It has been 7 months since I have sat down to blog...WHERE DOES THE TIME GO?  We have had so much happen I don't even know where to begin or how to catch up.  On Feb. 14th Joe's mom got really sick and ended up in the hospital for about 5 months.  Much change has happened for her and even the family but we are so very blessed that she is still with us and we thank the Lord each and every day.  On March 9th Joe moved to Little Rock Arkansas to work for a barrow out.  It has be a blessing but also very hard to be away from one another for so long.  He is able to fly home every 26 days for a 4 day stay.  The boys and I have drove down twice to spend a few weeks with him.  Arkansas is so beautiful not anything like I had imagined. 

When school got out Riley and his DI Team made it to Global Finals in Knoxville TN, so we went down May 23-26th.  There was 20 countries and 45 states that competed, it was a wonderful experince.  We drove down to AR and stayed a few days with Joe and then all went on to TN.  During this trip visited the Little Rock Zoo, Pinnacle Mountain, Nashville TN, went to Dollywood, and the Memphis TN Zoo (we went and saw the Panda Bears). 

On June 21st I got to take a trip of a lifetime to France.  Julie Geiger and I went to Southern France for a week and then took the train to Prais France.  It was AMAZING there are no other words...we stayed at Chateau Dumas which was an 18th century chateau in south west France.  I will have more about our trip and pictures soon!

I got home from France on July 4th and Joey came home for a visit on July 5th.  We took a trip up to the Black Hills.  We where able to talk the Svajgr's into going with us so it was 5x's the FUN!  We tubed down the Niobrara River one day, drove on to SD the next and stopped at the 1800's town where the Dances with Wolves movie was filmed and then to Wall Drug, SD.  We took in Mt. Rushmores light show that night.  It was so moving and neat to see (I have been so many times and this was the first to see it at night).  The next day we played at the indoor water park and then off for more fun that afternoon!  We had lunch at the top of the Alpine Slides and then went down...it was so much fun everyone wanted to go again!  Than to the Cosmos Mystery Area where even water runs uphill.  We went back to Mt Rushmore to see it in the day light and go through the museum and last Bear Country.  We had a wonderful family summer vacation!

The boys and I went back to Little Rock for a week to see daddy before school started.  We had once again a great trip.  We drove through Eureka Springs so I could go to the Wilson and Wilson shop had lunch and just went to the shops in town.  We then drove through the Ozark National Forest on to LRock.  We got dad and went on to Hot Springs, AR and went to Magic Springs Amusement and Water Park.  We then went to Mountain View, AR where we went to a cave, went hiking, and got a cabin in the Ozark Forest.  The last few days we got our school shopping done, went to Little Rock Central High School, and of course went to our favorite eating places!

Overall it was a pretty amazing summer for everyone and we are so very blessed to have had all these opportunities.

This weekend I helped take Pack 187 Cub Scouts to the

Edgerton Explorit Center.  It is a hands on science explore center in

Aurora Nebraska, the home town of scientist Harold Edgerton the

inventor of flash photography.  We got to take part in 3 experiments

and of course what boy does not like to see things explode?

Sparks Flew-when the boys got to meet the Van de Graff generator.

This demonstraion got a little "shocking" and "hair raising" when

we learn about electricity.  The boys thought the best part was when

the leaders had to go up and get a little shock!

We also got to have an "Arctic Blast" with some super cold

chemistry.  Learning about dry ice & liquid nitrogen's incredible freezing

power.  And of course we will not forget the hydrogen balloon "explosion".

The green screen video game!

This was an amazing trip for the boys-something I am sure they

will always remember, who knew science could be so much fun!!

On Sunday we had our annual Pack 187 Pinewood Derby Race.

It is always fun to see the great designs and creative things the Cub

Scouts make with a small block of wood!

My little Tiger Den-they all did a Wonderful job for their first

Pinewood Derby.  The Overall winner of the night was even

a first year Tiger Scout!   

This year Riley made a Wii Remote he won Most Creative Design

and got third place in the Webelo Den.

Chandler made a Half Pipe with Skate Board, he won Best in Show.

We are so proud of them for their hard work but most of

 all their good sportsmanship. 

So if you are not tired of me going on and on and are still reading you

don't want to miss this part.  If I have not told you lately-I am so in love

with my crockpot.  With being gone during the day all weekend I got

great use of the crockpot.  Sunday I made a new recipe that was so easy.

Loaded Bake Potato Soup

3 cans of chicken broth

1 can of cream of chicken soup

5-6 med. potatos diced

1/4 teaspoon black pepper

-put in crock pot on low for 6-8 hours

one hour before you are ready to eat add 8 oz cream cheese

serve with chopped bacon and shredded cheddar cheese.

