Splashin'

I tried to get a little tan on these white legs while Kenlee jumped in the sprinkler. I feel like I'm so pale, I'm almost blue. :)
In the background of the picture of Kenlee where she's not looking - Logan has planted some cabbage & some carrots! So far so good, they are both growing. I don't have that much of a green thumb when it comes to veggies, but we are trying to live GREENER here. I know this way is better for us than store bought with pesticides.
What about you? Are you living Green?

Latest Art Project...

That's my boy.
He's got golf in his blood.

Saturday sun...

The dog situation is MUCH better. Barkley & Max have hit it off & they play SOO good together! I am so thrilled!

After our game this morning the kids ran through the sprinkler. Kenlee wouldn't let me take her clothes off to get her bathing suit on, so I just let her go - my girl can pitch a fit & sometimes I admit, I GIVE IN just to keep the drama down. :)

Meet Barkley Hudspeth

The boy fits his name well. I thought this would be a piece of cake, but it has been a bit of a challenge. :) I keep telling myself each day will be easier...and I know it will.
He's so cute...Logan is SO happy. My heart is smiling with all of the little comments he is making. I have forgotten all of the barking last night because we just spent the afternoon together outside & had a great time!
I will take some pictures of he & Max together soon & post them. I know this is a good thing that we have done in adopting him & I am so proud of Logan for taking good care of his new boy!

A little news...

I wanted to tell a special girl "Happy Birthday" from the Hudspeth family. Madison was baking in her Mommy's tummy the same time my Logan was baking :) We had so much fun together when the kids were little & we lived in Anniston. Now this special girl is 9 years old & we miss her so much! Happy Birthday, Madison! We will see you soon & celebrate! Madison & Logan are together in the last picture here.
We are adopting a 4 legged friend for Logan to teach lots of tricks to & hopefully will become a buddy to our Bloodhound, Max. He's in a shelter home right now & we are getting him tonight. He has all sorts of breeds in him..but I grew up with a dog like that named "Murphy Brown" & he was the best dog I've ever known. He was fixed yesterday, so I'm thinking he will have to bunk with Logan tonight for some TLC. I will update with pictures tomorrow.

Kenlee has been falling asleep watching Elmo on our bed for the past 3 days. I love it! She's having so much fun @ school, she's pooped by the time we get home. I will be sad when school ends for her in May...she loves her little buddies so much. We met some friends @ Starbucks & tried the new orange, banana, mango Vivanno ~ Kenlee loved it!
Logan has been catching so well with baseball. I'm so proud of him & the way his practice has paid off. His team has really been doing great. Josh & I have so much fun watching him...makes his Daddy want to play again.
He loves having a crowd of family root for him at the games. :) I don't blame him!

Until tomorrow...

Potty #2~

It happened again! Just once yesterday & again...we didn't mention it, she just did it! After standing up & splashing her hand in her pee pee, I figured it was time for her second bath of the day.
Just another post to remind me of how quickly our girl is growing up.

Spicin' It Up!

I have started looking @ this great blog:

http://crockpot365.blogspot.com/2008
Today I SLAVED about 5 minutes over the crockpot & made this pot roast & it's great! I wanted to pass it along.
~Nancy



CrockPot 3-Packet Pot Roast Recipe

I was going through the archives the other day and started laughing when I realized I haven't made a pot roast yet this year. I usually make pot roast in the crockpot 4-5 times a year----but 2008 has sort of taken on a life of it's own.

Usually I make pot roast the same way, each and every time: 1 envelope of onion soup mix, and a cup of whatever wine I have open, or some broth.

Back in February, I bookmarked a recipe that I was given by Terri W. for a 3-packet pot roast, and then promptly forgot about it.

I finally made it yesterday. It was simple and easy, and makes awesome gravy. If you wait until the envelope packets are on sale, and stick with chuck roast, this is a very inexpensive meal that can be stretched for a few days.

The Ingredients.

-packet of ranch salad dressing and seasoning mix
--packet of Italian salad dressing mix
--McCormick Grill Mates Peppercorn & Garlic *I couldn't find this one @ Publix, so I bought one that had those two ingredients & it was just fine.


