We’ve become smokers!

Back in the summer, I entered an H-E-B (our Texas Grocery Store) recipe contest with stuffed jalepeno peppers.  I won!  One of the many prizes, was a HUGE SMOKER! 

So we headed to H-E-B and picked up our smoker!  One problem – what we picked up – turned out to be just a grill!  Before we knew that – the men of the house put it together! Remember this is the middle of TEXAS SUMMER and my blond son is wearing a snow cap.  No, he is not a gansta!  He just likes to be warm.  I don’t see him moving to the North Pole when he is older. My other son reads the instructions!  He is very detail oriented!     His Dad on the other hand – needs no instruction booklet – evah!    Now that he has a son who he can refer to – I guess that is now true.  We finally had it set up and some friends came over.  They said this was not a smoker.  “It’s not?” asked in unison.  It is missing the box that makes it a smoker. 

So, the sweet people at H-E-B took care of us – they gave us another one!  This time a smoker.  It is actually bigger and still can be used as a grill as well!

On labor day, my step-dad along with my boys helped put the smoker together for us.

Due to our massive house remodel – we were unable to experiment with our new baby. 

Now we are officially smoking our first Thanksgiving Turkey…well, maybe.  We still haven’t decided if we are trekking to Grandma’s house or staying close to home and chilling with sweet friends.  OIY – choices!!!!

Anyways…here is our smoker!  

Isn’t she a beauty?!?  My hubs has smoked 2 briskets and tons of chicken and burgers on her…thus far.  Oh, and of course stuffed peppers!

We have learned a lot…like EVERYONE has a special way of doing smoking! 

So tell me…have you ever smoked a turkey?  What is your special way?  We need suggestions!!!

Blessings to you!  You are loved!

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

Personality Personality

There are just no words for the following photos…thus Wordless Wednesday.  I will say one thing…he really is a sweet child…I hope  he was singing a song – I know those were really two things.  (These were old photos, that I don’t even remember taking.)

What do you think he was singing?

I’m thinking itsy-bitsy spider.

Blessings to you!  You are loved!

Beaded Hope – 30 days of giving

Christmas is coming up and I want to tell you about a precious non-profit organization  and a great cause – Beaded Hope! 

I found out about this organization when I read  and reviewed the book, Beaded Hope written by Cathy Liggett, published by Tyndale Publishing. 
I was amazed about how many ladies are affected by AIDS in South Africa and how many children are constantly being left with no parents to raise themselves.  I can’t imagine my 11 year old being left to raise his siblings.
This organization helps to provide work for those ladies who are being affected by such a horrible disease.  All things that are available are made by the ladies in South Africa and proceeds go to help them!

This is their mission: 
Beaded Hope's mission is to fight HIV/AIDS one person at a time by providing South Africans with the opportunity to earn an income, support their families and nurture their creativity while preserving age-old beadworking traditions.

This past August, I met and had dinner with Jennifer Davis, the founder of Beaded Hope in Cincinnati, Ohio.  What a delight!  God is using her in such a mighty way to change family trees!  She is making a global impact!
I am not in any way making anything from this post!  It is honor for me to share with you an opportunity to help others and to give something that will change and save lives!  I want my own children to be givers.  I want them to grow up and be able to say “things of this world are not as are important as people." 
This is not to say I’m going to quit blessing my children with gifts – I hope to make this clear…it is not about worldly goods but more the meaning of a gift and the one who gives and sometimes the receiver as well. 
If you give me a gift (even though I might like it) but it is out of obligation instead of a caring, love or desire for me to be genuine happy then I really don’t want it.   (Although, I will take the all expense trip to Timbuktu and not bat an eye.  I CAN pretend you wanted to give it to me.)  But, seriously -  I would much rather have a gift that has meaning and that comes from a gracious giver.
Can you imagine the Lord giving a gift – just because He had to instead of with love?  That truly would break my heart.
So, if you are still looking for that perfect Christmas present with true meaning…Beaded Hope has plenty of “handmade” jewelry, ornaments, or even bookmarks plus much more.
Here is a couple things on my “Wish List” if I had a “Wish List”:

This one is only $24.00.  It would go perfect with that little black dress.

