A Trip to the Zoo

Last Wednesday we were having our morning coffee when we were ambushed by Shelly & Logan! She is SO spontaneous and needless to say...I'm not! She said "It's a beautiful day, let's go to the zoo!" What!! Today?? Awww, come on Mom , it'll be fun! Let's go while Dad is home! It's my treat!! How could I resist?

I am proud to say that I got up, got dressed & finished my coffee and off we went to the zoo...just like that!

Logan will be five in December and this was his first trip to the Zoo. When we arrived he was so excited that he didn't know which way to turn! It was so much fun watching him run to see everything! He had so much energy!

We only had a few hours so we had to sort of rush...rush Paw-Paw that is :) he is sooooo slow! I guess he is afraid he will miss something! Hmmm...there may be some lessons in that!

So, a few hours at the zoo, a carousel ride (yes, we did - but we played it safe) a picnic on the grounds and then home, sweet home!

It was indeed a beautiful day! A day that the Lord had made and we chose to rejoice in it!

I am so glad that we decided to be spontaneous for a day!!

Labor Day Weekend

Ahhh...the holidays! What can I say? Always busy, lots of family and loads of fun - at the Smith house! Vicki, Keith & Rylee drove in from Fischer (about 20 min. from San Marcus) Dorothy, Brent & family drove in from McKinney (about an hour from Dallas). It was about a 4 - 5 hour trip for both families...thanks guys for making the long trip to spend time with your family!

I tried to make it simple with the food so I could spend more time with family and less time in the kitchen. So, briskets were put in the smoker the night before and the potato salad & deviled eggs were made. I got up early that morning and put the pinto beans in the crock pot & made the cakes.

Menu:

2) 12 lb briskets
24 burgers
8 lbs sausage
5 lbs potato salad
2 lbs pinto beans
Lg pan corn bread
white cake
chocolate cake
chips
lots & lots of drinks

Everyone loved the food...we ate it all day Saturday and 2 meals on Sunday then we had to order Pizza Hut for dinner! Got up Monday morning and made a BIG breakfast of biscuits, sausage gravy & eggs! Okay guys, that's it for the food...you are really on your own now!Whew this family can eat!!!!!!

Shawn had a dump truck load of sand delivered so the kids had a blast playing in the dirt pile. It was Rylee's first time and she loved it! They also had a fun river trip in their Paw-Paw's little boat that he keeps at the river. The rest of the time was just spent hanging out , eating & enjoying each other's company AND of course, playing with Rylee!

Oatmeal Krunchies

Just wanted to share a quick recipe with you! I was sitting around craving something sweet this afternoon and as usual there was nothing in my kitchen! So, I decided to see what I could come up with and I started rummaging through my old cookbook & my cabinets! Lets see, flour, brown sugar, vanilla...hmmmm, Kashi Cereal - who knows! Just figured the Kashi cereal would take the place of nuts :) and it did!

Here they are! I think they are worth sharing! They taste sort of like a granola bar only a little yummier!! Enjoy!



Oatmeal Krunchies

1 cup self-rising flour
1 cup brown sugar
1 cup oats
1/4 cup oil
2 Tablespoons milk
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla
1/4 cup melted butter or margarine
1 to 1 1/2 cups (I just dumped what was left in the box) Kashi Go Lean Cereal (Honey & Almond Flax)

Mix first (3) ingredients. Add the oil, milk, egg, vanilla & melted butter. Mix well. Stir in the Kashi cereal & mix. Drop by rounded spoonfuls on baking sheet or stone (I love my stone by Pampered Chef) Bake at 375 for 10 -12 minutes.

New Things

I know, I know...I was supposed to post pics from Labor day weekend! I still am....and very soon! I am still gathering pics!

BUT for now...just wanted to blog about a couple of "new things" around the Smith household...expecting lots of changes!

my new haircut...




Larry's new truck...



And this new blog!!!

Change can be good SO its out with the old and in with the new!!!

Sewing Projects

Whew!!! I have been so busy these past two weeks! I have been sewing, sewing, sewing!! It is really hard to find the time to do it but I have pressed in to finish my projects! My only regrets - no before pictures! :(

I'm on this recycle kick - I see possibilities in everything! I think at first I was driving my family a little crazy but now they see the fruit of my labors and think it is cool!!

My sewing projects include:

wrap around aprons from a pretty cotton shower curtain, a couple of valances and fabric, lace, ribbon that I had in my craft room.






canvas bags rescued from my favorite resale shop to be refashioned with pieces of an old quilt that was going to be thrown away!






pillows made from pillowcases that I had and flowers cut from the old quilt! I love them!



Will be listing these on my shop soon http://www.allthingscute.etsy.com/ and will be posting pics from our family weekend!!

So tired...going to bed now!! Nighty nite!!

My Mama "Lucille"

Mama in her early 20's! Isn't she beautiful?




Mama - pic on her b-day last year - 90 years old!




Mama - pic on her b-day this year - 91 years old! She hasn't changed much has she? :)



Her birthday was Sunday August 30th - she turned 91 yrs old!! We cooked her brisket, potato salad & corn casserole (her favorites) she had apple pie & whipped cream for dessert! Yummy!

Her name is Lucille and she is...

A capable, intelligent and virtuous woman. She is far more precious than jewels and her value is far above rubies or pearls. Proverbs 31:10

wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother but mainly known as mama, granny and aunt cille...

sweet, precious, beautiful, talented, an intercessor, a prayer warrior, an amazing cook, a christian, she's a godly woman, a friend to many, an advisor, an encourager and she is so strong,


she has been a small business woman :) , clothing designer :) , a sunday school teacher and babysitter and so much more...


I am so thankful for God allowing her to be here with us for so long...we are believing God for many more years. I have asked her the secrets for a long life and this is what she said...


1. Obeying your parents - Ephesians 6:1-3

Children, obey your parents in the Lord for this is just and right. Honor (esteem and value as precious) your father and mother - this is the first commandment with a promise - that all may be well with you and that you may live long on the earth.


2. Asking God to create in me a clean heart - Psalm 24:4-5 and Psalm 51:10-12

Who shall go up into the mountain of the Lord? Who shall stand in His Holy Place? He who has clean hands & a pure heart. He shall receive blessing from the Lord and righteousness from the God of his salvation.

Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right, perservering and steadfast spirit within me. Cast me not away from Your presence and take not your Holy Spirit from me. restore unto m e the joy of Your salvation and uphold me with a willing spirit.

3. Thanking God for giving me a sound mind - 2 timothy 1:7

For God did not give us a spirit of fear but He has given us a spirit of power and love and a calm and well balanced mind and discipline and self-control.

So, I think we would benefit greatly from heeding those words of wisdom!!!!

I love her so much! She has blessed my life and the lives of so many others in SO many ways...Thank you mama for always being there for me, for taking me to sunday school all those years and most of all for introducing me to my Lord & Saviour! Because of you - I have been able to share the Lord with my children and they are doing the same. You will never know how many lives were touch by God's grace because of you! You are certainly far more precious than jewels! Your children arise and call you blessed!!!

My "mama" one of life's most precious treasures! I am looking forward to celebrating again next year with you!