What Are You Paying????

A couple of my favorite blogs The Chatty Mommy and Stairstep Boys have a little survey going.  They want to know What You Are Paying for some basic items in your area.  I found it so interesting so I thought I would join in the fun.  You can find their prices here and here.

Here are mine.

   *A Regular Gallon of Gas - $3.05 a gallon
   *A Gallon of Milk - Aldi $2.00 a gallon Walmart $4.00 a gallon
   *A Box of Store Brand Butter -  $2.50 just got it on sale for $1.88
   *A Dozen Large Eggs - $1.88 Walmart
   *A Loaf of Mrs Bairds Whole Grain White or Wheat Bread - $1.99 Price Chopper
   *A Bunch of Bananas - 69 cents a pound

So that is what we are paying in my neck of the woods.  How does it compare to where you are living? 

If you want to play along you can leave a comment and let us know what you are paying or you can blog about it, just leave a link in the comments so we can check it out. 

Blessings

Crystal

He Proposed, She Said Yes!!

This is our 22 year old, beautiful, God loving, a little bit loud, very giving, smart daughter.  Everything about her screams her daddy.  From her strength, to her muscular legs, stubby toes and beautiful teeth.  She looks like her mommy (so we are told) but everything else about her is her daddy.  She is just 1 of our pride and joys.  She is a senior in college and has been dating the same young man for a while now.  Well not long ago that wonderful young man asked her daddy for permission to marry his daughter.  After a few words of what daddy expects from this young man he gave his approval. 


She thought it was a night out for her birthday with her wonderful man, her brother and his girl friend and several friends.  But it went a little something like this;

That is the proposal in pictures.  Thanks so much to my sons girlfriend Macy of Next Chapter Photography for capturing it all for us to see. 





The newly, happily engaged couple. 

This is how the crazy couple is usually acting.

Congratulations you two.  We love you both so much.


On to the planning. 

1 Corinthians 13:4-7

New International Version (NIV)

 ⁴ Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. ⁵ It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. ⁶ Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. ⁷ It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

Happy Birthday & Woot, Woot

Today is our youngest babies birthday.  She is the big 15.  I just can not believe our youngest is that old.  She was our WHAT, I am pregnant, baby.  Oh boy, how did this happen?  Well, obviously we know how it happen but you know what I mean.  We did not plan on 3 children.  But God had other plans for us and I am so glad he did.  She is such an absolute joy.  She is a child that is very calm, pretty quite, self soothing, God loving and pretty wise for a 15 year old girl.  She is so aware of others feelings, she loves animals, being home, volleyball and her family.  She is a girl who can easily take care of her cousins just as a mom would.  It amazes me because I had to learn things that just seem to come so natural to her.  Thank you God for this wonderful child of yours you gave me to raise.  I pray I am doing a good job. 

Courtney is a freshman in high school and is on the volleyball team.  A few weeks ago she had an exciting game.  She served 25 straight points in a volleyball game.  So that meant she set a Kansas State High School Activities Association state volleyball record for points served in a single game. It was just unbelievable to watch.  Her team was so excited.  I attached the newspaper article if anyone would like to read it.
http://www.kccommunitynews.com/miami-county-republic-sports/29180413/detail.html

                  HAPPY 15th BIRTHDAY LITTLE ONE. 
                                              You are definitely a blessing from God.

Blessings

Crystal

Have you read it yet?

Have you read this book?  I am in the middle of it and I hate putting it down.  It is one of those books I have to make myself do all the things I have to do for the day before I allow myself to pick it up and read it.  I can't wait to see the movie.  It will be a while though, going to the movies is just not in our budget.

Praying for all that are in the path of the hurricane. 

Happy Saturday.

Crystal

A wonderful Summer

Boy it has been a long time since I have written anything.  But here is a few things in pictures that I have been up to this summer.



Started making Vanilla in July

Moved Ryan into his new apt at college

Got to see Alyssas new apartment at college.

Sent Courtney off to High School.

Have made lots and lots of sweet tea.

Just enjoying the beauty of summer. 

