Weekend Fun!!!

We had a very busy but fun weekend. It started as soon as school was out on Friday. We hurried home to get things ready to head to the lake. Paul's parents have a lake house and they always cook hash or chicken stew on Memorial Day, the Fourth of July and Labor Day. There were conflicts this past Labor Day so they decided to have a fall hash cooking. All of Paul's family gathers at the lake for this. We have hotdogs, hamburgers, a huge pot of boiled peanuts and delicious desserts. Papa Ty cooks the hash in a huge black pot on the screened porch and he stirs it with a big wooden paddle. He's been cooking hash and chicken stew like this for almost 30 years!! I always try to take something to have at our cook-out. My pasta salad is a must and I usually bring a dessert. This time I made something new. It turned out so yummy. It was a Chocolate Fudge Sheet Cake. The icing was homemade gooey goodness. Chocolate fudge and pecans what could be better. We got everything packed up and hopped in the car. When we got there Paul and the little ones headed down to the pier to take a look.
They had to get on their tummies to get as close to the water as possible under the watchful eye of daddy.
Then they trampled up and down the hill in the leaves.
We tried to get a few good shots.
Land even came down for a picture. It was a fun, family filled fall evening. We stayed until the hash was done and the little ones were yawning(way past their bedtimes). Then we said our good-byes and headed home with several quarts of hash to freeze away for a cold winter day. It was great fun, we did miss having Anna Kayla and Greg there though. They were away for the weekend. We had to hurry to bed to get up early Saturday to head to the zoo!!!

We met several CWA families there. Here's our group picture, kind of hard to get so many little ones to cooperate but we managed.
Daddy and the kiddos waiting to ride the carousel. They don't look too happy about having to wait do they???
A highlight was feeding the giraffes little pieces of lettuce. It was so funny watching their faces when the giraffe stuck his big tongue out.
Another mouthful.
All in all it was a fabulous weekend but it put me so far behind on laundry and everything else I spent most of my Sunday catching up(I usually rest on this day) so after church today it was lunch at our favorite Mexican restaurant and then home to get busy and ready for a new week.

As we begin a new week my prayer is that we turn each day over to God and let Him guide and direct our paths.

In your unfailing love you will lead the people you have redeemed.

In your strength you will guide them.

Exodus 15:13

Until next time.........................

Robin

Hanging Out at Home and Fun Times at the Fire Department

Tonight thankfully we didn't have anything that we had to do or any where we had to be. So we just hung around the house. Paul was working outside so I went out to keep the little ones out of his way for a while. Land was at a football game with friends. Things were going well until they decided to play some kind of crawl down the steps game. Fearing injury I had to steer them in another direction and quick.
Clara Beth wasn't as anxious to leave the steps as Emanuiel was. She took a little more coaxing. I finally was able to lure both of them in the house with the promise of letting them help me cook. Yes, you read that correctly!! So in we went with much excitement I might add.
Once inside the measuring and mixing began. It was a simple menu for tonight. The weather was cool so we had decided to have "breakfast" for dinner. Here are the little chefs stirring away.
Of course they had to do a little tasting too!
Clara Beth assured me the muffins they were mixing up were ready for the oven.

Here's just a little peek at our dinner. Paul makes fabulous French Toast and tonight was no exception. We also enjoyed biscuits, scrambled eggs, milk and juice. It was all YUMMY!!!
After our "Manic Monday" we went out for dinner on Tuesday(Mexican, one of our favorites) and then off to the Fire Department to celebrate Fire Safety Month. They had a great time.
Possible future fire fighter.
Too cute but an oh so heavy hat!!
And the best part of all we met up with family that we had not seen in a while. They all had a great time together. That's just a little glimpse into what we've been up to this week. Tomorrow begins the weekend and we have fun plans ahead. We can hardly wait.

Remember:

He who refreshes others will himself be refreshed.

Proverbs 11:25

I hope you all have a refreshing and restful weekend.

Until next time..................

