I Cry A Little And Say Thank You

I'm so excited that today is the girl's last day of school for the year. Woohoo! Summer here we come!


We've got our summer bucket list ready!

Yep, there it is. The list of things we want to do this summer. Can't wait!


Along with the excitement, I'm also filled with sadness. Sadness because this is the last year of elementary school. Miss Sofia of course moved on to middle school a few years ago and will be moving on to high school in the fall and Emma Bean will be moving on to middle school. All good, but that means it's time to say goodbye to our elementary school.


For the last 8 years we have grown to know the teachers and staff at our elementary school very well, and we love them.


They have been there for nervous, first days of school. It still counts even if mom was the only one who was nervous!

And they've been there for thrilling, last days of school.

Not only have they taught the three R's, (reading, writing and arithmetic) they have been there for track and field days...

kindergarten luaus...

The days before I had a decent camera!

 crazy hair days...

field trips galore...

and May basket deliveries.

They've always given very generously at our family's cookie sales to support charities that were close to our hearts!

They've also given more hugs than we can count!

And most importantly, they have shown great loving kindness to our girls and each student in their classes.


To our elementary school teachers and staff I say...Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!


You are a huge blessing!

WE LOVE YOU!!

Christine

Stupid Nature

A few days ago my rose bushes were full of beautiful buds. 

Any day there would be an abundance of pink, yellow, and red roses. So exciting!


The day lilies were just about ready to bloom too. 

I love this time of year!


In expectation, I recently walked into the garden in hopes of finding these flowers bursting open.


Instead, I found this.

NOOOO!




Nothing but stems. Stems stripped of their buds! sniff


Rosebuds...gone!


Day lily buds...gone!


Balloon flower buds...gone!

Hydrangeas...gone!

Though I did not plant a flower garden to feed the deer, I have come to accept and tolerate that they occasionally wandered through the garden to enjoy a nibble here or there. However, this year, instead of a little nibbling, the deer seem to have made our yard their main source of dinner. UGH!


Each morning I find that they have returned to eat more from my garden instead of moving on to greener pastures, or someone else's yard, as they have done in the past. 


In frustration I have begun to shout, "Stupid Nature!" whenever I discover a new round of flower buds missing. 


The Husband has heard this quote so often lately, he decided to put it onto a t-shirt. The deer are not perturbed.

I've had it!


Time to take action!


Time to take my garden back!


The deer have left me no other choice! 


Time to bring out the big guns!!

Liquid Fence! Dun Dun Daaaaaa!


It stinks like you would not believe, but it's very effective!


We are not providing a free buffet here! 


I want my roses!


Christine


P.S. We really do love nature. Mostly. When it's pretty, and not annoying. Yep, we love it then!

WARNING! Naked Lemons

The Husband has decided to make Limoncello. 


Limoncello is an Italian lemon liqueur. It's very good!


All I could think about when he told me he was going to make Limoncello was Marcello, in the movie Under the Tuscan Sun, explaining how his family makes Limoncello. That movie makes me want to buy a lovely villa in Tuscany in the midst of a sunflower field and drink my own homemade Limoncello every day. Well, maybe not every day, but often!

Anyway...


The Husband said "Yes" to drinking our own homemade Limoncello, but "No" to buying a villa in Tuscany. Ho hum


The Husband grated the peels off of some lemons. 

I laughed as he complained, 3 lemons into the process, that grating lemons was a lot of work. He didn't give-up though! Nope. He suffered for the cause. If making Limoncello can be labeled a cause. Maybe he was afraid that he would have to go for the villa if he gave up on the Limoncello. Hmmmm


And that's how we ended up with naked lemons.

What does one do with a bunch of naked lemons?? 


I juiced them. I think I'll have to make some homemade lemonade. A bonus to making Limoncello!!


Once the lemons were peeled - it's important to avoid the pith - the peels were placed in glass jars and Everclear was added.

This stuff scares me a little! Do not use this near an open flame! YIKES 


The Husband assures me Everclear is perfectly safe...as long as I don't drink it straight! And it will be diluted in the Limoncello and it will be delicious. 

And now we wait.


We wait for 14 days.


At the end of 14 days, the Husband will complete the Limoncello making process.


I can't wait to taste it and show you the finished product!


To be continued...


Christine

Three Completely Unrelated Things

This morning, as I was checking Facebook, Miss Emma Bean looked over my shoulder and saw a Facebook post by The Pioneer Woman - Ree Drummond.


Miss Emma Bean asked very excitedly if The Pioneer Woman and I were Friends. I mean she was like getting Cherry Berry frozen yogurt excited!

I had to tell her, "No, I'm just a fan of The Pioneer Woman on Facebook."


Miss Emma Bean's face fell, her disappointment was clear and she just said, "Oh." 


I know Miss Emma Bean. The Pioneer Woman and I are really good friends in my mind though! If that counts at all. A little? Maybe??


Anyway...


My streak of double yolk eggs has ended.


Lately, all of my eggs have had double yolks. I've cracked open 22 double yolk eggs. Consecutively! From 3 different cartons of eggs! It was very weird!

