Ice (Cream) of Wheat

I know this blog shouts "you know I am a parent." So, if you are one that gets annoyed by parents bragging on their child's every move, then please do not read.
But I just have to say that my two-year old potty trained herself in one day all by her self. I kid you not, she went to the potty all on her own(number one and number 2!) I will spare all the details. But lets just say that we were proud, especially considering I had not been enforcing the potty yet. So, we decided to celebrate this mile stone in her little young life with none other than some ICE CREAM!! This kid loves her some ice cream. You say ice cream, and she starts running to the car.

Our sweet little Adeline also reached a miltestone this week, SOLIDS. We started her with some cream of wheat. Man, I do not think I was ready for this. For one, I can not believe that she is 6 months old, for two, I forgot what a mess this is, and for three, it takes like weeks before she will even be able to get anything down! But thats just part of it. I'd do anything for my little bundles of joy.







And just a few more pictures from the week...

This is what happens, when a two year old dresses herself...a deflated inner tube and sunglasses...

Enjoying her ice cream! "Dats good!"

"Cheeeeeese"

That's all folks! Have a great week!

Busy Weekend in Montgomery plus Granola Bar Recipe

The girls and I headed south to Montgomery for the weekend. We had several events planned for the weekend.

My mother, me and Adeline (in a stroller) all walked the 5K Walk for life in honor of Jeannie Tapley (my sister-in-law's mother.) It was just a beautiful and pleasant day, which made the walk a breeze.

Mommy and me after the walk.

So many people walking for such a great cause.

Refreshing Gospel music encouraged us along the way, and yes the water in the fountain is PINK!

Campbell was worn out after playing with Aunt Lele during the walk. They had all kinds of fun events for the children like face painting and a man on stilts to make balloon shapes!

I had also planned a Baby Shower for my sister Lele and her baby Laney at the home of my Aunt Clair Fain for Sunday afternoon. With the help of several of her sweet friends, we were able to put together a really nice shower. The guest enjoyed chatting with each other along with afternoon treats such as cheese straws, strawberry mini cupcakes, fudge brownies and pink mint cookies. One thing I can say for sure is that Laney will be one well dressed baby!

(pictures courtesy of my sister-in-law Emily, because somehow I did not get any pictures from the shower on my camerae!)

Also, whenever I got out of town, I try to leave my husband with plenty of food to eat because if I do not... He will either a) not eat at all- and be grumpy and feel bad or b) eat cheap gas station food- and be irritable and sick or c)-cook eggs, and leave the mess for me to clean up when I get home! (I'm just giving him a hard time..I mainly do this because I just love him ;)So I left him with one of his favorite meals is red beans and rice (with Conecuh Sausage.) I also like to leave a sweet treat, even though he is not big on sweets. But he LOVES anything with peanut butter especially when mixed with a little dark chocolate. So I came up with this Oatmeal Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Bar Recipe. They are kind of like a granola bar, but these bars are chewy rather than crunchy(and probably a little sweeter.) Here is the recipe:

Oatmeal Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Bars

Ingredients:

• 1/3 cup Butter
• 1 cup Peanut Butter
• 1/2 Brown Sugar
• 1/2 cup Honey (or corn syrup.. I use honey in place of corn syrup in most recipes for a "healthier" alternative)
• 2 tsp. Vanilla Extract
• 3 and 1/3 cups Oatmeal
• 1 1/2 cups Chocolate Chips (or Chunks)- I like to use dark chocolate, but use which ever type you like best)- Add more or less chips depending on how chocolaty you want it... (Add less if you add other ingredients)

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly coat 9x13 baking dish or pan.

2. Melt Butter in microwave safe bowl.

3. Add peanut butter, honey, brown sugar and vanilla extract. Stir until mixture is smooth.

4. Stir in Oatmeal and chocolate chips until evenly mixed.

5. Press mixture evenly into greased baking dish.

6. Bake for about 20-25 minutes.

(Note: You can also add any type of nuts, dried fruit or even coconut to this oatmeal bar. I sometimes add in whichever extra ingredient I have at the house. This particular time, I added mini chocolate chips to the top of the bars AFTER I pulled them out of the oven.)

This make a great morning or afternoon snack to help you make it through to that next meal!

What a great weekend with family and friends! We even had time to snag a few cute pictures of the girls.

Fun with Auntie Lar!

Well, I hope everyone else enjoyed the beautiful weekend as much as we did! Have a great week!

I'm loving it!

Well, my nephew Houston came to visit for the week during his Spring Break. We have had a fun filled week of playing, fishing, playing and fishing!

Houston caught several catfish from our pond, but they were just "fries" he said.  (That means they were too small to cook.) We also took a trip to McDonalds, and Campbell played on the big kid playground for the first time. They have had a ball together! Campbell loves her cousin Houston!

Just had to show off these pretty blue eyes!

Apparently, Spanky found our car amusing.

Looks like he got one!

Campbell enjoying some ice cream.  "That's good!"  She says after every bite!

Just being precious while everyone plays!

Here we go again!

More ice cream please!

Poor girl wants to be a part of all the action!

We have had such a great week, especially in this beautiful weather!  We're loving it!

Oh Happy Day!

We had a wonderful Easter. We celebrated the resurrection of our risen Lord.

We also had a little fun together as a family. We had such a happy day outside in the sunny beautiful weather. Here are some highlights from the day.

This is my favorite picture from the day.

The Easter bunny made a visit as well.

Campbell hunting Easter eggs.


We enjoyed yummy poppyseed chicken casserole, cranberry and pecan salad, rolls and coconut cake for our Easter dinner. It was all delecious!

I had also made some buttery sugar cinnamon mini muffins for our Sunday school. Sorry, I forgot to take pictures, but I promise you they are scrumptious!

Here is the recipe:

Butter Sugar Cinnamon Mini-Muffins

Ingredients:

• 1 stick of butter (softened)
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup milk
• 1 egg
• 1 and 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 and 1/4 tsp. baking powder
• 1/4 tsp. salt
• 1/8 tsp. ground nutmeg
• 1/8 tsp. cinnamon
• melted butter (about half a stick) and cinnamon-sugar mixture (1/2 sugar mix with 1 TB cinnamon)

1 In a small bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Whisk milk and egg; stir into creamed mixture until moist. Combine flour, baking powder, salt, nutmeg and cinnamon; beat into creamed mixture until moist.

2. Fill greased or paper lined mini muffin pan 2/3 full. Bake at 350 degrees for 14-16 minutes or until toothpick inserted near center comes out clean. Cool for 5 minutes then dip in melted butter, then roll in cinnamon sugar. Serve warm with a cup of joe!