Recipe Monday

I will admit that I haven't tried these yet, but only because I just haven't had time.  I did purchase the fingerling potatoes so hopefully I will be able to make them this week.  Don't they look yummy??

Braised Dill Potatoes (Taste of Home, November 2011)

Arrange 1 lb fingerling potatoes in single layer in a large saucepan. Add 1 cup chicken broth and 1 tblsp butter. Cover and cook for 10 minutes or until almost tender. Uncover, cook 8-10 minutes longer or until potatoes are tender and brother is evaporated. Press each potato lightly to crush. Sprinkle with 3 tblsp dill. Season with salt and pepper. Cook for 2-3 minutes or until bottoms are lightly browned. Serve with sour cream. 

Enjoy!

A Moment In Time

Unbelievable

These past weeks have been like a dream.  Our beloved St. Louis Cardinals rose from barely making it into the playoffs to the World Series champions. Our hometown heroes once again made their fans proud.  As I reflect on how exciting this has all been, I smile. I smile not only because the Cardinals won, but because for a few moments, the biggest thing we had to worry about was winning the next game. And although that was stressful enough, it was a welcome shift in focus. For just a little bit, baseball provided a stress relief to a great many people in St. Louis. Those people will now relish in the win for weeks to come.  I hope Nate always remembers the 2011 World Series and living in St. Louis. I know that I will. Truly a moment in time.

Almost There - 11 months!

Lila, you are 11 months old! How can it be??  How can it be almost a year since you were born?? I know, I know, it just is.

A few of your notables this month:

• You can stand all by yourself. Sometimes you just let go of whatever you are holding on to, and sometimes you just stand up from a sitting position.
• You are almost walking. You would really like to be walking. You have taken a few steps here and there but when you realize what you are doing, you fall to the floor. Nate walked at 11 months, so I suspect it might be soon.  But we'll see. I used to dread it, but now am looking forward to it.
• You are a really happy baby most of the time. But you sure let us know when something is not quite right. Wonder where you got that from?
• You have made some, well let's just say interesting changes to your sleeping habits this month. Dad & I would really like you to change back into our wonderfully sleeping child. Please, I beg you. 
• You are most likely getting another tooth, which could be contributing to the previous entry. 
• You are saying MaMa, BaBa, Bye-Bye, and BotBot (bottle). You still don't say DaDa, much to his dismay. 
• You are so excited when Nate & I pick you up in the afternoons. All the teachers love to watch you crawl over to us and hear all your sounds. It's hilarious.  
• You love books. One of the few activities you will do by yourself is pull books off your bookshelf and read books.  Your favorites are Pat the Bunny, That's Not My Tractor and That's Not My Monster that Mimi sent you for Halloween.  
• You are going to be Yoda for Halloween!  I would really prefer that you be something girly, but Nate insisted since he will be Darth Vader of course.
• You get cuter every.single.day. We cannot get through a shopping trip without several people stopping us to tell me how pretty your eyes are...how pretty your hair is...or just how cute you really are.  It makes me smile.

LuLu Bell, we love you so much. We will celebrate your 1st birthday big next month! 

Dear Cardinals

Dear Cardinals,

Please do your best to win tonight. It would make me so happy.  But if you don't,

my consolation prize will be not having to stay up past my bedtime

to watch you anymore.

Love, Ab

Recipe Monday

[Update] This is very spicy!!  But it is really good! Next time I make it, I will cut the wing sauce with regular bbq sauce. 

We love the Zesty Chicken BBQ in the crockpot, so when I stumbled onto this recipe from Big Oven, I knew I had to try it.  Great for cool days and easy dinner nights!

Slow Cooker Buffalo Chicken Sandwiches (http://www.bigoven.com/)

4 frozen boneless skinless chicken breasts
1 17 1/2 bottle buffalo wing sauce divided
1/2 oz dry ranch salad dressing packet
2 tblsp butter
Hoagie rolls or buns

Place the frozen chicken breasts into slow cooker and pour 3/4 of the wing sauce and the ranch dressing mix. Cover and cook on low for 7-8 hours (or longer, which is what I do).

Once the chicken has cooked, add the butter and shred the meat finely with 2 forks. Pile on hoagie or bun.  Splash with extra wing sauce if desired. 

Enjoy!

