Keepin up with the Taylors...

Finally Friday, 11 weeks!

2011-10-28T07:40:00.000-05:00

Good Morning!

Today marks 11 weeks in the growth of our little gummy bear!

(or fish, according to Griffin)

This week has been much the same as the last 6 or so.

No apetite. Well, I guess I could eat...if anything sounded like it was edible.

So far, ChikFilA has been my saving grace.

I am still losing weight...although I am obviously growing around the midsection.

I have not craved anything except Taco Casa, which is only found in Tuscaloosa.

We happen to be going down this week so I plan to bring some burritos home to freeze!

I must be sleeping pretty well, because I wake up about 15 minutes before my alarm every morning feeling rested and refreshed! I hope that sticks around for a while.

Our next doctor appt is the week of Thanksgiving!

Exciting News!

2011-10-27T13:39:00.001-05:00

Chicken Teriyaki

2011-09-08T10:13:00.000-05:00

Sorry for the absence but things have been busy in the Taylor household.

I just had to post this "recipe" that I whipped up last night.

It had been a while since I had cooked and the hubby had noticed!

I was tired of the same ole same ole so I decided on Chicken Teriyaki and

BOTH of my kids gobbled it up.

Fast and Easy Chicken Teriyaki

One deli roasted chicken from the grocery store

(HEY! I said it was quick and easy right?!)

3 bell peppers, I like color so I used green, yellow, and red

A few handfuls of sliced mushrooms

1 chopped onion

about 1 cup of terkiyaki sauce

1, 8oz can of pineapple chunks WITH juice

a few shakes of garlic powder

about 1/4 cup of flour

I sauteed all of the raw veggies in a little oil until slightly tender then added the teriyaki sauce and pineapple chunks with juice. I may even use a larger can of pineapple next time because we really liked the pineapple. Then chop up some of that chicken and throw it in. Sprinkle the garlic powder over and stir. You could also add some red pepper flakes here if you like spice. Add a little but of flour to thicken the sauce and after it thickens, serve over rice. (I used boil in bag brown rice).

Yum-O!

Have you thought about Christmas Cards yet?

2011-08-30T10:11:00.000-05:00

Goodness GRACIOUS!

It cannot already be time to worry about Christmas Cards....can it?!?!

No worries!

Go check out Belle Announcements and see all of the cute cards they have for 2012!

Also, if you check out her blog...

**she is giving away 25 photo Christmas Cards for one lucky reader**

Happy 6th Birthday Sweet Aubree!

2011-08-17T08:01:00.000-05:00

Six years ago we welcomed this sweet girl into the world.

She has always been a bit of a ham

and definitely a daddy's girl

a little bit of a tomboy

and a lot princess

recently, she has become a little athlete

she is beautiful, and steals the spotlight :)

a little bit diva

and always, my sweet girl....

HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY AUBREE!

LOVE YOU!!

it was beautiful

2011-07-01T10:02:00.001-05:00

my sissy {in law} is married!

(i put the "in law" in parentheses b/c it confuses people if i say my "sister" because i do have a sister her age but i just assume call her my sister and my MIL and FIL my "mom and dad" because they are just like 2nd parents)

anywhoo....

how about less words and more pics...

yea? ok!

All of the centerpieces were different and most of the materials were thrifted!

The wood used was from trees that the 04/27/11 tornadoes knocked down.

The "altar"

These hung around the perimeter of the farm on the wooden fence

Cute decorations, sitting at the front as guests arrived.

June in Alabama, it was HOT! She took care of the guests with refreshing Izzys, tea, Vitamin Water, and other beverages!

Beautiful flowers, all arranged by the talented grandmothers!

Maid of Honor and Matron of Honor, 2 of the 14 bridesmaids :)

Rather than a father-daughter dance, they played bluegrass together...just like when she was a little girl.

and she sang a very cute song while her dad played guitar.

I have never seen a wedding that more perfectly reflected on the bride and groom as this one. It was truly wonderful. I hope they are having a fabulous time in Jamaica!
Bytheway!

This is obviously lacking photos of me+three....I will fix that :) As soon as the photographer gets finished with his editing there will be lots of photos of the flower girl, sleepy ring bearer, Zach and I.

mmmm, blueberries!

2011-06-28T11:10:00.000-05:00

anyone wanna guess how many actually made it in the buckets?

Memorial Day Weekend

2011-05-31T15:31:00.000-05:00

I hope you all had a *marvelous* weekend.

Our Memorial Day weekend typically involves cooking out every night, ~~killing ourselves~~ running a 5k, and swimming at the pool or the lake.

This year, we had pretty much the same plans....until the hubby found a car that tickled his fancy in Miami, FL.

So, next thing I know, we are on a plane to Miami for the weekend with the kids in Tuscaloosa with my mom.

We stayed until Monday and then drove home.

I have to say, I am not super bummed about missing the 5k. I hadn't trained properly and it was a whopping 95 degrees outside. All of the runners that I talked to said it was the worst ever.

I am very thankful to have the opportunity to spend the weekend with my husband for some much needed r&r and I am just as thankful for the men and women who serve/have served to protect us.

Super Yummy Delicious Coffee Punch

2011-05-26T09:20:00.001-05:00

So, last weekend I threw a Lingerie Shower on Friday, a Pampered Chef Bridal Shower on Saturday, and a Tball Party on Sunday.

I think I have crossed the line to completely crazy.

It was good though because I cleaned the house once and got all of the entertaining done in ONE WEEKEND!

(Pics of the parties to come, once they magically jump off of my camera and on to the computer)

I wanted to share a recipe that I used for the Pampered Chef bridal shower.

We had it at 11:00 am so I chose to serve brunch.

I had mini quiche, chicken salad crossiants, fruit salsa and cinnamon chips, and a veggie tray. I also put out the leftover "Friday Pasta" from the night before.

(More on that later.)

I decided to use one of Ms. Fielder's (Brett's mom) recipe for coffee punch at the brunch. It was so good and I learned that it needs to be doubled because we were scraping the bottom of the punch bowl.

(Think Wendy's frosty with coffee....yumm-o)

Teri Fielder's Coffee Punch

1 cup boiling water

1/2 cup sugar

1/4 cup instant decaf coffee (Folgers)

**Mix these together and refrigerate for a few hours**

2 quarts of milk (i used 2%)

1 quart of vanilla ice cream

1 quart of chocolate ice cream

***about 15 minutes prior to serving add milk, ice creams, and coffee mixture to punch bowl***

Remember, I would reccomend doubleing this if you plan on serving more than about 10 people because it is very addicting. Also, don't freak if the ice cream is clumpy when you combine everything. Just use a potato masher and get most of the clumps out. You could also soften the ice cream for about 15 minutes prior to combining ingredients.

Two Month Summary...

2011-05-25T08:31:00.001-05:00

I think it has been an eternity since I last posted and for that I am an enormous loser.

So much has happened lately so this will just be a giant update, with a few pics.

Aubree had a great softball season, which is now over.

Our little LadyBugs were regular season champions!!!

Here are some pics of the next Olympic softball player.

Check out that face--She means serious business!!!

Aubree had a great time this season, made lots of new friends, and learned A LOT!

We are thankful for a knowledgeable patient coach.

****

Next, we had the tornadoes. If y'all don't know about the crazy severe weather then you must have been living under a rock.

April 27, 2011 our state was hammered with deadly storms that killed hundreds of people and one of the deadliest hit less than 200 yards from us.

We were very lucky and only had roof damage and scattered lawn and garden equipment but many were not so lucky.

My boss, for example, lost everything.

They lived in a hotel for two weeks and thankfully, are now in an apartment.

Our entire county and most of the northern part of the state were without power for a week. We did fine though. We combined resources and lived with my in-laws.

They had a big generator and a gas water heater (thank the good Lord).

We kept a generator going at our house to try and keep our freezers cold and our neighbors kept watch on it and kept gas in it in exchange for freezer space.

We ate SO GOOD during our natural disaster vacay....we grilled breakfasts of pancakes and eggs...dinners of pork loin, venison, and veggies - and smoked a ham and a turkey....we even made spaghetti and a fruit cobbler on the grill.

Ham/Pineapple Kabobs, Pork Tenderloin, Ribs, Corn, Twice Baked Potatoes (that I had frozen), and Mac and Cheese

The boys spent the days driving to TN for generator gas, doing relief work, and cleaning up Zach's parents property while I played with Aubree and Griffin and kept them busy. We tried potty training Griffin during our week at home but he was not interested at all.

We had our friends and family over for hot showers and hot meals since we were the lucky ones with the gas heater.

Here are some of the photos we took:

Zach's expression pretty much sums up the helpless feeling we all had.

All of the trees in this photo are part of Zach's family's land. This is how close the monster came to us. Our future home site is just below and to the right of the water tower that you see on the left.

Our neighbors to the south in Tuscaloosa were hit the hardest and had the most deaths- partly because it hit so close to the University of Alabama campus and the people in the 2nd and 3rd story apartments didn't seek shelter elsewhere. If you haven't read THIS ARTICLE from Sports Illustrated, I highly reccomend that you take a moment and do so.

Have some tissues handy.

On a much happier note, Zach's sister and soon-to-be brother in law graduated college.

It was also Meredith's Birthday so the Fielder family invited us over for a barbeque in celebration of the graduates and her birthday. We had a wonderful time.

Zach and I decided to leave Arkansas Saturday after the graduation and drive to Memphis to stay the night. We wanted to take the kids to the Memphis Zoo on Sunday. Our camera battery died on us but we got just a few photos with the trusty iPhone.

We had a great time at the Zoo and I would highly reccomend that if you find yourself in Memphis that you pay them a visit.

I know I have missed a lot but these are just some of the high (and low) points of our life over the last several weeks. I will do my best to try to update more!

i {love} my father-in-law

2011-03-31T10:36:00.000-05:00

folks that marry young

{and marry the guy you dated since the age of 15}

understand me when i say that i dont have in-laws ~ i have 2 sets of parents!

i happen to have an awesome daddy #2 and let me just illustrate one reason why...

********

tuesday around lunch i sent him a link to this
asking if he could make it with his mad woodworking skillz...

found here

annnd....tuesday afternoon

{5 hours later people!}

i get this picture message

how is that for awesome?!

I will be painting and distressing this little baby this weekend..

hopefully i can blog about the finished project next week!

