M.O.B Society Boy Mom BlogHop!

Say that five times fast!

The M.O.B (Mothers of Boys) Society is hosting the first annual Boy Mom BlogHop and I decided to participate in the fun! So if you're visiting from the BlogHop, welcome!

For those of you visiting for the first time, let me introduce myself. I'm Crystal... 29 years old, for the next 3 months at least! I live in the great state of Alabama with my hubby (known on the blog as "The Hubs"). In October we will celebrate our 7th anniversary! We have two boys, Luke (5) and Eli (will turn 3 in August). I've been a stay at home mom since Luke was born! I love to cook and bake! I blog mostly about cooking, life happenings, homeschooling and my relationship with Christ. I will be a newbie homeschooler in just a little over a week! We did a lot of preK last year but this will be our first official year homeschooling! I am a little nervous but mostly excited!

A little about my boys...



Luke is my thinker. He loves building things and figuring out how things work! He's super smart and has a tender heart! He loves to ride his bike and play ball with his Daddy! He also likes to dance and sing!

Eli is my wild child! He is spunky and silly! He's also very much a Momma's boy (and I'm completely fine with that!). He loves his big brother! He has a fascination with weed eaters and lawn mowers! And he loves to play the guitar! Together they put on a pretty good show!



My boys love to read books. We try to get to the library as often as we can to read new books! Luke loves: "Gruffalo", "Duck Soup" and his Clifford books. Eli still loves to look at picture books. He also loves "Llama, Llama Red Pajama" and Blue's Clues books! We're also reading through The Jesus Storybook Bible during the day and God's Wisdom for Little Boys before bed!

Well, motherhood calls! Eli just came to me and excitedly said, "Come look at your new door!" He walked me into the den and said, "Tada!!" He's been washing the doors with a sponge dipped in his orange slushie. :)

Thanks so much for stopping by! I can't wait to hop around and 'meet' other boy mom bloggers! But I must first go wipe down my doors!

Sour Cream Waffles: Recipe Review

As you can tell from my menu plans, we love pancakes around here! But every once in a while I like to switch things up and make waffles! I had tried a few recipes but when I found this one I knew it would be my go to recipe! I found this recipe from the same site that I found our favorite pancakes. They are so yummy! So, as long as I've got sour cream on hand (and we typically do!) I'm making these!




These waffles are rich (a stick of butter and 1/2 cup of sour cream, which by the way are good for you), so we all typically eat less of these than pancakes! I usually serve these with real maple syrup and fruit. And if we're blessed to have yummy nitrate free bacon, we'll have that as well! My boys love them cut into waffle sticks for dipping!



I hope you try Sour Cream Waffles! They are delicious and easy to whip up! Let me know if you try them!

It's almost time! (Part 1 ~ Homeschooling)

It's almost time for school!! I am so excited (and a little nervous!)! We will start school in 2 weeks! Over the past few weeks I have been praying and meditating on why I want to homeschool. I've been praying that God will give me the right attitudes and the right heart. I know it's going to be fun and challenging all at the same time! So, as I thought and discussed it with the Hubs, I decided to do a series of post on homeschooling, particularly why we've chosen this route. I'm not sure how many there will be... maybe just two but maybe more. I know there may be some family and friends unsure as to why we would choose this. It may not make sense and even after I explain, it may still not make sense! And that's okay! I want to get my thoughts out there, share my heart and hopefully encourage some other homeschooling mommas!

The Hubs and I wanted a family soon after we were married. We shared the same desires, I'd stay at home with our children. I'm thankful we decided that early on (when we were engaged!). I don't remember when we first talked about homeschooling but I do know it was early as well, possibly before Luke was born. It just made sense to us. And even more so now, it just seems like the natural thing to do. Homeschooling fits our ideals, our wants and desires for our family.

Aside from it just seeming like the natural flow of our family life, our number one reason for choosing homeschooling is that we feel like God is calling us to homeschool. And isn't that the number one reason to do anything? I know God made me for motherhood. I fight it sometimes, but I know I am where He wants me to be! He's given me a great responsibility and I want to do my best to train my babes. He gave them to me, so I will teach them!

Before I move on to any of my other reasons, let me clarify something, we're not doing this because we believe if we homeschool our childre they'll be perfect and never make mistakes. A quote from Ann Voskamps says it best,

"Homeschooling is not a formula for perfection, nor is homeschooling a panacea for all the sin in this world. We're all messy and fallen and sin-scraped. We and our children are born sinners. Homeschooling will not fix any of that. Only Jesus and His grace can."

We are following the Father's leading for how to train and educate our children. We've prayed and we've researched. And prayed more. We trust that He will lead each family who seeks Him in the right path, whatever that may be.

And who wouldn't want to spend everyday with those sweet faces?



My boys are seriously cute.

"And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates."
Deuteronomy 6:6-9


(I plan to end each post with some verses that I'll hold close in praying over our upcoming homeschool year!)

Menu Plan Monday 7/25/11

Cheeseburger Soup, Corn Bread

Spaghetti with Yellow Squash, Garlic Broccoli

Cheesy Sausage Pizza, Cucumbers and Carrots with Ranch Dip (trying this crust)

Biscuits & Gravy, Scrambled Eggs, Cantaloupe (this biscuit recipe is one of the best whole wheat biscuit recipes I've ever tried! Since we're having it as a breakfasty meal, I'll just leave out the cheese!)

Bean and Cheese Burritos, Peas & Brown Rice

Other: Leftovers, sandwiches :)


These are our meals for the week! Soup is typically not a summertime meal but I have been craving soup, particularly potato! This soup is like a cheesy potato soup but with the addition of beef! Also, the boys will not eat bean and cheese burritoes so I will probably cook a little chicken for them and shred it! My hubby loves frozen bean burritos but I haven't bought them in a while because of all of the 'extra' ingredients. I'm hoping to try and freeze some so he will have quick snack to pull out of the freezer!

Linking to Orgjunkie.com ! Check it out for more menu and recipe ideas!