I'mmmm Baaaaaack! :)

Hello? .................................Anybody out there? .............................. :)
Hi there! My family and I just (a week ago :/ ) got back from a month long trip out west. My trip started a little earlier than planned when one of my Uncle's past away from cancer. My little guy Parker and I flew out to California for his memorial services, then met up with my husband and Skylee a few days later when our trip was originally planned for. I have a very large extended family, but I feel as though we're also very tight-knit. Although it wasn't a reason anyone would have chosen, it was wonderful to see all my brothers, sisters, aunts, uncles, and cousins. I believe that families are forever, and that I will see my Uncle Jim again, he was a great Uncle to me :)

The rest of our trip included; indoor black light mini golf, cosmic bowling, splash parks, water park, Mandalay Bay Shark Reef, 5 days on a houseboat at Lake Mead (wakeboarding, inner-tubes, boating, jet skis, swimming...), family BBQs/bonfire, Chuck E. Cheese, eating out for just about every meal,visiting with long time friends and spending quality time with my family. It was a blast, wish I could do that every month! I think people around here in Georgia wondered if I was ever coming back though. I won't bore you with thousands of pictures, just a few ;)

My beautiful family minus my husband and daughter

Skylee playing at the park

Lake Mead boat babies

Skylee testing out the water slide

Parker and I after my Uncles funeral

Parker at Lake Mead, 4th of July
Napoleon Dynamite anyone? My husband called him RexKwonDo because of these shorts!

Family bonfire

Skylee, 4th of July

Ryan, my husband in his element at Lake Mead

With all that, and being away from all my supplies, there was NO crafting going on, I think the most I made with my hands was a few batches of homemade cookies ;) Have no fear, I'll get back on my "crafting track", I've got plenty of projects lined up, until then here's a little recipe I thought I'd share with you. This is another kid-pleaser in my house :)

Tater Tot Casserole:
Ingredients
1lbs ground beef (or turkey)
1 can green beans
1 package onion soup mix
1 1/2 cups of milk
1 can cream of mushroom soup
bag of frozen tater tots
1/2-1 cup cheddar cheese

Directions:
-line 9x9 baking dish with a layer of tater tots
-Brown meat in large skillet until brown, drain fat.
-Add beans, cream of mushroom soup, onion soup mix and milk to the skillet with meat
-Once heated, pour over tater tots
-Add top layer of tater tots and add cheese for topping
Bake 30-35 mins @ 375 degrees.

And just for laughs, this is me holding on for dear life as a TRY to wakeboard! LOL :)
Hope you all are enjoying your Summer! Crafts to come :)
*Brittney*