Tuesday, August 18, 2009

Hearty Baked Beans

McLinky blog hop- recipes

I made this for the 4th of July this year and I thought it was so delicious.

Ingredients:

  • 1 pound ground beef
  • 2 large onions, chopped
  • 3/4 pound sliced bacon, cooked and crumbled
  • 4 cans (15 ounces each) pork and beans
  • 1 bottle (18 ounces) honey barbecue sauce
  • 1 can (16 ounces) kidney beans, rinsed and drained
  • 1 can (15-1/4 ounces) lima beans, rinsed and drained
  • 1 can (15 ounces) black beans, rinsed and drained
  • 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
  • 3 tablespoons cider vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon Liquid Smoke, optional
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon pepper

Directions:

In a large skillet, cook beef and onions over medium heat until meat is no longer pink; drain. Transfer to a 5-qt. Dutch oven. Stir in the remaining ingredients. Cover and bake at 350° for 1 hour or until heated through. Yield: 18 servings.

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Monday, August 17, 2009

A few tears

My morning started earlier today, as I had a middle schooler to get out the door. First off she did not hear her alarm go off at the wee hours of 5:30am (I tried to tell her that was too early to get up, but she insisted) I woke her up at 6:30 and she quickly showered. 30 minutes into getting ready she still did not know what she wanted to wear. Now if you are a mother I am sure you have heard of Demi Lovato and Selena Gomez, my daughter idolizes these girls and the way they dress. I have to admit I am very impressed by the way my daughter can mix and match clothes, she has quite the eye for fashion. Since it was the first day of Middle School she had to have the perfect outfit and for some reason today she just couldn't find it. After several (by several I mean 10) outfit changes she (we) finally agreed on something. She looked adorable, beautiful and grown up. We did our first day of school pictures and we rushed out the door.

Now being in middle school she had a lot of school supplies to take with her and she felt out of place carrying in an overstuffed back pack and OMG a target bag with her locker shelf and accessories, that's right she did not want to carry in a target bag with her extra things in it. She opted to leave it for tomorrow. As we got closer to the drop off point she really got nervous and so did I. I was nervous for her, hoping she would find her way around school, hoping she would have friends in her classes, hoping her nemisis would not give her a hard time today, hoping her hair would not get wet from the rain, hoping she would get her locker combo right, hoping she would make some new friends, hoping she had a great day, hoping she love middle school.

Now when my daughter started a new school in kindergarten I walked her into school so she could find her way and I kissed her goodbye in front of her friends. Middle School is a whole different ball game, there was no walking her into school today(dropping off from the car) and no kissing her when I left her in the class room. So I held back the tears as I said my goodbyes and watched my baby girl walk into middle school all by herself. Being just as nervous as she was I knew in my heart she was going to be just fine and she would have a great first day of middle school.

Now I don't want to leave out my 8 year old daughter, she too started school this morning. Unlike her sister she was not starting a new school, but none the less she was still excited to see her friends and learn about her new teacher. Kate's day started at 7:00 am and she was dressed and ready to go by 7:45. No big preparing or make-up to apply like big sis. She was all into her Selena Gomez back pack, she gladly posed for pictures and off the door we went. She had no butterflies as we pulled up to the building, I kissed her goodbye and off she went with out a care in the world. I had no tears as I dropped her off but I did have a little sadness as she left me for the day. I will miss her craziness she provides me with during the day, the happiness she brings to Sam as they play together and the loud music blaring from her room as she dances. But not the worry too much she will back home at 3:50. I know she will have a great day at school too.

Wednesday, August 12, 2009

33 years ago

I need to wish myself "Happy Birthday". I always say it's just another day, but the truth is it is not just another day, 33 years ago I was born on this day. God had great plans when he made me. He made me so I could be a mother to Kailey, Kate and Sam. God made me so I could bring happiness to my mothers life (we have a very close relationship). God made me so I could love my husband and give him a great marriage. God made me so I could bring joy to children's lives. God made me so I could make my friends smile. God made me for so many things.

My children are so excited to celebrate my birthday. I was told so many times today "Happy Birthday Mommy". It brought smiles to my face so many times today. They were excited to give me my gifts. I got PJ's, a humming bird feeder and a light for my scrapbook desk. We went to eat dinner as a family and had a great night of shopping, I treated myself to clothes and some make-up (I am a make-up hog, I love buying make-up, an instant pick me up).

So "Happy Birthday to me". 33 years ago God brought me into this world. It has been a wonderful 33 years and I am looking forward to another 33 years.

Saturday, August 8, 2009

Summer's end

Well my summer is coming to an end...my daycare kiddos will come back on Tuesday. Although I am sad that summer is ending, I am also glad to see my kids come back. A part of me has missed seeing them everyday and watching Sam play with his friends. I have fun things planned for the month of August.

I wish I could say we did a lot of fun things this summer, but the truth is we did not do much. We stayed up late playing, baked a lot of sweets and slept in the mornings. We went to the pool in the evenings which was nice, no crowds, no sunblock and no heat. I always strive to give my kids the best summer, and I know this was not their favorite summer of all.

Money was tight this summer which is why we stayed around our small little town. Loss of money has brought our family closer together for sure and I know that is what matters to my kids. Having the feeling of family togetherness is the most important memory of all. It is not the shopping trips we missed, the vacation we did not have or the daily outings we skipped out on that my kids will remember. They will remember the meaning of a dollar, not taking things for granted, spending late nights with Mommy, making lots of brownies, splashing in the pool, having sleep overs, picnics at the park, m&m's at the ball games, afternoons at the lake, being thankful for everything they have, spending time with family and learning that materialistic things don't matter.

So when I think back on all that happened this summer...I guess we did do a lot of fun things. They were just things that did not cost any or much money at all. After all it is the Little Things in Life......