Are we there yet?

Leda beat me to the punch being the first to blog about our Atlanta trip, but thanks to her, I was able to steal some pictures from her bog to put on mine. Thanks, Leda! :)

This past weekend, we went to Atlanta. David's birthday was in July, and mine is next week, so mom bought us tickets to see Les Miserables. It was our third time seeing it, and it doesn't get any less amazing... it was wonderful.

Cameron and I and the kids packed up and met David and Leda at mom's house. From there we drove down to Atlanta where we stayed with my wonderful aunt and uncle, Kimmy and Ken.

Jackson decided he needed to help Daddy pack up the car in the rain. I know that it appears as if my son never wears pants... but he does. He was wearing overalls, and they were just big enough that he could step out of them really easily.

The kids were all ready to go... Caroline wasn't really looking at Jackson, but it looks like it, and it sure is cute. Jackson loves her to pieces, and I know that one day when she knows who he is she will love him too!

He was pretending to be camera shy... I think we all know that isn't true!

Jackson rode down to Atlanta with mom, David and Leda. He loves his "Nanny", "Dabid" and "Deda!"

He also loved their "doddy", Kirby. Kirby wasn't so sure about him, but she was very patient, and Jackson spent as much time around her as she would let him.

Mom and Kimmy watched the kids Friday night giving Cameron and me the opportunity to go to the temple. It was such a wonderful experience and so nice to be there with my brother and his sweet wife. We went out for ice cream afterward... our first date since Miss Caroline was born.

Caroline was a big hit- of course. Everyone loved holding her, and she loved being loved on by everyone. David seemed to have a magic touch with her. She was always content with him.

We went to Les Mis on Saturday afternoon. My wonderful husband (who doesn't like musicals and didn't want to go) stayed home with Jackson and Caroline while the rest of us went to the show. It was fantastic!

While we were watching this:

Cameron was at Kimmy's house watching this:


Since part of the reason for our trip was mine and David's birthday, we had a little birthday celebration. Of course Jackson had to help us blow out our candles.

Jackson LOVED the cake!

We ran into alot of traffic on our way home, but all in all had a wonderful trip.

But seriously...

all this laundry for only a 2 1/2 day trip?

Potato Soup

Super simple and super yummy!!!

I don't use exact amounts of anything, I just throw it all together with enough of everything to make enough soup for us!

Ingredients:

Potatoes
Onion (chopped)
half & half
milk
butter
cheese
bacon

Saute onions until very tender and boil potatoes until they are soft and literally falling apart

Mash potatoes with a potato masher (imagine that) leaving them chunky or lumpy or whatever.

Add half & half and milk until it reaches your desired consistency. Add a few tablespoons butter and some cheese.
Top with bacon bits and cheese (and sour cream if you like it). I always serve it with yummy rolls. We love it!!!

Working at the Car Wash...

Our neighbors, Zack and Lisa, wash their cars atleast once a week. Last weekend Jackson got in on the fun... and fun he had!!!

He takes his car washing very seriously

One Month

My baby girl turned one month old yesterday... how I love her!!!

I can't believe how time has flown by. I feel so lucky to have this sweet girl as apart of our family. She is also lucky to be surrounded by so many people who love her.

Stir Fry

I can't take credit for this one. My friend, Jennie and I were talking about how we get tired of the same old chicken and beef all the time, and she told me about this. We have it every week we like it so much!





Ingredients:



Kilbasa (or smokes sausage if you prefer)

package of stir fry veggies (walmart has them cheap and yummy in several variaties)

stir fry sauce

rice



Cook your desired amount of rice.

Combine your kilbasa and vegetables in skillet until warmed through

pour the stir fry sauce over meat and veggies

serve over rice

Delicious!

Pasta Salad

I love sharing and swapping recipes. Most everything that I make is very simple with very few ingredients. Thats about all we have time time for these days. I figured whenever I make something particularly easy or something we really like, I would post it for anyone else that wants a quick, easy recipe.



Pasta Salad:



Rotini Pasta

cooked shredded chicken

canned, diced tomatoes (I use Rotel because we like it spicy)

your favorite Italian or vinagarette dressing





cook your pasta

add your cooked, shredded chicken

add your tomatoes or Rotel

Pour over dressing. I also add paremesan cheese and Cavender's Greek seasoning (you'll never use regular salt and pepper again)

We eat it hot as soon as its cooked and cold out of the fridge. Its delicious either way!

Yummy

My mom gave me some pictures recently from over a year ago when she and my brother gave Jackson a chocolate ice cream cone.

I thought these were too cute. That must have been one good "guy keem cone" as he calls them now.

This one's for you, mom

My mom called me today and told me she missed Caroline...



I think this picture of the two of them is so sweet, even though you can't really see my mom...

Caroline and her Nanay

Jackson and His Cars

I know that my son likes cars, LOVES cars, but someimes it can be a little rediculous, and very funny.



He has been walking around all week holding and looking at this picture from the little birthday party we had for him when we were in NJ just after his birthday.







Can anyone guess why?



Could it be because he is holding a car in the picture?

Field Trip

Last weekend, we, along with my dad, went to the Children's Museum. Usually places like that really overstimulate Jackson, and he is ready ago after about an hour. That was not the case this time around. After 2 1/2 hours we literally had to drag him out of there so could eat lunch and take a nap. He had a blast!!!

my favorite picture of the day

for a kid who doesn't really like to get dirty, who would have known that the big sand box would have been his favorite part?!

I Have Arrived

Its been done for several weeks, but I would like to show off my new kitchen floor...



Isn't it beautiful?!





If you never saw my old floor, or you don't remember what it looked like, consider yourself lucky!!!



It was not pretty. Think of the most opposite of pretty that you can, and that is what it looked like. I am enjoying this floor so much, and when I say that it shows no dirt, I mean that it shows NO DIRT!!!

Welcome, Welcome

We have had a really neat opportunity to be apart of the organizing of a brand new ward. I have been involved in ward boundaries changing (which didn't affect where I went to church) but never being a part of a new ward of the Lord's church here on earth.


I am always grateful that I am a member of this wonderful church, but I am feeling especially grateful for the knowledge that I have that this church is true - no matter where I go, though the people may be different, the gospel is the same. How bleesed I feel to be apart of it and get to raise me children with the same knowledge.

We are called the Welcome Ward... cute, huh... apparently the only Welcome Ward in the whole church.

By the way... my brother, David and his wife, Leda have started blogging...

www.ledaanddavid.blogspot.com

'Cuz I'm a big kid now

I was running errands last night, and when I got home Jackson came busting out the front door to say hello to me. Before he got to me, though, he saw the "big kids" from the neighborhood playing up on one of our neighbor's hills. He couldn't get up there fast enough. He had so much fun with them and they all doted on him like he was a little baby. He loves his big kid friends.

Big Brothers and Baby Sisters

Jackson loves his "a dady darodine, tute" aka a baby Caroline, cute.

Doesn't he look huge?!