November 1 Dec 2011 7:26 PM (13 years ago)

As I was looking for pictures to quickly update about November, I realized I don't have many.

Here is Ben trying to eat the stem of a pumpkin. He had to squish his face down against the pumpkin because the stem was so short, but he was determined to bite it. Repeatedly!

Gracelyn and Ellie had their first program ever and I missed it. Yep, I deserve mother of the year. I was at home with Ben and just forgot. If you know me, you know I cried. It was a sad day. And I can't find a decent video to copy from anyone. The short clips I do have are really far away and all I can really see is that it was absolutely precious. I still can't believe I missed it!

We drove to Atlanta for Thanksgiving. We had a great time with Dave's parents!

Everyone was exhausted on the way home!

It was a LOOOONG drive home! I did almost all of the driving and drove through the night so we could get home for Dave to work Monday afternoon. Thankfully, the kids are good little travelers and don't need a lot of entertaining!

That's November in a nutshell. Check back soon to catch-up on our exciting December!

Happy Halloween 31 Oct 2011 6:41 PM (13 years ago)

Halloween started a day early for us because we decided to brave the Boo Bash in a nearby town again this year. Please remind me next year that there are too many people to really allow this event to be very much fun!!! All three kids were looking adorable in their costumes ready to head out the door when all of a sudden Benjamin throws all over me. Yep! Turns out he was having a reaction to an antibiotic for an ear infection. Thankfully, he wasn't really sick but the costume was done for until it could be washed. So, Dave took the girls and they had a great time while Ben and I got to turn in early! :)

Ellie & Gracelyn

Yes, they were butterflies again! We talked about being a ghost or a witch or a cat, but once they saw those sparkley wings and tutus it was all over. All they thought about from that moment on was being butterflies. I didn't complain too much! It was easy since we already had everything they needed.

Ellie

I got Ben's costume washed so he could go trick-or-treating with the girls on Halloween night. Our first stop as at some good friends' house. Natalie goes all out with decorations. They even had a smoke machine. Here are Ellie and Gracelyn checking it all out.

Everyone was still all smiles at the end of the night:

Ellie, Ben, Gracelyn

My Big Girls 30 Oct 2011 6:34 PM (13 years ago)

Gracelyn and Ellie started going to Tuesday/Thursday school in September. It has been wonderful! They absolutely love going twice a week and it gives me a little time to spend with Ben one-on-one. He sleeps through most of the morning which gives me some time to clean up around the house without someone following right behind me messing it up again! I thought it was going to be harder to leave them but they are having such a great time and love their teacher. I am so thankful that we are able to send them to "school" a couple of days a week!!

The Many Faces of Ben 15 Oct 2011 12:25 PM (13 years ago)

I just had to share a few pictures of my little guy. Benjamin is a big sweetheart and I feel so blessed to be called his mommy!

Just because... 22 Sep 2011 5:38 PM (13 years ago)

It was a nice day today so we went in the front yard and played for a little while. The girls had fun running up and down the sidewalk while Ben just bounced away in his bouncy seat. Love watching these precious babies grow up!!

Gracelyn

Ellie

Benjamin

T Bar M 19 Sep 2011 6:32 AM (13 years ago)

We went down to New Braunfels the first weekend in September for a Reunion at T Bar M sports camp. Dave worked there a couple of summers while he was in college. We got to stay with Dave's uncle and aunt while we were there. Dave and the kids spent some time splashing around in the pool at their house.

Dave is determined to teach Ben how to surf early in life!!

Ellie loved playing with the noodles!

I didn't get a picture of Gracelyn during pool time because she loved getting out of the pool and putting her feet in the sand surrounding the pool. Since she got in trouble for it every time she did it, I didn't think it would be a good idea to reinforce the behavior by taking a picture....So, no pictures of G!

We had a lot of fun at the reunion. There was singing, Bible studies, lots of family time, games, food, and a playground!

Gracelyn

Ellie

Gracelyn

Ellie

This special weekend was such a blessing for our family. We had so much fun together and Dave got to see some old friends in a place that is close to out hearts! (We got married at T Bar M so it is always fun for us to go back and reminisce!)

