Grocery Budgets?

Hey People. I've got a question for you! Would you participate in my little poll? How much do you spend on groceries? Because I go over my budget every month. I'm trying to determine what is reasonable for a family of 4. So if you are feeling bold, leave me a comment. Or, would you sign in as "Anonymous" and tell me how much do you spend each month? I'd also be interested in knowing how many kids you have, if you have to buy diapers or formula, and if you have pets included in that budget.

Thanks in advance!

Outtakes

Every time I look at this series of photos, I laugh. Ethan was sitting in my lap during the rodeo in Texas. I decided to try to take a picture of the two of us. So I thought I held the camera out, aimed accurately, and took my picture. But instead, it came out like this:So I told Lance to get out of my shot, and I aimed again, and took what I thought would be a better picture: For REAL?!? Get out of my picture, and stop looking Brain dead! So I try again. At least I got myself in the picture this time:And finally, I resort to elbowing him out of the picture. It still didn't work:I laugh every time I look at Lance's faces. You know what Lance has to say about it? "I'm sorry you're married to an idiot."

Creative Dad

So I come home yesterday morning from a run, and Ethan, Katie Belle & Daddy were doing CRAFTS! And it was an awesome looking one! How cute is this little aquarium? My boys did a great job, I do believe.

CSA, Week 13

CSA, Week 12

This week's CSA: Wax Beans, Potatoes, Cantaloupe, Tomato, Yellow Tomatoes, Onion, Green Bell Pepper, Squash, Cucumber, Cabbage, Eggplant, & Corn.

Oh My: This squash recipe is awesome. Summer Squash Custard with Goat Cheese. Make it today & let me know what you think! Yum.

Happy Birthday Katie Belle!

My little girl is one tomorrow! And what an ridiculously perfect July weather day it was for a birthday party!! Seems like just yesterday that we were welcoming her into this world!Look at this beautiful cake that my sis-in-law Libby made!And it was yummy too!Katie Belle loved the balloons too!

Ethan's Chair - Before & After

Lance & I just refinished a chair frequently referred to around here as "The Chair Lance Hates." I bought this (and another just like it) for $5 at a garage sale. Everyone who saw it thought it was so ugly. But after almost 3 years, we finally got around to it!It actually took more work than I thought and it's still a bit rough around the edges. But I think it will look awesome in Ethan's room. Thank you God for spray paint.

Church Veggies

The church garden is producing like crazy right now. So in addition to my garden, and my CSA, I also have veggies blessed by God. :)

There is nothing that beats the freshness of summer. Pictured are a few from the church garden from last week. The church garden is now growing TONS of hot peppers, banana peppers, bell peppers, okra, herbs, (still green) tomatoes, squash, zucchini, & cucumbers.

The weekly menu now includes: corn chowder with white cheddar, pesto, squash casserole, grilled zucchini, okra with tomatoes and stuffed banana peppers!

"Check out my Muscles!"

CSA, Week 11

In this week's CSA box, we got green peppers, tomatoes, eggplants, onion, purple hull peas (or are they pink eye peas? anyone?), potatoes, corn, cantaloupe & garlic.

This week, I'm thinking these things look yummy: Pink Eyed Pea with Smoked Paprika, Texas Style Fresh Field Peas, Ratatouille, Eggplant & Ground Beef Casserole or some eggplant patties, from "The Essentials of Italian Cooking."

I'm looking for a tomato sauce recipe. Last year I used this one, but I'd like to try a new one. Anyone have any good recipes for tomato sauce

Be on HGTV

Every once in a while, I google something like "Be on HGTV" because who doesn't want a room makeover for free? (I'm really needing to pull some rooms together, but budget & inspiration are on hold!)

Anyway, today I found that HGTV is looking to feature some outdoor living spaces in Nashville. We have none to show (I don't think a rehabbed playset counts), but if you do, click here to find out more.

Looks Like New!

Lance has been working hard on some home projects the past few weeks. First, he installed some irrigation in the flower beds & veggetable garden. And yesterday, he finished freshening up our playset, which was looking a little sad & worn. Also, the ladder had broken a few months ago, so Lance put in a little climbing wall! Here's the before:After a pressure wash, and a few coats of solid stain, and some climbing holds, it looks like a brand new playset!!

Canning Lessons

My good friend Marge is helping me get together some "canning lessons" for anyone interested in learning. She's got some expert friend on hand who can come give us expert advice. Before she asks, she wanted to see if there would be enough people interested.

So...Wanna learn to can? If so, drop me a line! If there's enough interest, we'll get a lesson together. Hopefully we'll get this pulled together pretty quickly, since the tomato season is beginning locally! More info to come!

This Ain't My First Rodeo

Just getting home from my Granddad's 96th birthday in Texas! We had a great time! Traveling with kids is quite a chore! I hope we don't have to do that again anytime soon!!! Here are the two kiddos, first time meeting their great-grandfather. (Here's my granddad way back when. I always thought he was the handsomest granddad ever.)
And then we went to the 4th of July Parade. His FAVORITE part was the tractors. Go figure.
Me & my babies
My Uncle Don is a Corvette fanatic. For as long as I can remember, he's had one which he keeps super-shiny & clean. Ethan is having more fun than he's letting on.
>We went to the rodeo & Ethan got himself a light "saver." He loved it so much he fell asleep with it in his hand!
Ethan, his dad & papa (my father) watching his cousins on the mechanical bull.