My fireplace needs some help!

2011-03-30T06:30:00.001-05:00

So, from the day we bought our house I have

{hated}

the fireplace.

terrible iPhone photo....dont hate

I don't like the black grout. Who in their right mind would choose black grout?

Zach's grandma says to be thankful because now I don't have to scrub soot off of it.

{like i would have done that anyway} I have considered having it covered with wooden planks painted a neutral color...whatcha think?

Anywhoo, I need to do something with the mantle. I have neglected it since we moved in....just setting pictures here and there and maybe a few candles. I have yet to buy anything specifically for the mantle.

I recently {on a whim} repainted the room. It is this color.

the one with the white sticker on it....thanks Lowes...

So now with the brighter walls and the darker fireplace I think I want a lot of white up there. These are photos I am using for inspiration.

Am I completely off by wanting to use white/light colors?
My fireplace is so much darker than these I am worried the white may be too much of a contrast. Should I stick with oak/wood tones?

I know I want to keep the family photo up there (with a frame of course) and I would like to have a wooden "T" with some pretty scrapbook paper madge podged on it or maybe one of these

heyyyyy batter batter

2011-03-29T07:41:00.001-05:00

Have you ever seen a cuter ladybug?

Aubree's team is now 4-0...woohoo! I told her she didn't know how lucky she is. I went entire seasons without winning 4 games :)

The last two games have been brutally cold. She handled it like a trooper though. Us parents were whining and watching the clock waiting on the 75 min game to be over.

I am downloading video from last nights game now...i'll try and post it later.

Fun Fridays

2011-03-25T08:00:00.001-05:00

HAPPY HAPPY FRIDAY!

Did it seem like the Universe added an extra day to this week for anyone else?

Today, I decided to join Jen over at

A Girl in Pearls & A Boy with Toys

for

This weekend we have nothing, I repeat, NOTHING planned!

Well, Aubree and her Ladybugs are supposed to have a ball game Saturday but since there is a 95% chance of rain according to the local news...I am thinking we may not have that game.

(((The Ladybugs played last night {in the freezing cold} and won 18-12 bytheway)))

I am completely fine with staying in this weekend and cooking meals instead of eating out and catching up on some housework.

xoxo,

in case you missed it....

2011-03-24T10:55:00.000-05:00

i try to remind myself to check out the "blogs of note" tab every once in a while and i am sure glad that i did today because i stumbled accross

fit foodie finds

check it out....

lots of recipes and tricks for healthy living...

i am very interested in the chia seeds post and the blueberry chia sauce for oatmeal...yum.

new read

2011-03-17T11:04:00.000-05:00

I love the Pioneer Woman....it is no secret.

So, of course, when this little baby showed up at my doorstep

I had it finished in like 3 hours!

I would definetly reccomend it. It is a fun, easy read...that makes you remember falling in love with your special someone.

Oh, and there are recipes in the back....amen!

i need some cardigan advice...

2011-03-15T08:00:00.001-05:00

Ok, some of you may not know but I work for a nonprofit organization called

AGAPE of North Alabama.

We are a Christian foster placement and adoption agency. We also offer birthmother services and family counseling.

We are having our Annual Benefit Dinner next Tuesday featuring former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee.

(Click the link if you are interested in tickets!)

i. am. super. excited.

This guy could....maybe....might...be in the running to ~~replace Obama~~ become the next President.

So, of course, I am worried about what to wear.

...and...

I am really not interested in spending any money on a dress, so I think I will rewear this guy.

I need to find a cardigan or light jacket to wear with it though and I am not sure about the color. I am thinking teal? or the coppery brown color?

What do you think?

Our weekend/thank GOODNESS for practice games

2011-03-14T12:37:00.000-05:00

Aubree has started her first season of t-ball and I could NOT be more excited.

I played softball all of my life and loved every minute and I hope she loves it just as much.

She is (of course) the smallest on her team...

..by about 4 inches and 10 pounds..

She definetly holds her own though.

The way they do t-ball now is very cool and I think it helps the kids learn faster.

They get 3 pitches from the coach and if they don't hit those they get 3 swings from the tee....

ohhh, the tee....

Aubree can hit pitches all day long but if you put that tee in front of her its over.

She can't hit off that thing to save her life.

So, Saturday she had a scrimmage game.

We had practiced throwing and catching and hitting with her for over a year now but had never explained the process of playing (hitting, running to 1st, etc..)

We just figured the coaches would go over that in practice and it would be easier for her to learn by doing....not listening.

WELL....She gets up to bat for the first time in the scrimmage game and wacks the first pitch....and stands there....and stands there....and stands there....

all while ~~we are~~ I am hysterically screaming "RUN TO FIRST AUBREE!!!"

She looks at me from the field like "whattheheck is 1st mom!?"

So, of course she gets called out at first.

Next at bat....she fouls off the balls the coach pitches so she has to hit from the tee...

I just buried my head in my hands...this is not gonna be pretty...

low and behold, she hits it off the tea...and ran some squiggly line to first base and due to an overthrow is safe! PHEW! Now she is on base....

Next batter comes up and hits a dinky ball to the pitcher and Aubree runs.....BACK TO HOME PLATE!

Oh, dear...I just cant handle this...

Her coach turns her around and sends her on to second base.

Gladly, her third and final at bat was much less exciting. She got a base hit and made it around to score before the end of the inning.

On our way out of the ballpark we saw a baseball team practing their base running...

we decided to stop and let Aubree take a few pointers...I think she gets it now.

After the practice game we headed over to Josh and Emily's to hang out and have a cookout.

Josh is a master smoker and makes the best SMOKED MEATLOAF...

(yep, you read that right..)

Oh, it was super yum. He also fixed grilled wild duck and grilled corn and I made mashed red skin potatoes and chocolate chip cookies.

Sunday after church....Zach, Gramps (his dad), and Aubree left for Guntersville to do some fishing..and thats the only photo I have for this post...sad, I know.

...more about that here....

so Griffy and I just spent a relaxing afternoon at home watching movies and doing a few chores here and there....all in all it was a wonderful weekend.

Next weekend we have her first real ball game...I will be sure to have pics and videos!

Big Pigs....

2011-03-14T10:32:00.002-05:00

Go check out my Hubby's Blog to read about Aubree's big catch yesterday!

check it out...

2011-03-10T10:11:00.002-06:00

new giveaway over at 'in this wonderful life'

click here to check it out!

check it out...

2011-03-07T16:13:00.000-06:00

My hubby is a blogger now.

Go check out his {not so tall} tales, and such over at...

I'd Rather be Fishin!

I still have to give his blog a makeover and teach him how to use his google reader....

ABC's....boredom

2011-02-25T10:01:00.000-06:00

So, after another week of Griffin being sick with some sort of fever virus/ear infection/sinus infection I think we are all finally on the mend....again!

I am back at work for the first full day this week but managed not to fall behind by coming in and taking work home with me....YAY!

So, since I am a little preoccupied right now here is something I found at Becky's blog to keep me busy.

A - Age: 25

B - Bed size: King
C - Chore you hate: Folding and hanging up laundry
D - Dogs: One, and that's one too many....
E - Essential start to your day: kissing my babies good morning
F - Favorite color: green
G - Gold or Silver: Silver, or white gold
H - Height: About 5'3"

I - Instruments you play: Zero, although I am learning piano as Aubree learns...I can play Mary Had a Little Lamb!
J - Job Title: Admin Assistant/Bookkeeper
K - Kids: 2, Aubs and Griffy
L - Live: Alabama
M - Mom's name: Carla
N - Nickname: None....how boring?!
O - Overnight hospital stays: lots and lots, lived there for a month before Griffin arrived. Check the 2009 blog archives for that ordeal :)
P - Pet Peeve - texting and driving
Q - Quote from a movie: "Sometimes there just aren't enough rocks." Forrest Gump
R - Right/Left: Righty

S - Siblings - younger sister, and sister in law, and soon to be brother in law
T - Time you wake up: 5:30
U - Underwear: scuse me??? yes i wear them?
V - Veggies you dislike: none! love them all!
W - What makes you run late: my husband
X - Xrays you've had: xrays? well, not too many....ultrasounds seem to be my thing...
Y - Yummy food you make: My husband likes my version of Friday Pasta from Tazikis, and I make some mean homemade mac-n-cheese.
Z - Zoo animal: Tigers and Lions...and gorillas....well, all of them. LOVE the zoo.

Toomer's...

2011-02-18T08:19:00.000-06:00

First, a little bit about Toomer's Corner:

The intersection of Magnolia and College streets in Auburn, which marks the transition from downtown Auburn to the university campus, is known as Toomer's Corner. It is named after Toomer's Drugs, a small store on the corner that has been an Auburn landmark for over 100 years.

Hanging over the corner are two massive old-growth oak trees, and whenever there is cause for celebration in the Auburn community, the trees are festooned with toilet paper. Also known as "rolling the corner" or "rolling Toomer's," this tradition is said to have begun when Toomer's Drugs had the only telegraph in the city. During away football games, when employees of the local drug store received news of a win, they would throw the ticker tape from the telegraph into the oak trees to signal a win to the public. Traditionally only used as a way to celebrate football victories, in recent years it has become a way to celebrate anything good that happens concerning Auburn. The Student Government Association worked with the City of Auburn to bring pep rallies on the plains back to Toomer's Corner during football season.
*****

Well, I am sure by now most of you have heard the awful news about the

Poisoning of the Oaks at Toomer's Corner.

If not, click the link and read all about it.

This is very sad and frustrating for a parent who sipped lemonade with her children under those trees last fall...and took her daughter to celebrate after the game for the first time last season.

I know it may seem silly to some to go throw toilet paper in a tree but it is more than that to us. It is a tradition.

I, for one, am all about rivalries. It is half of what makes college football in The South so fun. It is obvious now that with Alabama's National Championship title last year and now ours this year the rivalry is at its highest in history.

Hateful people have come out of the woodworks (on both sides of the ball) and I am not sure that we don't need to take a little break from the Iron Bowl for a few years to cool things off. I just pray that some twisted Auburn fan (face it guys, every school has em') does NOT retaliate against Alabama with some act of equal insanity.

Now, I will leave you with some photos of the oaks, before and after a win.

The Oaks, without evidence of a win.

This one was taken after the National Championship win, during an ice storm.

