The things she says part 1000 I think...

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I haven't included one of these posts in quite sometime and I have probably missed some hum dingers but I have a few of the Things Charlot says for you today! Oh and there a few from the Hubs included so that there is proof that I am not the cause of all the crazy in our home!

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I fixed cheeseburger sliders for supper one evening...granted I am aware that Charlot isn't a huge fan of burger in general I am trying to expand her horizons! She actually ate the burger without a ton of fuss so I thought I was getting somewhere. Until I heard this...

"Conrad your sister almost had a heart attack eating that!"

Well thank you very much I am so glad my meals provide bodily harm.

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We are heading out one morning for school and we discuss many things on our drive. This particular morning Conrad was on her mind.

"Momma Conrad is the cutest thing ever...well besides baby pigs"

I laugh really loud

"What they are really cute"

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One morning we are getting ready to head to school as I am helping her get out of truck to walk into the school I see her with her hand completely down her pants.

"Charlot what are you doing"

"WHAT I was just checking if I have underware on...felt like I didn't...but I did!"

Thank you Jesus and off to the bathroom we went to wash her hands

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My so amazing husband came in the kitchen one night after supper I'm assuming to give me a kiss and say thanks for dinner so as I am leaning over to accept my praise he says...

"This burp is going to be bad"

Me "Oh yea"

"Yea I just drank a beer than ate milk and cookies with Charlot...it's going to be BAD"

Me "Lovely"

"I knew you'd love that"

Yes I have managed to remain married to this man...

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So even though she isn't a burger lover if you hand her some garlic bread to go with spaghetti sauce she is all in. This occured one evening as I was trying to fill my plate.

"Shoo Shoo!!!"

What are you doing? As I see her waving her arms over her plate.

"I'm shooing this heat away from my spaghetti!"

I said nothing else and asked no more.

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This came from the hubs via a text message one night.

"Apparently our child likes pigs better than cows because of their poop"

Oh yea?

"She just said pig poop is more like my poop and cow poop well yuck it's like SLAW on PIZZA"

Say what?

"I'm just telling you what she said"

I can't look at those two foods the same again!

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Here's another hubs moment...

Sitting on the couch one night after the fall festival I pretty sure I was going to ask him something very thought provoking but then this happened.

Hubs...Do you ever... (before I could even finish my sentence)

"Envy the life of a Carnie Man...Yes all the time."

And we were done at that point.

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This last one tugs at my heart and makes me laugh all at the sametime.

Charlot and I were discussing Christmas last night and she was telling me all the people who were watching you to make sure you were being good.

"Well God, and Jesus, and Santa plus All those people up there" She points up...

Me-The people in heaven?

"Yes of course"

Me- Oh ok, so do you know anyone in heaven?

"Yea Papa Jones"

Me- Yes that true

"I wish he knew Conrad, I wish he could have held him"

Me- Me too sweetie me too

"I really liked papa Jones he was silly and he gave me Kisses at church" (the chocolate kind) "You know sometimes grandma Linda does that still"

Me- Yes she does

"But she hasn't lately...I'm going to need to check on that...what did the store run out of kisses!"

I just laughed and laughed

Just a little sliver of my everyday life. I love these memories and pray that other parents will still let my kid hang out with theirs.

Random Acts of Kindness Christmas Countdown

Now let me make is very clear I am not trying to start CHRISTMAS early! I love Thanksgiving! I just thought I would share with you guys a recap of the past two years lists of Charlot's RAOK. Typically it takes me a few weeks to get the list and all the supplies together to be able to start this with Charlot on December the 1st. I wanted to provide any parent out there plenty of time to start and I hope this will inspire some of you to try this out with your kiddos.

This has been one of the most rewarding traditions we have started with Charlot, she talks about it all year long. I pray this is a tradition she will look back on and feel great about.

