Texas Caviar

HELLO! I have missed YALL!! Sorry I have been MIA! I am on bed rest STILL, trying to pass a kidney stone, and my SWEET mom flew in to help us! WHEW!!! GREAT NEWS ALERT!! Tiny's labs came back and there is NOTHING to be worried about, just a clogged duct! AMEN! Thank you for ALL your prayers and sweet words! Tonight I leave with you the BEST snack recipe EVER: Texas Caviar with a kick! DELISH!!!!

Texas Caviar, with a Kick

1 can of DRAINED and rinsed Black Beans
1 can of DRAINED and rinsed Black-Eyed Peas
1 can of DRAINED and rinsed Kidney Beans
1 can of DRAINED and rinsed Corn
1 hand full of Cilantro, chop
3 cloves of Garlic, chop
3 Green Onions, chop (just the white)
1/2 container of Cherry Tomatoes, cut in halves
1/2 of a Lime, juice
8oz Italian Dressing
Salt and Pepper
Few dashes of Tabasco Sauce *the kick ;)
*Cover and chill for about 2 hrs or over night
*Eat with chips or add some to your salad, rice, tacos, or even JUST your spoon!

Needed a Latte

I was in need of a nice, warm, creamy, cup of Joe the other morning. I went to prepare my mug. I HAVE an order of operations when making my cup. The water tank MUST be topped off the night before (if I remember), my splenda MUST be in the cup 1st, then the kcup, THEN the milk.

On this chilly morning remember we live in the North Pole I started my cup and soon saw we were OUT of MILK! WHAT?!? Oospe, I forgot Hen-hen MADE me finish it off the night before to stop the burning.

HOW can I have my morning joe without milk???? I soon came across the boys Kcup stash and it hit me, ADD a hot coco to the cup! After the first sip I am pretty sure I place a tierra on my head and told myself I am now free to bring world peace to this house hold!

So remember when you are without your latte and presented coco make a cafe mocha!

***This post WAS written BEFORE I had my Joe taken away! Promise!!***

No Bake Heath Bar Oat Balls

I found this nice healthy No Bake Energy Bits recipe and ONCE again I did NOT have what it called for. The lady said in her post that you can substitute most anything SO I did. I managed to make a "Heath Bar Oat Ball" which pretty much took OUT all the "healthy" from my original idea. I must say these ARE amazing! They almost did not get made into balls because the boys and I could not STOP eating the mixture!!

No Bake Heath Bar Oat Balls

In a mixing bowl, mix together
*2 cups of Old Fashion Oats (not cooked)
*1 cup Honey Roasted Peanut Butter
*1/2 cup chocolate chips
*1/2 cup Heath Bar Bits
*1/3 cup of Honey
*1tsp Vanilla
Place bowl in the fridge for 30min
Roll into balls
Roll balls in
*Powder Sugar

Keep them in the fridge, if they last that long!

The Heath Bar Bits gave them a NICE crunch!!!! These took NO time at all to make and no stress :D

Enjoy! Delish!

Today

{Today's new view}

Today marks 33w pregnant with Hen-Hen

Today the goal is to make it 3 more weeks

Today I realized how far away we are from family

Today I was told no more salt or caffeine

Today I will be the new owner of a blood pressure cuff

Today our house will stay messy

Today we will start eating take out

Today I will learn how to raise two boys from the couch

Today I was put on bed rest

Monday I PRAY the Dr lets me off the couch!!

Crock Pot Chicken Tacos

The Hubs is working on his diet SO I am TRYING to be nice and cut back on the creams and butter I am cooking with. After having my eyes on a nice creamy chicken crock pot recipe via pinterest I realized I was without most of the ingredients. All I had were taco flavors. My search went on and found many recipes for Crock Pot Chicken Tacos. I found this one that became my guide: Crock Pot Chicken Taco Chili. I did not have most of what it was called for so, I used what I had! I have learned the crock pot is VERY forgiving!!!
It was AMAZING, everyone ate it TWO nights in a row....Now that means it was a double win- it was tasty AND it was healthy for the Hubs!!
Enjoy!

Crock Pot Chicken Tacos

Place EVERYthing in the crock pot and cook for about 5hrs (my crock pot only has one heat level)
*2-3 Chicken breast (I used frozen)
*1 can of Rotel
*10oz of frozen corn
*1 can of drained and rinsed black beans
*1 can of drained and rinsed kidney beans
*1 can of chicken broth
*1 pack of taco seasoning
*Couple dashes of Worcestershire Sauce
*Couple dashes of Tabasco Sauce
Place Chicken on top and sprinkle Salt and Pepper on the chicken
Add a few dashes of Oh So Garlic
Let it cook for about 5hrs then shred the chicken and let it cook for about another 30in

We made tacos the 1st night and the 2nd night rice bowls!

