As a side note, we are kicking off the New Year by restarting Carri's Creations. Check out the fabulous new site that my wonderful hubby updated! www.wix.com/carriscreations/bakery Place your next sweet treat order with us! You won't regret it!
Saturday, December 31, 2011
Going to the Chapel
SG loves to play dress-up. Today she decided to give her Daddy a little scare with this dress-up outfit! Doesn't she look beautiful!
As a side note, we are kicking off the New Year by restarting Carri's Creations. Check out the fabulous new site that my wonderful hubby updated! www.wix.com/carriscreations/bakery Place your next sweet treat order with us! You won't regret it!
As a side note, we are kicking off the New Year by restarting Carri's Creations. Check out the fabulous new site that my wonderful hubby updated! www.wix.com/carriscreations/bakery Place your next sweet treat order with us! You won't regret it!
Saturday, December 24, 2011
Growing Like a Weed
Happy 1 Month Elijah!
Check out this cutie outfit! The only thing that would be better is if my shirt was crimson with footballs! Roll Tide!
Thank you Ray-Ray for my early Christmas present! Mommy is loving my month marker stickers!
Not really loving this thing you call a jacket Mommy!
Wednesday, December 21, 2011
Just a Little Longer
The other night as I was putting Samantha Grace to bed, she handed me a book that a friend of ours had given to Elijah when he was born. Looking at the author, I realized it was another children's book by one of my favorite fictional Christian authors, Karen Kingsbury. We have, thanks to another friend, one of her other children's books about the true meaning of Christmas and love it! So I knew before reading this one that it was going to be a winner, but I just didn't know how much.
You see one of SG's favorite authors who we have on my iPod reading most of his books is Robert Munsch. So needless to say I have become some what desensitized by his tear jerker book Love You Forever. As I saw the title of this new book, Let Me Hold You Longer, I figured this one might be along the same lines.
WOW! I could barely read the first page without busting into tears. This book after, finally, making it through touched my life in more ways than probably Karen Kingsbury had probably originated for it to touch the lives of moms and dads. Here are just a couple of exerts that were special to me:
You see one of SG's favorite authors who we have on my iPod reading most of his books is Robert Munsch. So needless to say I have become some what desensitized by his tear jerker book Love You Forever. As I saw the title of this new book, Let Me Hold You Longer, I figured this one might be along the same lines.
WOW! I could barely read the first page without busting into tears. This book after, finally, making it through touched my life in more ways than probably Karen Kingsbury had probably originated for it to touch the lives of moms and dads. Here are just a couple of exerts that were special to me:
"Long ago you came to me, a miracle of firsts:
First smiles and teeth and baby steps,
a sunbeam on the burst.
But one day you will move away and leave to me your past,
And I will be left thinking of
a lifetime of your lasts..."
(Never really thought of it in this manner before)
First smiles and teeth and baby steps,
a sunbeam on the burst.
But one day you will move away and leave to me your past,
And I will be left thinking of
a lifetime of your lasts..."
(Never really thought of it in this manner before)
"The last time last time that I comb your hair
or stop a pillow fight.
The last time that I pray with you
and tuck you in at night.
The last time when we cuddle
with a book, just me and you.
The last time you jump in our bed
and sleep between us two."
(This describes our children to a "T".)
"One last hug, one last good-bye,
one quick and hurried kiss.
One last time to understand
just how much you'll be missed.
I'll watch you leave and think how fast
our time together passed."
or stop a pillow fight.
The last time that I pray with you
and tuck you in at night.
The last time when we cuddle
with a book, just me and you.
The last time you jump in our bed
and sleep between us two."
(This describes our children to a "T".)
"One last hug, one last good-bye,
one quick and hurried kiss.
One last time to understand
just how much you'll be missed.
I'll watch you leave and think how fast
our time together passed."
At this special time of year, let us hug our little ones and loved ones a little tighter. The next time you want to get a special book may I recommend Let Me Hold You Longer by Karen Kingsbury. (And a box of Kleenex to go with it!)
Monday, December 19, 2011
If You Build It...
Daddy has gotten into "projects" lately since building SG's amazing playset. His latest project almost didn't happen, but thanks to much perseverance and determination Daddy completed his last project in time for our Christmas Open House last week.
