Thursday, August 30, 2012

Family Vacation 2012



Day 1 - We arrived at Ocean Lakes Campground in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina and got the keys to our house. The girls and Benjamin went to Walmart to stock up for the week and waited in line for over an hour to get checked out! Apparently everyone else had the same idea.

Day 2 - We went to church and then enjoyed a late breakfast at the Cracker Barrel, a requirement for vacation. It was rainy, but we still enjoyed a few hours on the beach.


 

Benjamin played in the water for a little bit, but he loved to play in the sand.  

  
Jeremiah followed his usual routine. 

Day 3- We went to  the beach early and soaked up some sunshine!
  Benjamin got to work on spreading the sand. If you built a castle, he quickly knocked it down. A little girl came up with a big shovel and offered to play in the sand with him, but he ran away from her. She tried to follow him and he just kept running away. I think he was scared of her because she was bigger than him!

                                                     Jeremiah working hard on his nap.


David and I enjoyed riding the waves with David's brother Kevin and his wife Shanna. We were thankful to have David's parents there to play with the boys so we could play in the water.

                            Benjamin stayed away from the ocean and watched other people.


  We went out to eat at Drunken Jack's Seafood at Murrels Inlet. The hushpuppies were fabulous. They were served warm with honey butter and I could have eaten them for a meal.
We went back to the campground and played BINGO. Barry won a game that night and then we took a victory cruise on the strip. There is nothing more fun than riding golfcarts down the strip and slapping hands at Ocean Lakes Campground.

Day 4- It was rainy so the girls went shopping with Jeremiah at the outlets and the men and Benjamin went to Bass Pro Shops. The girls enjoyed Steak-N-Shake burgers for lunch and milkshakes after a long day of shopping. Later that evening, we enjoyed watching fireworks on the beach.

Day 5- It was cloudy, but we still headed to the beach.
             I buried David in the sand and tried to get a picture before Benjamin dug him out! 


Jeremiah was sleeping peacefully on his blanket when a wave came and disturbed his slumber. Big Thanks to Granny Franny for rescuing him before he drifted out to sea.

It rained most of the afternoon, but we did take the boys on a golfcart cruise after naptime. Benjamin enjoyed watching the ducks and pointing out the fans on everyone's porches.
That night we went for our second round of BINGO and I won the first game and Shanna won the last game! We enjoyed another night of victory golf cart cruising.

Day 6 - The men left the house really early to go to on some fishing trip in the ocean. David put in the wrong address in the GPS and they ended up in Georgetown, SC at a traveling agency that hosted One Day Marsh Cruises with some guy named Cap'n Rod. They rushed back, but unfortunately they missed their fishing boat. We spent the morning at the pool and the playground.



Jeremiah had his morning nap on one of the chairs at the pool. By this point people were asking us what we did to him to make him sleep so much! He just knows how to relax, what can I say?
He started getting really hungry later in the week so we started cereal. He was so excited!

David and I played volleyball and jumped waves with Kevin and Shanna while the boys had naptime with Granny Franny. We all enjoyed burgers from River City Cafe for dinner, which is my favorite place to eat at the beach!

 Day 7 - The men headed out early to try the fishing trip again.They made it this time and they caught one sea bass each.  The girls went to the beach in the drizzling rain, because we were dedicated!

                                                         Jeremiah did the usual...
It started raining harder and the men were still out in the middle of the ocean somewhere, so the girls went out to eat at Chili's for lunch. We all gathered for some family pictures in the afternoon when the rain cleared.
        We all gathered in front of Sandy, who David insisted was the Hardee's star. David's dad Barry was taking the picture.
One of several attempts at a family picture where everyone is looking the same way and no one is crying.



                                                 Peepaw and Granny Franny with the boys.
                                           Our favorite beach buddies, Kevin and Shanna.

                                              Showing off our crazy jumping skills.
                                                      We had a great Family Vacation.


Tuesday, August 28, 2012

What's for Dinner? 08/26-09/01

We had a great time at the Beach and I am still trying to get back in the groove.
I had enough leftovers from the beach trip to get me through the weekend, and yesterday morning I took both boys to the grocery store.
Thank you Kroger for the awesome Car Carts. Benjamin can drive the car and Jeremiah's car seat can fit in the top and I still have room for groceries. Those awkward buggies may aggravate other shoppers, but we got the job done. I accidentally ran into a stocking cart and the Kroger stocker just smiled and complimented Benjamin on his driving. I think we probably could get through the store easier if those steering wheels actually did work.


Here is the meal plan for this week:
Monday- Cheesy Ham Strata, Sweet Potatoes
            FINALLY After  3 weeks of being on the meal plan, we had it last night. Delicious!
            Gooseberry Patch Recipe
Tuesday- Meatloaf, Green Beans, Rice
Wednesday-Spaghetti, Salad
Thursday-  Soup and Sandwiches
Friday- Taco Salads
Saturday-Cheesy Beef Casserole, Corn

Friday, August 10, 2012

What's for dinner? 08/12/12

I did not get to try my new recipe for last week because someone ate up all the ingredients...ahem David. Oh well, I am looking forward to trying it again this week.

We are getting ready to go on vacation and I think my brain has already checked out. I had contemplated going to the grocery store without a meal plan, but I talked myself out of it. Even though I do not dedicate as much time to couponing as I have in the past, I still go to the grocery store with a plan. I will not be victim to marketing strategists! Meal planning keeps me on track and within budget.

