Conversation with Layla

Gary got home from his 4 day trip to Boston, and we jumped in the car to grab a bite to eat. Layla was so excited about eating at a restaurant...she loves to eat out! We LOVE Posada's. It is our favorite! We were all buckled in and Dad asked Layla what she learned at church this morning. Her response..."I learned how to not obey your parents." Really?! I think she got her words a little confused! Our church is GREAT!

This chic can talk...

and talk

I barely get a word in edge wise...no wonder Hayden doesn't talk yet :)

Usually her conversations make sense. I just love this age, because she is trying to use larger words. It always amazes me ~ the little sponges kids are!

In Full Swing

Harley can smell the grill

HC slidin' for the first time

LK is ready for the sun!

Summer is here, and we LOVE summertime!

Bring on the fun in the sun :)

Love you Miss you

5 years ago today Big Gary died. We miss him so much! He never got to see Layla or Hayden, but I know he would spoil them rotten. Layla asks about him, and I know that she would adore him. We all love and miss him everyday.

Wordless Wednesday

10 Things our 10 month old is doing

1.) Bear crawling...or as we call it the 'one legged crazy crawl'

2.) Drinking like mad out of his sippy cup as if it were his last drink.

3.) Spitting...sticking tongue out and blowing This is non-stop fun and a recent discovery.

4.) Crawling around the house pushing a ball. In this pic he got distracted by the rug.

5.) He is getting 4 top teeth at the same time. He is in a decent mood considering...OUCH...I tried to get a picture, but it wasn't happening!

6.) Playing peekaboo, again...all the time.

7.) Pulling up to standing on whatever will hold him. Even if it is one of the dogs. (wish I had a picture)

8.) waving at himself~as you see I couldn't get a picture of this

9.) babbling like crazy

10.) eating everything in site~no pic necessary, he'd probably eat it.

He is so cute and fun, and as busy as I am having two kids is great because they are so silly together! I can't imagine having only 1, but 2 is enough!!

Busy Busy Busy

We had a GREAT weekend. It was fun, and super busy and I am so sleepy! I finally downloaded the new software onto my computer so I could add the pictures we took this weekend. Our new Canon Rebel XSi camera is awesome. It has a fun extra lens that I LOVE!! It takes great shots, and we took 300 pictures...good grief. Here is one of the kiddos...I'm off to bed! Hope you had a great weekend :) More tomorrow!

New camera

I LOVE my new camera! We are currently working out the kinks....so new pics are in the near future...stay tuned!

Fabulous Food Friday

Check out this post from last year about this time! I was pregnant with HC!!

Mmmm Brownies

INGREDIENTS

1/2 cup white sugar
2 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoons water
1 1/2 cups semisweet chocolate chips
2 eggs1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
2/3 cup all-purpose flour1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt

DIRECTIONS

Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C).

Grease an 8x8 inch square pan.In a medium saucepan, combine the sugar, butter and water. Cook over medium heat until boiling. Remove from heat and stir in chocolate chips until melted and smooth. Mix in the eggs and vanilla. Combine the flour, baking soda and salt; stir into the chocolate mixture. Spread evenly into the prepared pan.
Bake for 25 to 30 minutes in the preheated oven, until brownies set up.
Do not over bake!
Cool in pan and cut into squares.

I wanted to post a sweet recipe because I really want something sweet, but I'm not letting myself have anything 'bad' right now. I am working really hard to get in shape for summer! So you guys can try this recipe and let me know what you think!! I made this so many times last year, and I remember posting it, but I didn't realize it was so close the same date as last year! Enjoy :)

Splishin' & a Splashin' & the Phone Ring a Dingin'

HC wasn't to happy about the slip n slide. I guess the water was WAY too cold for him. It was for me when I had to show LK how a slip n slide works. All I have to say for myself is OoUCHh. I'm so glad no one was around to see my demonstration. I think I threw my back out when I slid about (only) 2 inches. That isn't really the way I had planned to "know what I was doing." TeeHee!!
Kickity~kick...splish~splash.

HC seems better, sister is pretty fun the watch. BUT nope...

he decided---I'm outahere!

His crazy bear crawl makes me giggle. He only does it on the grass and tile; otherwise he crawls on his knees. His little swim shorts are goofy. They hang off his little hips, a couple of times I thought he was going to loose them. Geez...LK was really concerned that he wasn't wearing a shirt. That will be a whole other blog post.

He decided to take his frustrations out on mommy's phone...until it rang!

You should have seen him jump.

Mommy it's for you...now it seems as though I have 2 personal assistants.