Benjamin at 6 months 8 Sep 2011 6:14 AM (13 years ago)

Ben is such a joy! He is such a sweet, loving, cuddly, happy baby! Ben loves taking a bath. He will splash and splash and splash in the tub for as long as I will let him. We haven't started giving him any food yet. I can just picture the huge messes ahead and figure if I can put it off a little while longer, why not? I know, by the looks of him you would think he eats us out of house and home! He is a big guy and we love kissing on and squeezing every sweet soft roll!

Aquarium 1 Sep 2011 10:39 AM (13 years ago)

Vacation 30 Aug 2011 7:04 AM (13 years ago)

I don't have a lot of time so we are going to make this quick! We had a fabulous vacation to Corpus Christi full of fun at the beach, playing in the pool, exploring at the aquarium and relaxing at the house. A HUGE thank you to Dave's family for so generously sharing their house!

Gracelyn and Ellie were not interested in touching the sand, at all, the first day we were at the beach. We tried putting them down barefoot so they could walk in it and they just cried until we picked them up and carried them. They really didn't like the soft sand and never did walk in it. But, once we moved down closer to the water they really enjoyed playing in the firmer packed sand. I hadn't thought about it before we went, but I don't think they had ever played in sand before this trip!

Ben, ever the easy baby, spent some time sleeping while we unpacked everything and got some shade set up.

Dave with Ellie and me with Gracelyn watching the "waves." HA!

The next few pictures were taken the morning we left Corpus. We had only gone to the beach one day and couldn't leave without taking the girls again. It was a little stressful trying to squeeze it in early in the morning before our long drive home, but it was definitely worth the effort! The beach was practically deserted and oh, so much fun!

Dave walking with Ellie and Gracelyn along the beach. Those two would follow their Daddy just about anywhere!

Again, poor Ben spent some time in his carseat while the rest of us played in the sand and ocean.

Dave with Ellie, Benjamin, and Gracelyn enjoying the beautiful morning.

The whole fam right before we headed back to reality after about 4 days of relaxing vacation.

Benjamin and Dave. Ben could not take his eyes off the ocean. It was a lot of fun to watch him so intrigued!

Ben is up from a nap so this post will be continued later....

Preview 25 Aug 2011 4:10 AM (13 years ago)

Here is a preview of our recent vacation:

More to come!

Savory Saturday 6 Aug 2011 4:18 AM (13 years ago)

Oh, Mylanta!! You have got to try this cake!!

Granma's Earthquake Cake

1 German Chocolate cake mix (eggs, oil, water)
1 C chopped pecans
1/2 C margarine (I used butter)
1 lb. box powdered sugar
1 t vanilla
1 8 oz package cream cheese, softened

Grease 9x13 pan. Place pecans on the bottom of the pan. Prepare cake mix according to box directions. Pour cake batter over pecans. Mix margarine, cream cheese, powdered sugar and vanilla. Don't let your sweet child, experiencing powdered sugar for the first time, blow it all over the table and her sister! Gracelyn blew on the powdered sugar and didn't realize it was going to get everywhere. She was so upset at the mess she came over to me crying. I assured her the cake was still going to be plenty sweet, even without some of the powdered sugar. She did enjoy sticking her fingers in it on the table and then licking them!

Drop the cream cheese mixture by spoonfuls on cake batter--do not mix!

Bake cake for 45-50 minutes at 350.

(Cover bottom of oven with aluminum foil--cake may buble over!)

End product is a pan full of gooey delicious cake!!

Let it cool, then ENJOY!!

Seriously, you have to try this cake!!

Wordless Wednesday 3 Aug 2011 2:43 PM (13 years ago)

Savory Saturday 30 Jul 2011 5:37 AM (13 years ago)

Oh, so good pork chops! I found this recipe in the spice aisle at the grocery store! It was on a packet of that had all the spices needed to make it. I am not a huge pork chop fan, but you better believe I will be making these again!

Apple & Sage Pork Chops

1 1/2 t   rubbed sage
1 t   minced garlic
1 t   thyme leaves
1/2 t   ground allspice
1/2 t   paprika
1 T   flour
1 t   salt
4 boneless pork chops, 1-inch thick (about 1 1/4 lbs)
2 T olive oil
1 medium onion, thinly sliced
2 red apples, thinly sliced
1/2 C   apple juice
1 T   brown sugar

1. Mix spices, flour, and salt in a small bowl. Sprinkle both sides of pork chops with 1 tablespoon of the seasoned flour.

