V is for....view from here.

Last October, my dad received a heart transplant.  I wrote a little about it here.  It was a very intense end of the year in 2011 and there times where I was worried if my kids would get to spend time and make memories with my dad. 
Well, he is a fighter and God is good.  He had a rough recovery for about 3 months or so but now seems to be right back to normal.  He is ready to get and up and go all the time.  This weekend, he and my step mom took the big kiddos camping for the weekend in Brazos Bend State Park.  I always love to find places close by that seem so far away!  The kids had a blast and if you follow me on Facebook you probably saw that my teen dream son decided to forgo a pool party/crawfish boil where all of his friends would be to go continue camping with his Grandaddy and Twomama.  After I picked my jaw up off the floor, I told him of course he could stay!  They had such a good time learning how to start the campfire, making the perfect s'more, riding their bikes all over the place, fishing, spying on alligators....I know they will want to go back. 
I am just so glad that they have these memories now.  B and I headed out with our little Tae Kwon Do warrior on Sunday after I got home from church....we loaded up G's bike too so he could have a taste of the camping lifestyle.  I got some great pictures and had a good time.  I thought we would leave early so we could get the kiddos ready for school the next day but never one to let the party end, we stayed until around 8 pm.  We climbed into the car....the kids with their filthy feet, dirty nails, and sweaty hair.  We all smelled like we might have bathed in the ashes of the camp fire and we all had huge smiles on our faces.  A great time had by all.  The tough time getting everyone up and moving this morning....well worth it.

The view from here, is mighty nice I'd say.

I get by with a little help from my...brother.

She is happiest while covered in dirt.

The happy little campers..check out the bottom of the feet. And this was only 30 minutes in.

Baby Gator

How amazing are trees? I couldn't get over all the history this tree was around for.

Petting the alligator

Twinsies checking out the gators...

and of course...the boys feel the need to get as closeaspossible.

{insert Jaws theme here}

My dad :)

My dad and me enjoying posing for silly pictures...

T turned a bit pyromaniac while he was camping

This was a another post for the A to Z challenge...

U is for....Upcycled

Who's not a fan of upcycling?  I absolutely love it when I see the creativity involved in taking something that could be thrown away or recycled and then turning it into something really useful or beautiful.  I always find my favorite things on Pinterest, let's face it....it seems to be the easiest place to find the greatest ideas out there.  Here are some of my favorites that I have pinned on my own boards....

I know I have shown you this one before but I just love this idea.  Using a chick feeder as a little shelf. Perfect.  This idea comes from Better Homes and Gardens.

Source: bhg.com via Elizabeth on Pinterest

Solar Power Mason Jar lights!  So smart and so sweet....this brilliance came from BootsNGus, a beautiful vintage + handmade shop on Etsy.  They have some amazing things in their shop....crazy beautiful mason jar chandeliers, lamps, just some great stuff.

Source: etsy.com via Elizabeth on Pinterest

Using an old wagon to hold books!  So easy and makes so much sense....this idea came from Cory Connor Designs...she has a whole blog about designing on a budget!

Source: coryconnordesigns.com via Elizabeth on Pinterest

This post has tons of ideas on using upcycled items as trellises in your garden. The post is from I Want to Make This but all of the ideas come from different places. 

Source: iwanttomakethis.com via Elizabeth on Pinterest

There are so many great ideas out there......have you found any that you're into?  Please, do tell. 





A to Z blogging challenge.....

T is for....Trash Art! Eco art with pre schoolers.....

