delicious!

From the time I can remember, I would climb up on the barstool at our counter and sit for long periods of time just watching my mom "create" in the kitchen. It was a prime seat that I often took advantage of. I would watch how her hands formed dough, how she chopped vegetables, how she put together a healthy meal for a family of five. I would watch and have good conversation with my mother. She would ask me about my day and we would talk while she worked. 


When I was old enough, I got off the barstool and worked right alongside her. She taught me my way around a kitchen and gave me confidence by allowing me to work on my own. I learned recipes like the "memorized" homemade biscuits (her recipe from her head) that I could make myself. She gently instructed me and I developed a love. I learned to cook.


I believe this instruction brought me to love cooking now in my life. I love "creating" meals for my family. I love finding new recipes and spending time in the kitchen preparing. 


I get to enjoy one sweet little face looking at me while I cook as well. Grey will climb up onto the stool and watch just like I used to. Hopefully all of my children will do the same. I can't wait to have them right alongside me learning to cook themselves. As of now, I do have a little helper that is already right by my side throughout the day and gets so much joy helping me cook. I know this will develop over the years and want him there as long as he will stay near. 


As I have been busy making some delicious recipes I was thinking on all of these things. I wanted to share a few. Did I mention they are delicious? because they are. mmm mmm.


First of all my dear mom that was mentioned above, made The Pioneer Woman's Salsa while I was at her house. 

Oh wow. I came home and decided to try it myself. I don't have a large food processor or a blender so I was perplexed at how I was going to accomplish this massive making of salsa. I decided to use our smoothie maker and it worked like a charm I tell ya! Matthew and I have devoured an entire recipe ourselves (it makes a lot) and I just made another batch today! Check it out and try it. You may find yourself eating it at EVERY SINGLE meal like we have been. Yes, even breakfast.


I decided since that was so delicious I would spend some more time in the kitchen making Cajun Chicken Pasta by PW as well. 

After Matthew had his first bite he confidently told me it was the best homemade meal he'd ever had. Pretty lofty exclamation but I have to tell you there are no words for this. 


Grey and I have been taking advantage of some rainy days and baking in the afternoons after his nap. Here's that little fella ready to roll. (yes he is STILL in his p.j.'s. there really was no reason to get dressed)

My February issue of Southern Living has many many corners turned down marking all kinds of delicious things I would like to try. Grey and I have tried the Oatmeal Chocolate Chip cookies (we excluded the pecans because i was fresh out!) and they were YUMMY! 


Poor little guy woke up this morning with another fever. (silly mono just won't skiddadle) It was his Valentines Day Party at school today and he was absolutely crushed that he wasn't going to get to deliver these treats. We worked on them earlier this week.  

I decided we would have our very own Valentines Party here at home. We had been planning to make some cupcakes (also from Southern Living) and I finally found the miniature cupcake wrappers I had been looking for to make them. We geared up and jumped into yet another baking day.

*these are the Bite-Size Sour Cream-Pound Cake Cupcakes  Fresh Citrus with Orange Buttercream 


Grey mostly watched as not to breathe on everything. But after his nap, he got to indulge in a tasty treat himself. I think it's safe to say they are YUMMY as well! 

I plan to try another PW recipe this weekend, her Mexican Lasagna. I'm sure it will be terrific as well. 


I better go tend to my little Grey Bear. Really hoping he can shake this mono.

learning

If you know me, I have to talk things out to process them. Today I decided to process through writing, which is mostly my preferred method. Here's what came out.

Learn: to gain (a habit, mannerism, etc.) by experience, exposure to example, or the like; acquire

I am learning:

I am learning so much I can barely take it all in.

I am learning my role as mother is demanding, exhausting, the hardest thing I’ve ever done. At the same time it is God-given, joyful, rewarding, and requires me to depend on Jesus every second of my day. I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else.

I am learning I am commanded to respect my husband. This is God’s best and His design for me in marriage. I need to do it better.

I am learning God has given me gifts to use for His glory even when it’s not comfortable for me.

I am learning how to depend on the Lord in good circumstances.

I am learning how distracted I am by the things of this world.  Thank you God for revealing these things to me one by one.

I am learning God is patient. God is faithful. God is love. God is consistent. God is holy. God is sovereign. God is righteous.  I am not. Therefore I need Him every second to be these things to those around me.

I am learning to continue to press on to maturity in my faith, all the while remembering and being changed by the power of the gospel which is the basis of my faith.

I am learning it’s not about me. I consistently remind myself of this.

I am learning His timing is perfect.

I am learning He knows best. Always.

I am learning what God desires of me through prayer.  I can’t wait to continue learning in this area.

I am nothing without Jesus.

