Does Anyones Son's Toys Look Like This?

Anyone have a son who has toys that look like this? I think the picture speaks for itself!

Guess Who's On His Way to Walking?

Abraham is starting to brave walking - hooray little man!! Each day he takes a few more steps and is gaining confidence!! He is so incredibly adorable and we are SOOOOO proud of him!! Way to go little man - you'll be walking in no time!

He was a little cranky in this video (because anytime I have the camera - he WANTS it), but took a few good steps! Whitt was showing off his "walking" skills too :).

Recipes Anyone?

Hey There!

I've been loving posting our weekly menu and recipes or links. It definitely keeps me accountable and helps with my weekly shopping. I'm hoping others can get some use out of it too :).

I wanted to throw this out there. I think we all get tired of eating the same things over and over. I know I'm always up for new ideas. So... if you have a favorite recipe, I'm always looking for new things to try and to share. If you have something that you think is fabulous, leave it in my comment section. I'd love to try it out. Plus, then others can try something new as well.

Just a thought - if it works, great - if not - I'll just keep searching out new things and trying our wonderful family favorites :)!

Ready, Set, Go!

Racing is a fun pastime around our house! My mom got Lowa and Whittaker scooters for Christmas and Papa Kent and Moma got Abraham a walker for his birthday. They spend a fair amount of time during the day having races around our house. It's a great way for them to play together and also get some exercise during the winter season. Lately Abraham has gotten in on the action and LOVES to race with big brother and sister. It's awfully fun for everyone involved!

Ready, Set, GOOO!

He loves to try to be big like brother and sister!

Lowa scooting along - always a smile!

Whitt is Mr. determined - he wants to WIN every time!

Here they are in action!! (As you can hear - Abraham is still screaming, but getting better :) )!

Fancy Nancy Date

Has anyone ever read the book Fancy Nancy by Jane O' Conner? Lowa got this book for Christmas and has fallen in love. Essentially the book is about a girl who LOVES being fancy yet lives with her family who is very un-fancy (very much like our own)! One night she teaches them how to be fancy and they all go out on a date dressed in very over-the-top fancy clothes. They walk into a pizza parlor and Nancy thinks that everyone must be convinced that they are movie stars :). They order parfaits, but on her way back Nancy trips and falls. They all head home, get un-fancy and eat their own parfaits. It is such a fun book.

Fancy Nancy
The very un-fancy family (Lowa's not all that fancy either - she just loves the book)

All dressed up and ready to go!

Our family decided that we thought it might be fun to have our own "Fancy Nancy" date night. We all dressed up in our very over-the-top clothes, and headed for pizza (unfortunately the wait was too long and it was too late - so we headed to a burger joint instead). Lowa and Whitt were convinced that everyone thought they were movie stars too!! We got lots of questions and we told all about the fun book :). We then headed home (put poor Abraham to bed - very tired) and made our own parfaits. Needless to say, this was a VERY FANCY and very fun evening. We all felt quite glamorous! I love my family and am so blessed that we have the opportunity to do so many things that bond us together! Enjoy the pics...

Our Fancy Lowa - man this girl is cute :) - of course I'm a bit biased!

Lowa in her full garb (like I said - over the top)

I got asked quite a few times if I was celebrating New Years a little late.

Being goofy - as usual!
My little man - look at his dashing cape and rose in his shirt.

"Just take the picture already!"

Quite a dashing lad I must say!

We found these canes at the $ store for both Tom and Whitt. Totally completes the outfits!

I love how all three boys have roses in their pockets. I just think he's so darn adorable!

It was pouring, so they felt ultra fancy with their umbrellas

The boys walking in the rain...

Feeling pretty fancy - love the smile!

Ready for our date - driving and on the way...

What a guy!

Soooo excited that we're "Movie Stars"

Waiting to be seated...

At the restaurant (look at his face - cracks me up).
The fancy girls

Whittaker cracks me up - SO serious :)!

In the book they all eat with their pinkies in the air - we did too :)! (Don't you just love the burger spilling all over the place? - gross)!

Close to a pinkie - a fry is good enough!

It takes a lot of concentration to hold a pinkie up!

Couldn't quite get the pinkie - so the first finger worked just as well!

OK, so not the most attractive picture - but had to put it in :)!

Waiting for parfaits at home in their pjs - they were quite excited!!

Tired baby boy...

Helping with the whip cream - yum!

Chocolate sauce...

SOOOO good!

We had a GREAT time!! If you own the book and have girls (or even if you have only boys), this is a fun time for all. We encourage you to have your own Fancy Nancy date!!

Isn't This Lovely???

You're going to thoroughly enjoy these!! Over the past week and a half Abraham has discovered that he LOVES to scream and throw fits :) - it's lots of fun!! He screams at the drop of a hat (literally over just about anything - "I want that, I don't want that, you got up, this is fun, this is not fun, I'm sad, I'm mad, I'm happy, I'm thrilled," etc., etc.) At times it's quite comical, at other times, I think my eardrums (and nerves) may explode!! Here are a few videos in order of loudness - enjoy what I get to hear all day long :)!!

This is the extremely mild version (notice, I'm right nearby)...

A bit more intense...

This is what it's really like much of the day :)...

Really, it's quite comical and I know it's just a phase. But trust me, there are times when I have to cover my ears just so I don't go insane. Praying this phase passes soon :)... Someday Abraham, you'll look back and say, "I can't believe I used to scream like that. Mom, I owe you a BIG, FAT hug and kiss for that one!" (Actually, I get big, fat hugs and kisses all of the time now - but you get what I'm saying...).

A Few Christmases - One at a Time...

We are so blessed to have such wonderful family and friends! We not only have Tom's parents who live in town and my mom who travels from the other side of the state to see us, but we are the INCREDIBLY lucky recipients of what we call our children's surrogate grandparents. Kent and Ramona (or as we call them Papa Kent and Moma) are amazing friends of ours who have literally adopted our family and our children! They love us like we're their own. I can't tell you what a blessing they are to our family and we are deeply indebted to them. We love them with all of our hearts and can't say enough just how wonderful of a couple they are! We love you Moma and Papa Kent!! Thank you for an amazing Christmas!!

We have other Christmas celebrations that we will share within the next few days - FUN times!!!

Papa Kent and Abraham

Moma preparing our DELICIOUS meal - Pad Thai Chicken and Chicken and Mushroom Lettuce Wraps! She can cook!!

Look at this spread....

Abraham opening his gift - loved ripping the paper.

Moma looking so cute!

Love that face :)!

Posing in their new outfits and with their new basketball game - TOO fun!

Making a gingerbread house (we didn't wait the required 15 minutes and it started falling apart - but the kids loved it)!

Decorating the gingerbread house :)!

They got the kids these adorable new hats - can you get any cuter :)?!

Whitt insisted on wearing his helmet while playing in the snow - he said it kept the snow off of his head :)...

Look at that smile - love it!