We love to Paint!

Here are some pics of Ava Grace and Aunt Caroline a couple of weeks ago painting. She got lots of fun paints for Christmas and LOVES to paint at the table like a big girl.

Great Feeling

At the beginning of last year I started running. Then I stopped and got lazy. :-(

I just started back in December and finally have worked up to 4 miles without stopping. That's big for me! I am hoping to make this a habit. The first mile is kinda hard for me and then the rest is fine. I just have to focus on something else.

Then when I am finished... I have a Great Feeling! Seriously - I can think better. I can breathe better. I just feel better all over.

Maybe I will get addicted to running. How AWESOME would that be?!?!?

Relaxing Weekend

Happy Monday! I hope you all had a great weekend! We did.

Friday night the hubby was in the mood for a steak so he grilled out for us. It was yummy as always. He also stuffed Bell Peppers with thin steaks, onions, mushrooms, and Dales Sauce and cooked them on the grill. His own little creation... it was good! I put cheese on mine and put it in the oven for a few minutes! You know me! I like cheese on EVERYTHING! We also had Lipton Teriyaki Noodles to go with it. Ava Grace's FAV!

Saturday we were SUPER LAZY! Ava Grace and I watched Cinderella and Snow White Saturday morning and then ate lunch and took a 2 hour nap together! Saturday night we went out to eat with Mamaw Faye and were in the bed by 8:30!

Sunday we went to church, grocery store, ate lunch, and then I took Ava Grace to a birthday party for a cute little boy in her class. After the party she took a nap and I had to wake her up at 5:15pm.

Last night I found another dinner that Ava Grace loves just as much as Chicken Casserole and Spaghetti!!! We had a Chicken/Wild Rice Casserole and she LOVES it!!

Here is the recipe. Sorry I don't have any pictures.. I will make some next time. Pinky Promise.

Chicken/Wild Rice Casserole

Chicken Strips (8-10) or Chicken Breasts (3-4)
2 Cans Cream of Mushroom
1 Box of Uncle Bens Wild Rice

Cook the Chicken in the oven until done. I use the strips because they cook so much faster. I also just put butter and some Italian or Balsamic Vinaigrette dressing on them so they won't get dry. Then cook the Wild Rice in the microwave according to the directions on the box. When your chicken is done - cut it in bite size pieces. Mix together the rice, Cream of Mushroom, and Chicken and cook in the oven uncovered for about 15 minutes on 350.

I served it with Sweet Peas, Fruit, and Rolls.

Let. Me. Tell. You. It was SO GOOD!

Thanks Honey!

My sweet husband has been wanting to gain weight. So... for the past week or so he has been working out and eating a lot more. Do you know what that means? I have been facing A LOT of temptation to eat things that I would really rather eat!!

We LOVE the Blue Bell Peanut Butter Chocolate milkshakes from Jack's - so for 2 nights in a row he has surprised me with one when he comes home from working out! He has gained about 10 lbs and if he keeps bringing me milkshakes I am going to be right there with him!! Last night I made sure that he knew that I really appreciated it... he was just thinking of me and that was really nice!! BUT it will NOT hurt my feelings if you just get a milkshake for yourself and not one for me!!

I am always wanting him to do sweet things for me and surprise me... then he does and I have to turn him down! GEEEZZZ!!

Pour some sugar on me...

Check out Made You Blush for her AWESOME giveaway! It's her 1 year blog-versary!! YAY!! and she has a TON of followers!... So, what does that tell ya?? She has a lovely blog and YOU NEED TO CHECK IT OUT ASAP! It always inspires me to read her posts and she is absolutely beautiful.

She is giving away her daily perfume, Pink Sugar. It smells like cotton candy.... and who does not love the way cotton candy smells?!?! So hop on over to her blog and enter to win!! The winner will be chosen at random on January 23rd!

New Bedding!!

I just ordered Ava Grace's big girl bedding and I am SUPER EXCITED!! Here is a picture of it below!

Life After You

I heart this song... and I don't mind watching him sing it either. ;-)

No Trampoline!!

Ava Grace started back to gymnastics today! The gym has moved and it was really nice! They had lots of new equipment for the obstacle course and she LOVED it!!

The only thing she didn't love is the trampoline. She has never really been a huge fan of the trampoline. At the other gym the trampoline was set in the ground so that it was level with the floor. Well, this one isn't. It is a little higher and she is terrified of it!! She walked across it about 4 times and screamed the whole time. This one mom looked at me and said "Honey, it will be better next week!" I hated to tell her that she has been taking gymnastics for a year now and still does not like the trampoline!! At the other gym they had a big pit of foam blocks - so we would just play in the blocks while the others were jumping. This gym doesn't have the foam pit so we were kinda forced to jump this time. I am sure that with time she will be okay.

She rocked out her forward rolls, beam, and the bars! She did really good on those!

So... what do you think I should do? Should I buy her a trampoline to get her used to it?? I know that sounds a little extreme but I want her to be able to understand that she is going to be okay. Trampolines can be so much fun!! She just doesn't see it yet...

What's for Dinner?

That is what I am asking myself right now. I secretly LOVE getting our meal plan made for the week and then buying the groceries. I don't really love unloading them but God knows I need the exercise - so there.

Usually on Sundays, I take time to write out what we are going to have for dinner each night. Then I make out my grocery list, add the necessities in, and then go grocery shopping while Ava Grace is napping. For different reasons, this Sunday duty has moved to Tuesday this week and I don't have a clue.

Do you ever feel like you cook the same things over and over again? Well, I do. Ava Grace LOVES LOVES LOVES spaghetti, ravioli, baked ziti, lasagna! So I have to do atleast one of those once a week. She also LOVES LOVES LOVES Poppyseed Chicken Casserole! So I have to do atleast one of those a week. I guess I don't really "have to" but I like to see my baby eat - so whatever works. Right?

To try and save money I always look to see what I have in the pantry first and then decide my meals from there. I usually always cook Monday-Thursday night. Friday night we go out to eat or get something to grill and during the weekend we eat sandwiches until I go back to the grocery store on Sunday afternoon.

How do you plan your meals out for the week? Do you have any easy recipes for me to try? What do your kids LOVE to eat?

Love love :-)

Not Appreciated...

That's how I am feeling today.

Love love :-)

Fresh Start...

Don't you just love the beginning of a new year. It gives me a great feeling. I feel like I get to start over in a way. So... let's talk about New Year Resolutions!

I have about 20! Seriously. I do. So - let's go over just a few of them.

1) Okay. Workout 5 days a week. I have really struggled with this one. I know that you should make goals reasonable and 5 days may not seem too reasonable. I contemplated with 4 days - but anyway - I am just going to see how it goes.

2) Lose 10 pounds. Seriously. I really want to do this.

3) Eat Right - more fruits and veggies. I am also trying to cut out dark/colored soft drinks. Only Sprite and Water. NO. SWEET. TEA. (yea - we'll see how that goes!)

4)Go to church every Sunday - (when I am in town of course.) I have to work out of town on the weekends a pretty good bit in the Spring.

5)Keep up our Thursday date night and have more family nights/days.

6)Do more activities with Ava Grace. I feel like when she is at home that we are either leaving to go somewhere, doing things around the house, or sleeping. I want to take out some time and do more special activities with her.

So... there you go! What are your New Year Resolutions? Do you have just one or LOTS like me?!?!