Goodbye Party

Recently, a friend of mine is moving back to North Carolina.  Her hubby is going to Iraq for a while.  They both will be coming back to us, when his term is complete.  What an honor it is for us to know these precious people, who are willing to sacrifice so much for our country.

God has truly blessed us with wonderful friends.It is so funny to look at this picture and realize that we all grew up in different areas of the world including Germany, Mexico, North Carolina, North-South-East-West Texas, Oklahoma, and South Dakota.  Yet God directed our paths to meet and I am so thankful.This is Leslie (the one in the black shirt).  Please pray for her and her family as God continues to guide their steps.  (Candace is on the right.  If she knows I put this on here – she might shoot me.  Hopefully, she doesn’t own anything except a water gun.) 

Blessings to each of you!  You are loved!

God burps

I was having a sweet talk with my now 3 year old.

I asked, “Who made your eyelashes?”
He replied “Nobody.”
I said “No, God made your eyelashes.”
He retorted “God is a mom.”
Then he corrected his self. “God is a boy.”
"Boys burp. God burps. Girls bell {meaning belch}.”

I try to correct him saying that God is perfect but I finally give up.

What a logical thinker we have on our hands.

Blessings to you! You are loved!

Sneezing, from what you ask?

My blonde son has terrible allergies. Sunday we stayed home from church because I wanted him to rest and not be by other kids, he hardly had a voice. It is so sad to hear him when he is sick. His gift is encouraging. It is hard to edify people without a voice and sounding like Darth Vader.

I went to my medicine cabinet and got out Clarinex. I couldn’t remember what it was for exactly so I googled it.

Sure enough the website popped up. What I learned about allergies was amazing. Ragweed releases pollen from late July to September in 48 states. Isn’t that nice? (I’m using my sarcastic voice here.)

Steps to prevent it:

• Wash those sheets.
• Change clothes.
• Wash your hair daily. (I wonder if the pool counts?)
• Move to Alaska or Hawaii.

Look at your city’s Pollen Count. Do you want to move with me?

I just Works for Me Wednesdays!

Blessings to you! You are loved!

Awww Shucks, me?

I have been awarded an “One Lovely Blog Award”. Yaa!

She was given to me by:

Energizer Bunny’s Mommy Reports is getting ready to have a whole month of giveaways. Go see her site – you could win! (I almost didn’t type this because I’m selfish and want to win.)

The nice thing about this award is it gets passed on.

Here are my 15 favorite blogs...they put in so much heart and their blog says it all. Please do visit each blog, each one is special in its own way. These are in no particular order!

• Funky Junk Interiors
• Girly Stuff
• Kiki’s Corner
• Bargain Shopper Lady
• The McClure Family
• Thrifty Decor Chick
• Her Cup Overfloweth
• Infarrantly Creative
• Call her blessed
• Mom’s Toolbox
• Reinvented
• School for us
• What’s cooking at my house?
• Heritage Schoolhouse
• Like Merchant Ships

Here are the rules to receiving the "One Lovely Blog Award" :

1. Post the award on your blog along with recognition to the person who gave it to you with a link to their blog.
2. Award 15 other well deserving blogs that you have discovered.
3. Don't forget to contact the winners you chose for the award!

Oh, I have so many sites I LOVE!
But usually these sites listed I look at at least once every few days for inspiration.

Blessings to each you! You are loved!

Fave Five Photo Blog Hop

All my kids are my fave! Don't tell them that!
They each think that they are my only fave and I like it that way.

I have so many photos. Probably my fave is the one that is on the top of this page when they were on the railroad track. But, since everyone sees that when they come to my page - I picked some other ones.

Thanks for coming over today! Blessings to you! You are loved!

Doesn't he look precious? He is!

Just beautiful! She is so compliant!

His personality shines in this picture! He is so much fun!

Miss Priss! I just love her sweetness!

My constant verbalist. I love when he admires his Dad.

Click here to enter your link to this Blog Hop

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SPONSORS of this blog hop:
» Fairy Wonderful 1Prize » Avon - Elana Kahn 1Prize » Moomettes Magnificents » FireFly Photo Jewelry 2Prize. Please visit them and say thank you. Sponsors make this whole thing possible.

