at the ball game

Take me out to the ball game, buy me some peanuts and cracker jacks!"

This past week we took Zach to the ball game and rode the STL Metro {first experience on the Metro and that is a whole 'nother post!}. We had such a blast; hanging out, eating cotton candy and 'dogs', and taking pictures!

Zachary was adorable as he clapped along at the game, screamed 'go ballgame go', hollered for the Cotton Candy man every time he passed us {no, he only got one jumbo small bag of cotton candy}.

 

 

 

Zachary is at such a wonderful stage, I remeber when Gabe was this age and I loved it then too! {probably my favorite so far!} They are old enough to do fun things with but still young enough to be your itty bitty baby and snuggle up with at night!

We left before the game finished and they were losing BUT the Cards came back to win 5-2! Yay! {We must of been bad juju}

 

momma's chicken surprise

Is there a meal that just reminds you of being a kid,sitting at the dinner table {or t.v. tray on the sofa} with your parents. It transports you to the biggest worry you had was which toy to play with after dinner, if you could stay up 5 minutes later, or if you could go to DQ for dessert! Well, Momma's Chicken Surprise does that to me!

Momma's Chicken Surprise

Ingredients:

 {this meal is VERY flexible...3 chicken breast and potatoes feeds my family but you can add or take away to fit your needs...and mushrooms are delicious in this too!}

2-3 chicken breast cut into bit sizes
2-3 potatoes
1 bag of frozen broccoli {you could do fresh if preferred}
 garlic salt and pepper {or whatever your choice seasonings is}
non-stick cooking spray

Directions:
Spray skillet with LOTS of non-stick cooking spray {this takes way the butter aspect}
Place cubed chicken in  hot skillet season desired amount

Cook on medium heat and cook until almost all pink is gone
Add diced potatoes and season and spray again

Cook until almost tender
Add broccoli and simmer away juices

 



And, enjoy!

 

my man {a little bit of braggin on him}

With Father's Day approaching {very rapidly} I figured there is no better time then to brag on my main squeeze, my hubs!

 

Jake doesn't like to brag on himself a lot so I am going to for him! He loves God with all he is! He made the tough choice to become a truly devoted follower when he was 16 {he made the choice to leave his family, a life of sin and regret to follow our forever Father}for a teenage that would be tough. He grew up a very rough life but out of all the crap went through he holds those he loves the closest and gives them his EVERYTHING. Jake is an outstanding father and I am honored God is having me share life with him and our children. I love the way he looks at our kids and tells them stories until he is blue in the face. With his health obstacles he may not be able to do 'normal' stuff with them but what he does do is more perfect. They will forever remember these precious moments with their daddy.

 

He is EXTEMELY intelligent and even tested on the 'genius level at school last year. He learns quickly and succeeds easily and I am so proud of him {considering he didn't even study for his GED and only went to school off and on 'til his Freshman year that is pretty great!}Hubs is such a hard worker {sometimes too hard workin'} and it makes me giddy to think he does that just for us. He is selfless beyond belief. I genuinely think that if he saw someone that needed his shoes, he'd give them to him, his shirt in a heart-beat. He cares. He loves Jesus. He loves me!

Jake is a self published author and is diligently working on his second book with a third in mind. Outcast is a magnificent novel that reaches many reading tastes. {romance, sy-fi, action packed}

"...death is the ultimate soldier, the equalizer of nations. Death is the fate that keeps things swaying, never in the same direction but always in equal motion." Kale had never thought himself a hero, nor had he ever considered himself brave, but when faced with the decision between giving up his own life or the lives of those that he cared for he discovered just what type of man he really was. His decision set him on a path through the darkest parts of his world and the deepest mysteries within himself to find redemption. Set in the mythical world of Telekkar, Outcast: A Sand Runner's Fate is a story about Kale, a young messenger who finds himself thrown into the path of two warring nations. Outcast: A Sand Runner's Fate explores the inner struggle of a hero and how one decision can shape the fate of an entire world."

