Clinton review 2010

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Love her...

Happy 6 months, Eleanor (or LaLa, like Madeline likes to call you)!!! Mommy (and daddy, and your sisters) love you so very much!

Way behind...again!

That feels like the story of my life right now. I love having 4 kiddos, but with the different stages that they are each in (school/sports, BUSY 2 year old, & infant) I feel like sometimes I run in circles and just can't keep up. I mean, don't get me wrong, all the "life" stuff is good...house is clean, groceries in the house, clean clothes, etc. It's just all the "fun" stuff gets pushed to the back burner, which is why I haven't updated the blog in a few weeks. I actually don't really have time to sit here and do this right now, but I am taking a few minutes to update. And since my "few minutes" are about up and I hear Madeline rummaging through the kitchen looking for something (and probably about to make another mess) I am just going to stick up a few pics from Thanksgiving and call it a day.

We are SO thankful for our families!

Celebrating with Sloan's family on Thanksgiving day!

Celebrating with my family the Sunday before Thanksgiving.

Again, Tasty Tuesday (on Wednesday)...

Yesterday was such a busy day...Mom's & More Bible Study Brunch, errands, a little visit and lunch with my mom and then another little visit with Sloan's parents at their office, picking up big girls from school and then home to clean up a little more (trying to do a little everyday this week before we have my family over this Sunday for Thanksgiving), make dinner, homework and bed for girls. All that to say, I didn't have time or really get a chance to post this recipe on the blog..and by the time I did, I was too tired and HAD to watch the DWTS results show (a shocker this week, if you didn't see it)!

I love this soup recipe...got it from a friend...it is SOOOO easy and so yummy. We had it for dinner on Monday night. I love Fall because I can start busting out the soup recipes again and also chili (which my kids love). This soup is not too high up on the list of foods my girls love, but Madeline ate her fair share while the big 2 ate Mac & Cheese that I made for them (that was a special thing...usually they have to eat what we eat). Anyway...here is the recipe..enjoy!!!

Easy Potato Soup

2 cans cream of potato soup

3 cans of milk

8 bacon slices (cooked and crumbled)*

1 onion (chopped and sauteed)

16 oz. Velveeta cheese

1 package Uncle Ben's wild rice (cooked according to box)**

Saute onion in a big pot (I add a little bit of butter to it so it doesn't stick or burn).

Add soup, milk and cheese. Stir to melt...make sure the heat is pretty low or the Velveeta will burn.

Cook rice.

Add bacon and rice, cook until bubbly and simmer.

*I use the real bacon bits you can buy in the salad aisle...so much easier to dump those in than having to cook bacon.

**Uncle Ben's makes these packages of rice that cook in 90 seconds...I use one of those. Super easy to throw in the micro and heat up.

Tasty Tuesday (on Wednesday this week)...

I made this recipe last night and took it over to my in-laws for dinner. My mom-in-law was hemming some pants for Sloan (I know, I know; I should be doing this, but she is so much better at it) and I thought the least I could do was make dinner and bring it with us. Needless to say we all loved this manicotti, so I thought I would share it with you all in blog land!

BEEF & CHEESE MANICOTTI

Recipe courtesy of Giada De Laurentiis

4 teaspoons olive oil

1 medium onion, chopped

1 pound ground beef (I used ground turkey last night in mine)

Salt and freshly ground black pepper

14 (8 oz. pkg.) manicotti noodle

1 (15 oz.) container whole-milk ricotta cheese (I used part-skim milk ricotta)

3 cups shredded mozzarella

1 cup grated parmesan

2 tablespoons chopped fresh Italian parsley leaves (I just sprinkled in some Italian seasoning blend that I had)

2 garlic cloves, minced

3 cups marinara (of course, she has her own marinara recipe but I used Emeril's homestyle marinara sauce...our family is addicted to this stuff)

2 tablespoons butter, cut into small pieces

Heat a medium skillet over medium heat. Add 1 teaspoon olive oil, onion and ground beef (or turkey). Season with salt and pepper. Saute until the meat browns and the onion is translucent, about 5 minutes. Remove from the heat and cool.

Brush 1 teaspoon of oil over a large baking sheet (I skipped this and just used my baking sheet with silpat and it was just fine). Cook the manicotti in a large pot of boiling salted water until slightly softened, but still very firm to the bite, about 4-6 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the manicotti form the pot to the oiled baking sheet and cool.

