Sunday, July 31, 2011
Partying with Friends..
Last Saturday, Grace was invited to a Birthday party for Isaac, who is the brother of one of Grace's VERY favorite girl friends here, Abby. Abby is 4 and her brother was turning 7 yrs old. They had a party at the bowling alley and of course, Grace had a blast. The highlight for her... learning how to play air hockey with a friend Abby and playing it continuously!! They were so cute playing too.. :)
Tuesday, July 26, 2011
Fun and Family
Mom and my step-Dad (Gary) came for a visit week before last from that Saturday thru this past Thursday. We had so much fun. We did things around Hot Springs that we haven't done yet. The first night we went to the infamous McClard's BBQ restaurant which was good. The next day we spent most of the day at home, except for a brief shopping trip with Mom, cooking. Mom and Gary had brought some fresh green beans, tomatoes, corn, Okra, even a green tomato, cucumbers, and so peaches from AL. We ate most of the veggies that night with a porn loin and then Mom made her AMAZING peach cobbler and we made a freezer of vanilla ice cream. Everything was great with the exception of me messing up part of the ice cream by putting it in the ice cream freezer and letting it run without the turner in it... oops!! :) That night though, we all loaded up and went down town and walked around. This was so neat and fun! It is just a neat environment down bathhouse row and with all the shops and restaurants.
The next day we went to Lake Ouachita except Adam had to stay home and do homework. Grace got a new Puddle Jumper floaty and LOVED the water. She didn't want to get out! I am amazed at how she is getting so brave this year and even learned how to kick her legs, etc. and swim to us! Such a change from previous years! That night Mom and Gary graciously watched Grace while Adam and I had a date night. It was so nice... we went to Fisherman's Wharf that is right on Lake Hamilton and you can see in the first two pics.. our view :)
We did more shopping on Wednesday and Adam and Grace went to church that afternoon for a little bit but I had to work that evening for 4 hours. They left Thurs. am. The departures are always hard but we were so thankful for the time!
The next day we went to Lake Ouachita except Adam had to stay home and do homework. Grace got a new Puddle Jumper floaty and LOVED the water. She didn't want to get out! I am amazed at how she is getting so brave this year and even learned how to kick her legs, etc. and swim to us! Such a change from previous years! That night Mom and Gary graciously watched Grace while Adam and I had a date night. It was so nice... we went to Fisherman's Wharf that is right on Lake Hamilton and you can see in the first two pics.. our view :)
We did more shopping on Wednesday and Adam and Grace went to church that afternoon for a little bit but I had to work that evening for 4 hours. They left Thurs. am. The departures are always hard but we were so thankful for the time!
Sunday, July 10, 2011
4th of July Weekend 2011
This past weekend was great!!! We went bowling with the few youth that were able to come. David, Travis, and Kyle. As I have said, we had a couple in our youth group break up so it has affected a couple of our girls not being there. As well as some other faithfuls didn't get to come. We still had fun and after bowling they came to our house and we grilled out hamburgers and hot dogs. The night before we also saw a fireworks show from our front porch coming from Oaklawn Race Track.
On the 3rd, we had a great service and then no evening service that pm so we got together with John and Crystal and cooked out at their house and let the kids play. Of course, it was a good time.
Monday, the 4th, we got up and all watched Rapunzel since Crystal let us borrow it. Then we all decided to go as a family to Entergy Park at Lake Hamilton. I had not yet been there yet and it was GORGEOUS. Beautifully set on the lake and surprisingly it wasn't crowded. Grace threw rocks in the lake and we walked a little of the trails and went to the playground. It was hot, so we left there and picked up a pizza and went home and made HOMEMADE Ice Cream in our ice cream freezer. Then later a nice walk with our big dog, Bud. It was a GREAT Day!
I will share some pics as well as the recipe..
This was only our 2nd attempt to make ice cream in it since we got it last year, I think, and it was GREAT. I found the recipe on allrecipes.com and used strawberries as my fruit. I loved the recipe because it doesn't call for eggs so no pre-cooking the raw eggs and cooling before putting in the ice cream freezer. Next time, I may just make it without the fruit in it and then it would be just vanilla and have a 'ice cream bar' with your choice of fruits, broken up cookies, candy bars, etc. If you make it as is, it will have frozen bits of fruit in it. Or you could puree the fruit and put it in there to get the full fruit ice cream taste.
Fruited Ice Cream
This Kitchen Approved Recipe has an average star rating of 4.6 Rate/Review | Read Reviews (85)
3,096 people have saved this | 0 custom versions
Prep Time:
45 Min
Ready In:
45 Min
Original Recipe Yield 1 gallon
Ingredients
* 2 (14 ounce) cans sweetened condensed milk
* 5 cups milk
* 2 cups heavy cream
* 2 tablespoons vanilla extract
* 1/2 teaspoon salt
* 3 cups chopped strawberries
Directions
1. Combine condensed milk, milk, cream, vanilla, salt and fruit in freezer canister of ice cream maker. Freeze according to manufacturer's directions.
By the way.. Grace took this next pic of Adam and I. Is that not awesome!! :)
On the 3rd, we had a great service and then no evening service that pm so we got together with John and Crystal and cooked out at their house and let the kids play. Of course, it was a good time.
Monday, the 4th, we got up and all watched Rapunzel since Crystal let us borrow it. Then we all decided to go as a family to Entergy Park at Lake Hamilton. I had not yet been there yet and it was GORGEOUS. Beautifully set on the lake and surprisingly it wasn't crowded. Grace threw rocks in the lake and we walked a little of the trails and went to the playground. It was hot, so we left there and picked up a pizza and went home and made HOMEMADE Ice Cream in our ice cream freezer. Then later a nice walk with our big dog, Bud. It was a GREAT Day!
