Recipe Monday - It's Back!

I need some new dinners to cook...how about you?? One of my favorite recipe sources is Taste of Home.  If you don't get this magazine and you are in your prime dinner cooking years, check it out.  Seriously. 

Chicken Caesar Florentine (Taste of Home)

2 cups grated parmesan cheese
2 cups Caesar salad croutons, coarsely crushed, divided (I considered using Italian breadcrumbs too)
1 cup fresh baby spinach
1 cup creamy Caesar salad dressing, divided
4 bone-in chicken breast halves, skin removed (I used boneless skinless)

In a large bowl, combine 1 cup cheese, 1 cup crushed croutons, spinach and 1/2 cup salad dressing. Cut a pocket in the thickest part of each chicken breast; fill with cheese mixture.

Place remaining dressing and crushed croutons in separate shallow bowls. Dip chicken in dressing, then roll in croutons.

Transfer to greased 13 x 9 baking dish. Bake, uncovered at 375 for 30 minutes. Sprinkle with remaining cheese. Bake 10-15 minutes longer or until a meat thermometer reads 170 (or until juices run clear).

Enjoy!

Pink

Sometimes I get tired of pink. Everything with girls is pink. When you go to the store to pick out ______ (insert anything you might need for a baby/toddler), there is usually one choice for girls. Pink. And that gets old after a while. But then I remember how sweet my pale skinned, blue-eyed girl looks in pink and I love it all over again. I mean, isn't this what I dreamed about when I just had a boy??

She gets sweeter every day. And more opinionated for that matter. But we love watching her learn and to her each day is a party. Her recognizable words include MaMa, DaDad, and BoBo. She uses a sorta kinda word for juice. But just when I think she doesn't understand what I'm saying, she nods her head for yes and shakes her head for no when I ask a question. I don't remember Nate communicating that way, but I also don't remember him not talking. He just talked. With Lila, I think she's going to perfect the non-verbal cues first:) Which is fine with me. If that only meant less noise. Which it doesn't.

Lila loves loves loves to read books. They can still entertain her independently for many minutes. She also loves to climb on things. Anything. I'm already re-thinking my plan of waiting until she's 2 to move her out of the crib. She hasn't shown any interest in climbing out yet, but I just want to be in the right mindset that we might not have another year left in the crib. It is funny to watch her shimmy up into places that I don't think she should be able to get to. I guess I should have known I would get at least one adventurous kid:)

Even though this past year has, sadly, seemed like a blur, I can say I am happy to be out of the bottle, eating every 3 hours, spitting up stage. She is growing so fast, but we are excited about these next few months as she really shows us what her personality is all about!

Loving Lately

It's been a while since I reflected on my loves lately. Heck, it's been a while since I've devoted time to my blog. But this week, I had a reader that I've never met IRL (in real life) contact me out of the blue and say how much she liked my blog - the feedback was completely unexpected and I am so flattered. I do love to write and share our happenings with the blog world. It is very nice to know that there are folks out there that read and come back for more:) I love comments. Just sayin.

We are in the midst of winter and although it hasn't been too bad lately (I'm even saying that after the snow this week), all of our skin takes a hit. I love this body butter. I used it during both of my pregnancies and call me crazy, but I think it helps make the stretch marks stay away.

If you've been around me much, you know there are not a whole lot of things I love more than a fountain Diet Coke. I'm a addict. Such an addict. But I figure there are worse things. DC can make my day and can turn almost any situation around for me.  I have such a love for Diet Coke that I'm even a DC snob. The best diet coke on the planet is at Waffle House. Close seconds are Sonic, McDonalds, and Chick-fil-A.

I never thought I would say it (heck I never thought I would drive one), but I LOVE MY NEW VAN. I hear moms in my circle talk about how uncool it is to drive a van and they are sticking with the SUV. Well if it's uncool, I'm just uncool. And comfortable. And less inconvenienced. Let's just face, there is really nothing a whole lot better with children than doors that open up by themselves at the click of a button.  It was a big leap for us to enter the van world, but I can honestly, wholeheartedly, say it has been so worth it. And as a funny tibit, Jane Ellis and I drive the same van. We don't live next door to each other like we planned years ago, but we do still have the same great taste:)

What do you love right now? The companies that sell these fine products have not compensated me in anyway for these endorsements. Just lots of love from me to you in cyberspace. 

Outside in January

Dare I say that it has been a very mild winter so far?? I know it's only January 9th, but the extended forecast is looking pretty darn good for January.  Hope it keeps up!

Friday was a gorgeous day and we spent most of the afternoon outside.  Lila & I went on a walk, then picked up Nate from school. We didn't even go inside when we got home, but instead walked straight to the park.  It was heavenly. 

Cousins Retreat

We had the extreme pleasure of keeping Bluet this past weekend when her parents went on the annual NYE Float Trip. I say WE meaning me, Nate & Lila as Scott was on the same trip.  So really me. And some Nate. With mucho help from my Aunt Lee on Saturday and a visit from Sarah on Friday, we survived. 

