies your going to get to keep my house?! What about daddy?
Boston: Well, when he's up there too. (points to Heaven again). I'm going to get his job too.
Me: Your going to live in our house and sell cars?
Boston: No, I guess I want to be a TV guy. You know, like Grandpa Ron. A fixer guy.

Earlier in the day he told me he wanted to be a Scientist when he grew up, even though he had no idea what a Scientist did.  Now, he wants to live in our house and be a 'Fixer Guy' when Derek & I are 'up there'.  At least the kid wants to be somebody!   

Derek and I laughed until we had tears. The things this kid says..

So today, we are in Target and he is begging me to play his games on my phone when we get to the car.  I told him I would think about it.  If he was good.  As soon as we get to the car he says:

Boston:  Mom, I prayed to God while we were in Target that you would let me play your phone.
Me:  I see.  And what did God say?
Boston:  He said he would send down a special message to your brain to say yes.

On our way home, we stopped by Burger King for lunch, and we were telling Shana about Boston praying to God to let him play my phone.  Shana asked him what God's voice sounds like. 

In a deep, raspy, Megatron-sort-of-voice, he said, 'I. AM. GOD.' 

Shana and I lost it!

When we got home from Burger King it was time for Brigs to take a nap.  Boston spotted a snowman a few houses down from ours, so I promised him we would make one today.  I haven't made a snowman in Y.E.A.R.S.  I forgot how much work it is..and maybe today wasn't the best day for it.. but we did it anyway.  None of our rocks were sticking to it for the eyes, nose, mouth and buttons, so we decided to paint ours!  It's small, but perfect, and Boston loves it!

Oh the messes you make!

My baby turned 10 months old yesterday!  Aah.  I wish I could stop the clock.  The time is just going too fast.  Other than a little bit of a cold right now, he is healthy and happy as ever, but into everything, and I mean E-V-E-R-Y-T-H-I-N-G!    Toilets, garbage's, dog food dishes, drawers in the kitchen and our rooms, the dog kennel, the stairs, and my purse!  His favorite room to destroy is his own.  He loves dumping out all of the baskets from his changing table.  It's harmless and entertaining for him, so I just let him have fun!

We have forgotten to put the baby gate up a time or two.. so Brigham has learned the hard way that when he crawls to the steps he needs to stop!  When he gets close to the steps he lays down on his tummy, scoots a smidge closer and just looks down and smiles. 

Now that he is getting over the 'baby toy' stage he loves playing in the toy room with Boston.  He can easily entertain himself for awhile, which is so nice when I have clothes to fold or something else to do around the house.  Brigham is really into playing with my iPhone so I got him the Fisher Price iPhone case.  (Genius idea!) I wasn't sure if it would be a worth the money, so I found a used one on eBay. He seems to like it and now my phone will stay slobber free!

When we first introduced Brigham to people foods, he would eat just about anything we put in front of him.  Lately though, he is a bit pickier, and I am struggling to find things that he will actually eat.  He is still quite petite, so I want to make sure he is getting the fruits and veggies he needs to put on a few pounds.  His favorite things to eat are club crackers, yogurt, and the Gerber crunchie's & cookies.  Not the most healthy meal plan around, so we are working on this!

He is also not the greatest napper around.  Some days he will take a morning & afternoon nap, and other days I struggle to get him to even take one!  I have been busy with daycare kids the past few weeks, so that could be a distraction to him.  He loves having other kids around to play with, so maybe he's afraid he'll miss out on the fun if he sleeps?!  Or his cold is messing up his nap schedule!?  His normal bed time is 7-7:30 and he sleeps 12-13 hours.  It's fantastic, so I shouldn't complain about the lack of daytime napping.  :)

Brigham is still taking steps here and there, and has gone from 2 steps at a time to 4.  Another month or so and I am afraid he'll be walking all over.  He got these cute little Jordan shoes as a baby gift and they are finally fitting him.  He loves to walk around staring at his feet!

And that my friends, wraps up Brigham's 10 month update! 

 In two short months we'll be celebrating a 1st Birthday! 

   

The best day of my life.

It was 6 years ago today that I married my best friend...for the first time. 

January 21, 2006. 


That day as I walked down the isle, 20 weeks pregnant with Boston, and said 'I do, for richer for poorer, in good times and in bad', I loved Derek more than anything.  At that. very. moment., marrying him was the best day of my life.  Little did I know that our life together as a married couple would never go as I had dreamed, and what's even crazier, is that the best day of my life would end up being the day I married him a second time..

May 15, 2010.

I recently met some new people through The Rescue Church in my home town.  As we were getting to know each other and talking about life, what our husbands do for a living, if we work outside of the home, and where we attend church, the dreaded topic of weddings and marriage came up.

