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.

CRAZY hair

Ok...so this is what came out of the bathroom last night! The big girls needed a shower to get cleaned up from playing; I told them they didn't have to wash their hair cause it was ok and rather than letting me pull it back, they hopped in before the hot water ran out (due to our apartment sized hot water heater). They scrubbed their bodies and of course the hair got a tad wet (which I was totally expecting...actually, I was kind of expecting it to be completely wet). I told them to dry off while I took Madeline and put her jammies on her. Well, they went CRAZY with the drying and told me that their hair needed to be dried as well...so they rubbed each others heads with the towels and again...this is what walked out!!! Mind you, I had to COMB THROUGH THIS...I think we used about the whole bottle of tangle spray (not really)...they were sports, but WOW!!!!

Madeline had to get in on the action and while I was taking the big girls pics she ran in the bathroom and found this headband and put it on (one of her favorite things to do).

Isabelle hair looks like a cross between a lion's mane and Marie Antoinette to me. It was truly a "birds nest/beehive".

Delaney and Isabelle with their hair "creations". More like mess, but it made them happy...till we had to brush it out!!!!

Scones...

Here is the recipe for the week. I know it's not a main meal type of recipe, but we LOVE these around our house. Great for showers, holidays, girlie birthday parties, brunches, or really just any day for that matter. Hope you enjoy................

Cinnamon Chip Scones

Serves 24

3 cups flour

1/3 cup sugar (plus a little more for sprinkling on top)

2 & 1/2 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

3/4 cup cold butter

1 cup buttermilk

1 & 2/3 cups Cinnamon chips (10 oz. package)

Melted butter

Heat oven to 425 degrees. Mix dry ingredients in large bowl. Cut in butter with pastry blender or use fingers. Mix until coarse crumbs form. Add buttermilk. Stir with fork, just until dry ingredients are moistened (dough will seem dry). Add cinnamon chips. Gather in the bowl and knead briefly, about a dozen turns. (You can do this on a floured counter...I usually just knead in the bowl). Cut dough into thirds. (You can just cut in half, but the scones are pretty big and it only makes 16). Pat each third into a 7 inch circle. Brush with melted butter and sprinkle with sugar. Cut into 8 triangles. Bake on ungreased baking sheet for 10-12 minutes or just until tops are slightly golden.

**You can find cinnamon chips at Christmas or online. Chocolate chips and butterscotch chips are also good...the girls love butterscotch.**

**You can buy dry buttermilk at the store next to the powdered milks, usually in the baking aisle. This normally what I use, so I can just keep it on hand.**