Tuesday, July 30, 2013

...We interrupt this programming...

So sorry for the delay in bringing you the details of Braeden's trip...

but the very first part of his trip was captured on a waterproof disposable camera, which was sent in to be developed, was supposed to be back on Thursday evening, and it's now Tuesday and STILL NOT DONE!  So frustrated!!!!! :(
Sunday, July 21, 2013

Turning TEN...

While he may not be ten just yet... Braeden is turning 10 this year.  And while that is crazy crazy crazy to think about, it is fact.  So... that meant that Braeden and I spent time this past year planning his big "trip."

When Olivia was younger I decided that when each child turned 10 I would do a special Mom/Child one on one trip with each.  Two years ago Olivia and I ventured to NYC for 4 amazing days.  It was a whirl wind of a trip and we had SO MUCH FUN and got to see and do SO MANY things!  Being a school teacher and a single mom, summer is the best time for these trips, so even though Braeden won't be 10 for a while yet (February to be exact), this summer was his turn.

Originally Braeden was going to choose a ranch.  Trips are based on cost and easy travel to/from the Tampa area so that the other kids can stay with Grandma - Thanks Grandma!!!!  We even found a great ranch that was cost effective and offered the right amount of animals and quiet.  BUT, after having a few other options to choose from, he choose Disney World. :)  Yes, we've done Disney.  Yes, Disney is only just over an hour from where my mom lives.  BUT we decided to "do Disney" the way we wouldn't normally and would splurge a bit as well. 

This week was our trip... and it was great!  We definitely had some "Braeden" moments (which stunk on such a fun trip), but overall it was wonderful and a great and special time for the two of us!

Coming up... Our amazing four day trip!


Thursday, July 04, 2013

31 Days of Pinterest: Day THIRTY ONE: Firecracker Cookies

Well, I hate to say it.  I had really hoped to go out with a "BANG" on this one, and though they were very tasty, they did NOT do as hoped/promised, so I'm afraid I must declare a FAIL. :(

These look awesome!  The "gimmick" is that you use Pop Rocks on top of cookies for them to "pop" in kids' mouths.  Very cool!  BUT... they didn't pop! :(  I heard them crackle some when I put the pop rocks on the cookies, which the recipe said would happen, but then when they bit into the cookies... no more popping. :(  So while the cookies were good, the whole point of the pin was the pop rocks on top and that just didn't work. :(  So sad!



Original recipe HERE.


Wednesday, July 03, 2013

31 Days of Pinterest: Day Thirty: Rocket Dogs

In preparation for tomorrow's Fourth of July celebration, we had "Rocket Dogs" for dinner!

Kids LOVED them!!!

It was very easy and turned out adorable!  Definitely something simple to recreate.

You will need...

hot dogs
seamless crescent roll dough (can use seamed dough and press seams together to form one giant rectangle)
skewers
cheese
cupcake wrappers (I didn't buy special fourth of july wrappers though that would have been extra cute!)

Roll out the dough onto a cutting board and cut into approximately one inch strips.  (Mine made 7 strips.)

Skewer each hot dog and wrap in one strip of dough, twisting it around as you go.  Lay on a baking sheet and bake according to dough directions.

Once baked, cool slightly, then add your cupcake liners and triangles of cheese.  Your rocket is ready to blast off!


Original recipe HERE.

Tuesday, July 02, 2013

31 Days of Pinterest: Day Twenty Nine: Frozen Hot Chocolate

Semi FAIL... but I think it was only a fail due to my generic non high quality mixer. :)

Basically for this recipe, you make a homemade hot cocoa, pour it into either ice cube trays or a styrofoam egg carton (which I used), freeze, then pop most of those into a blender, blend, pour and top with readiwhip.

Trying to blend/mix my frozen hot cocoa just did not work.  What I did get (very little) tasted terrific, so I really have no doubt that with a better blender it would have been great!


Original recipe found HERE.
Monday, July 01, 2013

31 Days of Pinterest: Day Twenty Eight: Cucumber Subs

These were SO GOOD!  Course, they would have been even better if I had remembered to buy actual deli meat instead of the generic processed stuff I had for the kids in my fridge! :)

You'll need...

cucumbers
laughing cow cheese (I used Swiss)
deli meat of your choice

Slice the cucumber in half lengthwise.

Scoop out the seeds.  Spread one wedge of cheese along one half of a cucumber.  Top with deli meat and enjoy!  DELISH!






Original recipe HERE.

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About Me

I am a single mom to four amazing kids; each of whom just happen to have been adopted. The first three were adopted through foster care, and we just completed an international adoption from Haiti. Our family has grown through adoption and I am all the more blessed to know each of my children. I worship a mighty God, teach Special Ed, love bargains, and am inspired by Pinterest... come along with us for the ride!


Olivia - 14

Olivia - 14

Braeden - 11

Braeden - 11

Liam - 9

Liam - 9

Macy - 5

Macy - 5

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What you should know about HIV

-HIV can NOT be spread through casual/household contact. HIV is not spread through hugging, kissing, shaking hands, sharing toys, sneezing, coughing, sharing food, sharing drinks, bathing, swimming or any other casual way. It has been proven that HIV and AIDS can only be spread through sexual contact, birth, breastfeeding and blood to blood contact (such as sharing needles). - HIV is now considered a chronic but manageable disease. With treatment, people who are HIV+ can live indefinitely without developing AIDS and can live long and full lives. - People who are HIV+ deserve to be treated with love, respect, support and acceptance as all people do. Additional information on transmission of HIV can be found on the Center for Disease Control website: http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/resources

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Orphan Crisis

• 147 million orphans in the world
• 50 million orphans in Africa 
• Every 14 seconds a child is orphaned by AIDS
• 16,000,000 have been orphaned by AIDS
• Every week, AIDS claims as many lives as American fatalities in the Vietnam War
• 854 million people do not have enough to eat
• Malnutrition is associated with the deaths of 5 million children under the age of five
• Every 2 seconds an orphan dies from malnutrition


Hence the title of my blog

Little Did I Know

Little did I know that the road would be so rocky
Little did I know that the trip would take so long
Little did I know that my heart could hurt so much
Little did I know that God is never wrong

Little did I know that love could be so powerful
Little did I know that a dream so far could go
Little did I know that God would place the right ones
Little did I know that my heart, so large, could grow

Little did I know that a dream has it’s own timing
Little did I know that this day would finally come
Little did I know that four souls would be sent to guide me
Little did I know that they would choose to call me mom

But God knew all along and He had a plan to follow
God knew all along that my dream would soon come true
God knew all along that we five should be together
God knew all along that I’d share it all with you