Happy Valentines Day!

2011-02-14T12:56:00.000-06:00

Happy Valentine's Day ya'll!

Me and my Valentine <3

Hope your day is as great as mine has been!

WeDDiNgs!

2011-02-08T13:28:00.000-06:00

I am So0o0o0o excited!!

My BFF Emily is getting *MaRRiEd* and she has asked me to be her MoH!

(Matron of Honor)

I couldn't be happier.

So, when you are the MoH, your first job is to plan a fabulous bachelorette party right?!

(Well, if that isn't right, just humor me....cause thats what I did)

Guess where us girlies are going in September!

Ohhh yes!

We are headed to Cozumel for a girls weekend!

no boys, no kids.....ahhh!!!

I am so excited I just can't stand it!

**********************

Oh, and I almost forgot!

My sissy-in-law is getting married this summer too and I get to be one of her many bridesmaids!

I couldn't be happier for Meredith and Brett.

I wish I could plan a weekend away for her wedding, but they barely had time to schedule a wedding and honeymoon with their busy school schedules so I know that is out of the question.

Oh, and Aubree is in both weddings as a flower girl so of course she is just beside herself.

Now, time to whip this mama back into shape...there is a lot going on this year and I dont need to be carrying around these extra lbs!

How could I have forgotten?

2011-01-25T15:56:00.000-06:00

I forgot to brag about my new car!

2005 GMC Yukon Denali

'scuse the crappy dealer pictures, i haven't taken any since we bought it

((unless you count being in the background of us playing in the snow))

I LOVE IT!

My hunny surprised me with it and I couldn't be happier.

We had been looking for something new for a while and this model was kind of out of reach because it was at the top of our budget but Zach got a really good deal on it because of some wear and tear on the interior and high mileage.

Face it, we have two kids...we're gonna "ding" up the interior anyway and as far as the mileage goes Zach knows these motors really well and if something happens he can replace it in a weekend for less than $500!

We did take off those sparkly rims, cause I am just not that cool!

Jen is hosting a giveaway...

2011-01-24T08:21:00.000-06:00

...and maybe since ya'll didn't enter mine, you will try for hers.

She is givin' out some good schutff!

So head on over to A Girl in Pearls & A Boy with Toys and check it out!

You have GOT to be kidding me??!

2011-01-24T08:19:00.000-06:00

Seriously?

My feewins are hurt?

NOT ONE SINGLE ENTRY FOR MY GIVEAWAY?

I am just gonna pretend that the internet had an "outage" this weekend and thats why nobody participated.

Oh well, I am gonna take my self to starbucks after lunch with this $15 gift card.

bytheway...

Zach didn't win the lunch with Zac Etheridge that he was hoping to win...boo!

I need your HELP....so I am having a GIVEAWAY!!!

2011-01-21T09:30:00.001-06:00

Ok....so I gotta make this one short and sweet cause time is of the essence.

Zach (my hubs) is in a contest on Facebook to win dinner with Zac Etheridge.

Who is Zac Etheridge you ask???

GO WATCH THIS VIDEO

(((but dont forget the tissues)))

Anywhoo, Zac E. says whoever can get the most people to "like" him on facebook and then "like" a comment you left on his page he will take to dinner after he finishes the NFL combine...how COOL!

So, on to the GIVEAWAY!

WE NEED VOTES! (err..."likes")

The leader is about 60 ahead of us but I think he has tapped out all of his votes!

_________________________

..I am giving away a $15 Starbucks gift card..

Here is whatcha gotta do to enter

**** on facebook, go to http://www.facebook.com/zacetheridge4 and "like" him

then go to http://www.facebook.com/zacetheridge4/posts/10150367549725573 and like (my) Zach's wall post.

That gets you one entry...and you must do this step to be in the giveaway.

Want another entry??
****follow my blog
want another???

****Post a link to my contest on your blog....easy right???

****Want another???

Tweet it, with a link

****Want another???

Post a link on your facebook!

I will draw a winner Monday, Jan 24 mid morning so entries will be taken until 8am CST monday.

PLEASE DONT FORGET TO LEAVE A SEPERATE COMMENT ON MY BLOG TO LET ME KNOW WHAT ENTRIES YOU HAVE

(EX : IF YOU LIKE THE WALL POST, POSTED ON FACEBOOK, AND ON YOUR BLOG...YOU SHOULD LEAVE ME 3 COMMENTS TELLING ME WHATCHA DID)

THANKS!!!!!!!

fine print: Starbucks surely didn't give me a gift card to give away...i will be buying one on my lunch break monday and then heading to the post office to ship it to the winner!

GOOD LUCK!

PS.....WAR EAGLE!

Christmas Day Brunch

2010-12-22T10:02:00.000-06:00

Zach's family has a tradition of Christmas Day Brunch.

It is lovely..we all gather in and open gifts and then have a hearty meal

...and then all crash and take naps until time to eat again!

It really is wonderful.

The only part I dislike is their traditional menu....

"Oysters and Bacon on Toast"

Umm....No Thank You??!??

So, since my first Christmas with the family,

I have tried to find a new recipes to contribute some sort of casserole or bread so that the kids and I don't starve....

This year, The Poineer Woman has really saved me.

I will be making these babies...

Photo taken from "The Pioneer Woman Cooks"

Make ahead Muffin Melts.....

Don't they just look yummy???

Check out the recipe HERE at her website.

What all will be on your Christmas Day menu?

looks like a war eagle sunset to me...

2010-11-30T13:44:00.000-06:00

As you know, we were losing...boy, were we losing...the iron bowl at halftime.

BUT, we started to make a comeback...

and when we did...

the skies parted and the sun (that we hadn't seen all day) came out

....and cast the most beautiful orange and blue sunset i have ever seen....

God loves Auburn...amen!

Dear Hubby

2010-11-30T11:37:00.002-06:00

I have just found what I would like as a Valentines Day or Anniversary gift....

ahem

Hubby, you out there????

"Black Heels to Tractor Wheels"

it comes out in February

Ree Drummond is known as "The Pioneer Woman" and I just love her blog.

Well, now she has finished her book and I am dieing to read it!

(also, those chocolate pearl earrings)

You didn't think I would let you off that easy did you babe???

This Man

2010-11-24T09:09:00.000-06:00

Is a GREAT dad....

has always been an outdoorsman....

knows how to have a good time!

has a little bit of a wild side...

loves me....

....he loves his kids

.....and he turns 28 today! Happy Birthday Zach! I love you!!!!

prayers requested

2010-11-24T08:34:00.000-06:00

Brittany over at "The life of a Steel Magnolia", is going through a very tough time right now.

Her dad (an old teacher of mine) has been battling cancer and they have just called in hospice.

Here is a link to the CaringBridge page.

Brittany, I am praying for comfort and peace for your dad and your entire family. May God's love and warm embrace comfort you in this time of need.

if i had a million dollars....

2010-11-23T13:24:00.000-06:00

i would go crazy and buy every single thing in this store

have you heard of it?

they are located on top of lookout mountain in northeast alabama, and have the most amazing glass you will ever lay eyes on!

oh, my! just look at those babies! ill take one in every single color please!

get this, their products have been featured in several national publications (ever heard of O magazine??)!

they are like the little hidden gem in the mountains of alabama.

they even have classes during the holidays where you can go "blow your own ornament" for $35.

click here to see the schedule. we went last year and had a great time!

ORBIX HOT GLASS DOESN'T EVEN KNOW I EXIST, MUCH LESS THAT I AM BLOGGING ABOUT THEIR GLASS. UNFORTUNATELY, I DIDN'T RECEIVE ANYTHING FOR THIS PRODUCT REVIEW.

I finally decided...

2010-11-22T14:54:00.001-06:00

Family Wall Blue Christmas Card

Make a statement with custom Christmas cards at Shutterfly.

View the entire collection of cards.

boys will be boys

2010-11-22T09:32:00.000-06:00

griffin decided he wanted to learn how to shave this weekend....

...dont worry, no razors involved! just lots and lots of shaving cream!

Help me SHOP for Christmas Cards!

2010-11-18T09:18:00.000-06:00

It's that time of year folks!

I have been browsing Shutterfly all morning searching for the perfect holiday photo card for 2010.

It is SO HARD because there are SO MANY that I loooove! Maybe I could just send two or three to each person on my list???

We have a gazillion pictures from this year PLUS we are planning to have my father in law snap some photos of us this weekend so I knew I wanted one with lots of photos.

I have narrowed it down to these so far, tell me what ya think!

Black for Christmas??? I think so! I love how simple it is.

Oh, brown and green....SOLD! My two most favoritest colors!

Two of the same...again in black? I am a sucker for monogram!

Again, I like how simple these are...and both color and black and white photos would work well!

Oh, I love this one with the b&w photos!

...monogram and polka dots, be still my heart!!!

This makes me wish my last name started with an "E"...look how flippin' cute that "E" is!

Also, check out their Custom Mugs...Zach has requested one of these this year...how sweet!

Ohhh Atlanta....

2010-11-16T14:52:00.000-06:00

(((I hear you callin')))

sorry...i had an alison krauss moment!

exciting news!

zach and i were just GIVEN tickets to watch our tigers play for the SEC championship in atlanta, ga on december 4th!!!

YAY!!!

i also got us tickets to the coaches luncheon on friday, we'll call that his birthday gift!

i can't wait.

we are also going to the iron bowl on nov 26....im gettin' goose bumps just thinkin' about it!

all about us

2010-11-15T15:17:00.000-06:00

{miss southern vol} posted this cute little questionnaire this afternoon and i decided i was just bored enough to join in!

ill call it.....anything and everything you ever wanted to know about zach and alyse...

1. What are your middle names? his-Houston...yep, just like the prez mine-was alyse, now its frasier...big news there...
2. How long have you been together? 10 years...wow
3. How long did you know each other before you started dating? we were in high school...we started "dating" like the second we were introduced...
4. Who asked who out? he asked me...at my cheerleading car wash- so cliche!
5. How old are each of you? he will be 28 next week and i am 25
6. Did you go to the same school? yep

7. Are you from the same home town? yes we are!
8. Who is the smartest? ohh, common sense..me! but he is really smarter at book stuff
9. Who majored in what? Zach - Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, me- didnt finish....slacker...i know!
10. Who is the most sensitive? me duhhh
11. Where is the furthest you two have traveled together as a couple? mexico
12. Who has the worst temper? bah! me....totally

13. How many children do you want? we still havent decided....i think we both know we want more than we have...
14. Who does the cooking? me...not because he cant cook...cause he can i just hate cleaning up after hurricane zachary has been in the kitchen!
15. Who is more social? he is!
16. Who is the neat freak? me!!!