Meanwhile, combine ricotta, 1 & 1/2 cups mozzarella cheese, 1/2 cup parmesan and parsley (or Italian seasoning blend). Add the garlic, salt and pepper to taste and mix. Stir the cooled meat mixture into the cheese mixture.

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

Brush remaining 2 teaspoons of oil over a 9x13 glass baking dish. Spoon 1 & 1/2 cups marinara sauce over the bottom of the prepared dish. Fill the manicotti with the cheese-meat mixture. Arrange the stuffed pasta in a single layer in the prepared dish and spoon the remaining sauce over.

Sprinkle the remaining 1 & 1/2 cups of mozzarella cheese then the remaining 1/2 cup of parmesan over the stuffed pasta. Dot entire dish with butter pieces. Bake the manicotti uncovered until heated through and the sauce bubbles on the sides of the dish, about 30-35 minutes. Let the manicotti stand 5 minutes and serve.

Pumpkin Patch

The girls and I took our annual trip to the pumpkin patch a couple weeks ago when the 2 big girls were out of school. Sloan was busy at work finishing up the last tax deadline of the year, so a dear friend of mine, Leah Elrod, and I took the girls to Johnston Farms in Greenbriar. The weather was beautiful that day (other than a little hot) and thankfully, there were not mass amounts of school kids there, so we were actually able to enjoy our time at the pumpkin patch. The girls had a great time running through the rows of pumpkins, sticking their heads in the wood cutouts and yelling at me to "take a picture", looking at all the animals and trying to mimic the sounds that each one made so that the animal would in turn make that same sound (it worked with some of them). I think my favorite was when they gobbled like "girl turkeys" and made the big tom turkey puff out his feathers. Here are just a few pictures that I have edited...still need to work on the others.

Isabelle...5 & 1/2 years old

Delaney...7 & 1/2 years old

Madeline...2 years old

Eleanor...4 months old (almost 5 months, here)

All my sweet girls at the pumpkin patch!!!

CA trip "Sneak Peak"

I had a great time in Cali while I was there. It was so good to go back and get to hang out with my family there. I really enjoyed getting to meet my cousin's wife, Macy (who I've been dying to meet for literally forever) and my cousin Amy's boyfriend, Joel...not too mention all my other cousins wives, husbands, kids, etc. Even though Eleanor and I flew out there for my grandmother's funeral, we did get to have some fun. Here is a pic of she and I at Huntington Beach...when I was little we literally went there EVERY Saturday, my mom, brothers and grandma...so many FUN memories there. E liked the beach, but did not like the COLD water (pics of that to come), but until then here is the one of she and I on the shore...what a BEAUTIFUL day!

Goin' back to Cali....

I'm sitting in my aunt and uncle's living room right now. Eleanor and I got here this morning...flight was great, except the rather bumpy 30 minutes till we moved out of some clouds. And since I'm not a great "flyer" a nice smooth flight was just perfect!!! It was so good to see my aunt, 2 uncles, and one of my cousins. The best was seeing my mom who has been here for the last 7 weeks with my grandma, who just passed away this past Monday. We went out to eat at Chipolte...we SO need one of these in LR...they have the BEST guac!!!! Can't wait to hang out with the rest of my fam this weekend. My grandma's funeral is Monday. Pics will be posted...coming soon. So nice to be back in Cali...my old stomping grounds!

Tasty Tuesday...

Tonight we had roasted chicken, orzo with roasted vegetables, watermelon and cantaloupe for dinner. As usual, the girls gobbled up all the fruit and chicken...they are not huge fans of the orzo salad, but I sure am!!! I got this recipe a while back from a dear friend, Kristin Conklin, and her mom, Jackie Conklin, and I am in LOVE with it. I'll never forget the first time Kristin made it for me...it was on one of our many Dancing With the Stars watch party nights...and I wasn't too sure about it at first, but one bite later and I was HOOKED!!! It is so yummy and it's great with roasted chicken, burgers, sandwiches, etc. Anyway, I thought I would share the recipe with you all cause it's too good to not be shared!

(veggies before being cut and roasted)

Orzo with Roasted Vegetables

Ingredients...

