Morgan's Photoshoot with MaddiePie Creations

I asked Brooke of MaddiePie Creations to shoot Morgan's one year pictures for us and much to my delight she was able to fit us in! She was wonderful and patient with Morgan which as we all know is much needed with a one year old. We are so impressed! She really captured Morgan's little personality in the pictures. I can't wait to print and frame them!

Go on over to her blog and check out her work. Better yet, book a session with her. You won't be disappointed!

If you can't stand the heat, get out of my kitchen...

Desperate times call for desperate measures and I have been trying to find ways to be more thrifty with my time and our money. One of the things I have been doing is preparing all of Wes's meals for the week on Sunday. This way I just divide up the food and we both have a weeks worth of meals without a ton of dishes or two grocery bills. So many people have asked for the recipes each week I thought I would post a few of them here.
On top of my normal routine to cook all day and night on Sunday, I was treated to a fun surprise when we opened the deep freezer on Saturday and found that it was not working!!! HORROR!!! Most of the food was still good and some was even still frozen. God must have sent an angel to keep it cool in there. Seems like it had been 103 plus temperatures outside all week and yet, my food was spared. We had a smorgasbord of food Saturday cooking the thawed frozen dinners. What we couldn't refreeze we cooked, and cooked, and grilled, and cooked. Wes grilled steaks & pork chops. We made homemade BBQ chicken in the crock pot. I am trying to satisfy Wes's request for "cool" foods to help him beat the heat so I prepared Honey Mustard Chicken Pasta Salad, Italian Pasta Salad, Chicken and Grape Salad, Fresh Salsa, and a bushel of fresh fruits for him. I had to rescue the frozen hashbrowns so he also ended up with a Hashbrown Casserole and my variation of a Breakfast Pizza. You can click on the meals above to view the recipes.

BREAKFAST PIZZA

1 lb. bulk pork sausage
1 refrigerated pizza crust
1 c. shredded cheddar cheese, Swiss or Monterey Jack
2 tbsp. Parmesan cheese
5 eggs
1/4 c. milk
1 small onion
1 bell pepper (I used yellow but red would have been better)
1/2 tsp. salt
1/8 tsp. pepper
Brown sausage and drain. Roll pizza doe out on cookie sheet. Press over bottom and up sides to form crust. Sprinkle with sausage. Cover sausage with chopped onion and bell pepper. Top with cheese. In bowl, beat eggs, milk, salt, pepper and sauce. Pour over sausage. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese and bake in 375 degree oven for 25 to 30 minutes. Supposedly great for that holiday breakfast.
****I was originally going to use a bag of frozen hashbrowns (thawed and patted dry) but ruined them and had to improvise...it was delish!!!

Let me know what you think of the recipes. Smooches y'all!

It is toooo HOT!!!

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If you are anywhere near Texas or the South in general you know that it has been just too darn hot to do much of anything outside. We have ventured out a little in the mornings to the park and zoo, but were miserable and tired at the end of the day. It is all I can do to get the yard mowed without having a heat stroke. As you can see, Morgan is happy cooling off in a pool!

Poor Wesley. I simply don't know how he works outside in the heat all day. While he is building this school he is completely exposed with nothing but his little hard hat to keep him cool. I don't even want to think about how hot he gets while welding with the hood and heavy long sleeves on...yuck! Just another reason for me to be so proud of him and how hard he works for our family.

On a cooler note...

A few weeks ago I started keeping two little girls A-7 and L-9. I have them about two weeks of the month. They are a treat! Morgan is having a great time and looks forward to them getting here in the mornings. She greets them with a huge smile and claps because they are here. We have a few indoor field trips I would like to take them on to get out of the house but still escape the heat. Maybe the OMNI, a museum, the movies, who knows. We had a great time making glass bead magnets together and have more crafts lined up. I will post pictures if we ever get to complete them.

Other than Morgan growing like a weed, nothing around here has changed. House is still a wreck, I miss Hunter more then I thought was possible, Wes is still looking for permanent employment, and God is still good.

Happy 4th of July!

More than anything else, I want to take a minute to thank my husband, my father, my friends, and all of those who have served America! Because of your sacrifice, I am able to FREELY sit here today reading my devotional, praying to God, and loving my family. You all gave and give so much and get so little in return. For those of you who served in the past, you are always remembered in our home. For those of you serving now, we pray for your safe return home. Thank you again from the bottom of my heart. Our family applauds & salutes you!

Wes, Morgan & I spent the evening at home grilling and just hanging out. We had another delicious dinner after the local fireworks show was over. We grilled brisket, sauteed summer squash w/onion & mushrooms again, and boiled baby red potatoes with fresh corn on the cob. I love all of the grilling and fresh food we get to enjoy when Wes is home! I also love the cuddling and dancing for Morgan in the living room. I already have a roast in the crock pot for Italian sandwiches tomorrow and will let you know how that turns out. Smells heavenly! Thank you again to Mommaloo and her family for the wonderful blessing you gave us this week!