Things I love

Today has been one of those days when you just know that you will get alot accomplished. I think it might have something to do with the fact that I didn't go back to bed after Hunny left (for work....yah!!!) at 6:20.

I stayed up and started going with my day.

If there is 1 thing that I want to accomplish this summer, it's TRYING to teach the kids a little bit of responsibility. They have a great way of charging through the house and leaving a disaster in their wake.

SOOOOOO.....with that being said, it's time the kids learn how to clean the bathroom. I figure they are old enough to clean a toilet and a sink. Especially when they are the ones who make most of the mess.

When I told Dada what she was going to be doing, she just kinda gave me this look like....you've got to be serious. But she did it. I was there guiding her the whole time. And I was thankful she didn't complain.


1 of Brother's jobs today was folding some towels. They sat there for a few minutes....until his friend came over and wanted to play. Boy, those towels sure got folded AND put away real quick then!!




(Notice the stuff on Brother's face?? The mulberry's in the neighbors yard are ripe. Dada and Brother spent a while picking and eating Mulberry's today.

The neighbor lays a sheet under the tree to make it easier to catch the ripe berries. They each had a bucket, and were trying to fill the bucket.

As with most berries around here, I think they ate more then they picked!!)

While the kids were doing there chores, I was able to make an apple pie for dessert tonight.

( I already have ribs in the crockpot, and we will have mashed potatoes, corn, and biscuits also for dinner )

There was just a little bit of pie dough left over, and so with the leftovers, I made these little cinnamon rolls.

My mom used to make them when we were a kid. I remember being excited when there was a little pie dough left over and Mom would make them.

I know the kids were excited about them today. Brother's friend was still here when they were done, and they sat on the porch eating them, I overheard Brother say to his friend......my Mom's the best cook. She just makes the best food.

He didn't know I was there or that I was listening, but those words melted my heart and soul.

Later on, I overheard Dada telling Hunny as he was eating some how they were super good.

So needless to say, I think they were a hit.



Cinnamon Sugar Pie Crusts

Leftover pie dough
Butter
Cinnamon
Sugar

Roll out the pie dough into a rectangle
spread butter generously onto dough
sprinkle with cinnamon and sugar to taste

Bake in oven until browned. Usually about 25-35 minutes.

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I don't think we have any ice cream. I think we might have to make a run to the store for some vanilla ice cream to go on top of our pie!

I better be off!!

A day with T

Tancy and I haven't been able to spend a lot of time at all together in probably a good year. We have gone out to dinner with the girls, but I have missed just being able to sit and "watch the paint dry."

Today was one of those days where we could just hang out and be weird. I mean, not that we are weird or anything. I think of it as....we know how to have fun! ;)

If you know much about me, you know that I really don't like to play games. I would be the perfect friend for Tancy otherwise. Tancy LOVES to play games. Not only does she like to play games, but even more then playing, she likes to win. This is why Beth is good for Tancy. Beth likes to play games. AND Beth "let's" Tancy win.


But today, I BROKE down and played Phase 10. (A game which I actually KINDA like.)



Beth, just so you know, Tancy has a new game for you. Its called Appletini, or something stupid like that. I took 1 look at it and knew it wasn't my kind of game.

Let's just say we stuck to Phase 10.



Since Beth wasn't here, we had a new partner. He was excited to play! I think even more exciting for him was SKIPPING me!!!



Poor Tancy, she had such nasal problems today. I offered her a kleenex, but she refused, saying her finger worked much better.



I am happy to report that I BEAT Tancy. Yes, you read it right. I beat her. Even though she tried to cheat.

While we played our game, the kids played house down in the tent. They were pretending that there was a blizzard and they had to stay in the tent for a year.

I don't know if I want to see what the basement looks like now. :0 They were supposed to pick up. But we all know how that goes!! ;)



After I beat her at Phase 10, she got so mad that I beat her, we had to take it to the street.



I beat her there as well. She didn't have a chance!!



After Tancy and the kids left, Dada and her friend Victoria ( who had spent the night last night)decided to play in the sprinkler. They have been begging me all day. It really isn't THAT warm, but they said they didn't care.



They had fun, so I guess that's all that matters right!



They are now sitting on the porch wrapped up in blankets!!



All around, I think it's been a pretty nice day. It's nice to just be able to veg and have fun with your friends!

Hunny has been working this week during the day for which I am so grateful!

Its such a nice day that I think I will take the dogs on a nice long walk.

Memorial Day

What a nice Memorial Day we had!

Memorial Day has a different meaning to me now then it used to. KNOWING and seeing the sacrifice that my Jonathan and even Melanie has given, puts a face to Memorial Day. I finally GET the tears that Memorial Day brings. ( I hope that makes sense!! )

I thought about him alot this weekend. Thank you Jonathan. I love you and am very proud of you!

I wish you could have been at out little picnic.

For the 1st time ever, we had all the boy cousins spend the night.

Truth be told, I was very nervous to have Eli over. I just didn't know how we would do. But Hunny thought that Eli would love it, ( and I think that Hunny was just as excited to have Eli here!! ) so we said he could stay.

