Kids Say Some cRazY Stuff

Hey, everyone! I hope all of y'all are surviving with school being back in session. It's been pretty dang great here at our place- so far. It's still early, so y'all check on me in a few days to make sure the children haven't taken over. (Prayers greatly appreciated) (Seriously, y'all)

I have been looking forward to school (homeschool) starting back. What in the world?! Crazy, I know! I think it's because it's something fresh and new and I've really been needing that. The kids are showing so much improvement already and that inspires me to do better and keep it up. 

Being around kids a lot, you hear some pretty crazy things come out of their mouths. Can I get an amen? So, about 2 years ago I decided to start writing down the silly things they say and funny things that happen in our daily life. 

You know how you think back to a happy time when someone said or did something hilarious and you want to capture that memory? Doing this is ideal for that!

I started writing the entries in a composition book, but over time, I have found some stray forgotten quotes from some of my Facebook posts and had to put those in the book too. Now the book is all out of order and it's about as organized as a trunk full of coat hangers. 

I decided I'm going to buy a new book and rewrite all the entries and that will be the "official" copy. Ya know, the ones the kids fight over after I die. Yes, I worry about that sort of thing and I've already told them I don't want them fighting over it after I'm gone and that they can go to Staple's and have copies made. And, yes, they think I'm crazy. 

I found a journal that I'd like to get, but I'm also cheap and am having a hard time shelling out the dinero. 

I am in love with this Kate Spade spiral, but $14? I'm SURE I can find something cheaper. It's what I do, I'm a bargain hunter! 

Oh, what do ya know! I DID find something JUST as cute and WAY cheaper! See why I'm hesitant?

Hello, 88 cent journal! 

I found this one in the Back To School section at Walmart and it'll be just fine. It is small (5" x 7", 80 sheets), and I'm not 100% sure of it yet, but we'll see. 

Remmi had to have one too and she has already been busy writing in hers. And all over her skin. (I believe her's was $0.50, but don't quote me on that.)

There are several different types of journals and composition books out this time of year and now is a great time to grab one. You can get a $0.50 book and cover it with some pretty paper and have the same effect as the higher priced books. 

Rylie made this one a long time ago as a Wednesday night church craft. 

It's wild and crazy, but that's how she rolls. 

I saw some super cute ideas on Pinterest that aren't quite as crazy as Rylie's technique. 

If you're not feeling crafty and prefer to buy a journal that's ready to go, I have found some that are just right, and at a few different price points. 

Another Kate Spade journal - $14.00 (Nordstrom)

Kids Say the Darnedest Things Journal - $6.50 (Etsy)

Various books from Walmart's school supply section - $0.17, $0.50, $0.50 

My Quotable Kid Book - $14.95 (Land Of Nod)

And let's not forget pretty pens! These are hands down my favorite pens. I love how they write and I enjoy all the different colors because life is too short to only write in black ink! 

I challenge every single one of y'all to write down the next funny thing that your kid says or does. Save it in the notes section of your phone. You can even just jot it down on a sheet of paper and hang it on the fridge for now. Maybe tuck it in a book and someday when you come across it, it'll bring a smile to your face. It'll be a nice surprise. 

Let's face it, our minds won't last forever and we can only remember so many stories. Leave a happy little treasure for the generations ahead to enjoy. My kids love reading our book and giggling at all the stuff they did. I hope they share ours with their kids and remember that they had a momma who loved them and cherished her time with them. 

Pull out a pencil and get started!

I hope y'all have a wonderful Wednesday!

XO, Jenn❤️

Never Ever Have A Naked Door!

Hey, y'all! Good morning! 

Today I want to share with y'all a wreath I made over the weekend. Ok, actually it was Saturday night. And my cat helped me. You might say, "What in the world?! I didn't know Jennifer was so dang wild"! Yeah, I get crazy. 

My four older babies wanted to stay over at Nanna & Poppa's, so it was just baby and me. And Gus the cat. 