Last Day of Preschool

May '09

September '08

Layla had a great school year! Thanks Ms. Daphne...we will miss you :)

Watermelon Madness

My munchkins.....I love them so MUCH!!

Lovin' that melon!

The seeds on his shirt crack me up!

LK organizing her melon...imagine that...where does she get that?

My little princess :)

We had a wonderful Tuesday. Hopefully next week at this time I will be posting better pictures! My new camera is on order...WOOOOHOOO!!! I am soooooo excited. It should be here on Friday....OMG I can hardly wait.

Friend Makin' Monday

When I first started blogging I thought it was a great way to keep our family and friends up to date on the happenings of this crazy household!! Turns out almost 2 years have gone by and it is something I really enjoy doing. I read Alli's blog, and she joined a {game} on Monday's called Friend Makin' Monday. If you want to make friends too go over to All That is Good and join the fun. Copy and paste these questions to your blog and give them your own answers.

You wouldn't be caught dead where?: On a cruise ship...I get car sick! Can you see me on a cruise?!?

Do you have any hidden talents?: I can sing, play the piano, flute and piccolo.

Name two things you consider yourself to be very good at: Cooking & singing.

Name two things you consider yourself to be very bad at: Spelling (whoever invented spellcheck I'm your #1 fan) & mowing the lawn...Gary says I butcher it.

Have you ever won a trophy?: Yes, I ran High School Cross Country. I used to run 8 miles a day!!

Name one thing not many people know about you: I talk a lot, so everyone that knows me knows it all. TeeHee!!

Name your earliest memory: My third birthday party...my daddy got me a stuffed kangaroo.

What was your favorite musical group in jr. high?: New Kids on the Block...weehoo :) Hangin' Tough...Aghhh

What was something the worst roommate you ever had did?: My 1st ever roommate when I was a freshman at TJC trashed our room. She did it on purpose because she was never there, and she knew I was a clean freak!!

When you were a kid what did you want to be when you grew up?: An actress

What was your worst dating experience? I went on a date with a guy I knew I was just friends with. He tried to kiss me at the end of the night, and I turned my head. He kissed my cheek instead. HA! I felt so sorry for him.

If you were about to die what would your last meal be?: Chicken fried steak with cream gravy, mashed potatoes and french fries...how can you pick only one? I would also have buttered corn and broccoli rice and cheese casserole. Sweet tea, and cheesecake for desert. Yummy!! Can you tell I'm a southern girl.

Who is the most important person in you life?: My husband!!!

If your house was on fire what 3 things would you grab on your way out?:
1.) my family ( husband, 2 kids, 2 dogs)
2.)camera
3.) my cell phone

Your turn :)

Rainy Day

I snapped a few pics of the kiddos today playing in the garage. Hopefully tomorrow we will play outside in the sunshine!

Slow Cooker Ribs

This was all new to me. I have never cooked baby back ribs in my life...EVER. That is why I married a man that grills, and I do love me some GS!! Anyway, I branched out and tried this recipe, and it was delicious! The ribs fell off the bone. If you like to eat ribs on the bone, this isn't for you. I am serious...these are super tender and have amazing flavor.

 Saucy Slow-Cooker Ribs

1 slab of pork baby back ribs (mine was about 2 lbs)

1 teaspoon black pepper

1 1/2 cups of barbecue sauce

1 (8oz) jar of cherry jam

1 TBS of Dijon mustard

1/4 tps salt

Rub pepper over ribs. Cut into 2 rib portions place in slow cooker.

Combine barbecue sauce, jam, mustard, and salt in a bowl 

pour over ribs.

Cover and cook on LOW for 6-8 hours.

Serve with sauce

*see previous blog post for my bbq sauce recipe*

Here is a photo of my kitchen while cooking ribs in the white crock pot, beans in the stainless crock pot and boiling eggs on the stove. I made deviled eggs to go with the ribs and beans...YUM!!

Tent time :)

Layla loves to push her Dora couch up next to our polka dot chair and throw a blanket over it. It is so cute to watch her struggle to get the blanket over the couch. She groans and grunts like crazy. Finally, she has to ask Gary or I for help. All set! Let the fun begin....ooops down the blanket goes and she has to start all over again. It's fun to watch Layla, but now we watch Hayden join in on the fun. At first LK was territorial...gosh...she doesn't share with her brother. She will share with her friends at a play date, but with HC...no way. It is so frustrating, but this time the kids played in the tent together. The two of them were hooting and hollering like mad. It was wonderful to see them getting along for once.

This sibling rivalry thing is crazy. I know it is normal, and they are young. Isn't it every parents dream for their kids to get along and be best buddies? I know we don't live in a perfect world, but I want to do my best to help them be close. I think I can show them how to love one another, and have a great bond. Some days I'm not sure how...BUT you know me, when I don't know what to do I read about it. It's my therapy. I'm gonna find myself a self help book...

maybe Siblings without Rivalry.

