Friday, September 23, 2011

More Pics From Last Weekend

Jim, Christiana and Josiah at
the football game.

Jonathan

Matthew, Kyle and me

Kids playing in the yard at Granma's

Jonathan and Micah

Joshua

Kaitlyn

Matthew

ERHS class of '91 being silly

My best friend since elementary school

Tuesday, September 20, 2011

Tuesday's Tip - Removing Stains (from Your Kids)

Ok, today's tip may sound a little weird but it works.

You ever had your kids get into an art kit with markers or some bright colored lipstick that stains? Well, the same product that removes those stains from your walls will remove them from your kids as well. Just use a Magic Eraser! Permanent marker, lipstick, pen, etc. It will remove the stains from their hands and arms and legs (hehe) or anywhere else they may have written or smeared stuff on themselves. Trust me, out of desperation once I tried it and I've used it ever since.

So don't freak out when you're fixing to head out the door only to find that your little one got into a marker set while you had your back turned. Just clean them up and go :)

Monday, September 19, 2011

What a Fun Weekend

We went to NC this weekend for my 20 year high school reunion. It was such a fun weekend. Friday night we headed to my old high school for a home football game. Our class had a tailgate party in the parking lot an hour before the game and we were able to meet each others children. It was so neat to be back at my high school. Our team won 38 to 7 :)

Saturday we just hung out at my Granma's house. The kids had fun exploring in the woods around her place and climbing trees, playing in the dirt and raking up a small pile of leaves to play in. My sister stopped by for a visit along with her family and a friend. That night Jim and I headed to my reunion while the kids hung out with their Pawpaw playing Apples to Apples and Bingo with lots of laughter thrown in. For me, it was so much fun seeing old friends again. Words can't express how much I love my classmates.

We headed home Sunday morning so we could arrive at church to participate in our churchwide Luau. We have some Samoan families in our church that shared their food and traditional dance with us. It was a fun afternoon.

So, as you can see, it was a very busy but fun weekend for us. Now it's back to unpacking, doing laundry and getting the house back in order.

I'm sure as I finish getting all our pictures from this weekend together I will be sharing them with you, so there's more pics to come. Hope you all had a fun weekend. Be blessed.

This is a picture of Kyle taking a nap out
at Granma's in the bed that was
built for my Dad when he was a baby.

Another pic of the bed while Kyle is sleeping.

Tuesday, September 13, 2011

Saturday's Trip

We like to take spontaneous trips by looking online to see what's going on during any given day. This weekend we found this place. It was the 32nd annual Fall Festival at Fall Creek Falls State Park in Pikeville. It was a beautiful day and the weather was perfect for it. After the festival we drove towards Crossville on the way home and saw around 15 elk (sorry no pictures of the elk). We stopped by a cute BBQ restaurant for dinner then headed home. Here are some pictures from our Saturday adventure.


Trying to get Joshua to smile
while waiting in line for our lunch.

Group shot of the kids (minus Kyle who was
in the Ergo) while waiting in line for lunch.

Found an empty picnic table!
Very busy place.

Lunch time!

Some of the crafts there.

A neat fountain.

Sorghum molasses demonstration.

Checking out some more of the crafts.

Christiana and Kaitlyn

Kyle and Josiah (best buds).

Cute place where we had dinner.

Front of the restaurant.
They had delicious fried pickles!

Taking orders before placing our order.

Gumballs for dessert. Happy little guy :)

Friday, September 9, 2011

Weekend Plans

Last week at this time my family was fighting with a 24-hour stomach bug. Not fun at all. I'm so thankful today that we are all healthy and well. It's times like those that make us appreciate what we normally take for granted, everyday health.

This is the first weekend in a while that we have no plans and everyone is well. Not sure if we'll make it a weekend to relax, since we have no obligations, or if we'll go do something together as a family just because we want to.

What are your plans this weekend? Do you have something you have to do or is it a relaxing "do what I want" weekend for you too? Whatever it may be here's wishing you a blessed one.

Thursday, September 8, 2011

For Real Thursdays

Having a little of what you might call "writer's block" today. Loving today's weather and inspired to get things accomplished. So that's what I'm doing today, getting things accomplished. So sorry there's not much of a post today. I do have lots on my mind. Will be sharing what I'm thinking another time. In the mean time, have a great day and be blessed.

Wednesday, September 7, 2011

Tuesday, September 6, 2011

Tuesday's Tip Response

Last week I posted a tip that got rid of fruit flies and had a few responses of people who were going as stir crazy as I was with those little bugs. I'm curious now as to how many of you have had the chance to try it and if your kitchen is as bug free as mine? Did you find that it worked for you and is your kitchen more pleasurable to be in now? Let me know, I love feedback. Thanks and be blessed.

Thursday, September 1, 2011

A Delicious Change

Last Friday night instead of having our usual pizza we had Hobo stove meals. By Hobo stove meals I mean meat and veggies wrapped in aluminum foil and cooked over heat (our kids learned this by making hobo stoves out of cans in Royal Rangers). Instead of making hobo stoves we just used our grill. I have to say, these meals were delicious.

This is how we made ours:

Place hamburger, onions, carrots, potatoes,
mushrooms (we also added cheese) and
seasonings on aluminum foil.

Wrap aluminum foil so there are no
holes or places for air to escape. You
want the steam to stay inside, it
keeps the food moist.

Folded neatly


Place on grill and cook for 15 minutes.


Be careful when you open, there will be hot steam.

Finished product. You can eat it
straight from the foil or...

transfer to a plate. Enjoy!