You see when we lived in south Alabama, we had a sweet family that made these magnificent wooden crosses for people of the community. All you had to do was pick it up and make a donation to Save-a-Life foundation. These crosses became so meaningful to our entire community there. The crosses were used more than just at Christmas time.
Upon moving to north Alabama, we decided to donate our cross to a friend and later build another one to spread the reason for the season here in north Alabama. So Josh built it and covered it with 2200 lights. I think he bought all of our town out of the traditional white Christmas lights. But he is so proud, as I am too! It lights up the entire front yard and neighborhood for that matter! Just take a look!
You see when we lived in south Alabama, we had a sweet family that made these magnificent wooden crosses for people of the community. All you had to do was pick it up and make a donation to Save-a-Life foundation. These crosses became so meaningful to our entire community there. The crosses were used more than just at Christmas time.
Upon moving to north Alabama, we decided to donate our cross to a friend and later build another one to spread the reason for the season here in north Alabama. So Josh built it and covered it with 2200 lights. I think he bought all of our town out of the traditional white Christmas lights. But he is so proud, as I am too! It lights up the entire front yard and neighborhood for that matter! Just take a look!
Sunday, December 18, 2011
Friday, December 16, 2011
Baby Elijah
I dripped tears of joy this afternoon as I viewed Elijah's newborn photo shoot. I was quickly reminded how mighty and awesome our God is! Feel free, if you are curious, to view my friend
Marsha's work!
Thanks Marsha for making such wonderful memories!
Marsha's work!
Thanks Marsha for making such wonderful memories!
Thursday, December 15, 2011
Star of Wonder
The other night as I was taking just a few minutes to sit by myself in the living room while addressing Christmas cards (yes, I am finally getting the together to send out) Samantha Grace broke my moment of silence with, "Mommy, come quick." I instantly thought something was cut, bleeding, etc. and she was just trying to be a "big" girl about the situation.
So I run up stairs to our newly renovated play room, and she says, "Mommy, look out the window! I see the Bethlehem star!" Being the good mommy, I look out the window (now mind you it is a cloudy night) and honestly, don't see any stars.
I ask, "Can you show it to me?" SG points to what she believes is the Bethlehem star. Turns out it was, in actuality, only a street light at just the right height to appear to be a star in the sky. She answered my question about the star's location with this, "See Mommy, it's the brightest star in the sky tonight!" That made me so proud! She is getting it!
Later on, once Daddy got home, she wanted to show him too but just before heading up the stairs she looked out our living room window and said with much affirmation, "Look there's another Bethlehem star Mommy!" She was so proud to be the only people to have a Star of Bethlehem.
Have you seen the star tonight?
Monday, December 12, 2011
Sunday, December 11, 2011
Simple Pleasure
I am so thankful that God gave me a little girl who I can share one of life's sweetest pleasures...CHOCOLATE! SG is a true chocoholic! She will tell you too!Unfortunately, we have had to cut out this from her diet due to some struggles with blood sugar regulations, but I have to admit I did stick into some baked oatmeal yesterday and her body seemed to tolerate it just fine. I think mainly because it was cocoa powder and semi-sweet chocolate not straight up sugar loaded milk chocolate. But I digress...
Today and 3 additional days this week, Daddy and I are attending various Christmas gatherings. Being the baker I am I have offered to bring desserts to each of these festivities. However, most of these commitments were made prior to our little prince charming's arrival; therefore, my pregnancy brain neglected to process the fact that I probably would not be able to pull off one of my mouth tantalizing cheesecakes or even some ever so cute festive cupcakes. So this week, as I sat in our comfortable club chair catching my breath I watched one of my favorite (unhealthy) cooks...Paula Deen! She had some of the cast from my favorite book and movie The Help on with her cooking up some southern fair.
One of her recipes included the "No Fail Milk and Cookies Trifle". I thought,'Heck,I can do that too!', as I watched her make it in 5 minutes flat! So being the savy saver that I am I took a look in my coupon collection to see if I had appropriate coupons and what would you know...I made this dessert twice for less than what the market value of Chips A'Hoy Cookies normally cost!
I bet you are wondering what this fabulous and ever so easy dessert consists of...so I present: (Note: I did make some alterations to the original recipe to accommodate possible nut allergies and to make it more kid friendly.)