So, Sunday was Earth Day.  We were inside of a Tae Kwon Do studio from about 12:45-4:35pm that day and the only Earth friendly thing I happened to do, was water my plants.  We stay pretty Earth friendly around this house.  We recycle, we buy organic where we see fit, we turn off the water when we brush our teeth, and we own energy saving appliances.  But there is always more you can do. 
In our family, we love to do collages.  Are you a collage creating family.  The big kids used to be really into it, G is not as into as they were so my collage box is dwindling.  I used to keep a pretty stocked lunchbox, full of clippings from magazines.  Eyeballs, faces, smiles, letters, words, animals, you name it....it had everything of every color.  The kids would grab a piece of construction paper and collage away.  When they were able to read, the collages got even better, they would use the words int he box and spell out all kinds of great poems that they didn't know they were creating. 
Because we live in a small town and Earth Day isn't some big festival inducing holiday in our area, I asked G's pre school teacher, The Always Amazing Mrs. Holly, if I could come and help her with an Earth Day craft.  She said yes, of course and I started saving some things from the recycle bin and putting them away for our craft day.   (By the way, let me just say, I am still in full on denial that G will not be in her school next year.  She is awesome!)  Today was our Earth Day craft day so I headed on up to the school with my bag o' trash.  I did drive, just in case you had a picture of me walking down the road as a bag lady.  No offense, bag ladies.
This is so fun to do with kids of any age and you can totally throw in facts about the Earth and keeping the Earth clean while they are gluing down everything in sight. 
You only need trash, glue, cardboard or poster board for the base of your art project, paint (optional), crayons (optional). It's pretty much a trash free-for-all.  We dumped our bag full of goodies on the ground while Mrs. Holly organized everyone a bit, which is much better than what I would have done, they would have probably had a Fight Club arranged by the end.  They each grabbed a few recyclable treasures to work with and headed to their space to turn into artists. 
After ripping and tearing, cutting, and gluing they got to paint with our toilet paper roll stamps.  Which is super fun and takes all of 2 seconds to make. 

Our treasures...

I love the concentration that comes from creativity

R helped me out with the "Eco art lesson"

Some of their masterpieces

All of the kids really enjoyed it and they liked being able to explain the things they already knew about helping the Earth. 
This would be a nice, creative way to do an Earth Day lesson.  Doing it outside would be even better. 

One more post for the A to Z blogging challenge!

Q, R and S are for.... Quiet, Relief and Success!

I am writing this from a quiet home.  G man spent the night at my in law's last night after his Tae Kwon Do competition.  The big kids are at school and I have yet to start the dishwasher or anything else noisy.  I have chatted on the phone but that doesn't count as noise.....at least to me.  I will enjoy it while it lasts, because it won't be long.

I have to tell you, I am experiencing a huge sense of relief because the hubs and I have decided what we are going to do about the ever looming STAAR test (the form of high stakes standardized testing in Texas).  Our oldest never has problems with tests, never worries about them or stresses out.  He is actually pretty good on test and thankfully, I've never had to worry.  Our daughter is a different story.  She is in 4th grade and just started taking these types of tests last year.  She is a kid with anxiety so you might as well tell her that the school will burn down if she doesn't do well on the test, because that is what she is feeling anyway.  We had a rough weekend and I wasn't sure where all the mood swings and panic was coming from until this morning.  She completely melted down as soon as she made her way into the kitchen.  B and I have been trying to make up our mind about this issue for weeks and last week just decided to have her take the test because she didn't seem bothered by it.  I guess she was hiding all of the anxiety, which is usual for her, because she let it all explode today.  We will be keeping her home the remainder of the week, starting tomorrow.  My rights a parent don't go very far in the public school system, yet my only right is to either send her to school....or not.  We will be exercising this right. Done. Relief washes over me.

Yesterday was G's first Forms and Sparring Competition for Tae Kwon Do.  He did such an amazing job! He enjoyed every bit of it too, smiling away and laughing while sparring.  He won 1st in his division for Forms and also 1st in his division for Sparring.  We were so proud of him....and he was proud of himself.  This is a great way for him to learn self control and discipline and also boost his confidence.  His teacher kept his 1st place trophy so that they could have his name engraved on it but he was really worried about leaving without it yesterday.  It was a lot of sitting, a lot of waiting, a lot of kids running every which way and sitting next to people we didn't know....but it was all so worth it to watch him enjoy himself in a sport.

This is when he found out he won 1st!!

One more post for the A to Z Challenge!

