Thankful Thursday #26

*I am thankful to have a couple of "extra" days with the boys this week...although not thankful for the reason. Ryan had already taken off work tomorrow to chaperon Ben's field trip (while I was going to be chaperoning Cole's field trip) so we're going to have our own field trip...I better get to planning that =)

*I am thankful that Ryan is off work so he doesn't have to go on the medical calls to all the "crazies" who are going to swear they have swine flu!

*I am thankful that it's beautiful outside today & that we can enjoy a day just hanging out...OUTSIDE!

*I am thankful that we raised over $730 last night for Relay for Life @ our annual ice cream social after church!

*I am thankful that (I think) it's finally safe to put away our winter clothes!

Remember BE THANKFUL :)

it aint Food Network but they eat it...Tuesday!

A recipe so good...you'll want to arm wrestle your brother for that last bite!

(So maybe that was a stretch, but posts are so much better with pictures!)

Although we may call them Spanish Meat Balls, Australian Meat Balls or something else (remember the "make up a silly name" trick?)...most of you will simply know them as...

Swedish Meat Balls
Meat Balls:
1 lb ground beef
1/2 onion, finely chopped
1 egg
salt & pepper to taste
1/4 c milk
2 tbsp ketchup
1/2 sleeve Ritz crackers, crushed


Mix all ingredients & shape into 1" balls. Broil on cookie sheet.


Sauce:
1/3 c ketchup
1 c pineapple juice
1/2 tsp vinegar
1/3 c brown sugar


Combine all ingredients in pan. Add meat balls & simmer until sauce thickens.


Pasta:
1/2 package of extra wide egg noodles


Cook noodles as directed. Serve meatballs over noodles.


This makes approximately 75 meat balls. This recipe can easily be doubled!

Thankful Thursday #25

*I am thankful for all the green! No, not the cash-kind...I'm talking about the grass, trees, bushes, flowers kind! It's looking beautiful around here!


*I am thankful that the makers of Dr. Pepper wised-up & started bottling Cherry DP. Now I won't have to make an almost daily run to Sonic to get it, because that always leads to getting more than just the Cherry DP that I went there for. And for the record, I hate Dr. Pepper, but LOVE it with some cherry!


*I am thankful that my boys got Ryan's artistic abilities. Ben won his 2nd ribbon of the year for a poster contest! He won 2nd place in Kindergarten for his Earth Day poster. (He drew a remote control tractor & said he could help Earth by using rechargeable batteries.)


*I am thankful for contacts. Because I can see and because I can't imagine not being able to wear my sunglasses! If you see me in real life, then you know that I always have sunglasses on...on my eyes or on top of head...no matter what time of year...whether it's sunny or not. They are my favorite accessory!

*I am thankful that God's timing is always perfect. He does not make mistakes in timing or otherwise! As I typed those words to a friend this week, I realize how often I forget that.

Remember BE THANKFUL :)

Love is...

sharing your first popsicle of the season...that you've waited for all winter!

Trick Them Tuesday Recipe

My friend gabgirl encouraged some of us to start posting a recipe each Tuesday. Really, who doesn't need some new recipes?

When Cole first started drinking "real milk" we quickly learned that he hated "milk" and wouldn't touch it, however, we also quickly learned that if we called it "juice" he would drink it up! So there you have it...I will trick my children into eating (or drinking) things that they otherwise will not touch. So, here's my tricky little recipe hint, no matter what it is...make up a silly name!

Sloppy Dogs
12 oz lean ground beef
1 8-oz can tomato sauce
1 tbsp minced onion
1/4 tsp oregano
1/4 tsp basil
1 c shredded mozzarella cheese
1/2 c grated parmesan cheese
1 pk hot dog buns

Brown the beef. Drain. Add tomato sauce, onion, oregano & basil. Cook on medium-high until mixture comes to a boil. Turn burner to low heat, cover & cook for 15 minutes. Spoon the mixture onto the buns & cover with mozzarella & parmesan cheese.
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Please don't forget to say a prayer for little Stellan today! He is in surgery this morning.

catching up!

While I spent all day Monday catching up on laundry and cleaning house, little Baby Cakes has just been trying to catch up on all the sleep she missed this weekend! She literally slept all day yesterday & today. Poor baby, we've got 25 games in a month & half which means 5 games some weeks. I just keep praying this won't throw a wrench in her otherwise perfect little schedule.

it's the Start

of my most favorite time of the year! Baseball season is here! Friday night we kicked off the season with Opening Night ceremonies, inflatables, games, dinner from the concession stand & a late night game that didn't end until 10:40...UGH!!! Both boys have moved up this year. Cole is playing kid-pitch. Cole began the game last night at 3rd base, but by the 3rd inning moved to pitcher where he remained for rest of the game! Did I mention that this was his 1st game ever to even play kid pitch & he was pitching?! I was so proud! His first outing on the mound...3 up 3 down!!! Woo Hoo!
Ben moved up to coach-pitch this year. His first game was Saturday. He played 2nd base for the entire game. And, his first at bat...hit a HOMERUN, followed by a triple! Did I mention this was his first game to play baseball?! And, did I also mention that he is really still supposed to be playing t-ball, not baseball?!?