The girls. Lila would prefer if Bluet would let her love on her a little more. I have no idea why Bluet doesn't want Lila putting her mouth on her all the time.

The cousins...Nate really was a big help and I truly couldn't have done it without him.

We took a walk on Saturday afternoon with Lee.  It was a much needed get out of the house moment.

We really enjoyed having Bluey-Blue and would welcome her back any time!  She loves to dance and has the best smile. But come back after you are over bottles...I thought Lila would want to drink the bottle, but instead she just wanted to "help" Bluet feed herself.  You can imagine how that went - lots of screaming from both ends:)

Christmas 2011

Warning: Picture Overload! I couldn't just pick a few. 

We had a wonderful, fabulous Christmas holiday.  We are so blessed and thankful for our family and friends. We got to see not only our family in Georgia & South Carolina over the holidays, but also some special friends and family that we had not seen in quite some time. Huge blessings.

We booked it out of town to Georgia as soon as Nate got out of school. Scott made the trip to Nashville by himself with the kids, where we all stayed the night and made the short trip to ATL the next day. It was pretty uneventful, thankfully.

Mimi recorded a book for Lila for her 1st birthday and I loved it so much that I asked if she would do one for Nate. I don't know about you all but I would love to have my grandparents' voices reading to me right about now. I know they will treasure the books always. Lila goes into her room and opens it up all by herself and lets Mimi read to her. So special. Nate's book has Mimi & Paka's voice, which makes it extra special. Thank you both for doing these for the kids - they will be loved for a long time to come.



By the beautiful Christmas tree before heading out to SC for Christmas Eve.  Love my sweet kiddos.

Lila wasn't really having pictures at this moment, but we suckered her in anyway.

The hooligans - they have so much fun together and the volume is always on HIGH:) Wonder when they will figure out that Nate doesn't know everything...when they do, I hope they don't tell him:)

Playing Aunt Amanda & Uncle David's piano. Remember that the volume was already on HIGH? Well it just went to extra HIGH.

One of our traditions is to do the first gift of Christmas on Christmas Eve, like in Polar Express. Nate was so excited to give Scott & I the first gift of Christmas that we had to have 2 ceremonies, because he just couldn't wait. I was proud of him for being so thoughtful. Yet, I think he thought we would speed up his gift if he gave us ours :)

The 2nd ceremony...ready for bed and Santa to come!

Fixing Santa & the reindeer's snack. Paka convinced Nate that he didn't actually have to have 9 apples for all of the reindeers. They used the apple slicer to make 8 slices and then cut one in half to make 9 pieces. Paka said 2 of them were on a diet. It worked, after we explained what a diet was of course.

Opening stockings on Christmas morning! I thought Nate would be up at 4 AM. But he slept until around 7 thankfully.

Little Miss - loved all the excitement but had not a clue.

She did love the singing Georgia cheerleader though! Guess it will come in handy for her now that Georgia & Missouri are conference opponents.

Santa knew that Nate needed a Cardinals jersey with his name on it. Scott wondered why Santa didn't bring him a Braves jersey too. I said that Santa didn't root for the Braves.

He looks so old here!! Nate, I mean.

Mimi reading Lila a new "That's Not My Princess" book. She loves these books and this guy that put touchy feely things inside a book and put "That's Not" in front of it is a genius.

My Christmas baby! I mean. 6 year old.

Opening presents with Mimi & Paka. Aunt Amanda in the background - unfortunately, this is the only picture I got of her!

Lila's new ride on toy from Mimi & Paka. She loves when it sings the song! This is in the middle of the day, but she was in pajamas - she had a wardrobe malfunction and the dress had to dry for later:)

Electronic gurus - sweet cousins.

Nate & Gavin enjoying some ice cream on Christmas night with Lucy in the background.

It was a truly wonderful holiday! We are safely back at home relishing in the memories. Thanks to the Boyles and Odoms for having us!

Nate's Big Day

Nate's actual birthday was December 20th. It seems so long ago, yet it wasn't.  Guess that's what happens when you are behind.  I, sadly, had to be in Nashville on the actual day, but Scott & Lila pulled his day off fabulously.  Opening presents, with me on the webcam. 



We started a tradition on Nate's first birthday that the whichever baseball team went the furthest, that he would have on his cake that year.  The first year was the Cardinals and it was his whole cake.  Every year after that, we do cupcakes to honor the winning team.  I think every year but one has been the Cardinals. Just sayin.

So of course this year, the Cardinals won out again in this tradition. I got this Cracker Jack Cardinals cupcake the day they won the World Series. I know what you're thinkin. Gross. Well, I asked the lady at Jilly's Cupcake Bar if it would keep in the freezer.  She said Sure! Wrap it in cellophane and let it thaw when you are ready. So I did.  And it turned out beautifully.

My handsome 6 year old. He tells everyone that comes in the house that he is 6. The next year should be fun!