Rah Rah Sis Boom Bah

It's always a joy to watch Summer cheer. She loves it so much. These are some shots from the basketball game where she cheered on Thursday. They learned their halftime routine this summer at cheer camp.

12 Weeks Old

Hard to believe it, but our baby Shelby is already 3 months old! She weighed in at 22 pounds at her last check up and I swear she grows every time she sleeps. Training is going pretty well, although she is showing her stubbornness a lot more these days. Enjoy the last month is Shelby pictures!

Happy 12 Week Birthday!

She does not like being hot and has figured out how to turn the AC vents on herself when riding in the truck.

Her first trip to the beach

After Christmas, she got to meet her cousins Izzy and Kona

Happy New Year!

Summer is the only person that she will let snuggle her

A Pool To Call Home

On January 9th, an event several years in the making occurred - the Schertz Aquatic Center opened it's doors. As it will be the new home of Steele Aquatics, we were invited to be a part of the ceremony. Everyone was very excited, but I don't think anyone was as excited as Coach Fain. 

They really did such beautiful job. The whole thing is well thought out and laid out

Look at those blocks!!!

Paige and her littles

 The inaugural jump-in!

Bye Bye Braceface!

January 10th was a big day at our house! After seven years, three orthodontists in three states, two palate expanders, and two sets of braces, Summer finally got her braces off for the last time! 

Headed to the orthodontist!

 Time to celebrate!

Den topped a cheesecake with all the sticky, hard, and chewy candy she has been missing out on as a surprise

Just look at that straight, even, metal-free smile!

January Beach Weekend

This past weekend the HaggisFam made our annual January trek down to the beach. For us it is a much needed time for relaxation and reconnection after all the hustle and bustle of the holidays. It all started when Dennis and I took our honeymoon to South Padre Island in January. It's a tradition that I hope will continue as the girls grow up and start their own lives.

This year Den had a very cute co-pilot

This is a view from the dunes of the Beachgate Condos that we stayed in this year

We spent pretty much all of Saturday on the beach

Then we headed back down to the water early on Sunday morning for some shell hunting and to watch the sunrise. It was a little cloudy, but we still had a pretty spectacular view

Shelby found a shell that was to her liking

It wouldn't be a trip to the beach without a little seagull chasing!

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After some time on the beach, we took the backroads home and made a quick stop in Fulton where I found PELICANS!!! Which are, after all, my most favorite of sea birds. I don't see white pelicans very often, usually just brown pelicans, so this was a treat indeed

Attack!

Shelby has become such a fun part of our family in the few weeks we have had her. She learns things SO quickly. She's been retrieving a toy since about a week after we got her and when we went to the Fe for Christmas, Dennis was able to pick some duck wings from the breeder, Jeromie. Shelby LOVES them. She retrieves them so naturally! In true Hawg Driver fashion, Shelby's retrieve command is Attack! I imagine that here in a few weeks, she is going to be ready to move on to actual birds. I am not totally excited about that process, but I know that it's essential, so I am going to try and not be too grossed out by it. 

Menu Plan Monday

Welcome to the first Menu Plan Monday of 2017! Like most of the rest of the world, I am looking toward healthier meals to offset our overindulgence over the holidays.

Breakfast

Mixed Berry Green Smoothies

Milk/Juice/Coffee/Spark

Morning Snack

Chai Snickerdoodle Cookies

Lunch

School: Peanut Butter Roll-Up, Strawberries/Blueberries, Grapes, String Cheese, Cucumbers, Chai Snickerdoodle Cookies, Lunch Drink

Weekend: Winter Cobb Salads

Afternoon Snack

Kalamata Olives with Almonds and Cheddar Cubes

Pantry

Dinner

Mon: Honey Ginger Salmon and Acorn Squash

Tue: Salt and Pepper Roasted Drumsticks, and Sweet Potato and Pear Soup

Wed: Leftovers

Thu: Lamb Kofta with Tahini Sauce and Parsley Cauliflower Rice

Fri: Slow Cooker Cilantro-Lime Shredded Chicken, Brown Rice, and Marinated Cucumbers

Sat: French Onion Soup and Leftover Salad with Bread

Sun: Sale Meat and Mixed Greens with Pomegranate, Avocado, Cucumber, and Walnuts

Dessert

Rum Balls

Pioneer Woman's Hoppin' John

Way back when Pioneer Woman was just a blogger, I discovered her recipe for Hoppin' John and fell in love. It is SO much better than the blackeyed peas I had growing up. It has become my go-to way to get my annual dose of New Year's Day luck. Click on the link to be taken to her recipe complete with pictures.

Hoppin' John

SOAK BLACKEYED PEAS FOR AT LEAST 6 HOURS BEFORE COOKING!

• 4 Tablespoons Butter
• 1 whole Large Onion, Diced
• 4 cloves Garlic, Minced
• 1 whole Green Bell Pepper, Diced
• 2 stalks Celery, Diced
• 4 cups Soaked Black-eyed Peas
• 5 cups Low-sodium (or No-sodium) Chicken Broth
• 1 whole Ham Hock
•  Salt And Pepper, to taste
•  Cayenne Pepper To Taste
• 2 Tablespoons White Vinegar
•  White Or Brown Rice, For Serving

Heat butter in a large pot over medium-high heat. Add onion, garlic, green pepper, and celery and stir. Cook for 3 to 4 minutes. Stir in soaked beans, then add chicken broth, ham hock, salt & pepper, and cayenne to taste. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and cover the pot for 30 minutes. 

After 30 minutes, check the liquid level; if it's too soupy, cook with the lid off for another 15 minutes or so. If it's too thick, splash in a little more broth. 

Stir in vinegar, then taste for seasonings. Add more spice if needed.

Serve over white or brown rice, making sure to get plenty of the cooking liquid spooned over the top. Or, you may mix the bean mixture with the rice before serving. 

Variations: add red bell pepper, canned diced tomatoes, diced jalapenos, diced ham (instead of ham hocks), or sliced bacon (instead of ham hocks). Stir in torn-up kale when 5 minutes of cooking time remain. 

Variation: use canned, drained black-eyed peas if preferred. Just use diced ham instead of ham hock and a little less broth, as peas won't need to cook as long.

Welcome 2017!!!

We rang in 2017 here at home, just the four of us. It was a welcome change after all the traveling. I'm not sure why I didn't manage to get any pictures of Paige or Den. Oh well, Happy New Year from Casa de Haggis!