Now the kids are all back at school and the house is way, way to quite.  I am anxious to get all my fall decorations out but I am making myself wait until September.  Hope you all have had a wonderful summer. 

Summer Blessings

Crystal    

In The Summer Time When The Weather Is Hot!

Hi all, it has been a long time since I have posted.  We have just been trying to enjoy every moment of our summer.  We have done a few things but not a lot.  I am a firm believer in laying back and enjoying the few hot months that we have.  And boy has it been hot.  Today we reached over 100.  I told you hot.  So that means we have just had to visit this place a few times. Yummy



http://www.plan59.com/av/av413.htm

My youngest daughter of course has gone to spend some time with Grandpa on the farm.  She is my little farm girl.  I just love that.  She can occupy herself for days on the farm.  Here are some pictures her and her sister took. 


Sun going down on the farm



Old outhouse on the farm



Corn A-Growing

 We have played with the neighborhood animals a lot.  They are so sweet. 

Sweet Tiger



Sweet Smokey

A few other great little creatures have passed our path. 

Fourth of July we made 4th of July S'mores.  I love S'mores.  I eat way to many of these in the summer.


And in the afternoon when it is way to hot to go outside we have been getting the house ready and organized for the busy school year.  I just love clean dressers, closets and drawers.  I get excited about little things. 

Hope you all are enjoying your summer.  Don't forget to just sit on the porch with your family and by yourself at times.  The good Lord might want to whisper in your ear a bit.  So step into the quite. 

Summer Blessings 


Crystal

Summer Time

Sweet Summer Time Nights. 

Don't you just love summer nights?  I adore them.  The heat breaks, people come out of their homes and sit on their porches.  They walk their dogs or mow their lawns.  I love hearing everyone outside.  The kids come out again and ride their bikes, play ball and Frisbee.

The other night there was suppose to be a beautiful sunset, deeper red than usual.  I thought what a great time to drink some sweet tea, have some cookies and sit on the porch with the kids.  We always have sweet tea in the fridge so I just had to make up a batch of cookies.  The cookies I decided to make are No Bake Cookies.  Since it was so hot I really did not want to make it even hotter in my kitchen.  I am sure most of you have made these but I thought I would share my recipe.  They are a yummy quick cookie.  Great when momma needs a little chocolate.

                                      No Bake Chocolate  Oatmeal Cookies

                                                2 cups sugar
                                                4 Tablespoons cocoa
                                                1/2 cup milk
                                                1/2 cup margarine
                                                1/2 cup peanut butter
                                                3 cups uncooked oats

                    Combine sugar, cocoa, milk and margarine. Bring to a boil and boil for

                     1 minute add peanut butter and boil another 2 minutes.  Remove from heat 

                     and stir in oats.  Drop from Tablespoon onto Parchment paper.  Let set.

  I put the tea in canning jars, just because I thought it would be fun and have the feel of the Andy Griffith Show time.  You know how in those days people would sit on the porch, sing songs and drink sweet tea.  I love the feeling of those times.  So simple and family oriented times.  I called the kids and we all went outside, sat on the porch swing, ate cookies and drank sweet tea.  We waited for the sun to set but we did not get to see it happen.  I guess smoke was blowing in from some fires in Arizona just at sunset and covered it all up.  Oh well.  But we stayed outside till after 10:00 p.m. eating cookies, drinking tea, talking, playing Frisbee under the street light and looking for a kitten we heard some where.  What a wonderful evening it was sunset or not.  I am going to try to get us out there a lot more.  Maybe shortcake with strawberries on it for a Sunday evening on the porch swing.  It is a memory I will never forget and I pray my children won't either.



Court and Brit playing Frisbee under the street light



Look close and you will see I-Pods and  cell phones left behind.  Woo Hoo!!

  Hope you are making some fun summer time memories.  They don't have to be elaborate or expensive ideas.  Sitting on the porch or deck with your favorite dessert and summer time drink is plenty.  Food will also always get your teenage boy out there with you, if your boy is like mine. 

Summer Blessings

Crystal

(Missed you sweet Alyssa and sweet  hard working hubby).