:Updated at the bottom: My apologies for the last picture taking so long to post. We've had our Easter dinner of ham, veggie casserole, salad and Jesus cake. Now it is time to make the Split Pea Soup. Please stay tuned! I'll be posting the recipe here in this same post as well as pictures! I'll be pressure canning at least 4 pints of it later today as well. I'll walk you through the process of our day today. We've started today with Bible and prayer, then caring for the temple of the Holy Spirit-our bodies through exercising a half an hour each person. My hubby has been called to work, so we're doing our exercising without him along today. The children began breakfast of French Toast, Scrambled Eggs and Bacon while I did my half an hour of exercising. After the kitchen was cleaned up, oldest son-DA put the ham bone in a pot to boil. 
The 2 bags of split peas were put in another pot last night and covered with water. Notice how big they look! Presoaking split peas or other dried beans is a wonderful way to reduse cooking time as well as save some money since the canned stuff costs more. Notice my ingredients list from last week's chili. Lots of canned beans which could have been done cheaper, I'm sure. 
We've been "hangin' out" so far since then, letting time do its thing. It is a cool and cloudy day today, so we're inside. DA has also helped me with the basement printer so we can also make White Chocolate Pumpkin Cookies while the Split Pea Soup cooks. Life is good. Life is full and I wouldn't have it any other way. Stay tuned! Edited to add a few pictures! We've defrosted the Pumpkin 
while adding all the ingredients to the Split Pea Soup in the crock pot with the exception of the ham. ;) Yes, we freeze our own pumpkin puree every Fall. It makes wonderful Pumpkin Rolls, pies and now cookies! :0)  This is 6 stalks of celery chopped with 1 onion.
I usually use whatever onion is available. Lately we've been buying purple onions, so that was the onion of choice this time. It always turns out so colorful when using different colored ingredients!  JL is cutting up 6 large carrots. The kids get in on helping to cut things up for the soups and stews, salads and other things we make around our home. It gives them good practical experience in the kitchen under a parent's watchful eye.
 I added 3 quarts of water, 2 tsps each of sage and thyme, garlic, salt and pepper. Here it is with all the ingredients in it, except the ham, of course. This will simmer like this for hours, then I'll take the lid off and let it condense and add the ham after it has condensed a bit. After it is completely done, we'll taste it and reseason it if necessary. We like to have this soup over wild rice with some cheddar and parmesian cheese. :0)
 I know this is just a little bit late for Christmas, but Easter is about Jesus too. It is a very symbolic and very "hands on" thing for the kids to do. The white signifies the purity of Christ, the red is His blood and the green is Everlasting life. These are all symbols, of course.
Well, it is now 4:05PM. We've just finished "lunch" since we had breakfast at 10:30ish. Dinner will be later. It isn't a problem though. We're going with the flow. Just after the kids finished eating, they noticed how warm it was outside, so guess where they went? LOL  Isn't it glorious?! Look at those temperatures!! We haven't seen these types of temperatures since we went to Florida in December!!! Needless to say, the children have been outside playing...and getting muddy.
I know I'm a bit late, but I updated this post just to add the finished product. I know this picture has a bit of an orange cast to it, but rest assured, it is green! LOL  These wonderful jars of wholesome health and goodness were delivered to my pantry and are awaiting for my beloved to need to crack one open to take in his lunch. What a blessing it is for me to see to it that he eats well in my absense! I love this man God has gifted me with! :0)
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