It's my party and I'll cry if I want to

1 giant inflatable jumpy thing plus Happy Birthday plates and napkins
plus a girly flower birthday cake

minus a little girl with a stomach virus

Equals 1 cancelled party

they snuck one by us

So the whole family, including Matt, goes grocery shopping with me on Thursday. Now that I am a mom I hate the checking out process because the space is narrow and there is candy and sometimes toys all around. I'm trying to get stuff on the belt for the cashier and they are grabbing all around them. This particular trip Matt was doing the unloading onto the belt and I was flipping through a magazine and swatting hands grabbing things. Well, we got home and were unloading when we came across this container of Nutter Butter bites. At first we were a bit puzzled but then we had to laugh as we realized they had snuck one by us.

A crown of flowers

Raise your hand if you made crowns of flowers when you were little.

Happy Birthday EC

EC is 5 and proud of it. We had a fun day celebrating her birthday. We started off the day opening presents. Her big present was this doll house. So far it has been worth every penny because she is actually playing with it. YEAH!!!!

OK so I am no cake decorator. I can put icing in a ziplock and pipe with it but I couldn't find the can of pink so I bought something different. It was too hard to write with so I just did an EC and threw on some sprinkles and she was fine with it.

For those who have known us for long or have been reading this blog a while you know that for us no holiday or birthday is complete without some sickness. This time EC had pink eye in both eyes. Go figure.

Wichita, Kansas!!!

Some of you who read my blog already know our big news, others don't. It all started almost a year ago. Matt began to have questions about infant baptism. He studied it for months and I joined in as well. In the end we came out on the side of the Baptists. Not good when your a Presbyterian pastor. This meant we would have to find a new job. With LOTS of prayers, calls, emails, web searches and even a few visits we have found a place that we are excited about. Matt has been extended a call to Metro East Baptist church in Wichita Kansas. Feel free to check out the website. We are excited and sad at the same time. We have been so blessed by our friends here in Greenwood. We have so many great friends and we will miss them terribly!!!! But after so much prayer and leading by God we are excited about where He is taking us and what He has in store for our future and His glory. We will be moving sometime in May and will keep everyone updated as the time gets closer. Please pray for us that our house will sell quickly and that everything will go smoothly with our move. Thank you!!!

Bathing suits and popsicles

EC has been talking about going swimming since November. We have explained that we have to wait until it gets hot. If the day is even the slightest bit warm she puts on her bathing suit and asks if it is hot enough to go swimming. Yesterday I suggested the sprinkler and she was all for it. Here are a few shots of pure joy.

Alton Brown

OK so anyone who knows me knows that I love the Food Network. There are few shows on it that I don't enjoy and I have been watching since the network first began. One show that I have enjoyed for the past 10 years is Good Eats with Alton Brown. It can be a bit strange at times but I have learned a lot because he mixes cooking with science so you learn the "why" and the "how." Well, yesterday Alton Brown came to a book signing in Greenwood. I was so excited to get to go. EC and Knox both had somewhere to be and I was free. He started by giving a little talk about why he wrote his book "Feasting on Asphalt" and then he took questions. Well, I just can't keep my mouth shut so I raise my hand and asked if there ever had been or ever would be a Chefography about him. (If you don't know what that is, you really should watch more Food Network. It is basically a bio on that person where they interview friends, wife, mom etc....) When I asked this question his countenance changed and he looked at me and said "No, there isn't one and there never will be because my personal life is my own damn business". Yikes. Then he made a few jokes about not wanting his mom interviewed. Well, I did manage to pull myself out from under the table to listen to the rest of the questions. I was rather embarrassed and when it was over I wanted to tuck my tail and go but being the blogger that I am I defiantly stood in line to get a picture (which is terrible of me but I'm posting it dag-um it). To make matters worse, I didn't buy his book for him to sign (because I have cookbooks coming out my ears). So I don't think ol' Alton's going to end up being my best bud - oh well. Maybe not such a loss.

Say Cheeeese

OK, I did this post for 2 reasons: first, Knox is a moving target and I never get good pictures of him. This particular day we were sitting at the bar and I said "say cheese" and he actually stayed there and did it!!!! Secondly, why should I be the only one to enjoy this sweet smile. I hope it makes you smile like it does me. OK, enough being sappy.......