Robin

******Manic Monday******

For some reason(that will later be understood) the old 80's song "Just Another Manic Monday" kept running through my head this afternoon. It all started out pleasant enough but went downhill fast. At 3:00 I still wasn't sure what we would have for dinner tonight so after school I quickly headed to the grocery store and viola a meal was planned!!(in record speed I might add) I rushed home because Anna Kayla and Greg were joining us and they had somewhere to be at 7:00. This didn't give us much time to we set things in motion. Our dinner turned out great: Grilled Bar-B-Qued Chicken, Baked Potatoes with Home made Sour Cream, Brown Sugar Baked Beans, Broccoli and Mozzarella Garlic Bread. The Grill master and his little assistant did an excellent job on the chicken!
I whipped up an Oreo Pie(gotta have dessert no matter how crunched we are for time) and we all sat down to enjoy our meal together. Or so we thought............we undoubtedly were all tired from a long day at school and work and a very busy weekend because my happy little family was well, NOT very happy!!! We were cranky and just down right poopie!! The Oreo Pie didn't even help. The little ones were whiny(so were the big ones) myself(sad to say) was also included!
To try and make things better(bearable until bedtime) I decided, while Paul cleaned up the kitchen, Land and I would take the little ones for a ride through the neighborhood in the wagon. Fun stuff right, WRONG! They pushed, pulled, kicked, and sat on each other!!! So back to the house for baths we went. I couldn't get there fast enough!!
After bath time(which was fun, as always) the two toodle bugs decided to sit together and play with the Tinker Toys. Emanuiel LOVES to line things up so he put each little animal in a line on top of the can, which Clara Beth quickly knocked off numerous times. Then the screaming ensued. See the determination on his little face.
So instead of having a night filled with this...................sweet hugging and loving..............

We got THIS!!!!!! Thankfully EVERYONE is asleep now and I am in my favorite pajamas. My sweet husband surprised me with a very early Christmas present today..............Paula Deen's new Christmas Cookbook. Now that the house is quiet I am going to go and snuggle under my covers, with my pillow propped up and read all the delicious recipes in my new book!!

No matter what, even a Manic Monday spent with my family is better than a Marvelous Monday spent away from them!!!

This is what I am going to do:

I will forget my complaint,

I will put off my sad face

and wear a smile.

Job 9:27

Until next time.....................

Robin

And I hope all of you have a terrific Tuesday!!!

Perfect Day For A Pic-Nic (Almost)

Today was the "perfect" day for a pic-nic. We could hardly wait. Our plans were to rush home after church , change clothes, and head to a national park near our house. There was only one small problem(who weighs about 28 pounds). Clara Beth didn't feel well when she woke up this morning so we decided not to go to church and just watch her to see if she perked up. She did, so we got ourselves ready and packed up our picnic. We had called some other China families and couldn't wait to meet them there. Emanuiel had never been on a picnic so he wasn't sure what we were doing but he knew it must be something exciting. He was running around the house like a little tornado. We were finally ready and on our way. Here's the picnic parade heading to our spot.
Emanuiel, Jeremiah, and Land hugged up before a little football (again this is one of Land's favorite pastimes),
We combined our goodies and boy did we "pack a pic-nic" we had fresh fruit, fried chicken, ribs, a variety of sandwiches, chips, pasta and potato salad, brownies and cookies galore. We even added a scarecrow and gourds for a little festive flare!! The weather was gorgeous, the sun was peeping through the trees and leaves were falling all around us in the gentle breeze. Fall at its best.
And yes, this little guy could eat it ALL!!!! Can't you tell by looking at his face!!
This little one ( who by now was feeling better) ate way too many Doritos.

This was how we caught her(notice the handful) we finally hid the bag!!!
Here are four of our China sweeties(two couldn't make it today). Another family of friends also had the picnic idea and came over and joined us. Then they started a friendly game of kick ball. Always glad to spend time with the Crittendon Crew.
My big sweeties!! We were so glad Anna Kayla and Greg were able to be with us today.
We were actually able to get a picture of ALL of us.
Some how when we get together Emanuiel finds him a little sweetie to love on. Today was no exception. He loved pulling the girls in the wagon and running and playing and holding hands. He even helped them climb up on this wooden porch. He is quite a little gentleman. Alas the fun came to an abrupt end for us shortly after this picture was taken. Poor Clara Beth got sick. We gathered everything up, said our goodbyes and headed back home. Pray that she is well soon. I think the tummy bug has landed right on her. Poor little thing, she is resting now and I just pray the bug stops here and is not passed to the rest of us!! Despite the bug(what pic-nic would be complete with out some kind) it was a great day spent with family, friends and good food!! What could be better.

