Because We All Need A Little Calm...On This Journey!

Yes I am talking about the calming jars! If you have spent any time on Pinterest (my new fave!!!) you have seen these little jars. I loved the idea! Umm...HELLO?!?!?!? G-L-I-T-T-E-R!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I love the stuff!!! Yes, I love that is sticks to everything, too!

Okay calming down...that IS what this post is all about right?!? So I knew for my girls we would need to use the plastic ones and that I would need some REALLY good glue to keep those suckers closed!

I made them in my girl's favorite colors: Blue for my beautiful 6 year-old, Purple for bubbly 3 year-old, and pink for my baby girl who is nearing the terrific 2s!!

This is them all shaken up!!! 

I wish I had made the middle one a little smaller..

About half way...

All calm and hopefully the child as well... 

These pretty little jars or bottles are mostly used for time out, but we use a modified time out for our girls ranging from special needs to "high" needs so I knew this would not work for that so we just use them for calming moments. They are great for in the car although after having one flung at my face...we may be making some a little smaller for the car.

 I needed a calming jar after that!!! 

~Our New Entryway~

Now we just need something for shoes! Maybe a little fabric for the board...

Getting it all put together in time for back-to-school!

My Hubby's First Father's Day

Well, we were all under the weather and so tired from being up with sickies the night before...he is so sweet and stayed home from the Father's Day Service to help me with the kids. He is such husband & daddy!

We had made him some gifts and the girls brought him in breakfast in bed. I honestly think that was the best part of the weekend.

A nice shirt!  

 Something for his desk!

Something for his pens at work!

Very artistic! 

We finally got rested up and started feeling a little better so we went to eat...he was sweet to pick  low key place which is also one of new favorites! Dickey's BBQ!!! It is so family friendly and they have amazing food! 

We had such a great day!!!! I am so thankful to be married to such a wonderful man and that my kids have such a great daddy!

~My Birthday Girl~

Happy Birthday Bunny!!! 
  
I love you so much!! I remember when we first met you...you came running to the door screaming my name in Spanish with your little arm opened wide. As I knelt in the doorway hugging you I knew you were home. I fell in love with you in that moment and have loved you everyday since a little more.


 You are my Beauty~ my princess. You twirl and spin... You sing & you dance... 


I love your heart! You are such a good big sister~ you are so strong deep inside yet so sweet. You always seem to think of others before yourself. We have yet to go in a store where you haven't seen the perfect gift to give some else...rarely asking for one for yourself. I must say that I do love when you ask (just don't make it a habit, okay.) <3


You are so smart! I am so proud of you! I love watching you learn to read.... 


I am not sure if you have noticed yet~ you are the most like me...my water child. You seem to easily flow through life but are easily troubled. You are creative & a bit of a drama queen. You are funny & love to make people laugh...you are you...you are so special! You are the most amazing little girl and I am so proud to be your mommy. 


Most of all I just want to say I love you! 
Mommy~

Just A Little Reminder~

Life & family seems to take up my time these days! I came along this beautiful poem and wanted to share..

Enjoy~ 

Author: peppercma

We weren't there for your first tears,
but we're here to dry the rest.

We weren't there for your first steps,
but we're here to guide the rest.

We weren't there for your first words,
but we're here to build the rest.

We weren't there to see your milestones,
but we're here to set the cornerstones.

~My First Mother's Day~

Lots of sweet gifts from my babies!!!! I love them so much! 

Lot

A Journey In Cook Once Meals~

So we have been a family of 5 for a little over 2 months and I am slowly moving from "survival Mode" to working on getting my home back in order..
 I have heard it said that the heart of the home is the kitchen and I truly believe that.. it is where we eat, talk about our day, play board games, but most importantly where we have family devotions after dinner with my singing & daddy reading from the Bible. 


      The kitchen also tells all of my girl's senses that they are home. My girls love to run by and get a big sniff of whatever I am cooking. Just tonight my oldest hugged my at the stove and told me that I cook because I love her...so true. 

So needing to get back to really cooking for them lead me to cook ahead meals. Cooking ahead is not a new idea by any means..I have no idea who did first so I can't give honor where it is due. Also, I am not a recipe person so you may want to look those up. Basically this is just making the meats & things and putting it all together at dinner time. Enjoy!

I just add fruit & milk~ Here are the meals:

BBQ Chicken

Mashed Potatoes

Carrots

London Broil Roast

Baked Potatoes 

Green Beans

Fajitas

Corn

Refried Beans

Chili

Corn bread or Chips

Celery

BBQ Sandwiches

Raw Veggies

Fruit Snacks (because it is Friday!!!)

So this is what I did...

1.   Tossed a bunch of boneless Chicken (I know it is better to prep your own, but I that is just too much right now) & into the crock-pot with some cleaned end pieces of celery, onion, & carrots(as well as some sticks to serve on day 1) & some S&P & Tony's seasoning then filled it half way with water.
Cooked on low till tender and almost ready to fall apart.
     The the celery & carrots were chopped and put in clear containers, & some in baggies for snacks. Half of the onion was diced, and the other half chopped long(with 2 bell peppers of the fajitas) for the other recipes.
When fully cooked & cooled, remove the meat and strain the broth. I like to pop this in the freezer to make a nice quick soup stock when someone gets the sickies...
Set aside chicken for fajitas for on day 3 you will chop some of the chicken and add it to your peppers & onions about half way to warm it through..
The last day I pull the left over chicken apart with 2 forks add more sauce and serve on buns.

2.   I Start some Pinto Beans in my large pot...added some of the diced onion for flavor. Let them simmer most of the day till tender...honestly don't stress about them they pretty much cook themselves just make sure they have water.
I take about a 1/4 of the beans out and make refried beans.
To the rest of the beans I make chili by tossing in seasonings & cans of tomatoes and add any left over corn, peppers, & onion from the night before & the chopped beef from 2 nights before>>see below.


3.   London Broil cooked the night of and sliced at the table, take the other half back to the kitchen and dice it up for the chili.
Dice up the other half for the chili you can also slice some for fajitas as well.

4.  Bake some potatoes. Have them baked one night & smash them with milk & butter for the other.

There are other things I could do if I had more leftovers...shredded chicken from fajitas could make chicken salad sandwiches, or add an Asian sauce and put in lettuce for wraps for lunch. Put extra diced beef with rice & creamed soup for Beef Tips & Rice. Oh, and my fave~leftover chili makes great Frito boats!!! There are so many ideas and this is just to get you started...Enjoy! Oh, and please feel free to post your ideas!!!