Getting ready for tomorrow...

My family is having a reunion tomorrow for my mother's side of the family.  This will be our first ever get together, and I'm super excited.  I've been in the kitchen tonight preparing dishes that I plan to take.  I going to take crock pot chicken and dressing.  This is one of the most requested dishes that I make to take to get togethers.   

I've also made a caramel-pecan cheesecake pie.  It is DEEELICIOUS and super easy to make....You mixcream cheese, sugar, eggs, pecans and caramel ice cream topping  in a pastry shell and bake.  Of course it goes in certain steps, but super easy...My kind of dessert! 

My kitchen looks like a tornado came through.  You can barely see the counter top.  I'm a very messy cook.  I don't mind the cooking at all, but I hate the clean up afterwards.

Also I am going to take Mallory's favorite food; deviled eggs.  Thanks to Mrs. Debbie for bringing me so many fresh eggs.  They came in very handy tonight with all of the dishes I am preparing.  There's nothing better than farm fresh eggs!

Shane, Dillon and Mallory are watching an instructional video on how to do the Fushigi.  Dillon told his grandma BB that he "needed" that magic ball.  So she ordered it and he has yet to figure out how to do any of the tricks.  Shane decided to watch the video and see if he can do any of them.  He said that it seems to him like the whole thing was a scheme to make a lot of money (in other words....a total rip- off). 

Can I do it?

Yesterday I decided that I was going to cut out my drinking of sweet iced tea.  Recently my mother in law has found out that she is a diabetic, as well as my mother.  They each have told me that you can get used to tea without the sugar....It's such a southern thing to have a good cold glass of sweet iced tea!  I have "quit"  my habit of drinking Diet Mountain Dew a few months ago.....Now I'm on to the sweet tea.  We all could drink a little more water I think.  I'll be posting more about one of the main reasons I am quitting sweet tea cold turkey!  So far, today was my first day, and I have done well.  We'll see how it goes!

Getting ready for pecans

The pecans are almost ready to fall and be picked up!  Last year we had a pretty good pecan season.  I think we picked over 200 lbs off of 3 trees.  This year I hope to get some to put up in the freezer for those yummy pecan pies and Christmas goodies....I'm just not looking forward to all of the time spent on my hands and knees picking up those things.  My body is getting older and starting to feel it too ;)

Blog Hop Skip and Jump Wednesday!

I'm following the Blog Hop Skip and Jump Wednesday!  It's so nice to be able to read and follow other family friendly blogs!  This takes place every Wednesday, so come on and join in....

Just playing around

A couple of weeks ago I took the kids out to the back pasture with me to check on some of our bucklings.  They decided they wanted to run and play, so I took some pictures of them in the afternoon sunlight.  It was such a beautiful day that day...I was going to get a close up of Dillon and Mallory lying in the grass, but those two monkeys started playing around.....and these pictures are the result of them having fun.  I think these have ended up being my favorite.  They are truly having a ball just being silly with each other.  A rare moment caught on camera!  I enjoy those moments when they do come around!

Who can make the funniest face?

Mallory says that Dillon wins

Miss Mallory turns 5!

At 5:04 pm on this day 5 years ago, we welcomed a 8lb 14oz beautiful baby girl into our lives! What a blessing you have been!

Mallory, I was so excited to have a daughter to share all things girly with!  Your dad on the other hand, was already terrified of the teen years when all of the boys want to come around.  So funny to me now.....you weren't even born yet and he was already protecting you.....

Here you are at 5 years old today and are one tough cookie! You don't let any of those boys mess with you....you have learned how to survive with an older brother...

You are a true cowgirl!  You love to help out with the cows, goats, or horses...Especially the horses.  You love, love, love to ride horses!  You even want your dad to let you go galloping across the field with him on Smokey!  We went on a trail ride just this past week and all you kept asking is, "Mom, let's run on Sunny!", "Mom can we run please?"  No fear at all of those horses, girl!

Happy 5th birthday sweetheart!  I love you big bunches! 

What We Did For Fun Today

After working on our house remodeling, Shane had some extra time to spend with the kids this afternoon.  This is how the afternoon was spent.....Riding in the old feed trough while being pulled by the Kawasaki mule.  The kids had a blast!

Dillon showing his Daredevil tricks

Mallory holding on tight





Even Nana and I got in the "sled" (as Noah called it)  while riding around to check on the cows.  The kids enjoyed the grown ups playing around with them too (this grown up enjoyed it twice as much!) 

You can see from the pictures that it is all brown looking around here.  We haven't had any rain for about a month and a half.  The kids ate dust while being pulled around.  They had to have a good bath after their afternoon of fun.  They probably will sleep well.  I've never heard so much laughter!  You would've thought we took them to the fair, or amusement park.....Who knew you could improvise and still have fun down on the farm......We sure can!