Quick Party Snack

Before you begin you will need:

1 package All beef Smoked sausages (party style-located near the bacon)

16 oz Bacon

1 bag light brown sugar

toothpicks

casserole dish 

Cut bacon into fourths.  Wrap each sausage with 1 piece.

Secure bacon with a toothpick

Place in casserole dish

Completely cover with Brown Sugar

Cover with foil and chill (overnight for best results).
Bake in 400 degree oven for 30 minutes (until bacon is cooked through - may Not be crispy)

Serve on party dish or in a bowl. Delicious!

Would love to hear feedback from any who try this recipe. Enjoy!

Tori's poem

Tori just wrote a poem to give to her teacher tomorrow on the last day of school before Christmas break.

This poem has been inspired by William Shakespeare

The day has come
To tell thee by
'till I come back
In the January sky

Thou art so good
Ye need a break
So go to ye home
And thou shalt take,

A rest, A rest!
Thee, shalt take a rest
And ye won't worry,
About any test.

Good-bye, ta-ta!
Don't milk a cow!
For I will be gone
Until that now

~ Victoria MaShelle Hyams (@Dec 2010)

Mother Day 2010

Today I woke up to my 3 precious daughters and sweet husband singing "Happy Mother's Day to me".
5 year old Zoe included the "cha cha cha" at the end of each phrase.  Victoria told her she did great.  (How sweet is that?)

The cards were so thoughtful, especially Victoria's homemade one.  Starbucks gift card was stuck in Jason's. YAY for me! I Love their Chai Lattes.

We attended a wonderful Mother's Day service at church and then we ate at my choice restaurant, today's? Pei Wei... So Delicious!  We ended the lunch with chocolate covered strawberries.

Shopping at Target for my mother's day present was so fun with the girls!

I spent the rest of my afternoon and evening working on 2 quizzes and a 4 page reflection paper (all due tonight) ughh....

But the evening wasn't over.  Victoria had spent the afternoon working on her class presentation and studying her math.  Somehow she had time to write me a poem.  When she read it to me, I cried.

Here is the poem from my 8 year old.

"What My Mom Means to Me"

I lay down on my bed, trying to go to sleep.  I go to sleep at last, but wake up with a fright.  I had a nightmare, and here is what it was.  I was walking down a dark, shadowy road, and could hear ghosts flying by.  I heard loud footsteps coming down the road.  I turned to see what it was.  A monster was described this way: one big eye, purple hair, and huge claws.  That's when I woke up.  I was screaming and kept on screaming until my mom walked in.  She went to my bed and hugged me tight.  Then, she read me a story.  I felt like a person with wings.  I went to sleep and didn't have a nightmare.

The next morning, after breakfast, I asked to go outside.  It was Mother's Day, and I wanted to thank my mom.  My dad said, Yes.  So I went outside.  Our yard was full of daisys, violets, and dandelions.  I picked two daisys, four violets, and six dandelions.  I went inside just when my mom walked in.  I carefully walked in, stepped in front of my mom and said, "I want to give you something special, special from the heart.  And, so I give you flowers, flowers from our yard."

Then my mom says, "Sweetie, I will put these in my bedroom, and smell them over and over again."

So, I tell you what my mom means to me,
      she smells like a rose,
             and looks like a flower.

So, what she means to me is a gift from God.

~ Victoria Hyams May 2010

I love her!

I love all my girls!

I'm so blessed to be the wife of one incredible man, Jason and the mother to 3 perfect girls.

It was a Happy Mother's Day!

I'm Blogging?!?!?

4 weeks ago I became a college student, again.  It has been 16 years. Wow! What have I bit off? Is it more than I can chew?

I already know that time management is my biggest problem. There are always things I could be doing instead of studying, reading, watching online class videos or taking quizzes.  I'm not just a college student now but I'm a full time wife and mother.  So many areas calling out for attention.

The 8 yr old, 3rd grader, who is also a first time Bible Quizzer.  She has homework every night, reviewing of her verses and learning new ones.  She is Amazing!!! She has currently memorized 122 verses from the Book of Acts. She is away at school 7 hours of the day and bides for attention the moment she enters the car.

The active 5 yr old who would love nothing more than to be in school right now.  She is so tender and sweet towards her baby sister but loves when I lay her down for a nap because then it's mommy time.  Today we put a puzzle together, played Sleeping Queens, Uno, Connect Four and Wig Out.

Sweetie pie, 19 month old has her schedule and desires nothing more than to keep her mommy in tune with it.  Between feeding her, diaper changes, play time and cuddle time she keeps me busy.

Then there's the husband, who leaves every morning at 6am and returns no earlier than 6pm every night.

Let's not forget the never diminishing mountain of laundry, dishes, toys that get strung out and clutter that seems to pile up every time I turn my head.