17. Who is the most stubborn? me....
18. Who wakes up earlier? i do...usually
19. Where was your first date? chilis and a movie....pretty ballar for a 15 year old...hahahah!
20. Who has the bigger family? me for sure!
21. Do you get flowers often? i havent lately but he has done well with flowers in the year 2010....
22. How do you spend the holidays? in the car....not by choice....gotta try to make it to see everyone!
23. Who is more jealous? me!
24. How long did it take to get serious? we were teenagers...
25. Who eats more? we both love food equally...
26. What do you do for a living? he works for NASA and I work for a nonprofit doing bookkeeping
27. Who does the laundry? the magic laundry fairy???
28. Who's better with the computer? he is
29. Who drives when you are together? i hate driving...he always drives
30. What is your song? we dont really have one....maybe Stellar...incubus

My Papa, Our Veteran

2010-11-11T07:06:00.001-06:00

Thurman Oliver Frasier

1924-2010

So I havent had the opportunity to make a post about my Papa. Well, scratch that... It is more like, every time I sit down to type it up I feel like words just can't do him justice.

He married the love of his life, had 4 children, 12 grandchildren, 16 great-grandchildren, and 3 great-great-grandchildren. He proudly served his country in WW2. On top of all of that....look at the handsome thing!!! Harry Connick Jr anyone??

Below, is his account of his time in the war...he wrote it back in August of 2004. He didn't forget a single detail of his time in service. Although, as his minister pointed out at his memorial service...remembering wasn't his problem. His problem was that he remembered all too well. He suffered from PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder) in the last years of his life. He would wake up with terrible nightmares. He was reliving the war every single night. Ultimately, a middle of the night fall, after one of these "nightmare" episodes is what killed him. I hope that everyone realizes how serious this condition is and how much we need to help our veterans, old and young.

Now, here is his story....

It has now been almost 62 years since I received my notice from Uncle Sam that I had been selected. A few days after that I was on a bus headed for Fort McClellan, AL, which at that time was an induction center. At the induction center they had desks set up where you could sign up for the Army, Navy, Marines or Coast Guard. Another person, William McBride, was inducted at the same time as myself and he tried to get me to sign up for the Navy but I told him I had rather keep my feet on the ground so we both signed up for the Army. In a few days we were loaded on another bus headed for Camp Wheeler, Georgia, which was at that time an Infantry Training Camp.

We were all lined up and sworn in and then received all of our clothing and training gear. We were escorted to our barracks and shown where everything was, our bunks, mess hall, latrine, issued sheets, blankets and pillows. The next morning we heard the bugle and the Sgt. came in and told us to rise and shine and fall in outside. After breakfast, we started some of the most grueling training anyone could receive. I began to get used to this after a few days and later I was in the best shape I have ever been in my life. They issued us all 03 rifles and we had to keep it clean at all times and it was inspected every day. We were sent to the rifle range pretty often and one day we would pull targets and the next day we would fire at the targets. They gave us an aptitude test to see what we were best fitted for. It so happened that I was assigned to the radio school. I had to learn a phonetic alphabet, like a (able), b (baker), c (Charlie), and etc. I also had to learn the Morse Code but not by dots and dashes but by sound like Di Da for A, Da Det Dit for B, and etc. We also had to train with a coding machine. Our radio to start with was a field radio, which was a 284. With this radio each person would generate the power and the other transmit. We would take turns doing this. We also trained with a 193 radio by using voice and C.W.

After we completed our training, we rode a train to Camp Chenango in Pennsylvania. We were there a short time and then went to a port in New York. We were loaded on a ship which was a luxury liner converted into a troop ship. We had no idea where we were going. After we were out to sea a few days, they told us we were headed to North Africa. We were out at sea quite some time as German submarines were chasing us and we had to zigzag back and forth for quite a while. We also ran into bad weather and they had to fill the ballast tanks on the ship and there was a lot of seasickness.

The first land that we saw was when we went through the Straight of Gibraltar. We finally landed at Oran in North Africa. The cities were not very clean and neither were the Arabs. There was a lot of sand, hot and very few trees, which were mostly palms. While there, I was in Tunisia, Bezerte and Mature. We were not there very long. Afterwards, we were loaded on cattle cars and went to another port of embarkation, loaded on a ship and headed for Salerno in Italy. From the ship we were loaded on L.C.I's and went in as close to land as we could and waded water up to our heads with rifles over our heads. At this time though they were M1 rifles instead of 03s.

I did not go in with an outfit; I was an infantry replacement at the time when I was assigned to an Artillery outfit, Hq Bty 6 Corp Arty, as a radio operator. We went from Salerno to Casino where we were stalemated as the Germans were holed up in a monastery and they did not want to destroy the monastery. We were there for some time and they pulled us back to another port of embarkation and we made a landing at Anzio in Italy. We were on the beachhead for quite some time and the Germans were looking down on us all the time that we were there. We stayed in wine cellars most of the time as we were being shelled with artillery most of the time. A lot of the shelling was with a gun that was named Anzio Annie. They had tried many times to locate this gun. Finally, they sent up cub planes and they spotted it by the flash of the gun, the sound, and how far it traveled. The gun was located in a railroad tunnel on cars and the recoil would push the gun back into the tunnel when fired. They sent planes up and bombed the tunnel at both ends and sealed the gun up.

Most of the time at Anzio I would be attached to other outfits. The Indian Gurkas for a while. I found out that when these Gurkas pulled their knives they had to bring blood with them. That if they showed it to you they would have to cut themselves. I was also attached to a Scottish outfit, the 80th medium regiments. We would also draw their rations. Every night when they went on guard duty, they would get a shot of rum and so would we. During the day we had to listen to bagpipes and they all wore their kilts and pranced up and down. One night the Germans dropped a bunch of paratroopers and we had to hunt them down all night.

One day we were watching the Italians dig holes in their grape vineyards and bury their wine flasks. And when they left, we'd go dig them up. Needless to say, we had all the red wine we could use for a while. We had to go into our outfit to get our new SOI signal operations instructions and we were caught in an artillery barrage and we all jumped out of our weapons carrier and ran for a wall to hide behind. It was at this time I was hit on the hand with shrapnel. We stopped at a field hospital and they dressed my hand. I was told to report it when I arrived at our outfit. I made a mistake and did not turn it in.

We finally moved out from the beachhead and were on our way to Rome. It took some time to get there but we finally did. After we were there for a while I went into Rome to sightsee, but I got lost and wandered around all night trying to find my way back to our outfit. I was supposed to be manning the radio but someone else had to fill in for me. Another time I went into Pompeii to look at the ruins there. Also I walked around the ruins of the coliseum. We were in a little town called Bagnolia and I got to see Mt. Vesuvius when it erupted. I believe this was in 1944 but I'm not sure.

At one time we set up our radio car on top of a mountain where there was a big monastery so that we could cover more distance. You could look out below on Sunday and see the people walking up the mountain to mass. They would be strung out below the mountain. They had several kids there that were training to be monks or something and they would wait on us hand and foot. When we were ready for a meal, we had to walk through a tunnel in a mountain to get to a place to eat. Monks there blessed the cross and gave all four of us one. I have no idea what happened to it and I don't remember the name of the town that this was in.

Not too long after this, we were back with our outfit heading for another port of embarkation; this time for southern France. We landed there at the same time as the Normandy invasion. We didn't meet too much opposition at this landing. They had a lot of fake artillery guns made out of logs and a few machine gun nests.

We made our way into Paris after some time and they sent us to the rest camp for a week. But before this they carried us to a place where we had to strip off our clothes and be de-liced. They gave us all some new clothing and we spent a week in Paris. One thing I did while in Paris is that we went to the top of the Eiffel Tower and I took a leak off of it. After this, we went all the way through France and to Germany and then to the German Alps and then to Austria. I did get to see the place in Ensbrook, Austria, where they hold the Winter Olympics. After the war ended, I played on a softball team and traveled all over Germany. Finally, it came time to leave Europe and head home. And again we went to a port of embarkation. The Merchant Marines went on strike at that time and we had to stay there quite some time before we could come home.

When we did get back in the states, we were at Camp Kelmo, New Jersey, and we were on our way home.

Something to add on: While in France, eight of us were lost in a snowstorm. We tried to get some military police (MPs) to lock us up but they would not think of this. We finally found an old farmhouse and an old gentleman who was a very big man, 300 lbs. or so. He took us in and I wound up sleeping in bed with him. The others slept on the floor. When we finally got back to our outfit, they were ready to put us down as missing in action.

The first night that we landed on the beach at Anzio, 25 or so heavy German bombers flew over where we were. It seems that they waited until they got into the middle of the beachhead and opened fire on them. I've never seen as much antiaircraft fire and tracer bullets as they put up. The sky was lit up and the planes were going in every direction. One of the planes fell about 100 yards from where I was on duty that night. The next morning, I went out to look at the spot where it fell. You could only find a few small pieces of the plane and there was a hole big enough and deep enough to put several army trucks in it. This happened some where in Germany.

One day while I was not on duty I went out with the wire section to help them put in some telephone lines that had been knocked out with artillery. I looked up and saw a soldier coming from the front lines as we were very close to them. And I was very surprised to find that it was someone that I knew from Huntsville. It happened to be Humpy Owens. We became very close after the war ended and we played softball against one another. After we got back home, we made several hunting trips together in the bottomlands of the Tennessee River. On one trip, I lost my watch that was self-winding. At that time snow was on the ground. We went back a week later and I found the watch and it was still running. Probably because the snow melting and it kept the watch in motion was the reason that it was still running.

I started my Army service as a private, at $50 a month, and ended my service time three and a half years later as a corporal. I don't remember what my corporal pay was. From my pay, I made an allotment to my parents. The government contributed some to the allotment, at least 50/50, if not more.