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laundry room update {for now}

Happy Friday! I hope everyone had a fantastic Father's Day weekend, I know we sure did!  I am sharing with you today my FREE, yep you heard that right, free laundry room update! {sorry for the blogging vacation...I have had several post ready but no pictures and kept getting sidetracked while working on them!}

With this room being extremely tiny and having no natural light I knew I wanted it to be a light color along with accents of turquois, red, natural, and green that I've been adding to my spaces slowly...and since the budget didn't call for a big, fancy makeover I went to my paint selection on hand! I noticed the only color I'd have enough to finish the space was white {I was a little hesitant to use white but I went for it}

I know it isn't perfect but I love that I repurposed or created everything in the space!

The small space feels much brighter, bigger, and more inviting {if a laundry room can be inviting!} Whatcha think?

The sunburst are my new favorite thing! I love the natural and turquois in them and it give a little punch off the wall!

 The key holder is perfect since the laundry room is right next to the garage {won't find me searching for my keys as we are running out of the house, okay, maybe sometimes you will}

father's day 2013

In typical Cindy fashion I forgot the camera on Saturday {bummer, I know...so just picture it with me 3 kids, 4 adults in a car for 3 hours to visit Great-Grandpa and Grandma...}

So, Saturday we went to visit my grandparents and have dinner at my aunts! It is always so nice seeing my Grandma and Grandpa...takes me back to my childhood and the kiddos love going to see "mama Ree and papa John" too! My Grandma is battling cancer right now so she is very tired {please, pray for her} so while we were there I tried to keep the kids outside playing and get the energy out! Momma was WORE OUT and HOT when we were done! But, it was such a fun trip and it was entirely way to short!

the best picture captured Sunday:)

Then, on Sunday we celebrated at our house with my sis, brother in-law, and parents! It was perfect just hanging out at the house enjoying my hubs!

 

Jake got Duke for as an early present so of course in typical fashion he got something else too! {lets face it Duke likes me more so he is my dog now!} He has been wanting a new comfy office chair so that's what he wants! {what daddy wants, daddy gets sometimes}

daddy had some very eager helpers {notice the tiny tush looking all cute in BIG BOY undies!}

After a burger lunch with all the fixin' we just hung out and relaxed!

An AMAZING Father's day with all the important men in my life! perfect!

Simmons Family Vacation 2013

Wow! What an awesome, fun-filled vacation we had this past week! The kids thoroughly enjoyed having all of dad's attention {they guessed mom's wasn't so bad either!} With Daddy going to school and having to work it is so great when we get him to ourselves especially when it is for 5 days!!!


my adorable {and handsome} boys!

Our family when to Branson, MO for a full week of fun; we went to White Water, Silver Dollar City, Cirque Montage, and The Track. We tried to do something really exciting and special every day so we weren't overloading but we also were busy every day! I highly recommend all of these events!

So, I will now over load this post with pictures from Simmons Family Vacation 2013 :)


waiting for the circus, with colored popcorn of course!



funny thing, Zachary painted himself with stamp ink to look like "Hook"

 some cute little guys I got!

 water park here we come

  Silver Dollar City

 

mouth watering guacamole

Ready for a super easy, amazingly delicious recipe the entire family will ask for?...homemade guacamole!

Ingredients:
2 avocados {or as many as you want}
1/2 lemon{if more than 2 avocados use 1}
1/2 tsp. garlic salt
1/2 tomato chopped {if using more than 2 avocados use 1}

Directions:

smash 2 avocados in a medium bowl: I like to let my kiddos do this {I can cut up my tomato and lemon while they mash...and they love doing it!}

add the lemon and tomato

 

don't forget the garlic salt!

 

I love pairing this with some grilled BBQ chicken and cilantro lime rice for my famous BBQ lime wraps!!! DELICIOUS!! {yes, I just cap locked screamed that!}