Top Ten Tuesday--Its the Most Wonderful Time of the Year!

I heart Christmas...especially with a 3 year old who knows what its about, and is just as excited! I am done with shopping, but still need to do a couple of minor things! This is a random list, including cute pics of why this is the most wonderful time of the year!
1. Her Excitement--she LOVES Santa! This is actually Santa #3 this year!

2. Family Memories



3. Celebrate the birth of our Savior



4. Baking



5. Weather



6. Off from work!



7. This cute little guy LOVING wrapping paper!




8. After Christmas Shopping

9. New Years Poker Party

10. Resolutions




She's 3!


Is it bad that my 3 year old is obsessed with Hannah Montana??? I really do not even know how it started. She will put her sunglasses on, get out a pen, used as a microphone, and start singing "I might even be a rockstar." It is hilarious! I know she watches it some at the sitters house, and we will watch it now and then at home but she knows all about her...


Top Ten Tuesday--Things I will do different next year.

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This year has been crazy! A new baby, my daughter turned 3, two more nieces were born, stuck at the same job, deaths in the family to cancer...I could go on and on. I have been thinking a lot and these are the top ten things I will be doing differently next year. They are "resolutions" but just a mind set change for myself!



1. Positivity--so many times at church I have heard this preached, to be positive, God is looking out for you, etc etc etc. Right now we are in a message series and its amazing. I need to stay positive, and hopeful!



2. Excercise DAILY--I walk about 3 days a week now, but I want to run daily. I do 5K's about every other month, but I want to be in shape, running to be my hobby, and have something to show for it!



3. SAVE MONEY--Derek and I of course have a savings account, but I want to save for special things, family vacations, random big shopping sprees, or whatever we need at the time, and will not have to worry about it.



4. Dates with D--we do go out now, very rarely, but I want there to me more us time. Of course, having 2 kids doesnt allow for lots of alone time, and then I always feel guilty asking the parents or inlaws to watch them so we can go somewhere, but I know that time is needed between a husband and wife.



5. Special Kid Time--of course I got this idea from Jon and Kate Plus 8, (which may not be a great idea now) but they took thier kids on special trips. Derek took Ashlynn to see the Wiggles a couple of weeks ago, just the 2 of them, and she talks about it all the time! "Daddy took me mommy." She will remember that forever, and I want to create more memrories like that for her, and Braxton, when he is old enough!



6. Role Model-- I admit that I struggle at work, being professional all the time, and I do not enjoy what I do anymore, so it gets tough! Until God reveals another plan for my life, I want to be the role model that I need to be at the office.



7. More Involved at Church--I think that I need to begin volunteering at church. I am nto sure where yet, but I think that it is time.



8. Coupon-ing--is that a word?? I am beginning to learn how to do it, and its addicting! I want to learn more, and get really good at it!



9. Reconnect with friends--most of my close girlfriends are out of state, or a few hours away. I need that good support from girlfriends, who are close by. Maybe find a new group of friends?



10. Family Time--Derek works Monday-Thursday at night, so he is not home when me and the kids get there, so they really only see him Friday-Sunday, and some mornings. We take advantage of the weekends and spend them together, but I want to make the most of them...do new things...make lasting memories.

Top Ten Tuesday--Random Pictures

She loves her brother!

Daddy is so proud!


Happy boy!






Policewoman in the making

Silly Pumpkins!


































Here they are! I had no clue what to post today, so this is what we ended up with!

Top Ten Tuesday--Easy Recipes!

So most of these are not mine, but ones that I love! I thought I would share them, so us busy moms, single people, and even dads (haha) can make some easy dinners! Most are great for the fall wather too!

1. GG's Chicken--this is my grandmothers recipe, but O so yummy!

13x9 glass dish, sprayed
5-6 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
melted butter over the chicken
1 can of Cream of Mushroom Soup on that
Sprinkle with crushed up cornflakes

Bake at 350 degrees for 50 minutes!

