Chores!

Cooper has been trying to convince me he needs new chores. He's normally in charge of collecting trash and recycling. He decided he's ready to actually take out the trash. Awesome. Right?

Just a Swingin'

I love lazy Saturday's and this girl loves to swing. So much, that she doesn't want to get out. I pick my battles...so she naps. I swear I fixed her hair. I promise I cleaned off her face after she woke up. I so wish I could sleep like that. Happy Weekend, Everyone!

Water Babies!

We've had a fantastic summer both at the Lake and at the pool. Lucky for us both of the kids LOVE the water! Cooper has been perfecting both his front flip, back flip and his dive. Sadie prefers to do a "fip."

Where have you been??

What a busy summer!

It's been filled with cupcakes. Cupcakes. And more cupcakes!

Thanks everyone for your orders and supporting my hobby...

that is officially on steriods.

Thank you to my family for putting up with my mess, taste testing new flavors and being patient with my EARLY morning madness.

Fifty Nifty...

Fifty nifty United States...from 13 original colonies...shout 'em...

Do you remember this song from grade school?

I was always so proud of myself for knowing all FIFTY states. AND...in alphabetical order!

Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut...

I really know them all. Do I need to carry on?

Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana...

I've taught this silly song to Sadie. She knows all the way to Nebraska. It's adorable.

She reads my lips while we sing...so so sweet.

Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine...

I love that little girls love to sing. She sings all day, mostly under her breath.

This weekend it was, "Pharaoh, Pharaoh...oh, no...let my people go...yeah-yeah-yeah..."

Where on Earth did she learn that??

Muscles

Muscles weigh more than fat. That's what my trainer says. You heard it...my trainer. Holy smokes. So, I weigh...just kidding! Did you actually think I would blog my actual weight?? Maybe some day. Anyway, a friend and I have joined a gym and signed up for 20 sessions with personal trainer. We started last Monday...9 days of cardio + 4 personal training sessions = 2 pounds gained. What the *&%*!? Really? This weight better start MELTING off. Fast. I will keep you posted!

Cute Plates...

This is the Before

And After.
My kids LOVE these new plates from Southbank!
I on the other hand...may not be creative enough to use these every night!

Cooper Cracks Me Up

Boys are funny. Boys say really entertaining things.

Ryan has been working a ton lately and this is the first year Cooper has really noticed.

Last week he said, "I'm not sure what Session is, but I will be really glad when Daddy is done with it."

I thought, oh how sweet.

This week when I put him in time out, he says...

"When are you going to session?"

Love you buddy...even though you think you are smarter than me.

Spring Sickies

Blah. I'm alway SO excited for Spring to finally arrive. I seem to forget every year when the trees turn green, so do my kids eyes, nose, etc. I've had poor Cooper attached to a breathing machine for 2 weeks! I'm sure the Whaley's pharmacist is super tired of seeing us. Just when I thought Sadie Re was feeling better...we ended up at the doctor's office yesterday with a DOUBLE ear infection. Poor girl! Well, here's to feeling better AND the end of the legislative session is next Friday...woo hoo!!

Just Another Saturday Mornin'

These are my 4 kids.
Not really...these are my 2 and our neighbors 2.
Kase, Cooper, Kambell and Sadie
Cutest. Kids. Ever.
Kase was at our front door at 9, ready to play.
This playdough project lasted all of 3 minutes before they were off to the next thing.
We are super lucky to have such great neighbors!

Spring's Here!

  Hunting Easter eggs...check out my crack! Too cute.

I'm sure my mother will be appalled I put this up.

 

Cool shades. Her favorite new accessory.

 Sadie and Grammy

Handsome Boys

Things have been super busy around here! I can't believe we are half-way through April. We had a great Easter weekend. We enjoyed several egg hunts and took most of our immediate family to brunch...it was nice to have everyone together in one place! Last week was Kindergarten registration for Cooper. He will be starting in the Fall as a West School Wild Cat..."West is the Best..." He's pretty excited and quickly checked out the playground, cafeteria and the bathroom. Those are the most important rooms, right? We have kept ourselves busy in the yard working on landscaping, planting flowers and cleaning up the deck and front porch. We have a TON more to do, but it will be nice when we can sit back and enjoy it. In other news, there is approximately 5 more weeks of the legislative session and I am ready for it to be over!

Beauty Marks

This morning as Sadie Re and I were snuggling, she kindly began counting the moles on my arm. Then my neck, boobies, face...I have a TON. She says, "Oh, Mommy...jew have a yot of owwies." I kindly explain that they are in fact moles, not owwies. Smarty pants..."Jew wrong, Mommy. Jew need to go to da doctors." Maybe I should have called them beauty marks??

Check Out MY Cupcake!

We recently visited JP Gallery to have Jen take some new shots of the kids and here is one of my favorites! This look is classic. Thanks Jen, for always doing such a great job capturing their little personalities.