P is for.....Pray like a child

Each night we say our prayers together. We have our typical prayer, Now I lay me down to sleep, I pray the Lord our souls to keep....but then we add on whatever is on our minds.  The kids prayers are always so open and honest.  I admire this because, as an adult I tend to be more guarded with my prayers, especially when they are out loud.  T is about at this point now, at 13, he will say a prayer out loud at small group but it's more of a God is great, God is good type of thing.  As he's gotten older, his prayers are more guarded like mine.  R prays for things cautiously and considerately. I have never heard her pray from things that are frivolous or material, at least not aloud.  G though, at 5, still has that innocence that only a 5 year old can.  He come to God and talks as he would talk to me or his dad.  He talks freely and with an ease that most adults lack. 
I think we should all come to God as children and it would be a much more honest prayer. 
Here is the video of G praying last night, you will have to listen closely.  For translation sake; he is basically telling Him, thank you for a good heart and a good family and we love you God, we love you.

Blogging A to Z.....

O is for....one more thing to keep me distracted (plus a recipe)

Do we need another thing to keep us distracted?  No.  We have Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, numerous blogs, DVR, Pandora...many, many more.  But, we can add just one more thing.....PicMonkey!  I am sure I am the last one on this bandwagon but it is amazing.  You might have heard that Picnik is shutting down, I only used Picnik sporadically so it's not that big of a deal to me.  Once I saw PicMonkey though....I was immediately hooked.  As a Blackberry user, I do not have handy dandy Instagram to make all of my fuddy duddy photog work look fab.  PicMonkey does though, well....something like it.  Totally free and wonderfully easy to use.  Go, my friend and edit some pictures.  Make your family look even cooler than they already are.

Told you....very retro and cool....and we look much more colorful than in person.  (Note to self: create a self editor to give myself the glow I get when cross processed.  Tanning bed...never an option.)

Yesterday I looked in the fridge for inspiration for dinner.  None found.  Luckily, I had a few chicken breasts and thighs in the freezer and bonus! they were already seasoned with salt and pepper.  I concocted a chicken dinner somewhere in between Chicken Cacciatore and Chicken Parmesan (minus the parm) and threw it in the slow cooker to stay out of my way all day while making the house smell great.

I will now give you my nowhere near precise recipe and we shall call it Italian Chicken. General enough?  PS: I used all dry seasoning because that's what I had on hand.  I also did not use even one measuring spoon or cup.  I used my hands.  To measure, just cup your palm and you have a good, healthy tablespoon (or so).  I also rub the seasonings in between my hands as I put them in the slow cooker so they can "open up".   If you watch Rachael Ray, you are familiar with this "handy" method. Hee hee.

• Chicken ; seasoned with salt and pepper ( I used around 6 breast tenders and 3 thighs) -you could use a package of chicken breasts by themselves but the dark meat was really great cooking all day and the tenders were so much easier to serve.
• 28 oz can diced tomatoes with the juice (use any kind you like, seasoned or original)
• 1 jar of pasta sauce (something with loads of flavor)
• 1 bell pepper ( I used orange) diced
• 1/2 or 1/3 of an onion, diced
• salt/pepper (to your taste)
• basil (about a cupped palm full)
• oregano (cupped palm full)
• garlic powder (1/2 palm)
• minced garlic (3 tsp.) or just use a baby spoon like I do and scoop how ever much you like
• onion powder (sprinkle)
• parsley (palm full)

Spray your slow cooker with cooking spray (you will thank yourself later)

Put the diced onion and bell pepper at the bottom of the slow cooker and spread out to cover the bottom. (not densely, just where the chicken can sit on top)
put the chicken on top, try not to layer right on top of each other, give them some breathing room.

Pour diced tomatoes on top.

Add all of the seasonings and any more you want to toss in.

Pour the pasta sauce on top.

Turn that bad boy on and cook on low for 8-10 hours or high for 5-7. 

When done, just stir it up a bit before serving, breaking up the chicken a bit as you go but leaving big chunks for serving. We used a ladle for all the good juices. 

I served this with twirly pasta but you could use either brown rice or any other noodle your family likes.
R and I also decided to make some garlic butter biscuits because we didn't have any garlic bread and I despise the grocery store.  We just melted some butter along with garlic powder and parsley and brushed it on to the uncooked biscuits.  Popped them in the oven and 10 minutes later we had hot, fresh garlic butter biscuits. Yum.

There you have it, an easy weeknight dinner that you probably have most of in your pantry or freezer.  Enjoy.

Another A to Z blogging post......

N is for....no sunshine....no housework.

