Pasta Fruit Melody (Medley)

I like calling this Pasta Fruit "Melody" after my niece but it is medley. This makes a LOT! I'm always asked for the recipe. I don't usually like fruit salads but I love this one. It is very refreshing - great for brunches and potlucks. I got this recipe from a friend of my hubby's family many years ago.

1 (16 oz) bag spiral pasta
1 (16 oz) can pineapple chunks (save juice)
2 cups sliced strawberries (sliced long ways top to bottom)
1 1/2 cups white grapes (sliced in half long ways)
1 1/2 cups red grapes (sliced in half long ways)

Dressing:
2 cups REAL mayo
1 cup sour cream
1/2 cup sugar
1/4 cup white vinegar
1/4 cup pineapple juice

Blend dressing ingredients together. Cook and drain pasta. Add a little more juice before serving.

For more works for me ideas, go here.

If you would like to see more of my crazy posts go to my home page.

©www.ilovemy5kids.blogspot.com

The "Office"

"We"(the term "we" is used loosely) have started on yet another project. Basically, when I go out of town my sweet hubby starts tearing into the walls or as in this case, ceilings. I couldn't be happier, he does a wonderful job. You would never know that he works a white collared job - he just loves using his hands.

He's getting rid of the yucky 70's paneling, covering the brick and putting up new Sheetrock.
Can I hear a Hallelujah?

He had a beautiful side-kick. She would hand him the tools when needed.
How often does a 4 year old know what an demolition tool looks like? (I still have no idea.) But, she knows.

I'm thinking I will need help on choosing the right color. Ohhhh, the choices.

Drill baby drill!
I love that my hubby is teaching my sons and daughters how to do things for themselves instead of hiring out all the time. There is a joy in knowing that you can do things for yourselves and not have to wait for other people and their schedules. Not to mention labor rates.Of course, their is always the clean-up crew. He loves using the shop-vac and I'm not going to tell him "no" on this one.
Sooooo much more to do and can't wait to show you!

©www.ilovemy5kids.blogspot.com

the "doo"

Some things just take concentration.

A brush $1.49
***
Some things require a little more help.

Hairspray $1.97
***
Getting your "do" just right.

Priceless.


©www.ilovemy5kids.blogspot.com

The EYES have it!

We have been very blessed to have such fantastic doctors in our area. Most of them we either go to church with us or they attend a church near us.
We always have our yearly eye exams.
Since we have a large family, three of us go one day and then three the next day.
{Our baby is still too young to go.}

The boys love looking at the different machines and asking tons of questions. They also got to see a close up of my eye. My eyes are many different colors including blue. My blue eye son was so excited we shared the same color eyes (at least under the microscope).
By next year, my eldest should be able to identify each part of the eye - if he does his homework.
My hubby takes the girls. Do you see his awesome camera tricks?
{If you can't see what tricks, I'm talking about...it's the crown above the head.}
What Sweet Princesses! My blue eyed princess is getting glasses this year. The Dr. says she will grow out of them however. Yeah!

This Princess is wanting to be an eye doctor/mommy.

Thank you Dr. for letting us play and taking care of our eyes. What a blessing you and your staff are to us!
We'll "see" you next year!

©www.ilovemy5kids.blogspot.com

Gone fishing...2008

In August, our city hosted a kid's fishing tournament. This is an educational way to be able to teach young children the fundamentals of fishing and a way for moms and dads to get a suntan.

I learned a couple of things, I hate the way the bait smells and there is no fish in our city. But, I love the way our family bonded.This guy loved the water even though it truly was a HOT day. My Princess, I think she likes hunting better.
He was a trooper. I can't even begin to tell you how well behaved he was around the water.

I love this guy. Talk about being red, white and blue.

She was too young to fish but loved sitting in a chair watching the ducks.

The 3 amigos, the true fishermen of the day.
Oh, the eldest, he caught a sack. Not worth eating and we didn't throw it back in case you were wondering.

©www.ilovemy5kids.blogspot.com

My orchard

I just wanted to share my orchard.

I can't wait to reap the rewards of these trees. My precious Pomegranate Tree.
Mandarin orange tree.
I can hardly wait for this one to bloom.
My navel orange tree, it should have fruit next fall or winter.

Our Valley Lemon Tree - see the blooms.

I have one other, our Key Lime Tree.

(That is a whole post in itself, for another day.)

These trees remind me of this scripture:

Psalm 1:3 (NKJV)

Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly,

Nor stands in the path of sinners, Nor sits in the seat of the scornful;

But his delight is in the law of the LORD,

And in His law he meditates day and night.

He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water,

That brings forth its fruit in its season,

Whose leaf also shall not wither;

And whatever he does shall prosper.

©www.ilovemy5kids.blogspot.com

My 100th Post!

I know the 100th post is supposed to be an achievement of some sort and I can't believe I have already got to it. So, I wanted to share a scripture for this monumental occasion. I couldn't think of a better scripture to express my thoughts. It makes me want to belt out with singing but I won't, thinking I might scare the kids.

Psalm 100
A Psalm of Thanksgiving.

1 Make a joyful shout to the LORD, all you lands!

2 Serve the LORD with gladness; Come before His presence with singing.

3 Know that the LORD, He is God;
It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves;
We are His people and the sheep of His pasture.

4 Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, And into His courts with praise.
Be thankful to Him, and bless His name.

5 For the LORD is good; His mercy is everlasting,
And His truth endures to all generations.

Thanks also goes to my handsome man and precious children. I love you!

