A weekend to remember.

     Well I am wanting to be more intentional of my blog. My goal is to try and blog at least 2 or 3 times a month. I am going to start printing my blogs into books. I am so excited about that. I have been blogging since 2011. I wish I would have started when Tanner was born but at least he was only a year old. Billy and I had a blog going briefly together before Tanner was born but did not keep up with it so I started this one. I want to keep up with what me and Billy and the kids are up to. This weekend was great we just hung around here. It's been nice the last several weekends celebrating birthdays, new homes, picnics, and bridal showers with family and friends but sometimes it is SUPER nice not to have anything on the agenda. Friday the kids and I went grocery shopping and baked cookies for the neighbors. My neighbor Tom helped me with the mower on Thurs and we wanted to say thanks. Tanner was so excited to use the mixer by him self. Then Saturday I got up early and ran with Ashlee. It was an amazing long run with one of my favorite people. Then later the kids and I went to target for a few things then home for naps and movie. Billy took a break from studying to take a walk with the boys and I. They just completely tore up the roads in our neighborhood and put in new roads. SO NICE!! (I know it doesn't take much to make me happy these days) Then later that evening the boys had so much fun playing outside we decided to do dinner out there. They loved it. The best part for me was yesterday morning when Tanner got up one of the first things he said was "mommy that sure was a cool picnic we had outside last night." My heart!! :) Billy and I took the boys to church and heard a great message in our series "Under Pressure". The best thing I received from it was to be content with what you have.   Proverbs 15:16-17.  "Better a little with the fear of the Lord than great wealth with turmoil.  Better a small serving of vegetables with love than a fattened calf with hatred."  We then went to lunch at Firehouse Subs. Tanner's favorite 2 places to eat lately are Firehouse Subs or Bob Evans. I'm thinking we need to turn him onto a new place as the last few weeks after church we either eat at one of these 2 places. :) After lunch Holden went down for his nap and stayed home with daddy while Tanner and I ran out to get supplies for our crafts we wanted to do. I always tease that I'm not that crafty but honestly I love doing these kind of things with my boys. We made some cute things today. There were a couple moments(specifically while using my hot glue gun) that I said out loud "I can't do this." and Tanner said, "You can do it mommy. I know you can." He sure has a way with words. :) We finished our projects and the boys played outside digging in the dirt, running around, and playing on their swing set. They played for a good 2 or more hours and got completely filthy. Then we headed inside for baths and PJ's and Holden and I ran and got Zaxby's for dinner. Nothing makes me happier than my boys all smelling sweet and clean and being in their cute Halloween Pj's. There was not any big event but for me it will be one of those weekends I will always remember. Posting some pictures from our weekend. 

Around the Dinner Table

My sister made a suggestion I post some of my recipes that I have been cooking lately. Well technically they aren't my recipes. Some are from friends, some from my aunt, some from pinterest, and others cook books. I love cooking these days. I try to make meal time fun for the boys. I encourage them to try new foods often. Its a struggle sometimes. I'm learning to be flexible. (well sometimes) :) They are pretty good about trying stuff though. Breakfast and lunch time are usually me running around trying to get what the boys need so we can either get Tanner off to school or Holden down for a nap. Dinner though we do try to sit down and have as family. It is chaotic, it is loud, it is often interrupted with potty breaks and food flying but hey its togetherness. Some of my favorite things to make lately are Pecan Chicken, (recipe from my friend Suzanne), Banana Bars, (recipe from my Aunt Leah), Mexican Stuffed Shells, (also from my Aunt Leah), Chicken Artichoke Pizza, (A recipe from The cook book my sister in law Elaine gave me from Birmingham), and Pretzel Crusted Chicken Breasts (pinterest) That is just to name a few. We went to Lakeland this weekend and was able to see my mom and dad and all the rest of the family. My Aunt B. had a nice party for my sister to celebrate her moving into her new home. So proud of my sister. My Aunt B. AKA Aunt Brenda or when we were little use to say Aunt Beba has always hosted things at her house. It is always so warm, inviting, and fun. She has always been a huge part of our lives. I am so thankful for her. My mom is living right behind her for now until her apartment gets finished over by my brother Seth's house. I love talking to my mom these days too. She is so thoughtful. She is always thinking of little things to send me like recipes, stickers for the boys, articles that make her think of me, and my favorite, comic strips that always have me laughing. We had such a good time this weekend. My boys love their Grammy and Papa. They love all their family. Hate that they are not in the same town but thankful they are not far away either. Tanner loves pancakes. It is his FAVORITE food these days. Holden loves cheese. ANY and ALL cheese. They are so different these two boys. Tanner could probably live on bread and fruit. AND pancakes. Holden on cheese and chicken. I really do love getting and trying new foods to make. Billy is always praising my cooking. Some things are worth praising and others NOT SO MUCH! We had dinner at the lake last night as my sister Elaine is here visiting. So glad she got some down time and a vacation. My mother in law and sister in law are amazing cooks too. I'm going to have to make my Mother in laws Avocado Salad very soon. DELISH!! Well I am posting my Aunt Leah's recipe of Mexican Shells. I need to make this one again soon. She and I love writing each other and exchanging recipes. She lives in MN and I am hoping the boys and I can get up to see her next year and they can see snow. We will see. I hope so. Mexican Stuffed Shells:  18 Jumbo Pasta Shells cooked and drained, 1 lb. lean ground beef, 12 oz. picante sauce med or mild, 1/2 cup water, 8 oz. can tomato sauce, 4 oz. can chopped chilies, 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese.      Brown the meat. combine picante sauce, water, and tomato sauce. Stir 1/2 cup into the beef mixture along with the chilies and 1/2 cup of the shredded cheese. Mix well. Pour just half of the remaining sauce on the bottom of the 9x13 pan (My Aunt Leah said use glass.) (i did) :) Stuff the cooked shells with the beef mixture. Arrange shells in baking dish. Pour remaining sauce over the shells. Bake, covered at 350 degrees for one hour. Top with remaining cheese and bake for 5 more minutes. ENJOY! I made garlic bread and a salad too!  

The little things

• Today was a great day! One where I am extremely grateful for the little things. Cooking a yummy healthy dinner(my sister said I need to start a recipe corner), lacing up my running shoes and hitting the pavement all by myself, playing on the playground at St. Paul's with the kids when I pick up Tanner from school, hearing about Tanner's day and the friends he's making, watching daddy and the boys have a dance party in Tanner's room before bed, and reading books with Holden in his rocker and hearing his sweet little voice. Life is good. I am thankful. I love the boys when they are playing together. I love when Tanner is being sweet to Holden and showing him how to do something or when Holden comes to show me something.  Tanner says the funniest things lately. He told his daddy and I the other day at dinner that "he was playing so hard at school his face was leaking." Sweet boy!!  I love my boys. Holden is a climber. His new favorite thing is to climb up on Tanner's dresser and just sit up there like its where you are suppose to sit to read. Its so funny. I go in there and he has on Tanner's sunglasses just looking at books. "Hi mommy" he says. I am training for my third marathon. I love running. I love putting on my running shoes. It is such a great time to connect with myself and clear the cobwebs. It isn't easy. That is what I love most about it. I am grateful for running. I will try and post a couple recipes for my sister. She bought a house this week. I can not wait to go down this weekend and see my mom  and dad and sister and everyone. The boys are ready too. They keep asking about their Papa and Grammy! Thankful that they are just an hour and a half away!! I do wish we lived in the same town but grateful it is not far either. Well off to bed soon another day of being super mommy tomorrow.