Celebrating 30!

By Sunday afternoon, the snow and ice on the ground were beginning to melt, so we headed out to celebrate my sister-in-law, Sallie's, 30th birthday.

We BOTH will turn 30 this year--UGH! Although I tease her by saying that she still is (and always will be) older than me---
only by about two weeks, but hey- it's true-ha!

I'll turn 30 this month--oh my!

Sallie is truly one of the sweetest people I know. She is so kind, loving, a wonderful mommy, and such a good friend.

I am so....blessed to call her my sister!

Whenever we get together with Sallie and her husbands family there are a ton of little girls running around. With my family there's lots of little boys,

but with their family you have nothin' but girls.

Sophie has a GREAT time playing with them. She's totally in her element.

Riley with his ADORABLE cousin Makayla

Make a birthday wish Sallie!

Shane's step dad enjoyed doting on Hudson,

and Hudson enjoyed all the love and attention from Grandpa Jeff.

Sophie and her daddy!

Sallie said turning 30 wasn't so bad....
we'll see.......

I'll let you know how I REALLY feel about it in about two weeks;)!!!!
As for now, I am enjoying the few days I have left in my twenties!

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!