Tacos de Calabacitas

We enjoyed these yummy "tacos" this week and I'd forgotten how simply wonderful they were! Just summer vegetables and a few seasonings and you have something awesome! Owen LOVED them and Gibson ate them, so we're happy about that :)

Here is the recipe including my slight variations:

Tacos de Calabacitas
2 T extra virgin olive oil
1/4 c minced onion
1/2 c diced yellow summer squash (can sub zucchini)
1/2 c diced zucchini
1/2 c corn kernels, preferably fresh (but frozen works too)
1/2 c diced peppers (I use red, yellow, and green)
1 can tomatoes with green chiles
1 can black beans, drained and rinsed
1/4 t dried oregano
salt
1/2 c Monterey Jack or Mozzarella cheese (optional)
8 corn tortillas (I used flour)
1 T minced cilantro
avocado

1. Over medium heat, sauté onion in oil. Add squab, zucchini, corn and peppers. Sauté until squash and  zucchini are lightly browned (~3 min). Add tomato, oregano and salt to taste.

2. Cover, reduce heat to medium-low and cook until squash, zucchini and tomatoes release their juices and begin to blend (~5-7 min). Uncover and adjust salt as needed. Sprinkle with cheese and cover until cheese is melted.

3. Warm tortillas in heavy skillet over medium heat, about 1 min each side.

4. Fill tortillas with equal portions of filling, sprinkle with cilantro and top with avocado.

Spring Recap

March 2-4 - We visited Owen's good friend from his foster home in Africa and the rest of his family in Indiana. It was fun to see the boys together again! Also, we borrowed Bobby's parents' van for the trek and it was quite a treat for both children and parents :)

April 20 - Bobby's younger sister Cathy, and her husband Zac, welcomed their first child, Caleb, to the world! We got to meet him a few weeks later and spoil them with all kinds of goodies.

May 2 - Celebrated Owen's Gotcha Day with good friends who joined us a year prior to welcome him home at the airport, as well as our favorite sitters :). Now, between the three families there are 7 Congolese children home!

May 10 - We were blessed to be able to join many family members and my grandfather, Bob Osterhaus, as he received an honorary doctorate degree from the University of Iowa. Very cool :)

May 17 - To celebrate our 4th anniversary we went down to Drake stadium to watch my little sister, Laura, place 4th in the high jump at the state track meet. Go Laura!

May 20 - Laura graduated from high school. I feel old...

May 31 - Gibson has been home 9 months. Craziness. He is such a joy, a smart little boy, and a pal to his brother :) Love him so much despite the fact that yesterday he smeared poop all over his bed, wall and face during his quiet time. Now THAT'S love, right?!?!

Update: Round 2

For those of you still following this seldom updated blog (though I have every intention to post more frequently)... We have begun the process to adopt two more children! We are all very excited but have lots of work to do before they will be coming home!

That's the major update around here, but a few other tidbits include:
- Owen attended a day of pre-school with his Grandma Scott a few weeks ago and loved it! He is excited to start school and will be going to pre-school in the fall.
- Gibson is potty training! He has it mostly down, but needs many reminders :)
- Owen loves to practice his letters and does so whenever he gets the chance. This includes stepping into dad's office, spotting sticky notes on his office mate's desk and jotting a few letters down. Owen actually calls this "writing an email."
- Everyone got haircuts on Valentine's Day. Gibson looks like such a big boy! Bobby and Owen both look younger. I suppose I look about the same :)

Freezer Burritos

Thanks to a friend of a friend, this is what Bobby eats for lunch EVERY DAY :) done and done.

Freezer Burritos:
1 lb ground beef
12 oz salsa
1 can (16 oz) refried beans
1 can (15 oz) black beans
1 can (10 oz) tomatoes with green chiles
1 envelope taco seasoning
16-20 flour tortillas
2-3 c cheese (optional)

Brown ground beef. Drain grease. Add salsa, beans, tomatoes, and seasoning. Mix well until heated through. Put 1/3 c mixture in each flour tortilla (top with cheese if desired). Roll up and freeze. Store in ziploc freezer bag. When you want to eat 1 or 2, heat in microwave to thaw and enjoy!

Chicken Noodle Soup

We have been incredibly blessed by our friends, family, and church community as we have settled into life as a family of three...then four, over the past 6 months. Some good friends of ours brought us some amazing chicken noodle soup so I inquired about their "method." Though soup generally tends to be "my thing," my husband would certainly say that my traditional chicken noodle soup would not make the list of his favorites. So here is my new, and much improved, recipe for the classic soup :)

Chicken Noodle Soup
1 onion, chopped
2 c celery, chopped
2 c carrots, chopped
3 T oil, for frying
8 c chicken broth
2 c chicken, cooked, shredded
1/2 c lentil beans
egg noodles
6-8 peppercorns
2 bay leaves

Fry vegetables in oil in bottom of large stock pot for about 10 min. Add chicken broth, chicken, beans, noodles, peppercorns and bay leaves. Bring to boil and then simmer for about 45 min or until beans and carrots are soft.

P.S. Owen would highly suggest ensuring both peppercorns and bay leaves appear in your bowl when you eat this soup. Eating is apparently way more fun when you have to dodge things :)

Orphan Sunday

Yesterday was Orphan Sunday. The promotion video from Christian Alliance For Orphans is sweet and you should check it out here.The smiles are amazing :)


Defending the cause of the fatherless (Isaiah 1:17) has certainly become closer to our hearts as we've been on our adoption journey. I am reminded many times each day that God adopted me, loved me, defended me first because I'm in awe of what God has given me in the little hearts that are now mine.

So many people we meet say "wow, you have given these boys such an opportunity in adopting them." While that may be true in an earthly sense, we don't view it that way. God has given us the opportunity to adopt, love, and defend our boys, the opportunity to be parents, and most importantly, the opportunity to make His heart visible through our adoption and walk in love.

Owen is already requesting more siblings (2 sisters and 2 more brothers to be specific), so we're looking forward to the little lives God chooses to display His heart through next :)