Let me just give you the highlights prior to the lists. I also am including the links to each of my RAOK posts from the past two years! We typically put our tree up on Thanksgiving weekend and once the tree is up I string a garland and hang 25 envelopes on it for her to open. We start on November 30 presenting her with a letter reminding her why we do this (the content of the letter is below as well), then we open the first envelope and begin performing the acts the following day. Then each night after supper we open and envelope and read a Christmas or being a servent based scripture (I don't have a list sorry) and plan for the following day.

Please share with me your thoughts and any ideas you have I seriously look forward to this each and every year!

Letter

Charlot,

Tomorrow we will start the countdown to Christmas in our home. But this year and for years to come we won’t be focused on what Santa is bringing us we will be counting down the days to the celebration of Jesus’ birth. To prepare us and our hearts for this wonderful celebration we will be doing a random act of kindness each day. These will be simple acts that you can do with little help from momma and daddy.

Each night we will open an envelope that will reveal your act of kindness for the next day. Then you can help Mommy and Daddy get the needed things together for it. But the act of kindness will be your decision you will get to decide each day who will receive your random act.

No worries sweet Charlot Santa will still be visiting our house this year and if he sees you doing all these good deeds he will be extremely pleased. Because Santa Claus loves the generosity and good will we show to others because it reminds him of what God has given us His very special Son. And we know that Santa will be bringing you and many other children plenty of gifts because of the gift that God gave us. God so loved people that he gave them the most precious gift-his son Jesus. This is why Santa brings gifts and we give gifts at Christmas.

Please remember Jesus Christ is the real reason for the Christmas season. We are glad to join all others who bow down and worship Him, our Lord and God.

We love you so much,

Mommy and Daddy

2014 Links and List

Week 1 Recap

Week 2 Recap

Week 3 Recap

List

RANDOM ACT OF KINDNESS LIST-2014

12/1- Tape Candy canes to the ATM

12/2- Pick a book out to give to a friend

12/3- Tape Money and a Note on the Soda Machine

12/4- Color a picture and mail it to someone

12/5- Purchase Hats and gloves for kids in need

 12/6- Pay for someone behind us in the drive-thru and have the cashier give them a note 

12/7- Hand out hugs and candy canes and church

12/8- Call someone just to say I love you

12/9- Pick out one of your toys to donate to the toy drive

12/10-Take treats to our four legged friends (the pigs)

12/11- Ding Dong Ditch someone leave them a box of Ding Dongs

12/12- Pack a homeless person snack kit, to keep in the car for when we see someone in need.

12/13-Ring Bells for the Salvation Army

12/14-Let someone go in front of us in line at a store while shopping. 

12/15- Pass out candy canes at the nursing home

12/16- Leave treats for the mail lady 

12/17- Leave Treats for the Mail Man

12/18-Take treats to the grocery store workers 

12/19- Package and deliver treats to my co-workers

12/20- Leave a note and treats telling someone their holiday decorations make us happy

12/21- Leave a gift card and a note on someone’s car

12/22-Take someone breakfast

12/23- Take Hot Cocoa to the Bell Ringers

12/24- Take someone a meal

12/25- Your Choice!!!

2015 Links and List

Week 1 Recap

Week 2 Recap

Week 3 Recap

List

RANDOM ACT OF KINDNESS LIST-2015

12/1- Tape Candy canes to the ATM

12/2- Color a picture for someone and send it to them

12/3- Pick one of your toys out to give to a child in need

12/4- Leave Treats for the Mail Carrier

12/5- Pay for someone behind us at the drive-thru have teller give them a card

 12/6- Give candy canes and hugs at church

12/7- Give a friend one of your books

12/8- Leave Money and a Note on a Soda Machine

12/9- Ding Dong Ditch someone-leave a box of Ding Dongs

12/10-Leave Treats for the Trashmen

12/11- Leave a note and treats telling someone their holiday decorations make us happy

12/12-Buy another family dessert at a restaurant 

12/13-Take Hot Cocoa To Bell Ringers

12/14-Take Candy Canes to the Nursing Home

12/15- Take treats to the grocery store workers

12/16- Bring Flowers to the Cooks at School

12/17- Call someone just to say I love you

12/18- Make a Meal Basket to leave for someone

12/19- Let someone go before us in line

12/20- Take treats to the pastor

12/21- Take treats to the bank

12/22-Take someone breakfast

12/23- Take a special treat to the pigs (Marshmallows)

12/24- Make a list of things you love about someone and give it to them

12/25- Your Choice!!!

