Growing up Country

Tuesday, August 6, 2013

Summer Activities

In between the rain this summer we have had lots of fun-filled days.

visits from cousins

(don't worry this is the "art room" where you are allowed to write on the walls:)

Grandma was able to visit us as well

Josiah and Isaiah

We also found the Calhoun Library and enjoyed their summer reading program. The kids did crafts, had snacks, and listened to stories.

Wyatt making a snake out of an old tie

Anna Lea showing her snake "fangs" (Bugles)

The kids loved being members of our church's pool, and made big improvements with swimming this year.

Layla and Wyatt loving their goggles from daddy

Rainy Season

This has been the rainiest summer I can remember here in East Tennessee. There have been lots of puddles to splash in and mud to track in. I followed the kids around with the camera......

we found some blackberries

Saturday, July 27, 2013

Even though it was a rainy 4th, we still enjoyed a family day at the movies, followed by a delicious supper at Robert and Fairy's. This is the kid's great aunt and uncle. They loved the new puppy, Ava. The girls are wearing their matching red, white, and blue shirts from Grandma.

Thursday, July 18, 2013

Tea Party

The kids grandmother, who they call, Marmee has a special club just for them. They meet every week and earn badges for memorizing scripture, and learning different things. This past week I was invited to a tea party, hosted by my children! They wanted to show off all of the manners they were learning. Mimi (one of their great-grandmothers) was also in attendance at the special event.

I knocked on the door, and was greeted by this handsome gentlemen, who escorted me to my seat.

Layla and Wyatt waiting to open the door for Mimi

Wyatt walking Mimi to her chair

Everyone was dressed to impress

with heavy makeup to match

We were served some tasty refreshments by the girls

Layla graced us with a bit of light reading

The party came to an end with a "bad manners" skit. They were more than happy to show what you are not supposed to do and say when you have guests over for tea:)

Thank you Marmee for investing in the lives of these kids, I know they will always remember this special day!

Sweet Snacks

I finally made a purchase for a few bulk items through Amazon. I had been wanting to get some organic grits (which my kids eat for breakfast like they are going out of style), oatmeal, and raisins. When they arrived I was eager to try my hand at granola and some chocolate covered raisins. They both turned out wonderful! (so they made the blog)

Ingredients for the granola: coconut oil, oats, vanilla (mine is homemade:), salt, shredded coconut, honey, and some slivered almonds. I found a recipe that I somewhat went by online, I think it was the Organic wife blog?

Before

After!!

I have been eating it as cereal with milk and sliced bananas on top, De-lish!

Next, I googled how to make my own chocolate chips and found out how to make the chocolate that I used to cover my raisins. It was really simple.

I spread out the raisins on parchment paper, then poured the warm chocolate sauce over them.

Then they cooled and hardened in the fridge for a couple of hours. Well, to be honest, they didn't make it for two hours, before they were tested. Yummy! Next I want to do the same with some peanuts!