"No Fail Milk and Cookies Trifle"
1 package Chips A'Hoy Chocolate Chip Cookies (regular not the soft and chewy kind)
1 container Cool Whip
Milk (about 1/2 cup)
1/2 cup chopped pecans or mini chocolate chips
Mint Leaves
1. Pour milk into shallow pie plate.
2. Spread thin layer of cool whip on bottom of Trifle dish (or in my case I just used a 1.5 quart Pyrex dish for easier transport).
3. Dip 6 - 8 cookies into milk. Layer on top of cool whip.
4. Repeat Cool Whip layer followed by cookies until dish is full ending with Cool Whip on Top.
5. Sprinkle top of dish with pecans and/or mini chocolate chips.
6. Cover and refrigerate for at least 4 hours. This allows cookies to soften and make the dish more appetizing.
7. Just before serving, garnish with mint leaves, if desired. You could also crush up a few extra cookies on top!
8. Enjoy!
I will be sure to take some pictures tonight of this scrumptious dish for visual appeal!
Today and 3 additional days this week, Daddy and I are attending various Christmas gatherings. Being the baker I am I have offered to bring desserts to each of these festivities. However, most of these commitments were made prior to our little prince charming's arrival; therefore, my pregnancy brain neglected to process the fact that I probably would not be able to pull off one of my mouth tantalizing cheesecakes or even some ever so cute festive cupcakes. So this week, as I sat in our comfortable club chair catching my breath I watched one of my favorite (unhealthy) cooks...Paula Deen! She had some of the cast from my favorite book and movie The Help on with her cooking up some southern fair.
One of her recipes included the "No Fail Milk and Cookies Trifle". I thought,'Heck,I can do that too!', as I watched her make it in 5 minutes flat! So being the savy saver that I am I took a look in my coupon collection to see if I had appropriate coupons and what would you know...I made this dessert twice for less than what the market value of Chips A'Hoy Cookies normally cost!
I bet you are wondering what this fabulous and ever so easy dessert consists of...so I present: (Note: I did make some alterations to the original recipe to accommodate possible nut allergies and to make it more kid friendly.)
"No Fail Milk and Cookies Trifle"
1 package Chips A'Hoy Chocolate Chip Cookies (regular not the soft and chewy kind)
1 container Cool Whip
Milk (about 1/2 cup)
1/2 cup chopped pecans or mini chocolate chips
Mint Leaves
1. Pour milk into shallow pie plate.
2. Spread thin layer of cool whip on bottom of Trifle dish (or in my case I just used a 1.5 quart Pyrex dish for easier transport).
3. Dip 6 - 8 cookies into milk. Layer on top of cool whip.
4. Repeat Cool Whip layer followed by cookies until dish is full ending with Cool Whip on Top.
5. Sprinkle top of dish with pecans and/or mini chocolate chips.
6. Cover and refrigerate for at least 4 hours. This allows cookies to soften and make the dish more appetizing.
7. Just before serving, garnish with mint leaves, if desired. You could also crush up a few extra cookies on top!
8. Enjoy!
I will be sure to take some pictures tonight of this scrumptious dish for visual appeal!
Saturday, December 10, 2011
All By Myself
These days I am learning so much about each of our children...yes, even the one that is only 2 1/2 weeks old!
Our princess is very much like her Type A parents (both Mommy and Daddy are first borns in their families) in the fact that she loves to be independent, that is except when brother is getting loved on in the evenings or being carried around the house...but that 's another story. She is very dramatic in every aspect of play. For example, this afternoon when she was supposed to be taking a nap I listened to a very realistic family reenactment taking place in her room. Quite hysterical! She also is very musical. (Bet you never would have guessed that one!) There is a song for everything and I mean everything!
Our prince charming on the other hand, we are learning is just cool, calm and collective. Very observant already of his surroundings, yet not easily frazzled in any way shape or form. He, unlike his sissy, does not have an attachment to the pacifier or "the plug" as Daddy likes to kindly refer to it. Yet he, like his sissy, is a cuddler. I don't know what Daddy and I would do if our children did not like this activity. I know there will be so much more in the weeks to come that we will discover.
I bring all this up in a round about way of celebrating my first day of independence! Yes, today was my first day to accomplish the parenting of two children by myself. I know to some "expert parents" this seems like a meaningless feat but to me I have to say, "Yeah me!"
