Can't believe we are saying Good bye to June already.....

Where did the time go? June has flew by so fast! Faster than one could imagine even! I can't believe now the year is half over (well tomorrow).

We have been busy busy! I'm so glad whatever wasn't working, has been fixed, so that I can start blogging more again! It was really stressing me out! I missed everyone!


What a great pic sister, Lil E! She is always wanting to help and do anything for her little sister. Even though Lil K can jump on her own, Lil E is busy helping her! And below, they are in one of their totes, and Lil E is reading one of her Children's Bible books to her sister. Or should I say making up her stories as she goes! Either way, it is just the sweetest!

As it is getting closer to July 4th, it's all about the red, white, and blue! Do yall have plans for the 4th? We will spending it at our town's festivities and with family and friends! Our Firework show isn't until Sunday July 5, but that is ok.

Below is Lil E being silly as can be, while we were taking pictures!

She wanted to show her new bow, that matches their dresses! They are from different people, but they went together so well! And she loves her Mickey and Minnie!

After we got home, there was something fun waiting! A new toy from Grandpa and Granny. (the inlaws). They had mailed the girls this bounce horse, and it became an instant favorite! Both girls had a blast the rest of our day and night on it!

But it was Lil K that didn't want to give it up! She didn't want to share, and kept on and on and on for many hours! Until bed time! I have never seen anything capture her attention like this!!! And she had the BEST time on it! We were watching Horton Hears a Who, and I guess she thought she was Horton, as she starting turning circles and trying to hold onto that horse! It was the funniest thing ever!!! She is really growing up fast!

I want to send a special congratulations out.

CONGRATULATIONS, to my dear friend Patti! Both of their adoptions were final last week!!! So pround that yall have your forever families now!!!

Wishing everyone a wonderful July! Keep it safe and stay cool!! Whatever it is you may be doing this July 4, please remember what we are celebrating!

Hugs and Blessings,

Our Day

Today was a great day around here! It was super hot! Triple digits aren't for me! The girls love to go out to our park. We have a small lake there (more like a large pond), lots of picnic areas and much more. Plus the play ground. We just had a lot of fun running around and enjoying the area, that is usually way more peaceful and private!




I got the girls dresses, from Cowgirl Creations! Aren't they just the cutest! She is super awesome and just too sweet! We have more outfits to share soon! Even the girls adoption outfits! We will show those once we have gone to court and it is final!

Our hair bows, are from Heavenlee Hair Bows! She is the GREATEST!!!! We met several years back when Lil E was little! And I have ordered more than I can tell you of bows and flip flops! They are always awesome! She is easy to work with and just a sweet friendly all around great gal!

I made the Shredded Beef Tacos, that I put the recipe up for SCT earlier today. Well, you know me, I can't leave recipes alone. We enjoyed them last time too. But this time, I added a package of fajita seasoning and 1/2 package (envelope) of taco seasoning, and about 1/2 tsp chili powder to the mix. They were so yummy!!!!

Wishing everyone a wonderful Friday!

Hugs and Blessings,

I'd like for you to meet.....

Captain Growl

Have you figured out just where the "Growl" comes from? Let me share that with you. One of Lil E's favorite movies is, The Grinch. And we watch this all the time. But to her, it's The Growl. And she is forever pretending to be him! She will even tell Lil K, you can be my dog with those horns. So we have way lots or pretend play at our home!

Anyway, last night I'm cooking dinner and she comes in there and says to me, LOOK MOM, I'm Captain GROWWWWWLLLLLLL. I turn around and couldn't help but get the camera and share with everyone! What a combination! But we had gotten a hooded baby town out and was using it as a cape, and of course the bright green gloves, oh no, they are not gloves to her, they are growl hands! The rest are gloves to wear when it's cold, but these green ones, are growl hands! She even wiggles her fingers like he does!



Have a great day!

Hugs and Blessings,

Shredded Beef Tacos

Yeah, using firefox, I am able to post again! Still no long with Internet Explorer. It has been crazy! Now I'm sure I'll be around to chat your ears off, or is that type so much your eyes need a break. Either way, I'm so glad to be back!

Please Check out Sandra over at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom, for more great Slow Cooking recipes!

