Photos of the Week: Hair, Tradition, Bible Study & Missing Daddy

John woke up from his nap looking like this:

What makes this so funny is the fact that twenty years ago...I used to have bangs that looked almost identical. (Does anyone remember the poof?)

Kate loves hot chocolate with "mallow marshes" and whipped cream. I think she especially loves it because we do this:

Kate brought all her Bibles into her bed and proceeded to do her "Bible Study". What makes this so funny is Justin does the same thing when he studies and prepares lessons. He has all his books around him (He does it at the dining room table though, not in our bed).

Justin was out of town and I took this picture of the kids to send to him. If you want to read the entire story and experience my "issues" you can check it out here.

I hope you all had a great week!

Have a great Saturday!

Shhhh...Kate has Bieber Fever

Kate has been so sick this week, but last night she ran a new fever...

Justin was watching the Celebrity All-Star Basketball game. Kate was in the room with him. When they introduced Justin Bieber she was beside herself and kept chanting his name.

It was so funny. Even this morning she asked her daddy to see Justin Bieber on the TV. (Sports Center was playing highlights of the game).

Here is a little video of Kate from last night... see her eyes light up when she says his name... she kills me. (You have to turn up the volume to hear her... she is whispering).

Justin Bieber really does something to little girls... Oh and adults... Justin (my Justin) actually voted for him to be MVP last night.

Excuse me, I now have to go download Baby, Baby, Baby Ohhh.



Have a great Saturday!

Weekly Picture: Brother, You Are My Best Friend

I am going to try to post a picture each week of my kids.

They are growing so fast... please make it slow down!

These pictures are my way of coping and trying to capture what they are like right now.

Kate told John this morning that he was her best friend. Please note that her best friend changes daily and today was the first time John was her best friend.

She was so cute and wanted him to play with her all morning.

Here is a picture of them in her play house this morning:

Here is a picture of them together from last week (this picture completely captures their personality):
Kate is in la la land and John is like "mama, you all are crazy".

Words cannot express how much I love them!

I have also started a new blog this week. 

It is called The Overwhelmed Woman: www.theoverwhelmedwoman.com. If you want to subscribe to the Overwhelmed Woman by email click here. (Each post will be emailed to you. Remember to confirm your subscription.) 

I have a variety of things I want to write about on The Overwhelmed Woman.  

I am going to keep this blog as more of an update for my family & friends on my kids, etc. If you want to subscribe to this personal blog enter your email in the box on the right.

I am also going to start posting my recipes over there. My goal is to post at least one recipe a week. 

Today I posted a recipe for Tonga Toast from Disney World... it is a "life changing experience". (I had to throw that in there for Deb, Jay, Katie and Chris.)

I guess all of this my way of handling how fast everything is going by.

How do you handle your kids growing up so quickly?

Leave a comment below, I'd love to hear.

Much love!

Kid Friendly Recipe - Italian Grilled Cheese

I was talking to my hair stylist the other day and she was telling me how hard of time she was having making "real" food for her one year old. 

We can all fall into a rut with the recipes we make for our kids and family. (My rut is usually Mac & Cheese or Chicken Nuggets).

This one has been a favorite in my house lately, so I wanted to share it with you. It is so easy and I always have the ingredients on hand. 

Kate's Rap Version the B-I-B-L-E & Her Starring Role in a Church Video

Kate wanted to give me a show the other day. This is what I got. 

I have no idea why she seems mad or where she came up with this version of the B-I-B-L-E. It makes me laugh every time. 

I guess she shares my love for rap music.

I assure you, she does know the real version of the B-I-B-L-E. She sang it in a video they made for our church. (She stole the show.) You can click here to watch. (They show her in the beginning, but she sings near the end). Yes, I am a proud mama!

Happy Saturday!

From the Mouth of my Child

I love how little kids talk. Their accents and lisps are cute. How they pronounce words are priceless.

My brother-in-law was telling us the other day that we need to make sure we video Kate talking because we will forget how cute her little voice is.

Our friend and the church's graphic designer brought over a sample of what visitors will get at the pastor's luncheon.

Isn't it cute? (I wish I was creative)

It is filled with teddy graham cookies, marshmallows and Hershey's bars.

Kate was so excited when she saw it this morning. She asked, "How did you do that?"

She then stated, "Can I have some mallowmarshes?" 

I remembered that I love how she says mallowmarshes (correctly said: marshmallows).  

I had to video..

Happy Saturday!

I Broke the #1 Rule in Child Discipline

"You know the only people who are always sure about the proper way to raise children? Those who’ve never had any." -Bill Cosby  

We are in the depths of discipline. Before I had kids, I was told the importance of discipline in my child's life. I heard that consistency is key. I know of one "no-no" in discipling. When discipling your child, NO LAUGHING!  Under no circumstance can you laugh. Laughing would ultimately thwart the purpose of the discipline.  

Confession: I broke this rule, big time.

We are having major listening problems in our house. We have been trying to teach Kate to say "Yes Ma'am" when someone asks her to do something. During bath time, Justin was reiterating this lesson.  

Here is how the conversation went down:

Justin: "Kate, when Mama asks you to do something, what do you say?"

Kate: Looked up, paused, thought and stated (very seriously): "bibbidi bobbidi boo".

