Lately......

The girls came to visit for a few days.

Unfortunately they were sick while they were here...

So, we didn't get to do the fun things we had planned.

But, in between bouts of fever we did this:

The oldest grand started K5 this year.

She wears a uniform every day.

I love that!!

Hubs and I were in a magazine shoot....

WHAT????

Yeah, that's what I say too!

But somehow we got ourselves into being the grandparents 

for a photo shoot in a bridal magazine called 

Southern Weddings.

(Sibi, at Pearls and Grace, is SOMEHOW responsible!! :))

Can I just TELL you how wonderful this magazine is?!

And how talented and amazing their staff is?!

The magazine comes out once a year.

Look for it mid November....

I can't wait!!!

We are still excited and looking forward to grand #8.

She is due to arrive the end of November.

My daughter and her sweet family are counting the days

until baby sister arrives.

photo: Jennylynnphotography

That's life lately for us.

How about YOU?

Twinkies X 2

LOOK how they have grown!!!

Four Months Already!!!

Two FABULOUS Desserts!!!

We tried some new recipes at the beach this year!

You can find both of them on Pinterest...

But, I will post them here!

The first one we tried was

Key Lime Pie Dip!!

Ingredients:

1 can Eagle Brand Milk

1/4 cup plus two tablespoons Key Lime Juice

(I use Nellie and Joe's)

1/2 cup Marshmallow Fluff

(I use FLUFF... which is different than Marshmallow Creme)

MIX:

With a wire whisk, mix milk and juice.

Add the fluff and stir with a wooden spoon.

Chill

Serve with Ginger Snaps

(I use Trader Joes Triple Ginger Snaps)

You can also serve with Graham Crackers or fruit!

source

Homemade Frosty:

1 8 oz Cool Whip

1 Eagle Brand Milk

1/2 gallon chocolate milk

(not low fat if you can find the full fat)

Chocolate Syrup

(I used 1/2 of a large bottle)

Just mix all above and put in ice cream freezer.

This tastes JUST LIKE a Wendy's Frosty!

I hope you enjoy these as much as my family did!

Have you tried either of them?

There is a Firetruck in my Bathroom

Life is busy.

I am trying to live INTENTIONALLY.

If you remember, that was my word for 2013.

I blogged about it HERE.

I received this in the mail yesterday from a dear friend:

Such a sweet reminder hanging in my kitchen!

Thank you Teresa for your sweet gift!

Recently I kept the two oldest granddaughters.

Sometimes that involves lots of driving and changing of plans.

My sweet son-in-law met me to pick them up

And brought me this great Starbuck's mug:

(along with a gift card)

Thank you Big Al for noticing and appreciating.

Our oldest granddaughter lost her first tooth yesterday.

She is five.

This is a big week for her.

She starts kindergarten this week too!

Hubs is back to cycling now after six weeks of recovery from his bike accident.

He is like a kid in a candy store.

Back in the saddle again!

The oldest of the second set of nieces starts her freshman year...

TODAY....

at college.

Such an exciting time for her!

We only live about twenty minutes away from her school

And we can't wait to take her to dinner...

Or maybe wash some clothes!!

We sure do love you KiKi!

Yesterday was a doozy....

Is that a word?

Anyway, I kept five of the seven grands yesterday...

I was deliriously tired and happy when I got done....

Hence......

There is a FIRETRUCK in my bathroom!!!

Beach 2013

This might be the longest I have gone without blogging!

We just returned from a wonderful beach vacation with the family.

I won't lie, it was chaotic at times....

Well, most all the time.

But, we have seven grands in the same house 

And the oldest is five.

Yeah.

I love that these cousins are growing up together though

and fighting together

and learning to love together.

It's the best gift.

photos by Jenny Lynn Photography

Happy Birthday in Heaven Sweet Sister

July 31, 1955- October 10, 2004

 Sorry mom gave you that horrible haircut! :)

Never Forgotten.

Love you Sister

Five Question Friday And Some Really CUTE Kids!

1. What is your best secret cleaning tip?

I don't know if this is SECRET, but, I wipe down my bathroom sink and toilet every morning. To me, that is such an easy thing to do to keep things looking clean. After I'm done getting ready I use a Clorox wipe....and BAM!

2. What is your favorite food to snack on during movie night?

Popcorn or Spicy Cheez-Its...with a Diet Coke. 

OR, Salt and Vinegar Kettle-Cooked chips.

Needless to say, I try not to watch too many movies!

3. If it was up to you, what would you have named the royal baby?

George!

That's my dad's middle name....

so, I was sooo hoping that's what it would be.