Shredded Beef Taco
1 1/2 to 2 lb. beef roast
1 medium onion
2 cloves of garlic, pressed or minced
2 cups of water
1 package/ envelope of taco seasoning
Shells or tortillas of your choice
toppings of your choice, tomatoes, lettuce, cheese, olives, sour cream and salsa

Place roast in the bottom of the crock pot. Press garlic on the meat, or spread the minced garlic on. Slice onions and place over the roast. Mix taco seasoning and water together. Pour over meat. Cook on low for 6 to 8 hours. When roast is done and tender, remove from crock pot and fork shredd. Place in a bowl for serving. Serve with the tortillas or shells of your choice and with the toppings of your choice.

Hope yall enjoy!

Hugs and Blessings,

Sorry

I am having trouble getting anything to post.... I have searched for help, but nothing. I can't get any features to work at all! I don't know what it is. Sorry!

Hugs and Blessings,

Time is flying by.......

I can't believe we have half way into this year! WOW time flies! And I think, wow, we have had our baby just over a year, and it's so unreal! We have been dodging stormy weather! Today is our first day in over a week without any storms. Some not so bad, and others, weren't so fun at all!

We have been busy with summer stuff! It is hot here now, and Momma doesn't like the triple digits to much. So we have to find things to do to cool off! And one of our favorites is to enjoy a snowcone! So here's to our first snow cones of the year (this past weekend). Both the girls loved them! As did Mommy and Daddy!

It really was funny watching Lil K decide if she liked it or not. Then she loved it and enjoyed it greatly, like the rest of us!

In the evening, we do love to enjoy a little outside play, and one of our favorites is bubbles! The girls just love to play in the bubbles!

We always get a small pool for the kids. But this year, Mommy even went smaller. I decided, so that they could play together, as Lil K still isn't use to more water and freedom both, we would keep it small for her. Now don't get me wrong, she will float in a baby float in the pool for as long as you let her. She is a true water baby! But to romp and play around, I wanted something much smaller. And I needed something I could fill and drain and put away too. So most every day, we have been having some water fun!

Even though it is small, Lil E was having a blast too!!!!

We hope yall are having a great time and enjoying the summer too!

Hugs and Blessings,

Some of our Summer Weather

Here's some pictures from last night. The reason I haven't been around much! Between the weather and the life. But the weather has been a big reason. It stormed off and on throughout the day yesterday! Then last night, it was loud and bright, and then the rain came! It was so heavy!!!


Then it stopped and as we watched the clouds. There was rotation about us! So I said stay calm and pray! God is so good! It moved away. But look what happened after it moved on (in the next 2 pics). A Funnel came down! WOW!

We were so thankful that again, God had saved us from a tornado!

Daddy was watching the weather, and Lil E had to join him. They are my storm watchers! He would be a storm chaser!

There's the reason for me being MIA! So I hope everyone is doing well and that all are safe from any storms they have endured!

Hugs and Blessings,

Our Top 10

Today I am going to share our top 10 meals. Lori @ A Frugally Old-Fashioned Homemaker, did this and asked for others to join in! How awesome is this!

After asking hubby and Lil E just now, I have our list!

Lasagna or Meat Stuffed Manacotti with Garlic Bundt Bread and Salad
Tacos
Daddy's Brisket (hubby's), scalloped corn, baked beans, potato salad
Pork Chops and brown gravy over rice
Salad with Grilled Chicken! (Loaded with lots of fresh summer veggies)
Bacon Cheeseburger Meatloaf, mashed potatoes, green beans
Chicken Spaghetti
Hubby's Grilled Steaks, Baked potatoes, corn on the cob, and salad
Homemade Pizza
Chicken Fried Steak with cream gravy, fries, veggie of choice for the day. (now with us being Southern, it wouldn't be fitting if we didn't have something fried here. hehehehe)

And the one and only that you can count on us having nearly every single week, is Tacos. It is easy and everyone enjoys it. The others are big meals with lots of cooking and preparations. So it depends on what is going on and all, as to if we have them or not! Even though everyone loves the Chicken Fried Steak, it's a rare treat at our home; It's not something I make all the time.

Check out some of the other lists!

Hugs and Blessings,

It's me again and Faithful Friday!

Hello to all my friends! I am sorry I haven't been around much! But today is Faithful Fridays with Joy, and I knew I better come take part and say hi to everyone. Just click on the picture above and it will take you over there!

First I ask you to pray for all in the path of the storms. I know it's been a stormy few days! I pray that all stay safe! Ours started last weekend, and some more this week too.

