2011 Re-Cap for ilovemy5kids

2011 has came and gone.

I think 2012 will even be faster. More on that tomorrow.

In January, we welcomed a new family member to our clan.

In February, we had a HUGE FREEZE that some of our plants are just now recovering.

But Spring did come, a couple of weeks later. 
We made Square Foot Gardens out of an old Fence.  They are still being used.

We had a few parties.

A no-cake but ICE CREAM BAR little Girl's party.

A Mardi-Gras Party

Complete with a Margarita Cake, Creole Jambayla, and tons of shrimp!

Then there was the awful devastating plane crash that we witnessed
that ended in true tragedy.

Then we added more to our family by getting chickens!

We built a coop out of OLD FENCE!

Easter came and we made a Resurrection Pot.

We planted a Sunflower Garden.

And our GARDEN GREW!

Including our Green Bean Tepees!

And our SQUASH...

Plus, I learned what not to do with OKRA.  

We realized we had bantam roosters.  They are not quiet creatures.

We had to learn how to rid ourselves of roosters.  Then we got more.

We learned how to make brown sugar.

We had a heart to heart with an Amish Family.

Then there was the post:  How to expect to have perfect children! 
I received so many emails about that one.

We made tons of Hobo Dinners.

We had an awesome Hummingbird Migration including a video, all in our backyard!

We also started making our own bread without using a bread machine.

We started a new series called Where in the World is That Proverbs 31 Lady? featuring some of the greatest authors in the blogging world.

Then came Pinterest!  A new way to decorate, plan parties and cook.

We started making our own Tortillas.

Then we went to Egypt.  Well, in school.

Then we made a homemade Ant Farm.

We became parents of a teenager.

Overall, 2011 was a very eventful year.
Next year will be busier and more eventful for our family.
We can hardly wait!

Thank you so much for being a reader of ilovemy5kids.  It just blesses our socks off!
I pray that you have been encouraged and it will continue to be an encouragement to others.

What was your most favorite memory this year???

Blessings to you!  You are so loved!

©www.ilovemy5kids.blogspot.com

Homeschool Planner FOR SALE

My friend, Jolanthe at Homeschool Creations, who blesses me with so much wisdom and just makes me smile, is having a super sweet sale on her HOMESCHOOL PLANNER!

Let me tell you about this planner...

• You can pick and choose what you want to use.  

• You can fill it out how YOU want it then PRINT ONLY what you need!

• You can be more organized.

• You can be prepared when your Mom or Hubby asks you what you have planned for Spring Break week.  (I'm not that far ahead - so please don't ask me!  My answer is to any question like that is:  FIELD TRIP shoes are ready to be used!)

It starts today!  School starts soon!
Don't forget the code to get a discount!

The discount code for the $12 price is: ORGANIZE12


Blessings to you!  You are loved!


©www.ilovemy5kids.blogspot.com

Please note:  This contains an affiliate link where ilovemy5kids gets a small percentage of any sale clicked through the picture link. Check out my Disclosure Policy.

Love that makes this Mom's Heart Smile

There are some days that I just want to cry.

Seeing my children love on one another,

without intervention,

well, 

it is one of those,

better have a Kleenex, 

kind of handy days.

 

©www.ilovemy5kids.blogspot.com

Texas Stuffed Biscuits

A friend of mine (who actually is from Florida – go figure -  gave me this recipe a long time ago.) 
I tweaked it for my liking and what I had in the cabinet. 
She is still my friend, I think, even after changing her recipe.

They are super easy and super fast - two things that are priority, for me, in the kitchen.

I made up the name – because she didn’t have one.  
And we are in Texas. 
Plus, they have a tad kick to them.

Recipe for Texas Stuffed Biscuits
at http://www.ilovemy5kids.blogspot.com

• 1 – 2  cans of Flaky Biscuits (or any of your choosing)
• Package of Cream Cheese
• 1 small can of chopped black olives (or green)
• 1 small can of diced chilies
• 1 package of shredded Mexican Cheese (or something like that.)
• 1 to 2 cups of diced Turkey Ham (I brown mine.)

Depending on what type of biscuit you use is how many cans you need.  If you use Grand or Super Large biscuit, you will probably just need one.  If you use flaky biscuits – you’ll need two.

In a a bowl, make your filling by mixing all the ingredients.  You can taste it.  It is wonderful.

Take the biscuits and smash them flat in your hands. Then I put them in a muffin pan. Push a well in the middle for the filling.

Spoon about a Tablespoon or more or less or whatever you choose and fill those biscuits!  (This will not be graded – feel the freedom to do as you choose!)

My blonde child – couldn’t quit eating these.  He BEGGED for more!  

I baked them at 350 until they were lightly brown.  Maybe 9 to 11 minutes.

Next time, I might try them with ham, cream cheese, and cheese biscuits.   

The possibilities are endless!

These are even good a few hours left on the counter.  And even the day after.  I guess you could heat them up in the microwave but we never have had any leftovers.

Tell me if you try them.  Or what you did different.

Please feel free to pin this on pinterest - that would totally make my day, week, month and even year!  (I'm easily amused like that!)

Pin It

You might like my other EASY RECIPES!

Blessings to you!  You are loved!

My Fall Garden (Benefit of living in the South)

Yesterday, I ran into my neighbor.  She looked like she was pruning her Plumeria.  (You know those beautiful flowers that they put around your neck in Hawaii.)  I told her I’d take some if she was throwing them out.  She said that there was a freeze coming and she was storing them in the garage in case she lost the ones in the yard.

Well…I hurried home and found tons of sheets.  This is the prettiest garden and easiest we have ever planted.  I didn’t want the FREEZE to get to our plants.  My sons, husband and I were covering things in the dark.  We looked hilarious, I’m sure.

I think they stayed safe.  So, do you want to see our pretties?

Meet our Lime Basil. She likes to be picked on.

Our Cilantro Bed.  We planted tons of this goody!  YUM!

I can’t believe we still have OKRA in December.  It thrives in HOT weather.

Another shot of our Lime Basil. We really like her.

These tomatillos are awesome in some green Salsa like Mama Ninfa’s.  I found a recipe I’ve been wanting to try like the restaurants. 

I think this is a Squash of some sort.  I can’t remember.  Can’t wait to see…

These are leftover plants from our Spring Garden.  They quit producing in August but I didn’t pull them up now they are full of yummy peppers.

On sale they go for .77 cents a piece.  I guess I could sell them.

Here is our Raised FALL lettuce, spinach, beets, Brussels sprouts, and cauliflower bed. 

I love picking spinach right before dinner.  I put it in dishes and the kids have no idea.  Sneaky and Nutritious. 

I think this is either cabbage or cauliflower.  I really can’t remember. 

I think of it as a game.  Plant it and be surprised.

This lettuce has been so good to us.  Although it is a tad bitter.  If you have any suggestions on how to make it sweeter – I’d love to have your wisdom.

Carrots.  I know I should thin out and I have, some. 

It is hard to know which ones to pluck. 

I know I should probably labeled what this was.  But, I have not a clue.  I’m certain it was a veggie.

Our Vegetable Box

Our orange Tree.  It is almost ready.  

I love Citrus season.  

Oranges, Grapefruits and Limes are everywhere.

Tomatoes Tomatoes Tomatoes

Thank you for taking a walk in our garden.

To God be the Glory because we have not a clue what we are doing!

By the way, I’m over here at The Homeschool Post
talking about Christmas Traditions. Wow, that sounded random.  But, it is true – it is Christmas time.  We are up to our snowflakes in fun projects.  (hehe!) 

Blessings to you!  You are loved!