The Wearing of the Green

Ben celebrated St. Patrick's Day with style. He joined his grandparents, Aunt Melissa and cousins Caitlin, Jacob and Matthew at The Goose's Acre for some traditional Irish fare cabbage and bacon. Actually, I think he ate a hot dog and cookies. Then he hit the Waterway for some {much-needed} sunshine and {even more much-needed} exercise.

Cameron and I were anti-social, and instead hit Starbucks to share a turkey sandwich. Well, I shared my sandwich while she hoarded the Cheerios. And while she didn't wear any green, she did munch on one of her big brother's green aliens.

Happy Birthday Big Daddy!

So we thought and we thought, and we thought some more.

What do you give the guy who already has everything?

We talked about giving you some of these.

But you already have some.

So we thought, "What about one of these?"

We decided you were too cool to have James Bond's old car.

And we didn't have enough money time.

So here's what you're getting.

Lots of this.

A bit of this, too.

May even see some of these.

Of course, there will be food. Lots of food & wine.

We'll eat at The Mosquito Cafe. They say "one bite is all it takes".

But don't worry. We'll help you blow these out.

Because SIXTY birthday candles is an awful lot.

So you pick the date. We've got the rest covered.

Happy Birthday, Big Daddy!

Love,

Amanda & Greg & Coco & Dustin

Giveaway!!

Anyone want a new blog look? This girl's got the talent . . . And she's doing a Giveaway!

Trust me, if you don't need your blog re-vamped, you will want new photos of your little ones. Talented, creative, adorable Lindsay is also an incredible photographer!

Lindsay . . . Even if I don't win, I still want a blog-over!

Zucchini Muffins

Again, can't take credit for this recipe {that'll be the day . . . }, but they are my absolute favorite, and completely blog-worthy. I think, besides my old high school Bible, the family cookbook is the most used book in our house.

Zucchini Muffins

2-1/2 c. flour
1-1/4 c. sugar
2-1/2 c. grated or shredded zucchini
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. baking powder
2 lg. eggs
3/4 c. cup safflower oil
2 tsp. vanilla
3/4 c. chopped nuts

Place all ingredients (except nuts) in a bowl. Mix well. Fold in nuts. Pour into greased/floured muffins tins.

For mini-muffins, bake 12-15 minutes at 350 degrees.

For regular muffins, bake 20-25 minutes 350 degrees.

From the bottom of the very page for this recipe in my cherished "All you add is Love" family cookbook is a new favorite quote . . .

"Insanity is inherited. You get it from your kids."

Six little words . . .

Inspired by Beth Moore. I am. I'm currently devouring her book, "JESUS 90 Days with the One and Only". It is a book I will probably read once a year, much like my old favorite "Gone with the Wind" . . .

I'm a self-proclaimed blog lurker, and hers is my new favorite. I read Beth's post from Friday . . . And was once again inspired. Sum up your life in six words. My mind has been whirling, trying to find the perfect six-word description of this little life I lead. Of course, I scrolled through all the great comments left by those more brilliant {make that WAY more brilliant} than myself.

So here's what I came up with. And ya'll, I am not brilliant, nor am I wise. Just honest.

Undeniably lost. Undeservedly saved. Unmistakably blessed.

Cheddar Chowder

A new {old} recipe from my family cookbook . . . This one is my mother's, a fantastic cook. I was raised on this stuff, and it really is better the second day.

Cheddar Chowder

2 c. boiling water
1/2 c. carrot slices
1/2 c. chopped onion
1/4 tsp. pepper
1 tsp. salt
1/4 c. flour
8 oz. shredded sharp Cheddar cheese
2 c. chopped potatoes {I like new potatoes}
1/2 c. celery slices
4 T butter
2 c. milk
1 c. chopped ham

Add boiling water to potatoes, carrots, celery, onion, salt and pepper. Cover and simmer 10 minutes {do not drain}. Make white sauce with butter, flour and milk. When thickened, add cheese and stir until melted. Add ham and {undrained} vegetables. Heat thoroughly. Better the second day.

My favorite part is the little note penned by my mom, which says "A Good Sunday Night Supper" . . . We always ate breakfast and dinner together, a rule my own family now follows.

"That my heart may sing to you and not be silent. O Lord my God I will give you thanks forever." Psalm 30:12

Think Pink!

Had an interesting conversation with Ben today. I should preface by telling you that Ben has shown some serious interest in pink stuff lately. The donut shop lady recognizes him each weekend, and fills his pink-donut-with-sprinkles order before we even hit the counter.

Anyway . . . He told me he wanted a pink monster truck. I kind of ignored the comment, and reminded him that he has three new monster trucks sitting on the fireplace mantel, and that once he poops in the potty he’ll get to open them {yes, this is our current non-working bribery tactic}.

Fast forward a couple of hours, we’re at Target and see Sherry and her boys. Sherry takes all the boys to look at the toys {I had to grab diapers}, and when Cameron and I catch up Ben is telling Sherry that he wants a pink monster truck. Sam {who is three, going on four} looks at Ben and says, “The pink one is for girls." At this point I was just thankful they were sold out!

A little bit later . . . . Home, sweet home. New Superman monster truck in hand, Ben is getting ready for his nap. He sets aside the mega-manly Superman truck and says to me, sweet as pie, “Mommy, I want a pink monster truck.”

YIKES. Here we go again.

“Well, Ben, the pink monster truck is for the little girls, and the ones you have are for little boys.”

Ben looks at me like I’ve lost my mind.

I continue . . . “See, Ben, you have a blue one, and an orange one. Here’s the red truck one, and the black one with the American flag. All of these are for little boys.”

Ben: “Then I be a girl.”

