Santa....

We decided to go see Santa Saturday morning with some friends. Ava and Sarah-Tate were super excited. I knew Griffin would probably not like Santa.....

Initially things seemed ok. He stood with Santa and didn't seem to mind at all. But- things changed quickly when the photographer suggested Ava stand beside Santa and place Griffin on his knee....

He was ok at first but then he looked back and saw Santa and it was all over. He quickly returned to Mommy and the girls continued with their talk!

The visit with Santa was the same when the girls were small too... funny how it doesn't change!

Happy Monday!

Yummy Christmas Food!

I love the holiday season and love entertaining! I have so many staple Christmas recipes- it was hard to figure out which ones I wanted to post! I love to make peanut butter balls, toffee, chocolate mint ritz crackers(YUM!), date nut cheese ball and sugar cookies just to name a few! I narrowed it down to these 3 favs!

Crab Ball

1 Block of cream cheese room temp
1 cup of crab meat chopped
1/3 cup ketchup
3 T of worcheshire sauce

Mix softened cream cheese and crab meat; form a ball and put on a plate. Let chill in the fridge for 30  mins or so. When ready to serve mix ketchup and worcheshire sauce together- pour over crab ball. Serve with wheat thins.

Date Nut Balls

1 egg well beaten
1/2 cup butter
1 cup sugar
8 oz of dates chopped
1 cup of pecans chopped
2 1/2 cups rice crispies
1 teaspoon of vanilla

Cook butter, sugar, eggs and dates until gooey and thickened. Add pecans and vanilla. Then rice krispies and mix well. Cool slightly and form balls and roll in powdered sugar. Makes 50 or so small balls.



Melting Moments

1 cup of butter
1/3 c powdered sugar
3/4 c corn starch
1 cup flour

Cream butter; add sugar, corn starch and flour. Mix well. Chill 1 hr. For 36 or so irregular heaps and put on ungreased cookie sheet. Bake at 350 until lightly browned. (10 -15 mins) Cool and frost. These cookies are not good without the frosting.

Frosting

2T melted butter
1 c powdered sugar
1 t vanilla
Enough milk to spread
Green and Red food coloring

I mix butter, sugar, vanilla and a tad of milk. Then I divide the frosting in 2 bowls. I add red to one bowl and green to the other.

These "Melting Moments" cookies are special Christmas tradition in our house. So fun to make and so delicate and delicious to eat.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!!

Christmas Cards....

I LOVE Christmas cards! When I went to college I started sending cards to my family and friends back home. I would take pictures of my college Christmas tree or my animals. I always loved getting cards from friends and watching their kids grow! I couldn't wait until the day I had my own kids and could send out these cute cards with matching outfits! So fun!

Well, Christmas cards are such a source of stress in our house! ;) I always wants the kids to look perfect and I never get the picture I am looking for! It normally turns into a nightmare...the more stressed I get the more stressed and silly the kids get! Sad but true!

I attempted to take pictures Friday morning.... didn't turn out so well. My wonderful husband took the 3 kids to the beach on Sunday and got the cutest pics! So thankful that he can do this stuff and make it stress free!

Here are the pics.... first set I took Friday and then the beach pics!

We used the pics of the 3 kids running on the beach along with the group shot above for the card! It turned out so cute!

Every year I say I am going to start with pics for the card early and every year I am doing the pics the week after Thanksgiving or later! Let's see what happens next year! ;)

Happy Tuesday!

Thankful for so much!

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving!! We went to my inlaws- the kids love being there! They love seeing their cousin Meagan who goes to college near my inlaws. And they enjoyed meeting her new boyfriend Ian. He was great with the kids! So cute!

We headed out of town Wednesday afternoon; we were worried traffic would be crazy! Traffic wasn't bad after all! We had a nice drive south with the kids and the dog! We arrived around 11pm. The kids always get a second wind when we arrive late! They had fun running aroung and showing all their new stuff to grandma and grandpa. Grandma made a wonderful bread pudding! YUM!

