LaDessa's First Day of School!

Well, I am still trying to get brain to realize, LaDessa is now in school. 

She was so excited about going this morning. I couldn't get ready fast enough! She normally loves to have her picture taken..not this morning...it was "Mom! Lets Go! We Are Gonna Be Late!!.But little brother wanted to say cheese with sleepy eyes at least one time before we headed out!

He didn't know what to think when we left Dessa without him staying with her. She only goes a half a day..I never thought a half a day could feel like forever! Thankfully I had some things to do in London, so I were able to stick around until time for pick-up. (I have to be honest and tell the truth about the matter...I vowed, I was not coming home without her today)...and your not supposed to break a vow, you know.

The moment she got in the vehicle she started telling me what all she did! I was trying to drive with tears in my eyes....I had done so good all day without the tear stuff...I guess the whole thing was, she talked so big about it all! I ask her what she learned and she pulled her paper out and "the letter I". So I said well, what about it?.. her reply was.."the I sound is....i-i-i, and I learned my memory verse too"! It was so exciting for her to be telling me, yet heart breaking at the same time.

You just can't imagine your baby's in school when they are in your arms, or crawling around your feet..Time seems to fly by! I just can't understand were her five (almost six) years have gone so quick....all you have is the memories in pictures...Every day comes new changes!!! I wonder what tomorrow will bring? Ah, I'll just not think about it right now, I have had enough for one day!

  

2nd Stroll for August!

I'm getting with it this month!! I don't plan to let anything get in my way of strolling in August!!
   I am sure all of you know how to do these, but I just have to let you all know the way that I do them in our house....Here we go.....

Mini Fruit Pizza's:

24 Sugar cookies 

1 Small container Marshmallow Creme

1 8oz. pk. Cream Cheese (regular or strawberry flavor)

3-4 Kinds of Fruit, cut/sliced/chopped

Directions:

Bake cookies and let set to cool. Mix together marshmallow cream and cream cheese until smooth. Cut/slice/chop fruit, set aside. After cookies have cooled, spread cream cheese mixture over each cookie and top with fruit. Option-you can also drizzle some chocolate over the top if you wish.

And there you have it..Mini Fruit Pizza's!

   Tip on Apples...If you want your apples to keep there color..cut them the way you are going to serve them, cover them with water and add at least 1-2 tablespoons salt...let set 5 minute (or more depending how many you have) and they will keep there color and not turn brown. 

Just Some of my days being a mother!

I never realized what being a mother really meant until I became a mother. It is such a blessing to have children in good health, active and never stopping! But at the same time some days can be upsetting, hilarious, stressful, loving, not boring,  wishing I had a automated voice to say "go clean your room, Benjamin don't touch, Benjamin mommy is going to spank you if you don't leave my pots and pans a lone, and" ...well you know all the other sayings...and then some days can just be down right cute...Here are a few pictures for those days...
     

Loving his dolphin!

And yes, Jay is one of my kids at times too! ha!

Very photogenic!

                                                         Praying!

 Guess who's "Suit Coat" that would be??

"Trying" to take a shower without mommy and daddy looking!

That's Jay's son there..playing with a baby doll. LOL! 

Being sweet, but only on mommy's "just made bed"! What better place to be?

LaDessa actually letting 'little' brother drive...Fun day at Chuck E.Cheese's

These are just a few pictures, because of course we don't always have these days...if you know what I mean. ha! Its best to think about the cute days than to think about all the other days that I had mentioned above....

I have to say, I am so thankful for my little kiddo's! My husband and children is the best gift that I could have ever received, except for salvation. God's blessings are amazing! I could never repay him!  

August!!

Ok, lets pretend that we didn't even have a July because I was unable to post any strolls for that month. Sometimes life gets so "overwhelming". I have heard people say "I'm gonna have some ME time"....If only I knew what that was!!! I would like to learn all about it, but I'm afraid with a 20 month old and a 5 (almost 6) year old, I'm not gonna know anytime soon.
 So, lets go strolling for the first time in August!!

Buffalo Chicken Stromboli: (Easy as 123)
1 can Pillsbury refrigerated Classic Pizza Crust
2 cups Shredded Cooked Chicken (can use pre-cooked canned chicken)
1/4 cup (or more) Buffalo Wing Sauce (your favorite brand)
1/3 cup Crumbled Blue Cheese
1/4 cup (more or less) Chopped Onion
2 tablespoon Chives (option)

Directions:
Heat oven to 425. Lightly Spray cookie sheet with cooking spray. Unroll dough; place on a cookie sheet. Press dough out with your hands and make it a little bigger. Keep a rectangle shape. In a small bowl combine chicken and buffalo sauce. Spread down the center of dough within 1 inch from edges. Top with cheese, onions and chives. Fold ends of dough up over filling first, then fold the long sides up and over. Pinch all edges together to seal. Bake 14-16 minutes or until golden brown. Let set 3 minutes, slice and serve!!
    For those of you that are like me and don't like all the spice....you can use Barbecue sauce instead of the Buffalo. And if you don't like blue cheese...use your family favorite cheese...Make it your own! This can be made many different ways! 