2. Breakfast Casserole

1 pound of sausage
1 cup of milk
1/2 cup Bisquik
Shredded Cheese
2 eggs

Brown sausage, and put in dish
sprinkle cheese over sausage
combine milk, eggs, and bisquik in bowl, and pour over cheese

Bake at 350 degrees for 25 minutes

3. Chili

Depending on how much you want to make, this is for 2 people

1 pound of ground chuck (turkey, beef, whatever you choose)
2 cans of mild chili beans
chili powder
red pepper
hot sauce (depending on how hot you want it)

Brown the meat, and combine with all in a crock pot for a couple hours, serve with cheese op top and crackers!

4. Chili Dog Nachos (OH MY)

http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/rachael-ray/chili-dog-nachos-recipe/index.html

5. Lasagna (my mother in law's recipe)

Ground Chuck
Ragu Sauce
Ricotta Cheese (add an egg to it for an easier spread)
Mozzerella Cheese
Lasagna Noodles

Combine meat with sauce, and place bottom layer in dish
top with noodles, uncooked
top with ricotta cheese, then sauce, then mozzerella, then noodles
repeat as necessary, depending on how big you want the dish

cover with foil
Bake at 375 degrees for an hour and a half (but check it at an hour)

6. Baked, stuffed pork chops (stolen from Rachel Ray), could also do with chicken!

8 thin cut pork chops
bread crumbs
3 eggs
flour
mozzerella slices

bring oil to hot in frying pan
take one chop, put cheese on top, and top with another chop
place in flour, then eggs, then bread crumbs
fry on one side for 3 minutes, then flip and fry on the other for 3 more

serve with rice and broccoli!

7. Sweet and Spicy Kielbasa

1 cup brown sugar
1 tsp spicy brown mustard
2 lbs of smoked, fully cooked kielbasa, cut into one inch pieces

combine sugar and mustard in crock pot, add kielbasa and coat to cover
cover with top and cook for 3 hours, until thoroughly heated
serves 12!

8. Crockpot Easy Beef Stew

4 medium red potatoes
1 1/2 lbs beef stew meat
1/3 cup flour
salt and pepper
14 oz can diced tomatoes undrained
2 cups water
3 cups brozen stir fry bell peppers and onions (or whatever else you want)

cut potatoes into quarters
mix flour salt and pepper and toss with beef to coat
add tomatoes and water, stir
cover crockpot for 7-8 hours
add veggies and cook for 30 more minutes

9. Brownie Pie (couldnt resist a dessert)

9" pie crust
1 cup choc. chips
15 oz pkg brownie mix
1/3 cup water
1 egg
1 oz square semisweet choc. melted

sprinkle chips over pie pan
beat together brownie mix, egg, water and melted choc in bowl, pour over pie crust
Bake at 375 for 40 minutes, allow an hour to cool

10. PB&J

Bread
PB
J

Im done typing!

ENJOY!!!

Top Ten Tuesday--Fall!

Fall is my favorite season! Here are the top ten things I look forward to.

1. Watching Ashlynn pick out a pumpkin.
2. A festival every Saturday in October.
3. The weather. When 60 is the high, it is HEAVEN!
4. Kettle corn! It's for sale everywhere you go!
5. Clothing--I LOVE wearing jeans, and long sleeve shirts. (Can you tell I hate the summer?!)
6. Leaves on the ground
7. New TV starts!
8. Windows open in the house.
9. COLLEGE FOOTBALL! Go Dawgs!
10. Lots of holidays to look forward to!

DORA Live

HOLA! My mom and I took my daughter to see DORA on Saturday, at the Fabulous FOX Theater. It is a very old but beautiful theater. Ashlynn will be 3 in a couple weeks, so this was her present from us! Daddy did not want to go, so he volunteered to stay home with Braxton! It was a girls day! It started out on a trip on the MARTA, which she loved!


We got there early and waited on the doors to open. Noni bought her this swirling flashlight thing. She brought along her baby Jaguar. If you know anything about DORA, this is her cousin Diego's friend!


Then we went and got her a kids pack popcorn. She was so excited!



We were not allowed to take pictures of the stage, but I got one anyway.


The show began and Ashlynn was in utter shock! I don't think she could believe she was actually seeing allt he characters. She did not even open up until halfway through! It was an awesome show, and we cannot wait to go back!

My family

I am a full time wife, mommy, and I work out of the home. I have been married for 5 years to my middle school sweetheart Derek. We have two children, Ashlynn and Braxton.

D and E

D and E

My kids

My kids

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