I will have to admit that I did have one of SG's little friends come over today to play. I used it as a reward for her being such a big helper over the last 2 weeks! You should have seen her face last night when she found out! Priceless!
But other than the friend over for a couple of hours, I have been on my own ALL day. Daddy has taken his choir up to Franklin and Nashville, TN to share the Gospel of Christ with the homeless today! I am so proud of him and what he has done!
So here I tip my hat to all the mommies out there! It is not an easy job, yet it is one of the most rewarding jobs on the face of this earth!
Our princess is very much like her Type A parents (both Mommy and Daddy are first borns in their families) in the fact that she loves to be independent, that is except when brother is getting loved on in the evenings or being carried around the house...but that 's another story. She is very dramatic in every aspect of play. For example, this afternoon when she was supposed to be taking a nap I listened to a very realistic family reenactment taking place in her room. Quite hysterical! She also is very musical. (Bet you never would have guessed that one!) There is a song for everything and I mean everything!
Our prince charming on the other hand, we are learning is just cool, calm and collective. Very observant already of his surroundings, yet not easily frazzled in any way shape or form. He, unlike his sissy, does not have an attachment to the pacifier or "the plug" as Daddy likes to kindly refer to it. Yet he, like his sissy, is a cuddler. I don't know what Daddy and I would do if our children did not like this activity. I know there will be so much more in the weeks to come that we will discover.
I bring all this up in a round about way of celebrating my first day of independence! Yes, today was my first day to accomplish the parenting of two children by myself. I know to some "expert parents" this seems like a meaningless feat but to me I have to say, "Yeah me!"
I will have to admit that I did have one of SG's little friends come over today to play. I used it as a reward for her being such a big helper over the last 2 weeks! You should have seen her face last night when she found out! Priceless!
But other than the friend over for a couple of hours, I have been on my own ALL day. Daddy has taken his choir up to Franklin and Nashville, TN to share the Gospel of Christ with the homeless today! I am so proud of him and what he has done!
So here I tip my hat to all the mommies out there! It is not an easy job, yet it is one of the most rewarding jobs on the face of this earth!
Wednesday, December 7, 2011
Pretty in Pink
Today, Samantha Grace's much anticipated new Christmas tree arrived. Taking all her ornaments and the new things we had gathered we decked out just like a little princess should with ribbons and bows and LOTS of sparkling lights!
Opened Eyes
As many of us do during the holidays, I was thinking of venturing to the movies with my little princess to give her some mommy time since her brother came. Well, my eyes were greatly opened...
I just finished reading the book Bringing Up Girls and in the book James Dobson speaks on protecting our girls from the media elements of today. He does not suggest that we should do a complete shut down but provide a, what I call, "hedge of protection" over them. One of the sites he recommends to use for movies, music, tv, games, etc. is called PluggedIn.
So thinking about taking SG to the movies, I ventured over to PluggedIn and my eyes were so OPENED. I was appalled to read about the movies that were considered "kiddie" movies. My conclusion is that I think that I will just make a play car out of the recent large box that came to our house, and we will host an impromptu drive-in movie with a per-approved DVD...maybe the Little Drummer Boy from Veggie Tales.
Tuesday, December 6, 2011
Small Town Girl
Growing up I always imagined myself living in a large city because, well, that's where I had always been. Never really had the desire for the country life or even becoming that "Small Town Girl" as the group Journey sings about. Never really thought that through once. Well...
This past year the Lord has been teaching me over-and-over again to stretch my "norm" and my comfort zone. Moving to North Alabama was to say the least an adjustment; however, each day I saw and discovered things about myself and living in a small town that I didn't know. Hey! After living in the first town for only 5 months, we ended up buying a house in an even smaller town and wouldn't do it any differently. Now looking back at almost a year, I LOVE IT! Joshua and I couldn't imagine it any different. This week was yet another experience of how the Lord is continually blessing us and answering prayers that we had moving here 10 months ago.
I don't know much about my blog followers, even though I probably suspect a lot of you all are either family or friends from the cities that we have lived previously, but just to let everyone in on a few secrets about myself:
1. I love to read blogs about crafting, cooking, saving money and family.
2. I love to write about these same things.
3. I love connecting with people all over the world through this avenue.
There is a specific blog (My Blessed Life) that I started following few weeks back based on a suggestion from one of the blogs (Money Saving Mom) I have been following for quite sometime now. From each of these blogs I receive daily updates through my inbox, kinda like teasers, for the articles recently posted. Well, Tuesday morning I was casually reading My Blessed Life's e-mail update half way hoping to get information on taking care of the recent poinsettia that Joshua purchased for us since the posting was titled Decorating with Poinsettias. (Needless to say my thumbs are not green.)
