Vacuum Sealer Anonymous

It's official, I'm in love with my vacuum sealer! I'm addicted to it. I will vacuum seal our left overs. I make extra meals to freeze for later ease. I seal things to keep them fresh longer.  I would vacuum seal my kids if I knew it would help keep them fresh and in a state of perfection. Ha! I'm just kidding. Please don't call child services!

But in all truth, it is my most prized kitchen item right now. I used to think my dad was crazy. See, he has been using a vacuum sealer for several years now. Most of the steaks I have eaten at his house have been cooked, sealed, frozen, reheated and eaten like they just came off the grill! I love his "sealed" food. We used to joke he would vacuum seal his wife is only she fit in the bag! But now I know what joy it is to have and use one. It really makes my life around dinner time easier (and my freezer full).

On a more serious thought, wouldn't it be nice if we could apply this food saving concept to our personal life as Christians? When we are first saved, we are on fire for the Lord! We are white as snow and freed from our bondage of sin. Now, just vacuum seal our life right here and we can stay frozen in this time. Right? Wrong, sin is never going to let us stay sealed. Thankfully we have an ultimate tool! Jesus! He is our life saving, seal in the freshness kind-of tool. Thank you God, Thank you Jesus for the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus' blood on the cross so that I may be saved for a rotting life and eternity in hell!

Happy Birthday DJ!

Yesterday was DJ's 32nd birthday. It's getting to the point where I can't remember how old he is. I have to really think about it sometimes. I guess having kids (and getting older) really did a number on my memory. It has effected my memory of names too. I used to remember every one's name, their husbands, kids, pets, etc. Now I just have to think about it and sometimes it will come to me. Especially if I haven't been around them in a while or just met them.

Anyway, yesterday was pretty much a normal day for everyone. I made DJ's requested meal for him. He was able to be home in time to eat it with us. Betsy and Iva were here too. He wanted my chicken and rice casserole, baked beans and blueberry muffins. Instead of a traditional cake he wanted no-bake cheesecake. This was a meal I wouldn't normally put together. But it was what he asked for so I made it. And it was pretty easy if you ask me!

Happy Birthday to the love of my life! :)

Hannah's Journal and Homework

Hannah has started writing in school this year. Her teacher had mentioned getting her a journal so she can practice writing more. It has been about 9 weeks ago when she mentioned it and I am just now getting around to buying her one. I know, terrible mom! However, she has been practicing off and on just not in a special journal. Tonight we rectified this! I bought her a journal and tonight she made her first entry:

"I plae in sinrs."
Translation: "I play in centers."

Then she drew a picture of all the centers she plays at school. I am really impressed with her writing sentences. I'm not sure if this was normal when I was in Kindergarten. I can't remember writing much, but I do remember learning to read small words. The idea for her is to write a sentence, making sure to capitalize the first letter in the sentence, put spaces in between each word and use punctuation. The spelling is suppose to be phonetically and I'm not allowed to help her with it. This was hard for me at first! But I have improved my non-interfering and she is improving with learning the phonetics of the words she wants to write.

Some nights she is not interested in homework at all and on those nights we will just do the minimum required for "homework". On the nights she is interested I try to do different sorts of things. I usually let her decide what she wants to do other than the required.

I love to see her read too! She brings home books they make in school and reads them to me. Last year we were just learning the letters in the alphabet and learning to "write" her name. Now she is writing sentences and reading! She has come a long way and I am so proud of her!

Arkansas Wins!

Although I didn't watch the game much, I do know the Arkansas Razorbacks won the Cotton Bowl. I just wasn't interested in the game really. So I visited with my friend Ellen most of the time. I was able to snap a few photos of our kids playing! They all seemed to have a good time.

Hannah, Iva and Ellen's youngest daughter playing together in Trey's room. They all hit it off pretty well!



Ellen's two sons and Trey all took turns on the iPad. I just love this photo!

New Year's Eve

New Year's Eve we took the kids to The Big Dam Bridge here in Little Rock. Hannah was really excited about walking over the "really big bridge". It was a little windy but overall nice weather. At the top of the bridge I did get a little cold because of the wind. The kids really enjoyed it and I know DJ and I did too. It was nice to spend the time together as a family! That night we had a relaxing night at home. DJ and I put the kids to bed and we stayed up to watch the ball drop and ring in the new year together.

Christmas 2011

So I didn't take any photo's of the kids Christmas morning. I know, Mom of the year award goes to me! But I was just excited about them opening gifts that I didn't stop to grab the camera. There is however documentation on my MIL's camera. She was taking the photos from Christmas at her house! I did however get photos of Christmas Eve night. We spent time at my dad's house. All my siblings were there with their family. So Hannah and Trey had some good cousin time!

Luke, my step-brother's son.

Hannah and Haley, my step-brother's daughter

Aaron, my oldest brother's son

Aaron scaring the girls

Everyone got a vehicle of some sort. The girls got motorized scooters. My brother's boys got bikes.

Trey got a motorized Lighting McQueen car. Luke got a train.



Thanks Mimi!

Christmas morning the kids woke up to find Santa came. Hannah got a Loving family doll house. Trey got a Cars Geo Trax. Both are items that can be added to easily!

Before church on Sunday. Such a cheeser!

Gearing up for Christmas!

This last week has been pretty busy for us. My mom had another surgery the beginning of the week to fix her bladder among other things. Getting old is looking more and more fun! She is doing well now! Then Hannah's last day was Wednesday. So we have been gearing up for Christmas day. Earlier this week Hannah wanted to write a letter to Santa. I know it isn't spelled right but she was so proud of it. And she did it all by herself. I'm going to keep it in her baby book because it is her first letter to Santa.

 "Dear Santa, I want a Hello Kitty [scooter]. Love, Hannah"

 She had to make sure it made it to him before Christmas and she insisted on putting it in the mail box herself! Thankfully I got it out before the mail lady came!

Presents! It's a hate/love relationship! I love giving them, and receiving them. I hate wrapping them! This year both sides of our family are putting emphasis on the kids instead of the adults. But since the number of kids keep multiplying the number of presents haven't really changed much! ;)

This year I got a little more festive and made bows for each present!

 And thankfully they all fit under the tree....barely!

Another family tradition we have is making a gingerbread house. Usually I get one big one and decorate it myself. Hannah did help last year, but I did most of the work. This year I thought it would be fun to have a little village of gingerbread houses. However as the week has gone by, I haven't really wanted to do them. So I let Hannah do one herself and the rest will probably not get finished.

  And it can get a little messy when the 5 year old is in charge!

but she was really excited about doing it herself. (I did have to help her a little with the frosting).

All finished!

And what would go great with Gingerbread houses than Christmas Cookies! We needed to make some for tonight and for my side of the family's party. Trey really just enjoys licking the beater!

 He has to make sure to get it all cleaned!

"It's yummy, Mama!"



Our favorite cookie in the whole world, Chocolate Chip!

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!

LOVE THE JACKSON FOUR!