Opportunity, and escape while you can

Someone once said something about acting when opportunity strikes. Well, our family has been offered a great opportunity. One that we had been wanting last year. It's tough because now I'm in a position where I am in love with our house, community, neighborhood, and basically everything about living here. We've just gotten to the point where we have done a lot with our house and met a lot of great families in the area, and now we're probably going to move.

Let me back up. About a year ago, we were REALLY frustrated with NY taxes (not that we aren't anymore) and we were looking for a way out. We pay almost 7k a year in taxes for our house. Brian said to me "Essex (the company he works for, Superior Essex) has a headquarters in Fort Wayne, Indiana. And the cost of living is pretty low there" So, I started looking into it. We then discovered that we could buy our dream house for around $200,000, which is what our current house is worth here in NY. If we bought our dream house here in NY it would cost well over $450,000. And this is what started it all. Brian started finding out ways to move there and in the tight job market he knew that he would have to keep his eyes open for a position with his company, but at their Fort Wayne site.

Six months went by, and nothing was really coming together with finding a position that was available in Indiana. We kind of gave up on the idea, and continued settling into our house here. People started getting laid off gradually at Essex, Clifton Park NY where Brian works. About a month ago everyone at Brian's work was told that the plant was closing in January. It was clear that they wanted to keep Brian and...... guess what? They want him to work for them in Fort Wayne. Just what we had wanted! Then why does it feel so sad? I know it is a wonderful opportunity for all of us. There are so many reasons to love Fort Wayne (I've done SO much research)

With getting promoted, and living in an area where the cost of living is low, we would really be able to save a lot for retirement and that would be awesome. Buying our dream house in our mid twenties- also great. Moving away from friends and family is what makes it bittersweet. We'll probably be going out there soon to check out the area, so maybe this won't feel so wrong.

When my mom told my grandfather about Fort Wayne, he said, "They should.... escape [from NY] while they can"

Nothing worthwhile is ever easy.

The Magic of.... a cookie cutter.

Anyone with a toddler knows how picky they can be when it comes to eating (the can is italicized because those of you with toddlers also know how they can be VERY adventurous when it comes to eating)

With that said, Owen has been going through a stage where there are only a few things that he likes. Apparently he hasn't been getting bored with his same meal every other day, but I am.

The solution to that is pretty cheap and simple, and all it takes is a cookie cutter. Turkey sandwich? YUCK! Turkey sandwiches made into little trees? YUM! Tuna sandwich? YUCK! Tuna sandwiches made into fishies? YUM!

Owen's Autumn Mix

Tomorrow is Owen's turn to bring in snack for school.

We decided to make fall trail mix!
It looks yummy, and Owen is SO excited to bring it in....

Ingredients:
pretzels, candy corn, chex cereal, cranberries, goldfish crackers

Nut free school = no peanuts or peanut butter chips, like I was going to put with apple chips. That would have been delicious.

Lazy days

This past week was SLOW and tiring, even though we didn't have much going on. I think that might be why it has been so slow and tiring. We're usually out enjoying the weather, or meeting up with friends at the park, shopping, going for a walk around the neighborhood. This week though, we had a few things going against us. 1] Owen had/has a cold and 2] the weather has been less than desirable (rainy, chilly). Yesterday was actually sunny and warm while Owen was at school but literally as soon as we pulled into our driveway, the clouds started rolling in and rain drops began falling. Not that Owen would have wanted to play outside anyway. He's usually tired after school, and especially this week. All Owen wants to do is snuggle and be held. On Monday we went to the apple orchard (yep, the one right in our back yard) for Owen's first school field trip! I had been debating whether or not to take him, because of his cold. I figured the fresh air would be good for him and since he got the cold from kids at school, and they wouldn't be in close quarters playing with the same toys anyway.... that it was okay to bring him on the field trip. I think he enjoyed himself! Especially the tractor ride.


Fall is such a great time of the year for kids. This weekend I plan on raking leaves into a big pile with Owen so he can jump in them. He loved that last year. He had a little taste of playing with leaves again yesterday after school. It was one of those perfect autumn days where the air is crisp and the sun is shinning. Enough of a little breeze to make the leaves dance. And of course, the smell of apple pie cooking, from windows cracked open.

And sweater weather!

So much to love about fall.....
- the roast beef supper at my parents church tomorrow night
- making an apple pie this weekend
- Brian sealing the driveway (not so much love to do, but love that fresh black!)
- Brian building the front porch! (again, not so much the building part.... tracking in dirt and dust from construction.... but the enjoying the finished product product)

Cowboy Biscuit Bake

This was a big hit in our house tonight, so I thought I'd share.

Ingredients:
- 1/2 lb sliced bacon, cut into 1-inch pieces
- 1 1/2 lb ground beef (I used ground turkey instead)
- 1/2 cup chopped onion (1 medium)
- 1 can (14.5 oz) crushed tomatoes, undrained
- 1 can (16 oz) chilli beans, undrained
- 1/3 cup chili sauce
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon of cayenne pepper (add more or less as you please)
- 2 teaspoons chili powder
- 1 tablespoon vinegar
- 2 teaspoons dry ground mustard
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 can (12 oz) Pillsbury golden layers buttermilk biscuits, or flaky biscuits

1) Heat oven to 375. In skillet cook bacon over medium-high heat until crisp; drain. Add ground beef and onion; cook, stirring frequently, until beef is cooked.
2) Stir in all remaining ingredients except biscuits. Cook 5-8 minutes, stirring occasionally until hot and bubbly. Spoon hot mixture into ungreased 13x9/3 quart glass baking dish.
3) Separate dough into 10 biscuits; cut each into quarters. Arrange biscuit pieces cut side down, on top of hot beef mixture.
4) Bake 25 minutes or until biscuits are deep golden brown

Enjoy! =)