4 years ago...

Always remembered Always loved... never Never forgotten.

4 years ago our lives were forever changed.

We love you so much Troy.. you are always in our hearts and always on our minds.

Sending love.. hugs and kisses up to you!!

On my walk...

So today on my run/walk with the twins in the stroller there was an older lady walking her dog.. she noticed us and said are those twins? I said yes they are.. she asked how old they were and I told her 2 1/2... she then said to me Congratulations... they are so cute... you are so blessed!  That made my day... I will be honest I hardly ever hear people say that to me... it is usually comments like "I don't know how you do it"... or... "I'm glad I don't have twins"... or... "wow.. you have your hands full" and a lot of people roll their eyes and seem to feel sorry for me.  I will admit... the twins can be a handfull.. I do have my days were I would like to walk out the door and be done with mommy duty for the day... I don't blame people at all for these comments.. trust me I know why they say them... but it is SO refreshing to hear what that lady said to me today... I AM so blessed to have the twins... I AM so blessed to have my 7 almost 8 year old boy.  I know how every single child in this world is a blessing from God... we went through a lot of heartache and tears and patients to get the twins here so I know how blessed we are to have 3 healthy children in our home.  So.. thank you to the lady walking today for making my day!!

I am so blessed to have these boys in my life!!!

Florida

Wow I am getting behind on my blog... so much to do.. so little time and the time I do have I just don't think to post an update.


A few weeks ago we left for a wonderful vacation to Englewood Florida... compliments of my parents!! (Thank you Mom and Dad!!!)... with my Mom and Dad and Jeff and Marianne.

We had a blast and the weather was so warm and sunny... it was a perfect vacation!

Here are some pictures!

The Condo we stayed in

Siesta Key Beach

my Mom and I

Dolphins in Venice Beach

My Dad searching for sharks teeth

Me and Mike

Me and Mike at Siesta Key

Sunset from the Tiki Bar in Englewood FL

Siesta Key Beach

Marianne and Jeff

Mom and Dad... having fun!

Venice Beach

Morning coffee from our Condo

Boca Grande Beach

Iguana's on Boca Grande Beach

Sharks Teeth and Sting Ray pieces!!

Recipe #2 = dessert

AND... to go along with the recipe below.. here is a super quick and easy dessert... I will admit.. I don't like fudge but this recipe for fudge tastes so much better and has a better flavor than regular fudge.. give it a try!! I love it!

Microwave Fudge (taken from Food Network Magazine)

1 12oz bag of semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 14oz can sweetened condensed milk
1 tsp vanilla
1/2 cup chopped nuts (optional)

In a microwave safe bowl.. combine chocolate chips and sweetened condensed milk - microwave on high for 5 minutes.
Stir quickly and fast till well combined... add in the vanilla and the nuts... stir well again. Pour into a 8x8 dish lined with parchment paper (sprayed lightly with cooking spray).  let cool completely (you can put in the fridge).  Cut and serve!!

YUM!

Recipe

So I am stealing this from another friends blog.. (hope you don't mind Krista)... she posted some recipes that she has made with success... so.. since I am stuck home with my foot... wheeling around on my knee walker while I heal (yeah.. i feel old)... I have had some time in the kitchen while the twins nap and have made some yummy dinners... here is one that I have now made a few times.. Mike likes it.. Brev likes it and I have made it for two friends and their families and they all loved it... so I have to share!!

Mexican Goulosh

1 pound lean hamburg
1 small onion chopped
1 packet taco seasoning
1 small can tomato paste + 2 empty cans (tomato paste can) of water
1 can corn drained
1 can black beans.. drained and rinsed
1/2 lb cooked macaroni noodles - drain but do not rinse.. need that starch to mix well
2 cups.. generous cups of shredded cheese  :o)

Brown 1 lb ground lean hamburg with one small chopped onion (drain any grease) in a large skillet pan... then add one packet of taco seasoning and stir well

In a seperate bown mix together one small can of tomato paste with two empty cans full of water... pour over Hamburg mixture and stir well... add one can of corn (drained first) and then one can of Black Beans (drained and rinsed first).. beans are optional... the recipe calls for it but I have made it without and it is just as yummy!!  Then add 1/2 lb cooked and drained (do not rinse) macaroni noodles... stir
Then add 2 cups of shredded cheddar cheese... stir well till melted and then serve!!

This makes a HUGE amount so make sure you use a BIG skillet pan!!
Hope you enjoy!!

2011

 2011.... it always amazes me when I look back on a year how FULL that year was.. I tend to think I have a boring life but when I look back.. I cannot believe all that we pack into a year!  I have tried and tried again and again to organize my pictures in the time that they happened but my computer is not letting me do this.. so the pictures are NOT in order at all.. .but here is what we did throughout 2011.. and I know I forgot a few things!



I went on an amazing trip to Boca Raton, FL with an awesome friend!!



We went to Frankenmuth!



Had Easter at our house this year!









Playing at the waterpark at Kensington









We went to the annual Balloon Festival.. is you haven't been to this...you really should go.. SO much to do and SO much fun!

 

We made it out to my Uncle Dave's who lives on a lake for a family gathering

 

We went back to the Wisconsin Dells with some friends... SUCH a good time... we literally have so much fun that I cry when I have to leave!




Brevin drove a race car!!!





I did a TON of canning with my good friend... so much fun to do!






Brevin turned 7 and had a birthday party at the RollerRink!



Brevin started Football.. and although I wasn't thrilled about it.. I ended up LOVING it.. I was team mom and we met such wonderful people... what a fun season!



 



Brev broke his left arm and Mike pulled his tendon on his left arm... Picture of them both with bad arms!



Surgery on my left foot

The Twins turned TWO!!

Blue is getting older but still hanging with us!

Our family, Christmas 2011

Brev played t-ball in the spring




My lilac bush in memory of Troy was georgous this year!







We celebrated my Mom's 60th Birthday with a surpise party in Ludington!! The best part.. watching her dance with her Dad!!



We finally got a Memorial for Troys grave... a bit of closure but he is still thought of and missed EVERY single day!



Alex got tubes put in his ears... August



Playing in the orchard!



First Haircut.. Ian





Brevin broke his arm in Football


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Alex's first haircut




We went to a Nascar Race





Ian got tubes put in his ears also.. October





Mike got his first deer!



Brevin trying to find that perfect pumpkin!