5 months...plus reflections

Our sweet little Conrad celebrated 5 months with us last week. And I had complete plans to post the following day and well kind of typical it didn't happen. In all seriousness this little boy has stolen my heart in exactly the same and such a different way as his big sister did. Everyone told me that  your heart will grow and you have room in there for another. I didn't really believe it but man oh man were they right. They were also correct about that the love for your other child grows as well. I am nearly brought to tears every single time I see the two of them together she loves him so much and he watches her every move!

I will say that the hubs and I hit the jackpot when it comes to good babies. Charlot was amazing she rarely fussed, played easily, was really happy, and loved sleep. We were worried that we were crazy to chance it again but man oh man did we get the world's happiest baby. Conrad is constantly smiling, talking and moving and shaking. I can't tell you how many people have said to me he is just the happiest baby. And truly he is. We are so bless and thankful. Happy 5 months Conrad thanks for joining in on our crazy.

I have been reflecting on this for quite sometime and I never really had the courage to put the words down but I need them off my heart and out of my head. You see late last month it had been a year since my papa passed away, something I still struggle with. I still cry, I still talk about him because I want Charlot to remember him and I want Conrad to know him, I still think about him all the time.

For those of you who don't know I had a doctor's appointment scheduled for several weeks to confirm my pregnancy last fall. Then my papa passed away and I was never able to tell him that I was expecting again. (When we told him about Charlot he nearly jumped out of his skin). Well lo and behold his funeral was held the day before my scheduled appointment. On Monday we laid him to rest and my heart broke and broke, then on Tuesday my prayers were answered and my heart soared I got to hear our babies heart beat for the first time. Talk about an emotional roller coaster.

The bible says that the good Lord giveth and the Good Lord taketh away, and truly last October he did that for me. It was time for one of the most important men in my life to go home and in the same turn it was time for another important man to enter my life.  I truly see so much of papa in my sweet little Conrad. His sideways smile, his laugh and his desire to be heard (papa always needed to be heard). Some may think it is just me wanting to see it and maybe it is but for me it is his way of saying you did good and I'm ok.

Thanks papa for being the man you were and continue to be in my life I pray I can raise my children to be as full of love as you were. You created a Beautiful Family and Life. Love and Miss you ALWAYS

What a fun fall weekend!

I have had the pictures uploaded for this post for several weeks now but just never really made the time to sit down and write the words out! HA! So now it is officially late like 11:30p.m. on Tuesday evening and I have finally completed all the tasks for the evening, supper, laundry (never ending), mixing up cookie dough, figuring out snack for 20 pre-k/kindergarten kiddos, creating a grass skirt (from a plastic table cloth) and continuing to handel this whole feeding my child from my body thing. Lord of mercy this has been a long day. So why not stay up a bit longer and actually complete a blog!

A few weekends ago my high school celebrated Homecoming and our little Miss had the honor of being asked to be the little princess. Charlot's swim teacher Reagan was the homecoming queen last year and she was so kind to ask our little one to do this with her.

Of course this honor required a few new outfits and a bucket full of candy to throw in the parade. She was so excited to ride in the parade then get to go on the field at half time of the game to help crown the new king and queen.

Standing in front of the high school gym where I played many many basketball games and where I hope to watch her and her brother play someday. This is after the parade she is hiding the bucket so I won't see that she threw very little candy out, she was saving it just in case.