Thanksgiving Day was busy getting ready for the big meal! My mother-in-law got a new stove and hasn't fully figured it out. Well, we put the turkey in to cook and 30 minutes later I realized that the turkey wasn't cooking b/c the oven wasn't on! :( So, we started over again! Luckily, grandpa took the kids on a boat ride! That helped a lot!

We had a great dinner with turkey, dressing, sweet potatoes, brussel sprouts, gravy, rolls and yummy cranberries! I love Thanksgiving! I don't eat the turkey but everything else is awesome! I know... I don't eat the turkey on Thanksgiving? Strange? I am not much of a meat eater- for some reason turkey isn't my thing at all!

Friday morning I got up bright and early to go shopping. I found a few good deals. I don't think they have the deals  they used to have on Black Friday unless you are going to Best Buy or Walmart? I enjoyed getting out and into the spirit! I also found my new favorite thing! Unsweet tea from DunkinDonuts with coconut added! YUM! Love it!

After my shopping spree we headed to the G Whiz museum- so fun! Ava totally loved it! She got to hold a snake! There were so many fun things to do there!

Saturday we went to a new beach to shell hunt and have a picnic! Ava found some nice shells! We had a great time hunting and having a picnic! After we headed to Nokomis Groves! They have amazing soft serve orange, vanilla, lime, chocolate and pineapple ice cream! It is a great treat! Lime and chocolate is so, so good!

The trip was awesome! Leaving on Monday was sad as always! I love family times! Matt works a lot and is often busy- being on vacation is nice! We miss seeing him but are thankful for his job!!!

Happy Monday!

Favorite new find.....

I love Super Target! Go there way too much! :) Anyway, on one of my weekly trips I found a delicious Yellow Lentil Hummus! It is my new favorite thing! I love it w/Archer Farms Roasted Red Pepper hummus chips! So yummy! And creamy!

Last night the girls and I were watching Cupcake Wars. The girls really think we should go on the show and make some of our yummy cupcakes! Funny! Sarah-Tate informed me this morning that instead of being a Sonic girl who wears rollerskates when she grows up she wants to be on that show! I really love that show- Love all the interesting flavors! Cupcakes are so awesome! My husband isn't a cake person and keeps saying the "cupcake" bubble is going to burst sooner or later! ;)

Happy Wednesday!

Yummy fall recipes....

I made a yummy spinach lasagna Sunday! I love fall comfort food! Yum!

Spinach Lasagna

1 box of wheat lasagna noodles(uncooked)
2-3 boxes of Pacific Cream of Mushroom Soup(organic)
1 cup of milk
1/2 cup Parmesan Cheese
2 boxes of frozen Organic Chopped Spinach(thawed and drained)
2 packs of sliced mushrooms
1/4 tsp nutmeg
2 cloves of garlic minced
1 container of shredded Parmesan cheese
1 cup of mozzarella cheese

Preheat oven to 350.

Spray a frying pain with Olive Oil Pam. Rinse and dry mushrooms, dump in pan and saute. While mushrooms are cooking drain spinach and set aside. In a larger bowl dump boxes of Cream of Mushroom soup and milk; mix until smooth. Add spinach, garlic, nutmeg and 1/2 of grated parm cheese. Mix well. When mushrooms are done add them to soup mixture.

Spray a 9x13 pan with Pam. Put a small amount of the soup mixture in the bottom of the pan just to cover it. then start with your first row of noodles. Alternate noodles and then soup until you run out of the soup mix. Make sure that your last layer is the soup mixture. Cover with foil and bake for 55-60 minutes. Take out and cover with shredded parm cheese and mozzarella cheese. Pop back in the over and broil until cheese is bubbly and melted!