I've Been Tagged

What was I doing 10 years ago:
I was dating Matt and working at HealthSouth


5 things on my to do list for today:
1.Buy a wedding shower gift
2.Change out light for a ceiling fan
3.Do lesson for Explorers Bible Study
4.Take care of kids
5.Post this on my blog
(this is the list but I never said it would all get done)


5 snacks I enjoy:
1.Trail mix - I could make myself sick on some good trail mix
2.Yogurt
3.Just about anything sweet - cake, cookies etc....
4.granola bar
5.dried fruit - banana chips, craisins, raisins etc...


5 things I would do if I were a billionaire:
1.Spend a month in England
2.Spend a month in Scotland/Ireland
3.Pay off all debts (like the mortgage)
4.Give a bunch to missions, especially to those in China, Uganda and all the other place that most people don't want to go.
5.Go back to England


5 bad habits:
1.Eating too many snack like the ones I listed above
2.Losing my patience with my kids
3.Making excuses for not exercising
4.Being to critical of other people (and not seeing my own faults. Maybe I should make this list more often)
5.Being too negative (did I hear an "amen" from my husband?)


5 places I have lived:
1.Panama City Beach - for 2 summers
2.Dallas, TX - where I was born
3.St.Louis, MO - for 3 years of seminary
4.Augusta, GA - Matt's first ministry job
5.Greenwood, MS - the Delta


5 jobs I have had:
1.Backyard Burgers
2.Waffle House (minus the blue eye shadow)
3.Deli at Food World
4.Alumni Office at University of Montevallo
5.Edward Jones Investment Firm

I was tagged by Kathryn and now I am tagging Dawn

April showers

April showers bringWell..... April flowers
Yes, my azaleas meet the roof line. They are huge. I probably should have pruned them a little but right now I am enjoying them. Just in case you are wondering, my house was built in 1965 and the lady who built it probably planted these so they are about 40 years old. Did I mention that they are huge.

Bathroom update???

This post is for Stewart, Abby and everyone else that I have complained to about my ugly outdated blue bathroom. Let me set the stage...... Blue tile (2 of which were missing above the sink), blue sink, blue toilet (Which we replace....see earlier post), blue tub, blue floor and did I mention that all these blue things are not the same shade of blue AUGH!!! Oh and I almost forgot the "cultured stone" countertop that is so glued into place it will not move during a category 4 tornado. Well, after talking to many of you and weighing all possibilities, I have a friend, who is a very talented decorator, (thank you Cyndi) who helped me pick a color to paint and some other ideas regarding lighting, mirror etc.... So here are some before and after shots. I'm not sure they do it justice. But believe me, it looks so much better. And yes, I have learned to just embrace the 1965 blue.

BEFORE

AFTER


Missing Tiles BEFORE

Couldn't get painted tiles to match so had a shelf built instead and I really like it.
AFTER

Wishing it was a white sink but oh well. The blue tub hiding behind the new shower curtain can keep it company.

Roasted Chicken Salad

I got part of this recipe off of someone else's blog. Who doesn't love a recipe that starts with a rotisserie chicken. I didn't like the dressing so I made my balsamic dressing instead. This is great served in a pita or just right out of the bowl.

2 cups chopped/shredded rotisserie chicken
1 cup chopped tomatoes
1/2 cup thinly sliced red onion
1/3 cup chopped fresh basil (or cilantro if you can't get basil)
1 can cannellini beans - drained and rinsed
1 can black beans - drained and rinsed
-Mix all together
I put my balsamic dressing a few posts ago but I'll add it again. Since I needed to double the dressing recipe for this dish but didn't want 4 Tbls of olive oil, I substituted 2 of those Tbls with chicken broth. You can't tell the difference. Don't you love that. So with that switcheroo here is the dressing recipe doubled:
4 Tbls balsamic vinegar
2 Tbls olive oil
2 Tbls chicken broth
4 Tbls honey
2 tsp dijon mustard
salt and pepper to taste
-I like to put it all in a jar with a lid and just give a good shake. Pour over chicken mixture and enjoy. Of course it is even better the next day.