 I really want to keep things simple this week because I have several things I have to make for our trip. 

Sunday-leftovers
Monday- Eat Out
Tuesday- Chicken Parmesan and Salad
Wednesday- Ham and Cheese Strata (Take 2), sweet potatoes
Thursday- Pepperoni Roll, Raw Vegetables
Friday- Fish sticks, green beans and corn.
Saturday- VACATION!!!!

Chocolate Cake with White Icing
Ranch Dressing
Barbecue Sauce for Barbecue Chicken
Hot Dog Chili
Chocolate Chip Cookies
Chocolate Pancakes

Thursday, August 9, 2012

Modern Day Miracles

Jeremiah 33:3  "Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not."

Proverbs 3: 5 "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding."


Reading is one of my favorite pastimes. When the kids are napping and the house is quiet, I can curl up with a book for hours. My favorite books are historical fiction. Getting lost in a western prairie romance is my happy place. Every once in a while I find a book that pulls me in so much, that even when I am finished I continually think about it. This week I read one of those books.

It was a typical love story in the most traditional sense with "love at first sight."  The preacher was traveling west to escape problems beyond his control (a Joseph and Pharoah's wife situation). He runs into an injured lawman with a lady outlaw. The lawman dies and the preacher has to take the outlaw to jail. You can guess who falls in love.

Anyway, along the way they uncover a deserted baby in a wagon train. The baby is crying hungrily and they have nothing to offer the child. The preacher is trying to keep the baby comfortable, knowing the child will probably not make it. The outlaw runs off mad at God for allowing a baby to die. In her despair she begs God to spare the baby and God answers her prayer with a lost goat who had run away from the deserted wagon train. She calls the goat "Mira" short for miracle.

I know this story is fiction. I know the characters are made up and the events never actually happened, but I also know that God is not made up.

There are many instances in the Bible when God made a way, when everything looked like it was over. Here are just a few

....God provided a ram in the thicket so that Abraham would not sacrifice Isaac

....God provided food for the widow and her son when they were going to starve

....God multiplied another widow's oil so she could pay her debts and save her sons

...God spared the lives of three Hebrew boys when they were thrown in the fire

...God spared the life of His prophet Daniel when he was thrown into the lions den


The biggest miracle in my life is how Jesus Christ paid my debt on the cross and saved me from eternal damnation.

When situations in my life look bleak, I need to be reminded that not only should I trust God, but I shouldn't rely on my own understanding. He can still work miracles for me like He did in the Western Prairie :)




Sunday, August 5, 2012

Curious George and the Feverish Toddler

We have had a Curious George marathon at our house today. Benjamin has been running a fever on and off since Friday and we have been spent a lot of time laying around.  He normally doesn't stop moving, but these past few days we have had a lot of cuddle time. I hate to see him sick and its hard because I don't know what is bothering him, other than the fever. I am just trying to keep him comfortable and away from baby brother until he starts feeling better.

I think Sundays are the worst day to be sick. I really look forward to going to church. Some weeks it is the only social interaction I get, and I really miss seeing everybody. I like putting my children in the nursery for a little while so I can be fed on the Word of God.  I can relax in knowing that my babies are in good hands and I can focus on worshiping God. I did watch David Jeremiah on TV this morning, but its just not the same.

Benjamin started out the day asking for "Bob" which means Veggie Tales. We went to his room to read a "Bob" book instead and then this afternoon it was " George, ooh ooh ooh!" I couldn't resist his cute request so thus the Curious George marathon. He has enjoyed pointing out the things he recognizes and then going into an explanation in his own language that I still haven't deciphered. I think tonight we'll eat some ice cream while we watch that mischievous little monkey.

Friday, August 3, 2012

What's for dinner?

I had planned to try my new recipe last night, but I decided to make it tonight instead. I made a Sour Cream Beef Casserole and it tasted similar to a lasagna. It was pretty good. I substituted fresh tomatoes for canned tomato sauce, and I think it made the casserole a little bit watery. David seemed to like it, but Benjamin only took two bites. He hasn't been feeling well today, so I don't think he had much of an appetite. Next time I will use the tomato sauce.

David is off the first part of next week so I will be taking advantage of his grilling capabilities :)

Here is next week's meal plan:

Sunday- leftovers
Monday- Steaks, Baked Potatoes
Tuesday- Cheeseburgers, chips and Cucumbers
Wednesday- Cheesy Ham Strata, Green Beans
Thursday- Spaghetti, Salad
Friday- Veggie Beef Pie, Sweet Potatoes
Saturday- Chicken and Gravy, Mashed Potatoes, Corn

Baked Oatmeal Cups
Cookies 

Jeremiah : Three Months Old

Jeremiah turned three months old this week. It has definitely flown by.
At three months, Jeremiah is drinking four 8-oz bottles a day.
He sleeps 10-11 hours at night. He takes 3 naps a day for 2-2/12 hours.
He weighs a whopping 16 pounds! He is 24 3/4 inches long.


He has found his hands. He likes to suck his thumb.
He laughs all the time. His favorite thing to do is sit in his swing and watch his brother play.
He will talk to anyone who will listen. He is all smiles!



We love you Jeremiah! You have brought so much joy to our family.