The Teen Years

Lately my soon to be teenager is just grumpy,and most of the time unpleasant to be around. I know this is a phase that will last a couple of years..lol. I know there is a sweet boy somewhere down inside there.It’s just hard to see right now:) Every once in a while I get a glimpse of the young man he is becoming.

Once they are in middle school it is hard to really keep up with what they are doing unless they tell you. Well Kain doesn’t really volunteer a lot of information about anything that goes on. I usually find out through a messaging system his school has or another parent tells me. Well this morning on the way to school he mentioned something about reading to a kid. Kain is not the best reader,and until this year he hasn’t enjoyed reading at all. Thankfully his awesome ELA teacher, Mrs. Brackett, has gotten him into reading,and he actually likes it! Well when he mentioned reading to a kid I thought it was kind of odd. I asked him who he read too,and he said he volunteered to go read in the special ed room every Monday. His “buddy” loves reading about Nascar so that is what Kain reads to him. He said that his friend would be upset if he found out Kain really didn’t like Nascar so he just pretends to like it. He would NEVER be that nice to his brother or sister,but that’s OK. I love that he looks forward to going every Monday to visit his friend,and I am sure his “buddy” loves to see him too.

My heart was so full this morning I almost cried ,but that would have been the end of him telling anything! Just when I think he isn’t getting anything from us, or at church he surprises his mama. I love that boy!

Taco Soup

 

I am always looking for quick,and easy meals for my family. I do not enjoy cooking so if it was up to me we would eat out every night. My family would prefer to eat at home, and plus it cost so much for a family of 5 to eat out. So if I can find some thing to throw in the crock pot I am one happy mama. My friend, Summer, told me about a recipe for taco soup. She had found it at Crockin' Girls along with a ton of other great recipes. It was a hit with my family,and it will definitely be on our list of future meals.

I browned the meat before I left for work,and dumped it all in the crockpot. Since nothing really had to cook just heat up, I put it on warm all day. When I got home it was nice,and hot. Hope you enjoy!

1 can light red kidney beans

1 can pinto beans

1 can black beans

1 can great northern beans

1 can diced tomatoes with garlic

1 can rotel tomatoes

1 can corn

1 lb ground beef

1 envelope taco seasoning

1 envelope ranch dressing mix

fritos for topping

shredded cheese for topping

Brown and drain meat, add all ingredients except Fritos and cheese (DO NOT drain any cans except black beans....you don't have to drain black beans but if you don't your soup will turn dark and not as pretty!) and cook until hot. I top with Fritos and shredded cheese. Easiest recipe ever and it makes a LOT of soup!

We left out the black beans,and corn. We also topped it with sour cream.

 

A New Look

I have spent a better part of the evening trying to get a new look on my blog. I really need the “PC for Dummies” book. I have no clue what I am doing,and about crashed my laptop in the process. I am hoping with all the work I have put in tonight that it will motivate me to blog. Yea, it probably won’t, but I have to think positive. I am not sure when I think I am going to have time to blog.

I am either running my kids around the world, working at the ELC, or shooting families ( with my camera). I am so thankful for all the business I get,but sometimes this mama is just plain tired! I feel like I haven’t stopped since well forever. I spent all summer raising money to go to Uganda. Which was live changing..Praise the Lord! I haven’t stopped since I got back either.

I am counting down until December 3. Why December 3rd? Because that is my LAST photo shoot….of this year anyway.

The kids are staying busy with cheer, wrestling,and band. I am trying to prepare myself for the crazy cheer schedule that is about to start. We will be traveling at least once a month starting in December. I am not sure who in their right mind thought having a cheer competition 4 days after Christmas was a great idea. Oh,and did I mention it is in NASHVILLE!! And during Kain’s birthday! So while I am exhausted from all the photo sessions, I am also very thankful that it is bringing in some money.

I have decided that blogging everyday is just not realistic, so I am going to try for at least once a week. But don’t hold me too it!

Halloween

This Halloween was a little sad for this mama. Only 1 of my children dressed up ,and that was Zoe. Kain didn’t dress up last year, and Noah joined him this year. Of course they still walked around to get candy. Every year our church does Trunk or Treat,and we had a trunk this year. Corey was excited to decorate the car,and I had to remind him it couldn’t be too scary. Zoe was a ballerina,and looked very beautiful. The kids enjoy handing out the candy,and seeing all the costumes. I think they said over 1500 went through the line. We still left with way too much candy.

We get there early enough to tailgate..lol.

Pumpkins and More

One Sunday after church we headed to Hendersonville, North Carolina. We started going up there a few years ago to Grandads -Apples-N-Such to get our pumpkins. We were almost too late because there were only a few ( compared to earlier in the month) pumpkins left. Each of the kids were able to find the perfect one. We also tried a few different apples while we were there. We normally get apple cider,but no one was in the mood for it. This is one of our family’s favorite places to go.

 

 

 

Zoe found the apple she wanted,and the guys filled a bag up. They were REALLY good!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After we stocked up on pumpkins,and apples we headed to Chimney Rock. We walked around the River Walk,and climbed on rocks. It was just a nice relaxing afternoon.

 

 

This is one of my all time favorite pictures of myself,and Zoe. Corey is getting to be a great photographer:)

 

 

 

We ended the afternoon getting ice cream,and looking in all of the shops.