Too Much Information

TMI...I'm sure this is too much information. In fact, I know it is. But for the sake of capturing moments, I had to share this one. That's what my blog is all about, right? Capturing moments...or maybe...embarassing my kids?! I'm totally calling myself out on this one too. I sometimes leave the princess in the tub while I put away laundry. I don't really like to put away laundry, so this doesn't happen that often. She is usually singing or asking where I am, so I know she's fine. Anyway...last week while I was multi-tasking the princess decided to multi-task too. She pooped WHILE she was bathing. GAG. Then, she fished out the poo and left if on the floor. Such a good little helper. GAG. Yes, that is poo on the floor. I captured the memory.

More Conversations Between My Children

My kids crack me up. This was part of our conversation Friday morning while I was in the shower.

Sadie-     Mommy, I gotta potty.
Me-        (washing my hair) Mommy is in the shower can you go to your potty?
Sadie-     No. I big dirl. I go in big dirl potty.
Me-        Cooper! Will you come help me for a minute?
Cooper- What's up?
Me-        Will you help your sister take off her pull-up and lift her up onto the potty?
Cooper-  Sure! (He lifts her up and says, "Holler when your done...I gotta watch my show.")
Sadie-      DONE! DONE! DOOONNNEEE, Bobo! (Because you can't say it just once??)

Cooper comes back in to help her and starts to take her down. In the mean time she is SCREAMING for toilet paper.

Me-         Oh, wait! She needs paper for her tootch...not my word...her word.
Cooper-   That's it! I'm done! No tootch wiping here!

Funny, funny kids....who I'm sure will love hearing these stories when they are older! And here's hoping Sadie will come up with a new word for her tootch. But for now, it's better than veiner.

Sadie Says...

Conversation with Sadie this morning...

Mommy:  Sadie, please take of your jammies and go potty.
Sadie:       I did.
Mommy:   (Seeing her in jammies)...When?
Sadie:       "Yeserday."
Mommy:    Well, can you go for me today??
Sadie:       Nope. I will go "morrow."

My Helper

Um, yep...tastes pretty good.

Maybe a touch more chocolate...

 

Pretty sure we got it right this time!

Out of the Mouths of Babes...

This ornery little boy had me wanting to crawl into a hole and...well, you know the rest. Today was Coop's field trip to Central Dairy for an ice cream treat. Tasty! So, being the overachieving parent that I am, I volunteered to drive and help out. In addition to Cooper, I had one of his classmates AND his teacher. On the way back to school (downtown) I scooted through a yellow light...because it was lunch time and a ZOO. As I scoot through thinking no one will notice, my child exclaims (at the TOP of his lungs), "Son of a B*#@&!" Lovely. So glad I took off work for that one!

Happy Birthday Sadie Girl!

Sadie turned 2 today! Holy cow, how time flies when you're having fun! This weekend we had a brunch for the Princess, complete with yummy breakfast, fresh squeezed juice, cake pops and cupcakes!

I caught her opening gifts before the party. She said, "I finded my prizes!"

She was adorable opening gifts and is really excited about her new (old) desk from Papa Ronnie and MamMaw Bicky.

Thanks to everyone for making her birthday so special!

BRRR...

I'm about ready to pack up and move to Hawaii. Or Mexico. Or Bora Bora.

It has been SO cold here.

And we've had a ridiculous amount of snow.

Here's some pictures of the 10 whole minutes they've been able to play outside.

I love Sadie's camo bibs.

Cameo Cupcakes!

So, since my kitchen for the

last year has looked like this...

I thought it would be fitting to blog about it.

Check it out here...

Cameo Cupcakes

Baking has always been a bit of a hobby

and is now a bit of a business.

A side business.

A YUMMY side business.

Check me out!

The Biggest Cookie...EVER.

Check out this no-bake cookie we had at Great Wolf Lodge.

Who ever thought to make your no-bake cookies this big?

I never have.

But I might start.

I would feel so much better eating one, than the 3 I normally eat!

These were served cold too.

Yummy!

High School

These are my girls from high school.

Still awesome.

Still looking good.

Still the best of friends.

Still the ones I call on.

Still the ones I giggle with and can't wait to chat with.

Still love these girls.

These are a Few of My Favorite Things...

Well, maybe not a few but definitely one of my new FAVORITE things! This cookbook was a Christmas gift from Ryan's Mom and I have read it and re-read it and tried LOTS of the recipes...so fun! My kids love "her" version of Egg-in-A-Hole and I'm in LOVE with the French Breakfast Puffs. Try them out, I swear they will not fail you! I'm taking her advise and freezing the leftovers, I will let you know how that works out!

