Boston Baked Beans anyone???

I have always wanted to try to make homemade Boston Baked Beans.   But.....I have this fear of dry beans for some weird reason.   I know, it sounds crazy.    I didn't grow up with anyone in my family using dry beans to make things...(that I know of anyway)  LOL    So it is unfamiliar territory for me.  
So you are probably wondering, Why now??    Well I love baked beans.  My family loves baked beans.  I often stick to just the basic can of Bush's beans, (Boston baked or Country style are our favorites).   I thought to myself how hard can it be to make them???   I looked up a few recipes and found this one that looked easy enough, no weird ingredients and hey I actually had a bag of Northern beans in the pantry.
  
*I bought them in hopes of attempting to incorporate more inexpensive meals that incorporate beans*


So here is my chance.   I found this recipe and it was super easy.  (and you get a little history lesson as well),
http://www.simplyrecipes.com/recipes/slow_cooked_boston_baked_beans/


 Now I must say at this point we haven't eaten them yet, *they are still cooking*  LOL   But the house smells amazing and the fact that they just go in the slow cooker and you leave them alone to cook all day is super awesome in my book.  


If these turn out well I have a feeling my family might be saying, "Please, no more beans..LOL "
We won't eat these until tomorrow even though they are cooking today.  Ryan's 12th birthday is tomorrow and his "birthday" meal is hamburgers, hot dogs, my super cheesy homemade mac and cheese and baked beans.    (I could have just opened a can, but it wouldn't be the same now would it?)   :)






I Corinthians 13:4-7 4 Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant or rude. 5 It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; 6 it does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices in the truth. 7 It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

Graduation, Moving out, Summer vacation....OY!!

Shelby and I after her graduation ceremony!!  :) 

So many milestones, so little time!!!

The kids have been out of school for a few weeks already.  Some days I can't wait for school to start, other days it's not so bad.   Seems the days I have to grocery shop or run an errand are the most stressful.   I am so used to doing those things by myself while they are in school.   I also miss my special TUESDAY time with J.R.  :(    He has Tuesday's off and often times we would run errands or do grocery shopping or just sit at home on our laptops and enjoy the quiet and alone time.   We will have that time back again I know, but I do so miss it.

As my title implies, we also had a graduation and a moving out milestone.  Both accomplished by our oldest daughter Shelby.   She graduated from high school on May 27th, 2012!!   I still can't believe that she is done with high school.    She worked hard and achieved awesome grades her final year.   There was less drama than previous two years, and she really blossomed and matured in a short amount of time.   She has a boyfriend who we like very much.   He moved here to Iowa to be with her, (that right there tells me he loves her very much).   They both acquired full time jobs just days after Shelby's graduation ceremony.  They even found a great little apartment not too far, and in the same town we live in.   I love that she is close enough to stop by.   We helped them get all moved in last weekend and helped unpack some of their stuff.  I haven't been over since then but I speak to her daily and she tells me that she is still unpacking things and organizing.
I remember fondly when I first moved out on my own....it was scary, liberating, and joyous all at the same time.  I know it's only been a week but I think they will do great and I believe in her ability to handle things on her own.   I have heard people tell me that I must have done something right and taught her the right things so she felt confident enough to move out on her own.   Well, I don't know about that.....I did try to teach her things to help her in adult life, but I wasn't always sure she was listening or paying attention.
Just last night we were texting each other and this is how it went.......

ME :  It's different when your own place huh?
Shelby : It sucks!  I have to do everything !!!!
ME: Michael isn't helping??
Shelby: He does, But  it's just weird cuz usually I had U to rely on but...haha  I gotta do all the mom stuff by myself.  haha
ME:Yes I do know, I was young once too believe it or not.  LOL   You don't have anyone else to pick up the slack...or give you a breadk.  It's all on you if it gets done or not.  It is liberating though!!  :)
Shelby : LOL   It is a bit  lol

She then told me about going to the laundromat to do their laundry, and coming home and making homemade spaghetti sauce and some pasta for herself to eat for supper.   (her BF works 6pm-6am)

I am so proud of her.   I am happy for her.  I do miss her though....the kids miss her.  They have commented at least once a day how weird it is to not have Shelby in the house.   That they used to have to be quiet in the morning so they wouldn't wake her up, and that they couldn't really watch TV downstairs in the family room because that is where her room was.
But, I think we are slowly adjusting to life with Shelby on her own.   :)



I Corinthians 13:4-7 4 Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant or rude. 5 It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; 6 it does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices in the truth. 7 It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.