2. Cook pork chops in hot oil in large skillet on medium-high heat until browned on both sides. Remove from skillet. Add onion; cook and stir 3 minutes or until tender. Add apples; cook and stir 2 minutes.

3. Stir in juice, sugar and remaining seasoned flour until well mixed. Return pork chops to skillet. Bring to boil. Reduce heat to low; cover and simmer 5 minutes or until desired doneness.

I forgot to buy apple juice so I improvised by adding 1/2 C or chicken broth and about a tablespoon of apple sauce.

We ate the pork chops over white rice with a side of broccoli. A little sauce from the pork chop pan over the rice=delicious!

Enjoy!!

Right now.... 28 Jul 2011 10:48 AM (13 years ago)

Ellie

Gracelyn

Benjamin

Wordless Wednesday 27 Jul 2011 5:33 PM (13 years ago)

(I think Gracelyn fell out of bed!)

Cherished Moments 26 Jul 2011 6:00 PM (13 years ago)

We had a prayer/blessing for Benjamin at church a couple of weeks ago. It was a special morning when our entire church family prayed for this special baby and for our entire family. We are indescribably blessed by our church! I think Ben knew he was the center of attention and he ate it up. He was talking at the top of his lungs (which is pretty close to screeching) almost the entire time we were up there!

I am still putting Ellie and Gracelyn in separate rooms during naptime. Gracelyn tends to sleep quite a bit longer than Ellie so having them in different rooms allows Ellie the freedom to do this:

when she wakes up. If you look closely, you can see that she had covered the bunny with her beloved blankie. I went in there because I heard her talking, but she wasn't very loud or calling for me. She was just reading to her stuffed animals.

Ben LOVES his toes! I guess this is pretty common, but his sisters never played with or chewed on their toes. This little guy can't get enough of them!

Gracelyn, Ellie and I sat down to dinner the other night. We were eating pork chops, rice and broccoli. I was getting forks out of the drawer when Gracelyn said, " I need chops sticks!" We had eaten at Pei Wei a few days earlier and we let the girls try chopsticks. I guess Gracelyn just figured anytime we ate rice we need chopsticks. She was thoroughly disappointed when I told her we didn't have any chopsticks.

I think I have an aspiring chef in the house. I am pretty sure this was Gracelyn! I did have a talk with both girls about how dangerous the stove is and how it can be really hot sometimes. I am afraid that warning might not be enough to keep two curious little girls away so I have increased my awareness anytime I am cooking! I look forward to the day when they can help me in the kitchen, though!

Fishing, Ducks, and Flowers 25 Jul 2011 5:33 PM (13 years ago)

My parents came up for a visit a couple of weekends ago. Pop brought a fishing pole and took Ellie and Gracelyn to the little pond in our neighborhood. Unfortunately, the fish weren't biting, but it was a good time with their Pop anyway.

We gave up on the fish and decided to just feed the ducks....

Gracelyn was so excited about the ducks!

Ellie, not scared a bit!

And, they picked some flowers....

And ran around....

So Glad I'm Here 23 Jul 2011 6:38 AM (13 years ago)

Yesterday was a rough day around our house. Ellie and Gracelyn were into EVERYTHING! I know, I know, they are 2, they are going to get into everything, but this was more than usual. I couldn't leave them alone for 30 seconds. First it was wet red chalk all over the front of their clothes. Second was play doh in the carpet, Third was syrup ALL OVER Ellie, AND the kitchen table & chairs! All that by 10 in the morning. My attitude was in the dumps by the time Dave got home. Being the supportive husband that he is, he took the girls to Home Depot for a while so I could get myself cleaned up. Some good friends gave us an mp3, You are my Sunshine by Elizabeth Mitchell, when Ben was born. I just figured out yesterday how to download it onto our computer and listened to the first song right after Dave and the girls left. Here are the lyrics to the first song:

I'm so glad I'm here, so glad I'm here, so glad I'm here everyday
So glad I'm here, you know I'm so glad I'm here, I'm so glad I'm here everyday
I'm gonna sing while I'm here, sing while I'm here, sing while I'm here everyday
Sing while I'm here, gonna sing while I 'm here, sing while I'm here everyday
You know joy brought me here, joy brought me here, joy brought me here here today
Joy brought me here, joy brought me here, joy brought me here here today
And love brought me here, love brought me here, love brought me here here today
Love brought me here, you know love brought me here, love brought me here here today
I'm so glad I'm here, so glad I'm here, so glad I'm here everyday
So glad I'm here, you know I'm so glad I'm here, I'm so glad I'm here everyday
I'm so glad I'm here here today
You know I'm so glad I'm here here today
I'm so glad I'm here everyday
I'm so glad I'm here everyday

Instead of keeping track of all the things that went wrong yesterday, I need to remember how glad (blessed, thankful, joyful) I am to be right here with these precious children!

