EASY/Frugal DINNER: Hobo or Campfire Meal made on grill

There are some nights that I just don’t want to heat up my already HOT Texas Kitchen.

My kids started loving this meal a couple of summers ago, when they made it at camp.

I changed the way they made it – just a tad.

I NEVER follow the same recipe.

It truly makes me feel all chef like.

 

Easy Hobo aka Meal in a Foil Packet

Ingredients:

Potatoes, Carrots, Onion and Ground Beef

Seasoning – I use Teriyaki Sauce and Garlic Salt

Next time,
I might add celery, cilantro, chicken, and salsa.

 

 

Next I cut off rectangles of foil.  Smaller for the younger kids, larger for the big ones.

No worries, if they are not the same.  No one notices.

 

1st:  Lay the onions.  Some people put butter but since I’m using ground beef, I figure it doesn’t need anymore oils.

 

Next, lay the beef on the onions.  My kids don’t like the taste of onions – so I figure the beef will mask the taste. 
(I was right – no one complained about the onions.)

 

 

Then add the chopped potatoes. 

I didn’t peel them.  Hopefully, the kids got more of the vitamins. 

(Wishful thinking – not a scientific fact that was proven in our home.)

Then add the carrots.  We sliced some.  We chopped some.  They all tasted the same.

 

Then our secret ingredient – because every good chef as her secrets.

Teriyaki sauce.

I just added a half a capful per packet.  I wish I had added more.  YUM!

 

Plus,  a little Garlic Salt. 

Because I like salt and garlic.

 

 

Then wrap up like a Hobo sack or a Hershey Kiss. 

 

 

Find a sweet and willing helper.  You won’t have to do anything but chop veggies.

 

 

Looks like chocolate for dinner!

Seriously, yummy on the grill.

 

We hadn’t used this grill in years, since I had won the Smoker for Stuffed Jalapenos.  I’m surprised it still worked.

 

But, it did!  And YUMMY!  In like 25 – 30 minutes.

The finished product!

All the kids loved it!  Plus, it kept my Hot kitchen cool!  Literally. 

Have you done this before? 

Cracker Barrel sells them on their menu for around $7-8 a meal, but you can make them for quarters.

I love a frugal tasty easy meal!

 

Blessings to you!  You are loved!

A is for Attack and a Boy’s Idea of a Tablescape

I have three sons.

They kill bugs and catch lizards daily.

I like them just for that reason alone.

 

They like to play Lego’s.

And love to fold dirty laundry.

But, they are growing up.

They don’t play with Army men anymore.

Except to line them up for a centerpiece.

And ask Mom to sell them on e-bay.

 

I think I should be sad – that my boys are growing up and they want to get rid of their toys.

But, I’m too excited they are cleaning their room!

Blessings to you!  You are loved!

The Second photo is being entered on the AB SEE Photo Meme on the HSBA Post.

A little bit of Sunshine in our Homeschool!

 

Good-tempered leaders invigorate lives;
   they're like spring rain and sunshine.

Proverbs 16: 15
(The Message Version)

 

I love that this scripture reminds me to be a good leader to my children.

Who doesn’t like a nice spring rain and warm sunshine?

 

Rain cleanses.

Sunshine promotes growth.

Rain waters seeds.

Sunshine makes rainbows.

Rain smells so good.

Sunshine brings forth light where darkness roams.

 

Selah! 
(Think about it!)

 

Blessings to you!  You are loved!

Oh Texas Drought–How could you?

A long long time ago – Texas had something special.

Houston Oilers.

Water.

AstroWorld.

Rain.

Steak and Ale.

Moisture.

But, now…well, let me just show you our garden.

This was the melon garden.  We had some sweet watermelons from this baby!Okra gone WILD!The peppers might make it.  Problem is it was too HOT to tend to them.  Praying for a cool front soon!Even these peppers didn’t like the extreme heat.Cucumbers got a virus…then died.Sun Dried Tomatoes – on accident. 

Corn Box - Well, it used to be.

Yes, the good ole’ days! 

Blessings to you!  You are loved!

A controversial theory all wrapped up in one novel!

