A year’s worth of free diapers….if you get the right sample…totally worth the try!

Get a free sample 3-packs of the new Pampers Cruisers w/ Dry Max on Pampers.com.  They are supposed to lock away wetness for 12 hours.  Wow!!!
If the sample sent includes a diaper stamped Team USA (randomly inserted in select sample packs), their baby will win a year’s supply of Pampers diapers!
I don’t have kids in diapers anymore but free diapers could bless so many of my friends and family.
I hope someone I know gets blessed with a year’s worth of free diapers.  What a blessing!!!
Blessings to you!!!  You are loved!!!

Easy Meal in 20 minutes

Lately, the kitchen and I haven’t been on friendly terms.  It has been a lot of energy to even go in there, that I didn’t have to spare.
But, the kids are hungry, so I found myself by the sink not wanting to prepare what was on my menu, that I had planned a week ago.  Nothing sounded good.  Until I saw my rice box.
I’m not even sure why my rice box, caught my eye.  But, I was glad it looked at me and called my name.
There is a recipe on the back that is called HEB Spicy Casserole Ole.  Well, it just so happens that it looked ridiculously easy and I could change many of the ingredients to our taste or what I had on hand.
We changed the name to….
Fiesta not so spicy Casserole Ole

• 1 lb ground turkey (it called for beef)
• 1/2 cup chopped onion
• (it also called for 1/4 cup green pepper, which I didn’t have)
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 tsp chili powder
• 1 can (15 oz) kidney beans, drained
• 2 cups cooked rice (it called for one)
• 1 can tomato soup (it called for tomato sauce)
• 2 cups of shredded cheddar cheese (it called for 1 cup)

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.  In a skillet, brown turkey and onion.  Stir in salt and chili powder.  In a casserole dish, alternate layers of turkey, beans, rice, and soup.  Sprinkle with cheese.  Bake for 15 minutes.
In our family of 14 thumbs, it received a 11 thumbs up.  Yes, I’m raising a household of food critics, that are made to take at least one bite, no matter what it looks or smells like.  My friend calls those “Thank you bites.”  You never know unless you try it, with an open mind and open mouth.
Blessings to you!!!  You are loved!!!

This Works for Me!

Would love to win...

I'd love to win this...just saying.

Surround your family with language. By taking them there!

Travel to Paris, Madrid and Barcelona with Homeschoolers from all over the United States. Join Rosetta Stone Homeschool, Heart of the Matter and Fusefly on the inaugural Homeschool Language Learning and Networking Trip August 2-11, 2010. Become immersed in new lands, explore history, culture, art and community. And truly speak to the world. For more details visit www.RosettaStone.com/Homeschool/LanguageLearningTrip.

Hurry, registration for the trip ends February 15, 2010.

For your chance to win a Rosetta Stone language product, please visit Heart of the Matter. Entries are being accepted until February 1st.




©www.ilovemy5kids.blogspot.com

Buying a new computer, things I have learned.

We have been shopping for a new computer…it feels like I have been looking for a lifetime partner who I know is going to die in a few years.

These are few things that I have learned…

• My friends prefer an apple computer.
• Apple computers are out of my budget.
• Compaq is owned by HP.
• Intel owns all the processors.
• All newer laptops have wireless.
• You can’t set up wireless without a router.
• My neighbors have all their routers set to privacy mode.
• Notebook and Laptops are the same thing.
• Some office stores are cheaper than the Best Stores…
• My hubby is good at computer shopping.
• I’m not good at computer shopping.
• I just like using a good great and fast computer.
• Computer shopping is a lot like car shopping.
• Their are too many choices.
• Yet, still have to find something for our needs.
• Will still have to do this again, in a few years.

Update…found a reasonable laptop.  It is exciting so far, just need to buy a router and lots of chocolate to celebrate.

Blessings to you!!!  You are LOVED!!!

Which came first the chicken or the egg?

So, which came first the chicken or the egg?  Really, do you think I know that answer?  Well, I think I do, then I change my mind.

(Picture taken from the Incredible Egg Site - who has tons of Egg recipes.)

I didn't really even care for scrambled eggs until recently.  The smell of them would make me go and hide until the air had cleared in the kitchen.   The only scrambled eggs that I liked, were my Mom's.  She did something to them and just couldn't tell us what she did different.  Then my hubby and I studied her, more like gawked at her. 