Happy Birthday Scott!

Happy Happy Birthday to our dear Scotty...

For a few months, I can say he's older than me. Cheers to small pleasures! Scott, we hope your birthday is fabulous and we know it will be because you get to spend it with us. I mean, I assuming that's what will make it fabulous of course:) You are very special to us and hope that on this day and all the rest of the days of the year that you know how important you are to our little family! 

Love, Ab, Nate & Lila

Wake Me Up From This Dream...Or Maybe Not Yet!

Today the St. Louis Cardinals play Game 1 of the 2011 World Series against the Texas Rangers.  Please wake me up from this dream! How exciting it has been in St. Louis these past few weeks.  And my heart fills with joy that Nate is learning about the St. Louis Cardinals and more importantly baseball at school! I hope he always remembers when he was in Kindergarten in St. Louis, the Cardinals played in the World Series. 

And since I'll probably hear about this from my Atlanta Braves counterpart, I hope that Nate continues to love baseball forever.  And that the Braves get to play in the World Series during that same timeframe:)

Ironically enough, this will mark our second child to have had a St. Louis Cardinals World Series played in their first year. The last time they played was in 2006, when Nate was 10 months old. And they are continuing that tradition in Lila's first year, when she is 11 months old.  But sadly, this good luck charm has come to an end and they'll need to do it without a Boyle child being born that year in the future:)

Go Cardinals!

Walking & Hair

I walked in one morning when I hadn't heard any Lila sounds in a minute and found her sitting in her cart. Before I could get my camera, she ended up like this, which was still cute.

 Then, she decided that she would try walking, which she is getting pretty good at most of the time.

 She would really like to be walking and in some ways, I wish she was walking too.

And yes, she is growing out her hair. And yes, it's driving me crazy.  This is where I'm not a very good baby girl mom. But we're in it for the long haul and already have an appointment to even it out (although it's 4 weeks from now, which is the amount of time my hair lady told me to wait). I'm getting better at doing her hair. But it's a skill to be acquired. Who knew??

Recipe Monday

This recipe comes from my dear friend Penny in Nashville (AKA Penny Lou, Penny Pen or just Pen - yes, I have a problem with nicknames:) who is ALWAYS helping me out.  No task too big or small for her.  She noticed that the last few weeks I've been struggling with my recipes, so she sent me this one to help me out.  And it's good, or better, for you! Thank you Pen!

Heart Healthy Sugar Cookies (saintthomasheart.com)

1 cup white sugar
1/3 cup canola oil
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 tbsp lemon zest
2 egg whites
1 cup unbleached all purpose flour
1 1/2 cups white whole wheat flour
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 cup skim milk

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Line 2 cookie sheets with parchment paper or spray with nonstick spray. In a large mixing bowl, beat sugar, canola oil, vanilla, lemon zest and egg whites until fluffy. Combine flours, baking soda and salt in a separate bowl. Stir flour mixture into wet ingredients, a little at a time, alternating with skim milk.

Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate several hours. Roll dough out onto a lightly floured surface about 1/8 inch thick. Cut into desired shapes. Transfer to prepared cookie sheets. Bake 10 minutes or until just browned on edges. Cook completely. Decorate with cream cheese frosting if preferred. Oh yes, I prefer!

Enjoy!

100th Homecoming!

On Saturday, we made the short trip to Columbia for the 100th Mizzou Homecoming! All week I hemmed and hawed about going to the game.  It was a 1:00 PM start and I knew Lila couldn't make it.  Scott suggested I take Nate and I thought hard about it.  My BFF Jane Ellis was dancing with the Golden Girls to celebrate the 100th and I really wanted to see her. In the end I decided to take him and we would sit on the hill.  Best laid plans...

We usually go to watch the parade but it started at 8:30 AM, so we decided to get there shortly after it started and eat breakfast at the Heidelberg. Because a trip to CoMo would not be complete without the Heidelberg. I really wanted a good picture but Nate was busy eating.

After we ate breakfast (quickly!), Nate & I headed down to the bookstore. It was insane! But we managed to make it in and out without too much trouble.

After the bookstore, we dashed over to spend a few minutes with the Peach's at their tailgate. Beautiful Avery in the tree.

Nate & Megan played (I managed not to get a good picture of them or Lila for that matter) and then we were off to the game.