So how do moms do it all?

Sometimes I feel so completely overwhelmed that I would like nothing more than to climb into bed and hide from everything.  But, I can't.  People need me.  People rely on me.  So I have found that something gives every time.  To the cringe of my spouse it happens to be the house right now.  The clean clothes are not neatly folded or hanging in there respective places but in fact, rest carelessly on the small couch in the living room.  (Yes, they are clean).  The dishes get done but, not in a timely fashion.

Some who read this might immediatly chastise me in regards to the upkeep of my home.  And I will quickly reply Yes! I Agree! But, as I said earlier, Time Management is my issue right now.  So today I've decided I will focus on 1 room a day, and I will focus on completing 1 load of laundry a day. (completing means: wash, dry, fold/hang and put away) and before I head to bed (whatever the time may be) I will make sure the dishwasher is running.

I understand this is a season in my life and I've decided to name it "motherhood going back to school".  During this season I'm expecting to hit some highs and lows.  I'm expecting pruning (spiritually) and possible drought-like conditions but Through it All I Will be trusting in the one who holds my tomorrow in His hands.  I desire to go through this season in my life.  I know I will be victorious in the end.  Why?  Because I'm not alone.  When my heart gets overwhelmed I Know who the Rock is and I will ask Him to lead me.

So for you, my "blogging buddies"...if you happen to take a moment to read this chaotic blog, I wonder if you have an answer for this question?  If you understand that life is like a Roller Coaster, filled with ups, downs, twists and turns, are you trying to be on the ride and at the control station at the same time?

I leave you with this verse (I Peter 5:6-7) NIV
"Humble yourselves ,therefore, under God's mighty hand, that He may lift you up in due time.  Cast All your anxiety on Him because He cares for you"

The Mystery of the Missing Pinecones

By Victoria Hyams

Is there something going on in the town of Hugington? Yes there is. All the pinecones are gone! Now, their only hope is “The Princess Detective’s.” (Entering the garden) “Hi, Sarah, want to go find pinecones with me?” Violet asked. “Nah, I’d rather pick flowers.” Sarah said. “Ok, if you need me, I will be in Sunflower Patch.” Violet explained. (Exiting the garden) “Gee, that sounds fun.” Sarah said. But picking flowers is more fun than that.”(Continuing to pick flowers) “I wonder what Sarah will be doing in the evening. Violet asked herself. Will she still be picking flowers?” “Gee, I wonder what Violet will be doing in the evening. Sarah asked herself. Will she still be picking pinecones?

(Continuing to pick flowers & pinecones) “Whew, that was a lot of work.” Violet sighed. “It would be better with a friend.” Violet walked from Sunflower Patch to the Belle’s House to put her pinecones in a basket. “Whew, that was a lot of work.” Sarah sighed. “It would be better with a friend.” “Where is Cindy?” Violet asked Cindy’s mother. “She’s at your house, helping your mother.” Cindy’s mother said. Violet hopped on her bike & put her dog, Chocolate Chip, in her basket & raced from the Baker’s House to the Belle’s House to check on her pinecones. When she got inside & looked in the basket, where she had put the pinecones, what did she see?

No Pinecones! She raced to her mother, telling her what she had seen. “Silly child, nobody stole the pinecones.” Her mother said. “Oh Yeah,” Violet said. “Well, come & see this.” “Come with us, Darling.” Mrs. Belle said. “Ok, Cindy said, I’m coming.” (Leading them to the kitchen) “Oh my Goodness, you were right.” Mrs. Belle said. “I told you.” Violet said. This is so sad. Violet has to solve the mystery by herself. Cindy is helping Mrs. Belle & Sarah is doing, what? What is Violet going to do?

Blog what you think the ending will be & who you think stole the pinecones. Check back with me tomorrow & see what the ending is & who stole the pinecones.

Details to Help You

* Somebody does not like pinecone & flower soup.

* Read though the whole story & think about what you read.

* Make a movie in your head while you read, to help you understand what you are reading.

* Try to act out what is happening.

List

* Missing

* Pinecones

Suspects

* Mrs. Baker

* Cindy Baker

* Mrs. Belle

* Sarah Meadow

“I wonder where I will hide these pinecones.” Sarah asked herself. “Wow! This place is perfect!” “ Perfect for me to figure out who stole the pinecones.” A voice replied. “Macaroni & Cheese, Drop my peas!” Sarah cried. “Don’t take me guilty, Violet.” “If you took my pinecones, give them to me,” Violet said. “If you don’t give them to me, I will tell your mother.” “Don’t tell my mother, Sarah said. “I’ll give them to you.” “Thank you, Sarah,” Violet said. “Thank you.”

Now we know who stole the pinecones. The End