Want to know her secret, to her fluffy and light eggs?

Here it is...
She doesn't beat them beforehand in a separate bowl.  She scrambles them in the HOT skillet.  How easy is that?  (Not to mention, her eggs are fresh from her chicken coop.  But, you can have the same effect using the store bought ones.)

Plus, there is not that certain smell that comes with eggs being scrambled.  I can't explain it.  However, I now can stay in the kitchen when my hubs is making eggs.

On my eggs, I add one other ingredient...which my mother started me out early on...

Picture taken from Lawrys.com who also has tons of recipes.

I remember licking the lid, in my play kitchen, when I was little.  I might still but now I just pour it on the plate and use my utensil  like civilized people. 
(Plus, my kids don't know that it is my weakness and I don't want their tongue any where close to my spices in case it might be hereditary.)

Blessings to you!!!  You are so loved!!!

©www.ilovemy5kids.blogspot.com

The Cold War

Some people might not understand this concept, but where we live, it is already 90 degrees and yes we are only in January.

At night, it seems to be warmer in our home.  My husband, who I will refer to as Mr. Polar Bear,
loves the cold air, especially at night.  Now, don’t get me wrong, I love cold air, however, I think someone has to draw the line when the kids have icicles on their noses.

We sleep with a light sheet, a ceiling fan blaring, a portable fan on medium and the central air conditioner on.  The central air is where our problem starts.

I start thinking of our electricity bill and I just want to raise it a couple of degrees.  But, then Mr. Polar Bear, wants to set it on the frosty temperatures, where we could probably open the refrigerator door and warm up.

So, my question for you is, what do you keep your temperature on at night in the middle of summer?  Help end this Cold War!!! 

Side note:  Colder temps mean more cuddling, so I’m not complaining!  I love to cuddle! 

Blessings to you!  You are loved!!!

Answered Prayers

Do you ever just keep rejoicing over someone else's blessing?  I just can't get my friend, Stephanie out of my mind.  My heart is overfilled with gladness!

Go here to find out what I'm talking about...

On Wednesday, Stephanie and her husband, met their adopted boys from Haiti, at the airport.  I wish I could have been a fly on the wall.  I can just imagine after praying so hard and so long, these children were finally to be in their loving embrace and to be able to tuck them in at night. 

God continues to have a special plan for this family.  Seeing Stephanie hold her newest babies, just makes me want to go get all five of mine and hang on tight.  Please continue to pray for this family, as they will be making adjustments and the boys learning a new culture.

Here is a link to Stephanie's Blog. (Get a tissue!!!)

Blessings to you!!!  You are loved!!!

©www.ilovemy5kids.blogspot.com

Germ Fighting using colors.

In our family, if one gets ill with a virus, well - we have to do everything we can to fight it, before the virus spreads.

One way to combat it, was each kid has a certain color cup.  Now that they are getting older, it is getting a little harder but I still try to buy each kid their own color.  Adults, of course, get to use real glasses.  (Wally world is great during this time of year, all their Spring stuff is coming out and with that is pretty color cups.)

My pediatrician, even said for everyone to have their own toothpaste tube along with their own toothbrush.  The tube has just as many germs as the toothbrush.

A friend of mine, even has a different color towel for each of her children.  Thus, she knows who uses their towel the most and who has taken a shower.

This works for me!

©www.ilovemy5kids.blogspot.com

Please pray...for my friend.

My real life friend, Stephanie and her family, have been adopting her boys from Haiti for over a year. After much prayer, red tape, phone calls, waiting, earthquakes and then more red tape, then even more prayer, they are finally reuniting tonight in Miami.

I can't tell you how my heart is rejoicing for Stephanie. Her husband sent out a prayer letter this morning, asking for specific prayers for their family...I thought if you would like to know how exactly you could pray for people in Haiti, this could be it.

Please pray for them as they say goodbye to the only home they have ever known. Please pray for us to be sensitive to their needs during this time of transition. Please pray for the many details of travel - theirs, ours, and finally our journey home together.

They are actually missionaries in Chile, so they are needing passports for the boys to go there. They will be asking the United States government for this if not they have to obtain visas from the Chilean embassy in Miami.