--3 lb chuck roast
--1 to 3 cups of water

The Directions.

I used my 6 quart Smart Set crockpot for this dinner.

I opted to not throw any vegetables into the crock because we had leftovers I needed to use. Feel free to throw in some chopped potatoes, an onion, carrots, and celery.

Trim the roast of any visible fat and place it into the crockpot. In a small bowl, combine the contents of the 3 packets. Pour on top of the meat. Flip the meat over a few times to get it covered with seasoning on all sides.

Add 1 cup of water.

Cook on low for 8 hours, or on high for 4-5. The meat will be more tender if you cook it low and slow.

20-30 minutes before eating, add 2 more cups of warm water to the crockpot, and flip to high.

The meat only needs 1 cup of water on it to cook properly, but the spices are too concentrated to only have 1 cup of water in the pot when it's time to eat. Waiting to add the water until the end will help the meat retain it's shape, and the added water will make a nice juicy gravy.

A Potty Surprise!

Last night around 9, Logan was brushing his teeth & Kenlee came in the kitchen & took her pj bottoms & diaper off. We bought her a potty chair when she was a year or so old & all she did was climb on it. I haven't ever tried to potty train her, I never wanted to push it. SO! She walked straight into the bathroom where her Biggy was & sat on the potty & pee'd!! She said "I pee pee'd in the potty" We couldn't believe it! Today I've been home with her & she has sat on it a couple times as she emptied out a bag of cottonballs...but maybe she will do it again soon!
What a fun surprise! She even got a Dum Dum sucker that I thought would sugar her up, but she went to sleep right after she ate it!
Good times!

Easter Sunday

What a powerful day, did you feel that, too? Josh watched a car accident RIGHT behind our car on the way to church, Kenlee was extra cranky due to allergies & exhaustion from so much going on, but no matter what we go through, it's nothing compared to what happened to Jesus & what HE did for us.
I loved the weather today, loved being with my family, appreciated all of the blessings we experience...
I took about 100 pictures, but I will post just a few. I hope everyone who is reading this experienced such a powerful love today in one way or another.
And I can't forget to mention, the bunny came & the kids were thrilled. :)

Egg Hunt #1...

SO excited to have our little egg hunt today with Nana & Papa. Kenlee wanted the chocolate & Logan wanted the money. It was pretty chilly here in Birmingham - but we were happy it didn't rain today.
Egg hunt #2 will happen tomorrow...along with church in Alexander City. I will take lots of pictures & post again then.

Just to remember...

Where has the time gone? My little boy will be 9 in two short months & my little girl will be 2 in just a month & 1/2. I had to post this because I don't know how long her foot will be this little & I know how fast Logan's feet grew...so I have to pause & remember this. :)

Walking with...

DINOSAURS! Josh's Mom, Logan & I went to see "Walking with Dinosaurs" yesterday & what a great show it was. Half way through I noticed I had two missed calls & it was HOME so I figured I better call. Josh has a stomach virus & was throwing up & it scared Kenlee so we had to cut the show short 1/2 way through. Thankfully, JuJu took Logan to see a movie & he quickly got over having to leave. I told him his Dad would be better soon & we could come back to see it next time it's at the BJCC.
So...he grabs his Tshirt & reads all the future dates & places on the back & they are pretty much in Canada, California, Minnasota...so we will have to wait until they hit the south again. :)
* I couldn't use a flash while we were there & I didn't want to break the rules & get kicked out :)

A thankful week....

So much to be grateful to God for...my Mom coming to stay with us, Nana Noval's heart being healthy, the rain our grass needed, a booked up week of massages, Josh outside (as I type this) filling out a bill of sale on our boat (thank you God!!), Kenlee having a fun time at Mom's Day Out, Logan having no problems answering his questions on his SAT's, my brother & his family buying a new house, Katie being healthy... I'm just grateful for so much.
Tonight is the first ballgame & I've made some little snacks (in the picture) for the boys. We were able to supply bananas & sugar free jello for his class for their healthy snack today for the SAT's. I had fun doing this - what a joy it brings to know all of the kids will be eating something healthy.
I will post some ballgame pictures over the weekend.
Until then...