Gardening and Some Yummy Cookies

Both of the kids love to help water the garden, or maybe it's just that they like to play with the hose/sprayer. Either way, it gets the job done.




I'm always on the lookout for gluten free recipes (especially when it comes to goodies) for my MIL who was diagnosed with celiacs a few years ago. These cookies are awesome! Sooo good and easy. I have to try and get them out of my house before we all eat them all (well, maybe so I don't eat them all).

Chocolate Meringue Cookies

Ingredients:
3 egg whites
1/8 teaspoon cream of tartar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
2/3 cup white sugar
1 tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder
1/3 cup semisweet chocolate chips

Directions:
Preheat oven to 300 degrees F.
Combine egg whites, cream of tartar, and vanilla. Beat until the whites form soft peaks. Slowly add sugar; beat until stiff peaks form, and mixture becomes glossy. Fold in cocoa and chocolate chips.
Drop mixture by teaspoonfuls on to a greased cookie sheet. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes.
Store in an airtight container....if needed. ;)

Happy Birthday, Dear Andrea...

For my sweet friend, Andrea's, birthday this year, we went to the zoo! She was actually so excited that this was her first birthday having a little one around, that she wanted to celebrate it with all her friends and their children. It was a fun time, and of course, the kids had a blast.

The birthday girl with her baby girl.

Checking out the hippo statues.

Just some of the kiddos: Jacob, Mackenzie, Powell, Jeffery, Dawson, Jamin, Ella and Isabel.

My SIL, Sarah, and I.

Memorial Weekend

Memorial weekend consisted of my parents, my little sister and her little boy, Creed, coming down to visit. We went for walks, had family dinners and just got to hang out. It was a fun, busy, fun weekend for sure. :)

Creed loved Isabel. When my mom would hold both of them on her lap, he would start rubbing and patting her back and making this sort of shuddering, giggling sound. It was too funny.
Powell and Isabel looking for the 2 baby bunnies living under my brother's house.
Isabel sitting on my dad's lap. She loves her grandpa Carson.

Powell and Caidyn having some down time, playing the Digi.
Isabel on the swing at the park on Memorial Day.
Powell riding a bike on the way home from the park on Memorial Day. Aunt Jerusha was helping so he wouldn't steer off the sidewalk. hehe
We remember all of those who served and are serving, and the sacrifices they make. Happy Memorial Day!

Princess Isabel

She hasn't quite hit the "I'm in love with everything Disney Princess" stage, but she does love some princess stuff. She was given a couple princess dress-ups from cousins and she wasn't hating it. ;) Her favorite "princess" movie is "Tangled", but she really hasn't been too interested in movies yet. She has seen, or has seen bits and pieces of other "princess" movies, but doesn't ever ask for them. We had fun dressing up, though. Doesn't she look so grown up, or is it just me? Maybe it's her hair...
We also want to wish a Happy Birthday to cousin Creed who turned 1 year old today! And Aunt Jordan, who shall remain ageless. ;) We love you both so much!!

I had to post a picture of the birthday boy. My little sister is a collector of all things hedgehog, so she made him a little hedgehog cupcake for his birthday. :)

Big Girl Bed

Well, it's about that time. Isabel has now transitioned to a "big girl" bed. It's just a toddler bed that her cousin, Kennedy, has let her use, but it's not a crib. When did my baby get so big? Here it is in all of it's glory!


Hooray for big girls!!

2 Little Monkies Jumpin' On The Bed...

This is their favorite thing to do lately. Throw on some tunes (especially this song, "Tonight, Tonight" by Hot Chelle Rae), and jump on the bed. They.Love.It.



How do you like Powell's "Super jump twist?" Pretty rad, right? ;)

Mother's Day 2011

This Mother's Day was pretty laid back. Just the way I like them. We, of course, went to church in the morning. I was teaching the 2's and 3's junior church, so I didn't get to hear the sermon in the morning, but I did get to make help make some cute Mother's Day crafts for the children to give to their mommies. Isabel always points to the one I she made me and says, "My handprint!" I love being a mommy. After church, we worked on the garden some. Did I mention I was going to start a garden this year? My very first, so we shall see how it goes! I'm pretty excited about it. Kathy (my MIL) came over for a bit before we met everyone for dinner. My lovely daughter gave her "gramma Kappy" a Mother's Day she'll never forget. The unsuspecting grandma is holding her sweet granddaughter (who is wearing "big girl" panties because she is potty training) on her lap. All of a sudden, Isabel gets quickly put down, and poor Kathy stands up to reveal the fact that Isabel had let loose her bladder on her grandma. In a big way. Sigh... It was not one of her greatest moments, but later on, we all had a chuckle. After Kathy went home to change, we met up at Chili's with Matt's sister and her family and Matt's parents. It was a lovely, fun dinner. Afterward, we headed over to Dairy Queen for some dessert. Georgia Mud Fudge Blizzard? Don't mind if I do! I hope all of the mothers and mothers-to-be out there had a wonderful day!