1 small eggplant, peeled and 3/4 inch diced

1 red bell pepper, 1 inch diced

1 yellow pepper, 1 inch diced

1 red onion, peeled and 1 inch diced

2 garlic cloves, minced

1/3 cup good olive oil

1 & 1/2 tsp. kosher salt

1/2 tsp. freshly ground black pepper

1/2 pound orzo or rice-shaped pasta

For the dressing...

1/3 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice

1/3 cup good olive oil

1 tsp. kosher salt

1/2 tsp. freshly ground black pepper

To assemble...

1/4 cup pignolis (pine nuts), toasted

3/4 pound good feta, 1/2 inch diced*

Directions...

1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees.

2. Toss eggplant, bell peppers, onion and garlic with the olive oil, salt and pepper on a large sheet pan. Roast for 40 minutes, until browned, turning once with a spatula.

3. Meanwhile, cook the orzo in boiling salted water for 7-9 minutes, until tender. Drain and transfer to a large serving bowl. Add the roasted vegetables to the pasta, scraping all the liquid and seasonings from the roasting pan into the pasta bowl.

4. For the dressing, combine the lemon juice, olive oil, salt and pepper and pour on the pasta and vegetables. Let cool to room temperature, then add the pine nuts and feta. Check the seasonings, and serve at room temperature.

*Note...I used crumbled feta since I usually have it on hand (we eat a lot of it in salads). I also usually add an orange bell pepper into the mix as well (it adds another color and it tastes good). I have not tried it, but Kristin said that sometimes they like to roast asparagus too and add that as well (I'm sure it would taste yummy with that, too)!

ENJOY!!!!

(veggies after being roasted for 40 minutes)

(the final result...minus the pine nuts because I forgot to get them at the store...still YUM, put it in my mouth G.O.O.D.)!!!

Memory Lane...

Delaney has a "project" for school. Well, it's not really a project (hence the quotation marks) but it's a questionnaire sheet and a project for mom (or dad). I had to find pics of her to send to school so she can be featured as a "Super Star of the Week" one week this school year. I love looking through pics and here are a few I found of her over the years. I can't believe she is 7 (and a half...she would want you to know that)!!! She is such a good helper around here...not sure what I would do without her some days. My "baby" is so big now...oh, how I love her so!

Delaney with her soccer team...the Soccer Pups!

Delaney at 2 years old!

Playing mini-golf this summer in Hot Springs, AR!

Delaney at 3 (almost 4)!

Loving her cake for her 1st birthday! (I have pics of each one of my girls taken at 1 with a cake...they are hanging in my breakfast nook and I LOVE them)!!!

The Circus Came to Town!!!

For Madeline's 2nd birthday we did a circus theme and had a great time playing games and eating all kinds of fun foods you would eat at a circus or carnival! We had fun games in the backyard (ring toss, goldfish toss, go fish, bean bag toss, a photo booth and bubble machine; I even got my dad to do face painting for the kids...which they all loved...THANK YOU, Grandpa!). The kids had fun playing all the games and getting candy after each game they played, along with other fun prizes. Madeline had the most fun with her friend, Hudson, playing/popping bubbles from the bubble machine (courtesy of Uncle Justin & Aunt Becca). Probably one of my most favorite moments of the night was when Maddie was opening her presents. She LOVED opening them this year and LOVED showing everyone what she got...I mean holding her stuff up and walking around to each person to make sure they saw it. She is so funny and we love her so very much. Hope you had a fun party, Madeline...I know mommy had fun! And a BIG THANKS to Miss Kristin and Leah who helped pull it off!!

Isabelle and Madeline sticking their heads through the poster!!

Mommy and Daddy looking good as a trapeze artist and strong man!

She LOVED the balloons. This was right before she "lost" them and they got stuck in the fan.

Even Eleanor got in on the action!

Eating popcorn and holding her new Cinderella baby doll from the Havens!

Showing everyone her new dress!

Goldfish toss...instead of winning real goldfish they won goldfish crackers.

Madeline in the "photo booth" outside!

Our family before the party started!

The food table...cupcakes from Sam's, animal crackers, circus peanuts, cotton candy!!!

The boxes that held all their candy/prizes!

More pics of the food table. The animal cracker boxes in the background were the party favors!

The food table!