Savory Saturday 23 Jul 2011 5:33 AM (13 years ago)

Oh, Paula Deen! That should be enough to tell you that you HAVE to try this!

Easy Blueberry Skillet Cake

Preheat oven to 375

Streusel Topping:
1/4 C slivered almonds
1/4 C granulated sugar
2 T unsalted butter
2 1/2 T all-purpose flour
1 t ground cinnamon

Combine all streusal ingredients in food processor and pulse until large crumbs form

Coffee Cake:
2 T unsalted butter
1 T light brown sugar
1 (12 oz) tube buttermilk biscuits
1 C blueberries, fresh or frozen and thawed

In a 9 inch oven-proof skillet, cook butter and brown sugar until melted. Place biscuits in a single layer in the skillet. Blueberries on top of biscuits, streusal on top of blueberries. Bake until biscuits are golden--about 30 minutes.

Gracelyn, Ellie, and I just had this for breakfast and it was delicious!!

Wordless Wednesday 20 Jul 2011 11:12 AM (13 years ago)

Broken Heart? 19 Jul 2011 6:45 AM (13 years ago)

We took Ellie to the cardiologist a couple of weeks ago so they could check her PDA. Her last appointment was in December of 2009. At that time, they said the PDA was still there but it was tiny. This time was even better. The Dr. told us it is still present, but it is so small they really can't do anything to fix it. She actually said that it is, "tinier than tiny!" The PDA could still heal on its own, but there is no concern of it causing her any problems even if it doesn't go away completely. The tech who did the ultrasound said he would never have seen it if he didn't know to be looking for it. We will continue to monitor everything, just in case, but the Dr. didn't even tell us any symptoms to watch for. Our next appointment won't be until summer of 2013.

Just in Case You Were Wondering... 19 Jul 2011 6:13 AM (13 years ago)

rubbing alcohol will remove permanent marker from the wall. AND from littler girls' faces!!

I have the BEST picture of their remorseful faces covered in black permanent marker, but it is on my phone and I am not technology savvy enough to get it on this blog!! I will work on it....If you have any suggestions, let me know!!

Cherished Moments 18 Jul 2011 11:12 AM (13 years ago)

Gracelyn is such a wonderful big sister! If Ben is crying on his playmat or bouncy seat she will drop whatever she is doing and run to wherever he is and try to make him feel better. Sometimes she just puts his pacifier back in his mouth, but sometimes she will sit next to him and make faces or silly sounds trying to get him to smile.

Pigtails are my absolute FAVORITE!! (Even when they are a little lopsided! )

Pigtails AND Chick-fil-A. It doesn't get any better than that!

Naptime has been a struggle with Ben, and I don't remember having these issues with Ellie and Gracelyn when they were his age. He just has not gotten into a routine, yet. He has been sleeping through the night, about 8 hours, since he was about a month old and 10-12 hours since about a month and a half. But, naps are crazy! In the last week he has napped at around 1 pm for about 2 hours. Before he started that he would take 3 naps that only lasted about 45 minutes. He usually sleeps between 9 and 10 in the morning and between 4 and 5 in the afternoon, but he is not consistent. Maybe this is normal and Ellie and Gracelyn were just good sleepers, but I just feel like he should be sleeping more. Thankfully, he is a complete sweetie even though he doesn't sleep a whole lot!

Gracelyn and Ellie sure do love each other! Don't get me wrong, they bicker a LOT, but before you know it, they are back playing together like nothing ever happened. I pray that their relationship stays close through high school, college, marriage, children, and beyond. I know what a special bond sisters have, but I can't even imagine what it is like having a twin sister! I caught this special moment on the way to church last weekend.