I have so much to be thankful for, so I thought I'd share a bit of what I'm so thankful for this week!!! Every week, God is opening new doors! And this week was do different! He has opened doors to get this adoption even finalized sooner! What a blessing! It came as a great surprise, that this step was being done now, as we were told it would be another month! But we are so so so thankful to serve a God so big and wonderful that because of him and only him, doors are opening! Thank you, Heavenly Father!

I'm thankful for my family! Sunday we attended my niece's graduation! We are all so proud of her! We had the time to spend with the family that afternoon, and it was so nice! Everyone just seemed to really enjoy it!

I'm thankful for some answered prayers regarding work for hubby! We knew if we believed and stood strong in faith, tht it would all work out, and it is! What a blessing!!!


And this week, I'm thankful for the time that Lil E had with her grandparents! I'm thankful for the one on one time with Lil K. And I'm thankful for us all being together at home, were we belong! I'm so glad she is home and that my parents are visiting this weekend! What a blessing. It was nearly a year ago, when they visited us last!

Lil K is sending sweet kisses to all!

Wishing everyone a very wonderful and blessed weekend! Stay safe!

Oh and why I haven't been here... Just been super busy with getting adoption stuff in order and on the go for sure! It's been chaotic to say the least, but so thankful for every day and every item we must attend to on our agenda.

Hugs and Blessings,

What a fun day!

We had such a great day today! We had a lot of fun! It started out nice and sweet. Lil E and Lil K were in the same bed snuggled together! Now if that isn't sweet, I don't know what is! Then it was low key and just hanging around the house in the morning time! Then the real fun began!

(although I had to share this picture, it was taken yesterday, but it was a favorite of mine, so I wanted to share it.)

Then we had some fun painting with finger paints! Lil E has started in with the mixing the colors all together. But hey she had some fun. I asked her if she was Picaso, and she has now told me, no she is just Caso! What a silly girl! She ended up painting herself too!



Mommy and the girls hit the town for some late afternoon errands! We went to get the oil changed today, and I was so proud of the girls! They both were so good and sat and played with the blocks nicely! Then, when it was time to go, Lil E says to me, "Is your car going to go faster like JT's?" Mommy kinda laughed and said, "no sweetie, I don't think so." Well that must not have been the right answer, she then says to me "If they worked on your car, and when they work on JT's it makes the race car faster, then your car has to be faster" I said "But mine is not a race car." Well mom's car isn't as good as her race car buddies! Everyone laughed so hard! It was just too funny!

Then this evening Mommy and Lil E went to the park for Relay for Life! Lil E had her face painted up like spider man! She had to have something red! Her and her buddy Ryan had a great time! We went around and let them do all sorts of fun things. They played games, bounced, face painting and all! What a is better than seeing so many out for a great cause! It really was wonderful!

Here's a picture of her face when we got back home!

At first lil sister wasn't too sure, but once she realized it was her sissy! Oh yea, then it was time for some hugs!

Oh no, who is lose in my house????? SPIDERMAN GIRL! (that's what we called her) She was busy climbing the walls tonight!

Yesterday ended with a great game of football with Daddy and his girls and then another terrific night tonight! What a way to end the week! We will be traveling back home this weekend, my youngest niece is Graduating High School! We are all so very proud of her! She is a great girl and really is just too sweet!!!!! A Great student, a wonderful daughter and sister! A loyal and true friend! Way to go girl!!!!

Hugs and Blessing,

Crock Pot BBQ Chicken

Be sure to click on the banner and go to Diary of a Stay at Home Mom, for more great slow cooking recipes!

Simple Crock Pot BBQ Chicken
3 - 4 boneless skinless chicken breast.
1 regular size bottle of bbq sauce (our choice is KC Master Piece or Sweet Baby Rays)
1 cup of water
1 - 2 garlic cloves, pressed or 1 tsp garlic powder
salt and pepper to taste
2 tsp of McCormick's Grill Mates (For Chicken) Roast Garlic and Herb

Place chicken in crock pot. Cover with 3/4 bottle of BBQ Sauce, then add the cup of water to the BBQ Sauce left in the bottle. Shake it up good, and pour it on the chicken. (This will keep it from becoming way to thick of the sauce). Add in your seasoning and stir. Cook on high for 6 - 7 hours, or until chicken if completely done.

This is so simple and yet full of flavor. We do this lots when we are in a hurry. I Just adapted mom's BBQ Chicken from when I was a child to make it in the crockpot. We actually had it last night for dinner with some cheesey potatoes and fresh fruit. Hope yall enjoy!