June Stroll #2

I have tried to keep my promise for at least two recipe strolls per month, and yes, I know that I only posted one stroll for the month May, but unless I get a little more time on my hands this week you all will just have to excuse me for not posting that one.
    Lets Stroll!!

Cream Cheese Pie:
   1 prepared graham cracker crust (9in. pie pan or 9x13 oblong)
   1-8oz. cream cheese
   1/2 cup sugar
   2 boxes instant vanilla pudding mix (3 1/2 oz.)
   2 1/2 cup cold milk
Directions:
   Cream together cream cheese and sugar. Add (blended) pudding mix and milk to to cream cheese mixture and blend well (with no lumps). Pour into pie crust and chill several hours. Before serving, top with your favorite pie filling.
  If your a lemon liking person you can use lemon pudding mix instead of vanilla and top it with lemon pie filling. Garnish with graham cracker crumbs.
  This is very simple/easy and is GREAT!! 
    I so enjoyed the recipes that some of you all post and sent by e-mail!! I love trying new recipes in my kitchen!! So, just keep them coming!!

June Recipe #1

Hey recipe friends, you will have to forgive me. I got so busy at the end of May after coming back from vacation that I totally forgot about taking you down May #2 stroll. I will try to make it up this month by taking you down three instead of two.
    I really wish I could get a couple people to start posting a few of there family's favorite recipe's as well! We love trying new recipe's at our house!! Think about it, and lets see how many new recipes we can get for our kitchen cook book!!
    As for now, Let's Go Strolling Down Heather's Recipe Lane!!

"Easy Tasty/Fried Burritos"
1 pound Ground Beef
1 envelope Taco Seasoning
1 can Refried Beans
6 Flour Tortillas (12 inch)
1 cup or more Shredded Cheese
Hot Sauce if desired
4 teaspoons Oil
Sour Cream, Salsa and salad topping if desired

Directions:
  1. In a large skillet, cook beef until no longer pink, drain. Stir in taco seasoning. in a small saucepan, heat refried beans, until heated through.
  2. Spoon about 1/3 cup of beans onto center of each tortilla, top with about 2 rounded tablespoons of beef mixture. Add hot sauce. Sprinkle with cheese. Fold sides and ends of tortilla and roll up.
  3. In a large skillet over medium/high heat, brown burritos in oil on all sides.
  4. Serve with sour cream, salsa and salad.

I you will enjoy these easy making burrito's, just as we have!! Make it your own!!
  Until next time....Thank you for strolling with me!!

Vacation 2012 "Part 3"

From Charleston we head to Myrtle Beach. After checking in to the Harbor Lights Resort  we went out to eat at the German Restaurant. Jay and his family once lived in Germany, so eating there suited Jay just fine. He loved it!
  Sunday was of course Mother's Day. Jay and the kids woke me up with Happy Mother's Day wished and cards. Later that day they treated me to the Empire Fire Mongolian Grill (my favorite place to eat at Myrtle Beach). I was soo happy! And to top Mother's Day off, Jay took me to Medieval Times!
  Monday, we went to the Alligator Adventure. It was truly amazing to see over a thousand alligators, crocodiles, snakes, turtles, tortoise and much more.

The biggest crocodile I want to see. To close for comfort for me!

The tortoise thought LaDessa was sweet, every time we would go visit him, he would come over for LaDessa to pet him. She said he was to big. 

The only reason she pet this guy was because his jaws were taped.

 On Monday evening my parents and grandma came down to spend the last 5 days with us. I was sooo glad to see them..I'll be honest with ya, I knew the kids would leave mommy and daddy for gram-ma and pop-pa..did I say that? Hey, we all need a break every once in a while! We had such a good time with my family! One bad thing about the trip...It rained every day, it was terrible. That's the most I have ever used my umbrella. We only got to go to the beach one time while we were there, and that one time we did get to go, it started thundering and lightning. Running in the sand doesn't feel to good when you have scared kids hanging on to ya. We had a blast what little time we did have at the beach.  Mom took all the pictures that day, so I will try to post beach pictures soon, If I can get them from her that is. 

  The rest of the week, we shopped at the Tanger Outlets, Malls, walked the Board Walk and Barefoot Landing several times, rested and ate!! And ate some more!!

There at the board walk they have a kiddie zone. We spent some quality time with  all the rides! I didn't think we would ever get to leave. And when we did, we had to drag Benjamin away screaming and crying! 

The thing that I wanted to do most, was REST! I do so did!! I enjoyed my time out on the Balcony! Listening to the water! That was so relaxing!

And at last on Saturday Morning it was time to come home, back to the norm! We had a great time while we were gone, especially spending time with family! Can't wait until next year!!
 
                                           This concludes Part 3 of 3!!