If you would like to do a $20 or $100 Sponsorship for the next blog hop and have hundreds of blog owners see your link or ad‚ more information here.

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Last weeks winner was Fairy Blog Mother All winners
New to the Blog Hop? Find out how to join the fun here...
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©www.ilovemy5kids.blogspot.com

BlogWorld Aggravations….

I love the Bloggy World. I find great ideas and they are mostly free. From alphabet crafts to zebra decorating, you can find mostly EVERYTHING under the moon. However, I do have a few aggravations! If you have the answers, I would be glad to hear it!

(Where else except in Blog World – can you see my two year old Crocodile Hunter?)

Aggravation numero Uno : (I feel like counting in Spanish today)
Since I visit soooo many places – I forget where I have been. Yes, in essence I have lost my marbles (my family is saying “Amen” right now.

I found the neatest craft the other day, actually it was in June. It was a paper monogram stitched with thread in a frame hung by a string covered in rags given as a teachers’ gift. The post had a cartoon on it that said “Boys are Stupid.” It was honestly, the cutest thang. Problem is – I CAN’T find it. I have looked everywhere I normally go and then some! I erase my cookies in my web browser every once in a while so my history is gone as well. Do you know what I’m talking about?

Aggravation Dos:
When people add my blog to their blog roll and they add thumbnails, my thumbnail never shows up. It also never shows up on my own Reading List on the Dashboard page. I have tried researching this and to NO avail. (I’m not talking about adding a blog list on MY page with your little icon.)

Aggravation Tres:
I seem to always have the questions, Google has not put in their search engines yet. I can’t think of an example right now but it will come to me and I will let you know.

Aggravation four:
My followers have disappeared. It says I have 70 or so followers but I can’t see their faces. I did do a little research on this one, it appears to be a glitch of some sort.

Aggravation cinco:
Sometimes I get knocked off of certain blogs. I have heard this was a glitch in the Followers gadget. It just needs to be put lower on the page. Just so you know, some people might not be getting in, including me!!!

Aggravation six:
Word verification for leaving comments. If you save the comment before posting it is really not necessary and a pain for those who are leaving a comment. It is extra typing and lost time for the person trying to leave a comment. Glad to get that off my chest!

Aggravation SEVEN (Gotta have my seven!):
HTML language. I need an interpreter. This was NOT a language at the tower of BABEL - I’m almost sure of it! Okay, maybe it was! I FEEL lost and betrayed when using and reading it. There MUST be an easier way!

Thanks for reading my AGGRAVATIONS!
I pray you have a wonderful week!

Don't you just love Works for Me Wednesdays - although I really hope to get some answers.

Blessings to you! You are loved!

What I want to be doing this weekend…

If I could do anything I wanted to do this weekend – it would be to drive up North in the cool air and take my camera on a little excursion
(with my entire family, of course – we love ROAD TRIPS).

I love old barns.  Well, I like taking photos of them and driving by them.  Although, if I lived in one, I’m sure my kids would always leave the door open.  Then when asked if they were being raised in a barn they would have to tell the truth and I would get the “bad parent award.” 

After this week at VBS, I’m questioning so many of my parenting techniques.  Don’t get me wrong, I love my kids.  However, there are some days, I truly wonder if I should have been a nun  (By the way, I’m not Catholic, so this probably would not have worked.) 

As my friends and I have discussed lately, PARENTING IS JUST HARD!   Especially, when everyone you know has an opinion and they love to tell you what you are doing wrong or that they think that you are the foolish one for having so many children to begin with.  What I have noticed is that the same people who say we have too many children, are the people who trust God with their salvation but have a hard time trusting HIM to guide you to become a good parent.    (Glad to get that off my chest!)

I really didn’t mean for this post to be about my parenting skills.  It was supposed to be that I wanted cool air.  To be able to walk outside barefooted and not get your feet scorched.  To be able to see your breath because the air is to cold.

Doesn’t this barn look like it could tell stories?  I took this picture right outside Nashville last November.  I can feel the cool air on my skin as I look at it.  (Yes, this is a great memory since it is 107 here today.)