Well, as I read into the article I noticed Myra, the author, mentioned a local nursery near our home. This nursery is a smaller nursery and has a catchy yet not so common name Smarty Plants. So intrigued by this, I e-mailed Myra and thought, 'Hey, what's the chance that this awesome blogger lives close by? Not to mention she has met some of my other favorite bloggers face-to-face and I would love to know all about it!'
A long story tried to be made short...I received an e-mail back only about an hour later confirming that not only did Myra live close by but she lives in the same small town that our family now resides in. I was floored! So excited that I called my husband to let him on the excellent news. Needless to say, he didn't quite get all my excitement but I just had to share it with someone! I am looking forward to meeting Myra very soon! Just a small example of how the Lord is blessing us in this small town for someone who thought she would never become that "Small Town Girl".
This past year the Lord has been teaching me over-and-over again to stretch my "norm" and my comfort zone. Moving to North Alabama was to say the least an adjustment; however, each day I saw and discovered things about myself and living in a small town that I didn't know. Hey! After living in the first town for only 5 months, we ended up buying a house in an even smaller town and wouldn't do it any differently. Now looking back at almost a year, I LOVE IT! Joshua and I couldn't imagine it any different. This week was yet another experience of how the Lord is continually blessing us and answering prayers that we had moving here 10 months ago.
I don't know much about my blog followers, even though I probably suspect a lot of you all are either family or friends from the cities that we have lived previously, but just to let everyone in on a few secrets about myself:
1. I love to read blogs about crafting, cooking, saving money and family.
2. I love to write about these same things.
3. I love connecting with people all over the world through this avenue.
There is a specific blog (My Blessed Life) that I started following few weeks back based on a suggestion from one of the blogs (Money Saving Mom) I have been following for quite sometime now. From each of these blogs I receive daily updates through my inbox, kinda like teasers, for the articles recently posted. Well, Tuesday morning I was casually reading My Blessed Life's e-mail update half way hoping to get information on taking care of the recent poinsettia that Joshua purchased for us since the posting was titled Decorating with Poinsettias. (Needless to say my thumbs are not green.)
Well, as I read into the article I noticed Myra, the author, mentioned a local nursery near our home. This nursery is a smaller nursery and has a catchy yet not so common name Smarty Plants. So intrigued by this, I e-mailed Myra and thought, 'Hey, what's the chance that this awesome blogger lives close by? Not to mention she has met some of my other favorite bloggers face-to-face and I would love to know all about it!'
A long story tried to be made short...I received an e-mail back only about an hour later confirming that not only did Myra live close by but she lives in the same small town that our family now resides in. I was floored! So excited that I called my husband to let him on the excellent news. Needless to say, he didn't quite get all my excitement but I just had to share it with someone! I am looking forward to meeting Myra very soon! Just a small example of how the Lord is blessing us in this small town for someone who thought she would never become that "Small Town Girl".
Thursday, December 1, 2011
1 Week
Wow! I cant believe one week ago at this time I was in the hospital just being told that our Elijah was to enter the world in a little less than 2 hours. The past week has flown by so quickly, especially having two children now. I am so grateful for all the help that Mimi gave this week and all the scrumptious meals our loving church family and neighbors have given us!
Today has been a day just with the four of us and it has been a blast! It was warm enough that we were able to take a short family stroll through the neighborhood and enjoy family devotional/reading time too! Elijah stayed awake for all of the devo and books! He is such a calm and easy going baby so far...very much opposite of his sister.
Here are a few snap shots that we took today to celebrate his 1 week "birthday".
Today has been a day just with the four of us and it has been a blast! It was warm enough that we were able to take a short family stroll through the neighborhood and enjoy family devotional/reading time too! Elijah stayed awake for all of the devo and books! He is such a calm and easy going baby so far...very much opposite of his sister.
Here are a few snap shots that we took today to celebrate his 1 week "birthday".
Chit-Chat with Sissy
'Here's a kiss Sissy!'
Watch out girls!
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