Delaney dressed up like a clown before the party started! Miss Kristin provided the clown costume and I bought a bunch of clown noses off Oriental Trading Company's website!

Happy 2nd Birthday, Madeline!!!

Not too long after she was born!

Mommy and Madeline!

Our big 2 year old!!!

Eleanor Sloane Clinton

Our first family picture!

Mommy and Eleanor...Day 3 of hospital stay.

Madeline seeing her baby sister for the first time!

Daddy, Mommy and Eleanor not too long after she was born

!

Our precious baby girl!!!!

I finally have a few minutes to sit down in a quiet house (the 2 little girls are napping and the 2 big girls are upstairs watching a movie in the playroom) to actually get around to telling Eleanor's "birth story"...since I'm sure all you out there in "blog world" want to hear it.

On May 25, Sloan and I woke up and got ready since we had to be at the hospital at 7:30 am. My c-section was scheduled for 9:30 that morning. We pull up, park in the designated parking spots for mom's in labor (or not, and just having a c-section), walk the long walk over the sky bridge, down the hall, up the elevator to the Labor and Delivery desk at Baptist. So I start checking in/filling out some sheet I guess to let them know I am there when another nurse walks up and says, "Both our c-section rooms are full. It's been really busy here this morning. The lady who was supposed to have a c-section at 11:30 walked in here in labor, so she is in the room you were supposed to be in, so you will have to go out to the family waiting area and we will come and get you when we have a room." Part of me wanted to look at her and say, "get me a room now...I'm hungry and I know I can't eat till after the surgery" while the other part of me knew exactly what it was like to walk in to labor and delivery in labor when you are scheduled to have a c-section (happened with Isabelle, but that's another story). So, the more rational side of me won out and Sloan and I went out and sat in the family waiting room. We chatted with some family members of a friend of ours who was having a c-section at 7:30 (she went to school/church with Sloan growing up) and got to hear what they had (boy). Sloan's dad came up and hung out with us for a while as well...it was nice to have some company since we were waiting for what felt like an eternity (especially when all I could think of was I could be at home sleeping/how hungry I was). All I know is that I was glad I was not in labor having to sit out there like 3 other women were...one was having twins and one was having baby #3 and she said her other 2 kids came pretty quick after her water broke. We finally got called back at 11:30ish and had the same nurse that our friends had had. I actually found out later that the nurse had asked our friend if they would be ok with them giving the little boy his first bath in the NICU while moving her to her postpartum room just so someone else could have their room in Labor and Delivery. Apparently, our friend told them that she would only do that if we were getting the room...the nurse told her I was, so she agreed just so I could get back there (what a sweet gesture)!!

Our nurse, Jennifer, was great. She got my IV hooked up and 2 bags of fluid in me in no time. All the "extra" questions were asked, blood was drawn and sent to the lab, anesthesiologist came in and asked me his questions, more IV fluids were being pumped into me, etc. My doctor, Dr. Hubach, finally came in...she was so apologetic that we had to wait so long...and I apologized to her for messing up her schedule all day, which of course was not my fault, but I still felt bad. She was ready to do the surgery (and get on with her day, I think)! I got my "yummy" medicine (if you've ever had a c-section you know I am COMPLETELY exaggerating about how "yummy" that medicine is they make you drink), put my "cap" on over my head and waved goodbye to Sloan as I was being wheeled out to the O.R., passed Dr. Hubach as she was suiting up and then went into the "icebox" (what I call the O.R. cause it's FREEZING in there). I hopped onto the operating table and chatted it up with Dr. Hubach and Jennifer while I was waiting to get my epidural. The anesthesiologist gave me the epidural, I laid down and it started kicking in. While I was focusing on "going numb" and the anesthesiologist was poking me with a stick to make sure I couldn't feel anything the people "behind the curtain" were busy prepping me for surgery. At some point, I think when Dr. Hubach started the c-section the NICU nurses and Sloan walked in. Even though this was my 3rd c-section it's always strange to me that I am laying there awake and they are cutting me open...a million different thoughts always race through my head all while talking to Sloan and itching my nose since the oxygen mask bothers me. So, I hear Dr. Hubach say, "Looks like she has some hair." Sloan stands up to look and I freak out a tad cause I don't hear anything after she says that...as in I don't her crying. I ask why isn't she crying and Sloan says, "they haven't even pulled her out yet." Way to go...freak out for no reason. Dr. Hubach pulls her out all while the surgery tech is tugging and pushing my stomach...I hear her cry and then Dr. Hubach shows her to me. First impression was she was cute and looked a lot to me like Isabelle did, but I couldn't see her all that well and she didn't let me look at her too long (although I was right on both accounts)! Eleanor is given to the NICU nurses to do APGAR scores and more suctioning, etc. The 2nd anesthesiologist is telling me stuff I already know...probably trying to reassure me as to why she is not crying as much...although, she cried a lot and it was DEEP...we were all laughing at how deep and raspy it was. Sloan left my side and actually got to go back "behind the curtain" (I guess cause he was suited up) to take pics of Eleanor with his iPhone while Dr. Hubach was finishing the surgery and commenting on how hungry I must really be cause she kept hearing my stomach growling (she said it had been making noises the whole surgery)...good thing this is my 4th kid and I know her well, otherwise I would've been truly embarrassed. To top off things in the O.R. while she is sewing me up the nurses station buzzes in and asks her where she is. We all laugh and she kind of says quietly, "uh, the O.R.". The nurse then asks how much longer she will be cause one of her other patients is ready to deliver a baby. She says that she is stitching me up and it's going to take another 5 minutes or so to finish; well, I think she ended up finishing in record time and then after saying bye to us, she was outta there.