Have a wonderful relaxing weekend! 
Blessings to you! You are loved!

Winner...

I have a winner for the Step 2 Motorcycle!

Sarah D!

Please contact me at my email.
You have 48 hours to respond or your prize will go to someone else!

Blessings to you all who entered!

©www.ilovemy5kids.blogspot.com

She said WHAT???

I’m from the South. 

Being from the South means different things for certain people.  Some words  used in the South are excusable, some are not.   Some words just make my skin crawl.

I thought being married now to the same person, my hubby would understand my little quirks and what words make my skin crawl. Uh hum…guess not!

Here’s the story:

My eldest Princess came in the living room last night and repeated a word that was used on television.  I asked her “Where did you hear that awful word?”  She said her sweet friend says it.  I then tell her to go to bed and never say that in my presence again.  It is not “lady-like”.

My hubby enters the room and sits down in his rocking chair.  He begins to rock and I tell him.  “Honey, your 7 year old daughter said the  “F” - word.” 
He then replies in a gentle loving voice, “Oh my!”  Yeah right! 
The truth is he looks at me with a very serious face and blusters out “Where did she hear that from?”  I then tell him, “her friend says it.  She says that her friend’s Dad says it all the time.” Knowing this family and knowing that they are an upright outstanding Christian family, who we are good friends with – he knows this would not be possible.  So, he rocks harder in the rocking chair as if figuring out what to do and trying to gain his composure. 

I’m trying to hold in the laughter.  I can’t believe he really doesn’t catch on.  Finally, I ask him, “ can you believe they don’t use the word “Flatulence?” 

He just stares at me like I had lost my ever-loving mind.  I think he thinks he married a crazy lady.

Yes, I told you I had quirks but they are quirks that I blame on Southern Charm.  I hate the “F”-word!  I have taught my children to say flatulence.  It has saved me multiple embarrassing situations with five kids. 

I’m still laughing at this one!  I love you honey!

Blessings to you!  You are loved!

BIGFOOT – those are some BIG WHEELS.

On July 4th, we went and saw Bigfoot at a dealership.
No not the Big Hairy Guy.  We saw Bigfoot the truck.  Apparently, we got there a little late. 
His Big Wheels were coming off.
I wish we had been able to see him do this.  Maybe next time. 
(I remember going to the Astrodome as a little kid and seeing Big Foot with my step-dad.  I just remember it being so LOUD.  What a precious memory.)

It was one HOT day.  My kids got out of the A/C long enough to get a picture and then we got right back in our nice comfy car. 

There was a lady there, who told me her phone said it was 
106 degrees where we were standing.  That did not include the heat index...too hot for our spoiled skin.

I love making memories with my kids, even the HOT ones.

Blessings to you!  You are loved!

©www.ilovemy5kids.blogspot.com

Tomato Paste DISTRACTIONS

Have you seen those new commercials? I think they are Bing.com.

The man is in bed with his wife and she asks him if he checked on the price of the airline tickets. He starts rattling off a million things he found when he explored the Internet.

OH SOOOO true! Guilty as charged! For the past two days, I've been trying to look how to substitute tomato sauce for tomato paste. Guess what happens? DISTRACTIONS!



Want to know what happened in my real life commercial? My husband went to the store with my eldest daughter and just picked up some tomato paste at 10:30 at night.

How funny is that? I love our life!!!


By the way, do you know the substitution? I tried looking it up but I got distracted, again.


©www.ilovemy5kids.blogspot.com

What just happened???

My hubby and I have something new going on. We have a movie night. Not just any movie night, we go to our bedroom.

What is the big deal you ask? We don't have a t.v. in our bedroom.
Before you wonder what kind of blog are you reading - I assure you this is "G" rated.

We set up the ironing board and set up our portable DVD player on it. Yes, we seem to get a little hillbilly at times.

Let's just say times are tough and this feels like a vacation. Don't spoil my movie night - we like a little "fun" and diversity in our lives. (Honestly for the first few years of our marriage we didn't own a t.v. so this is truly a blessing.)