This is so yummy! It is even better the next day!  We often eat it w/this Spinach Salad-

Spinach Salad

Spinach (rinsed and dry)
Craisins
1 apple sliced
Candied Walnuts
Poppyseed Dressing

Toss Spinach, Craisins, sliced apples and Candied Walnuts in a salad bowl. Add as much dressing as you like! Yum!

Another Fall Favorite in our house- Pumpkin Muffins!!!

Pumpkin Muffins

1 box Spiced Cake Mix
1 can Pumpkin
1/2-3/4 c Water
1/2 c walnuts (chopped)
1/4 c ground flaxseed

Mix everything together and put in muffin tins. Should make 16-24 muffins. Bake at 350 for 25 minutes or until done.

These are so moist and yummy!

I also make a yummy pumpkin or butternut squash pasta, that is for another day!

I love fall and wanted to document these recipes!

Happy Tuesday!

Things to remember....

I love my babies so much! I can't even believe Ava will be 7 in February! Where does time go??

We had a great family day today! We went to the Air Show at NAX Jax. It was COLD! But- we knew Griffin would love it and he did! He loves airplanes and helicopters! Doesn't matter where we are or what we are doing if he hears one he has to stop and try to find it in the sky! So cute! The girls enjoyed the show more than they thought they would! Sarah-Tate informed me that Air Shows were for boys not girls? She is such a girly-girl! She actually had fun looking at all the planes on display. Ava loved the show! She and Matt waited in line so she could sit in one of the fighter helicopters- Sarah-Tate was scared. Fun family day!

Love Saturdays like today! Not a lot going on as far as birthday parties or playdates just family stuff! These Saturdays are rare with 3 kids!

Griffin is cutting 4 molars! Poor guy! He doesn't do so well when he is cutting teeth. Tonight he woke up crying after an hr being in bed. Not like him at all! But, I am not complaining b/c I sat and held him while he fell asleep! Love those moments too. They are rare with Griffin! He is so active! He is always busy, busy! It was nice cuddling and smelling the sweet smell of my sleeping boy! Love the smell of a freshly bathed baby!

Sarah-Tate is really coming out of her shell! Last year at MMO drop off she would cry when I would leave but this year she goes right in without a fuss! She loves her teacher, Ms Biltock! She also loves having a planner and getting green days! At the end of the week she gets Treasure Box for those green days! It also makes her feel big like her sister!

Ava is doing great. She is excelling in school! Her math skills amaze me for 1st grade! She is also reading more and more! This is exciting to her! She was so proud of herself for reading "Are you my Mother?"  Her sister also thinks it is pretty cool b/c Ava can read to her! :)

Oh....how could I forget Halloween??? We had a great time! Ava dressed up like a Vampire, Sarah-Tate was a mermaid and Griffin was Charlie Brown! We got tons of candy! It is really crazy! Our wonderful neighbors Mr Mike and Mrs Sandy made each of the kids a bag. It was so nice! The girls got candy, Oreos and a cell phone/dress up stuff in their bag. Griffin got candy, Oreos and a car. We are so lucky!

It has been a long time....

Life is too crazy around here! With the 3 kids everything just kind of runs together! Our summer was fabulous! I had to have a minor surgery in June so my mom and dad came down to help out with the kiddos. After the surgery the girls went home to the farm in NC with GiGi and Poppy! They were in heaven! They had a wonderful 2 weeks picking berries, eating fruit, helping GiGi at the fruitstand, spending summer days with Aunt Lillie, going out to eat with Aunt Sharon and Uncle Bob, playing with Poppy and having wonderful summer adventures with cousin Caroline!

Summer adventures with cousin Caroline! Wow! These 3 girls have grown very tight, Easter was the bonding experience for these girls! When you have 3 girls, a bug gun and lots of bees to catch I guess that forms a lasting bond? Anyway, they were so cute together. They had a picnic in the apple orchard with GiGi. Made scarecrows out of a gourds in hopes of keeping the birds away from the blueberries! And just had fun! When I arrived we coordinated and took the girls and boys to see Cars- that was fun! After the movies Caroline came back to the farm with us! She and the girls played animal hospital, ate supper and fun catching lightening bugs! That was such an awesome night! The whole family sat out under the maple tree watching the girls have fun running through the orchard with Uncle Jason! Kind of reminded me of being at Mamaw and Papaw's when I was a kid during the summer!

