Shabby Creations

On Saturday, Ben and I took the kids to a park and met a girl named Michelle. She has 3 kids and had just moved here. I have since learned that she is very talented and has a website: www.shabbycreations.blogspot.com

She creates the most beautiful blog facelifts and designs. They are so fun to look at. She is currently having a Giveaway if you are interested in a free facelift for your blog. Check it out! Hopefully, my blog will look different soon!

BBQ Chicken

I am definately not dieting anymore and enjoying trying new recipes. I have started going through our last recipe exchange packet and so far have found several that are definately blog worthy. The first is from Rachel Erickson. Thanks Rachel! My husband and kids loved this one and I actually think it goes best with white rice or rice-a-roni. Rachel likes it with baked potatoes. You decide.

Step 1- Flour and brown 6 chicken breasts in an oiled frying pan.
Step 2- Mix in a bowl:

1/2 cup ketchup
1 TBS Worcestershire sauce
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 cup mustard
1 1/2 cups brown sugar
1/2 cup chopped onion

Step 3- arrange chicken in a 9x13 pan
Step 4- pour mixture over the top.
Step 5- Cook covered for 2 1/2 hours at 325 degrees. Uncover for the last 15 minutes.

My Girls

The other day we were at the park and I was walking with my girls to use the restroom. Ainsley went into the outhouse and Madison and I were sitting in the shade. I asked her,

"How are you doing Madison? You seem to be sad lately and not very happy like you use to be. What is going on?" She replied, "Well, Mom, life is hard." I was confused and questioned what was hard in her life. She responded, "I just get bored and it is harder to have fun." Wow, what a tough life she has.

Meanwhile, Ainsley is in the outhouse and I yell into her, "Ainsley, are you okay in there?" She answers, "This is DISGUSTING!" You gotta love the honesty!

HAPPY 4TH OF JULY!

We had a wonderful 4th of July. We spent the day getting ready for the fun events that night. We had friends over to swim and eat and enjoy the show. Thank You all who came- we had a wonderful time!

Patio Cover!

We have lived in our "new" house for a year and ever since we moved in, we have wanted to put a patio cover in the back. Finally, we did and it looks wonderful! The kids have loved being outside and playing in the new "room". Madison said we need to call it "The Outdoor Room". Sure...whatever...

We found some great furniture on clearance to fill it with. We loved eating outside last night and I look forward to enjoying the shade while the kids swim. Here are the before and after shots. Enjoy.

Raising a Puppy

We are currently helping watch my in-laws new puppy and the kids are loving it. He is a cute little dog and the girls love "taking care" of him. I have had them help with getting him water, watching him around the house, and taking him out to use the bathroom.

Yesterday I heard Madison tell Ainsley, "Wow, raising a puppy sure is hard work Ainsley. Don't you think?"

I wanted to say, "try raising 3 kids!" But I held back. I just had to laugh.

The Gel Pen Story

Madison has had an emotional couple of days. I find that the summer is wearing her out and she is getting very sad at random times. The other day, we went to the gym and I let her take her church bag with pens and paper to color. She was so excited to color with friends and we even printed out pictures for her to take. Later that afternoon, she went to color again at home and we realized the pens were left at the gym. She was devastated. After many tears and searching, the pens were still gone. She asked me if we can buy more pens. I went through the thought process of...

Should this be a lesson for her? Should I replace things that she looses? Should I spend unnecessary money? Can she save up to buy the pens? Can she save up to pay for half with her allowance? Can she earn pens instead of allowance? What is the right thing for me to do? I discussed it with her and regardless, she would need to do chores to earn either money or pens. She was very sad about that idea.

Yesterday we went back to the gym and they had been turned in. She was so excited. We got in the car and I hear, "NOW I DO NOT NEED TO DO ANY CHORES!" Is this the lesson I wanted to teach? I tried to focus her onto how God listened to her prayers and how there are good, honest people in the world that turned her pens in, but I do not think she heard a word of it. Too funny.