I am so proud of how both of my boys played this weekend, but mostly I'm just proud of them...that they are good (most of the time anyway!), caring, responsible, loving, always-trying-to-do-their-best, big-hearted boys!

Thankful Thursday #24

*I am thankful for my husband...pretty sure I've mentioned that before, but he has been my saving grace this week. He kept Meg all day Monday, he's helped with supper, cleaning up, labelling & stamping 300+ envelopes, making runs to the Dollar Store when I can't seem to remember to get everything on the list & then worked his booty off at the shop to make up for all the time he's spent helping me.

*I am thankful for Dollar General. Seriously, I never thought I'd say that one! I was a city girl...no big deal to make a quick run to anywhere, but when you don't live in town the Dollar General store is a life-saver!

*I am thankful that my boys aren't "too cool" for me yet! I love that they want me to be at everything!

*I am thankful for prayer...can you imagine not being able to talk to God?

*I am thankful that all of those people who ridiculed/commented/questioned me for bringing Meg to church for the first time dressed in a blue dress & bonnet, that they all politely bit their tongues when she also wore a blue dress & bonnet for her first Easter.

Remember BE THANKFUL :)

SLAM!

Have any of you played this?

The Easter Bunny left this in Cole's basket & Cole I can't stop begging any and every one to play it!

PERFECT!

My week ended on a PERFECT note...

this little guy brought me breakfast in bed for my birthday...a bowl of grapes & a cereal bar

his big brother could not be outdone...he delivered two pieces of toast & a glass of ice water

I sure didn't have the heart to tell them I was on my way to eat birthday breakfast at Cracker Barrel with my parents...that would be just plain cruel since they were off to school.

Friday afternoon I was at school for 2 parties, which included an egg hunt with Ben's class...

After some crazy weather, we met our favorite friends at PF Changs for a late dinner. Although this is not the "best" picture from the evening, it is my favorite! We may look drunk, but we're really just stupid and laughed for hours while I'm sure the waitress wanted to kick us to the curb. Life's not always fun, but it sure does help when you have someone to laugh with/at :)

Saturday was a day of fun at the ballpark, followed by a birthday dinner with Ryan's family.

Sunday morning the bunny delivered the goods!

We actually made it to early church where little Baby Cakes sat all through church & then went to Bible class without a tear shed!

We then headed to my parent's house for Easter lunch & an egg hunt. Before the great egg hunt, I coerced the kiddos into a few pictures...

But, then I got my favorite pictures of the day...this little girl was the happiest girl in the world going for a tractor ride with her big brother. I don't know who had a bigger smile on their face!

Although I did get some super swell gifts, nobody's was as good as the gift I got from her...

on my birthday she started saying "Mama" & has looked at me about a hundred times since with a big grin on her face saying it over & over.

This weekend was absolutely PERFECT!

Thankful Thursday #23

I am thankful for Jesus!

Although I was always thankful, I never could begin to imagine the sacrifice that was made until I held my own child. I am so thankful that the God who knew me before I was even formed, loved me enough, loved my children enough that He made the sacrifice that will allow us a life together in eternity. I am thankful for the forgiveness that He purchased on that cross. I am so thankful for grace...I fail so miserably, so often! I am thankful to know that He is always here! I am thankful that He makes it so easy to have relationship with Him. I am thankful that He was a perfect man & I can rest in His care knowing that a perfect person will never let me down! I am thankful for the peace that He provides at times when all else has failed. I am thankful that He listens, that He cares & wants what is best for me. I am thankful, truly thankful to my Jesus for loving me enough to be beaten, battered, spat upon & to die such a gruesome death just so one day we will meet face to face. I can't wait!

She's SO Sweet!

I could just eat her up!!!

Thanks for the Laughs!

Super sweet Good Times stories!!! You girls made this decision really hard! I am really not an idecisive gal, but this was a hard call! I love Sara's gift from her grandmother...something to see on her shelf everyday...and that note found in the Bible almost made me cry. I love Sarah's memories from the kitchen with her grandmother...I definitely have many of those myself. And, thanks to Ginger for her sweet memories of Cissy's story...it's always good to hear that our friends & family members have not been forgotten! But, I really laughed out loud when I read about Jennifer's PawPaw...he sounds like a wonderful father figure...even with his pants falling around his ankles :) I enjoyed going to Jennifer's blog to read more about her PawPaw & seeing her pictures with him.