And he did just fine! He fell asleep in Hunny's arms and slept most of the night. He woke up about 5 and crawled into bed with us and then slept till 8.

He went between playing with "Gemey"....what he calls Hunny and trying to keep up with the older boys. :)

Finally everyone arrived for the picnic.

They couldn't wait to eat....or to swim!!

Eli wasn't to sure about the water. I think either the water was to cold for him or all the rowdy kids were to much. Take your pick!! But I was glad that he would at least STAND by the pool for a picture.

Most of the time he spent on the deck playing with his "mack" truck!!

That is until he fell asleep in his Papa's arms.

We had a good day of food and fellowship. What a good "family" day. We just MiSsEd Jonathan and Melanie!

He does LoVe me!!

The other day, Daddy and I figured out something about Brother. When he is with me, he tells me that he loves me more then Daddy, and when he is with Daddy, he tells him that he loves him more then me.

I think he knows how to play us.....what do you think?? ;)

So we were teasing him about it all day on Saturday.

By Saturday night, I think he felt a little bad.

While I was downstairs doing laundry, he had set these on the table with the little note. It touched me heart.



I hope he knows that he doesn't have to love either one of us "more." I know he loves me and he knows that I love him. That's all that matters.

Brother came in the house hollerin about......... 1st the neighbor gave me a dog and NOW HE GAVE ME A GO CART!!

The neighbor gave you WHAT?!?!?!




So of course I went out to check this out and sure enough, their was a go cart sitting in the garage.

Hunny said that the neighbor saw him and Brother riding the 4 wheeler and saw that Brother loved it so much that he thought he would enjoy a go cart.

My personal opinion is that a boy who sucks his thumb shouldn't get a go cart. Good incentive I say!! ;)

But that's neither here nor there.

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On a huge side note.......Hunny starts work on Tuesday! He will be working the night shift at a local distribution center!! He wasn't scheduled to start until July, but they called him today and want him to work in the maintenance department for a couple weeks before that!

PRAISE THE LORD!!! It couldn't have come at a better time! But why should that surprise me? Isn't that how God works?? Just as I was giving up hope.

SuMmEr is HeRe!!!!

Boy is it raining cats and dogs out!!!!! I think I even hear some hail. I LoVe thunderstorms!!

Oh how we have longed for summer! I know that I have NeEdEd a slower pace of life. It is something that my soul has yearned for.

The kids have been BEGGING me to spend the night with their cousins. FINALLY we have been able to do it!

I think that Brother was seriously beginning to lose hope.

Yesterday, we pulled out the swimming pool and holy cow, I wasn't prepared for how much time was going to be spent in it!!

Dada and Elisa spent from about 10:00 to about 4 in it! I made them go inside for about an hour cuz they were getting mighty red! Poor Elisa is so fair...it didn't matter how much sunscreen they put on, she just kept getting redder and redder. Her poor little back last night was on fire!

But they had a blast and couldn't wait to get back in the pool again today! They were already swimming at 9:00 this morning!

I tried to make them keep a t shirt on to protect their shoulders and back....but they kept complaining about it and next thing you knew, they were cast aside.

I tried!! :)


When Brother got home later this afternoon, you could tell he was ready to jump in the pool! He grabbed his trunks and "dove" in!

I LOVE LOVE LOVE this picture!! He is such a goofy little kid! I think he has my sense of humor! ;)






What a GrEaT start to summer!



Hunny's job today was cleaning the gutters!



Dinner is in the oven. Baked chicken w/ mashed potatoes, corn and maybe some biscuits. YUMMY!!! And what's dinner without dessert? Cookies n Cream ice cream....can't wait! I think I have a hankering for some sweet iced tea also.

The rain has stopped. Brother just asked if he could get back in the pool. :0

It's official.....SuMmER is HeRe!!!!!!

Annie

Dada had her play this past weekend. She has been working so very hard for a couple months now and was completely excited for this weekend.

I know that the pictures aren't that great, but I couldn't use my flash, so these will have to do! :)



I don't know why this picture is cricked. But it is. :(



The cast was signing....NYC.....in these pictures. She had to learn a dance routine and everything for it. She did a GREAT job!!



This was at the Saturday show. These were all the people that came and supported her that day. What a crowd huh?? I know that there were MANY more people who wanted to come, but the tickets were scarce and they weren't able to.




Little Anna was so excited to see Dada.



I LOVE this next picture!



I was SUCH a proud MAMA!!!!!



Goofing around back stage.



This little girl and Dada were cast together in a lot of the scenes. They became friends and I am glad for it. They kept each other company during the "boring" times. ;)



After the final show they were able to go out in the main lobby and greet "the public"




And of course give autographs!



Tancy and the girls were also able to come, but it was so crowded in the lobby that I didn't get a good picture of them. I hadn't told Dada that the girls were there cuz they weren't for sure they could get tickets. But when she saw them......she goes.....you surprised me!! I didn't know they were coming! She was very happy!

She can't wait for the next show. She is already afraid that she will miss auditions.