Sunday is usually a big meal night and this Sunday was no exception...and we did it Pioneer Woman style. As a side note, Cooper will eat ANYTHING out of this cookbook because she's a rancher's wife...and she cooks for COWBOYS. Anyway, Sunday night I made her Perfect Pot Roast, PW's Creamy Mashed Potatoes AND Life by Chocolate Cupcakes!

Oh. My. Goodness. I know, roast? Who gets excited about roast? But really, make this the next time you have company...it was amazing! The mashed potatoes were great too, but we probably couldn't have eaten 1/2 the recipe...so don't make the full batch unless you are feeding your entire neighborhood. The cupcakes made 18 and I could have used 1/2 of the ganache...you can't possibly use the whole recipe unless you are slathering your body in it. Hope you enjoy...we did!

Perfect Pot Roast

3 to 5 pound chuck roast (generously salt on both sides)

2 onions (peel paper and chop in half)

8 carrots (rough chop...don't peel)

2 to 2 1/2 cups beef stock

4 fresh rosemary sprigs

3 fresh thyme sprigs

1. Preheat oven to 275 degrees.
2. Heat large pot and at 2 T. olive oil...get really hot.
3. Toss onions in and brown about a minute on both sides...remove.
4. Toss in carrots, brown about a minute on both sides and remove.
5. Get pot hot again and add another T. olive oil.
6. Place meat in and sear on both sides about 1 minute each and remove.
7. Deglaze pot with 1 cup of beef stock and then add meet back in with carrots and onions.
8. Pour in more stock to cover meat halfway.
9. Put it thyme and rosemary.
10. Cover and roast 3 to 5 hours, depending on size of roast.

PW's Creamy Mashed Potatoes

Here's the ingredients...I don't think you can mess up the preparation, but if you need exact recipe let me know!

5 pounds russet or Yukon gold (peeled and boiled)

12 T. Butter

8 oz. Cream Cheese

3/4 C. half-and-half

1/2 teas. seasoned salt

salt and pepper to taste

Wild Child

This is her new thing. Strip down..."Sadie Nake-Ed."

And climb on things.

Very safe and warm...not so much.

This is how Sadie cooks.

With accessories.

This is how Sadie colors.

Sometimes on the paper, but mostly on her hands, face, clothes and walls.

I think she's my "free spirit."

Love it.

Great Wolf Lodge

Dexter the Dinosaur at T-Rex Cafe

Cooper checking out the Sprayer

The BIG Bucket

Sadie getting her splash on!

A couple of weekends ago we decided to head out of town to celebrate Cooper's 5th birthday. We went to Kansas City and started our weekend out at Cooper's favorite store, Cabela's. From there we visited T-Rex Cafe and then it was on to Great Wolf Lodge and their indoor water park. What a fun thing to do...especially when it's 15 degrees outside! All of us had a great time, including NaNa and GaGa! We stayed in a Kiddy Kabin that was complete with a kid's space and bunk beds...very cute! Happy Birthday Cooper Man!

Happy Birthday Cooper!

Cooper & Meg: Christmas 2007

Cooper at the Farm

Cooper at the Lake: Age 2

Cooper: Thanksgiving 2009

I'm a few days late, but Cooper had a birthday this week! He turned FIVE on the 19th! Holy Cow...he's getting SO big! He's so excited to be FIVE! We had a small pizza party on the big day to celebrate and he took treats to both preschool and the sitter. This weekend we are celebrating at Great Wolf Lodge and Cabela's. He is such a boy!

Zac Attack

Meet the newest addition to our family.

This is Zac.

He is a yellow lab puppy. As if that wasn't obvious?

He was a suprise gift from my parents...for Cooper...for Christmas.

It's been...interesting.

His birthday is on Halloween.

He eats shoes...the nice ones.

He pees on the floor...but only on the carpet.

He humps.

He doesn't wipe his feet at the door.

He tried to eat my Vera Bradley bag.

But...Cooper LOVES him!

100 Things About Me

This is for Betsy. 100 Things about me...