Easter

Here are the kids on Easter. A special thanks to Aunt Lisa for Emma Caroline's dress. It was so cute and she was so excited about wearing it.

Happy Easter

My mom use to make this cake for us for Easter when I was growing up. She also put coconut on it to make it look fuzzy. So cute but I didn't think the kids would like it. EC loved making this yesterday. It is so easy. I added a few other pictures to show how to do it. Start with 2 rounds. Cut the ears out of the side of one of the rounds and you are left with something that looks like a bow tie. I didn't get mine quite even but you get the picture. Also since the bow tie is in the middle of the cake you might have to trim some of the top to get it even with the bottom of the head.

Then you cover the whole thing with icing and decorate. I just piped the whiskers and mouth out of icing but you could use licorice.

We hope you all have a very Happy Easter. HE IS RISEN!!!!!

The new potty

BeforeAfter

Please be impressed........ Matt and I did it ourselves!!!! I also realized that we bloggers have no shame. We will blog about anything.

Dying Easter Eggs

We are getting ready for Easter around here and one of EC's favorite things to do is egg hunting. So yesterday we dyed eggs and then had an egg hunt. I remember dying eggs with my mom growing up. But all she did was put food coloring in water (or at least that is what I thought). Even dying Easter eggs has changed. You can buy all the stuff you need in one package - the tablets for the dye, stickers, this plastic stuff you can shrink wrap around the egg, colors etc.... It was fun and we both had a good time but I have no idea how I am going to get the dye out of her shirt. Oh and for those counting, yes it is only 10 egg, I broke 2.......just call me Grace.

Crockpot porkchops

I love quick and easy meals (I'm sure I have said that before) which means I love the crockpot. I am determined to get more recipes that use this wonderful appliance which I know had to have been invented by a mother with small children. Anyway, I got this recipe from my friend Kim and it was awesome. It was so good that BOTH my kids ate it and that is saying a lot.
Spray crockpot with Pam
put in 4 boneless porkchops
pour jar of salsa on top (I used On the Border salsa)
Turn on and cook on low 8 hours
Serve over yellow saffron rice
As you can see it is so simple and could easily be double or whatever. I can't wait to make this again.

Honey Balsamic Vinaigrette

I love homemade salad dressings. I have been making the same one for years because I always have the ingredients and it is so simple - equal parts olive oil, apple cider vinegar and sugar. But yesterday I made a new one and thought I could just about drink it out of the bowl. It is out of Robin Miller's cookbook.
2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 tablespoons honey
1 teaspoon dijon mustard
salt and pepper to taste

I made it for my salad but ended up dipping my chicken and bread in it. Abby - I think you would like this one.

A few more

Sheer Joy

Our BIG back yard

Matt teaching EC how to make a snowball

Snow in Greenwood

Do not adjust your computer......these images are real........
Yes it snowed in Greenwood, Mississippi for the first time in 7 years. We got about 2 inches and boy were we excited. No one more so than Emma Caroline. I think because of videos and books she thought that when winter came it would snow. I think it started with Christmas and Frosty. We tried to explain that it doesn't snow in Mississippi. We are glad to be wrong.

EC was so excited to be able to make a snow angel

9 Great Years

Yesterday was our 9 year anniversary! What can I say, it has been 9 great years. If I had it to do all over again I wouldn't change a thing. How blessed I am to have found you, Honey!!!! My best friend.

Ethel Stewart Knowles

My grandmother, who I called "Mu", passed away last Thursday. She was 88 years old and had not been doing well for some time. In fact, she had been crippled by terrible arthritis at least all of my life. But she is crippled and hurting no more. My grandmother was a sweet and meek lady. But the thing I am the most thankful for is the way she and my grandfather raised my mom. That is the blessing that gets passed down through the generations. My mother is a godly woman and I am so thankful that my parents raised me the way they did. Please pray for my grandfather, Cecil Knowles. He is 95 and his health is deteriorating. He and my grandmother would have been married for 70 years this April.

First hints of Spring

Yep, Spring is almost here in the deep South. I knew the quince (pink flowers) were blooming. I have about 4 bushes. But to my surprise I had daffodils already. The nandina berries are, of course bright red in winter and about the only color I have as I look out my kitchen window. The other green stuff is a random bush. The little old lady who built this house back in 1965 loved to plant things. I have a plethora of things that come up, almost too much for me to try to take care of. But when Spring begins I love to watch it all come back. Oh, my tulip tree is about to bloom as well. Here comes Spring.........