After our trip to the farm we came home for a few weeks! Ava had cheer camp- FUN!  She was also in our local beaches newspaper for cheer camp! Neat! After cheer camp we packed up and got ready for our beach adventure! We went to Myrtle Beach at the end of July for a week. The girls cousins were there as well from NYC. They had the best time! Our hotel had several pools, lazy rivers and hottubs! The kids were set! We spent our time going between hotels. We went to the Ripley's Aquarium one afternoon! The girls LOVED the mermaid show! I have to say it was pretty cool! After we ate supper and then went to Build A Bear! It was our first time! The girls each got bunnies! It was fun but over whelming! After we headed to see the cousins. Ava and Sarah-Tate had decided they wanted to spend the night with them! All 4 girls had a ball! Our week passed quickly and soon it was time to come back to Jax Beach!

When we arrived back our friends from DC were in route! Yay! We had a great weekend with them! So much fun! Always fun seeing them and spending time with the kids! Ava and Sarah-Tate love Aris, Kira and Landon! It was so cool b/c this time ST created a pretty tight bond with Mr Eric! We headed to Animal Kingdom with them on Monday before Mr Eric left on Tues. We had so much fun! It was a long exhausting day for the girls and I but totally worth it! We also had 2 sleepovers, so cute!

After all of that it was almost time for Ava to start 1st grade and Sarah-Tate to go back to St Paul's for her last year of preschool before VPK!

Fun summer!

Animal Print......

We had our bathrooms gutted over the last 2 mths. It has been so awesome! I hated those bathrooms for 7 yrs! I am happy to have them nice with new tile and vanities....awwww.... it is awesome! We headed out to Hobby Lobby this morning to look for pictures and a few other accessories. Ava and Sarah-Tate love Hobby Lobby. They love the animal print stuff, jewels, glitter, paint, hair stuff, ribbons, fabric, kids project stuff, flowers, seasonal stuff and candy! :)

When we headed out of Hobby Lobby Ava and Sarah-Tate were talking about changing their room! They have both decided that they want an animal print room! Ava wants tiger stripes! Sarah-Tate wants giraffe print! :) Then they proceeded into a conversation about their weddings. Ava said I am going to marry a really nice guy. We are going to get married on the beach at sunset with the pretty colors. When we have our house there will be tiger print everywhere...people will love it! Sarah-Tate proceeds to talk about her wedding. She wants a giraffe ring and a beautiful pink wedding dress. Her house will have giraffe stuff and zebra! Love this time in life and listening to their stories. I love how they have such a tight bond. They argue and fight but they also have the best time together.

Griffin has turned into my wild man! He climbs on everything. I was in the kitchen grabbing something Monday, came around the corner to see Griffin on top of the girls red table!!! He can also climb on the couch! He is into everything. He is also at a point that he gets so frustrated b/c he wants something but can't tell you. He is at a hard age. I need to get creative for summer plans!

We are waiting on GiGi and Poppy to get here! They are coming to help out for a few days. I am having surgery in the morning, they will be here with the kiddos. I am so happy they will be here! The kids loving having them here! They will not even notice I am gone! :)

Happy Wednesday!

So Slack....

I am so slack with blogging! I have good intentions but then it just doesn't happen! Things have been crazy with school wrapping up...all the birthday parties and travel!