Unfortunately, when we arrived at the game, the hill was completely packed. Not one place to sit down. So I held Nate for a bit, then we stood for a bit, and then we decided to leave.  I was sad, but only for a minute. It's not like I had many other choices.  We met Scott & Lila at Harpo's for lunch (when did that place become a not so family friendly place? Ha Ha Ha...It was always like that I'm sure, I just didn't notice it as much!) and then headed home.  We were all tired from our quick trip!

We usually celebrate Homecoming with my dear friends from college - the Bakers, the Kollmeyers and the Rush's. It wasn't the same without everyone this year! I vow not to do it again...:)

Birthday at the Transportation Museum

Last weekend we were lucky enough to get to spend Elena's 3rd birthday with her at the Transportation Museum.  I can't believe we've never been there! So much to do and so much that was right up Nate's (and Lila's) alley. 



 The sweet birthday girl - 3 years old and about to become a big sister!

 They had a costume section, of course Nate loved that part.  He has always liked to dress up.

Lila even let some other special people hold her - I was very surprised! But Lee & Kathy love her so much that I'm sure she can sense it.

About to blow out the candle!

Lila Lou sitting at the table like a big girl.  No cake for her though - she has to be 1 year old! Which is going to be here before I know it:(

My handsome big boy - he liked this pirate ship too.

Nate liked the museum so much that Scott took him back on Sunday to do the whole deal. We just couldn't do it with Lila the day before, it wasn't going to work out in our favor!

I LOVE this picture!

Happy Birthday Sweet Elena! Thanks for including us in your fabulous party!

Special Visitor

We had a visit from Kevin last week when he returned to STL for a wedding.  For those of you that don't know, Kevin helped Scott finish our basement room as well as put new hardwood flooring in our living room and bedroom.  Sadly, with the addition of a second child and Kevin moving away, not much is getting done around our house.  It's a season I keep telling myself.

Lila has not been quick to warm up to anyone lately, but Kevin persisted and shortly she was moving closer and closer to him.  As you can see, she had a great time.
 

Nate loves Kevin, so I'm happy that he got to spend a little bit of time with Lila...such a special friend to us!

Even Darth Vader Wants the Cardinals To Win

Eat More Chikin!

My friends down south will not think this is a monumental occasion, but in "north" Chick-Fil-A's are not plentiful.  At least they haven't been until recently.  For the past 4 years, we've had to drive to BFE to get to a CFA.  Well on Saturday, we were out in the suburbs for a birthday party (we don't get out of the city much) and we passed a sign for a CFA.  I knew they were building more, but didn't really know where this one was.  We found it and were so excited that it is only 12 minutes away from our house (without traffic, Nate timed it, and yes, that's how crazy we are about CFA.)

Lila tried the nuggets for the first time and Nate ate so many nuggets, we had to go back and get more. My south of the Mason Dixon line husband was so excited!

Recipe Monday

I have to admit, I'm dragging my feet a bit on fall this year.  Not because I don't love fall, but because winter comes next.  If you remember, me and winter didn't exactly get a long last year:) But fall is certainly my favorite recipe season.  Nate loves pumpkin pie and I found this one that uses a little less sugar and applesauce instead. He loves it. 

Applesauce Pumpkin Pie
(New York Times, adapted from Little Pie Company Pies & Other Dessert Favorites, Wilkerson, Henly, Deraney, Righter)

Pastry for one 10 inch pie crust
1 1/2 cups canned or fresh pumpkin puree
1/3 cup unsweetened applesauce
3 large eggs
1/2 cup packed, dark brown sugar
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1 1/4 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp ground ginger
1/4 tsp ground cloves
1/2 tsp salt
1 cup evaporated milk
1 tsp vanilla extract

1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Line a 9 inch pie shell with the pastry, making high fluted edge.

2. Mix the pumpkin, applesauce and eggs. In another bowl, mix the sugars, cinnamon, ginger, clove, and salt and stir into pumpkin mixture. Stir in evaporated milk and vanilla.

3. Pour the filling into the pastry lined pie pan, place in the oven and bake for 15 minutes. Reduce the heat to 350 and bake for 45 minutes longer.

4. Cool to room temperature and serve with whipped cream.

Enjoy!

