Our nephew date night

Our nephews are just in town until this coming Saturday, August 8th, and then they will be back in Louisiana with their mom for the school year. It is really sad that these sweet boys are caught in the middle of their parents divorce, and that their mom isn't putting them first by keeping them around their family. I have had my own issues with their mom, and I just see her as being selfish. These boys love it here with their dad, grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins! Sorry for the small rant. I just hate seeing these boys suffer. Bryce even told us last night that he didn't want to go back home with his mom, and Isaiah said he is going to hide at his daddy's house so he doesn't have to go. My heart just breaks for them.

So, last night, Chad, Gabe, Graedon and I took Bryce and Isaiah out to dinner at Bob Evans. They all ate really good, and then we took them to our friends video gaming center called Ebash! They were in heaven there. It was a great evening, and it was really fun seeing these 4 boys all bond and just love each other even more. I really hope we can keep them close because Gabe really loves Bryce and spending time with his older, cool cousin. It was a fun night!

Here they all are in front of Ebash. Gabe was thrilled!

Battling it out on Mario Kart. Loved it!

Our guitar hero rockers! Bryce was really good at this game. I was impressed.

Another Ebash shot!

Fruits of my labor

I had a busy day in the kitchen. Chad's dad has a great garden, and we have been enjoying the abundance of zucchini, cucumbers, onions, green beans, tomatoes, etc. So, today, I decided to make some yummy goodies from all of that garden freshness. The boys even helped me out today with the zucchini bread and chocolate chip cookies. I made the cucumbers and onions and "the staple" salad that my family loves.

I still have plenty of zucchini to make some more bread and I have a new recipe for chocolate zucchini muffins that I am going to try out. I didn't have the plain yogurt the recipe was calling for. So, what are some of your favorite zucchini or garden fresh recipes?

I want more summer!

This summer is just flying by! I want more of the lazy days in the pool and hearing my boys laugh. I am not ready for it to be over!! School starts in exactly 3 weeks from today, and I am not happy about it. I still have so much that I want us to do, and there just isn't enough time. I am fighting it all the way. Oh well, I guess we will just continue to live it up until we can't anymore!

Fruit Salsa

I just wanted to share a snack that is a big hit at our VBS! I hope you enjoy!

1-2 C strawberries
2 apples
1 kiwi
1 orange
2 Tbsp apple jelly or honey
1 pkg flour tortilla shells
cinnamon and sugar

Use food chopper to chop fruit. Add jelly or honey. (You can use whatever fruits you have on hand. I like blueberries and peaches in mine, and I do not usually use an orange).

For Chips: Dampen tortillas (I use spray butter). Sprinkle them with a cinnamon sugar mixture. Cut into triangles. Bake at 400 degrees for 7-10 minutes until lightly browned!

It's been too long!

Hello my poor neglected blog. I have abandoned you for too long, but you know I still love you. I have been busy living up the summer days going to Holiday World, watching fireworks, having cookouts, visiting friends and now of course, conquering my task as director of VBS this week. I have missed you, and I long to be back soon!

It's summertime

HAPPY SUMMER!!
Summer is definitely in full swing around here, and it's been so much fun so far. Mom has a pool, and the kids are just wanting to live there at the moment. It's just nice to have a place to cool off. This is my niece, Taylor with the boys. They are just water bugs!

Well, my computer problems are slowly but surely getting fixed. My laptop has officially died, so I have been using Chad's, and he has been working on putting in a new hard drive on our home PC. I have access, so that is great news. Now, if I can remember all of my favorites and get back to my normal communication schedule. :-)

unplugged...maybe

My laptop died this morning. It won't turn on. I have called in my handy dandy computer repairman, aka, my hubbie, and we will see what he can do. It may be the end for it. So, I am here on our desktop, and it has issues of it's own. It will just randomly shut off the screen and not turn back on whenever it feels like it. So, I may be left alone without computer access at times. I do not know what I will do. :-) You know you would be lost without it too. It's amazing how just 10 short years ago, I had just started emailing and surfing the web as a past time, and now it is like a lifeline to online friends and communities. Just amazing at how much technology changes.

Okay, so if you don't hear from me for a bit, no worries, Chad is on it!

Some menu planning

I am not a big menu planner, but I would like to be a better one at that if I could. I just know that it has been too convenient to get something from a restaurant or have fast food. I miss our dinners around the table all together. It just seems that the past few months have been a whirlwind of activities, and getting something out was just easier. Well, I am making it my goal this week to eat good, healthful meals at home as a family! So, here is my "menu" for this week. We'll see how I do at prepping, preparing and following through with my plan!

Monday-Fettucine Alfredo with garlic bread.
Tuesday-Grilled marinated chicken breast, grilled onion and potato packets, broccoli and cheese.
Wednesday-Grilled Honey Mustard Pork Chops, au gratin potatoes, salad
Thursday-Hot Dogs on the grill, macaroni and cheese, green beans
Friday-Spaghetti with meatballs, homemade sauce, garlic bread, salad
Saturday-Date Night-We usually go out, but maybe we will have steak on the grill. We'll see.
Sunday-Sunday Dinner at my mom's.

Wish me luck on my menu planned week!

I need some help

I know what you're thinking....You're thinking that, "Yes, that girl really does need help. I've always thought she was a little off." Now, I am not needing that kind of help, at least not yet anyway. I need help because I am drowning in total toy disarray! Help me!

If you know me and my house and my feelings that I have towards my house, then you would know that I hate that my house doesn't have any storage areas. We have one closet on the main level, and that is because we built it when we remodeled our downstairs bathroom. We have this added on "big room" as we like to call it, and that is where the boys have most of their toys.

How do I organize this. This is exactly what it looks like as I am typing, and I would just like your expertise on what you would do with this situation. Now, I know they have a lot of toys, and what is bad, they have a lot of big toys that take up space. I just don't know where to start, but I am truly motivated to make my house as resourceful as possible...with your help if you're willing.

I will also let you know that I am planning on repainting the ugly green walls that you see, and I want to make a little "library" type area for the boys in this room. I want a bookshelf, a little round or rectangle area rug, and 2 chairs or bean bags for them to sit and have access to all of their books. I can't wait to read your thoughts and ideas. Thanks in advance!

Just a few Disney Shots

I really want to share more photos than this, but my home computer is messing up...Chad thinks it is the video card, but who knows. I am definitely not computer smart. I have also had problems with Picasa. Anyone have another great program that I could use to make photo collages? I would love any recommendations. So, without further adieu, here are a few shots from Disney!

Seeing this fairty tale structure just makes me happy!

Gabe had some preschool graduation money burning a hole in his pocket, and all he talked about wanting was a pirate hat and a pirate gun. He was pleased to find both after riding Pirates of the Caribbean.

Graedon and I being silly waiting on everyone else to get done riding Stitch's Great Escape. It was a nice break for us!

It is just as fairy tale looking at night....I love the way it changes colors.

The boys still having a good time riding the ferry boat back to the main entrance the Magic Kingdom. We had a magical day!

I am trying to post more photos of our vacation, but I have over 500 to choose from! hehe I promise I won't bombard you with all of them, but I will post some of my faves!