So Jennifer, I'm making a $100 donation to Relay for Life in memory of your PawPaw. Please leave me a comment with his name! I'd also like to give a gift in memory of Sara & Sarah's grandmothers...so if you girls will leave me a comment with each of their names, I am going to purchase a luminaria to be lit in memory of each of them at the luminaria ceremony at this year's Relay.

I encourage all of you wherever you may be to participate in your local Relay for Life. It is a wonderful time to honor cancer survivors and also to remember those who have lost their battle. I know it would mean so much to the survivors and families...and you can't imagine what it will mean to you! Look here to find a Relay event in your community.

my GOOD TIMES stories

Ya'll are putting some big smiles on my face with your Good Times stories!

Thought I'd share one...or maybe two...or how about three of mine with you...

Way back when Cissy & I worked together we sweet-talked our boss into letting us get a picnic table so we could sit outside to eat our take-out or warmed-up leftovers. He relented but said we would have to go get it ourselves. We were so excited as we headed to Lowe's...to be getting our way, someone else was paying for it and it got us out of the office for a while...can't beat that!

We quickly chose our prize, paid for it & the cashier called for someone to load it for us. OH, if you could have seen the little (and I am being very generous in saying "little") guy they sent to help us. As we saw him coming, we fought back our laughter at the thought of him trying to help us. When he saw our purchase, he knew he was in over his head (literally) and called for back-up. We waited, waited, waited.... As he grew more frustrated, he decided to go look for help. When the sliding doors closed behind him, Cissy somehow convinced me that we should load the table up ourselves. I still don't know how we did it, except that she was strong as an ox (in more ways than I ever could have imagined then) & I somehow managed to muster up enough strength adrenaline to at least do as she instructed.

Right as we were getting in the truck, we could see the little guy & his helper walking out the front door. We drove right up to the front of the store and rolled the window down to wave at them. Poor guy just stood there shaking his head in disbelief. We laughed the whole way back to the office.

Every time I see a picnic table I think of that day...of Cissy.

And of all the funny, the light-hearted, the griping, the serious, the day-dreaming, the meaningful conversations that we shared at that table.

Several years ago, a girl with the biggest, most beautiful smile entered my life. I can only say that I can not think of her without smiling. Her smile was contagious! It makes me so sad to know that I only got to know her for such a short amount of time and that she was so sick almost the whole time. Yet I don't think I ever saw a time that she didn't have a smile to share.

When I think of April, I often wonder if someone only knew me for such a short period of time, what would they remember about me?

I can only hope...a smile!

I can't believe that before I was 30, they were both gone.

But. the good times. not forgotten!

And, then there's this guy...my Papaw. We've had our share of good times...holidays, vacations, NASCAR races at Talladega...

But, long before our days of race cars, there was me & Papaw. Every summer when I was a child, my parents had a conference in some exotic place and I went to stay with my GanGan & Papaw. A whole week. My Papaw, who worked crazy swing-shift hours & was the Fire Chief for their county department, took a week of vacation from work to spend time with me. A whole week. We did nothing but fun. A whole week. We played at Papaw's park. A whole week.

I'm so thankful to have a life full of a whole lotta weeks with you Papaw! I love you more than you know!

It's not too late...share your story here. Don't forget that Monday I'll be picking the one that puts the biggest smile on my face & I'll be making a donation to Relay for Life in honor or in memory of your loved one!

Thankful Thursday #22

*I am thankful for the creative juices that have been flowing this week. I complete a scrapbook for each year of the kiddo's lives & I was sooooo far behind. I have worked like a crazy girl on their books this week. I am slowly, but surely getting caught up.


*I am thankful for healthy kiddos! Sure they get sick...they even make me sick, but it's all stuff we can handle. Can't imagine how I would survive this.


*I am thankful for my really smart, up early & ready to go to school, almost never complaining about homework, always straight A's making boys. Makes life so easy for me!


*I am thankful to have a husband who spends time teaching our children...not just playing with them! You only have to spend a little bit of time on the ball field to see which children have someone who spends time teaching them...about ball, about being respectful & about a winning attitude (even when you're not winning).


*I am thankful to have a wonderfully artistic photographer. She captures my children as I see them & makes the experience so effortless that I will always look at the portraits & have good memories, not some of the harried ones that I've had in the past...you know what I'm talking about...begging bribing for just one smile. I am still trying to narrow down my choices for Meg's 6 month pictures...which is turning out to be an impossible decision for me...and if you know me, you know that indecision is not me!



Remember BE THANKFUL :)