Weekend Fun!

Since Friday we have been babysitting our good friend's little girl, Abby. They are a really special family to us and unfortunately they are moving to North Dakota soon. We had so much fun all weekend, but I can tell you I sure am tired! I think the hardest thing was that Kendall and Abby were one total opposite schedules!!

Kendall did really well. However, I did hear "No mam, Abby, that's Kendall's" A LOT throughout the weekend.

I have a new found respect for parent's of children that are 15 months apart!!

Enjoy the pictures!!

 The girls after their bath!!

Eating breakfast...I wish I knew what they were thinking! 

I had put Abby in the stroller while I watered my flowers,

and Kendall decided that she needed a stroller too! 

 I thought maybe I could put the girls in one stroller and go for

a quick walk...I thought wrong!!

 I wanted to get a future roomie picture, but this was the

best that I could get!!

Abby with Baby Abby!

I love Desserts!!

Today is Show Us Your Life day over at Kelly's Corner and the theme is Desserts!!

Everyone who knows me, knows that I have the biggest sweet tooth and I absolutely love anything that falls into the dessert category!

One of my absolute favorite desserts comes from my Granny. This dessert was  a staple at every family function!! I hope you enjoy this homemade cake as much as my family and I do!!

Chocolate Buttermilk Cake:

Ingredients:
2 cups sugar                                  1 cup water
2 cups flour                                   1/2 cup buttermilk
2 T cocoa                                       2 eggs
1/2 cup Crisco                                1 tsp baking soda
1 stick Parkay butter                     1 tsp vanilla

Directions:
In a large bowl mix together the sugar, flour, and cocoa. In a medium saucepan, bring to a boil the Crisco, Parkay, and water. Remove from heat and pour over the dry ingredient mixture.
Add the buttermilk, eggs, baking soda, and vanilla. Mix very well.
Pour into 9x13 greased baking pan. Bake at 350 degrees for  35-40 minutes.

Icing:
1 stick Parkay
6 T milk
4 T cocoa
1 tsp vanilla
1 box powdered sugar (8oz)
1 cup chopped nuts (optional)

Bring Parkay, milk, and cocoa to a boil. Remove from heat, add vanilla.
Pour over powdered sugar. Add nuts if desired.
Pour onto cooled cake. (You don't want the cake too cool, just cooled enough so the icing won't melt off the cake)

Hints:
*I never have buttermilk, so I just make my own. Just mix 2 tsp of vinegar to 1/2 cup of milk and you have buttermilk!!
*The nuts "make" the cake!

Great Giveaway!!

Megan at In This Wonderful Life is hosting  this great giveaway! I checked out the great store and even if I don't win the drawing, I'm definitely going to purchase a T-shirt!! They are so simple, modern, and super duper cute!!

If you would like a chance to win a cute shirt for your little one, then click here pick out your favorite shirt and hop on over to Megan's blog and let her know your favorite!!

I hope you all are having a great Monday!

And because I know my parents check this blog each and every day....

Here is a picture of their little darlin'!

She would only let me take a picture as long as she could

wear her rain boots!!

Houston Aquarium

Yesterday Justin and I decided that we wanted to do something different and fun, so we decided we would take Kendall to the Houston Aquarium. We picked up my parents along the way and we had a wonderful time.

Now I won't lie...Justin and I were pretty nervous. We knew Kendall was either going to love it or hate it. Nothing in between!! Fortunately Kendall loved it! She especially loved the carousel ride and fish exhibits!

 Sitting on the Chu-Chu Train!

 Kendall didn't know wether to cry or laugh when she saw the sharks swimming above us!

Petting a baby sting ray!

This is a lion fish. Kendall liked "roaring" at them!

In order to leave the fish exhibits, you have to conviently go through the gift shop! We let Kendall pick out one prize. She was so proud of her purchase!!!

Kendall could not get enough of the carousel!!



Afterwards, we all went out to eat at this amazing Mexican food restaurant. It was great food, great service, and a great atmosphere!!

Overall we had a great overnight trip!!

Spaghetti Casserole!!

Today on Show Us Your Life at Kelly's Corner, the theme is Main Dish Recipes.

This is the best Spaghetti Casserole you will ever put in your mouth!! It's probably not the healthiest, but it is the most delicious!! This makes a whole bunch, but it freezes great! I cooked this when I was pregnant and froze it for after Kendall was born. It tasted just as good as the first night I baked it! Also, it's great to take to someone's house, especially if they have a lot of company!!

I hope you enjoy!!

Ingredients:
2 lbs hamburger meat                           1 (12oz) can tomato juice
1 onion, chopped                                  2 cans tomato sauce
1 bell pepper, chopped                         1/2c diced stuffed olives (I always leave this out!)
1 can mushroom soup                          1 pkg spaghetti (regular size)
1 can chopped green chiles                  1 lb. grated Velveeta cheese

Directions:
Brown hamburger with onion and bell pepper. Drain. Add mushroom soup, green chiles, tomato juice, tomato sauce and olives. Cook spaghetti and toss with sauce. Top with 1 pound grated Velveeta cheese. Bake at 350 degrees until bubbles.

