Walkin' in a Winter Wonderland...

So we got some "real" wintry weather this weekend. I say "real" because North Carolina winters tend to be very mild. We rarely, if ever, even see snow. Well, Friday night we experienced lots of freezing rain, some snow, but mostly ice.

It was nice though to wake up and see the light dusting of snow covering the ground.

In honor of our snow day, I did my best to make snowman pancakes for breakfast. They turned out kind-of cute! The kids thought they were GREAT!

After breakfast the boys started begging to go outside and play.

The Robinson's, who are our neighbors and sweet church friends, called and invited Shane and the boys over for some sledding fun.
So they suited up and off they went!

They all went sledding on the hill at Corban's school.

I was told I should be glad I stayed at home with the babies, and wasn't there to witness a slight collision involving my sweet Riley, and out of control sled, and a TREE!!!!!!!
Oh My!!!!
Thank goodness he was FINE!

After about an hour or so, they made their way back home in order to thaw out.

Hot cocoa was what was requested the minute they walked in the door.

Because of the snow and ice everything we originally had planned for the day was canceled,

so we got to enjoyed a rather quiet afternoon at home.

So NICE!

I {HEART} snow days!

And although right now spring seems forever away, I am enjoying a little taste of it right inside my house.

Shane's boss--(yes BOSS) sent ME this beautiful Gardenia plant earlier in the week as a thank you for all the long hours Shane has been working lately.
It smells absolutely DIVINE!
I was so touched that she would even think about me during this busy time at work!
How sweet is that!!!!!
It totally made my day!;)

The wheels on the BUS!

One of the highlights of our day is waiting and watching for Corban's bus to bring him home from school.

We live so close to his school that we are able to walk there in the mornings, but in the afternoons it's just easier to ride the bus home.
Friday afternoon (like every afternoon) I announced to the kids it was time to watch for Corban's bus. I then saw Sophie take off running towards the front door. I heard some banging around and as I made my way to the door too, this is what I found.

Sophie had gotten the stool out of the bathroom and dragged it all the way to the front door. She was perched there, pocket book on her arm, just waiting anxiously for her big brother to come home.

As soon as she saw Cor's bus,
she screamed B-------U--------S!!!!!
She is always so..........excited to see her big brother!!

Yes... I must say, these two are quite smitten with each other.
Sophie ADORES her big brother and there's no question that
Corban is in total LOVE with his little sister!

(BLISS)

Family Friendly Food!

Well, I introduced my family to two new recipes this week and honestly, they both are keepers. One came from my beloved Taste of Home cookbook, and the other was from
The Best of Country Cooking, 2007.
I've been excited about adding some variety to my weekly menu plans.

Tuesday night I made Easy Arroz Con Pollo.
Not really sure how authentic tasting this recipe was, but

my family enjoyed it!

Then on Thursday night we had Upside-Down Meat Pie.

It was rather simple to make (which I LOVE) and tasted great.

My kids gobbled it right up.
SCORE!!!!!

The BEST thing about both these recipes is that they can be assembled earlier in day.
I usually try and put my dinner together in the morning, as I'm fixing breakfast for my kids.
I LOVE having dinner done just waiting to be popped in the oven later in the day.
Makes dinner time SO.....much easier and less stressful for me.

Well it happened...

I so..... enjoy watching my babies grow and learn new things everyday. There is just one thing in particular that EVERY baby figures out and I really wish they wouldn't. I don't look forward to my babies learning how to climb up and stand in their crib. I actually dread them learning this new trick. Well it finally happened yesterday. I knew it would. It was just a matter of time. I walked into Hudson's room to get him out of his bed and this is what I found!

Oh he did look so......cute standing there looking at me!

He was so.......proud of his little self!

The only thing is---

Hudson has no problem standing up, but he hasn't quite figured out how to get back down. Oh the joy this "new trick" will bring to our nap time routine. I know it only takes a week or two until he learns how to get back down, but until he does-- nap time will be a challenge.