I had cleaned the school room/craft room that day, and it was so nice and tidy that I had to get in there and make something! "Where's the glue gun? Who's had my glue gun"? Anyone else that problem. The kids LOVE making things with my glue gun and it's ALWAYS missing. ::growl:: Back up off my craft stuff! 

I started out by gathering my supplies. 

A straw wreath (leave the plastic on it)

Assorted colors of yarn 

Scissors

Pinking shears

Glue gun

Glue sticks (I liked to have never found those little invisible suckers)

Pom Pom maker

Pins

1/3 yard of the fabric that you want your wreath wrapped in

A scrap of fabric about 22" x 11"

A scrap of fabric about 3" x 5"

Craft Cat (this isn't absolutely necessary, but I can't promise that yours will turn out like mine did if you don't have one)

I promise y'all that this is easy and you don't have to be Crafty McCracterson in order to make this. Having a crafty bone not required!

After I found all my supplies, I took the fabric that I wanted the wreath to be wrapped in and cut it into strips about 3" wide. 

I mean seriously! Look how much help my cat was. "You cut while I hold the fabric still". -Gus

I used pinking shears because I prefer the zig zag look instead of the straight raw edge. After the fabric was cut into strips, I pinned the end of one of the strips into the back of the wreath and began wrapping the fabric around, pulling it pretty tight. 

When the strip of fabric was completely wrapped, I repeated the process and pinned another strip on until the wreath was completely covered. 

You want to be sure that your strip runs out on the backside of the wreath so your pins won't show. You can cut some off if yours aren't ending on the back. 

I got the fabric that I wanted to make the bow out of and glued down the top and bottom seams. Be sure not to use too much glue because you don't want your glue to bleed through to the front side of your fabric. You can put something inside  to protect it if you need to, but don't forget it's in there and glue it up. 

"Yeah, that looks pretty straight to me". 

-Gus

Then I folded over the outside edges and glued them down just like I did the top and bottom seams. 

Then I got the little scrap of fabric and glued it's side seams down. Don't glue it's top and bottom down until you get it around your other fabric or you'll just end up with a loop and what are you going to do with that??? Nothin'.

Scrunch the middle of your bow part up until it resembles a big bow that your mom used to make you wear. Then wrap the small scrap around it making sure your seams are all facing up. 

Glue the end of the small piece and press down. It's ok if the glue bleeds through here. 

Make 8 pom poms out of your choice of yarn colors. I used 4 different colors and made 2 of each color. Be sure and tie a long piece (24" or so) of yarn around your pom pom so you'll have something to hang it up by. 

(I forgot to take pictures of me making the pom poms because I was trying to hurry and get finished so I could go get an Oreo Blast from Sonic... Ya know how it is.)

I tied all the pom pom strings in a loop knot, so I'd have something to hang the wreath by. Leave about 4" - 7" between the knot and the pom pom. Be sure and vary your lengths so they won't all pile up on each other. 

I cut off the excess yarn from the knot and pinned the knot to the backside of the wreath. And there's your hanger. Don't accidentally cut off your pom poms!

Then I turned the wreath right side up and glued the bow (seam side down) to the wreath. Press down while the glue dries so your bow gets a good hold or you might find your bow out in the yard. 

Tada! All finished! I ALWAYS have something pretty hanging on my doors. I think everyone should! I think it makes your house look more cute and welcoming. 

Now you have an excuse to go to Hobby Lobby! Here's a coupon that is good through Saturday to use on one non-sale item you purchase. 

Now get busy making something pretty to hang on those doors. Happy crafting! 

❤️ Jenn

Manic Monday Meal

Good morning, y'all! 

Busy school nights are going to be here in about two shakes of a lamb's tail, so that means rushed evenings and quick suppers. 

Kids have homework, sports and we know that laundry and housework don't stop just because school is back in session, so we need to save time where we can and supper is a great thing to save time on! I love to be in the kitchen, but I don't know anyone who wants to be in there slaving over the stove when there is an easier way!