Here is a link to her blog, if you would like to see some awesome testimonies and pictures. Be prepared to have a tissue handy.

Blessings to you!!! You are loved!!!


©www.ilovemy5kids.blogspot.com

Sweet times

We drove up to my "home" away from my real home last Saturday.  We surprised my Mom (aka John Deere Grandma) by walking into church on Sunday morning.  She had no idea that we were coming up.  Nothing makes my siblings and myself happier than to see our Mom cry with happiness.

(This is at Christmas when my brother had made her cry.)
  It is our goal with every gift.  It worked!  She looked up with such a surprise when she saw my eldest Princess tap her on the shoulder.    Aww...the tears!  Love those precious memories!!!

I had to take my hubby to the airport after church so John Deere Grandma took all the grandkids home with her.  It was so cold that the fountain in her yard had frozen over.  The picture on top is my baby and my brother's eldest son.  They remind me so much of each other.  Their smile, their voice, and their active personalities. 

My Grandma came over to join in the fun with my Lil' Princess. 

This is what happens at John Deere Grandma's house after playing outside with the chickens and running up and down the driveway.

John Deere PawPaw and Lil' Man get some much needed rest time.

Blessings to you!!!  You are loved!!!

©www.ilovemy5kids.blogspot.com

Where art thou???

You may have been curious, (at least I hope someone noticed - Mom?) that I haven't blogged this week.  Well, my hubby had to go out of town and we decided to pile up the car and visit family.

Our car was packed...that is not really the word, more like stuffed in a can like sardines and headed up the highway, looking for some adventure...yes, whatever may come our way.  (I couldn't stop myself from singing that...it just kept coming.  I don't even know who sings that, Springsteen maybe?  I hardly listen to secular music, so for me to know those words must have been from mall walking.)  {By the way - I don't mall walk.}

We have had a wonderful WONDERFUL time!  My sister truly rocks!  She housed us and we stayed up late every night just chatting like little girls.  She is truly a God-send. 

(This is her and her hubby.)

Now we are in the country at my Mom's house, loving the fresh air and beautiful huge trees.  Oh, how I missed the trees!

Blessings to you!!!  You are truly loved!!!

©www.ilovemy5kids.blogspot.com

World’s Largest Fishing Pole, a lil’ secret and a Lighthouse

We went to South Padre Island, Texas a few weeks ago.  When we went, we HAD to have seafood, so I’ll let you in on a little secret on a wonderful place to eat, it is called Dirty Al’s.  Doesn’t it sound awful?

{By the way, the word awful originally meant full of awe…yes, I home school and know way too much trivia.}

You can order a seafood botana and feed your entire family for pretty cheap.  I would suggest substituting the fish for popcorn shrimp, it makes it go further.  We love this place!
My boys really loved it!  By the way, a botana is very popular dish in this part of Texas.  Usually it is fajita meat loaded on a bed of tortilla chips accompanied by quesadillas and tortillas.  But, the seafood botana is all on French fries covered by fried oysters, fried shrimp, and fried fish.  (I was so hungry, I forgot to take a picture of the food.)


This is their sign on the outside!  It is a fun place!

Here is the World’s Largest fishing pole. 
{We are on an adventure to find all the World’s Largest anything and everything.} 
It is actually in Port Isabel across the bridge from South Padre Island.  We took the picture from the bridge and it was kind of hazy.


The second picture is a little better.

Okay, not really – you’ll just have to go and see it for yourself. 

When you do, don’t forget to stop by the lighthouse.

At first everyone wanted to go to the top.  
It is steep and narrow.

Here are the stairs going up and up.  We got half-way up and then
these two decided they would rather be lighthouse keepers from the ground level.

Hope you enjoyed our mini-adventure!

Blessings to you!!!  You are loved!!!

Technorati Tags: South Padre Island,SPI,Dirty Al's,Lighthouse,Lighthouse keeper,World's Largest,World's Largest Fishing Pole,Seafood,Botana,Shrimp,Fried,Fried Shrimp,Fried Oysters,Oysters,Fish

Cracked hands and EIA

Today is Works for me, Question Edition!

Here are my 2 questions...

