We Bought a House!

It's done! As of March 28th this house is ours! 

It's 3 bed, 2 bath; 1440 sq foot not including the semi-finished basement. It was built in 1918 and has beautiful woodwork inside and real wood floors. 

We don't move in until the beginning of May, because we still have our apartment until after finals when our sub-leaser moves in. In the meantime, we're working on our reno projects, so I'll post walk-through's of the projects as we finish them. 

Sweet and Sour Chicken Stir Fry

Highly recommended from the kitchen of my Momma

Sweet and Sour Chicken:

1/2 - 1 lb. chicken, chopped to bite size pieces

1 egg

1/4 cup flour

1 1/2 t. salt

2 T. chicken stock

1/4 - 1/2 cup peanut oil

1 bell pepper, large chopped (any color, we used red)

1 small to medium onion chopped

A few carrots, coined (about 1/4 inch thick)

1 can chunked pineapple (save the juice!)

1/2 cup diced tomato (drained if canned)

1/4 cup apple cider vinegar

1/2 cup brown sugar

1 T cornstarch

Breading: wisk 1 egg, 1/4 cup flour, 1/2 t. salt and 2T chicken stock. Let sit 10 minutes.

Sauce: mix 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar, 1/2 cup pineapple juice, 1/2 cup brown sugar, 1T cornstarch, 1T water and 1 t. salt. Bring to a boil, stirring constantly, reduce heat and let simmer for at least 5 minutes.

Instructions: Prep breading, chop veggies and the start the sauce. (This just helps the timing work out). Coat chicken bites in breading mix and fry in hot peanut oil in a large saucepan or wok. Do this in batches so that the chicken doesn't stick to each other. Let sit on paper towels after they're cooked. When finished, add pepper, onion, pineapple and carrot. You can add any other veggies you like too - I may add snap peas in the spring when I can get them cheaper :) Cook about 3 minutes and then mix in the sauce.  Let this sit about 5 minutes (if you use instant rice like us, now is the time to start it) and then add in the diced tomatoes. Mix together and let sit 3 minutes or so. Serve with rice. Feeds about 6 people. 

Catching up and big plans for 2013!

So after finishing up 2012 with multiple family Christmas', New Years with good friends and lots of knitting...

Family Group Christmas with our international student "family"

Halupnik Christmas in the Twin Cities

Some of the knitting was Amanda's Christmas gift - an 11 foot long scarf like the one the Doctor from Doctor Who wore in the 1970s. I think she liked it :D

Mike and Tyler making their appetizers for Dewaard Christmas

Playing with Ben at Christmas - he IS a "gift to all the ladies"!

...we are working on some big plans for 2013... the Traxels are house hunting! After just a few showings (literally, it was the second we looked at) we found a house here in Ames that both we love AND passed the Dad inspection with flying colors. I just got back from a meeting with the loan agent and sometime this weekend we're planning on putting in an offer! Can't wait for this new step in our lives together and to see what God has to do with it.


Also on the Calendar for 2013 -

• Mike started CST (Cornerstone School of Theology) a partnership our church has with a seminary where he can take all the classes to get his Masters either online or at the church here in Ames. I'm auditing his classes and so far they're a lot of work for him, but really interesting. Please pray for his endurance while he is working full time and taking classes.
• I get to graduate in May!! YAY!! I'm both excited to be done and sad that it means lots of great friends also graduating and leaving the area. Bittersweet. 
• Four weddings (so far) including officially welcoming two new cousins into the Grunder family - but let's be honest, they already count ;)
• Our two year anniversary - time really flies! It doesn't feel like it could possibly be that long!
• Continuing working with the 2 and a half to 3 year olds in the church nursery and meeting with our family group (international ministry) and community group through Cornerstone. 

So here's to welcoming 2013 and God's plans for furthering His kingdom through all our lives this year!