BBQ, family, garage sale, & sun!

This memorial weekend as we think of those we have lost and gave their lives for our country, we will be having some family in town for a day, having a garage sale, getting some time in to do some projects around the house and have some fun in the sun.  While I love weekends and days off, busy time off can be stressful. My husband is finishing up our bathroom we are remodeling, I will share some before and after pics when it is complete. But today I am going to share some summer dishes with you.

Strawberry Pie
One pie crust (I like to use the deep ones)
1 cup sugar
3T cornstarch
1 cup water
3T of strawberry jello
1/4 teaspoon almond extract
Let cool
Arrange strawberries in pie crust (as many as you like) you can add blueberries for a red, white and blue theme as well.
Pour cooled ingredients over strawberries, place in refrigerator until firm, top with cool whip, and enjoy! Yummy!


Gotta go get to my garage sale! Enjoy your weekend! God Bless!

Bittersweet

Well on Wednesday my daughter Hailey graduated from Pre-shool, hence the name of this post it is soooo Bittersweet.  While I went in holding my tears, she walked in holding hers. The class started singing "You are my sunshine", which I sing to her often, she busted out crying, as I did (well I didn't bust out, but inside I was). I felt so bad for her, I asked her why after and she said she wanted her big sister! Just shows how much she loves her.  She was looking at me and I was trying to mouth "Its Ok honey:!  Her wonderful teacher went by her and held her hand! She got through three more songs, tears rolling down both of our faces. We took some pictures of her and her friends, she still was not into it, as well as with her teachers. This is not that she is sad to leave pre school because let me tell you she is sooo excited to go to Kindergarten!  She is a remarkable little girl, she loves to play pretend with everything! Loves playing with her big sister, loves her big brother how he goofs around with her. I love how she calls cupcakes "pupcakes"! This age is so wonderful, still little to wanna crawl in my lap and cuddle, as well as learn her independence. She is very thoughtful and very clever. She can look in the sky and automatically see some sort of shape in the clouds, no thinking about it. She is very goofy, she can crack herself up as well as everyone else in the room! She has a great laugh, and makes me laugh all the time. She crawls in our bed every night still with her blanky and maybe some other little friend. She loves gymnastics and is always hanging on something any chance she has. She like a little monkey! While I am sad for her to leave pre school as it means she is just growing up, I am very happy for her to be going to Kindergarten as well this time is so Bittersweet!

Love You Hailey!

Cooking can be for the birds!

I enjoy cooking some nice meals, but there are times in my life that I just cant seem to complete a one. On these days its mostly due to the fact that my girls have either gymnastics practice or softball practice not long after we all come home from work and school/daycare. Now don't get me wrong I have been able to plan my meals and prepare ahead of time, but this would also require some work on the preparing side and lately I just have not even had time for the preparing part! I think you might understand how I feel and might have been here yourself. So, I have opted when grocery shopping to purchase some already made items to help with the stress side of life and still give us a sense that we are having a nice meal! I will purchase some wonderful chicken strips, chicken patties, hot dogs, and those miraculous chicken or beef strips that are already cooked! Now I know that these items are not the healthiest, but I try and purchase with the less sodium and all natural ones, which are in the organic isle at some stores.  I do plan ahead of time not when I get home and then have to ask myself "what am I going to make for dinner?".  I always know, "ok so tomorrow we will have chicken strips and baked potatoes and a salad, since Hannah has a game."  It is the worst when everyone comes home and we are all starving and nothing is planned, GOTTA HAVE A PLAN!! :-)  Then on those day when there is nothing going on and I have the time, I am able to plan/make a nice meal such as a , roast, chicken dish, meatloaf, etc. What really matters the most is that your family is together at the table, whether you are eating peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, or a roast its that you are together!

Here is an example of what I cooked today!

The chicken was from Sams Club (delicious!) took me a whole 25 mins to get it done and on the table! Love that! We love the broccoli flourets from the freezer they taste just like fresh. Not to hip on the boxed mashed, but on days like today it works fine!

I even put it on paper plates so I have less dishes! Cooked the chicken on a baking sheet and lined it with aluminum foil, when ready for clean up I just toss the aluminum foil give the sheet a nice wipe and whala done!

 Hope you enjoyed your dinner! :-)

Happy Mothers Day!

 The thing that I am most proud to be in this life is a MOM, I am so grateful to have been given this opportunity and cherish it daily! 

                                                              

                                                           My three wonderful children!

                           Wishing all the Moms out there a Wonderful Happy Mothers Day! 

Busy Week/Spring has sprung!

Well this week has gotten away from me, still trying to get this blog header figured out, appears I need to buy a scrap booking software. Very busy at work,  trying to re-do a bathroom (well my husband has been doing most of the "work", but I do the final decisions (thanks honey!). Hannahs baseball practice, scheduling appointments, keeping the house clean, laundry, I don't need to go on we all know what it's like to keep a home up with a hard working husband and kids! It has been soooooo nice here in Michigan, just loving the weather! Heres a couple of pics of the week!

                                               

              This was left by Hailey today, arent the animals so darn cute! I love how she writes Mommy Hailey on EVERYTHING right now, only due to the fact that those are the only words she knows to writer (working on others)! 

                                       Girls Wednesday morning at school "Moms with Muffins" so fun!

 
              Bruce received a note as well (excuse the unmade bed, did I mention its been a busy week)!

                                                               
                                                             The girls and I at "Moms and Muffins"!

Opening Day with family!

Hi! Well today was definitely an eventful and fun day! Hannah had her first baseball game (they won), and my sister came in to town with my nephew (her grandson). It was a beautiful day, the sun was shining and it was the perfect temperature! My heart is sad though when I have to say goodbye to my family for awhile....Here are some pics of the day!

                                         

My little second base girl! 

Yellow Jackets #10

Kids blowing bubbles at the park!

Frenzy Friday!

Well today was a bit crazy! I needed to get Hailey registered for Kindergarten :-( it is sooo bittersweet. She was very excited I have to say, I got her out of class and she was more than ready! This one has been waiting forever to start school and ride the bus. She attends preschool currently. She got a shirt and some other goodies, passed her eye and hearing exam. Came home, worked, then Logan (my oldest) came home from college! There is another big adjustment for us all! He came home with a truck load of his things! Goodness gracious that boy came home with more than he left! I became overwhelmed and had to take it to his room (note to self to buy more bins).  We have all been recovering from colds as well. Then Hailey had gymnastics, my sweet Hannah came along! Signed them up for the next session, Hannah is excited to be going back into it. Currently she is in softball and her first game is tomorrow! I hope and pray she has a good time! Its the love of having children and attending all of those firsts, and all that follows!  So this is one of the reasons why I wanted to start a blog to hold on to these memories, if only I had started this years ago for my oldest! Its never too late! I am a late bloomer what can I say.  My sister and her grandchild are in town and hopefully we can see them this weekend. I feel like I am rambling at this point. Going to bed its been a busy day! :-)