What starts with D

Emma Caroline and I like to play a certain game in the car. We pick a letter and then try to think of as many words as we can that start with that letter. Yesterday on the way to school she wanted to play our game using the letter "D". So we went through the usual Drum, Dog, Duck, Down, Dark...... then she piped up from the back seat with one she was proud of......."W starts with D"....... I found that hard to argue with.

Happy Valentines Day

Nothing like a holiday for an excuse to eat chocolate for breakfast.

OK kids, eat your vegetables

Bob Books

So, about 3 weeks ago I was playing with EC when I wrote a word on the Doodle Pro and asked her what it said. She immediatly read it. I was a little suprised so I wrote another word and she read it. I proceeded to write about 30 different words and she read every one of them. She goes to a little 4K program and I knew that they were working on their letters and sounds but I had no idea she could read 3 and 4 letter words. But she has learned how to sound them out. I was so excited so I knew I had to find her some books to read to encourage this. A friend of mine suggested Bob Books (thanks Tonya). It is a box of 12 little books. Each book is only about 6 pages but it is all 3 or 4 letter words. We ordered them through Amazon but you can get them at Barnes and Noble. I can't tell you how much EC has enjoyed reading them. She has told me over and over with much pride "Mommy, I can read a book all by myself."

Pork Roast

OK not my typical post. My husband actually suggested I blog about this and to those who know him, that will come as no surprise. I wanted to share my bar-b-que in the crockpot recipe because it is so dang easy and good. If you are a mom with kids like me then you are always looking for something easy, quick and that will last longer than 1 meal. So the receipe is this - 1 pork roast 4-5 lbs. Put it in the crock pot and douse it real good with Worchestershire sauce. Then add about 2 Tbs of liquid smoke. (It can be found in the marinade section of the grocery store). You can add a little pepper if you like. Put the lid on and turn it on to low and let it cook for about 7 hours. When it is done just shred and add your favorite sauce. I promise it will smell and taste like it came from the smoke house. Plus , unless you have a big family, it will last several meals. Enjoy!!!

1 of the 3 Blind Mice

Emma Caroline had to dress up like a nursery rhyme chacter at school. Thanks to my sweet friend Lori, who loaned us a mouse costume, EC got to dress up as 1 of the 3 blind mice. She also sang the song for us over and over and over. Her she is..............

Knox is 2

I just can't believe it but Knox is 2 years old. Time flies......... Matt's parents came and we had a big weekend celebrating Knox. The morning of his birthday we let him go ahead and open 1 gift from Uncle Bobby and Aunt Darla. It was a tent, sleeping bag and flashlight. It was a big hit and the kids played in the tent all day.
No big birthday cake to stress me out this year. We went simple, chocolate cupcakes with chocolate icing and, of course, sprinkles. Do you think Knox liked it?

What boy in Mississippi doesn't need camo. Thanks Uncle Fulton and Aunt Lisa!!! You have to look close but you can see that Knox is also wearing his new cowboy boots. I wish I had video of him walking in them for the first time but we were all laughing so hard no video was made.

What a blessing our little Knox has been. We are so thankful for the past 2 years of smiles, hugs and the occasional growl.

What's over there?

What do you think is over there? My kids love to peek through the cracks in the neighbors privacy fence because their back yard is full of toys. I thought it was too cute and had to snap the picture. Give him another year and Knox would be climbing over the fence.

The skates

I promised more pictures of the skates so here they are. Our driveway is real bumpy so we had the idea to back the car out of the garage and let EC skate on the smooth concrete. She loved it. I'm actually not sure what she likes more, putting the helmet, pads and skates on or the actual skating. But who cares when you look this cute.

Jane Austen mania

To all of my friends who are Jane Austen fanatics like myself. I have just found out that starting next Sunday, January 13th, PBS will begin showing adaptations of all 6 of Jane Austen's books. The best part is that 4 of them are new (I think). So if you are interested in finding out more and seeing the schedule click here. Cheerio