On a side note, I am enthralled with all things about The Royal Family. I was one of those who watched Princess Diana get married and sadly watched as the tragic news of her accident unfolded. I watched Prince William and Kate get married and have been glued to the news of their son!

4. If you could be any Disney character who would you choose?

Minnie Mouse!

Boy does Mickey love her!

5. What's the most important part of a healthy relationship?

Waking up every morning with this mindset:

*What can I do today to make him happy?*

Have a great weekend!

How would YOU answer Five Question Friday?

Happy Birthday JiJi

Today is her day!

Happy Birthday DIL!

Today we celebrate YOU.

We thank Jesus for the GIFT of you to us.

Thank you for loving us.

For always finding time for us.

And for pouring yourself into others.

May this day be the happiest of days.

We sure do love you JiJi!

Five Question Friday!

1. What is one thing you have too many of in your house?

Sample bottles of lotion, shampoo and soap.

Seriously, it's ridiculous!

I save them for guests and the guests don't use them.

I should donate them.

2. Did anything go not quite as planned on your wedding day?

Not really.

We got married at home in my living room.

Not too much to go wrong there.

3. What is your favorite summer smoothie recipe?

Bananas, strawberries and yogurt!

YUM!

4. What is the weather like where you are?

Hot...finally!

We have had so much rain in NC!

Now the humidity is unreal...but I'll take it!

5. What is your favorite book to read to your kids?

I love books that rhyme!

My favorites are The Llama Llama books!

Hubs loves Dr. Seuss

How about You?

Tell me YOUR answers....especially the answers to #1!

Currently

~ Currently enjoying the sunshine after having more days and weeks of rain        than I have ever seen.

~ Currently looking forward to our family beach trip. Praying for sunshine.

~ Currently redoing one of my bathrooms in gray and white. Trying to decide if    I am going to add any color to it. I think I like the look the way it is.I think.

~ Currently thinking about my Christmas Card picture. I know it's only July but    you have to plan ahead when you have so many to photograph.

~ Currently trying to eat healthy. This is usually a lifestyle for me. HOWEVER,    for the last few months my eating habits have been out of control. I went to    the doctor this week for a check up and had gained eight pounds 

   since January. Yikes!

~ Currently letting my hair grow some. It's a hard process and I feel like it        never looks good. I'll probably end up getting it all cut off again.

~ Currently STILL enjoying Diet Coke. 

~ Currently STILL stressing over drinking Diet Coke.

~ Currently trying to spend as much time with the grands as I can before our      busy season at work. 

~ Currently praying for a friend who has undergone some hardships that are

   turning out to be blessings. Praise Him!

~ Currently....what are you up to?????????

Key Lime Pie with Gingersnap/Coconut Crust!

I have a new Key Lime Pie recipe.

And I am in love!

My family loves Key Lime Pie.

I have always LIKED it

But LOVE was never my description.

Until.......

My good friend, Teresa, shared her recipe with me.

I will share it here.

Try it!!!

Key Lime Pie

2 cans Eagle Brand milk

1/2 cup sour cream

2/3 cup key lime juice 

(I use Nellie and Joe's)

Mix and pour into crust.

Coconut Crust:

1/2 cup coconut

1/2 cup gingersnap crumbs

1/2 cup graham cracker crumbs

1/4 cup butter melted

Combine all ingredients for crust and firmly press over bottom 

and 1/2 to 3/4 up sides of pie plate.

Pour liquid ingrédients into crust.

Bake for 5 to 10 minutes @ 350 degrees.

Chill.

Serve with whipped cream or plain.

Garnish, if you'd like, with lime zest.

INCREDIBLY good!

Scary Night

This is where we were one week ago today.

Most of you know hubs is a cyclist.

He cycles most days/evenings.

It's what he loves.

It's what his heart beats for.

(Along with Jesus, me, the kids and grands of course.)

I got a phone call from a fellow rider letting me know hubs had had an accident.

He rides with an incredible group of people who stood by him when he needed them. They are to be commended. He is blessed to have them.

He was unconscious for about 10 minutes and had a severe concussion.....

........along with some other scrapes and bruising that will all heal.

Hubs was fortunate.

He has to stay off his bike for six weeks to avoid hitting his head again.

It's going to be a long six weeks.........

On a side note,

NEVER underestimate the power of a helmet.

This helmet may have saved him from serious brain injury.

Be careful Poppy.

You are loved.

