Six Flags

Last month, when our fabulous nephew was here, we spent a fantastic day in Arlington at Six Flags. This was our first time as a family... the boys were tall enough to ride most of the rides and they loved it. It was really fun to see their little personalities come out... Bryce a little hesitant, but willing to ride EVERYTHING and DID!  (So glad he's over his little puking everywhere motion sickness issues from when he was younger!) Jayden would ride most everything but looked scared to death! Rylan didn't get scared, and loved every minute of every ride! Here are a few of my favorite photos from our fun-filled day!

Freckle Faces

I’ve always had them.

I never really minded them like some do… they make me “me.” And, look who else has them. 

 

Even Bryce, who is the spitting image of his dear ‘ol dad, has freckles.

Rylan doesn’t have but a few so far, but Bryce didn’t start getting his until we was about 6.

      Jayden has the most freckles… he looks the most like my side of the family out of the three.

I just can’t enough of my silly, silly boys!

Mexican Lasagna

I guess when my son remembers something we had from dinner the night before and asks me to write down the recipe so that I can make it again, it must have been a hit. He also, at his ripe old age of 10, has figured out that I often just throw stuff together and invent in the kitchen.  Last night I was searching for a recipe using things I already had on hand (which wasn't much!) I used supercook, which thanks to my blogging buddy, Shannon, is one of my favorite go-to websites. It's the coolest  thing ever, you enter the food you have and it pops out lots of recipes you can make right now! What is better for a procrastinator like me, when it's like, oh, 5:24 and dinner is at 6! So, anyway... I used supercook and kinda' sorta followed a recipe it suggested for me.

I made a sort of Mexican lasagna which I've always wanted to try... Let's see if I can remember it... (and in case anyone actually reads my blog, and in case anyone actually cares, I love blogging about my recipes, because I actually do check back through my recipe posts to plan meals!) 

Mexican Lasagna

Two pounds groundbeef, seasoned with taco seasoning
Shredded Cheese (amount varies- my husband complains suggests I use more, when I skimp on the shredded cheese)
2 Cans Tomato Soup
1 cup salsa
Kernel Corn
Corn tortillas (I like these so much better than flour lately)

Brown and drain the beef. Follow directions on taco seasoning.  Add soup, salsa, and corn to meat mixture and heat through. 
Layer Corn Tortillas, Cheese, Meat mixture in baking dish lasagna style. Top with more shredded cheese. (crushed doritos would be good here, too)
Bake at 350 for about 30 minutes.

This was a hearty casserole. Yum!

Great Moms in my family!

Last summer, I had the pleasure of spending six whole weeks with my mom. She lives in Michigan, and my Dad was travelling a lot and so was my hubby, so we worked it out for the boys and I to spend the majority of our summer in Michigan.
We had fun every day. We found all the waterparks, lakes, Chuck E Cheeses, ice-cream parlors, parks, restaurants, county fairs, dollar trees, backyard baseball games, and much, much more.
 
I often feel overwhelming sadness at not getting to see my mom frequently during the year. She is my best friend, my mentor, my reality check, my “person”, and she lives over 1200 miles away. But, when we do get together, we make every minute count.  I love, love, love that I still get to go to my mom’s house and spend the night when I’m on vacation. My teacher summers afford me this luxury.
And, living in the next town over, is my grandma. To my kids, she is “G.G.” short for Grandma the Great or Great Grandma. She is the most fun Grandma ever. All of her grandchildren and great grandchildren adore her.  This summer we were driving somewhere, just the two of us, and Grandma and I were chatting. She said, “I love my own kids, but I REALLY love all my grandkids.” I, of course, shared that with my mom and aunts.  Ha ha!!!!!
The three of us… about 20 years between each of us drive each other crazy, but laugh about it… We are quite alike, and not just in looks!  My mom once told me recently that she doesn’t believe in spanking. I quickly retorted, “Well, you sure believed in it when we were kids !”  She said something like, “Well, I just don’t believe in it for my grandsons!”
 
Like I said, never a dull moment. I love my mom and my grandma more than anything. I am thankful for every day with them. Mom and I talk pretty much everyday on the phone, and text, and facebook.

  Happy Mothers’ Day, Mom!

Signs of Spring

At my house, there are few sure signs of Spring.  Below is a shot of my desk… completely cluttered with mail. I hate clutter!!!! This drives me crazy but we are in survival mode around here with the craziness of Spring. These two teachers are holding their breath(s) until summer vacation.

 

The hydrangeas are blooming…

 

 

 

The roses are cut from the bushes and brought in to brighten up the house.

   

 

My fingers are covered in spray paint because it’s warm enough to spray paint again! Yay!!!!

About 20 days until Summer Vacation!!!!

We have a visitor!!!

At the end of April, Dan’s nephew came to visit us for a few days on his Spring Break. My boys had the time of their life playing with their 16 year old cousin!  What an awesome young man our sweet Kenton has turned out to be so far! He was about 3 when I first met him when Dan and I were dating, and now it is hard for me to look at this 6ft 2in teenager and not see that little guy from 13 years ago.    We interrupt this rough and tumble post for three pictures of my budding roses in the backyard.

 

Okay, back to Ultimate Fighting on the trampoline!

              I knew it was starting to get serious when Jayden shed his shirt!