We all went back to the room we were in before Eleanor got here to get her weighed and measured. She was 7 pounds, 10 ounces and was 21 inches long and made her debute at 12:57 pm. I was glad the operation was over...another one down/success. Sloan and I enjoyed her for a few minutes before my parents, his parents, his sister and her boys call came in to meet Eleanor. We could only hold them off for so long since they had all been up there for a while.

Miss Kristin (Conklin) brought our girls up to meet their baby sister. They were so excited to see her. Delaney and Isabelle couldn't wait to hold her and Madeline just wanted to give her kisses...she was actually VERY sweet with her. I FINALLY got to eat lunch and let me tell you, that footlong turkey sandwich from Subway tasted SO GOOD and I ate every bite of it.

We got moved/settled into our postpartum room and just hung out as a family. Miss Kristin took the girls home and Sloan and I rested with sweet Eleanor. She was such a sweet baby (and still is). I love how the Lord just makes more room in your heart every time you have another child to love them just as much as you already love your other kiddos. God is good and He gave us another miracle!

Here it is 9 weeks later and Eleanor is still as sweet as ever and is such a good baby. She truly is a blessing to our family and it's hard to remember what life was like before she was here.

Tasty Tuesday...a day late

Not sure about you, but I have a hard time getting motivated to cook when it is so hot outside. I'm either not hungry due to the heat or just don't want to "heat up the kitchen" and with a family to feed, I have no choice, I have to cook. So, in the summer I tend to use my crockpot a tad more than usual. So, today is one of those days...a crockpot dinner day...gotta love it, my dinner is done for the day! Yippee!!! Here is the recipe for Crockpot Fajitas...so yummy!

Crockpot Fajitas

1&1/2 pounds beef flank steak (you can also use chicken breasts...or both)

1 large yellow or white onion

1 green bell pepper

1 red bell pepper

1 jalapeno pepper

1 Tbsp. Cilantro

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 tsp. chili powder

1 tsp. cumin

1 tsp. coriander

1/4 tsp. salt

1 (8-12 oz.) can chopped tomatoes

Cut meat into 4-6 portions. Slice onions and peppers. Place everything in a crockpot and cook on low 8-10 hours or high 4-5 hours. Remove meat and shred. Serve with veggies in tortillas. Add cheese, sour cream, salsa, guacamole, or whatever you like.

**Note: I don't use a jalapeno. I get Rotel and use that in place of the chopped tomatoes and jalapeno.**

Back Online

Well, we've had a baby, moved and are still trying to get settled, but we are finally back online! I know I have to great "excuses" as to why I haven't blogged in a while, but for some reason when we moved this time it has taken Sloan forever to hook up our computers. I think it's due to the fact that he has an iPhone and does all his "computer things" on it...which means I snatch it away at night and use it was well. I'm sure I could blog from that, but there is no way, I could type that much on the small touch-screen keyboard....I have trouble just posting a status update on Facebook via the iPhone.