It was pretty dang chilly the night of the game so Conrad thought Pap's lap was a pretty dang good place to be.

Then Aunt Lauren thought both children would provide an excellent source of body heat.

Such a good looking group. Reagan was so sweet and got Charlot her own little crown to wear for the night.

I think they are some pretty proud grandparents. The thing is we are just as proud to call them Pap and Grandma.

Pictures with Momma and Daddy we are so happy that God decided she was ours.

One last picture of our little princess.

Nacho Soup!!!

I created this little pot of wonderfulness on a whim a few weeks ago on a rainy Sunday afternoon. Then I remade it last night because it was cold the the perfect evening for SOUP!!! This soup was born out of my necessity to number one use up some leftovers from taco night and two find a taco soup substitute. The hubs is not a fan of the traditional taco soup recipe that most love including me!
But then I started creating this soup with him in mind and the little bit in our house. I knew two things it needed to be soupy(lots of broth), the hubs isn't a huge fan of thick soups, and it needed to be cheesy to please Charlot. Who loves tacos and nachos...and is becoming a fast fan of this soup! Feel free to use leftover taco meat and leftover Spanish rice that is what I did the first time and it was perfect!

Nacho Soup

1/2 Lb hamburger (browned and drained)
1 packet taco season
1 can diced tomatoes (I use the Mexican flavored ones)
1 can corn
1 can green chillies
1 can black beans (drained and rinsed)
1 can Nacho cheese (found near the Velveeta)
1 box chicken Stock
1 cup cooked rice

In a large soup pot, mix Hamburger with taco seasoning and allow to heat through and seasoning to come together with meat. Add all remaining ingredients except rice, stir well to combine! Allow mixture to simmer for 30 minutes then stir in rice just before serving. Top with additional cheese or avocado that's what I like at least! Serve with corn chips!

4 Months

We had a crazy fun weekend at our house with many things to recap which will come in a separate post. But first I must speak about this...Mr. Conrad turned 4 months old over the weekend. How did that happen?!?!?! I know that pretty soon it will be four year and I won't be able to believe that either!

Sir Conrad is the happiest little guy always smiling and calling dolphins (or that's what my Aunt has determined his squeal sounds like) and I have to agree. He is rolling over from back to belly with no trouble at all and is currently working on belly to back.

In additional to talking and rolling all the time, he is a huge fan of meal time. A six ounce bottle goes down real quick about every three hours. But seriously I am a ok with that because he eats between 8:30 and 9 each night and doesn't wake up until 5:30 to 6. Sleep is this momma's friend and man alive am I thankful my children also enjoy sleep.

The latest thing we love to do is chew and drool non-stop. He chews on his hands, his feet, his pacifier, and any toy present. I feel he will have a mouth full of teeth sooner than later.

But regardless of what he is doing we love him so much and are so very happy that God chose him for our family. Momma and sister kiss him way too much so daddy has to keep the manliness up by watching baseball nonstop with him.

We love you Mr. Conrad! 

Freezer Meal Ministry

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I had the honor of spending a few hours this morning with these lovely ladies...doing some of the good Lord's work. In just a few hours and a few trips to Walmart we had made 36 pints of chicken and rice soup, 33 individual lasagnas, and a 4 dozen breakfast sandwiches. The purpose of these meals is to have food ready to be given to those in need. Weather it be a shut-in, a family, a widow or widower, these meals could help make their day so much easier. Food is a basic need and we wanted to be able to fulfill the need.

I am utterly in awe of the work that these ladies completed in a short time. It amazes me the work that can be completed by just a few hands to help others. 

It was such a fun morning working together. 

I guess the purpose of this blog wasn't just to share this fun filled morning but to say why this was so important to me. Every member of a church needs to have a place a place they feel comfortable, useful, and feel they are following the Lords direction. For quite some I have been trying to find my place...yes I am involved in my church always have been but I never really have felt like I had found what the Lord wanted me to do. That was until I saw the sign-up for the service Sunday one of our women's group is putting together. 