Before I was drafted, I had finished my junior year of high school. When I came back from the Army, I decided to take advantage of the GI Bill and finish school. I returned to Rison School to the 12th grade. Probably because Mr. Fain had been in WWI, he told me that if I needed to walk around or go out and get a cup of coffee that would be all right. I guess he told the teachers because when I'd get up to leave during a class the teacher didn't say anything. I graduated in the class of 1947.

The date is totally wrong on this photo...It was Thanksgiving last year.

The day he finally got to meet Griffin...Papa couldnt see him in the NICU because he couldnt walk that far.

Cool Freebies

2010-11-10T07:29:00.001-06:00

I am a list person.

I like to have a list that I can mark things off of.

Maybe its the sense of accomplishment....who knows?

Well, until now...my lists have been scribbled on any ole scratch paper...not anymore!

My fridge will be covered with super cute meal plans, grocery lists, and chore lists!

Head on over to the Executive Homemaker...

there are lots of very useful, cool, {free} downloadable (is that a word?) files.

Check out the :::neighborhood phone list:::

or the :::holiday gift list and budget worksheet:::

or the :::strawberry jam printable labels::: {complete with recipe!}

there is so much more too...check it out!

Soccer

2010-11-06T08:16:00.001-05:00

We survived Aubree's first year of soccer.

She even scored a goal at one of her games! This is quite the accomplishment considering she "played up" a division, meaning she was the only one who had never played an organized sport...not to mention the size difference in her and the other girls. It took three of her steps to equal one of theirs!

The Yellow Sunflowers....how intimidating....
(Aubree hated the name, she wanted to be the Yellow Fire Dragons)

Shorty, in the middle!

She had a great time and I am sure she wants to play next season. She proudly hung her "Gold Medal" above her bed.

Now we start music lessons after Christmas, possibly gymnastics, and definetly tee-ball in the spring....phew!

haters gonna hate....

2010-11-05T10:16:00.000-05:00

sorry, i just COULD NOT resist the title for this post...

this post, is in regard to a certain school here in the state of alabama,

this school, has a football program...

that i kinda love,

and they have this player that is so amazing,

the kinda guy who wins a hiesman trophy,

and helps take his team to the national championship...

you kinda want to hate him if he doesn't wear your school's jersy.

which means,

he has a big fat TARGET on his back...

ooooh, man...the drama.

so... its no secret that espn.com broke a story about dinnertime last night

stating that "someone" on behalf of the Newton family had requested $180,000 from Mississippi State during the recruitment of Cam Newton.

This "someone" also said that there were other schools who had offered $200,000.

In case you didn't know, this is a no-no in the world of NCAA football.

Lets consider our sources...

"Someone (as named above)"- Kenny Rogers - an ex MSU football player who now runs a scouting agency based out of Chicago to match High School players with proscpective colleges. He is under investigation with the NFL players association and the NCAA because of his association with Chicago-based agent Ian Greengross.

Dan Mullen: Head coach at MSU and former Offensive Coordinator at Florida. They wanted Cam....and they didnt get him. We did. Not hard to find the sour grapes in this story.

John Bond: The former MSU player...who got the info from Rogers, and then fowarded it to MSU athletic directors (does this sound ridiculuos yet). John Bond is a native of Northport, AL...hmm...do we know of another state school located in Northport who might wanna get Cam off our team before a certain Black Friday this Fall???? John Bond was doing a favor for the home team by sending this info over...wheather he is alumni or not.

Urban Meyer: What??? He coaches at Florida...how in the world??? Well, lets see. Meyer (who worked with Mullen during his time at Florida...and while Cam was at Florida but riding the bench because they had Tebow at the time) urged Mullen and Bond to release the story to the media. Mississippi State’s coach Dan Mullen is Meyer’s protege. Meyer's motivations to get this story out to the media (regardless of how many holes in it) are ego-driven.

I could be wrong. Cam Newton could be a money hungry punk who got his pay on before the season began. I just really dont think that is the case. I dont think Auburn University is dumb enough to fork over any amount of money for any player. Auburn says they knew about this months ago...launched their own investigation and found zero wrongdoing. Let's hope they are right.

Let's also throw any hopes of Cam winning the Heisman Trophy out the window...cause after the Reggie Bush scandal...they don't want another "black eye" added to the award. Even if Cam is cleared...he wont get the trophy that he deserves....the voters will find someone else.

Thoughtless Thursday...

2010-11-04T09:36:00.000-05:00

WANNA PLAY? Go to Katie's blog and link up...oh and steal this cute little button!

My thoughtless thursday is completely thoughtless....except for

WAR EAGLE!!!

Don't feed my baby to that mean ole football player!

The Holy Grail....Bo's Heisman!

mmm...staduim food!

Last year, on the field for A-Day.

my {little} big girl...

2010-11-04T08:16:00.000-05:00

i voted....

2010-11-02T13:15:00.000-05:00

did you????

Happy Halloween

2010-11-01T13:16:00.001-05:00

This is gonna be short and sweet....

...and full of pictures

(cause I know that's how ya'll like it)

Thoughtless Thursday...

2010-09-02T19:09:00.000-05:00

This week, I decided to join Katie over at

Life in the Fulmer Lane

in her weekly

basically, you just post any ole' photo (or ten) that you have been forgetting to share and tell us all about it!

easy right?

We will call this one...GRIFFINS LOVE TO HIDE IN PLACES HE SHOULDNT...

Y'all join the fun!

Go to Katie's blog and follow the instructions to link up to Thoughtless Thursday and steal that cute lil button too!

First Day of School!!

2010-08-11T11:17:00.000-05:00

Check out the big girl!

She was so excited!

first day essentials

sketchers twinkle toes...check

glittery silver tunic...check

stretchy black leggings...check

she RAN to the front door!

we got there early, so we had to wait

so i snapped a quick photo with my big girl...

We found her classroom...

...and her locker...

...she politely asked us to leave...

...and she went back to investigate her locker...

and probably had one of the greatest days of her whole, entire, almost 5 year long life!

We shall see...ill post an update after I pick her up at 2:30!

2010-08-10T16:01:00.001-05:00

The outfit is chosen (after much debate) and the backpack is packed -stay tuned---our little girl starts kindergarten tomorrow!!!

a quarter of a century

2010-08-05T08:36:00.000-05:00

happy birthday to me!!!!!!!!

maybe my car insurance will go down today :)

....and the winner is....

2010-08-05T08:35:00.000-05:00

.....drumroll please.....

Melissa Scopes!

Congratulations!!!!

You are the winner of the $25 Belle Announcements gift certificate

and a set of ten cupcake thank you cards!

Melissa, contact me!!!

alysetaylor{at}hotmail{dot}com

so I can pass your address along to Liv at Belle Announcements.

The drawing was done by http://www.random.org/

...giveaway...

2010-08-02T08:39:00.001-05:00

Only 4 entries???

C'mon guys?

I am gonna go down to the beach...

(did i forget to mention that i am at the beach?? cause i am!!)

...and when i come back, all tanned and covered in sand, i wanna see more entries!

Here are the ways to enter:

*visit Belle Announcements and tell me how you would spend your $25

*become a follower

*post a link to the giveaway on your facebook status
*"like" them on facebook

*post a link to the giveaway on your blog

DONT FORGET TO LEAVE A SEPERATE COMMENT FOR EACH ENTRY!

love ya'll!!!

2010-07-29T19:29:00.003-05:00

seperate entries!

Good Luck!

2010-07-29T19:29:00.001-05:00

because I love y'all........

Go ahead and take another entry if you post a link to the giveaway on your blog.

Don't forget, seperate comments for

.::GiVeAwaY::.

2010-07-29T15:21:00.002-05:00

Y'all know how much I like to review stuff right?

Remember "Alyse's Favorite Things" back when I was trying to not have a baby in the hospital a little over a year ago...

Well, you MUST check out Belle Announcements!

It is sooo cute and high quality.
She uses real liquid ink and only quality 110 lb cardstock.
She can change color, text, and graphics on the designs to match your party theme!
Best part....NO UPGRADE FEE!

The stuff is all todiefor!

Especially, the new cupcake party invitation.

how stinkin cute??

I can see it now...these cute little invites, GiGi's cupcakes, and these cute little thank you cards!!

Oh!

Speaking of thank you cards....

How about that giveaway??

The Giveaway is:

A set of (ten) 110 lb linen cardstock

Cupcake Thank You cards

*PLUS*

a $25 gift certificate.

Here is how to enter:

Head over to Belle Announcements, check out the goodies, then come back and tell me what you would use your $25 gift certificate for.

INCREASE YOUR ODDS OF WINNING!!!

If you do the above mandatory entry, then you can also use the following ways to enter:

(1) Follow my blog

(2) "Like" Belle Announcements on Facebook

(3) Post a link to this giveaway on your Facebook status.

Please leave a separate comment for each entry. I will number the entries and draw a winner.

This contest is open to US residents and will run through 11:59 CST August 4th.

I received product samples in exchange for my honest review.

2010-07-29T09:55:00.001-05:00

Giveaway!!!!!

Coming later today :)

updates, excuses, etc.... ((Giveaway coming SOON!))

2010-07-23T19:32:00.002-05:00

Ok, first and foremost I am sooooo sorry!

Ya'll, I haven't been blogging - but let me just say I have missed it so much!

I had a little bad luck in the J-O-B department and got laid off-

(((anyone hiring???)))

(its all good, I'm sure the big guy upstairs will help a sister out)

s0o0o0o we had our cable and internet turned off to save some moolah--

(now don't go feelin all sorry for me, i do have an iPhone so I am still connected to the world wide web)!

thankgoodness

Which means----

I still have been reading all of your awesome blogs

...thanks to a certain app...

and I check it like 4 times a day!

I need to say a quick and HUGE congrats to one of my oldest friends,

Becky over at "The Details are in the Fabric".

She got mawwied, and let me just say she was a gorgeous bride!

gorgeous...AND LUCKY,

she had a 2 week honeymoon is PARIS.

Really? That happens? Go check out her blog, you can read all about it!

Ok, second....

Griffin is like walking...

and talking

....his favorite words are

yogurt

mine

Aubwa (Aubree)

more

boat

mama

bible

fish

cow

moo

There are way more but this post will be long enough.

Those are just the cutest ones.

Get This!!!

Aubree is starting school in like 2 weeks!!

Nope, not preschool...real school

...like Kindergarten!!

Am I the only one that thinks this is completely impossible??

My baby is not a baby anymore.