Buffalo Meatloaf

I have never had Meatloaf that I can say was better than my momma's...well that is until I had
my Aunt Lori's Buffalo Meatloaf.   This is a great one to make the night before so when you get
home for the evening you can just pop it in the oven.

No joke, this Meatloaf is so Yummy that it is the reason for no pictures.  Everyone was ready to eat after smelling it cook for an hour and having to wait.  I didn't stop and take the time for a pretty pic.

Buffalo Meatloaf

1 t. olive oil

2 cloves minced garlic

-heat oil in skillet & saute until softened

2 large eggs

1/2 t. dried thyme

1 t. salt

1/2 t. ground black pepper

2 t. dijon mustard

2 t. Worcestershire Sauce

1/2 c. milk

1/3 c. minced parsley

1 tub of crushed saltine crackers

1/2 c. ketchup

2 1/2 lbs. hamburger

-mix all together until evenly blended.  Shape into loaf and spread on glaze.

Bake about 1 hour @ 350.

Glaze

1/2 c. ketchup

4 T. brown sugar

4 t. cider vinegar

-mix all ingredients in small bowl

Cornflake Potatoes

2 lb. bag of cubed potatoes (thawed)

16 oz. tub sour cream

16 oz. can Cream of Chicken Soup

1 small diced onion

2 c. cheddar cheese

-mix together put in 9x13 dish, cover with cornflakes.  Melt 1 stick of butter and

pour over top.  Bake @ 350 for 30 to 45 minutes.

So some of you may think by now "this woman is a little nuts".  While I have to admit today I was starting to think the same, as I thought I would try making a Hydrating Olive Oil & Honey hot oil treatment.  But of course I was going to make it mayself.  The whole 30 mins I waited with honey in my hair-I was thinking WHAT IN THE WORLD HAVE I DONE?  THIS IS GOING TO END UP BAD...thinking maybe I need not to do everything I see on blogs-I stuck through and did the treatment just as I read.  It worked amazing and my hair feels so silky and smooth.  I will do this again!!!  So Crazy I may be-but I have Great Hair!

 3 Table Spoons of Olive Oil in small bowl

Heat for 30 seconds in microwave

than add 2 Table Spoons Honey, stir

(Shhh, don't tell my dad I will be using his honey for my hair)

Massage in hair and put shower cap on for 30 mins

Wash out and then shampoo and condition

Wow it has been over a month since I last posted on my blog...it is not because I have not been crafting, it is more of being tired from the hub bub before the holidays and the aftermath.  There was a lot of creating for Christmas gifts this year-not that there was more than normal I just had a few mishaps that caused more work.  I also help Riley in making his presents this year, he made lotion, lip gloss, pillow cases, and coasters. 

I thought I would share my latest project...I of course found this idea on Pinterest.  My boys are always making pallets of quilts in the living room.  So when I saw a mat made of 5 pillows I had to try.  I made this one first to see if the boys would really like it.  They LOVE IT!  This is Riley's and I made a quilt that matches.  I am hoping to work on Chandler's this weekend.

For Chandler's class Christmas Party he is to bring the non-food

treat.  How does someone who enjoys her food so much make

something that doesn't involve a little somethin somethin to munch on?

While reading one of my all time favorite blogs The Crazy Farmers Wife

(I want to be just like her when I grow up, the funny part of that is when I

was a teen I always said I would NEVER want to live on a farm when I was

 older) anyways back to Non-Food Treats, I was reading her blog and she had

shown these popcorn snowman.  I could not wait to make them...I made

the wrapper on printshop, chalked cheeks, cut out a nose, and drew on eyes

 and mouth, and last used a pair of gloves as the hat.  I think they turned out

so cute.  Thinking we might have to make them for Sunday School Classes. 

This years Singing Christmas Tree was nothing but amazing once

again.  "While You Were Sleeping" the story of Christ's life was

told through Nathanael's son Joseph.  Joseph was staying with his

Uncle and Aunt whom did not believe that the Messiah had come

yet.  The story line was of a couple who missed what God wanted to give

 them; who looked at events around them with open eyes, but saw nothing. 

Could you miss Christ even when he is all around?  Don't let the things of the

world keep you from Heavenly Father.  Don't be one who is sleeping, but be

awake and aware and receptive for all God wants to give us. 

A great message for us as we go into the Christmas Season. 

I am so thankful we have made this family tradition to go to the

Singing Christmas Tree, not to only see a baby in a manger but the

work of Christ while he was on earth, his death, and resurrection.  It is

important to me that my boys understand the reason Christ, the Son

of God, came to earth.  It was for each one of us.