You moms know what I'm talking about---right!?!?!

What do you get...

when you have a sweet toddler who is obsessed with the toilet,

and two brothers who CONSTANTLY forget to flush?

Well---
I'll spare you all the gory details, but it wasn't pretty...no...not pretty at ALL!!!!!!!!!

EWWWWWWWW......................
YUCK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Let's just say---
this mess required a bath, a can of Lysol, and a trip to the store to buy some toilet locks!

Celebrating---Fondue Style

Saturday night my family came over to celebrate my wonderful moms birthday.

We were supposed to have the party at my sisters house, but after some last minute changes, we ended up celebrating over here at our house.

We enjoyed pizza for dinner and then broke out the chocolate fondue for dessert!

I {heart} fondue!!! It's so much fun.

We had white chocolate, and peanut butter chocolate fondue.

B and Matt also brought with them a chocolate fountain!

We had plenty of yummy things to dip in all that chocolate too

...pound cake, brownies, bananas, marshmallows, and strawberries (my all time favorite)!!!!

The boys with their Autie KK

Al lovin' on sweet Sophie girl

and Sophie girl sharing some of that lovin' with her cousin Jake!

My Grandma and Dad

My sweet Grandpa

Shane and Matt enjoyin' their fondue

Poor Hudson was still not feeling himself during the party. He actually came down with an itchy rash that was caused by the cold virus he had.

Poor baby!
This little guy was totally miserable on Saturday.

Thankfully today he seems like he is back to his old self!
YAY!!!!!

I hope you all had a wonderful weekend!

On the mend!

The kids are MUCH better today--praise the Lord! Hudson still had a fever when he woke up this morning, so I did end up taking him to the doctor. Because it's Friday, I went ahead and took him in just to make sure he didn't have an ear infection. After looking him over, the Dr. concluded that this was "just a virus" and it would have to run it's course. Thankfully his ears were clear.

His temp was down this afternoon, so I am hoping he will start feeling like himself again soon!!!

This weekend, Shane is spending Friday night and all day Saturday at the Men at the Cross event hosted by our church. He is super excited to be going and I am excited for him. I am praying it will a time of great encouragement, fellowship, and refreshment for him and all who are attending!

So with Shane gone most of the weekend, the kids and I are hanging out and having fun. Tonight we crashed my parents house and enjoyed a yummy taco dinner with them . It's actually my moms birthday today, but we are celebrating at my sisters house tomorrow night.

We hung out and played for a little while and then headed home.

After the babies went to bed, the boys and I snuggled on the couch and watched Tom and Jerry--their all time favorite cartoon!

Now everyone is snug in their beds, and I'm about to head that way myself!
Praying everyone will sleep well
and wake up healthy and happy tomorrow!

Mama said there'd be days (& nights) like this...

My sweet husband has been working really long hours lately.

Last night he work even later than usual.
Shane rides the bus to and from work each day. During normal business hours the bus drops off and picks up right in front of Shane's office building. When he works late though, he has to walk several blocks to the bus station and catch a bus there. Unfortunately, the station isn't the safest place to be really late at night. I worry about him walking to the station and I don't sleep well until he arrives home--safe and sound!
Last night he didn't get home until after 12:45 am.

Then from about 2:00am on, both Riley and Hudson took turns waking up. Both boys were sick.
I spent the wee hours of the morning caring for my two feverish little guys:(
Poor babies!
I think I maybe got about three and a half hours of sleep last night.
Sophie isn't feeling well either, but thankfully she was able to sleep through the night.

Well, today was a pajama day.
After I got Shane and Corban out the door, I spent the rest of my day (in my pj's)
snugglin' and rockin' my sick babies.

You can't tell because of that sweet grin, but this little guy was not feelin' himself today!

ADORE this guy!
He is the BEST snuggler (if that's a word!?!) when he's not feelin' well!

and this little girl is still the diva---even when sick--ha!
(Check out those pearls---LOVE it!!!!!!!!!!)