I did find this in THE most important self help book.

Train up a child

in the way he should go,

And when he is old

he will not depart from it.

Proverbs 22:6

I can't tell if they are laughing or crying, but I'd like to think playing in this silly tent will bring them closer :)

A mama can hope!

Wordless Wednesday

Makes me smile :)

I know you have already seen this picture of my boys this week, but I love it!

This cute mister is so much happier now that he eats REAL food. He isn't a formula baby if that is possible...well it is for us. He is nine months old, and eats more than his sister. He is finally a happy little man!! Formula must have hurt his tummy because for the first 6 months of his life he screamed and cried everyday. If you are a frustrated mom...I can understand! I was too, and I think it has a lot to do with food.

This little tooter pants LOVES his daddy! Every evening when daddy comes in the door HC is ALL smiles! It is priceless. He shows those 2 teeth proudly with a gigantic grin!! I am so thankful for my wonderful family and all the blessings in my life.

Sheesh!

Indoor, calm activity.

Layla has begun to feel better, and I know this because she is getting bossy again! That is fine with me~yippee. It really wouldn't be such a big deal...heck tons of children get sick all the time. BUT, Layla really hasn't been sick at all in her 3 1/2 years. We have been so lucky. It is really hard to see your munchkin in pain. Her fever was so high and she hasn't slept in two days. That isn't normal, and those of you that know me know that my kiddos are scheduled sleepers. They both are really good about going to bed and sleeping through the night. She was in our bed the past two nights....Aghhhh. I love her, but can't sleep with her. Anyway, we made a trip to the Doctor this morning. They tested her for everything, and she is all clear, so the outcome is just a random virus. That is even more stressful for me...103 temp and no explanation. Oh well, we are happy she is MUCH better and almost back to her spunky little self!

Here is a picture of one of the pages she colored today. See, the smile is almost normal! She loves it when I print coloring pages. This website has dot to dots and all kinds of fun indoor activities. Check it out on a sick or rainy day.

Happy Mother's Day

We had a great time catching up with each other! I have been friends with each of these ladies since before kindergarten. We treated ourselves to a Spa outing, and it was great that is was on Mother's Day weekend. It was a blast to be pampered! I can't wait to get together again...soon!

I am so lucky to be mommy two the most amazing kiddos ever! It has been a mellow Mother's Day this year. Last night when I got home from my Spa trip, Layla was sick. High fever and she even threw up. She has had fever on and off all day today as high as 102.7 degrees. We have just been hanging out relaxing and hibernating. Bless her little heart, I hope she feels better soon, and I hope the rest of our household will stay well. Say some prayers for us!

Happy Mother's Day to you all!!

3 posts in one day...

I know, CRAZY! But you REALLY gotta check this out.

I added a button on my right sidebar under the 'Archives'. This Metropolitan Mama is giving away a laptop! Really!?!? So cool! I would love to win this laptop, and if you click on the button on my side bar you too can enter to win! What a wonderful Mother's day gift!

Food again

OK, so I have turned into a slow cooker junkie! I love it. I usually put dinner in the slow cooker around 2 o'clock, and then my evenings aren't nearly as stressful. Afternoons around 4 o'clockish I start to go nuts. Add baths and dinner...I am worn smooth out! Anyway, I am so excited that my friend Becky is letting me borrow this book. I love it! It has great recipes, and all made in the slow cooker. The one I am going to share today is

Parmesan chicken

4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
1/2 cup of water
1 cup of fat free mayonnaise
1/2 cup of grated Parmesan cheese
2 tsp oregano
1/4 tsp. paprika
fresh cracked pepper

Put chicken in slow cooker. Mix remainder of ingredients and cook for 3-4 hours on high.

This is my version of the one in the book, I changed it up a bit.

I served the chicken with whole wheat pasta and broccoli. We skipped eating the sauce because the chicken was so tender! Gary is loving the slow cooker foods because I am trying new things. It is so fun. I'm gonna look for a good slow cooker oatmeal recipe. Can you imagine waking up that that yummy smell? HC and I would be the only ones to eat it though...the other 2 aren't oatmeal eaters. Have a great weekend and a Happy Mother's Day!

Big Girl Haircut & my boys

Blow Dry

All done!

LK got about 2 inches cut off today! She looks so adorable...I must say.

See yesterday's post for the BEFORE pictures.

I LOVE this pic of my boys! I love the way the sun is streaming in the door. They were having a ball playing and I just had to share this sweet shot :)