Afternoon Fun

We were treated to a mid-week surprise this past Thursday…we were on the way home when we got a phone call asking if we could come play with Hinson & Rigdon.  Of course we said YES!

  

Aunt Christy is always up for getting some sweet baby sugars…

  

And some sweet toddler sugars too!!!

Daddy/Uncle Phil stopped by for some sweet sugars too!

  

Trey does a great job in his role as biggest cousin…

  

He even sang Rigdon right to sleep!

  

Jesse is a great big cousin too…

  

After all that quite cuddle time, it was time to make some NOISE!

  

Love, LoVe, LOVE our boys!!!

Tasty Tuesday: Italian Beef Sandwiches

After the baptisms on Sunday, we had a soup and sandwiches fundraiser to support our CTS competition teams.  I made a double batch of the Taco Soup that I posted about last week.  Except I made it on the stove in my soup pot…a 5-qt soup pot that was full to almost overflowing.  And  at the end of the day, it was completely G.O.N.E.  I’m telling ya, it was yummy!!!

Now I used my soup pot because my crockpot was cooking up something else delicious.  Italian Beef Sandwiches.  These are super easy and were a HUGE hit.  I had several requests for the recipe.  I was told that “this” is what I was expected to cook for our gatherings from now on.  And I was given a big hint that I needed to bring it to our family night supper in a couple of weeks.  I was feelin’ the love I tell ya!  I’ve already shared the recipe with all my facebook friends, but I wanted to share it on here too.  And by the way, the homemade sandwich spread MAKES it!

ITALIAN BEEF  SANDWICHES

1 4LB. BEEF ROAST (I PREFER A RUMP ROAST STYLE OF BEEF)
1 CAN COKE
1 CAN CAMPBELL'S BEEF CONSOMME
1 MEDIUM ONION, DICED
1 BELL PEPPER, DICED
2 JALAPENO PEPPERS, WHOLE
1 SMALL CAN MUSHROOMS
2 TBS. ITALIAN SEASONING
1 TBS. GARLIC SALT
SALT AND PEPPER TO TASTE

PLACE MEAT IN CROCKPOT.

POUR COKE AND BEEF CONSOMME OVER MEAT.

SPRINKLE THE REMAINING INGREDIENTS DIRECTLY ONTO THE MEAT.

COOK IN CROCKPOT ON LOW FOR 12-14 HOURS.

REMOVE MEAT AND ALLOW TO COOL.

REMOVE ANY BONES, FAT, ETC.

SHRED BEEF. PUT BACK IN CROCKPOT. HEAT THROUGH. SERVE ON HOAGIE ROLLS.

SANDWICH SPREAD FOR ITALIAN BEEF
(THIS IS THE “RECIPE” THAT I GO BY, BUT I MAKE MUCH MORE THAN THIS AND WING IT ON THE PROPORTIONS.)

1 TSP. MAY
1 ½ TSP. ZESTY ITALIAN DRESSING
¼ TSP. ITALIAN SEASONING
¼ TSP. MUSTARD
DASH OF SALT AND PEPPER

MIX ALL INGREDIENTS TOGETHER AND SPREAD ON WARMED BREAD BEFORE PILING ON THE ITALIAN BEEF.

YOU CAN ADD MORE OR LESS OF ANY OF THESE INGREDIENTS TO GET THE TASTE YOU PREFER.

This is the day that the LORD has made!

Once Trey was baptized, his first order of business was to bring his baby brother to the LORD.  One day while they were playing outside on the trampoline, Jesse accepted Jesus into his heart.  He and Trey were both very excited when they told me.  Jesse was so young though, that I wasn’t sure he really understood what it meant to accept Christ.  Over the coming months, I found that he really did understand.  He told me often that Jesus was in his heart.  He told his Wednesday night teacher, Mrs. Kay, often that Jesus lived in his heart.  One Wednesday night, during a game involving the Armor of God,  Mrs. Kay was explaining that  when we sin, the belt of truth becomes loose and if we aren’t careful that it will fall off.  Jesse piped up and told her that yes, it will fall off, but that if you turn around and start doing what is right then the belt will get tight again.  Mrs. Kay had not mentioned this to the kids in class.   Mrs. Kay talked to me about Jesse’s salvation and we both felt that he did understand.  However, Jesse was not ready to be baptized.  He did not want to get dunked.

Then a few months ago, both Trey and Jesse, began taking a class on Sunday nights for new converts.  The class lasted about 3 months and during the last class, Bro. Eric talked to the children about baptism.  Afterwards, Jesse decided that it was time to get baptized.  And this morning that is exactly what he did!  I sat with tears in my eyes as my baby boy made his profession of faith and was baptized.  What a glorious day it has been!

     

 

            

Delight yourself in the LORD and He will give you the desires of your heart.  Psalm 37:4

Photo Friday

Because Jesse really, really wanted me to take his photo today:-)

A New Project

During 2011, I was inspired by my friend ,Melissa’s, 365 Project.  Melissa took on the challenge of taking one photo per day for the entire year.  Her photoblog was an awesome way to watch her kids grow day by day throughout the year.  Now, I am nowhere near the photographer that she is, but  I have decided to take on the 365 Project challenge for 2012.  Except this year it will be a 366 Project, since it is a leap year.  My hope is to capture those ordinary, every day moments that make my every day wonderful.  My 366 Project photos will be posted to a new blog… www.ourlifethreesixfive.blogspot.com.  Please stop by and leave me comment.  I do plan to continue posting the big stories, lots of photos, the occasional recipe, etc to this blog…so don’t forget to check in here too!  See ya in the comments!

Tasty Tuesday: Taco Soup

This recipe is a new family favorite.  It’s another {slightly altered} one from AFR’s Elite Recipe Club  It’s really more like a chili than a soup.  And it is delish!   Especially when eaten with Tostitos with a hint of lime!  Yum-O!

Taco Soup:

2 lbs ground sausage

1 medium onion, chopped

2 cans diced tomatoes

1 can Rotel

1 can kidney beans

1 can black beans

2 cups frozen corn

1 pkg. taco seasoning

1 pkg. ranch dressing mix

Brown ground beef and onions on the stove. Drain fat. Place sausage and onions, and all the other ingredients in the crockpot. Cook on low for several hours ( I usually cook overnight). Serve with tortilla chips, shredded cheese, and sour cream.

Our last day of 2011

We spent the last day of 2011 playing a little basketball, enjoying good food at a family reunion, a quick trip to the ER, and finally more eating, fireworks, board games, and fun with our church family.  It was a perfect day…well, except for the ER trip;-)

This past Wednesday, the warehouse that my hubby and his brother operate their hay business out of burned for the second time.  During the course of the fire, my Philip received 2nd degree burns to both hands and arms.  While changing his bandages before heading to the New Year’s Eve party, we noticed that one of his arms looked swollen and inflamed.  Worried about possible infection, we dropped the boys at the party and  headed to the ER.  Thankfully, the ER doctor said that he saw no signs of infection and sent us home.   So we headed to the party…a night spent laughing with friends was just what this girl needed after a stressful week!