I always get nervous when those types of discussion topics are brought up, or when I get a questionaire at MOPS that asks 'When is your anniversary?' and 'How many years have you been married?'..   It took me an extra few weeks to turn in my form because I went back and forth on how I was supposed to answer the questions.  Do we add up the married years, and subtract the time we were divorced?  Do we completely forget our first anniversary?  I don't like that idea, because then I feel like I am forgetting the day, and it was a day that I feel is still very important.  See, it's confusing!  I have this fear that saying I have been married, divorced, and then married again to the same person will stir up a bazillion questions I'm not sure I am comfortable answering.  Questions like:

'What went wrong?'

'Did either of you date other people while you were divorced?

'Who wanted the divorce?'

When it was my turn to chime into the conversation, I nervously said 'I married my husband twice.'

My heart was racing, and I could feel the palms of my hands start to sweat.  My cheeks felt like they were on fire, and i'm sure the bloches on my neck were starting to show up.
 
I waited patiently for her to comment.  I didn't get a funny look or a single akward question. I simply got 'That's so awesome!', with a big smile!   

It was at that. very. moment. that I decided I am going to be proud to say that I married my husband twice! She is right, it is a very awesome thing!  If I get asked an akward question, more than likely I will answer it akwardly and fumble my words because I couldn't rehearse my answer.  I know that being honest is part of sharing our story, and sharing our story with everyone is God's way of using our story to help others. 

When Derek and I first got back together I remember feeling like we were labeled as 'that couple'.  Even in church I felt people stare, whisper, and point.  Yes, we were that divorced couple who one day showed up sitting next to each other at church again, so what!  Over the last few years though, God has really calmed my heart and mind about worrying what other people think about it.  Yes, I still get nervous, but I have come a long ways.     

When we were struggling in our marriage, I remember my mother in law saying several different times, 'If you guys don't put God first in your marriage, it is NOT going to work!'.  I hated hearing this.  At that point in our relationship, I didn't think anything could help us, and I sure as heck didn't think turning to God would ever save our marriage.  I know I rolled my eyes every time she said it.  My relationship with God has grown so much in the last 2 years, and so has my relationship with my husband.  My mother in law was right along.       

So today, on the 6 year anniversary of our first marriage, I just want to say this:

'Happy Anniversary honey!  I thank God every day that He chose me twice for you, and I hope and pray that our friendship and marriage continue to grow stronger each year.  I love you.'

Love, Your Wife.

Finally, an update on our family happenings!

It has been an eventful first & second week of the new year!  Here is a recap: 

• The night we got home from our weekend away at Green Lake, Brigham cut his 8th tooth!  He had a fever for about 24 hours, so we spent a lot of time cuddling.  

• After having 2 weeks off for the holiday's, Boston is back into the routine of school 3 mornings a week, however, I am still adjusting :)  I loved not having to rush out the door by 8.  Boston got a great report card this week!  We are so proud of how far he has come since last year at this time.  We compared this report card to last years, and he can count higher, recognize all capital letters and recognize 9 out of 10 of his gumball words!  The teacher had a lot of great things to say.  The only thing he needs to work on is knowing when it's an appropriate time to talk with his friends. My parents heard the same thing about me when they met with my teachers.  I remember hearing about it every year after conferences: 'The teacher says you talk too much.'  I think I still do.    



• When I am not babysitting, and Derek is home to look after our boys, I am trying to help out a good friend with her triplet babies!  It usually works out that 2-3 times a week I can help out with a few feedings in the evening or do part of an over night so that Heather and her husband can get a good night of sleep.  The babies are so precious and I am so glad to be able to help!
• On Thursday, January 5th, it was 60+ degree's!  It felt like spring weather, so we took advantage of the sunshine and spent a few days playing outside!  The weather is a little more wintery this week, so I think it'll be several months now before we are playing outside in sweatshirts again!

• On Friday, January 6th, I took Boston & Brigham to the Kirby Science Center at the Washington Pavilion.  The 1st Friday of every month is free, so we took advantage of that since we don't get there very often.  Boston had a lot of fun, so I promised I would take him back next month too. 

• Brigham is still taking a few steps here and there on his own, but he's not fully walking.  He loves it when we take his hand and help him walk around though.  He thinks he is the coolest kid around, and just giggles and smiles as he walks/runs all over the house!  His hair is getting so long, but we probably won't cut it until after his 1st birthday.  It's a little out of control at times, but his daddy and I love his curls too much.  Who doesn't love a 5 inch baby Mohawk?!

I'm dizzy.

I feel like I haven't been faithful about journaling our family life this year.  I know it's only January 13th, but I haven't documented anything about the kids since New Years, and that's just way to long for this blogging addict!  So yeah, updating our blog on the latest Gerdes happenings was on my to-do list today, along with 1900 other things.  Ok, so not really 1900, but 900.