Pieces of Light (A Dinah Harris Mystery)
This is the final in a series, of mysteries. I did not read the first two and still found this book very interesting, and very easy to follow!

If you like Christian fiction - then this is the book for you. It has suspense, a little romance, and of course apologetics. If you not sure what apologetics is - it is just a way of defending a certain position. In this case, it is creationism.

I do believe in creationism. I believe that God created ALL for His Glory. However, I didn't like the way it just popped out of nowhere and seemed to preach to me. I just think it could have been a little less abrasive and in a way that was uninterrupted from the story. But, some people have never heard about the Creator and it did explain about Creationism and the rebuttal of evolution with precision and without boredom. So, that being said - I would still recommend this book over and over again.


The story itself was really great. It kept me engaged and wanting to see where it was going next. I was amazed how the writer kept me engaged. This is one of those books that are going to stay on my personal bookshelf and I will not be lending out. My friends are going to have to get their own copy!


Due to the constant adult nature - I would not let my kids read this until they are older and understand about certain issues of the world.

Again, I would recommend this book to only mature individuals.

 Do you like fiction books that teach a lesson in the middle of it?

Blessings to you! You are loved!


Note: I was sent complimentary copy for review purposes only. This review has not been monetarily compensated. The review was my honest opinion and views and not influenced by the sponsor in any way.




©www.ilovemy5kids.blogspot.com

Spouse Smothering, Spiritual Gifts, and Love Languages

There are some days, he just smothers me,

With undeserved love.

I really don’t deserve him.

Yet, I’m SO very thankful God placed him in my path.

He says “I found a good thing.”

But, I know the truth,

God knew I was going to need him.

He sent me my Boaz.

I feel like I was redeemed.

I also know he loves me,

like Christ loves His bride.

We don’t live in denial and have a perfect life…

it is more like swimming in a deep ocean

and the sharks would love to eat us alive sometimes…

but we keep our eyes on the true LIFE-SAVER.

He will never fail us – even in death.

I’m truly grateful for my husband,

words cannot even express.

Two things that really encourage our marriage are:

1.  Finding out what our Spiritual Gift was as listed in Romans 12:6-8.

Prophecy, Serving, Teaching, Exhortation, Giving, Leadership and Mercy

We believe there are different types of Spiritual gifts, i.e.

one for administrations,  one for ministries, and one for service.

As Christians, we both had a dominant gift. 

Very different gifts but they seem to complement us as a team.

2.  Finding out what was our love language.

Gary Chapman, wrote a book called Five Love Languages.

He says, “everyone has a love language, and we all identify primarily with one of the five

love languages:   
Words of Affirmation, Quality Time, Receiving Gifts, Acts of Service, and Physical Touch.” 

I would add one:  shopping alone and creamy milk chocolate. 

Yeah, I know that was two.

He even wrote a book, The Five Love Languages of Children.

And even for singles!

So, how do you keep that God-given SPARK in your marriage?

If you are not married, how do you fulfill your love language?

Blessings to you! 

You are loved!

Phineas and Ferb, a Homeschooling Idea and TAKE THAT FLY!

My kids (and husband) love Phineas and Ferb.

It is a cartoon that is on the Disney channel.

They always build something that is crazy, i.e. roller coasters, crazy machines, etc…

Honestly, I can’t stand  cartoons.  The whining drives me crazy. 

BUT – some-days, I need to get some things done and the t.v. is a helpful distraction - while I’m working on other projects that are NOT kid friendly -  like researching curricula.

One day, while I was reading – a fly kept flying around my head.

I detest flies.

They gross me out.

Seriously, GROSS!

I called my 2nd born to come and do away with it. 

He has a way of just catching them,
like the Karate Kid with chopsticks, but without the chopsticks.

The other kids were being loud in the background, I like quiet when I’m reading about curricula. 

Crazy obnoxious noise makes me nervous to my already crazy curricula-crazy state. 

(Curriculum reading is my least favorite thing about home-education. 
I usually change it to fit my needs anyway – so I simply use it as a guide.)

