Birthdays

After being such a regular blogger while KJ was away, it feels strange to have gone so many days without posting something.  The reasons I have not been writing lately are twofold.  The good news is that I've been hanging out with my husband at night after the children are in bed, and that has been fun.  I'm very glad to have him home.  There have been no more lonely nights blogging away by myself.  The bad news is that since KJ has been home James has been waking up in the night again.  We think he is just being stubborn and crazy and that the only way to fix it is to let him cry it out and know that he is not getting picked up.  I think KJ has spent more nights on the sofa than in our bed since he's been home, letting me sleep while he comforted James periodically.  A couple of nights after he got home I woke up slightly out of a dream-filled sleep and gasped in horror because someone was in my bed.  After 2 weeks of being alone it scared me to death for half a second before I realized it was KJ.  So, please pray for James and us as we lose sleep.  We are both physically tired, and I am emotionally tired of trying to figure out if he is hungry or has a genuine need or if he is just being  a stinker.


In other news, summer is filled with birthdays in our family.  My brother, Josh, celebrated his 27th birthday on Sunday.  I was going to try to write a post about him yesterday, but I was interrupted by a baby who didn't want to take his nap, so suffice it to say, I really love my brother!  I am so proud of him and the man he has become and is becoming.  He is funny, tender, faithful, generous, and loving, and I hope he has a wonderful year.

Josh and his lovely wife, Nicole

Yesterday was KJ's mom's birthday, and we celebrated with lunch at our house with the Kizziah family.  Both Katie and I are so thankful for the ways Mama T. helps us through this stage of mothering small children by encouraging us to savor each moment and giving us breaks by keeping our children for us.  We love you, T!

I tried a new panini recipe yesterday, and it was great!  It was an easy panini to make for a party.

Roast Beef Panini Sandwiches

1/3 cup mayonnaise

1 1/2 teaspoons chopped fresh basil

1/2 teaspoon minced garlic

2 packages (8 ounces each) pre-baked pizza crusts (6 inches)

1/2 cup fresh baby spinach leaves

1 cup French Fried Onions

5 ounces sliced deli roast beef

2 ounces sliced provolone or mozzarella cheese

1.  Preheat oven to 375.  Combine mayonnaise, basil and garlic in small bowl.  Spread on pizza crusts.

2.  Layer spinach, Fried Onions, roast beef and cheese on two pizza  crusts, dividing evenly.  Cover with remaining two pizza crusts, spread side down.

3.  Place sandwiches on baking sheet.  Bake, uncovered, for 10 minutes or until sandwiches are toasted and cheese is melted.  To serve, cut each sandwich in half.

I used 2-12 inch pizza crusts because I didn't see any 6-inch ones at the store and just baked it on a pizza pan.  I used the whole wheat pizza crust, but I'm sure the sandwich would be good with other seasoned crusts, too.  Enjoy!

Recipe from Favorite Brand Name Italian Cooking