I immediately started laughing! I am sorry, I just couldn't help it. 

Justin chuckled, rolled his eyes and said she bleeds princess.

Oh, yes she does!

I always tell her she is my first baby and will always be my baby. She quickly replies, "I not a baby Mama, I'm a princess."  Yes... yes she is!

She is all princess!

Do you have any discipling tips or funny stories?  Leave a comment below... I'd love to hear them!

Kate's Snow Cream.. The Experience

We (meaning Kate and I) experienced snow cream for the first time today.  I am from Florida, so my opportunity to make snow cream has been limited by 60 degree lows and... well, no snow.  Justin said this type of snow was the best for making snow cream.  So, we gathered up some snow and here is the recipe / experience.  It actually tasted delicious!  (I was skeptical.)

Ingredients:

1/2 gallon snow (please, top layer of snow only)
1/2 cup white sugar
1/2 tablespoon Vanilla
1 cup Half and Half (or milk)

Dump snow into a large bowl.

Pour in Half and Half.

Add Vanilla.  (Justin doesn't measure, but it came out delicious).

Add Sugar.

Stir.

Enjoy!

Justin had the day off today, so while John took a nap.. we played in the snow.  (We meaning, I stayed on the porch and took pictures while Justin and Kate played in the snow).

That little mound of snow is their snow man.  (A little pitiful)

She had to wear her favorite princess hat and her favorite scarf.

Homemade Hot Chocolate Recipe + Snow = Perfect Combination

Our neighborhood and city is covered in snow.  While I would never drive in snow (I'm from Florida and a terrible driver - bad combination in snow), the beauty of it blows my mind.
I love how David uses snow to give us a vivid picture of what Jesus has done for us as he offers up this prayer of confession and restoration in Psalm 51.

Psalm 51:7-12
⁷ Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean;
   wash me, and I will be whiter than snow. 
⁸ Let me hear joy and gladness;
   let the bones you have crushed rejoice. 
⁹ Hide your face from my sins
   and blot out all my iniquity.
 ¹⁰ Create in me a pure heart, O God,
   and renew a steadfast spirit within me. 
¹¹ Do not cast me from your presence
   or take your Holy Spirit from me. 
¹² Restore to me the joy of your salvation
   and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.

Homemade Hot Chocolate is the perfect drink on a cold day.  Since most of the country (except my friends and family in Florida) is experiencing snow, I thought I would post an easy Hot Chocolate recipe.  I adapted this from a recipe I found on All Recipes.  I usually have all the ingredients on hand.
Rich and Creamy Hot Chocolate (4 servings)
Ingredients
1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
3/4 cup white sugar
1 pinch of salt
1/3 cup boiling water
2 cups milk
3/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 cups half-and-half cream (if you don't have this on hand, just use milk)
Whipped Cream Topping
Mini Marshmallows
Directions
Combine the cocoa, sugar and pinch of salt in a saucepan.  Blend in the boiling water.  Bring this mixture to an easy boil while you stir.  Simmer and stir for about 2 minutes.  Watch that it doesn't scorch.  Stir in 2 cups of milk and 2 cups of half and half and heat until very hot, but do not boil!  Remove from heat and add vanilla.  Divide between 4 mugs.  Top with marshmallows and whipped cream.  
Here are some pictures from today for your enjoyment because snow and hot chocolate make the perfect combination.

Yes, this is what Kate has on.. if it makes you feel better about my parenting skills, I have the heat on 76 degrees, so it is warm in our house.

Catching Up - Twitter Style

I hope you all had a great Christmas and New Year!  My only new years resolution is to not make any.. I NEVER keep them!  I do want to try to keep this blog up to date though.

So, in my attempt to catch you up (especially my family and friends) I am going to do this post- Twitter style.  If I were being strict (I'm so not a strict person) I would anally make sure that each section only had 140 characters.. but I am not going to do that.  My Twitter style post is to keep each event update short!

John's first Thanksgiving.. He is the happiest baby!  I am hoping this continues through his entire life.. maybe one of them can be like their daddy!

A sweet woman from our church invited some kids over to make gingerbread houses.  Here is Kate with the house she decorated.  Yes, I helped.. but I promise the perfectionist in me didn't take over.  I had to tell myself.. it is only a gingerbread house.. let Kate do it by her ownself (in her words).

John turned 9 months in December and weighs 22 pounds. Here is his picture with Mickey.

Christmas Eve 2010 - We had a party at our house.. It was such a blessing to have some of my family here with Justin's family.  I think this year was the best Christmas I've ever had.  Warning.. I tried to pick three pictures, but I just couldn't...

My Dad dressed up as Santa on Christmas Eve..

Our Family...

Justin's Grandma (Ma) with her great-grandchildren

With my dad...

Kate and my aunt Sharon

Justin's Mom and Dad with their grandchildren

Beth's (Justin's sister) family

Christmas morning.. Justin is helping John open Justin's favorite gift (money for John's college fund)

Justin helping Kate open gifts.  Justin is wearing his favorite gift Kate received (a princess Snuggie).

Kate with her gifts..

Here is a link to our little performer playing a song for you on her new guitar... http://yfrog.com/f1a8uz

John's first Christmas...

Our princess.. there are no other words....