We went to my in laws for Memorial Day in Sarasota. It was fabulous! I love the beach and ocean on that side! They actually live in Casey Key. The water is so calm and blue! The kids loved it! Each morning we headed to the beach around 9 and didn't come back until noon or later for lunch! Griffin was a bit fussy because we did away w/his morning nap during the trip- now he is back on track for his 9 am nap! In the afternoons while Griffin was napping Matt and his dad took the girls out on the boat. They have a dolphin in the canal near their house named Beggar- they would go see him every afternoon. He is so cute- he comes right up to the boat. We had great seafood, food and ice cream! It was so great! Nice to get away from our routine and do fun stuff with the kids!

Here are a few pictures from our trip....

Griffin trying to drive! :) He thought this was so funny!

Girls going out on the boat!

Going for a swim!

Sweet boy looking at shells!

My super cute hubby!

Our last night.... this was on the pier after supper.... it was so nice! I hate the last night of vacations....so bittersweet! Ready to get back home and in your own bed but so loving the vacation and family time!!

So, that wraps it up.....

Happy Wednesday! :)

Easter and Griffin's 1st birthday....

We have had a busy 10 days! My best friend came in from DC with her 2 boys last weekend! We had the best time! Her boys are the age of Ava and Sarah-Tate; I wasn't really sure how they would all get along but they did great! Sarah-Tate and Gabriel were like 2 peas in a pod! They had the best time together! They left Monday and then it was time for school mode and Easter parties along w/packing for an Easter/birthday trip to GiGi and Poppy's farm in NC. We left Wednesday after Ava got out of school. That actually worked out nice! The kids always do great on the 8 hr car ride, thankfully!!!

The kids had an amazing time on the farm! They spent time Thursday and Friday with their Aunt Lillie. They love her so, so much! I spent lots of time with her as a child so she loves having my girls! Mom and I shopped for last minute Easter stuff and birthday stuff for Griffin's big 1st birthday!

Matt(my hubby) finally got to go mountain biking at Dupont! He has been dying to go for so long! Everytime we head home he always has plans to go but it never happens! Thankfully this time he went and had a wonderful Saturday! While he was biking my mom and I took the girls to an Easter Egg Hunt and to visit my grandmother who is 91! We had so much fun! I love seeing family and hate that we live so far away sometimes! I love seeing the kids interacting with their family! So awesome!

We had an extra special treat Saturday afternoon, my dad took everyone to a farm close to their farm. The owner of the farm said the kids could come and visit his baby goats, sheep, lambs, donkeys, roosters and chickens!!! Wow, what an amazing time!!! Ava really loved the animals! She was petting and holding the babies. Sarah-Tate wasn't so sure? The baby goats were playful, they would run and jump on you! They were cute but scared Sarah-Tate. Eventually she warmed up to them. That was such a special treat!

We had a wonderful Easter morning! The kids loved their baskets! Sarah-Tate asked for a Dora Princess Doll and Ava asked for a Bug Sucking Gun! Funny I know but Ava LOVES bugs! She spent all day Sunday searching for bugs and catching them! She even got her cousins all involved! So cute!

Here is an Easter picture! And yes, that is a big bunny behind Sarah-Tate! My mom does gourd art and makes amazing stuff! Here is her website! http://www.simplygourdgeouslive.com/

Happy Tuesday!

Kid Stuff....

Our oldest daughter Ava cracks me up w/the things she says! We had some damage to our front bumper- we got it fixed Tuesday. Wednesday morning as we were leaving for school Ava notices the work. She was impressed that their tape was working really well and you couldn't even see it! She was also impressed that the paint didn't run! I told her that for big fixes like this one you can't use tape or finger paints. I thought it was really cute!

Ava also got her report card today! She made 2 A's and 1 B+. She was so proud of herself! So, we made a trip to the Sonic for a chocolate milkshake! Good job Ava! Mom and dad are so proud of you!

Sarah-Tate is really growing up and changing so fast! She has really amazed me in the last 6 mths! I guess when Ava was this age I was still working full time so I didn't see things coming together w/her in regards to counting, associating letters w/words, figuring out games and really showing interest in a lot of stuff. Very cool! Glad I get to stay home this time around!