When I get too many things on my to-do list, I seem to spin in circles throughout the day.  One minute I was folding clothes, and the next, Brigham had a dirty diaper for me to change.  After I was done with diaper duty I started picking up all the toys in the living room so I could vacuum, and I forgot all about the clothes scattered on the kitchen table that I was supposed to be folding.  That's when I took a minute to say 'Ok, Jamie.  Slow down.  Quit being so scatter brained and just finish one project before you start another. Stop spinning!'.   And then an hour passed and I decided I better sit down at the laptop to catch up on some blogging, bills & balancing of the budget.  Speaking of budget. I love mint.com!  My husband hates it. He gets annoyed when I say 'Honey, no eating out this week because we already spent those funds for the month.'...  I had never worked with a budgeting software before because I was too cheap to pay for a program, but this is free and it's awesome.  You should check it out, especially if you have a goal for the new year to 'spend less and save more' like I do. 

Alright, so where was I.  Oh, ya, I thought it was time to sit down at the laptop, but then the dryer buzzed that another load was done.  It's bedding, so I figured I better step away from the computer and get Boston's bed put back together, or it would bed time and he wouldn't have sheets or blankets on his bed.  As I am downstairs I see that the toy room is a disaster zone.  Literally, every single toy, Lego, puzzle, and super hero was covering every single inch of an entire room and then some.  So after the bed was put back together, I ventured into the toy room. 

Another hour had passed before I finally made my way back upstairs to the computer.  The clothes are still on the kitchen table waiting to be folded.  Do you ever feel like you are spinning in circles like this?  Seriously, it was mentally exhausting.  There are still no 'Gerdes family happenings' typed up, but I did get some time to blog, and I'm feeling less dizzy. 

Jamie's 2012 Bucket List

 

1. Have more meals at the table. All 4 of us. With prayer and devotions.
2. Take a 'big' vacation. Disney World would be fun.
3. Make a monthly date night a priority.
4. Learn to knit, crochet, or quilt, or all 3.
5. Read the entire Bible.
6. Finish 10 years of my Grandma Ellen's diaries.
7. Help out a local organization by gathering volunteers or collecting items or money to donate.
8. Spend smart & save more!
9. Send out Birthday, Get Well, or Thinking of You cards to people who wouldn't be expecting it.
10. Get my 4th tattoo. Brigham's name.

11.  Have a more efficient approach at my to-do lists'. 

P.S.  I'm off to Colman tomorrow to volunteer at The Rescue Church!  Not only was 'What is going on in my heart' my 2nd most popular post, with 306 hits, but I even recruited a few more volunteers!  And all God's people said, Amen!     

What is going on in my heart?

It was a crazy week.  We have had lots going on.  Just normal life stuff, but normal life is busy! 

It's hard to explain what's going on in my heart these days because at times, I am even questioning my own thoughts, so I will try and explain it the best I can.  To be honest, I have had this blog typed up for days but have been leery of posting it.  I always worry so much about what other people will think of me, and truly feel that some of you reading this will think 'That girl is losing it'.  I told myself from the get-go, that this blog was for me to journal about our life, my real thoughts and feelings, so here you have it. 

It all started on Tuesday afternoon.  My dad brought me his week old Moody County Enterprise (our home town area newspaper).  I gave him a year subscription as a Christmas gift this year with a stipulation that he save all the papers and let me read them too.  Genius, I know.  Who doesn't love catching up on the happenings in their home town?!  Anyway, so it was nap time and the little ones were sleeping and the older ones were having some quiet time, so I had a good 20 minutes to devote to reading the paper.   There it was.  The front page articled that first caught my eye. 

'Colman Methodist closes, gifts building to the Rescue Church to open another church.'

So here is a little history.  I grew up going to the Colman Lutheran Church.  It was the only church I ever knew until I met Derek and started attending our current church, First Christian Reformed.  Over the years, after I had moved away from Colman, I would go back to that Lutheran church for funerals, weddings, or a baptism.  I always left the service thinking how sad it was that so many pews sat empty, that the offering total was maybe a few hundred dollars, and that only a handful of people actually had their hymnals open to sing along with the organist playing songs to worship our God.  I was sad to see the church that I grew up in struggling.

I love our church in Sioux Falls.  We have an incredible pastor, the music is amazing, and I always leave feeling like I have a renewed hope and greater love for the Lord.  After attending a service in Colman, I just felt so bad for all of those people missing out on a worship service like I am so blessed to attend.  Don't get me wrong, not everyone needs or loves an upbeat worship band jamming out at the front of the church, and many I am sure, walk away with something from the sermon given, but it was hard for me.  I just wasn't feeling it.  