I don't think I have bragged on my husband lately. Seriously, he is the absolute BEST! Things have been crazy (busy, disorganized, lonely, exhausting) around here the last several months. 1. new baby 2. moved for the second time in less than a year 3. Dave taking summer school classes 4 mornings a week and working 6 days a week 4. Did I mentioned we moved, again, less than 3 months after having a new baby??? Most of the unpacking and organizing has been my responsibility. For some reason:

it is going very slowly!! A couple weekends ago Dave got off work a little bit earlier than usual on Saturday and he kicked me out of the house. I got to eat lunch with a good friend, go shopping all by myself, and just relax! That's just what I needed to get myself pulled back together! Dave tries to take the girls to breakfast one morning a week. It is good daddy/daughter time, but it also gives me a slow morning. Ben doesn't let me sleep in, but a 4 month old is a lot less demanding than two 2 year olds! ;) They usually come home with a special treat for me, too!

That's all I have this Monday afternoon. It is a random hodge podge, but these are such special times I don't want to forget the little things!

Savory Saturday 16 Jul 2011 4:50 AM (13 years ago)

I LOVE using my crockpot!! Trying to cook at the end of the day when Ellie and Gracelyn need the most attention usually ends in a house that looks like a tornado came through. The kitchen will be a mess. The playroom will be a mess. The girls' room will be a mess. Ben's room will be a mess. The living room will be a mess. I think you get the idea. They have to stay busy doing something when I am cooking so they like to take every toy from where it belongs and put it on the floor in another room. Seriously, it is almost like they do it on purpose! Whenever I plan ahead and can get something in the crockpot in the morning, though, the afternoon/evening goes much easier. And, by easier I mean neater, quieter, happier....

Pot Roast is probably my favorite thing to make in the crockpot. Unfortunately, Ellie and Gracelyn don't eat pot roast, but that doesn't stop me from making it from time to time and at least trying to get them to eat it. My favorite roast so far is this easy pot roast. I didn't even make gravy.

Easy Pot Roast
Makes 6 servings

6 potatoes, quartered
6 carrots, sliced
3-3 1/2 lb. chuck roast
1 envelope dry onion soup mix
10 3/4 oz can cream of mushroom soup
2-3 T flour (for gravy)
1/4 C cold water (for gravy)

1. Place potatoes and carrots in crockpot. Add meat. Top with soups.

2. Cover and cook 8-9 hours

3. Gravy--Pour juices from crockpot into a saucepan and bring to a boil. Mix flour with water until smooth. Stir into juices in pan until thickened.

Nothing too "special" about this roast, but it is good and it is easy. And, that is exactly what I like!

What is your favorite crockpot recipe?

Twice the Fun Plus One View RSS

November 1 Dec 2011 7:26 PM (13 years ago)

Happy Halloween 31 Oct 2011 6:41 PM (13 years ago)

My Big Girls 30 Oct 2011 6:34 PM (13 years ago)

The Many Faces of Ben 15 Oct 2011 12:25 PM (13 years ago)

Just because... 22 Sep 2011 5:38 PM (13 years ago)

T Bar M 19 Sep 2011 6:32 AM (13 years ago)

Benjamin at 6 months 8 Sep 2011 6:14 AM (13 years ago)

Aquarium 1 Sep 2011 10:39 AM (13 years ago)

Vacation 30 Aug 2011 7:04 AM (13 years ago)

Preview 25 Aug 2011 4:10 AM (13 years ago)

Savory Saturday 6 Aug 2011 4:18 AM (13 years ago)

Wordless Wednesday 3 Aug 2011 2:43 PM (13 years ago)

Savory Saturday 30 Jul 2011 5:37 AM (13 years ago)

Right now.... 28 Jul 2011 10:48 AM (13 years ago)

Wordless Wednesday 27 Jul 2011 5:33 PM (13 years ago)

Cherished Moments 26 Jul 2011 6:00 PM (13 years ago)

Fishing, Ducks, and Flowers 25 Jul 2011 5:33 PM (13 years ago)

So Glad I'm Here 23 Jul 2011 6:38 AM (13 years ago)

Savory Saturday 23 Jul 2011 5:33 AM (13 years ago)

Wordless Wednesday 20 Jul 2011 11:12 AM (13 years ago)

Broken Heart? 19 Jul 2011 6:45 AM (13 years ago)

Just in Case You Were Wondering... 19 Jul 2011 6:13 AM (13 years ago)

Cherished Moments 18 Jul 2011 11:12 AM (13 years ago)

Savory Saturday 16 Jul 2011 4:50 AM (13 years ago)

Wordless Wednesday 13 Jul 2011 3:59 AM (13 years ago)