Favorite Picture Ideas

Today on Kelly's Korner "Show Us Your Life", she is talking about favorite picture ideas.  And in my opinion, there is nothing better than simply capturing life!  Not poses, not portraits, but life...the smiles, the laughter, the true emotion of seeing someone truly live in the moment.

When Brant and I got married, we had a wonderful photographer names Julie Robles. (now don't judge that I didn't use my sister because 1, she was my matron of honor and 2, she hadn't started her photography business yet!)  But Julie was wonderful and did amazing work.  But my most favorite pictures that she took were right after the wedding ceremony had ended.  As soon as we walked out of the santuary, she pulled Brant and I aside, and took us into the courtyard.  She said "You have 5 minutes to just think about what just happened.  You're married!  So I want you to take this 5 minutes with each other, and just reflect."  And so we did, but the moments she captured between us are, in my opinion, priceless.  

Scrap-Happy Weekend

We had a really great weekend, did you?  Friday night was the start of college baseball alt DBU.  It was the inaugural game to open the new Horner Ballpark.  It is really beautiful.  I'll try post pictures soon.  With the start of baseball season of course, come the start of my widown-ness!  HA!  I joke, but sometimes that is what it feels like. 

Brant's position at DBU requires that he is at all of the baseball games.  Since the majority of games are weekend, I definitely feel that I am often a single mom during baseball season.  But my husband loves his job, and that it what matters to me! 

With the two of us girls left at home on Saturday, we invited Aunt Cookie and Kate over to play.  It was so great having Kate around because Emmalee adores her.  The two of them played, and played, so Aunt Cookie had a chance to work on some new marketing tools, and I got to scrapbook!!!! I feel like I haven't scrapbooked in ages, but I have got to get caught up on Emmalee's book. 

Here's a few of the pages I got done this weekend.

You might recognize some of these pictures from my post the other day about our day at the park.  I LOVE the way this page turned out!

A Day at the Park

A few weekend ago, Brant's family came for a visit.  We had a great weekend, but Sunday afternoon was certainly a memorable day.  After church, we decided that the day was too beautiful to stay inside.  So we grabbed some sandwiches and made our way to the local elementary school where they have a great playground.  We enjoyed a great afternoon of conversation, which Aeson and Emmalee played until their hearts were content.

WARNING: PICTURE OVERLOAD!

Menu Monday

Ah, its another week and another menu full of exciting culinary concoctions.  Well, maybe that a bit of an exaggeration, but I am trying a brand new recipe this week.I always love trying new things.

Monday:
I am so excited to try this Spicy Sausage Pasta from Lindsey's blog.  It looks so fantastic!  And just FYI - I did ask Lindsey if it was too spicy for lil' one, and she said "no."  She used a mild rotel and both her itty bitties ate it!  I am so ready to try this...can you tell?


Tuesday: 
Lemon Pepper Chicken with homemade mac'n'cheese and roasted brocolli

Wednesday:
Chicken Cacciatore subs (this is always one of my favs!)  I've blogged the recipe before here. 

Thursday:
"Breakfast for dinner" night! Country omelets!  The "county" part is diced ham, bacon, onion, green onion, and lots of cheese topped with some homemade salsa!

Friday: 
Dallas Baptist University's Baseball Opening Night!!!

This is a huge night because its DBU's reveal of the brand new Horner Ballpark.  Since Brant is working, he will obviously be there, so Emmalee and I will happily sitting in our new season-seats!  Row 101 seats 7 & 8!  Unless of course, Emmalee decides that running around the field house is more fun, ha! 

Hope you all had a great weekend.  Up next, a post about the new, fabulous recipe I tried on Saturday!  Its a must-have in your recipe repertoire!

A Growing Girl

I still can't believe my sweet little girl is getting so.  I feel like she's getting a little more independent every day.  I feel like time is flashing before my eyes, and I don't like it.

I want to freeze her.  To bottle her up so I can remember each and every moment of her childhood.  I want her to stay this way forever.

She loves being outside.  Wagon rides is probably one of her most favorite things - ever!  A baby doll or two usually makes the trip with us, and of course she loves to bring Dax along.  

Girl can eat!  I don't think there is anything the child won't eat....notice the plate: sausage, macaroni, green beans, a roll, and she devoured the entire piece of corn on the cob.   And to be honest, I love it!  But her favorite food - ice cream!  The child would eat an entire carton if I let her!

Books, books and more book!  She adores reading.  One of her favorite things is sitting in the rocking chair with a pile of books.  She will read every single one of them.  

I adore this picture.  This puppy has no idea how much she loved him, or maybe he does.  Her first words in the morning are usually for Dax.  If she is laying in our bed, she wants Dax.  When I pick her up everyday from Ms. Donna's, she asks to go home and see Dax.  Oh how she loves him, but I promise you that he loves her just as much.

Em is definitely a little homemaker!  She loves her kitchen and dishes, and playing "momma" to her babies.   I am amazed at the "little stuff" she picks up.  She loves to "tasty" her food (aka season) her food.  She sprinkles all sorts of stuff on it to make it just right.  Wonder where she saw that?  When I walk by her play stove she'll tell me "watch out, it's hot."  I love it - I love that she hears me and understands.  I love that she wants to cook like momma, that she wants to "protect" like momma, that she wants to take care of her babies like momma. 

And here is the attitude - sassy is the word that comes to mind.  As sweet as this angelic face is, it is equally as sassy and ornery...I guess that's my way of knowing she's mine. 

She is my Emmalee Caroline: a momma's girl, but she begs for her Daddy every minute he isn't home; she loves her dolls, her pets, and her food; she has a heart the size of Texas and attitude to match; and she keeps us on our toes, but we wouldn't have it any other way.

Can someone please explain to my why they grow up so fast?  There is no way she will be 2 in a few short months...I just brought her home from the hospital yesterday.

Menu Monday

This week is going to be super crazy, so I wanted a fast easy menu this week, and that's exactly what we have!

Click Here to see all flavors

Monday - Crockpot Red Beans & Rice with Hickory Smoked Sausage

Tuesday - Baked Bacon, Cheddar breaded chicken and sauteed green beans.I make the chicken with these new Kraft helpers and I LOVE them!  They are so easy to use and I just back my chicken at 400 for about 30 minutes.  They have all sorts of different flavors, but the Cheddar Jack Bacon is my fav!!! They make dinner fast, and easy, and are usually around $3, but last my week my Kroger had BOGO FREE! So I got 2 for $3! Can't beat the price!
 
Wednesday - Tacos and nachos! One of life's easiest dinners!

Thursday - Leftovers!  Brant is actually working this night, so I'm sure I'll have left over beans & Rice, or something.

Friday - Pizza at the church

This weekend our church is hosting Disciple Now (DNow), and we have a group of 6 9th grade boys coming to our house.  So Friday night the church is serving everyone pizza, so that's where we'll be.  I have to share a special thanks to several of my tw'iends (Twitter friends) for diving me some good breakfast casserole recipes.  I needed something big but filling for these boys on Saturday morning, and I think I've got just the thing to hit the spot.  I'll let you know how it goes! 

Well I hope you all have wonderful weeks ahead of you - I know I do.