Ever since I read this article I have felt something in my heart.. I have spent hours thinking about this church, reading their website online, facebook page and even the pastors blog.  I don't know of any friends that attend The Rescue church, but something has sparked a fire in my heart about helping get this church renovated and ready for the first service in late February.  For days I talked about this church with Derek and some of my close friends, and shared with them what I was feeling.   I thought maybe after a day or two the desire to help would fade, or the excitement I was experiencing would pass, but it hasn't. 

I did it.  I emailed the pastor a few days.  I told him how I felt it had been laid on my heart to reach out and help in whatever way I could.  I am not looking for a new church, but I want my home town to have a church that's ALIVE!  I pray that my friends and family that are still living in Colman, and have gotten away from church over the years, will check it out.  This Saturday, at 9 AM, I will be in Colman painting in the church with other volunteers, and I am extremely excited! 

Thank you God, for working in me.  Amen.

P.S. It's January 9th & I am right on schedule with my 'Read The Bible' in a year planner :)

My 2012 Bucket List

Every year I fail with my New Years resolutions, so this year I decided to make a Bucket List. Honestly, it's the same concept, just a new name :) When I first sat down to come up with my list, I wondered if I would struggle to come up with 10 things, but in a matter of minutes, I had 20 of them!  I narrowed it down to my favorites.  I think these are all very achievable goals and I am very excited to get started with them!  I'll update you a few times throughout the year so y'all know how things are coming along.  Cheers to the New Year! 

  Jamie's 2012 Bucket List

1. Have more meals at the table. All 4 of us. With prayer and devotions.
2. Take a 'big' vacation. Disney World would be fun.
3. Make a monthly date night a priority.
4. Learn to knit, crochet, or quilt, or all 3.
5. Read the entire Bible.
6. Finish 10 years of my Grandma Ellen's diaries.
7. Help out a local organization by gathering volunteers or collecting items or money to donate.
8. Spend smart & save more!
9. Send out Birthday, Get Well, or Thinking of You cards to people who wouldn't be expecting it.
10.  Get my 4th tatoo.  Brigham's name. 

Happy 2012!

Happy New Year!  I'm sure I say this every year, but seriously, the days, weeks & months fly by so fast.  I have no idea where 2011 went, but I do know that it was full of so many blessings.  It is my prayer that 2012 is just as awesome, and I am positive it will be!  I can't wait to see what the year will bring for our family! 

On Friday evening we headed to Spicer, MN to Green Lake!  Our friend Courtney's parents have a lake home that they graciously let us stay in!  This was our first time at their new home and it is beautiful, and such a great set up for a large group of adults & kids!  It was our family, the Schelhaas' and the Dekker's clan.  We ate tons of good food, played games, went sledding, took naps, the kids all played the iPad's (thank goodness we all had them or it would have been a battle!) told ghost stories with the kids and rang in the New Year with a lot of laughs.  I am quite exhausted today!  I was up way past my normal bed time two nights in a row, and then last night Brigham was up on and off from 12-4 with a temp.  He is cutting his 8th tooth and just isn't feeling well.  I am hoping there are a few opportunities for a nap today! 

A big Saturday morning breakfast, and men working in the kitchen... 

It can't get much better than this!

One of Boston's favorite things about the weekend was eating.  I told him we eat at home, and he said 'No Mom, I meant it was fun eating with other kids!'.  :) 

 Hadley Dekkers

 Boston

 Ryleigh Schelhaas

Brody Schelhaas

Hudsyn Dekkers & Brigham playing toys.

 The view of the lake was beautiful!

 After breakfast, Hadley & Derek sang & danced for everyone.  Hadley is quite the entertainer!

After breakfast, Tyler & Jay headed out to buy sleds for the kids!

Derek giving Boston a push down the hill. 

 B loved it!

 Brody was heading right for Sonny!

 I think this was an intentional wipe out.  Rolling down the hill was just as fun!

 Hadley & Ryleigh

 Boston racing the girls!

 I was completely terrified of the frozen lake, so Boston only got to go out in the ankle deep area.  He still thought it was awesome to slip around!

 Brigham saw snow for the 1st time, and he didn't like it!

 Brigham went sledding too.

Boston & Brody racing.  After an hour the snow had melted away and they were sledding on slushy grass :) 

 Laura made all the kids a snowball to throw at Tyler! 

 They surprised him!

 I think he was scared :)

 After hours of playing, naps, chilli and oodles of other things to eat, we all sat around the living room telling 'kid friendly' ghost stories.  It was so fun!

 And before the kids went to bed they all had some sparkling grape juice and said 'Cheers!'.     

Ringing in the New Year making memories with friends & our kids, is my kind of party!