When I finally cracked open a single yolk egg, I was kinda sad the double yolk streak was over. (sigh)


Anyway...


I made pork wrapped in bacon the other day and it was AMAZING!!


Cut pork chops in half.

Coat the halved chops with your favorite BBQ dry rub.

Our dry rub is from the Husband's stepbrother, Steve. It's a secret recipe. I don't know the secret. If I did, and I told you, I'd have to eat all of your pork wrapped in bacon. I really wish I knew the secret!


Once your chops are coated in dry rub, wrap them in bacon. (Mmmmmm)

Place your pork wrapped in bacon (Mmmmmm) on a hot grill and give them a drizzle of Sweet Baby Ray's BBQ sauce! (double Mmmmmm)

They'll take about 10 minutes or so to cook through. The new rule is to cook pork to 145˚. I still cook mine to 160˚.

YUM!


Pork wrapped in bacon goes really well with coleslaw and pineapple! Try it! Invite some friends over, real ones if you're willing to share or the ones that are only in your mind if you're not, and enjoy!


Christine

Memorial Day

Today we will gather with family.

We will celebrate, we will laugh, and we will enjoy a peaceful afternoon.

We will throw something yummy wrapped in bacon on the grill.

We will openly say a prayer of thanksgiving!


We will do all of this because men and women have sacrificed their time and lives to protect our nation and our freedom! They have not sacrificed alone. Their families too have sacrificed much.


I am deeply grateful!


To the men and women who serve...


THANK YOU!

God bless you and keep you safe!


Christine

Not a Perfect Mom

I am not a perfect mom!


I did not get a manual. What's with that!??


I've made lots of mistakes. I would list them, but I don't want you to waste your long weekend reading a list!


I do try though. 


I want to be a good mom. I long to be a good mom. I hope that I'm making a positive impact on my children! I suspect, that in this, I'm no different than any other mom. And that is why I am going to share this with you.


A quick disclaimer...I am not trying to toot my own horn! Read the above! (ha ha I said toot!)


I was taken by wonderful surprise when Miss Sofia gave me a printout of the short essay she had written for school about a person she admired. When I read it I thought, "Wow! Mistakes and all, I am making a positive impact on my girl! Yay!" Then I cried! Then I decided I wanted to encourage all of the moms, and the dads too, who really want to do what's best for their children, and sometimes wonder if their efforts make any difference.

Miss Sofia's essay...


There are many people I admire, but for now I will write about my mom.


The first reason why I admire my mom is because she is a good role model. She is very devoted to God and is always trying to set a good example for me and my sister. She is very caring, and wants to help people in need. (Here I would like to interject, Wow! She's been watching!)


Secondly, she is always there for my family. She is always finding ways to get us to hangout together, either through playing board games, video games (Yeah, I do like those!) or going for a bike ride. She also takes care of us when we are sick or just need a shoulder to cry on. (I feel much better about making them spend this time together now, even though they complain sometimes and say, about playing a game together, "Do we have too?" They actually like it. They really like it!! I won't tell anyone though. Well I'm telling you guys, but that doesn't count.)


Finally, I admire the fact that she is always willing to listen, whether I need to talk about the hard day I had or how excited I am about the upcoming school event. Also she is willing to talk and cheer me on. (sniff!)


These are only three of the reasons why I admire my mom. I admire her because she is a good role model, she is always there to take care of our family, and she is always willing to listen.


My girl did not write about the mistakes I've made. She did not write about the things I could do better. She wrote about the effort she sees me make to be the best I can be for her and our family. This is so encouraging to me! So let me pass it on to you! 


They see! Your children see your efforts! They speak louder than your failures! So keep on moms and dads! Don't ever stop trying, and you will make a positive impact on your children!


I'm also going to suggest we take away this lesson...let's allow our children's efforts speak louder than their failures too!


Christine

Food, Friends, and Hairnets

I scooped!

Well I didn't actually scoop. I sealed!


I worked the last two mornings sealing packages of food with Miss Sofia's and Miss Emma Bean's classmates, as the girl's schools participated in the Scoop project - packing meals for Feed My Starving Children.


Feed My Starving Children is a non-profit, Christian organization that organizes children and adults to hand-pack meals specifically formulated to provide much needed nutrition for the malnourished in over 70 countries around the world. Check out their website by clicking here.

Each little vitamin packed Manna Pack will feed 6 children and costs only $1.44 to produce.


So we all donned our fancy hairnets!

And filled Manna Packs!

It was amazing to watch these young people work so well together and work so hard to meet the needs of children they've never met! My heart was filled with joy!


And it was fun to watch the little bit of friendly competition that went on! 


Miss Emma Bean and her friends filled 17 boxes. 36 Manna Packs per box! Wow!

When Miss Sofia and her friends found out how many boxes Emma Bean and her friends filled, they were determined not to be outdone and filled 20 boxes of Manna Packs! Amazing!!


I'm very proud of all of them!

I just added this photo of Miss sofia and her friends because I love them! They're great young ladies! And they look so cute sporting those hairnets!


Feed My Starving Children is doing wonderful work to meet the nutrition needs of those who are going without food around the world. Check out their website and see how you too can get involved!


Christine