As I looked around at my family, friends and God's beautiful creation today I couldn't help but be in awe of all that He has blessed us with.

The Lord, your Redeemer and Creator says: "I am the Lord who made all things. I alone stretched out the heavens. By myself I made the earth and everything in it."

Isaiah 40: 27-28

Until next time............enjoy ALL that our creator has blessed you with.

Robin

Talking It Over With Mr. Scarecrow

Hello, I don't think we've met.
Mommy, there's a strange fellow on our front porch.
I kind of like this guy, I think I'll just sit with him for a while.
What should we do with him Mei Mei? I like him, let's keep him!!


Just a little fun with our fall friends!! Emanuiel had a wonderful visit with his cleft doctor today. He has been released and doesn't have to go back for one whole year!!!! The best part.......he can eat ANYTHING now!!! YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!! We are so excited!! We are going on a picnic Sunday and I see fried chicken in our future!!! and potato chips and nachos and lollipops and crackers and other delicious crunchy things!!!!! Sorry I got carried away but the last five weeks we have had to be so careful. It was worth it though, his mouth looks beautiful. God has been so faithful to us through all of this. We give Him ALL the glory.


Clap your hands, all you peoples;
shout to God with loud songs of joy.
For the Lord, the Most High is awesome,
a great king over all the earth.
Psalm 47: 1-2

Until next time..............
May your hearts be filled to the brim with goodness and songs of joy for our Lord!!

Robin

Go have a picnic!!!! We are!!!!!!!

Fall Football Fun

We spent a fun fall afternoon in our backyard playing football together. Here's Dad giving Emanuiel a few pointers on hiking the ball. Look at that technique!
It was definitely full contact. Here's Emanuiel taking Bubbie down. What a tackle!
Just a little loving after the game.
Even Flopsy wanted to get in on the fun.
Kicking back on an autumn afternoon. We had so much fun outside together. Then it was time for dinner. We hurried in the house to an array of "fridge fare" just a fancy word for leftovers!! Tonight the living was easy; the little ones dined on Parmesan noodles, steamed broccoli, and ham. Land and Paul whipped up their own dishes of Nachos and Toasted Ravioli, and me, I had delicious buttered noodles(how nutritious). It was worth it though to be able to spend extra time outside. Our time is often filled with busyness(schedules, homework, meetings,etc) so it's nice to be able to just drop everything and spend time together as a family. I know this is not always possible though. So no matter what is on your agenda for each day just remember this:

Whatever you do,
do it all for the glory of God.
1 Corinthians 10:31

Until Next time...................
Robin

Happy Fall Ya'll

It's beginning to look a lot like fall around our house. The little ones love all of the fall decorations(who am I kidding, I do this because I LOVE it). This weekend I finally got busy and put everything out because we had company coming for lunch today!!
So the table was set and waiting................
The cake had baked and cooled...................
And when our special guests arrived we were ready to eat. Emanuiel was very anxious to hurry and say the blessing so he could dig in, can you tell!!! It was my Aunt Inez's 88th birthday today so she and my Aunt Joyce had a special birthday lunch at our house to celebrate. Since it was her birthday I made her favorites; Sliced Ham, Lima Beans, Brown Rice, and no southern Sunday lunch would be complete without a Macaroni Pie and Cornbread Muffins. We topped everything off with Pound Cake covered in a warm Carmel Sauce I whipped up on the stove.
After everyone had gone home Daddy and the little ones had some relaxation time in the hammock. It was a wonderful weekend. Tomorrow we get back into the swing of work, school and busy schedules.

Until next time..................
May God grant you the strength you need to get through your busy week.
Those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint.
Isaiah 40:31

Have a great week!
Robin