Isn’t this reindeer ornament darling?  Africa is known for their safaris and great animals.  I’m pretty sure reindeer are not one of them but it might be now.

Are you doing something to change the world?

Blessings to you!  You are loved!

This works for me!

Cranberry Gorgonzola Green Salad

This is one of my most fave salads ever.  I only make it at Christmas time for ladies’ brunches and dinners.  I believe it is an old Southern Living Recipe.  I change mine up to fit my needs and grocery store.
Red leaf lettuce works instead of Bibb lettuce.  Any tart apple will do.  I also use minced refrigerated garlic that comes in a jar.  So, I guess...I totally veer from the original recipe.  :)

• 1/3 cup vegetable oil (I use Canola)
• 1/4 cup seasoned rice vinegar (I've used apple cider vinegar)
• 3/4 tsp Dijon mustard
• 1 clove garlic, pressed (I use the minced refrigerated jar garlic)
• 1 small head Bibb lettuce, torn (Red leaf works great!)
• 1 small head green leaf lettuce, torn
• 1 Granny Smith apple diced (or any tart apple)
• 1/3 cup coarsely chopped walnuts, toasted
• 1/3 cup dried cranberries
• 1/3 cup crumbled Gorgonzola cheese

Combine first 4 ingredients;  stir with whisk until blended.  Set aside.
Just before serving, combine lettuce and remaining 5 ingredients in a large bowl.  Pour dressing over salad;  toss gently.

Yield:  8 servings

My kids do not appreciate the strong flavors.  (They will eventually.)  However, ladies always ask for more!

Blessings to you!!!  You are loved!!!

World's Largest ___

We love to travel as a family!
We also like to visit odd places like the World's Largest ______, well you name it!

Here are just a few places we have visited.

Please let us know of some off the wall place that you know of because you never know when we might be in the area.

World's Largest Cast Iron Skillet, in London

World's Largest Flea Market

World's Largest Rod and Reel

World's Largest Concrete Implosion (and video)

World's Largest Squirrel

World's Largest Pecan

World's Largest Killer Bee

World's Largest Baseball Bat

The Parthenon

Creation Museum (One of fave places)


Digging for Diamonds and meeting Dave Ramsey

WWII Bombing

Our trip through the Human Body

How to install granite – Hire someone!

I was looking through some old pictures and realized I hadn’t posted about the granite being installed.

We have done everything ourselves in our kitchen remodel except installing the granite.  Thankfully, we know know a guy!  The naked counters.  How I did not like the wood…it made rolling biscuits very hard.  (wink!) The bare sink…or place will the sink will go. The utensils…. We had to brace the counter….I cut the wood.  I feel so grown-up using a miter-saw. Our first piece… So pretty and very neutral!  I love neutral!!! Our beloved sink… My very tired hubs…and our sweet granite man – J.
J and my hubs worked well together…

They gave me granite!  I’m love it!!!

My precious precious sink!  How I likey!
My precious island!

We love our bar area….can’t wait to put up the backsplash!

Don’t look at the brown bananas…they are really not there. 

They are now banana bread…

Look at the chess game on the pretty granite. 

It makes me happy!!!

Go see more of our Home Remodel –
it is more fun to see it, than live it!  {smile}

Blessings to you!  You are loved!!!

Partying with:

It's a Hodgepodge Friday,

Friday Remodelaholic,

Favorite Things Friday,

I'm Loving It at Tidy Mom

 

Psst...I was over here on Tuesday...

I was guest posting on Tommy Nelson this past Tuesday.

My kids and I just lurve their books!  

I'll have a giveaway going on pretty soon...for a book like THIS ONE!  

Look for the details SOON!

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

©www.ilovemy5kids.blogspot.com

God’s beautiful creations…and a super bargain!

Back in September, I had went to one of my fave Garden Centers (LOWE’s) and found these babies for 25 cents a plant – I bought 10 or so.  Aren’t they gorgeous?  I mainly got them for the price but I also knew hummingbirds love them and once established…I don’t have to water them.    This is Fall for most of the country but where we live it is hummingbird season and a lot is in bloom.  Most of the hummingbirds migrate right through our area…they are amazing! My bird of paradise are also in full bloom!  Isn’t she gorgeous?