I think I will just eat lunch with her every single day...

it's not like I have to go to work or anything right???

That may be a bad plan, I am sure school cafeteria food ain't good for the 'ole diet!

-----speaking of diet----

I have not been doing great.

I don't know if it is the busyness of summer, or the heat...but I am completely unmotivated!

I am stuck at a 20 lbs lost plateau.

MOTIVATE ME Y'ALL!

(just kiddin' that's not your job, i know)

..but seriously, i need to lose about 30 more so I gotta get a move on!

Lets See....

Zach is working on his masters degree. Yay, go him!

I am so proud of him. He is doing great.

He is recovering from his knee surgery well..

he says he HAS to be ready for intramural football at ~~UAH,~~

scuse me,

UAHuntsville, this fall.

Oh, I did the cotton row run (5k) again!

(Memorial Day 2010)

I beat my goal!

I wanted to run it in under 40 minutes and my official time was 38.29!

I figure if I can increase each 5k by 30 seconds ill be under 30 minutes in NO TIME!

HA!

I guess that about does it...

I hope to be getting a new camera for my birfday-

ahem, august 5, the big 25!

A QUARTER OF A CENTURY!

(((anyhoo, maybe if that happens, i'll have some non-iPhone pics to post)))

2010-07-22T21:06:00.001-05:00

Lookie Lookie!!!

I'll be doing a giveaway in the next day or so! Think of it as a peace offering for abandoning the bloggy here lately!

2010-07-21T15:37:00.001-05:00

Just testing my mobile blogging capabilities....don't mind me :)

FREE meal planner

2010-07-21T15:18:00.000-05:00

Look!!!

The Executive Homemaker has shared a free printable meal planner.

Head on over and check it out!

My Little Ballerina

2010-05-19T11:55:00.000-05:00

Little Aubree.

Ever wonder why we call her little Aubree?

See the tiny one??? She is mine.

She is the same age as those other girls.

i won!

2010-05-19T11:39:00.000-05:00

Yall check out this new store that my friend Jamie has started.

It's called Jillians Closet, named after her little cutie.

Well, she did a giveaway for a free name/inital shirt and I won!

Check her out on Facebook

or her Etsy store.

Gardening!

2010-04-29T19:52:00.000-05:00

So, this year we have decided to try our hand at gardening.

We have planted:

Cucumbers

Yellow Squash

Zucchini

Peppers

Cabbage

Tomatoes

Green Onions

I will post some pictures of the little baby plants once they are visible to the naked eye.

Aubree made little signs to show what is planted in each row

...its the cutest thing!

I absolutely cannot wait to be able to go pick dinner from the backyard....yummm!

Progress

2010-04-29T19:46:00.000-05:00

I have now lost 20 pounds!

Yay!

This is me in November 09

Can you count the chins??? EEW!

This is me now!

(((Ignore all the junk in the background...thats the "fat" clothes I am getting rid of)))

YAY!

A-Day

2010-04-29T19:38:00.000-05:00

We got to go to A-Day again in Auburn this year.

This post, like most, is just better summed up with pictures.

No day at the stadium is complete without a hotdog!

This is the most photogenic child on the planet!

We never managed to get a full family pic...just all of us in bits and pieces!

Zach with Bo Jackson's Heisman Trophy...he was GIDDY when he saw it!

Zach with Cameron Newton's locker. (Our starting QB this year)

The Dress

2010-04-03T08:43:00.001-05:00

Ok, people have been asking me about the dress and tights Aubree wore in the pictures I posted recently.

My mother in law found it on a recent ski trip at a shop in Ogden, Utah called Little Cherry Blossoms.

They do have a website here but I couldnt find the dress and tights on there.

Note: She also got Griffin's little necktie there.

ToDieFor!

Photo By Apryl Murphy

New Header

2010-04-03T08:36:00.002-05:00

You like?

Griffin is ONE!

2010-04-02T11:07:00.002-05:00

and check out these A-MA-ZING photos by the fabulous Apryl Murphy.

Please dont hate me :)

2010-04-02T10:54:00.000-05:00

I know, I know...I have been MIA for like....forever.

I had good reasons, I promise!

Anyway....I am going to try to be better, TRY being the keyword here.

I have some good stuff to talk about.

Looking Back

2010-01-06T14:33:00.002-06:00

Looking back.....

Ok, this is completely inspired by one of the blogs that I ~~stalk~~, err....read daily.

Becky, over at "The Details are in the Fabric" posted this, and I thought it was such a great idea I decided to join in.

Here is my decade in review!

2000

1. I began my sophomore year in high school and was 15.
2. I met Zach....((wow. 10 years ago.))
3. I got my first car. Yes, I got a car at 15.

2001

1. I turned 16.
2. I wrecked that new car, 2 weeks after I turned 16. Grrr..
3. Zach graduated from High School and I had no idea how I would be able to finish without him, hahaha.
4. Zach got in a horrific car accident in June. He broke his hip and his tailbone. After surgery and an artificial hip he recovered fully. Thank goodness!
5. I started my first job as a receptionist after school at a veterinary clinic.
6. Zach and I broke up so he could leave town for college. He ended up staying here...although we didnt get back together for some time.
7. I started dating a new guy.

2002

1. New guy and I broke up.
2. Went to Disney with my friend Jessie and my parents.
3. This was probably my least favorite year....ever.

2003

1. Zach and I got back together.
2. I graduated High School and started College.
3. I had a major surgery after graduation.
4. I made lots of new friends and lost lots of old ones.

2004

1. I was still in college.
2. I moved in with Zach in December.

2005

1. I found out I was pregnant Jan 3rd.
2. I got married Feb 19th.
3.I started a new job at HomeTown Lenders in June.
4. My baby girl was born in August.
5. We started looking for our first home.

2006

1. We bought our first home in April.
2. Zach stopped working at Teledyne and started working at UAH while finishing his degree.

2007

1. I got a promotion at work.
2. Zach and I took a cruise to Mexico.
3. I started taking classes again.
4. We decided we wanted to have another child, so we started planning for that.

2008

1. Zach graduated from college, finally!
2. We took a cruise with friends to celebrate.
3. Zach got hired at NASA.
4. Became pregnant with Griffin in July.
5. Found out the pregnancy was not going to be easy, due to placenta previa.
6. Aubree started taking dance lessons.

2009

1. I started off the new year in the hospital with pregnancy complications.
2. I spent the next 2 1/2 months in and out of the hospital.
3. My son was born Feb 16...7 weeks early.
4. I left the hospital, without him, on our wedding anniversary....Feb 19th.
5.After 2 weeks in the NICU he came home March 3rd.
6. I started working part time from home to keep the kids home with me and out of daycare.
7. In June we took our first vacation as a family of 4.
8.In August, I turned 24.
9.In November, Zach turned 27.
10. We had our first Christmas as a family of 4.

Wow, so much has happened in 10 years!!! I am so blessed!

TeN MoNtHs

2009-12-17T15:07:00.000-06:00

Griffin is 10 months old now!!

I can't believe how fast this time has gone.

He is such a sweet little guy, and definetly a mama's boy.

I love it!

He is definetly on the move these days. He pulls up and climbs on everything.

He somehow manages to get himself stuck underneath tables and chairs constantly.

He is learning to express his emotions very clearly. For instance, when I change his diaper and there is something he thinks he should be doing instead....he will ball his fists up and scream at me.

Not cry, but scream! It is so funny but sort of scary at the same time.

I also love that I can start planning his birthday party! I am thinking about a country boy theme.

I ran across the coolest Mossy Oak brand table cloths, plates, etc. online.

I guess you have to be from Alabama for this to be appealing. ha!

I am working on ideas and taking suggestions for a camoflauge cake.

The ones I have found searching Google Images arent very appealing.

I also considered a "dirt cake".

(((((Crushed up oreos and frosting??? Um, yes! thank you!)))))

Anyway, since my 9 months post was only a week or so ago...there isnt much more to update.

Only a week til Christmas! WooHoo!

the kid that doesn't grow

2009-12-15T13:21:00.000-06:00

2007

2008

2009

What do all of these photos have in common?

I'll give you a hint.

It's brown.

That's right. Aubree has worn the same cute little Baby Gap coat for 3 years now! My kid is for sure economical when it comes to clothing.

Although she has grown "on paper", you would never know it by looking at her wardrobe!

The sleeves are getting short so I guess this will be the last year for the precious coat.

It is bittersweet!

9...almost 10 months!

2009-12-07T18:50:00.002-06:00

I completely forgot to post a 9 month update on Mr.Griffin.

My Baaaad.

He is doing lots of new things!

For starters, he started to crawl on his 9 month birthday.

Coincidentally, the same day I broke my foot and became immobile!

Perfect right???

He started pulling up on furniture......the next day.

I was like, ok, this is too much......

lowandbehold....

he sprouts a tooth that very afternoon

(((and another one since then)))

Phew, I cant keep up with this kid.

So far he can say: mama, dada, baba, bite bite,
uh oh (my favorite), and bye bye.

i realize all of these sound the same from the mouths of babes...

but you can SO tell that he means different things when he says it.
I have lots of new photos, but i cant find the cord I need to upload them. I will soon though, I promise!!!!

another art class...

2009-11-20T13:28:00.000-06:00

...and another great night out with Emily!

Here is what I painted last night.

I am addicted.

Rolling on the FLOOR!

2009-11-17T14:56:00.000-06:00

I got this email this afternoon and I just HAD to share it.

This does hit close to home.....

A WOMAN'S WEEK AT THE GYM
Dear Diary,

For my birthday this year, I purchased a week of personal training at the local health club.

Although I am still in great shape since being a high school football cheerleader 43 years ago, I decided it would be a good idea to go ahead and give it a try.

I called the club and made my reservations with a personal trainer named Christo, who identified himself as a 26-year-old aerobics instructor and model for athletic clothing and swim wear.

Friends seemed pleased with my enthusiasm to get started! The club encouraged me to keep a diary to chart my progress.

________________________________

MONDAY:

Started my day at 6:00 a.m. Tough to get out of bed, but found it was well worth it when I arrived at the health club to find Christo waiting for me. He is something of a Greek god-- with blond hair, dancing eyes, and a dazzling white smile. Woo Hoo!!

Christo gave me a tour and showed me the machines... I enjoyed watching the skillful way in which he conducted his aerobics class after my workout today. Very inspiring!