My hands have become super dry in the last few days, where lotion has no effect on it at all.  Yes, I did change soaps and will change back asap.  But, I still get dry hands.   How do you keep your hands looking like the Palmolive commercial hands?

I was recently diagnosed with exercise induced asthma.  Any healthy suggestions to overcome this without medications?

Thanks!  Blessings to you!!!  You are so loved!!!



©www.ilovemy5kids.blogspot.com

Different culture – different strokes

Sometimes living in a different culture, I just want to say “What you talking about Willis?”

Sometimes I just flat out love it!  Sometimes – not so much.  But, today I LURVE it!

  My family has been invited to a Dias de Reyes party.  Basically, it celebrated Wise Men day or Day of the Kings, this is when the Wise Men brought gifts to Jesus.  I think I remember from Sunday school, Jesus was actually around 2 years old when they brought Him the gifts.  I could be so wrong here.

Since I have never been before – this will be a learning experience for the whole family, not just the kids.  Plus, who doesn’t like cake and real authentic Mexican cooking?

So, we have been going over our “Par-tay Manners.”  You know the ones, no throwing vases like footballs, close the bathroom door, and most importantly, don’t use RED OPI fingernail polish on white carpet even if the hostess’ daughter says she does it all the time.

I think I break out in a sweat anytime, my entire family has been invited over to someone else’s home.

By the way, do you think the Wise Men still found Jesus in the stable?  If He was two years old – do you think they would have found a better place by then?  Just a thought…

Blessings to you!!!  You are loved!!!

The Sweet by and by – Book Review

The Sweet By and By
By Sara Evans and Rachel Hauck
ISBN: 1595544895
Written about a girl named Jade who is about to get married.  She is a lady who loves antiques and like them, she has a past of her own.  Before she gets married, she has to clean up some of her own cobwebs.
 
After reading a few chapters, I thought to myself, why am I still reading this?  There were a couple of times, I was surprised at the story, but most of the time I felt like this was a book that was written in a hurry, without much thought to the plot.  What most bothered me the most, was the climax.   I really think that the story lost something and could have had more details.

On a scale of 5 stars, I give the book a 2.  It had clean language and the message overall was redemptive.  However, this was a book written for adults because of some of the mature content.

I cannot recommend this book, even though my heart wanted to do a 5 star review.

This book was courtesy of being a member of Thomas Nelson’s Book Review Blogger program.
Blessings to you!!!  You are loved!!!

Spring Cleaning a lil’ early…plus reading something POWERFUL

We have been in cleaning mode today!  All seven Christmas trees are up and away!  We have scrubbed, washed, and scrubbed some more. 

We took down shower curtains, washed regular curtains, washed blinds, mopped, washed windows, scrubbed baseboards, cleaned the inside and outside of the oven – you name it, we probably did it today. 

Want to know the sad part?  I don’t notice much difference.  I’m sure there is a drastic difference but I still notice the little things that are out of order.

I have been contemplating on getting some help with the cleaning and realized even if I hired someone they wouldn’t know where to go with all the “stuff”.  I have all this “stuff” that is supposed to make my house pretty and instead it is making my life more cluttered.

Next week, I’ll probably be donating a lot of it.  If it doesn’t bring my family immediate joy or collects tons of dust – I’m letting go of it!  (Except the school books - one day those will bring us joy…does long division ever bring someone true joy?)

Okay, I must go…I’m reading the Bible in 90 days.  There I said it!  I have the hardest time committing to something like this.  Already I’m 9 pages short and it is only the 2nd day.  If you would like more information on this please go to Mom’s Toolbox for more information.

I was reading yesterday and my sweet husband walked in and saw me frustrated.  I told him “I just don’t get it.  I’m reading and reading and it is not becoming rhema (or becoming real) to me.”  He encouraged me by telling me a story.  I’ll share that on Monday.  I need to go finish my reading.  I will tell you – that even though you might be reading and it might even seem dry – God is still in it!  Continue!!!

If you have never read through the Bible – this might be a good opportunity.  Our church went through the Bible in 90 days a couple of summers ago and I didn’t even try.  This time I really felt the pulling of the Holy Spirit – I know that this time spent in His Word will not be in vain!

Blessings to you!!!  You are so loved!!!