A Tiny Update

He will have no fear of bad news; his heart is steadfast, trusting in the Lord.
—Psalm 112:7

What a verse! This morning at 5am I read my Jesus Calling by Sarah Young, and BOY was it talking to us! I definitely left the house with peace and strength. The best words a mom to hear is "It all went well!" our Dr is not worried at all about what she removed and stressed that she DOES NOT think it is the "c" word. We will have the official results by the end of the week or by Monday.
I did leave today feeling silly/guilty for worrying so much about this TINY spot when
there was much, MUCH, bigger surgeries and illnesses going on at the surgery
center today. I will continue to pray for the families we met and my heart hurts for what I can only imagine they are going through. I had to dismiss the guilt and remind myself that there is nothing to small to ask the lord for in prayer. LOVE how all my friends told me TODAY "He is YOUR baby and YOU are A mom" and THEY too would have been worried. I am humbled and SO thankful for ALL the FB notes, calls, text, emails, comments, and prayers for Tiny, the Dr, and the family.
Now watch it be a VERY pricey pimple removal! Ha, the Hubs will be JUST thrilled.

NO MATTER what it is I am so THANKFUL we had it removed and we will continue to still pray that it is DIRT!!!

Here are some iPhone pictures from today!!

Daddy holding Tiny as his sleepy meds kicked in
Paps SO confused why in the WORLD he had to wake up at 5:30am
Tiny AFTER he got sick a few times after waking up in the recovery roomTiny HAPPY to be home with his new remote control car!

We can NOT thank yall enough for ALL the prayers, we could feel them!!

xoxo

PS. This FAMILY is NOT made to wake up at 5am. I send extra love to those who kids wake up that early (or have to wake them up that early for work) because I could NOT do it, YOU my friend are my hero!

My Sweet Tiny

I am a Mother, a Worrier, and a Picker!! As a Mom you know that you are your cute children's voice. You may be asking, a "picker"?? YES, I am a picker. I pick at my kids, as in clean their ears, check for dirt, bugs, boogs, brush their teeth...so I "pick" them and my dad tells me I do it too much. WELL, in late January, I was doing my daily "picking" in the boys ears for ear stuff and I saw Tiny had a small black, scab like dot in his ear. I tried to pick it out but it did not move. After months of still being there and I could not get rid of it- it was driving ME nuts. I made an appointment to see his Dr. and he recommend us to see an ENT to have a better look at. Our ENT is awesome, caring, and loving. She does not like the way the spot looks under the big microscope. The color, shape, and being raised makes her want to remove the spot. I AM OKAY with THAT, being the picker I am I want it OUT!!
SO tomorrow morning she will be removing it. Due to him being so young, it will be held at the surgery center so he can be "night night" when she removes it. It should only take about 15-20min BUT I am nervous!!! I am NOT sure how parents handle surgery's that last HOURS!!!I  We will have the results we hope by Friday to see what this is. I PRAY nothing, maybe dirt, ha! BUT I agree with our ENT that we need to test it, she did prepare us that it "could" be something of concern but lets just pray it is NOTHING!!!
SO welcome to the NEW blog and would you please lift up our Sweet Tiny and his Dr tomorrow in prayer. I will keep yall posted!

Roasted Brussels Sprouts

I am MOST likely the ONLY person who LOVES Brussels Sprouts! But, I DO!! I love them!!
I ONLY like them FRESH, not frozen! Here is an EASY green veggie side you may need this Easter Sunday!
A couple of months ago I found a Roasted Broccoli Recipe on Pinterest from The Amateur Gourmet. I normally HATE broccoli BUT this recipe changed my life! I have been known to JUST eat this for lunch or dinner, it is THAT good! I now make ALL my roasted veggies this way. One of my favorite combos is broccoli, tomatoes, garlic, and onion! YUMMY! Today I made my Brussels Sprouts with this roasted recipe and they were AMAZING!!! My recipe is a tad different from The Amateur Gourmet. SO, here is how I make them! ENJOY!!!

Roasted Brussels Sprouts

You will need:
Fresh Brussels Sprouts
Olive Oil
Salt
Pepper
Old Bay Seasoning
Oh, So Garlic
Parmesan cheese
Lime

Heat the oven to 400

-Cut the bottom tip off the Brussels Sprouts and in half, long ways
-Coat with:
Olive Oil
Salt
Pepper
Old Bay Seasoning
Oh, So Garlic
-Place them cut side down on a foiled cookie sheet
-Bake for about 20min, or until they are tender AND crispy
-Squeeze about a half of lime juice over the HOT Brussels Sprouts
-Sprinkle Parmesan Cheese on top
-Add it to your plate
And try to share if you can!

I hope you have a blessed Good Friday and a joyful Easter Weeekend!