One of the categories was freezer meals...I didn't really know what that meant but I knew I loved to cook and help others. Then one Sunday a lady said they were needing someone to take the lead on the freezer meal category. In that moment I knew I had found my place. The next day I had volunteered to get the ball rolling on this. With in the week a meal prep day was planned with ingredient lists and a plan for the day formulated. I simply sent an e-mail asking for volunteers to help plus people to bring ingredients. Seriously within an hour I had all I needed. These ladies could move mountains in minutes I swear!

This morning I felt His presence guiding me and I knew I was doing exactly what I should be doing! So thank you to the members of my church for allowing me to lead this, and thank you to all those who helped make it a success. Lastly the Lord is guiding you...listen he will send you right where you need to be!

Shrimp Tacos with Lime and Jalapeno Slaw

So I read that today is National Taco Day!!! Why didn't I know of this glorious holiday before? And why oh why do I have to work on this day! On top of it being National Taco Day...it is TACO TUESDAY!!! I am finally bringing you a new recipe! But if you take a close look at this picture that is grass in the back ground yes green green grass. Not exactly October grass that is more like spring grass May 24th grass to be exact. You have got it right I have had this recipe ready for a post since May. But it just hasn't happened apparently having a baby, going on maternity leave, managing our house, getting my kid ready for school, starting kindergarten, starting daycare, and going back to work prohibited me from actually achieving this being blogged. 

But trust me it is worth the wait! Especially since it is on this all important holiday! These have quickly become a favorite in our family! Charlot especially LOVES them a requests them pretty much weekly. That kid loves shrimp and when you throw it into a taco it can't get much better. I actually made these for my Daddy-o and the Hubs for Father's Day and they both were quite pleased with their delicious dinner. 

Any who here is the recipe make these tonight to celebrate! We won't be having tacos tonight in celebration we had tacos Saturday night, nacho soup Sunday night, and taco bowls Last night. I feel it is time for a change although if I put tacos on the table tonight the other two solid food eaters in my home would rejoice. They are sure to turn into a taco! 

Shrimp Tacos with Lime and Jalapeno Slaw

1 lb Large Raw Shrimp (Peeled and Deveined) 

1 Can Mango Nectar (can be found in the Hispanic Section of your store) 

1 TSP Chipolte Powder

1 TSP Cumin

1 Garlic Clove (Minced)

1 TSP Salt

1 Lime (Juice and Zest)

Charred Tortillas 

1 bag of Slaw Mix

1 Jalapeno diced (seeds and membrane removed)

1/2 Plain Greek Yogurt

1/4 Mayo (use the real stuff)

1 lime (Juice and Zest)

1 TSP Apple Cider Vinegar

Splash of milk to thin

Salt and Pepper to taste 

Mix Shrimp, Nectar, Chipolte Powder, Cumin, Garlic, Salt, and Lime in a large zip top bag and marinate for at least 1/2 an hour and up to a hour. In the meantime mix slaw dressing of yogurt, mayo, lime, vinegar, milk, salt and pepper stick it in the fridge for flavors to combine. Don't Dress the slaw until ready to serve you want the cabbage to still have some crunch. Heat a large skillet with EVOO. Remove shirmp from marinade, sear off the shrimp careful to not over cook. Char some tortillas either over your gas flames or with your broiler. Dress the slaw. Place 4-5 shrimp in a tortilla top with some slaw and serve!

BPT Pizza

I am a sucker for easy I repeat quick and easy week night meals! I think most people are I mean by the time you get everyone home and settled down and going on homework or getting ready for whatever activity you have that night spending several hours on supper just isn't a happening thing! Thus is why I love this pizza, the toppings are super easy to prep ahead of time and if you want you can use a premade crust you could literally have supper on the table in less than 15 minutes! 