Hugs and Blessings,

Searching

Today is not my usual post, but something I am going to share and ask if anyone knows where I can find what I'm looking for. As you know by now, my girls are adopted. (Well we are soon to finalize the 2nd adoption). And I'm on the search for cute little adoption wear, for all of us! As well as I have a couple of friends who are in the process as well and I want to get each family something. I search and search, and I come with up with the same generic items. There is more for interenational adoption, and non of ours are international. If you happen to know of a place, please share. I'd love for the girls to sport some Officially Adopted, Grew in Mommy's Heart, etc type of shirts! I found 1 outfit on ebay.

Thank you all so much!!!!!!

Hugs and Blessings,

Just Dandy......

Today was a dandy of a day! We found the biggest dandelions I have ever saw! Look at them! They are huge! I know they are a weed, but they are so much fun! They take me back to my childhood! I love watching the girls with them. It was a great reminder to, that God has plans for us, that are bigger than we expect or can imagine!!!


We picked some and brought them home for a little fun! And both girls loved them! It was so funny watching Lil K blow them! She was making a silly noise and hissing more than blowing them! And yet was so proud she would make the noise and hold it out to me!

We had so much fun!!! Then in the mail today came the Bible I ordered for Lil K for one of her adoption gifts. As I sat tonight and started writing in it and reading in it. I was reading and I was directed to ....

1 Samuel 1:27 "For this child I have prayed, and the Lord has granted me my petition which I asked of Him."

Yes he did! He has blessed with us with 2 beautiful daughters! They are my sunshine on rainy days, they are pure and simple, my everything!!! And when the world thought it was impossible for me to have a child in any situation, I knew that God would bring me that child! And he sure did!!! He gave me more than I could imagine, he gave me 2 girls! And before them, I never dreamed I'd have a husband like I do! He exceeded all I could have ever dreamed for! And so tonight I sat and realized even more than maybe earlier today, that I am so so so very blessed! Blessed more than I can still imagine! And I know even more blessings are coming for my family! We will continue to grow our family and we will continue to bless these sweet kiddos lives! I know that God sends me my sweet children to break cycles of their biological past! So they can know our Lord and Savior! And I will do all I can to ensure this is the way always! Even thought sometimes we things are ideal (like in other situations right now for our family), but know this, God has a plan, and if you have faith and keep believing you will be blessed beyond!!! I know I have more Blessings Beyond that I will even imagine! I need to go hug my girls one more time!

Hugs and Blessings,

Welcome June and room update.....

Happy June to yall! We welcome June and are happy to see changes coming in our home! And as we struggled with what we were going to do and all. We were not sure about the bed situation and all that! What do we do? We weren't sure to move Lil K to a toddler bed or go ahead and move her on to a big girl bed. So it was back and forth and all that. But we did reach our decision, Lil E will stay in a toddler bed, but has one to match the crib. Then we took the side rail off the crib, and put the safety bed rail on for Lil K! This will keep her in the same bed until she is ready for a big bed! And Lil E wants that really pretty room, she so she is back to sleeping in her room again! She had gotten back in the routine of sleeping with us, so for us to paint their room, she has to be a big girl and sleep in there! She did it last night! And it was so nice!!!! Both girls got up this morning at the crack of dawn! So they are busy playing around now.

Lil E's bed now!


Lil K's bed.

Just thought I'd share the toy deal in the corner near the closet! We did a little rearranging in the room too.

The entertainment center with all kinds of goodies and such.

And took this picture with the decals on the shelf and the little precious moments babies and the picture frame with the girls picture in it.

A picture of the room from the door area.

And finally a picture of the picture that set the tone for the entire room, back in the day!

It reads ~ "Miracles, Life is filled with wonder and endless joy, and every ordinary day is made up of a thousand miracles."

My littlest sweetie, Lil K laying in her bed at bed time! Super sweet!!!!

And then look Lil E is her bed and she slept all night there! WOO HOO!!! Mommy is happy!!!

Then they were up so early this morning. So Mommy said, it's not time to get up, and they wanted to lay down together, and I took this cute sweet picture of both of them.

Now everyone is up and playing! And June is going to be such a great month! Yesterday I got some great news on the adoption! We were unsure about a possible delay because of taking some classes. Some thought we were going to be required to, and some no. Well we got our answer yesterday and we do not! So it will not be delayed! God is so good! What a blessing! I'm so over joyed and happy! The adoption of our Lil K will be coming final much sooner than we thought!

Have a beautiful day!!!

Hugs and Blessings,