The Best Is Yet To Come

 A woman was diagnosed with a terminal illness and given three months to live. She asked her Pastor to come to her home to discuss her final wishes. She told him which songs she wanted sung at her funeral, and what scriptures she wanted read, and which outfit she wanted to be buried in. Then she said, “One more thing… I want to be buried with a fork in my hand.” The pastor was surprised. The woman explained, “In all my years of attending church socials and potluck dinners, I always remember that when the dishes of the main course were being cleared, someone would inevitably say to everyone, ‘Keep your fork.’ It was my favorite time of the dinner, because I knew something better was coming, like velvety chocolate cake or deep dish apple pie – something wonderful. So, I want people to see me there in that casket with a fork in my hand and wonder, ‘ What’s with the fork?’ Then, I want you to tell them, ‘ Keep your fork, because the best is yet to come.’ “ The pastor’s eyes welled up with tears of joy as he bid the woman goodbye. He realized she had a better grasp of heaven than he did, and knew something better was coming. At the funeral, when people asked him why she was holding a fork, the pastor told them of the conversation he had with the woman before she died. He said he could not stop thinking about the fork, and knew they probably would not be able to stop thinking about it either. He was right. “Keep your fork. The best is yet to come.” - Attributed to Roger William Thomas

Happy 4th From Our Twins...Both Sets!

Happy Birthday Super Mom!

My DIL does this mommy thing REALLY WELL!

Today, on her birthday, I know there is 
NOTHING 
she could wish for that would top the dream she had of having this family.

So, my wish for her is that she enjoys her day with them.....

and that MAYBE she gets a little rest.

Happy Birthday SUPERMOM!

We love who you are!!

Grandbaby # 8 is................

......a GIRL!

These girls will be big sisters to a baby girl due the end of November.

We are tickled pink!

Cousin Camp Recap!

I have had several people email me and ask for the details of Cousin Camp.

So, I thought I would put the details in one post.

I always begin with an email sometime around January with the dates I have chosen. We tweak those dates until we come up with two days that suit every family. We have done it now for four years and so far it has worked....probably because we pin the date down early. And also because most of the cousins are still young enough that their schedules are their mom's schedules too! The moms always think I am a little crazy and over the top when they get that email so early, but that's what it takes to make it work.

The next thing I do is usually sometime in March (though this year I was behind.) That is when I order the tee shirts. Last year one of the babies was due in June....just a few weeks before camp so the name on the shirt was *Baby D**** (his last name.) 

This was the shirt I chose for this year. The blue birds represent the boys and the pink...the girls.

I always rent a bouncy house/slide from a local company. I try to get this reserved about six weeks before camp. I usually do a follow up call the week before to make sure we are all on the same page. We have various ones every year. This is a picture of the cow we had a couple of years ago.

For the last couple of years, we have taken a golf cart ride through our neighborhood. We live in a neighborhood that we feel like we can do that safely in. We go so slow that the moms walk behind us for safety. We hold tight to the little ones and don't let them sit alone since they don't have helmets on. The kids (young and old seem to like this) and it's fun for Nonny and Poppy too. It goes without saying there is NO way I could do this without Poppy. He works for weeks to get everything ready!

We spend most of our time the first day in the back yard at our house. We blow up four or more baby pools and we have a play house, playset with swings  and various baby swings.  

We also have riding toys/bikes they can ride on on the driveway. 


The second day is spent at the pool. This is always a big feat to get all the kids in the bathing suits and get them all to the pool. It's worth it in the long run though and so far we have continued doing it. We eat lunch at the pool too and always try to get a group shot before we leave.

(missing a mom and her twins....too hot to be outside that long!)


I'll be honest....the hardest part is the food. Most of my family members eat very healthy. They try to keep their children away from fast food and dyes. We don't eat completely healthy at Cousin Camp and that's ok, but it is hard to serve prepared, quick foods of any kind to that many children. Lunch the first day is a Chick-Fil-A Nugget tray, fresh fruit, chips and salsa. Dinner is pizza. We have various snacks throughout the afternoon and evening. Breakfast is pastries and fresh fruit, yogurt, milk and orange juice. For lunch each mom orders for their kids off the menu at the pool. We make it all work and they are all gracious and understand the dynamics of feeding twelve little ones under seven!

We had a backup plan this year in case of rain....The Children's Museum. We didn't have rain, sans a thunderstorm after dinner, so we didn't have to use our backup plan!

The sleeping arrangements are interesting...to say the least. That's a lot of cribs and Pack N Plays. Again, we make it work but I think next year some of the four, five, six and seven year olds may all sleep together in the playroom instead of with their moms. They will love that!

I'm sure I have left some things out. If you have any questions, please feel free to ask here in comments or email me.

Already looking forward to Cousin Camp 2014. We will have at least one more baby to add to the group.....that baby's gender will be announced next week!


A shout out to my mom and dad who were so much help!!!

And to my baby sister and her big girls for all their help!

It really does take a village to have a Cousin Camp!

Love you family.