I will share some pics as well as the recipe..
This was only our 2nd attempt to make ice cream in it since we got it last year, I think, and it was GREAT. I found the recipe on allrecipes.com and used strawberries as my fruit. I loved the recipe because it doesn't call for eggs so no pre-cooking the raw eggs and cooling before putting in the ice cream freezer. Next time, I may just make it without the fruit in it and then it would be just vanilla and have a 'ice cream bar' with your choice of fruits, broken up cookies, candy bars, etc. If you make it as is, it will have frozen bits of fruit in it. Or you could puree the fruit and put it in there to get the full fruit ice cream taste.
Fruited Ice Cream
This Kitchen Approved Recipe has an average star rating of 4.6 Rate/Review | Read Reviews (85)
3,096 people have saved this | 0 custom versions
Prep Time:
45 Min
Ready In:
45 Min
Original Recipe Yield 1 gallon
Ingredients
* 2 (14 ounce) cans sweetened condensed milk
* 5 cups milk
* 2 cups heavy cream
* 2 tablespoons vanilla extract
* 1/2 teaspoon salt
* 3 cups chopped strawberries
Directions
1. Combine condensed milk, milk, cream, vanilla, salt and fruit in freezer canister of ice cream maker. Freeze according to manufacturer's directions.
By the way.. Grace took this next pic of Adam and I. Is that not awesome!! :)
Domestically Older
It's funny we are on the house subject... Because I have something on my mind that totally relates. I have always kept my house pretty straight. Even growing up, I kept my room picked up, etc. etc. Although, I turned 30 not too long ago and I have noticed how I feel more convicted over being especially good at being a housewife as well as a part-time work outside the home wife. I used to could skip days without making up the bed, many, actually to be exact, and it didn't really bother me. I could leave the house without everything mostly in it's place and not think twice about it. Now, I feel the need to ALWAYS make up my bed (except the days I leave for work so early, Adam wakes up after me). Grace also, has learned that her toys MUST be put back before we leave the house to go anywhere, before naps, and before bedtime. I am quiet proud of this, because she has learned herself to be neat. Not only inside, but the outside.
Now, this is not to say my house is perfect in no way. You are bound to find some random every day things laying around in my house and the tub may not be spotless at all times but I can't stand for it to get nasty.
In addition to house cleaning, I have a gained a new interest in cooking. I have always enjoyed cooking. I never have cooked as much as I wanted due to the beginning of our marriage, we didn't have the money to buy the groceries to cook so we ate the cheapest convenience foods that we could find and LOTS of sandwiches. We might have one cooked meal a week. Back then, my Mom fed us a lot!!! :) After that, when we did have money, I cooked more at times, but then it was just Adam and I so not a ton. After having Grace, I really haven't cooked enough variety of food. I feel somewhat to blame for her eating ways. I got tired of cooking her foods for her to spit out and then it be trashed. So I stuck to very few faithfuls. Now, I am realizing that we all need some more variety in our life as well as healthier foods. I have liked allrecipes.com but I now have discovered their free app on my iphone and love it! So my new hobby is to look at all kinds of recipes on my phone, read reviews, put in my favorites list, and make them. I am going to try a Mexican Nacho chicken casserole tonight. We'll see!! So far so good!
Now, this is not to say my house is perfect in no way. You are bound to find some random every day things laying around in my house and the tub may not be spotless at all times but I can't stand for it to get nasty.
In addition to house cleaning, I have a gained a new interest in cooking. I have always enjoyed cooking. I never have cooked as much as I wanted due to the beginning of our marriage, we didn't have the money to buy the groceries to cook so we ate the cheapest convenience foods that we could find and LOTS of sandwiches. We might have one cooked meal a week. Back then, my Mom fed us a lot!!! :) After that, when we did have money, I cooked more at times, but then it was just Adam and I so not a ton. After having Grace, I really haven't cooked enough variety of food. I feel somewhat to blame for her eating ways. I got tired of cooking her foods for her to spit out and then it be trashed. So I stuck to very few faithfuls. Now, I am realizing that we all need some more variety in our life as well as healthier foods. I have liked allrecipes.com but I now have discovered their free app on my iphone and love it! So my new hobby is to look at all kinds of recipes on my phone, read reviews, put in my favorites list, and make them. I am going to try a Mexican Nacho chicken casserole tonight. We'll see!! So far so good!
Now.. it's home
As I said in my last post we finished painting the entire house. As you all probably know we are renting this house here in Hot Springs. When we got it every wall in the house was white, dirty, and definitely needed help. We wanted the house painted but the landlord agreed to reduce our monthly rent if we painted it ourselves. She specified only in neutral colors. So that is the reason for sticking to just two neutral colors throughout the house. Needless to say, after all the work and time, it looks SO much better and we are happy to have gotten it done!
These pics give you the idea. Nothing grand... just a cute rental that has a really great culdesac lot that is EASY to live in. Also, very close to our work, church, etc. So we are happy and thankful for our find!
FYI, we now have some pictures to hang on the wall in the guest room but they are not up yet in these pics. Also, some of the pics came from my iphone so not as clear.
These pics give you the idea. Nothing grand... just a cute rental that has a really great culdesac lot that is EASY to live in. Also, very close to our work, church, etc. So we are happy and thankful for our find!
FYI, we now have some pictures to hang on the wall in the guest room but they are not up yet in these pics. Also, some of the pics came from my iphone so not as clear.
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