©www.ilovemy5kids.blogspot.com

The World's Largest Pecan

This was last summer.
The World's Largest Pecan!
Seguin, Texas

That makes a LOT of PECAN Pies!

Let us know, if you know any World's Largest ______. (You fill in the blank.)  We are always on the search and would love to come see it!

©www.ilovemy5kids.blogspot.com

World's Largest Killer Bee

As part of our home school adventures,
I am trying to find The World's Largest - you name it.

Here is one of our latest stops...

The World's Largest Killer Bee - Hidalgo - Texas

A policeman was watching us take this pict, he was probably thinking - "Tourists."

What a stinger!

So, if you know of any other rather large "things" - let us know. We like to travel!

©www.ilovemy5kids.blogspot.com

I believe everyone has a story.

There is a lady, who sells newspapers, everyday in our city. I've always wanted to sit down and just interview her. I just know, she must be one feisty lady.

Of all the newspaper sales people I've ever seen, she sticks out. Every time I see her she is wearing a different hat or costume. She has been Cleopatra, an angel, Dr. Seuss, and I believe Pharaoh. We don't speak much, I ask how much, she always replies, $1.25.

One day, I came up to her at a red light and rolled down my window. It was not a Sunday, so I didn't want a paper just some small chat.

I told her that I had missed her the Sunday before. She says she was at church. I said really what church do you attend? She replied, she went to my church. So, I thought she might be a Chreaster*. About that time, the light changed and I've never made another opportunity to speak with her.

I've been going to the same church for about 5 years now and my husband and I are constantly meeting people who say they go there, but, might be only what my friend, Selina, calls Chreasters.
*Chreaster - People who go to church only on Christmas and Easter.

She has since, moved on to a greener pasture or greener light anyway. One day, I do hope to run into her and just ask her a few questions that I have been pondering.

• Why this job?
• What did she want to be when she was younger? Was she totally a drama girl?
• Where do you sit when you go to church? Surely, I've must have noticed you without the costume?
• Don't you think it would be fun to if we all wear costumes to church just to see if the pastor would even notice? Better yet, do wear this for your husband to make dinner?
• Do you ever give a discount to a returning customer? (Yes, I'm really that cheap.)

Moral of the story; not one really, except, "Be careful what you wear! People like myself are constantly giving you the 3rd degree in our minds."

My formula for getting kids to take yucky meds...

During the Christmas holidays, my whole family came down with the flu. Not a pretty picture!

The first time, I gave the infamous Tamiflu to my eldest, he gagged and it came right back up.
The 2nd time, Mommy's Science set in.
My kids love pop, soda, Coke - whatever you may call it and they also love marshmallows.

So, I gave them a tsp of their meds, then said "hurry take a swig of orange soda and pop a marshmallow into your mouth. The soda pop makes the marshmallow expand thus keeping the meds down."
It's called Mommy Science - no actual testing - just some things sound like they should work. It WORKED and works for me - no more puking up the meds! YEAH!



©www.ilovemy5kids.blogspot.com

Dogs and Rabbits

My sister is the outside type. I'm the inside type. She doesn't mind getting her hands dirty, in fact, she would rather be playing in the dirt. I like to be inside - painting my nails. So, when she told me this story, I was even more glad it was her son and not mine. I would have been soooo grossed out. I'm still grossed out thinking about it.

My sister has a couple of dogs. Well, one of them killed a rabbit. My sweet nephew, who is about to turn 6 years old, wanted the dogs not to fight over it so he split it into two and gave each of them a part. When questioned how, he said he used his bare hands. OIY!

What precious traits that boy has - kindness and fairness.


©www.ilovemy5kids.blogspot.com

Fence Building Part III

The supposedly "weekend" project has turned into a "month" project. As I write, my precious hubby is putting up the gate. However, my camera battery needs a charge so I post picts of that later. Sweet hubby working so hard. Can't wait to power wash and stain the fence.

I love how brothers find something to do, when they are "bored."

Okay, this is where my 2nd born busted his tooth and we became friends with the pediatric dentist. Before I got him down, we had to take a photo.

This is what the baby got for Christmas. The first one he got from Christmas didn't have pedals and Target was out of them, so he had to wait to February to get his gift. Hopefully, he will burn some of that energy.

We loved these when we were kids. My brother had a Knight Rider edition, with a brake. I didn't have one...sniff, sniff.

This is an actual photo of the fence. However, the baby must have noticed his belly button in middle of my shot and I thought he was cute, so we all get to see him.

Working hard...almost half way done. My sweet hubby is such a hard worker and hardly ever complains. I really appreciate his sweet character.Not much longer...I can hardly wait to see the final result.

©www.ilovemy5kids.blogspot.com

Fence Building Part II

Fence building has still been a process here.We interrupted our daily lunch ritual to come and see the "tractors" move our trees.The baby loved the tractors hard at work. It's amazing what can excite us.

Our tax dollars hard at work. Taking opportunity to teach my kids, we were able to talk about the advantages and disadvantages of living in the city versus living in the country. I'm a city girl having been raised in the country but seem to be raising a country boy in the city.Princess is getting on the job training to be a supervisor.

He is either saying "thank you" or "you missed one."He is now saying, "Now, you got it" or "Your welcome."
A little ballet during pick-up time.

Thank you goes to our city for picking up our brush. You did a GREAT job!

I will post more fence building very soon!

©www.ilovemy5kids.blogspot.com