And for "Bubba" or Griffin... he is into everything! Nothing seems to scare him! Tuesday he went all the way up our stairs! He is so wild! He loves the computer cord or any wire for that matter! He is standing a lot and really starting to take steps on his own! Can't believe he is almost 1!?!? He is getting 2 more teeth! He babbles up a storm! He says Daisy( our boxer), dog, night-night and mama/dada. So cute! Oh, I never understood why people put childproof locks on toilets- now I do! Griffin was trying to put Ava's toothbrush in the toilet this morning!! I am not even sure how he got the toothbrush? He is also always trying to get stuff off tables. And he is super fast! But, he is super cute! When he smiles that big smile my heart melts! Love my boy!

Happy Thursday....yay for the weekend! :)

Seriously.....

I am such a procrastinator!!?! I am doing taxes today!? I have had the stuff together since the end of January but for some reason I feel the need to wait until the last second! :) Thankfully, I have a guy that is good and will get everything done and filed today!

Poor Ava got stung by a bee today at school! Poor girl! She gets hysterical when anything happens- a small cut, a splinter...you name it! Our neighbor picked her up b/c Griffin was sleeping. She cried when she got out of the van and saw me! She was happy that Mr Mike picked her up b/c she loves him but sad that the bee stung her and he was going to die soon! :( She loves bugs!

Griffin is really trying to walk! He will be 1 in 2 wks! He is trying so hard! And he gets so proud of himself! I missed all these things w/the girls- this is really awesome to see it w/Griffin! I am loving staying home w/him and Sarah-Tate!

Weight Watchers is going good! Made wonderful Mahi-Mahi for supper last night w/a sweet chili sauce, wilted spinach salad w/balsalmic reduction and organic sweet potatoes! YUM! I love cooking more for the family! :) Especially now that fresh veggies are coming in at the Green Market!

Busy Wednesday!

Wow, today is going to be busy! Griffin is down for a nap but this afternoon we have Ava's 6 yr check up- how is she 6?!? And then a playdate from 3-5, supper, workouts and bath/showers! Whew!

I am trying the new Weight Watchers plan.... it is great. I love most of the fruits and veggies  being free as far as points! I am also really working hard to work out at least 5-6 days a wk. I always put off workouts.... I think there is too much to do?? Amazing how great it feels when I actually do it and stick to it! Oh, and I found a delicious little treat! I take one of the individual vanilla greek yogurts... in a seperate bowl I take 1 T of honey and 1 T of cocoa.... mix it together. You might have to add 1 t of water to the cocoa/honey mixture....when mixed up add your yogurt and stir. It makes a yummy chocolate treat! Love this!!!

Here are some pics of the kiddies....

Happy Wednesday!

My 1st Post!

Yay! I finally did it! It has taken me 3 years to break down and start a blog! I love reading blogs, getting recipe ideas, getting parenting tips and decorating ideas. I also love the idea of having a way to keep track of things the kids are doing!

I love kids and the funny things they do! This morning Griffin (my 11 mth old) was clearly bored with all his toys- during his nap I decided to get in the attic and pull out the FP Learning Door. When Griffin woke from his nap he was loving his new door! Quickly his sister Sarah-Tate moved in and took it over! Funny how when she was a baby she didn't care at all about that door! She was so bored with it! Her older sister Ava loved it! But, this morning she was in love with it! Griffin seemed to enjoy playing side by side!

I cannot even believe Griffin is 11 mths old! How did this year pass so quickly??? I cannot believe he will be a year old soon! He has turned into such a little boy. He is into everything. Love the stairs and trying to climb them! He is obsessed with any kind of ball or bat! He also loves DIRT! Yesterday he had a cute Ragsland JonJon on, I was leaving to go out to supper with a girlfriend so I told my hubby to change him in fear that he would get filthy. Before I left I went out side to say good-bye and guess what his pants were black with dirt! Glad I thought of changing him!

Happy Thursday!