So, I called ALL the kids in to my “office” and told them I wanted them
to design a “machine” to do-away with the disgusting fly.

I know my kids are at different levels.  They also THINK differently.

I expected my girls just to make their fly-swatter pretty.  

My boys were a little more militaristic in their thinking.  Plus, they are older and I expect more.

I wanted diagrams.  I wanted labels.  I wanted the fly to disappear.

I was not disappointed.

My girls made the prettiest fly swatters.  Flowers, pretty colors, and instant fly be gone buttons.

The boys created guns (like this one) with fly-radar for shooting down the fly and a peanut butter machine that traps the fly.

I did not approve their first draft.

I wanted them to do better and for them to IMPROVE their own idea.

They had to sell me their contraption.

I was moved! 
They touched my heart how they developed ideas to do away with those yucky little scavengers that come into my clean home.

Take that FLY!

I just love this part of homeschooling.  Creativity abounds!

Blessings to you!  You are loved! 

(Sorry, not you fly – I detest you!)

I personally am adding this Lentek BV01 Bug Zapper to my wish list.

Tons of Mobile Apps for Education - plus an Online Homeschool Conference

I’ve been attending the Heart of the Matter Homeschool Conference from the convenience of my dining room.  (In my jammies.  Shh…don’t tell.)  

It is only $14.95 plus you get the MP3’s so you can listen at your own time frame.

One of the top tips – I came away with today is:

 Mobile APPS for Education

Since I’m a newbie to the iphone (and can’t wait to get an ipad) this was great for me.

Tons of APPS that can give my kids an opportunity to learn.

Blessings to you!  You are loved!

(I am not affiliated with HOTM - however I am one of their biggest fans.  I might even be considered a stalker.  Truly, they help our own homeschooling process so much.)

A Call to Prayer...

Right now tons of people are meeting in Houston, Texas just to pray for our country. I've been watching through the Live Stream - it is amazing!

Just prayers, worship and praying to the Lord! 

God have Mercy!

Blessings to you! You are loved!



©www.ilovemy5kids.blogspot.com

Reasons you SHOULDN’T send your kids to Grandma’s House

Growing up,

Moms,

in general

have “that” look.

If you allow your children to go visit your parents

 – be prepared -

they might

turn into YOUR MOTHER!

And if your look like your Mom or your daughter looks like you,

be prepared…

She’ll come home looking more like her GRANDMA!

Who eventually is the mirror of you..

Then there is the connection to your Grandparents. 

Be prepared…

to be embarrassed by the stories

they will

tell your children of what you did when

you were a child.

Yep, these are reasons – I let my children go visit their Grandparents!

Blessings to you!  You are loved!

This book has tons of ideas for Grandparents to do with their Grandchildren.  Seriously, I love that my Grandparents always had a project for me to work on when I went to their house.  It was always an adventure!

Even a trip to the gas station (Buc-ee's) can be a blessing!

We just got back from going to a home-school conference in The Woodlands and stopped at Buc-ee’s. 

Guess who we ran into???

Pictured left to right:  I ♥ these ladies!!!  Aren’t they beautiful?
  Shelly from "Is That You, Lord?", Falon - my precious sister in law, Me, and Dawnie-girl

Isn’t God good?

We probably won’t see them again until next Spring or Summer so this was such a blessing!!!!

My brother and one of my nephews were also there.  I just love them to pieces!  Sometimes it is so hard to live so far from family.

But, God has a purpose for everything!  He knows the whole picture and I put ALL my trust in Him.  To Him be the Glory!

Sometimes a pit stop can turn out to be the biggest blessing!

If you haven’t been to Buc-ee’s – then you are missing out. 

I wish ALL gas stations were this cool!  It has the CLEANEST, most private bathrooms…evah!  A Mom’s dream come true.

Then it also has BBQ pits, purses, shirts, a deli and even artwork.  Yeah, it is so cool!  My hubby and kids love it too!

Every-time we are in the area we try to stop, plus the gas is cheaper there.

A motto that I just love...

Blessed to be a blessing!

Have you been BLESSED this week???

Blessings to you!  You are loved!