Happy Homemaker Monday!

<a href="http://familycorner.blogspot.com" title="hhm by jasnicmommy, on Flickr"><img width="150" alt="hhm" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3362/3608789834_4d1bac04e0.jpg" height="150" /></a>

The weather in my neck of the woods:
Hot and clammy....this humidity is so uncomfortable, it drives me insane.


One of my simple pleasures:
Having no schedule when on vacation, waking up late and not worrying about what there is to do.


On my bedside table:
My cellphone, charger and laptop computer.


On my TV:
Haven't watched anything since we're on vacation, but I do plan on catching up on Robin Hood and True Blood tonight.


On the menu for tonight:
No idea, we just eat whenever we get hungry, either at home or we run out for a quick bite, another perk from being on vacation.


On my To Do List:
Again I wish I had something to tell you, but I don't LOL
We'll just do whatever we feel like.


New Recipe I tried last week:
No recipes while on vacation


In the craft basket:
I have my crochet bag with me and work on it when I get a chance


Looking forward to:
Right now, just enjoying the vacation but I do look forward to returning home to my pugs


Homemaking Tip for this week:
When out on a road trip, don't rush. It's far to easy to want to hurry up and get to the destination but you end up missing so many neat things to see. On the way back to Arizona, we are taking our time and stopping at as many attractions as we can.


Favorite Blog Post of the week (mine or other):
Will have to leave this one blank, I haven't even opened my Google Reader since being here, but I'm sure you all understand :)


Favorite photo from last week:

The Lavender Farm was so neat, I love Lavender as you all know and to be right there in the middle of hundreds of lavender plants was just amazing.

Lesson learned the past few days:
That no matter how much you think you know what to expect, you're always pleasantly surprised. We knew being in Texas and revisiting all the family would be fun, but it always amazes us at just how much more fun it was than we first thought.


On my Prayer List:
Family
Troops


Devotionals, Scripture Reading, Key Verses:

Joshua 14:15

As for Me and My House, We Will Serve the Lord

Lavender Ridge Farms!

Well I'll be.....I had NO idea there were Lavender Farms and when my mother in law asked if we would like to visit one, I pretty much had to keep myself from jumping up and down.

We headed out there yesterday afternoon and it was just so wonderful, the scent as you start approaching the lavender fields is something out of this world.

First thing we did was head into their little Cafe, they serve all their food using Lavender, there was Lavender Lemonade and Lavender Tea, Chicken Salad and Cheesecake and Brownies with Vanilla Lavender Ice Cream.

I tried the Lavender Lemonade and it was pretty good but I have to say, it takes a little getting used to, the Brownie with the ice cream on the other side was unbelievable...SO SO good.
I wanted a cookbook but they were completely sold out.

We got to pick some fresh Lavender, it was really cheap, we got a nice bouquet for $2.40 and of course, I won't even mention the scent, amazing.

My children were excited to see a Strawberry field too and the owners told them to go right on out there and just start picking and eating. They were the reddest, plumpest and juiciest strawberries ever. YUM!

I am hoping that on the way out of town they will be open because we would love to return there and pick up some Lavender products.

I've uploaded all the photos to the Vacation Album, there you will find more from the Lavender Farm.

I do hope I can find a few minutes this week to come by and see you all, I miss reading the blogs and seeing what everyone is up to.

Time to go and mingle with the family, have a great Sunday everyone.

Six Flags over Texas

I had honestly thought that I had outgrown my days of getting ecstatic over rides, but I guess I was wrong because once we hit the park, we were all 5 years old again.

What a great time we had, well, apart from going on the big water ride and getting completely soaked AND I was wearing a white shirt because I'm dumb like that and forgot about the water rides but didn't want to miss out on them so I ended up walking around with a soaked white shirt and thanking the good Lord that I didn't have a WHITE BRA underneath LOL

My children loved every.single.second and if it were up to them, they would have rode the biggest roller coaster in the park.

Here are some pictures and as always, I have most of them posted to the Flickr Album where you can go and browse through them all.

The Teacups, I think they're MY kind of speed LOL Though we did make it more fun by spinning them as fast as we could, problem is, once the ride stopped we were still just a blur and very dizzy LOL

The kids with Grandma, and she even got to ride on one of the horses too.....they all had such a great time.

I love this photo, their expressions just tell the story don't they?

By this time of the day, I was feeling rather poorly, those teacups which I had such a great time on, ended up making me sick.....really sick LOL

So I had to sit this one out, but it's ok, because I don't think I could handle another hour of walking around soaking wet wearing a white shirt LOL

Curt, Jasmine, Nicholas and Chris (my brother in law) all went on the big water ride and then like all the others before them, as they exit, they stop on the bridge and wait for the next car to come and splash them.

This is right before the big wave hits them, you can see it clearly.

And here's another view the second time around, I want you to play close attention to Nicholas' face LOL

I couldn't stop laughing, he was all happy right until that water got close, then his expression just cracked me up

It was a blast and we plan on going back another time.

Today we're heading to a Lavender Farm, now tell me something, how perfect is that for me?

My mother in law just asked if we would enjoy going to a Lavender Farm and I think my jaw hit the floor. Well YEAH....I love Lavender!

I'll have more pictures for you all either later today or tomorrow morning. I better skidaddle on out of here, there's people waiting on me *snicker*

Good Morning from Texas!

Before I start, I have to thank each and every one of you for your prayers, they were answered when I checked early this morning and saw my husband's name on the Tech Sergeant Promotion List. I literally jumped up and ran into his arms.

I'm SO proud of him and he worked so hard to get this promotion. Thank you so much everyone and Congratulations to my wonderful hubby, Curt.

It's an absolutely beautiful day here in Northern Texas and I have to say, it's been great enjoying the fresh air and seeing nothing but trees and greenery around.

We've been catching up with family and laughing and joking and playing games and having a great time.

I can't stay long, but I wanted to drop in with a few pictures and show you kinda what we're doing here, then we're heading to Six Flags. I'm not quite sure how to feel about that, I mean I want to so badly to go on the rides but I also get dizzy quite fast LOL

Oh well, there will be tons of pictures to share later, I'm certain.

I hope you are all having a wonderful summer, I miss blogging but I'll be back to it once I get home, until then you'll see random posts pop in here and there :)

Well, I'm out of here, see ya soon.

Slow Cooking Thursday

Mr Linky's usual linkies are not working, so we have to use Image Linkies, all you do is click on the green "Mr Linky" and it will open up the list for you to add your name to.

Don't forget to add your name to Mr Linky and a link back to your SCT post so others can come by and see your recipe too.

As always, share your slow cooking recipes but if you REALLY REALLY don't have one and still want to participate, then you can share any kind of recipe.

2 pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts
2 cans undrained 14.5 oz can diced tomatoes
1 cup sliced mushrooms
1 tsp thyme
1 tsp oregano
1 tsp parsley flakes
1 tsp basil
4 cloves minced garlic
1 tbsp minced onion
¾ cup white wine
1 8 ounce can tomato sauce
1 16 ounce package firm noodles
2 cups shredded parmesan cheese

Spray crockpot with cooking spray. Place chicken in crockpot. Pour 2 cans of diced tomatoes over chicken. Spread mushrooms evenly over all. In a small bowl, combine remaining ingredients, pour over chicken and mushrooms. Cover and cook on low 8 hours or high 4 hours. Cook noodles as directed. Shred chicken, stir noodles into crockpot, serve sprinkled with parmesan cheese.