Christo was encouraging as I did my sit-ups, although my gut was already aching from holding it in the whole time he was around. This is going to be a FANTASTIC week!!

________________________________

TUESDAY:

I drank a whole pot of coffee, but I finally made it out the door. Christo made me lie on my back and push a heavy iron bar into the air then he put weights on it! My legs were a little wobbly on the treadmill, but I made the full mile. His rewarding smile made it all worthwhile. I feel GREAT! It's a whole new life for me.

_______________________________

WEDNESDAY:

The only way I can brush my teeth is by laying the toothbrush on the counter and moving my mouth back and forth over it. I believe I have a hernia in both pectorals. Driving was OK as long as I didn't try to steer or stop. I parked on top of a GEO in the club parking lot.

Christo was impatient with me, insisting that my screams bothered other club members.. His voice is a little too perky for that early in the morning and when he scolds, he gets this nasally whine that is VERY annoying.

My chest hurt when I got on the treadmill, so Christo put me on the stair monster. Why the hell would anyone invent a machine to simulate an activity rendered obsolete by elevators? Christo told me it would help me get in shape and enjoy life. He said some other crap too.

_______________________________

THURSDAY:

Butt hole was waiting for me with his vampire-like teeth exposed as his thin, cruel lips were pulled back in a full snarl. I couldn't help being a half an hour late-- it took me that long to tie my shoes.

He took me to work out with dumbbells. When he was not looking, I ran and hid in the restroom. He sent some skinny witch to find me.

Then, as punishment, he put me on the rowing machine-- which I sank.

_________________________________

FRIDAY:

I hate that jackass Christo more than any human being has ever hated any other human being in the history of the world. Stupid, skinny, anemic, anorexic, little aerobic instructor. If there was a part of my body I could move without unbearable pain, I would beat him with it.

Christo wanted me to work on my triceps. I don't have any triceps! And if you don't want dents in the floor, don't hand me the darn barbells or anything that weighs more than a sandwich.

The treadmill flung me off and I landed on a health and nutrition teacher. Why couldn't it have been someone softer, like the drama coach or the choir director?

________________________________

SATURDAY:

Satan left a message on my answering machine in his grating, shrilly voice wondering why I did not show up today. Just hearing his voice made me want to smash the machine with my planner; however, I lacked the strength to even use the TV remote and ended up catching eleven straight hours of the Weather Channel..

________________________________

SUNDAY:

I'm having the Church van pick me up for services today so I can go and thank GOD that this week is over. I will also pray that next year my husband will choose a gift for me that is fun-- like a root canal or a hysterectomy. I still say if God had wanted me to bend over, he would have sprinkled the floor with diamonds!!!

It's Veteran's Day

2009-11-11T13:34:00.000-06:00

God bless our country and those who protect it!

Major. League. Yum.

2009-11-09T11:07:00.001-06:00

Last night Zach and I cooked dinner together.

We cooked Ribeye steaks

(from the 1/2 cow we purchased, YAY for organic meat)

Whiskey Glazed Carrots

and....

Twice Baked Potatoes

I am off to do about a million crunches now.....

It was so good.

I think I will have leftover carrots with my sandwich for lunch today :)

Ya'll try that recipe. You wont be disappointed, I promise!

i love rainbows

2009-11-07T23:08:00.002-06:00

((especially double rainbows))

...and we found this one in Auburn last week.
Isn't it pretty?

2009-11-06T16:16:00.002-06:00

I just ran across this picture and I had to post it.

I love this girl!!!!!!!

Where have I been???

2009-11-06T16:13:00.000-06:00

i just realized how LONG it has been since i posted.

phew...

well, in my defense, we have been out of town for the last two weeks.

first, to auburn...to watch the tigers kick booty on halloween.

then, to ohio. the kids and i accompanied zach on a business trip.

what is there to do in ohio you ask???

NOTHING!!!

...but there may have been an indoor pool and hot tub at the hotel we stayed at.

..shhhhh!!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The kids were as adorable as ever on Halloween.

Aubree was Dorothy and Griffin was the Cowardly Lion.

Their costumes were handmade by Zach's grandmother.

She did an amazing job!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I had to take Griffin to the doctor yesterday.

He has been "cruddy" (like my new word?) for like 2 months now.

Turns out he STILL has an ear infection. We are trying another antiobiotic to see if it helps.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Not much else to report....enjoy a few pictures from the past week or two!

She was so proud of her red shoes.....

Isnt he a doll???

War Eagle......Zach and I at the Auburn game.

More Spirited Art

2009-10-27T10:25:00.000-05:00

Emily and I painted again last week.

Let me just tell you, it doesnt get much better than a paintbrush in one hand

........and a milkshake from Cheeburger in the other :)

Here is my creation.

It looks better now because the lavendar swirlies are camouflaged behind the gold.

My Spirited Art

2009-09-27T21:32:00.000-05:00

I have been meaning to blog about this and I cannot believe I forgot! We have found the best new thing in Huntsville for Girls Night Out...

"My Spirited Art"

Check out their website. You pick which night you go by what you would like to paint.

Pay your $35.00....

You bring something to sip on...

wine or diet coke...whatever floats your boat....

grab a friend and have a blast.

I went with my bestie Emily a few weeks ago and we are hooked.

I am just wondering where I will put all of these things when I am done!!?!?!!

Here is my first creation.

me??? Kreativ..wow!

2009-09-21T17:06:00.001-05:00

I have been nominated by Miss Kriss as a Kreativ blogger! Thank you ma'am!!!! Miss Kriss was nominated by another blogger and chose to pass it along to 7 of her blog pals.

Here are the rules:

1. Thank the person who nominated you for this award.

2. Copy the logo and place it on your blog.

3. Link to the person who nominated you for this award.

4. Name 7 things about yourself that people may not know.

5. Nominate 7 Kreativ Bloggers.

6. Post links to the 7 blogs you nominate.

7. Leave a comment on each of the blogs letting them know they've been nominated.

..:::.. Here are the 7 things you may not know about me ..:::..

(1)

I am deathly afraid of frogs. It's abnormal. I know, I can admit it. I just hate the little boogers!

(2)

I have man hands. I probably wear the biggest ring size of anyone who will read this. My hands are gigantic!

(3)

Like Miss Kriss, I secretly LOVE all of the teeny bopper music. I have a Britney Spears CD in right now AND I may or may not have spent a crazy amount of money for Aubree and I to see Miley Cyrus in concert this November.

(4)

I love to cook. Notice I said cook, not bake. Baking is really not my thang.

(5)

I met my husband when I was 15 and I knew right then that I would someday be his wife. I honestly can't tell you why I knew it....I just did.

(6)

I love to travel. I think I may like it too much. The idea of planning a trip and packing for it and then going makes me happy. I love the parts most people dread.

(7)

I would like a do-over wedding. (to the same man of course!) I was young and there are so many things I would do differently this time around.

There you go, 7 things you didnt know about Alyse! Won't you sleep better tonight now that you know?

Here are my nominations for Kreativ bloggers:

Kim- At home in the Cove

Becky-The details are in the Fabric

Melinda-VanZoeren Adventures

Melissa-Kyle+Melissa=Kylissa

Molly-Sweet Mondays

Jessica-The Misadventures of Bitty and Bubby

Jamie-Two plus Jilly

What a Weekend...

2009-09-21T15:55:00.002-05:00

We seriously have had the must fun family weekend ever!

I guess I should start on Thursday since Zach took the day off. We went to Columbia, TN to fish. His family has some land with a "lake" and we enjoy going up there to camp and fish. Zach caught the biggest bass of his life! This thing was a monster and weighed at least 8, if not 10 lbs.

This fish was as big as Griffin!!!

Then, Friday night we went to Oktoberfest at Redstone Arsenal. We filled our bellies up with Schnitzel and Saurkraut and then rode rides that were clearly designed to make you revisit your dinner. Aubree had a BLAST. She says her favorite part was the Farris Wheel. I think its because that was the one and only ride brother got to participate in. There is just something relaxing about hanging 50 ft in the air in a squeaky metal bucket with the man you love and you sweetie kids! We stayed there til' midnight...yes MIDNIGHT with a four year old and seven month old. Am I mother of the year or what?!? HaHa.

Saturday, we woke up bright and early and headed up to Tennessee to visit Grandmother Linda's farm. It is such a sweet little place. You cross a creek just to get up the driveway and the house is older than I can explain. It's a "shotgun stlye" home and I just think its cute as a button! We had barbeque and ALL of the fixins including Homemade Pecan Pie. Yum!

The farm as you pull into the driveway.

Aubree with Grandmother and EP the dog riding the 4 wheeler

Griffin relaxing with GiGi on the front porch.

This girl has mad frisbee skills. Haha

After we left the farm we headed home to get ready to watch some Auburn football. I made homemade ranch dressing to go with our home cooked hot wings and we watched the game with Josh and Emily.

Oh, and by the way, War Eagle.

Sunday we skipped church because both kids were coughing their heads off and since the first Alabama swine flu case was a gril from our church I think everyone is a little freaked out at coughs and runny noses right now. I helped host a baby shower for a family friend and had a great time chatting with all of the ladies in attendance.

All in all, it was a GREAT weekend.

.::.Oink Oink .::.

2009-09-16T14:09:00.002-05:00

It's the Swine Flu.....
Last week I was told by the doctor that I had a sinus infection.

I never got any better so I went to another doctor today and I have H1N1 Flu Virus.

The kids both are coughing and have snotty noses so I am guessing they have it too.

Their pediatrician said only to bring them in if they spike a fever so were hanging around the house for the next few days.

Hopefully we can get some cleaning done and maybe start on a few projects for Christmas.

I did get to finish my book this morning. (Firefly Lane by Kristin Hannah)

Strangely enough, Miss Kriss reccomended this book in her blog and I was already half way through.

It is a great read. Make sure you stop and get some tissues on the way home from the library though.

It's a tearjerker!!!

7 MONTHS ALREADY??!??!

2009-09-16T13:32:00.000-05:00

Griffin is 7 months old today!

I just can't believe its been that long already.

This photo (sorry for the bad quality) was taken this morning while he was playing dress up with Sissy.

He is such a trooper. He just smiles and laughs while she has her way with him.

He is progressing so well.

I imagine he is about 15 1/2 lbs now.