{Deep breath, Amanda, you can handle this and still make Greg proud} I took a moment, recovered, and quickly snatched up all the monster trucks stating that he couldn’t have them anymore since they were for little boys . . . .

Without any hesitation he yelled, “Ben a boy now, Ben be a little boy!!!”

All’s well that ends well.

PS Greg was proud!

Heritage

Children are a heritage from the Lord, a reward from Him. Psalm 127:3

Grocery Store Girls

Let me introduce you to the best thing I ever picked up at the grocery store . . .

My friend Tommie! She's a sweetheart. We bonded instantly in the baby food aisle at HEB about two years ago, and the rest is history. Last night she blessed us with the yummiest "Get Well" dinner. Talk about Southern hospitality {this girl is a GRIT, and I haven't a clue where she was raised}! And she shared her cookie recipe with me. It's a must-have!

Tommie's Easy Flourless Peanut Butter Cookies

2 c natural peanut butter
1 1/2 c sugar
2 eggs
2 tsp baking soda
1 pinch salt
1 tsp vanilla extract
milk chocolate chips

Spoon on to cookie sheet, criss-cross with a fork, sprinkle with sugar. Bake at 350 for 10 minutes.

Her cookies are divine . . . Her friendship is even better!

PS Go check out the darling Monkey Sock do-dads she hand-made for her baby boy's 1st birthday!

Snaggle-tooth Sweetie

At ten months old, she is still teeny-tiny. She is crawling like crazy, pulling up, & cruising around the coffee table. She adores Cheerios {like her big brother}. She hates vegetables {like her big brother}. She barks at Ellie, waves "hi", says "mama" and "dada". She's got a great fake cough. Her upper teeth have shown up on one side . . . Check out that little lop-sided grin! Her fever tells me that the next upper tooth will show up very soon. Love, love, love this girl!

Hot Coco

Not the drink. The sister. Mine. Younger, definitely hipper, funnier. She came to visit this weekend, and we had the best time. She arrived rested and raring to go. This, friends, is a very good thing, as Cameron had no intention of letting her Aunt Coco get a decent night's rest {nevermind her already sleep-deprived mother}. We conquered J. Crew, DSW, Anthropology and more. We devoured coffee cake, Starbucks, pizza, even monkey munch. We had a pedicure party in bed. Check out our twin feet. We also share matching hands, arms and {sadly} veins on the backs of our legs. Weird, but kinda cool.

Poor thing . . . She had to use my pathetic excuse for nail polish remover {Cutex pre-soaked pads}. Needless to say, there were some issues. Her old polish came off every toe except for her big toes. An emergency trip to Walgreens pre-flight fixed her right back up, and soon we had matching tootsies again.

Love you, Coco. Thanks for a fabulous weekend.

Birthday Boy

Happy Birthday to You!

Happy Birthday to You!

Happy Birthday Dear Handsome-Brilliant-Man-of-my-Dreams Gregory!

Happy Birthday to You!

To my best friend, grill master, relief pitcher, sounding board, sweetheart, fix-it-man (sometimes!) . . .

Just wanted to wish you a very happy birthday.

Winter Blues Be-Gone!

The Diva Defined

Just some new snapshots of The Diva. I'm crazy about the little pink number she's wearing.

Oh, and I looked up the definition of "diva" on dictionary.com. The word is Italian, meaning "goddess". Latin translations mean "divine". Okay, that applies. Then I read a little further . . .

Diva (noun)

1. Prima donna, the principal female singer of an opera company, or opera star.

2. A principal female in some other field, e.g. a prima ballerina.

3. Any female celebrity, usually a well known pop singer.

4. A person who considers herself (or by extension herself) much more important than others, has high expectations of others and becomes angry when their standards or demands are not immediately met.

If the Christian Louboutins fit!

Matters of the Heart

My two little sweethearts are napping. I just baked cookies . . . I've lit my favorite candle, and turned the sticks in my lemon verbena diffuser. Today I'm blue.

My adorable mother-in-love is bravely fighting cancer (her prognosis is excellent, but the treatment is tough). My precious childhood friend Sarah received news just this morning that her father, too, has cancer. Over the weekend we lost a very dear family friend, one of my grandfather's friends since high school. He went to sleep here on earth and woke up in heaven. My sweet little dog Ellie is recovering from having fourteen teeth pulled today. My other little dog Chloe (who now resides full-time with my in-loves) had a lump removed to be biopsied. It's a blue-kind-of-day, and I'm in need of a pick-me-up.

"Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness." Lamentations 3:22-23

"But let all who take refuge in you be glad; let them ever sing for joy. Spread your protection over them, that those who love your name may rejoice in you." Psalm 5:10-12

"Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever." Psalm 23:5-6

" . . . for your love is ever before me, and I walk continually in your truth." Psalm 26:3

"I will be glad and rejoice in your love, for you saw my affliction and knew the anguish of my soul." Psalm 31:7

"Your love, O Lord, reaches to the heavens, your faithfulness to the skies." Psalm 36:5

His love is better than a million chocolate chip cookies.

Pepsi Smash Super Bowl Bash . . .

Do not go to HEB.
Do not go, or you will see.

You will see a traffic jam.

Every Tom & Dick & Sam
is there to buy
green eggs & ham.

Green eggs & ham,
& soda pop.
They're buying beer
& will not stop.

They will not stop
to let you by.
They're busy eyeing chicken thighs.

Chicken thighs and chicken wings.
Their carts are filled with many things.

Filled with bean
& onion dips,
& special brews
& greasy chips.

Look out, look out!!
They have a goal!
To make it back for Super Bowl!

So do not go to HEB.
Do not go, or mad you'll be.

Do I read too many Dr. Suess books, or what? Happy Super Bowl Sunday. Unless, of course, you find yourself at HEB with all the boys. And their offspring.