Pics of the house and Eleanor will be posted soon (I'm anal and they have to be edited before I can post them anywhere or really let anyone see them) along with her "birth story". I keep seeing friends post their child/ren story on their blog and I feel like I need to be a "good" mom and jump on that bandwagon. I'm even going to try and remember the details of all my children's stories and post those as well...if not for me, for them to read someday! We'll see what I can pull out of the old "file cabinet" of a brain I've been told I have.

Pregnancy Brain

This describes my life right about now. It's crazy how many things I have forgotten this time around...and I don't mean in regards to being pregnant or having another child. I mean, I just keep forgetting things...conversations I've had, things not getting on the grocery list the first time and having to go back to the store to get the one thing I forgot (today it was diapers...forgot them at Target last night when I was there), the list goes on. I've always heard that when you are pregnant with girls it's even worse...well, pretty sure I can attest to that...not too mention, I think it gets worse every time you are pregnant. Pretty much if it's not written on the calendar, it's not getting done...so you should SEE my calendar right now. There is literally something on it every day this month...or multiple things...CRAZY!!!! I can't believe that this is the last weekend as a family of 5 and Eleanor will be here on Tuesday!! Again, CRAZY!!! On one hand, I feel like time has flown by and that I should not be this close to having her but on the other I am so ready this time around. Normally I wouldn't say that I'm ready...I truly do enjoy being prego (except the feeling sick part in the 1st trimester), but keeping up with 3 kids (2 of which are busy with school, sports, playdates, birthday parties, etc.) has worn me out this time around. Let's just say that around dinner time...I.AM.DONE. for the day, but of course as a mom you just keep trucking along till after the kitchen is cleaned, kids are bathed, homework is done, clothes are picked out for the next day, and kids are in bed. All that's to say is I am ready for a "vacation" at the hospital. Will post pics or at least a blog update once Eleanor gets here with all the stats.

Isabelle the Super Kid

This week at Noah's Kids Isabelle has been the Super Kid. On Monday she was able to share about herself and Thursday she brought a bird's nest with some pieces of a pretty blue eggshell that she and Delaney found with my dad the other night while they were "helping" my parents work in their yard. Her teachers sent a fun little questionnaire home so we could fill it out and return it to school...one of the teachers made a poster all about Isabelle...so cute! I thought it would be fun to share her answers and encourage any other moms (or dads) to take some time and ask your own child/children these same questions...you just might be surprised by some of their answers (I think Sloan and I were when we helped her fill it out). We then asked the questions to Delaney a few nights later and her answers were equally as interesting (will share those sometime soon as well).

FULL NAME: Isabelle Breazeale Clinton (middle name is pronounced Brazil...it was Sloan's grandmother's maiden name)

FAVORITE COLOR: Pink and Blue

FAVORITE ICE CREAM FLAVOR: Strawberry and vanilla with chocolate syrup on top

FAVORITE BOOK: The Princess and the Frog

FAVORITE SPORT: Gymnastics

FAVORITE HOBBY: Going on dates with my daddy

FAVORITE TOY: Wii

FAVORITE HOLIDAY: Christmas and Easter

FAVORITE TV SHOW: Phineas & Ferb/Hannah Montana

FAVORITE MOVIE: Star Wars (all of them)

FAVORITE FOOD: Chicken and rice

FAVORITE PET: Dog (if we had one)

FAVORITE SUBJECT AT NOAH'S KIDS: Centers and projects

FAVORITE PIZZA TOPPING: Hamburger/sausage

NUMBER OF BROTHERS: 0 NUMBER OF SISTERS: 2 and 1 coming in 2 weeks PETS: 0

HAPPIEST WHEN... Taking walks with my family

PROUDEST ACCOMPLISHMENT(S): When I surprise my mom and dad and clean up my whole room/When I help take care of my little sister, Madeline.