Not just an Ottoman!!

I bought this ottoman a few months ago when I redecorated our living room.

I had no clue just how many different purposes it would serve....

It serves as a storage bin for Kendall's toys...

It serves as a "boat"....

And it serves as a little "bed"....

Who would have thought that a simple ottoman could be so useful and entertaining?!?!?



Check this Out!!

My good friend from high school, Brittney, has always been super crafty and talented in art projects and other crafty things.

She made the hat she is wearing!

Well a while back she started a page over on Facebook called, Lily Jean Designs. She has made a wide variety of super cute items including onesies, bed sets, stockings, glassware, women clothing, etc. They are all adorable and reasonably priced. She can also do custom orders!!

She is in a challenge to get 200 Facebook fans and I would love to help her reach her goal! So please hop on over to her page and like Lily Jean Designs. Also, be sure to write on her wall and tell her that I sent you.

I hope you will help me help my friend reach this great goal!!

Hope you are all having a great Sunday!!

In Her Own Words...

Kendall is definitely at the independent, "me do it" stage, but she is also saying just the darnedest things!! I wanted to document them so I wouldn't forget them!!

A couple of months ago, I took Kendall to a school carnival. It was raining out, so everyone was squashed in the gym. Kendall was standing in line to go down a slide when an older boy accidentally bumped into her. Kendall immediately turned around, point her finger at him, and said, "You, not nice"!! That boy's eyes got so big and he stammered, "I'm sorry".

One morning I was getting Kendall ready for school when she asked, "School Mommy?" and I said Yes, we are going to school so we need to hurry. She then stuck our her lip and said "No school Mommy, go shopping!!" Yes, I'll admit it, she gets that from me!

We are potty training Kendall and it is going really well! She rarely has accidents! However, she loves following me into the bathroom. She then cheers and says, "Good girl Mommy!!"

For this next little funny here is a little background: Kendall's best friend at school is a little boy named Jacob. They just love each other, but also fight like brother and sister. She tends to hit him, and he tends to bite her. Well, one afternoon I was putting on Kendall's shoes when she noticed I had a boo boo on my leg. I told her it was a bite and she looked up at me and asked, "Did Jacob do it??" I told her no, Jacob did not do it, it was a bug bite. She then said, "No, Jacob did it!!" Poor Jacob, he gets blamed for a lot of things!

Every morning when I wake her up, I ask Kendall if she had good dreams. Well, one morning when I asked she replied "No". I then asked her why not and she replied, "I just didn't Mommy!".

Everyday Kendall makes us laugh. She loves to do the fist pump! Now when she goes to bed, she gives us each a fist pump and then tells me have sweet dreams! She also points to her monitor and night light to make sure I turn them on. After I do so, she tells me, "Good job Mommy!"

I just can't get enough of this little girl, even on those trying, it's all about me do it days!!

Mother's Day Weekend

I had a wonderful weekend and I hope everyone else did too!

Friday evening we met Justin's parents at Olive Garden to celebrate Mother's Day with them. We had a wonder meal and enjoyed each other's company.

On Sunday we met my parents at their Church in Houston.

We then went out to eat for Mexican food! As we were waiting for our bill, my older brother held up this giant (and I mean giant) jalapeno pepper and proceeded to dare me $50 to eat it.
There were some terms:
1. I had to eat the entire thing and had to show him that it was all gone!
2. I could not have anything to drink for two minutes afterwards.

Now let me just say that I don't like real spicy food and I especially don't like jalapenos! So what did I do?

Of course I took his bet!

It was the longest two minutes of my life and I have never drank so much water or milk at one time!!

After it was all done, I looked over at my mom and said, "Aren't you glad you raised two very mature adults!?!?"

And let me just tell you, it wasn't until about noon today that I felt back to normal!!

I had a wonderful weekend being with my family and daughter! It couldn't get much better!

Wonder why Kendall is in her pajamas??

Kendall was in bed and Justin and I were watching TV debating on who was going to get us something to eat. I mentioned it was Mother's Day and all of a sudden he jumped from the couch and said "We didn't do your Mother's Day gifts!!" We had planned on doing my Mother's Day with just the three of us. I guess with all the hustle and bustle of the day we had both forgotten about it!

Kendall had been in bed for about 20 minutes so he ran to her room, got her to "sign" the card and they came out with my gift!!

I got Kendall to take a picture with me and then she climbed off my lap, turned around and said, "Kendall going back to bed!" Then she walked back to her room, shut the door and climbed back into her bed! It was SO cute!

Birthday Fun!

Today we went over to our friends' house to celebrate Maddie and Mollie's birthday!

It was a bumblebee theme and Kendall wore a little dress that my mom had bought for her. It went with the theme perfectly!!

Joan did a great job with the decorations!

Maddie wanted that cake!

We had a great time enjoying their birthday and spending time with some good friends!

Mollie & Kendall changing their babies!

Kendall, Mollie, Keira, & Kenadi