Tonight we were watching our movie and I saw lights coming from our office which is by our bedroom. We thought at first it was our eldest son, but when we called his name, he didn't answer. My hubby was actually closer but he had our baby laying in his arms who had just fell asleep. I said, "I'll look." When I peeked out the curtain, I saw people with flashlights in our back yard. Did I mention I was already in my nightgown?

I yelled lightly "Get out of bed! There is someone out there! Should I call the police?" Then my husband answers "It is the police." I'm scrambling to put clothes on.

It turns out, we left our front gate open and they were looking for suspects in our neighborhood. They thought that maybe they had gone in our back yard.

No one that we know of went back there. We are safe! We all need a little excitement in our lives once in a while. Now on to the movie...

Blessings to you! You are loved!

©www.ilovemy5kids.blogspot.com

200th post and a sweet RIDE giveaway...

This is my 200th post! YIPPEE!
What a time I have had blogging...I have learned so much!
It truly has been a sweet ride.

Speaking of ride,
All Children's Furniture is supplying this Step 2 Motorcycle Ride-On Toy for one special winner.

Can you say Sweet!!!!

Even if you don't have kids, this would be a precious gift for any little one.

All Children’s Furniture sells everything from adorable toddler beds to the cutest toys.
They are an awesome site, go see it for yourself.
I'd rather shop online any day than spend hours in the kid's department with my crew.

Giveaway ends on Friday, July 24 at noon EST and is open to the USA only.
Winner will be selected from all eligible entries using Random.org and will be contacted via email and must respond within 72 hours. If winner does not respond in 72 hours, gift will be given to an alternate.

7 Ways to be that special Winner:

1. Follow my blog using the follow button at the bottom of this page and then leave a comment saying you did. (If you already follow, please leave a comment as well.)

2. Subscribe to my email using the feed burner box in the right column and leave a comment saying you did. (If you subscribe, please leave a comment as well.)

3. Blog about our post then leave a comment below with your blog post permalink.
Below is a sample text which you can copy to put into your post.

“ilovemy5kids is hosting a great giveaway sponsored by All Children's Furniture, who sales everything from toys to toddler beds.
The winner will be getting a Step 2 Red Ride on Motorcycle.
This giveaway ends July 24, 2009 so don’t miss out on your opportunity for a chance to win a smashing cool ride."

4. Post my button on your blog and leave a comment plus the address of where you put it.

5. For those without blogs, please enter a comment saying who would give the Step 2 bike to and leave your email address in the comment section.

6. Leave a comment of what your favorite post of mine has been and if you were encouraged.

7. I love the number seven! Tell others of my blog on facebook. Again, you have to comment that you did this to be entered.

Please leave separate comments for each entry and make sure your email addy is easy to find on the comment. I would hate for you to win and then I wouldn't be able to contact you.

For more Works for Me posts go here.

Blessings to each of you! You are loved!


©www.ilovemy5kids.blogspot.com

{Contest is now closed.}

3 Random Things you didn't know about me...

***I saw this on my friend's site, Energizer's Bunny's Mommy Reports and thought it looked like fun.

So, 3 Random things you didn't know about me...

• I have had braces 3 times. I know some of you knew that. But, did you know that I kept the last pair? I know I'm a pack-rat!
• My husband and I didn't kiss each other until our wedding day. I know some of you knew that. But, did you know I still won't kiss him if he has been to Carino's restaurant? YUCK - garlic breath!
• I love books more than chocolate. There now that is said I can live in true FREEDOM!

Blessings to you! You are loved!

Enter my giveaway - it is awesome!

This week, on TUESDAY, 7/14/09, the theme is THREE THINGS YOU DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT ME (or US).... Be sure to enter your own link to your own blog post as soon as the blog hop starts! Link directly to your blog post, not just your blog.***

Click here to enter your link in the blog hop and view the entire list of entered links...

©www.ilovemy5kids.blogspot.com

Saying goodbye to an old buddy, USA.

I love Americana decor but it doesn't go in my house. So, I'm trying to let go.

I have 12 years of an accumulation of Americana decor including my beloved Warren Kimble pillows, banners and even a framed Old Glory.

If I wasn't such a pack rat this wouldn't be a problem. I'm sure I could make a sweet buck on Ebay or even a consignment shop. But...I like it.

