Just Be Silly

Do something silly today. The simple act of letting go and having fun, even for a brief moment, can have a miraculous effect on your entire being. Just let go and have fun for just... 30 seconds! My good friend LaDonna and her family in this picture are a very,very good example! My heart just giggles every single time I see this photo!

I have six kids and they can tell you I can be quite silly. Just the simple act of singing, if you want to call it that, at the absolute top of your lungs can have a waving effect on the silliness level of the house. Silly games too! Simple! Just a little imagination and let it go.

I tend to have a dark, dry sense of humor but I am well known for my ability to make people laugh. I consider it a mission in life to try to make the unexpected person stop mid-track and think for a second. Usually their entire attitude changes and they LOL (laugh out loud).

So whether it is something as silly as a 42 year old mom of six skipping to the mailbox with her four year old in tow, an awkward mom playing hopscotch, or a quick hand slap challenge, it only takes a moment to have fun and I promise you that smile will definitely make you forget all of your woes for a moment at least!

So make a silly dinner tonight, watch a silly movie, play hide and seek, Capture the Flag (one of my favorites), have a scavenger hunt for the remote control or gaming controller, whatever it takes, just do it!

Miss Miranda

Kiki

Smile Grandpa!!!

Our Kuntry Girl

Go Carting

Kevin got a go cart (actually one that he already fixed up and two frames). Garit is totally WILD about it! He had a total blast. All the way up to the point when the chain broke and Garit wanted it going so bad he took the chain off of his bike to try to put on this!!! Awe..... We will get a new chain this week sometime! Garit is in heaven! Nathan hasn't had his chance yet. He was at the Grandparents house this weekend for his Birthday.

Our Current Homestead in the spring - 2

Our current homestead - 1

Our Kittens - My Photo Subjects

Okay, now that you are all awing.....

WHO WANTS ONE (in about five weeks)?

ps. Not easy subjects these fellas, those little guys are QUICK!

Nathan's Birthday Photos

Josh is 17 Now

Friday, April 2nd we celebrated Josh's 17th birthday at the Grandparents.

April 2, 1993 I went into labor on April Fools Day (six weeks early) once that epidural kicked in I asked to wait until midnight...no April Fools baby for me.12:43am on April 2 Joshua came into my life! LOVE YOU!! Happy 17th Birthday!!!

Our Garage Stereo

Whatcha think? Kevin, my hubs, made this garage stereo out of leftover parts. It sounds GREAT! LOL What should I name this photo: Redneck tunes? Thrifty Nifty?Pack rat stacks? LOL! Seriously it is cool... and quite mobile... note the car battery?

Easter 2010 Flashlight Egg Hunt Highlights

We bought all of the kids flashlights this year to have a late night outdoor Egg Hunt!

Had a blast!

Compassion

After I was diagnosed with Breast cancer in 2006 compassion really blossomed in me. All of the sudden instead of getting irritated with the person slowing me down or causing frustration I wondered what they might going through personally. After all, someone zoning out at the red light may be distracted because they just found out that their father was terminally ill. That angry customer at work may have recently lost a loved one. That scatterbrained chick may have just finished chemo or may have an illness you do not see. So when the urge to judge or criticize floods over you…. Let it go right on through. For as we are judged so shall we be judged.

TGIF Recipes

Source

Red Sangria

1 1/2 ounce red wine
1 1/2 ounce triple sec
1/4 ounce pineapple juice
1/4 ounce orange juice
Mix well with ice, pour into glass with ice
Top with Sprite if desired
Lemon squeeze, lime squeeze, orange squeeze

Spinach and Artichoke Dip

Ingredients
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 medium onion, finely chopped
• 3 cloves garlic (or to taste)
• 1 (9-ounce) package artichoke hearts, defrosted, rinsed, dried & quartered
• 1 (10-ounce) package frozen chopped spinach, defrosted, excess liquid squeezed out.
• 1/2 cup sour cream
• 2 tablespoons mayonnaise
• 1/2 cup (4 ounces) Neufchatel (reduced-fat cream cheese)
• 2 ounces (about 1/2 cup) shredded mozzarella cheese
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

Directions

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.

Saute onions in olive oil stirring occasionally, 4 to 5 minutes. Add garlic and cook an additional 3 to 4 minutes, or until onions are light golden. Remove from heat and cool.

In a food processor combine and blend until smooth spinach, sour cream, mayonnaise, cream cheese or Neufchatel, mozzarella and salt and pepper. Handstir in the cooled onion-garlic mixture and artichokes. Transfer mixture into an 8-inch glass square baking dish or 9-inch glass pie plate which has been lightly sprayed with cooking spray. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes or until heated through. Serve with crudités, tortilla chips, fresh vegetable or pita wedges.