I'm all for fast and easy, but that doesn't mean you have to feed the kids a Wacky Pack. Let's face it, I'm way too cheap for that! Eating away from home can do some damage to a checkbook real quick like! I can think of a bunch of other things I'd rather throw away money on ::daydreams about fall fashion trends::.  And I don't think anybody actually wants to have to feed their family fast food more than they have to. 

A recipe I made last week was one that you will definitely want to throw into your supper rotation. Typically I make pulled pork with this special Red Pepper Jelly (from Mayben's in Pittsburg, Texas) that my sweetest friend Sandy Hooper bought me, but I was all out and really needed to cook the cut of meat I had in the fridge. I pulled a few different ideas from a couple of different recipes and put my own spin on it. 

Here's what I used:

2-3 pound pork shoulder roast

2/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese 

1/2 cup honey

3 tablespoons soy sauce

1 tablespoon garlic powder

[If you get a bigger roast, you may need to double the recipe.]

This is so, so easy! Open your crockpot, drop the meat in, mix up all the ingredients and pour over meat. That's it!

 Cover crockpot top with foil before placing lid on top. Cook on low for 5-6 hours. 

When the meat is done, pull all the meat out and place on a plate. Dump the juice from the crockpot into a bowl. Shred meat with a fork, removing fat, dump meat back into crockpot. You can pour some of the juice back in if you find that your meat isn't juicy enough. Sometimes I do this, sometimes I just put barbecue sauce on the meat. 

Serve on hamburger buns, Hawaiian rolls or fresh bread. This is a lot like chopped beef that you get from the barbecue restaurants. You could even pick up some pre-made potato salad and baked beans if you want to lighten your load a bit more. Don't we mommas need that once in a while?! Absolutely!

I hope y'all have an incredible week!

❤️ XO, Jenn

Summer, You Are Dismissed

Picture it: cold, dreary, no sunshine, some girl on Facebook griping about the yucky weather. "Hush your mouth, girl! Soon it'll be nothing but sweat and $400 light bills!"

Remember that? Remember when we thought summer would never get here? ::sigh:: 

 I was totally the one who was begging for summer to hurry up and show its beautiful self. Now guess what? I'm totally over it! And have been for a while now. 

I'm ready for fall and all that it brings! And, duh, you know I'm talking about the clothes and all things pumpkin!

The past few mornings have been a nice teaser for what's to come. The kids and I go out as soon as we get up so we can enjoy some time outside before its unbearably hot. They draw on the porch with chalk, rope the dummy, throw the frisbee, help me water the pumpkins and watermelons, and just do what they do best, run wild. I sit on the bench and sip my coffee...and fight off ants, but that kind of takes away from the nice mental picture. 

This morning it was climbing the tulip tree and shouting, "Hey, Mom! Bring us snacks!"

Can you see all 5 kiddos? Yes, the baby is in the tree like the big kids. 

I'm looking forward to cozy pajamas, soups, spicy candles, lower electric bills (can I get an amen?), and being able to pile on scarves and layering pieces without running the risk of a heat stroke. Just thinking about those things gets me excited! 

Nanny is adding to my excitement by picking me up a few little fall decorations from Hobby Lobby. Have I told y'all that I have the best grandma? 

(FYI: 40% all fall decor right meow)

I may or may not be planning on getting my fall decorations out this weekend...

Today my to do list includes decluttering and scrubbing the school room so we can have a fresh start to the fast-approaching school year. See, doesn't decorating sound so much more fun?

Y'all have a fabulous weekend! Enjoy your family, eat snow cones and cherish the last days of summer break. 

❤️ XO, Jenn 

Find The Gold

What if I told you that when you see me pushing my baby on a park swing, that I am there because I WANT to be and I'm not just killing time or "hoping the kids play hard and get tired so they'll go to bed early"? 

What if I told you I actually ENJOY being in the kitchen and preparing meals for my family instead of just popping a frozen dinner in the oven?

What if I told you that I LIKE waiting on my husband hand and foot and don't mind fixing his plate and refilling his glass of tea for the third time? 

