when You thought I wasn't looking...

I saw you hang my first painting on the refrigerator, and I immediately wanted to paint another.

When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw you feed a stray cat, and I learned it was good to be kind to animals.

When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw you make my favorite cake for me and I learned the little things can be the special things in life.

When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw you make a meal and take it to a friend who was sick, and I learned that we all have to help take care of each other.

When you thought I wasn't looking, I felt you kiss me goodnight, and I felt loved and safe.

When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw you take care of our house and everyone in it, and I learned we have to take care of what we are given.

When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw tears come from your eyes and learned that sometimes things hurt, but it's all right to cry.

When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw how you handled responsibility, even when you didn't feel good, and I learned that I would have to be responsible when I grow up.

When you thought I wasn't looking, I learned most of life's lessons that I need to know to be a good and productive person when I grow up.

When you thought I wasn't looking...I looked at you and wanted to say "Thanks for all the little things I saw when you thought I wasn't looking."

Wordless Wednesday

Wordless Wednesday

These are a few of my (new!) favorite things...

I promise my list won't be mostly food this time..but we are gonna start out with it.
We are loving these small guac packs because I hate wasting, but brown guac is not appealing so these are the perfect size!
fun fact: I never ate guacamole until I was pregnant with Bowen and out of the blue craved it!

My pink leopard rose ring...and no, I'm not a hand model.
Hard to believe, huh? LOL

Like I don't have a million white tee's but this is my favorite one lately:
Mossimo, available at Target. Got mine on sale for $5.

Ooh, my newest arrival...
I'm super excited to use my Retro Metro Bag (no, this is not a shameless Thirty One plug!) ~ it's big enough for my stuff plus my Bible, a sippy & a couple of diapers AND all the other dozens of random things I get stuck toting!

Plus, how cute is that big pink C on this kinda rugged bag?
Found on pages 18-19 in your Fall catalog, available in 2 other patterns.
Now THAT was my shameless plug :)

Kicking off a new soccer season!

Ben was all set to play with a new soccer league this fall but in a strange turn of events, Ben & Brinley ended up on the same team, old league...long story short: don't have a late summer baby, age cut offs are a pain!

Anyway, it looks like it's gonna work out. Ben is one of only 2 boys on the team and doesn't seem to mind. Brinley thinks she's one of the big girls...of course she's the smallest on the field.
This is the fastest I've ever seen her run...

Yes, I've been picniking again..so fun!

Lots of girl power ~ we won our first game!

And, most importantly, they love being on the same team!

Grab your ladle

I admit, I'm pushing it just a little but I'm declaring Soup Season!

I made my first batch of Tortilla Soup this week, a winter staple in our house...and I want to go on record right now saying ALL SOUP SHOULD BE WARM. I see these "cold soups" advertised and well, it just goes against nature. Call them something else, not soup.
Soup is warm.

In celebration of Soup Season, I want to share "my" recipe (actually given to me by my MIL)
Don't worry it's simple!
I'm the Queen of Quick & Easy...um, in the kitchen anyway ;-)

Tortilla Soup:
Boil your chicken - any kind. I use breasts because they are...tada, quick & easy.
Remove chicken to cool & pick/shred.
Add Pace picante to your chicken stock - amount depends on how strong you want it. My hubby likes it strong so for 2-3 breasts I use a large jar.
Also add a healthy portion of cilantro, then boil/simmer about 20 minutes.

Strain your soup to get all the "chunks" out.
So, at this point taste it...too strong? Add water.
Or Chicken Broth. Water is cheaper.

Add chicken to soup and warm.

Grab your ladle and pour soup into a bowl filled with Tortilla mission strips and shredded Monterrey Jack cheese.
Your chips will get soggy. Your cheese will melt...mmmm.

Can be topped with Avocados, but we prefer to just eat guacamole dip with ours.
Also, you can heat & butter flour tortillas for dipping in your soup!

Enjoy!

*Note to self: buy a ladle this year.

Old College Tri

There was no rest for Bryce last weekend...he gave it the "old college try" and this time he placed! Yay, 2nd in his age group!!!

And my favorite moment ~ the sprint to the finish.
He just amazes me!

I'm sure I "wow" him with my photo journalism...right, Bryce?

To Bryce

Several months ago while driving I heard a song "I keep on loving you" and broke down and cried, right there in the car. Yeah, one of those things you would make fun of me for...but it struck a nerve because after all we've been through since we were teenagers, it really just comes back to one thing: I keep loving you.
After 9 years, I still do.
Happy Anniversary!

Putting on my big girl panties

In less than 2 weeks, my little girl has started school - without a single tear!- she has traded up for a big girl bed (pics to be posted when her backordered quilt arrives) and demanded a haircut.
Yes, demanded. After putting it off, and putting it off...she finally said "Mommy, it's my hair! And I want it cut!"
And you know when a lady makes up her mind about hair, well who am I to stop her?

We took a good 3 inches...and *sigh* just about every ringlet off.
It looks a tad longer here because the stylist flat ironed it.

Yes, my 4 year old has a hair stylist now!
This is all happening a little too fast.
Looks like I'm gonna have to put on MY big girl panties and deal with it.