Because everyone was feeling rather sour here,
Riley and I thought it would be fun to make something sweet--
in hopes of cheering everyone up!

So we made these yummy M&M Oat Bars !

I found this recipe in my Taste of Home cookbook
LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this cook book!!! It's my all time fav!!!

Speaking of cooking...
One of my goals this year was to try and make one or two new recipes each week. I have kind of felt like I was "stuck in a rut" as far as meal planning goes. So this year my goal is to seek out some new, easy, (family friendly) recipes to try.
I thought it would be fun to try them, and then if they are a hit at my house, I will share on my blog.
Tonight we had Turkey Tettrazini (another Taste of Home recipe).

I've made chicken tettrazini before, but this recipe was a little different variation than the traditional one I have used.
I have to say it was really good.
And the best part was ALL my kids gobbled it up.
You know you have a winner when that happens!

Please say a prayer that all my kids will feel better tomorrow.
If not--- I guess we will be spending our day at the Dr.'s!!--ugh!

Sanctity of Life

In honor of Sanctity of Life Sunday (January 24th), our family helped set up the display of over 130 white crosses on the front lawn of our church.

Theses crosses represent children lost to abortion.

Since 1973, it is estimated that over 46 million abortions have been performed in the U.S.

3,700 abortions happen each day!!!

Truly unbelievable--isn't it!!!!

You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed.
Psalms 139:16

Plaza Fiesta

Shane had the day off yesterday, so we headed to Plaza Fiesta (the Southeast's largest indoor playground) for a fun day with some wonderful friends.

After reading about this place on a friends blog, I was so excited for our family to go! I couldn't believe I had never been before. It's literally about 25 minutes from our house!

Daddy and Sophie makin' their way to the TOP of the tower!

Corban had a BLAST!

Sophie and Riley
They both had a ball playing!
Sophie was so fun to watch. This girl truly has NO FEAR!
Maybe that's because she has two older brothers to keep up with.

Just hangin' around with friends!

Riley and his best buddy Rhett!

Oh. My. Word...
Playing on these playgrounds is a sure fire way to burn some major calories ;)
I'm not sure who was more exhausted by the end of the day...
Shane and I, or the kids.
HA!

It's been a.............

Bike Ridin'

Jeep Pullin'

Puddle Jumpin'
{yes... those are her brothers old boots;)}

Walk Takin'...


kind of weekend!

And the best part....

it's not over yet!
I {heart} long weekends--don't you!?!?!?

We're Growing Up!

My babies are growing up way too fast!!!!

My sweet Sophie girl turns 16 months tomorrow, and Hudson will be 9!!!!!!
Oh. My. Heart--
Where has the time gone?

Every day is a new adventure with these two,
and there is NEVER a dull moment in this house!!!
They definitely keep me hoppin'!!!

Hudson is crawling every where now and into EVERYTHING!
It's like a whole new world opened up to him when he began to crawl.

He loves to explore each room in the house. I can't take my eyes off of him for even a second, because if I do...he'll be gone!!!
(Or his sister may try and sit on him--
Sophie's new favorite thing to do)
I think he is determined to keep up with his brothers and sister.
I just LOVE his chubby little cheeks--they just cry out to be kissed!!!

Sophie is getting to be such a big girl!!!!
I still look at her every day and can't believe she's MINE!!!!

As Sophie is getting bigger, she is realizing that she has an opinion on how things should be done. And, if little miss Sophie doesn't agree with the way things are done, she has no problem letting me know!
Let me tell you--- this girl has got some lungs.
I am learning that girls can be slightly dramatic at times;)!!!!

Sophie is still all GIRL and I am eating it up!!!
She loves to play with her babies and carry her pocket book around.
She is talking quite a bit too.
Some of her vocabulary includes... "thank you" , "ball", "baby". "Hudson", and "Hi Sophie".
It's so much fun to hear her talk !

Yes, these two are quite the pair!