Cleaning Loves

Oh my, a whole post about cleaning!  Love it! Living in an almost 100 year old house has humbled me.  These days, I just don't feel like I can get anything clean.  The dust in this house multiplies by the minute.  As my mom says, it's always easier to clean a new or newer house.  And she's definitely right.  And it certainly doesn't help that we have 2 kids and a cat that contribute to the mess!  Here are some things that I use to keep my sanity.  No, I have not been compensated in any way by these companies. 

This really does get the cat hair off the furniture.  Even if KP doesn't choose to sit on a particular piece of furniture, she is very hairy and the breeze will carry her hair on to almost every surface. This is a lifesaver.

I live and die by this stuff! If we are out (which is not often since I stock up when it is on sale), I start twitching. I use it to clean just about anything around our house. And it works on every surface.  

Remember the dust I mentioned? These dusters really do help and leave less behind. I sound like a commerical, right?

We got one of these when we put in our new hardwood floors last year.  So easy and it really does clean!

And this is a new one for the laundry cleaning side of things.  I received a full size sample of this in the mail earlier in the summer.  Well I never used it. I finally decided to use it a few weeks ago when I had some towels that smelled bad. It's these crystals that you put in your washer with the laundry and they smell really good.  And make your clothes, towels, etc...smell really good. And since it's new, I've found great coupons lately!

That's all! What are your favorite cleaning products?? 

Excited

A little bit excited...

A little more excited...

 Primo excitement! 

A Cardinals Song

Deep Thoughts By Abatha Boyle

Do y'all remember that skit on Saturday Night Live, "Deep Thoughts by Jack Handy?" Well I do. That's what came to mind today as I prepared to share a few random thoughts I have floating around in my head.  Sometimes you just have to share. 

•  I feel a huge sense of accomplishment when I manage to dress both of my kids in temperature appropriate clothing on a given day.  Especially this time of year when it's 49 in the morning and 85 by 5 PM.  It's a skill.
• I care about the Cardinals alot more when the Braves are involved. Or when they make the playoffs. Which had a very direct correlation this year.
• My 5, almost 6-year old is finally realizing that all kids aren't the same. I'm proud of his kind, considerate nature and heartbroken all at the same time.
• I'm dreading winter. 
• My baby, not so much of a baby anymore, is erratic on her wake up time. Sometimes it's really early, sometimes it's not.  I don't know whether I like this better than knowing exactly what time she is going to wake up everyday.  
• What was I (or we) thinking to have a November birthday, Thanksgiving, December birthday, and Christmas all in the span of 5 weeks. 
• My kids definitely have the "if you pretend you can't hear me, I'll just talk louder" mentality. 
• I think my next house is going to have to have a little more carpet. 
• We have a really hard time spreading the weekly homework packet over 4 nights like we are supposed to - Nate is a homework machine. For now.
• My love for smocked clothes is unhealthy.

Do you have any deep thoughts? Share!

Botanical Gardens

Last weekend, we went to the Botanical Gardens on Saturday morning.  Sadly, sometimes our Saturdays just get away from us and by the time we decide to head out, it's somebody's nap time, or somebody has to eat, or somebody just doesn't feel like leaving the house (not naming any names). So in the middle of last week, I told Scott that I wanted to go to the Botanical Gardens on Saturday morning, so write it down.  We made it there, albeit a little bit after I wanted to get there. 

Lila had a little rest in her stroller, and woke up just in time to get put on this sheep.  She did not particularly like being on there with Nate, much to his dismay. 

 But enjoyed being on there by herself.  She was so proud!

 Nate had a great time of course, climbing and swinging and sliding.

 We found this chair last time we were there and it is a perfect King's chair!

Since Scott was manning the camera, I managed to get individual pictures taken with both of my kids. Red letter day!

Lila Reading

Recipe Monday

I gotta tell ya...this last week felt like 3 weeks in 1. We all survived, but I can tell you we were tired last night!  Lots of fun activities, visitors, and stories to tell - plus several stressful moments about life and futures in general. I'll get caught up one of these days. 

I did want to share a site that was passed on to me in honor of Recipe Monday.  There are several great recipes on here - Chicken Parmesan and the Broccoli Noodle Casserole in particular.  Check it out!

Skinny Taste - Click HERE.

Have a fabulous Monday!