Don't you think that a nice, rainy day would make a person want to clean the house? Well, you are wrong, my friend.  I barely wanted to do dishes.  This stormy weather might as well be a belly full of turkey to me....all I want to do is lay on the couch, let G watch cartoons, and let myself start reading Catching Fire (yes, I am just now hopping up on that bandwagon). 
The conundrum here is....let my guilty mom conscience get me motivated to put up those 2 laundry baskets of folded clothes, dust, and scrub the bathroom......or let my real self get involved here and take a total slacker day.  I guess I could find a compromise....the dishes being the first part of that, dinner in the slow cooker being #2.  Next, I will take the easier of the 2 laundry baskets, the towels, and put them up.  After unloading the big kids' stacks of laundry on their bed, it will look like I achieved a lot more than I actually did today. 
No worries, there is always tomorrow....and the next 50 million days, to take care of the boring parts of life.

The birdies are still out in this crazy weather.

rain, rain, don't go away...I don't want to get out today.

A to Z Blogging Challenge

M is for.....Mom Brain

You might have Mom Brain if....

• you have ever walked into a room and have no clue why....even if that room is the bathroom.
• you have ever tried to unlock your house door with the keyless entry key chain to your car.
• you have ever shushed an adult for using their "outside voice" or corrected their grammar...just out of habit.  Especially "yes ma'am" (this is for fellow Southern moms, I guess)
• you have ever worn any article of clothing inside out....all day.
• you have watched an entire show....and can't remember what happened.
• you have ever read an entire chapter....and have to re-read the whole thing.
• you have ever talked to your spouse in a "baby voice".
• you have laughed hysterically at something no one else finds funny....it's called delirium and it will pass (in at least 18 years).
• you have had a Redbox movie for over 3 days....and still haven't watched it.
• you don't realize that you're still watching Disney Channel....and there are not any kids in the room.
• you know all the theme songs to those shows you are sleep watching. Phineas and Ferb....pretty catching!
• Goldfish count as a meal in your world.
• you forget something 10 minutes after it came out of some one's mouth...or even your own.
• you can't remember people's names....it's okay, you probably have enough friends anyway.
• if you have poured half and half in the kids' cereal instead of your coffee cup. (they'll survive)
• you chopped, diced, browned and prepared dinner in your slow cooker.....hours later you realize.....slow cookers work much better when they are turned on.
• you have ever started your coffee pot with just water.....no coffee (totally did this a few weeks ago, who knew it would make such a  mess).
• you can fold clothes without looking (I actually consider this a talent that we acquire in time...out of pure necessity).

If you have any of these symptoms you probably have Mom Brain.  Don't worry, just sit tight....you WILL get better.  In 18-20 years. 

They sure are cute....but they give me a bad case of Mom Brain.

A to Z blogging post (M)

L is for....a lifetime of Love

Sometimes I feel an abundance of love swelling in my heart.  I look at my kids, or my hubby...or my parents, and many more....and just feel like thanking God for who he put me with in this world. 
Our life truly is made up of little moments of love, joy, fear and tragedy.....I would rather focus on the moments of love and joy and accept where the moments of fear and tragedy have gotten me.  The people that surround me on this planet are there for a reason and only God knows exactly why and how that is shaping me as a genuine Christ follower. 
Those times when I feel my heart calm and my eyes well with tears of pure contentment are the ones I relish and try to recreate repeatedly.  Unsuccessfully.  The times when I feel so overwhelmed with love must be those moments that I am not attempting to do anything but be in the moment.  I guess the moments we are taken off guard by the glory of God are the times where He has seeped into our souls; through our walls we have put up or the things that stay on our mind, the worries that we needlessly have, the fake smiles we are wearing. 
I can only thank God for the moments that I have experienced, the people I have  met, the times of pure abandonment of insecurities (those are much more few and far between), the smiles on my kids' faces, the kiss from my husband each night, the unconditional, unfailing,  love of my family. 
Here is my lifetime of love...well not a lifetime...I wouldn't have enough room on this blog for all the love I've experienced and given.  But here's a peek....

Love of the women of my family <3

My love of the beach

Daddy's love

Cousin and grandparent love

My first real love

Our first love together

Mother, daughter, sister love <3

More love than I knew I had

and even more love than I deserved...

Family love

Another A to Z Challenge post!