Now I love a good BLT, just as soon as the tomatoes start to ripen you can bet that I am going to fixing BLT's. And this pizza is just a rift on a BLT but instead of the lettuce (L) I used jarred pesto for the sauce. It added such a fresh flavored to the pizza and married perfectly with the tomatoes. Even the hubs who is not a lover of basil (the main ingredient in pesto) thought this pizza was delicious! I can't say the same for my kiddo but that is kind of the nice thing about pizza night is I can make her a pepperoni pizza pretty easily without feeling like I am making her a seperate meal. I am not a short order cook after all, I remind her of that frequently! Anyway if you want a really tasty pizza that is a departure from the norm give this one a try! 

BPT Pizza

1 pizza crust rolled thin (either make your own or purchse one)

1/4 cup Pesto (you could make your own here too!)

8 peices of bacon (cooked and crumbled)

1 Cup Mozzarella Shredded Cheese

2 Roma Tomatoes

1/4 Cup Parmsean Cheese Grated

Pre-Heat oven to 400 degrees. Parbake your pizza crust so that when you have it topped it will only need to cook for about 10 minutes more. Once your crust is ready spred the pesto over the entire crust try not to get it to thick. Top with bacon crumbles, followed by mozzarella cheese. Thinly slice your tomoatoes and place over the pizza, then finish with sprinkling the parmsean over all of it. Bake pizza for an additional 10-12 minutes or until crust is crisp and cheese is nice and bubbly. ENJOY! 

An Afternoon at the Fair

This is my last recap of the Missouri State Fair 2016 since it has been over for nearly month I feel it's fitting that finally get around to wrapping it up! Ha! These are all pictures from an afternoon I took and left the hog barn with both kiddos just to check out the fair. The hubs wanted to continue watching the shows that were going on so we headed out and explored.

First stop was with Auto the talking car for some reason I couldn't locate my phone so of course no picture was taken. But I will say my kiddo loves auto she proceeded to see him three more times before the end of the fair. Then lo and behold I found my phone while we were checking out the highway gardens. Just as I found it I saw this occuring, super sanitary no, but super cute of her kissing barrel bob yes!

I tried to do a little photo shoot in the highway gardens, which are absolutely beautiful. I got a few cute shots not perfect but hey most of life isn't perfect!

A really kind lady offered to take my picture with the kiddos as well. I look a lot sweaty but I love having this photo to remember this day by!

After the photo shoot Charlot was ready to go check out the Ag. building because she knew the corn man would be there! First we checked out the corn play area in this building, such a cute and fun place for little ones.

Look at that smile the corn man (who I find a bit creepy) was located!

To wrap up our little trip out of the hog barn she got to see the fire dog, he was so cute and asked her to scratch his ear. Which she loved!

I'm so thankful to be raising my kiddos to love the state fair the same as I did as a kid. And we will be ready to make new memories at next years fair.

3 Months....

Mr. Conrad turned a wopping 3 months old yesterday! I know everyone says it but seriously these three months have flown by. Last nights photo shoot was a little diffcult as he didn't really want to look at me with the camera he was more interested in what his sister was doing as you can see in the above photo. The love I get to witness between the two of them each day is amazing and fills my heart with so much joy!

Also I had dressed him yesterday in a cute little John Deere shirt and jeans because I thought it would be super cute for the photo shoot...well apparently he didn't have the same feelings. When I walked into Telpha's (our sitter) yesterday he was in his cute little spare outfit. I guess he felt a blow out of epic porportions was necessary, poor Telpha.

This was the shot I took of him telling me all about his day at Telpha's and the blow out. Seriously this guys talks all the time, cooing, giggling, squealing, all of the above. Sweetest sounds ever.

And this is the face a a little boy who decided another blow out was necessary, I think he was telling me he was sorry!

But after a quick bath we are all smiles and giggles again! 

Oh Conrad you are so so loved and make our little family even more awesome each and everyday.