I am so grateful to a perfect God who has chosen to teach me about Himself. I desire to take what I am learning and work it out constantly in my life. I hope I continue to learn for the rest of my life.

poppie, marmie, and snow

Grey Bear, Tucker, and I traveled to visit my parents this weekend while Matthew was a conference in TN. 

The boys and I really enjoyed our visit with Poppie and Marmie. It was great to get to spend quality, relaxed time with them while we were "iced" in at their house. Not too shabby that I got a few relaxing moments while they had the opportunity to play with the boys!

Tuck and Poppie watched ALL the beautiful birds including quite a few blue birds. Tuck was mesmerized. 

Grey (with a little bit of help) made pancakes for us for breakfast Sunday morning.

I must mention he does not need help cracking eggs. He's got that down to an art!

Tuck reeled Marmie in to playing in his favorite spot...under the table.

Tuck also got a little practice standing on his own, no hands. oh gosh.

We also got to visit with Ab and Cady while we were there which is always a blessing to me. I really wish we could have had about 100 more hours together but we had to settle for 2. 


When we got home Sunday afternoon, we saw lots of white. Grey was totally excited and couldn't wait to get his coat on and get outside. 

"ooo snow mommy!"

Tucker was less than thrilled. 

Grey couldn't wait to get on that sled. He was more than thrilled!

"i'm otay mommy. let's do it again!"

"On my tummy!"

I told Matthew to lower Tuck so he could just feel the snow with his hands. He was excited on the way down.

apparently Matthew decided to put him all the way down. I don't think he was ok with this. poor buddy.

We had many a trip down through the yard on the sled. I'll have to admit, I was probably just as excited as Grey was. I love love love to sled. I'm sure next year Tucker will be right along-side Grey and I may not even get a trip down the hill. I almost went out by myself yesterday to do it again while they were down for a nap. Then I thought twice.


we're excited it may snow again this weekend!

TEC.8

Tucker is growing and changing moment by moment. I just want to snatch each one up and hold on forever. I do take lots of pictures trying to capture the moment. Then I prefer to jump right into it after a few snaps. 


This past month has been full. Full of exciting things, challenging things, and things that bring me to tears. 


First off, Grey has been really sick this month with mono which was a tough time all around. Tucker joined in with a high fever for about 4 days as well. Luckily we got over that and I'm hoping things continue to look up from here on out. Though the days were challenging taking care of two sick boys, I did continue to thank God for mono being the only sickness that had entered their bodies. It could have been a lot worse. 


Upon our return home from our trip to Passion at the beginning of January,  apparently Tucker thought I abandoned him. He's always been a momma's boy but things got BAD when we got back. He was uncharacteristically, over-the-top momma's boy with a scream that woke the neighbors if I was out of his sight or not holding him. Talk about a challenge. Grey and I could only take so much. This is what happened when he anyone, other than me, tried to entertain him.

Thankfully he seems to be over that hurdle as well. Needless to say, very little got done around here for a few weeks.


Tucker is also getting used to having a few more bottles in his every day life. This is the "bring me to tears" part of the month. This is for reasons I will not go into here and now. It's been hard for me to accept. I do know this is best and has been proven true this week. Thankfully I am still able to nurse him mornings and evenings as of now. There's nothing like those precious moments. I hate letting go of them.


On to exciting...mobility brings excitement! 


Tucker has made a "playground" for himself under the table. He squeals and entertains himself for long amounts of time cruising around the chairs.

Proud? VERY! 

He is entertained mostly by Oscar, Grey, and loves a good wagon ride. 

I see A LOT of this these days...a little bootie in the face. Like I said, he's a busy boy exploring all kinds of new things. 

Like leaves.

and books.

and helping me with unload the dishwasher. (don't worry, i did take that knife away from him.) 

and eating LOTS of baby food. he keeps me busy whipping it up. he, unfortunately, snubs prepackaged food. (doesn't his hair look unusually red in this picture?)

he enjoys watching for daddy with a careful eye. 

oh that paci. i'm afraid it's going to stick around a while.

Tuck has started trying to wave. Unfortunately I haven't caught this "moment" yet. He is imitating sounds and giggling heartily. Hopefully he'll take after his daddy in that area. 

I wouldn't trade one single moment with this boy! Even the MOST challenging ones thus far. He brings me so much joy I cannot put it into words. It is a pleasure and a privilege to be his mommy. I will continue to try taking it all in as the moments pass ever so quickly.

I got our old computer up and running yesterday and was looking through some pictures. Here's grey bear at tuck's age. how do ya like that drool? i'm pretty sure he already had at least four teeth at this point and was probably working on a few more. He was also packing a little more "love" (chub) than tucker is. look at that sweet, round face!

And for comparison sake, here's my sweet tuck just the other day in the same onsie . blue eyes shining and all!