Cooking Thursday ~ Jingle Bell Fudge

It's Cooking Thursday!!! Click HERE to check out other great recipes! Diary of a Stay at Home Mom, is our awesome Cooking Thursday host! You will find many great recipes through out the archives too. Check it out.



Since we are just a few days away from Christmas in July, I thought I would share a Christmas time recipe! I do not remember where, I got this, but it's really yummy! My butterscotch loving hubby really enjoys this!!


Jingle Bell Fudge

12 oz. butterscotch chips
1/2 cup chunky peanut butter
2/3 cup sweetened condensed milk
1/2 cup pecans, chopped

Combine butterscotch chips and peanut butter in top of double boiler. Place over, not boiling water until butterscotch melts; remove from water. Stir until blended; add milk and stir just until blended. Spread in foil-lined 8" square pan. Press chopped nuts into surface, if desired, and chill until firm. Cut into squares.

Hugs and Blessings,

Julty 4th Weekend!

It was a very wet July 4th weekend all around our parts of Texas! Tropical Storm Alex sure brought the rain to all of Texas! We did kick it off Friday night, July 2, with some fireworks of our own. It was fun to watch, as not only did we set of our own, so did our neighbor.

That's one that Did sent up!
Lil E had a blast watching them, and Lil K well she didn't care! She curled up and went to sleep. Guess you know she can sleep through anything. Maybe it's all those nights of her sleeping in her stroller at the race track. Either way, it's all good, because I never have to tippy toe around or make the sound of a mouse to not wake her! Patti and the boys stayed inside, because one of the boys was too scared of the noise. Hated that they missed out.



What do we do? That was the big question! It was pouring rain, and no end in site! So do we cancel all plans and stay home, or do we go ahead and go and figure out what to do? We decided to go ahead and go! Saturday morning we headed out! We were Amarillo bound! Our plans were to see Palo Duro Canyon on Saturday, but it was just crazy raining and flooding! So we did not...


The girls as were were heading out......

Since we decided not to spend the day out at the Canyon, we did a little shopping here and there. In and out.. While Daddy was in the van with the kiddos, Patti and I would run in and look and get what we wanted... Back to the van and off again. So we did this for just a few places. We told the kids if you will be good, we will reward you with something so fun!!

They were very good! And we did reward them with a trip to Jump in Jive! It's an inflatable jump house and such indoor play place! It is awesome. They have slides, houses, and obstacle courses for all age groups. All the kids have a blast!!! As did the adults!


This big slide above was everyones favorite! Even Daddy and Patti took a couple of trips down it! No no, I did not.




The frog came by to visit all the kids, and he sat and played ball with them! How Fun!!!!! And then he danced with Traeh! He did just what Traeh was doing! It was too funny, and Traeh thought that was the coolest thing.



After many hours of play time, it is till raining out! We headed to pick up dinner and check in at the hotel! After dinner we all get ready to go swimming! Arm floats and fish rings and we were ready to get in! (yes we had the luxury of an indoor pool! Thank God.) Didn't get many pictures, but this is the night that Lil E decided she was a big girl and got rid of her ring and just swam with arm floaties! OH MY this is a HUGE HUGE feet for her! I mean really it is! Even Lil K swam all around with just the arm floats too.




Sunday, July 4th, after breakfast there was a big change in plans. We had decided to stay put at the hotel and enjoy a nice calm day at the pool and try the Canyon on Monday. But we had a big break in the rain, (several hours without), so we decided after it flooded parts on Saturday and some was still flooded, we better get in while we could! So we headed to Palo Duro Canyon, as well as many others did too! We sat in a line for 45 minutes, just to get into the State park. And many of us walked up to the office and paid for our entrance before we got to the window to speed up the process... Glad some of us did... (they have a inside worker for those that need more info or campers.)
When you see the signs that say falling rocks, yes they do fall! Here is some that had fallen.




My favorite part is always seeing the deer! I love them so much!
Now to the exciting and fun part! Are you ready for this, see that whole in the rock, or cave up there! James, Patti, Lil E, and Asher climbed to it and in it! Check out the pictures below. I stayed back with the other 3 little ones, since I could do it some other time.





HOw beautiful!!!!!!!! Looking out!!!!!



They really had fun and enjoyed the little hike.


That's Patti and all 3 boys.... Aren't they so cute? She is such a sweet friend, but even more special as part of our family! I will always be thankful for her!


Below is a family picture of us at the Canyon! :)


Then it was back to the hotel for a swim! Look at her go!!! OH MY! I am so so so proud of her!!!!



Everyone was ready for bed, and Lil K was asking for night nights. So the 4 little ones headed to bed and Patti was watching her home town July 4th Festival on tv, live from Boston.... So even though the rest of them had changed their minds about going to see the fire work display, LIl e and Mommy and Daddy all headed out... And it was worth it!





I have to hand it to Amarillo, they really did a GREAT show!!!! And we enjoyed the music off the radio too! Even though we didn't have our usual cook out at home, we had a GREAT time!!! And a wonderful 4th! Happy Belated Birthday, America!!!!


Monday we headed home, and we did grill out Chicken. YUMMY!!!

Hugs and Blessings,

a trip to Elk City

While Patti and the boys were visiting, we did a little bit of different sight seeing! We went a few places! One our get aways, was to Elk City, OK. If you ever are there, be sure to check it out! It's a smaller town, but it has lots to offer for such a small town.



We visited the Museum complex and went through all for Museums! They have the National Transportation, National Route 66, Old Town Museum, and Farm and Ranch Museum.



In the transportation Museum, you could drive along in an old car or

Sit for a bit in the old drive in!!! It's my first time in any drive in! Now I need to go to a real one!



While in the transportation Museum, we had to check out the coolest part! The Popeye room!!!





All the kids had a blast sliding down the fireman poll... Even the biggest kid of all!


Then it was time to get some kicks on Route 66! Yes yes, we transitioned through the start of Route 66 to the end! Here's a few pictures to show you a tiny bit of the museum!


Texas Baby!!! Oh yea!!!

Yes, we really did cross the roped off area to get a picture of my cutie pie!!!

Then we took a break outside before we walked around the old towm museum Complex! There was many many neat buildings! An old farm house, Old School House, Doctors office, Bank and much more!

These are a few photos from inside the Old Town Museum House that you can see things in.

Yes yes, momma and her picture crazy girl were really into the old cameras! She wants me to buy some old ones to use! how cute!

Want a perm??? Any takers?

From back when Oklahoma held the National Finals Rodeo!!


And in 1981 Miss Oklahoma was Miss USA!



All aboard!!! Choo choo!!!


My really special and good friend, Patti!

The kiddos in the train car!

Below look up in the window, who do you see???


Then we were in the Farm and Ranch Museum, it was so hot in there, I just had to leave! It was horrible humid and so hot! But we did get a picture of me using and old phone in a phone booth, and a new one too!


After our visits to the Museums, we went for Mexican food for dinner! It was Patti's first time to eat real Mexican food! She loved it!!!

Then we took to the kids to the park there! It was a really awesome park and everyone had so much fun!!!!

If you are ever passing by or in that area, you really should check it out!!!

Hugs and Blessings,