He sits unassisted and is showing interest in crawling.

These are both great milestones for him because he is given an "adjusted age" developmentally because of his prematurity but so far he is on par with "normal" 7 month olds.

He loves his baby food. His favorites are sweet potatoes, peas, and spring vegetables with brown rice.

He still only says "Mama" when he is crying. No "Dada" yet.

He sleeps in his own room and is such a good boy at night. We lay him down and he talks himself to sleep. His big sister NEVER did that.

He is wearing a size 6-9 months clothing. Thats a big step up from those preemie clothes he started out in.

He looks just like I did when I was a baby.
I will steal a picture from moms and scan it in soon to prove this.

what a great night!

2009-08-29T08:24:00.005-05:00

well, we're at the beach again for another of zach's business trips.

this time he had to inspect an ET (external tank).
we just happened to be lucky enough to catch the launch of discovery (STS-128) last night.

(((i wont admit that we prayed hardcore for it to be scrubbed monday/tuesday

...and thank goodness it did)))

im sure we were the only ones praying for a launch to be scrubbed but oh well!

it was a night launch and it was a-ma-zing!

aubree and i watched a discovery launch when she was 2 and it was a daytime one so lucky missy prissy has seen day and night of discovery!

----Aubree's view of the Launch of STS-120 in October 2007----

last night was incredible! the entire sky lit up when it ignited. it looked like it was 10a.m and not 12 midnight!

it is just so inspiring to see that thing go up. it really makes you proud to be an american!

i wish i had some photos from last night but it was so dark its hard to see anything until it goes up and i dont wanna be taking pictures while its going up! here is what we saw though!

Photo courtesy of Nasa.gov

This is when things got good!

2009-08-17T10:34:00.010-05:00

Today is August 17, 2009.

:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:

This means I have been a mama for 4 years now.

HappY BirthdaY sweet Aubree. I love you!

check it out...

2009-07-30T10:36:00.003-05:00

So, last Saturday we had our "Griffin's 6 month session" with Mrs. Apryl which quickly turned into the whole family plus a car getting pictures...lol. Thank you Apryl for sharing your skills with our family and your PATIENCE!!
Click here to see Apryl's blog post with our "sneak peeks". I cannot wait to see them all!

oh, my lordy, what a sweet little girl

2009-07-23T20:35:00.002-05:00

aubree just continues to melt my heart!

as i type she is fast asleep on the couch with baby bro.

just as she was about to fall asleep, she whispered..."mommy, i think i need to cough,

im afraid it will wake up my brother"

seriously, who does that???

im his mom and im sure i have never held in a cough sneeze or anything in fear of disturbing him.

i hope they always care for one another this much!

for the love of pete...

2009-07-15T12:13:00.002-05:00

PUHLEESE!!!

check this site out.

I stumbled across it because Becky (one of my oldest friends!!)

posted a blog about her delicious weekend

...........with Chicken Scallopine :)

I especially like the Cowgirl food section. Y-U-M!

I cant wait to go to the grocery and get the stuff to make the

Penne a-la-Betsy

or the...

Pioneer Womans favorite Sandwich

or the...

Farfalle with Zucchini

sick day pizza

2009-07-10T18:09:00.007-05:00

aubree has been sick today

...well actually we all have.

she started doing "that thing" at about 6 am

then i started...

then griffin started...

ekh!!

she finally got an appetite at 5 o'clock..

what does she ask for???

~~~~~~~

pizza?!?!

~~~~~~~~~~

now, i know pizza isn't a sick person food but who am i to deny her the only thing that sounds good to her poor little taste buds?

so i rummaged through the pantry and came up with some ingredients and this is what i threw together.

alyse's sick day pizza (cute huh?)

grease pizza pan

use one can of refrigerated pizza dough spread it on pan to desired thickness

spread about 1/2 cup pasta sauce from the jar on to uncooked crust

sprinkle with oregano, crushed red pepper, salt

i didn't have pepperoni so i thinly sliced some smoked sausage spread on crust

along with chopped green pepper and onion

cover, and i mean, cover, in cheese

bake at 425 for 10-12 minutes!! yum.

lets just hope she keeps it down!!!

Oh sweet little boys...

2009-07-09T09:42:00.002-05:00

Ok, I love love love my Aubree

but

there is something about a little boy...

OH! They are so sweet :)

I have the pleasure of watching Mr.Silas today and let me just tell you---he is a doll!

I mean really, 3 kids in the house and I am sitting here blogging....

now,

Aubree may or may not be wrapped around his little finger

and following him around like a little puppy but hey. whatever works!

Thank you, April, for letting us play with this sweet angel.

Its here!!

2009-07-07T08:56:00.002-05:00

Ok.

I gave in.

I ordered it.

Your baby can read.

I was very skeptical but my mom in law is an occupational therapist and has client with Downs Syndrome and he is reading at 2 years old with this system!!!

I will post updates

(and videos I am sure)

with our progress!!

more blueberries

2009-06-29T09:11:00.004-05:00

....and with more blueberries

....come more blueberry recipes....

and this one is yummier than the first.

as a matter of fact..dont cook the first one

do this one :)

there is one ingredient that could easily scare you off

dont let it. i promise it is so yummy!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

blueberry crisp

*4 cups fresh blueberries
*1 cup all-purpose flour
*3/4 cup white sugar
*1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
*1/2 cup mayonnaise

Preheat the oven to 350
Place the blueberries into an 8 inch square baking dish.

In a medium bowl,

stir together the flour, sugar, and cinnamon.

Stir in the mayonnaise

until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.

Sprinkle over the top of the berries.
Bake for 35 to 40 minutes

in the preheated oven

until the top is lightly browned.

Thank you Aubree...

2009-06-25T10:27:00.003-05:00

Thanks to Aubree, we will be having some delicious Blueberry Cobbler tonight.

She went with our neighbors this morning to pick blueberries

and brought back half-a-grocery-sack of the yumminess!

Here is the recipe I am going to use.

I got it from Meredith,

who got it from Brett...

It is so yummy and SO easy!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

4 cups blueberries

1 cup flour

1 cup sugar

1/2 of a lemon

1 egg

1 stick of butter, melted

~~~~~~

place blueberries in baking dish

squeeze juice of 1/2 lemon over berries

mix egg, flour, and sugar

drizzle melted butter in to mixture

pour over berries

bake at 375 for 30 min.

Here are the pictures from this weekend.

2009-06-24T07:53:00.004-05:00

Griffin LOVES the water.

Great-Great Grandaddy John Houston Taylor. Zach and Griffin's namesake. Possibly the sweetest man on earth. Can you believe he is 92?!?

5 Generations of Taylors.

Our Weekend

2009-06-23T18:37:00.003-05:00

we had a great little weekend here at the taylor house.

friday night we had dinner with zachs family for an early fathers day since his grandparents were heading off to the smokies on sunday morning.

it was soooo yummy. we had grilled salmon with a ginger glaze, oven roasted potatoes with rosemary, and fresh beets with homemade raspberry cobbler for dessert.

ahh, it was so good!

saturday we woke up and zach got to work in the yard.

he was tired of being murdered by tree limbs as he cut the grass!

i decided this sounded like a great time to take the kids and go swimming :)

after we spent a few hours at the pool we came home (exhausted) and i couldn't believe all the work he had gotten done! the yard looks much much better.

saturday night was also his parents wedding anniversary.

they invited us to join them at the melting pot.

y-u-m.

it was our second time there since it opened in huntsville and we haven't been disappointed yet! by the time dinner was over we were both so tired

and full

and miserable.

even though we had a babysitter for the night, we decided just to head home.

sunday was fathers day.

let me just say, i have loved my husband since i was about 15 years old, BUT i love him more now because of the dad he is.

this is nothing against zach....but i had NO CLUE that he would be such a good dad.

he had like zero kid experience when we had aubree but he just jumped right in and he is so awesome.

i love him so much and i am so glad he is the father of my children.

anywhoo...

the weekend before he had gone on like a super shopping spree and got him some new fishing lures, and a rod and some line so we decided we were pretty much set in the gift department. our big fathers day event was at his parents house for dinner.

we had a good `ole' fish fry.

i made my homemade tartar sauce (yum) and we swam and took some five generations pictures with his grandfathers.

ill post those up once they get emailed to me.

all in all it was a great weekend.

hope everyone else enjoyed theirs as well.

Keepin up with the Taylors...

Finally Friday, 11 weeks!

Exciting News!

Chicken Teriyaki

Have you thought about Christmas Cards yet?

Happy 6th Birthday Sweet Aubree!

it was beautiful

mmmm, blueberries!

Memorial Day Weekend

Super Yummy Delicious Coffee Punch

Two Month Summary...

i {love} my father-in-law

My fireplace needs some help!

heyyyyy batter batter

Fun Fridays

in case you missed it....

new read

i need some cardigan advice...

Our weekend/thank GOODNESS for practice games

Big Pigs....

check it out...

check it out...

ABC's....boredom

Toomer's...

Happy Valentines Day!

WeDDiNgs!

How could I have forgotten?

Jen is hosting a giveaway...

You have GOT to be kidding me??!

I need your HELP....so I am having a GIVEAWAY!!!

Christmas Day Brunch

looks like a war eagle sunset to me...

Dear Hubby

*This Man*

prayers requested

if i had a million dollars....

I finally decided...

boys will be boys

Help me SHOP for Christmas Cards!

Ohhh Atlanta....

***all about us***

My Papa, Our Veteran

Cool Freebies

Soccer

haters gonna hate....

Thoughtless Thursday...

my {little} big girl...

i voted....

Happy Halloween

Thoughtless Thursday...

First Day of School!!

a quarter of a century

....and the winner is....

...giveaway...

.::GiVeAwaY::.

updates, excuses, etc.... ((Giveaway coming SOON!))

FREE meal planner

My Little Ballerina

i won!

Gardening!

*Progress*

A-Day

The Dress

New Header

Griffin is ONE!

Please dont hate me :)

Looking Back

*TeN MoNtHs*

the kid that doesn't grow

9...almost 10 months!

another art class...

Rolling on the FLOOR!

It's Veteran's Day

Major. League. Yum.

i love rainbows

Where have I been???

More Spirited Art

My Spirited Art

me??? Kreativ..wow!

What a Weekend...

This Man

all about us

Progress

TeN MoNtHs