1. My middle name is Marie. Same as my Mom and Daughter.
2. I have no tattoo's...thank God for good judgement!
3. I was married in December because I think it is a gorgeous time of year!
4. I love the beach. Especially the ocean sound!
5. I have been married to a very patient man for 6 years. We've been together for almost 12.
6. I have a LOVE for baking and cooking.
7. I have a cupcake business that I operate out of my home...for fun.
8. I would LOVE to open a bakery or small eatery some day.
9. I have my real estate license.
10. I have 2 AWESOME kids...a boy and a girl.
11. I love the charm of my old home.
12. I have 2 dogs.
13. I don't really "do" pet hair.
14. I have HORRIBLE seasonal allergies.
15. I love Aveda products...they make my whole house smell good.
16. I love to entertain, but stress about it.
17. I have a passion for cookbooks. I read them like novels.
18. I absolutely love Vera Bradley bags. Any pattern.
19. I'm obsessed with cleaning products...swifter's, Clorox wipes, toilet bowl cleaner, etc.
20. I recently had to break-up with my cleaning lady. It was traumatic.
21. I learned the Heimlich by accident when my daughter chocked on a penny.
22. I'm not afraid of the dark.
23. I mowed grass for the first time this year.
24. I love the pool and the sunshine.
25. I really enjoying reading.
26. Wine is usually my drink of choice.
27. I love to listen to my kids giggle and chat when they think I'm not listening.
28. If I forget to make our bed in the morning...I make it before I get in it at night.
29. I love to get family pictures taken.
30. I really like magazines...the trashy ones.
31. I enjoy sending things in the mail.
32. I LOVED high school.
33. I am Methodist.
34. I love when my house is really quiet, clean and everyone is sleeping.
35. I love hot baths.
36. I really enjoy champagne (not the headache).
37. I could watch Law & Order over and over and over...
38. I live my life vicariously through my sister.
39. My favorite ice cream is mint chocolate chip.
40. My favorite salad dressing is balsamic vinaigrette from O'Donaghue's.
41. I love my SUV and all the junk I can hold in it.
42. I love when my son asks questions about when I was little.
43. I love watching my daughter learn how to talk..."Sadie do dat."
44. I could people watch for days and days and days.
45. I love my job and all of the many hats I wear.
46. I would love to study interior design.
47. I wish my blog was pretty.
48. I had scoliosis.
49. I used to have rods and screws in my back.
50. I have great neighbors.
51. I am 30.
52. I wear a size 7 shoe.
53. I am on day 3 of Weight Watcher's. I may get brave and post my weight.
54. I'm in love with my husband more now than ever.
55. I love to shop for anything.
56. I like to rearrange furniture.
57. I hate dirt on my feet.
58. My fridge is usually kind of funky.
59. I'm getting ready to start a foodie blog for my cupcake business.
60. I'm super nosey.
61. I pay my water bill late every month. Not intentionally.
62. I have a great family.
63. I have great friends.
64. I'm so not a morning person. Call me after 9.
65. I'm usually right on time...not early...not late.
66. I quit coloring my hair 2 years ago. I still miss it.
67. I love to plant flowers. I kind of suck at taking care of them.
68. I just recently started drinking coffee.
69. I don't like to wear socks.
70. I like to do laundry.
71. I LOVE the smell of clean laundry and dryer sheets.
72. I wish someone would turn me in on "What Not to Wear."
73. I have a fabulous memory.
74. I really don't like onions.
75. I like the smell of my husband's hair.
76. I love my wedding ring.
77. I like to "spoon."
78. I like the smell of my daughter's breath...weird.
79. I like to talk on the phone.
80. I like to organize things.
81. However, most of my drawers are a mess.
82. I love hearing about my son's day at Pre-K.
83. I love good customer service...and providing it.
84. I'm friendly.
85. I talk to strangers.
86. I send over 100 Christmas cards every year.
87. I make lists daily. I really like to cross things off.
88. I could make a career of running errands.
89. I always forget to take/pick up dry cleaning.
90. I love that my husband forgets most things and I have to remind him over and over.
91. I would like to have just 1 more baby.
92. I love Mexican food.
93. I would like to lose about 25 pounds. That Mexican food might be a problem.
94. I love good hand lotion.
95. I have an iPod, but don't know how to use it.
96. I have been blogging 1 year.
97. I find power washing therapeutic.
98. I wear contacts.
99. I like fruit in my salad.
100. I love to do nice, unexpected things for people.

Silly Talk

The things kids say crack me up. I need to start writing more down. Here are two funnies from the last couple of days.

- I hear giggling in the bathroom...LOTS of giggling! I open the door to find BOTH kids. Cooper on the big toilet and Sadie on the potty...both pooping. Lovely. Sadie says, "Bo Bo's help Sadie poop!" How embarrassed will she be in the future??

- I made a beer bread to go with dinner the other night. Cooper says, "I can't eat that! That has alkehaul!"

2010 Goals

So...I'm TERRIBLE at New Year's resolutions.

How about you?

I think I've actually resolved in the past to NOT have a resolution.

After some thought, conversation and a yummy lunch with the girls...The Rowden Bunch has set "goals" for 2010. Thanks Ashley for sparking these thoughts. We came up with the first list with each one of us shouting out things for the goal list. Cooper chimes in with, "Let's go to the Farm more." Me..."that's not really a goal Cooper." Him..."Yes, it IS." End of that discussion.

After the long list was formed

we cut it down to 7.

This because someone else at lunch was talking about the rule of 7 and productivity and such.

7 seems lucky.

7 seems attainable.

7 it is.

Our list of goals is focused on savings, debt, taking a family vacation, simplifying, etc.

The next thing is to memorialize the list, which was on the Today Show...frame it, put it out, make it real.

Welcome, 2010!