"Slacker"

After just checking my last post I now realized how long it's been since I last blogged...over a month. I know I say that "we are so busy", but we really are SOOOO BUSY!!!! We have had soccer for Delaney every Friday night (practice) and games on Saturday, doctors appointments for me and Eleanor, school for Delaney, "school" (Noah's Kids) for Isabelle, tax season ended for Sloan (YIPPEEEEE!!!!), and house stuff galore. And I know there are other things on top of that, but my brain is having a hard time remembering anything anymore these days. They say pregnancy brain is worse with girls than boys and I really do think it is...although, how would I really know since I've never had a boy. And I personally think it gets worse the more pregnancies you have (who knows if that is proven or not, but I feel like that should be the case). :-)

House update....it's coming along. All the brick and siding is done on the outside. The painter is about to start painting the outside within the next couple of days or early next week. Concrete floor (foundation) is being stained as I type this...can't wait to see what it looks like when we go and look at it tomorrow morning. Trim is going in Friday/Saturday. Interior is being painted once the painter is done with the outside...so probably next week. Cabinets should go in either Friday or Saturday. I think that's it for right now...or again, all my brain can remember.

Baby update...Eleanor Sloane will make her entrance on May 25. C-section is scheduled for 9:30 am. I'm kind of wondering if she and Madeline will end up with the same "birth time"...Maddie was scheduled at 9:30 as well and she came out at 9:38, so we'll see.

Post more soon...gotta get some cleaning done while Madeline is napping, Isabelle is resting/watching cartoons.

We're back...

but I'm a slacker and can't seem to get back into a routine after Spring Break. Actually, the truth is, that I am really busy this week helping our Children's Pastor get a new MoKids welcome center/parent resource area set up and ready for this coming Sunday. We've had the welcome area for a while now, it's just moving locations and we are merging the 2 areas together and trying to make it more eye appealing and kid/family friendly. So, while the girls run around Mosaic (incase you don't know it's an old Walmart, so it's a big place and fun to run in when you're 5 years old or 19 months), I have been moving truss, setting it up, painting chalkboards and letters, hanging curtains, etc. Not quite done yet...but it's been keeping me busy this week. Not too mention Sloan has started getting busier at work so by the end of the day...I'm. DONE. Hopefully next week I will be back in full swing on the blog with recipes, a house update, pics from our trip, etc.

Ahhhh...Spring Break!

The girls and I are off in just a bit (have. to. finish. packing.) with my mom to see my brother and his family in Tulsa, OK! They just moved there and we are quite excited to finally have a place to go and visit during Spring Break. So, off we go to OK...probably not much blogging going on this week. Pictures will be posted though after we get home. Happy Spring Break to all!!!!

Spring is in the air!

Every year I know Spring is approaching/has arrived when it's time to head out to Wye Mountain to take pictures in the daffodils. The girls, my mom and I went out there the other day and had a lot of fun just enjoying the weather/being outside after school got out. Here are a few pics from our time out there.......

Mommy and her girls in the daffodils!

Sweet Isabelle!!

Precious Madeline!!

My baby is growing up...as I edited these I just couldn't believe how grown up she looks!!

Delaney, Isabelle & Madeline...such sweet sisters (most of the time)!!!!

Tasty Tuesday...

Here is a recipe for Pecan Chicken and it is literally to. die. for.!!!!! You must try it and when you do, you will more than likely agree, it is "Yum, put it in your mouth GOOD"!!! Enjoy.................

Pecan Chicken

4 chicken breasts (you could probably coat 6 with the mixture, just depends how thick you like the "crust")

4 cups pecans

1/2 cup Italian bread crumbs

1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper

1 egg

1 cup honey

1/2 cup dijon mustard

Blend pecans, bread crumbs, and cayenne in a food processor; pour into a dish.

Mix egg, honey and dijon mustard in another dish.

Dip chicken in egg mixture and then coat with pecan mixture. Place a cookie rack on a baking sheet, spray with Pam. Stick chicken on baking rack; before baking, spray tops of chicken with Pam. Bake at 375 degrees for 40-45 minutes.

Sauce:

1/2 cup mayonnaise

1/2 cup honey

1/4 cup dijon mustard

Whisk all ingredients together and serve over chicken.

Happy Digging!!!

Here is a pic of our lot that we are building on. It's a tad wider than the pic makes it look and I think it goes back to about the first white post (but not 100% for sure). It's not huge, but it will work and our kids will have a yard to play in...better than we ever have had before. They started digging today and are on track to have footings in by the end of the day. We are excited that this part has finally come...now for all the "fun" work.