What if I told you that when you see me with all my kids at the store that I have them there with me because I CHOOSE to bring them and I enjoy taking them almost everywhere I go. 

What if I told you that I LOVE when my kids ask me for another book at bedtime and I don't huff and roll my eyes because I'm dying to get to the couch to watch TV?

What if I told you that I don't take my kids to public school or daycare because I don't feel like I need a break from them and that I look forward to spending all the time with them that I can? 

What if I told you that I'm content and happy with sitting home doing dishes, laundry, preparing meals for my family and that trips to town and Sunday mornings are the "big events" of my week? 

I don't feel like I am a servant for taking care of my family and putting their needs before my own. That's what makes ME feel like a good wife and momma. 

Now what if YOU told me that you don't like doing any of those things? 

Does that give me the privilege of thinking I'm better at this mom thing than you? Nope. I've got truck loads of issues!

Does that give you the right to assume I'm faking my smiles and happy social media posts? Nope. You can believe it! 

Some of us REALLY are happy doing what we do!

Those happy pictures I post, I don't "do it for the likes" or attention. I truly am happy and I want to share it with the world! I'm sorry if that isn't what you want to hear and it's not what you expected. 

Why is it easy to believe the bad but to be so skeptical of the good?

Just because I don't go on Facebook and tell the world that I've got $1.07 left in the checking account until payday and that I just yelled at my kids for fighting for the 67,456 time while I typed this post, doesn't mean I'm being phony. 

I cuss. I yell. I cry. I embarrass myself. Some days are tremendously hard on me. Those lows are only a drop in the bucket. My joy is never-ending. 

Just because my husband and I get into a huge fight and I don't broadcast it and document it on Instagram doesn't mean I'm hiding my real life.  

As much as I love to share, I still deserve to keep certain aspects of my life where they belong - private. 

Is that what is considered fake, not airing your entire life? Then you can call me fake. 

People will judge and believe what they want. And that's ok! 

Does it hurt my feelings that you think I must be pretending to be someone else if I'm not sharing all the negative events in my life with the world? 

YES. 

So, if having to tell yourself that I've got plenty of things to hide and that's not the real me makes YOU feel like you're doing better, go right on ahead. 

That's your problem, not mine. 

❤️ Jenn, a mega blessed and happy girl who has tons of struggles and still finds lots of reasons to show a REAL smile

Berry Pickin' And Cobbler Bakin'

Hey y'all! Lots of rain means different things to different folks and I'm trying to look at it in the bright side. I try to be a glass half full kind of gal. For example, all this rain is watering the blackberries and letting them grow to be all fat and juicy! Who doesn't have memories of picking blackberries and eating them straight off the vine? 

A couple of Sundays ago, we all went berry pickin and got a TON of blackberries. 

These kids aren't scared to get in that brush and go after some berries!

So what did we do with a bucket full of berries? Made a cobbler of course! The recipe I used is SUPER simple and you probably already have everything you need on-hand. 

Blackberry Cobbler

•1 stick of butter, melted

•1 cup of all purpose flour 

•1 cup of sugar

•1 cup of milk

•4-5 cups of berries (you can use less if you like more of a "crusty" cobbler) 

•1 cup of sugar for sprinkling on top 

Preheat oven to 350*. Pour melted butter into a 9x13 baking dish. In a mixing bowl, mix together the flour, milk & sugar. Pour over melted butter. Put fruit over mixture. Sprinkle with 1 cup of sugar. Bake until golden brown (usually 30-35 minutes). 

It can't get any easier, can it? Berries are pretty expensive when bought from the grocery store. They grow wild almost everywhere. So why wouldn't you pick your own?! Keep an eye out next time you're driving through the country and pick your own so you can bake a delicious cobbler for your crew! 

P.S. Unfortunately Blue Bell is still out, and that is heartbreaking, but my inlaws happened to have some kind of ice cream that was okay served with cobbler. 

Y'all get a bucket and put it in your car right now so you'll be ready when you see a berry vine loaded down with berries! You won't be sorry!

Happy picking, y'all!