Okay, do you have a solution for my own induced dilemma?

Blessings to you! You are loved!


©www.ilovemy5kids.blogspot.com

Easy Sweet and Sour Sausage in a Crock Pot Recipe

I don't like green eggs and ham.

I don't like them because I don't care for pork anything.
Well, I like bacon and pepperoni pizza.
And...I like pigs in a blanket.
Oh, and I like Spiral Sliced Ham as well.

Okay I like some pork.

But, my sausage - I like it to be beef or turkey.
Unless I don't know it and then it is okay.

When I first saw this recipe - I was kind of hesitant.
But, I got to tell you - DELICIOUS!

In my family of 7, it got 6 thumbs up.
(I'm still looking for the perfect recipe that everyone likes.)
I have got some picky eaters but they still eat and try everything!
My blondie said that "this was the best dinner ever!"

Did I need to mention this is done in the crockpot -
so your kitchen stays cool in the HOT summer? Yippee!

EASY Sweet and Sour Crockpot Sausage

• 2 packages of fully cooked sausage, sliced
  (We used Hickory Farms smoked Beef Sausage)
• 1 can pineapple chunks in juice
• 3 cups of quartered baby carrots (Cut them lengthwise)
• 1 med onion, small chunks
• 1/3 cup packed brown sugar
• 1/4 tsp garlic powder
• 1 Tbsp soy sauce
• 1/4 tsp ground ginger
• 1 cube of chicken bouillon
  
• Rice (I used white 5 minute rice)

Add everything into the crockpot except rice. Cook on low for 4 to 5 hours.
Serve over rice.

YUMMY for my TUMMY!  Wasn't that EASY???

Blessings to you! You are loved!

©www.ilovemy5kids.blogspot.com

Friday Faves: Crazy talk today.

I have been thinking a lot about my blog lately. After my little siesta aka little break - my blogging senses have been awakened. I want my blog to be more organized and easier for the reader to know what to expect, at least a couple days a week. I’m so excited to start!

One of the new features you will start seeing on here is:
ilovemy5kids
Friday Faves.

Friday Faves will be my family’s favorite things!

Can you hear Julie Andrew’s singing “These are just a few of my favorite things'" in the background?
Okay, she is really not – but she inside my head at the moment and won’t stop. Please Julie – STOP!
Okay, sorry for the blurb, I’m just so excited…

Our first Friday Fave is:

Hot chocolate in the summer.
I know call me a Crazy Woman! Hear me out before you have me wearing that little white jacket.
We live in an area that gets to be 100 degrees in February.
Yeah, I’m not joking. This was taken on Saturday and two seconds later it went to 110 degrees going 70 mph down the freeway. It is too HOT.

So, we have our a/c pumped low as it will get and get a nice cup of hot cocoa (any brand will do) with little white marshmallows. Then we close our eyes and pretend we are in the mountains in Canada or Colorado, either one will do – we just want it to be cold. Have a cup with us!

So, I hope you enjoyed Our first Friday Fave Edition.

Blessings to you! You are loved!



©www.ilovemy5kids.blogspot.com

Technorati Tags: FRiday Fave,Hot chocolate,Cocoa,Heat,Temperature,Canada,Colorado,Summer,Friday Fave,Friday,Heat Wave,Julie Andrews,Favorite things,ilovemy5kids Friday Favorite things

Sweet Guy turned 3

My baby turned 3 on July 4th. He’s such a doll.
Although, if you called him a doll to his face he would quickly remind you that he plays with cars, fire trucks and trains.

He has grown up so much! You would have never known that we had so many complications in the pregnancy. I was in the hospital for weeks trying to keep him in as long as possible.

His sisters love him as though he is a doll. They continue to dress him up and he usually complies. His brothers teach him to play legos and to pick up bugs.

For a while, he had a sickness that meant he would take over Mommy and Daddy’s bed. This was like at 3:00 in the morning. We are grateful his health is at 100 percent now. The Lord has been so good to us.
He has a love for all “boy” things. Tractors…
Fire trucks….

and of course his Mommy.
We love you little man! You are a joy!

Blessings to you….You are loved!