I just love God’s Creation!

We also just picked tons of lemons off our lemon shrub.  They are the size of oranges…yummy!  Can’t wait to make a lemon meringue pie!

If this is your first time here – WELCOME!

I blog about just about anything that involves our crazy life and then some.  Hopefully, it will be an encouragement to someone and be a memory for my kids in the process!

If you are a regular ilovemy5kids’ reader or someone who just feels obligated to read this (i.e. my family) – I’m guest posting today somewhere in cyber-space.  When I get the link…I’ll share it. 

Have a Glorious Day!

Blessings to you!!!  You are loved!!!

You can also find ilovemy5kids on Facebook, Twitter:  @loving5kids and look at my Family Friendly Reviews/giveaways!

Easy Elegant Dessert: A Brownie Trifle

My sons learned how to make this dessert in a home school co-op. 
Last month, my blonde son won a contest we held – making the neatest mural displaying the Africa Grasslands.  His prize:  The dessert of his choice.  He chose…

The Brownie Trifle

Ingredients:

• 1 pan of prepared brownies (I used the Baker’s Orange Box Recipe)
• 1 (3.5) package of instant chocolate pudding mix
• 2 cups of milk
• 1 (8 oz) package of toffee bits
• 1 tub of whipped topping (Larger container)

Easy directions are at bottom!

Make brownies.      Cool.  Cut into squares.    {Or just crumble the hot ones into your trifle dish because you are in a big hurry!}Don’t forget the princess who is sticking her tongue out as she cuts brownies.  INTENSE work!I cheat and buy the tub.  My mom is cringing at the moment…she has always made her own whipped topping with real cream.  (Mom- it is okay….cool whip is our friend.) I love pudding but next time I will try mousse. 
I really LOVE mousse.    My hubby loves these!  I believe 1/4th of the bag had been snacked on before we made the recipe. The finished product!

I got to say…it looks prettier the day after and is easier to cut.   We wanted it then so it didn’t have a chance to set up.  Word to the wise:  Make a day earlier!

Easy Recipe:

Make brownies. Cool.  Cut into squares.  
Make pudding using the milk while brownies are cooling.  Don’t refrigerate.
Layer half of the following in this order:  brownies,  pudding, toffee bits, then cool whip. 
Then repeat.
Cool in refrigerator for 8 hours or overnight. 
Simple!  Supposed to serve 16 – 18 people.  I believe that!  It is a huge dessert!

Blessings to you!  You are loved!!!

Linked To:
Metamorphosis Monday

A trip to the Zoo with our Zoo!

We have been studying Africa!  What better way to get to know the continent than to see African animals in a ZOO!

This was a trip that meant more to my kids than ever before!  They understood more about their habitats and special design, mostly because of a book called Marvels of Creation: Magnificent Mammals.

  This picture just makes me love my kids even more…they were all smiling!  A gigantic feat! My daughter acting silly – her regular personality! A family picture – that was pencil sketched.  (I did it all by myself with a photo-program.)   There were too many shadows in the other picture so I tried the pencil sketch…it is different. I don’t know this guy’s name…but he dropped his bamboo stick. So, what is a guy to do…he made a crazy jump into the water to save his bamboo.  He looked little compared to the other guys and gals. I felt like this guy/gal was main honcho!  He never took his eyes off us…kind of protective of his own…reminds me of a Mother – protecting her own.  I kept wondering what he/she was thinking…something like “you humans are weird.” This is the gate…at the end.  The kids loved it! 

Well, I took more pictures but they are on the other camera  - I’ll post more later!

Blessings to you!!!  You are loved!!!

My Blue Eyed Boy turns 10!

Oh, how time flies.  Just yesterday it seems, the doctor told us you had a heart condition and you were going to have to have emergency surgery right after birth.
But – you proved those Doctors wrong!  You were born with God’s blessing and a sweet heart!

Both Mommy and Daddy still look at you and give the Lord all the Praise! 

Happy 10th Birthday Sweet Lil’ Guy!  We love you!

Blessings to you!  You are loved!!!