a penny saved....

So, I broke Shelby's first first piggy bank.  So, I decided as a practical life exercise I would let her put her own coins into her second first piggy bank! Enjoy the pic. 

a tale of two Sundays

Last Sunday, we had the honor and joy of taking care of three little boys.  Yes! Parker, Caleb and Austin came over for a play date.  We had a crazy busy fun afternoon.  The two toddlers were napping most of the time that we visited.  We certainly miss the three boys in the neighborhood.  And, on an unrelated note our friends in the neighborhood with the three little girls moved this past weekend.  Where was I, oh yes, here are the four playmates. 

Austin

 Caleb

 Shelby

 Parker

When their parents picked them up, I sent home an already made dinner too.  We used this recipe for chicken taco soup and it was SO good, it will be out new taco soup recipe forever!

This Sunday was much quieter.   I tried a recipe that I have seen many times on the internet, but have never tried.   It is a roasted chicken with 40 cloves of garlic.  I cooked it in my Pampered Chef Stoneware Baker.
You take a hen, brush it with 2 tbsp of room temp. unsalted butter.  Sprinkle with salt and pepper.  Then you place into the pan 40 peeled cloves of garlic and 6 sprigs of rosemary.  I harvested the rosemary from my herb bed. Roast at 475 for 45 minutes.  It was super delicious chicken!

Shelby at 18 months

Shelby is now 18 months old.   We have seen so many changed in the last month.  With starting school and growing up this little one seems to change every day.  Here are some facts about Shelby at 18 months.

* She is 25lbs and 32.25 inches. (both at in the 75th percentile)
* She wears size 2 T clothing and size 6 Huggies Little Movers.
* She tries to repeat most everything we say (TAKE NOTE MR. D)
* She has a few phrases like "gotta go" and "let's go".  If she finds her coat she will bring it to you to put on her and then she expects to go somewhere.
* She is starting to wear her hair bows better.  I have to keep her hair pulled back.  It is still not long enough to train to go back.  I am hoping we don't have to get bangs cut - again.
* She is very musical.  Yesterday we were cleaning in the playroom-- (ok, I was cleaning) and I noticed she had built herself a little drumset.  I quickly grabbed my phone and shot this video.

(disclaimer-- she is wearing hand me down pajamas and doesn't even know who Dora is)

* She has lots of words and a few names.  She knows her name and says it often.  She has a best friend at school named Lila and she talks about her too.  She can say her teacher's names to come degree.  Lisa is "We-sa" Vanessa is "Bess-E-bah" and Kelly is "Kel-wee".  She of course, knows Mama and Daddy.  She also can say Shelia (which is my Aunt, her Great Aunt who she rarely sees but talks about all of the time).  She can say Nonnie and Brady  She also called people Beauty and Zippy.  If I say a name to her, sometimes she tries to repeat it back, sometimes she doesn't.
* She has picked up some things like counting.  She knows 1,2,3 skips 4, 5.  She also says 7.  She has picked up the Alphabet.  Sometimes she kinds of says it other times is you say it and pause she will fill in the letter if she feels like it.  She has started singing "twinkle twinkle little star" which sounds more like "ginkle ginkle la stah".
* She loves to color, draw and paint.
* In the mornings after she is dressed she likes to look in the mirror.  She will say "pretty" and "cute"
* She said things like "whoa" and "ut-oh" and "oh no" and "yes" and "no" and others I am sure I can't remember right now.
* She can identify her nose, eyes, ears, toes, chin and mouth... and the same on other people.
* We have put her comforter that goes with her crib bedding on the bed.  She loves it.  In the morning if she doesn't want to get up she will pull it over her head.
* She is still a Daddy's girl.  The have a great time together.
* She still loves Beauty and the Beast, Little Einsteins, and Mickey Mouse Clubhouse.  She tries to sing the Mickey Mouse Clubhouse song.  She called Mickey "Gickey".
* She is passionate about shoes and will pitch a fit like you wouldn't believe over them.
* She sings with the radio in the car.
* She loves to eat.  This week I found out that she is drinking from a regular cup at school, so we have added that at home.  I would say her favorite meal is pasta, or fruit.  She also likes veggie straws, string cheese, craisins, Quaker Oat Squares, yogurt, yogurt raisins, chicken, green beans.  She eats more than this, but I would say these are her faves.
* She loves to read.   There are days when at the end the only things of hers that we are picking up at books.  Books trump her toys any day!  Last week she had to take a book to bed with her one night and when I went to check on her she was snuggling it.  So precious!
* She loves to swing and climb and slide! Her playground at school it outside my class window.  I love watching her play.
* She loves to laugh and giggle and frequently squeals with delight! I love it!!!

Eden and Alice

Erica posted this cute photo of Alice and Eden.  I thought I would share it too.  They are making a birthday cake for their Daddy! I can't believe how grown up they are!

Valentine's Day

Shelbs and I took a trip to Hobby Lobby and found a few things we needed to create this super cute Valentine's Day card photo shoot.   I thought it turned out well. 

Our New Year's Resolution

This year, our New Year's resolution as a family is to host a dinner party once a month and have our friends over.  Before Shelby, Mr. D. and I loved to entertain and we are trying to get back to that despite our busy schedules.  In January, we hosted Tiffani, Bryan and Mia.  It was a Saturday night and we grilled steaks.  We also had sauteed onions and mushroom, stuffed baked potatoes, bread, and green beans.  For dessert we had cookies and ice cream.   In February, we hosted Courtney, Xavier, Ki and Avi.  It was a Friday night and we just ordered in pizza and ate brownies.   Stay tuned for future post about future dinner parties.

Super Bowl

We had our usual Super Bowl Celebration.  We scaled it WAY back this year since the New England Patriots were in the game.  Mr. D. gets a little bit passionate and if things went bad (and they did) we needed tolerant people around.  The food was FABULOUS as usual.  Mr. D. smoked chicken wings and I made my version of Wendy Bentley's Jalapeno Poppers.   I am featuring them in this photo.  

 I would say these poppers are my most favorite thing to eat in the world.  If I were having a last meal this is what it would be.
Any way, there was also baked feta, a buffalo dip, a sopapilla cheese cake, and a Mexican type dip.  Our guest were Tiffani, Bryan, Natalie, Jess and Ceci.   Despite the Patriot's loss, the food and fellowship made for a great evening.

Charlie turns 2

Charlie's 2nd birthday party was on the 7th of January.   It was a fabulous zebra themed party.  Shelby was in a particularly bad mood because I had to wake her up mid nap to get dressed and in the car on time.  As predicted she went back to sleep and slept the whole way there.  The crazy part was she was so mad and pitching such a fit that we got to the party with no shoes and somewhere along the way she pulled out and threw her fabulous zebra hairbow.  Mr. D. was at the BBVA Compass Bowl and missed out on the drama.  Here are a few photos from Charlie's party.  Of course the girls were absolutely precious.  Y'all will not believe how tall Rylee is now! 

 Here is a picture of Shelby enjoying her treat bag at home.

And, I didn't know it at the time, but one of the trio of girls is getting a baby brother or sister this summer.............

Congratulations Kim, Jimmy and Rylee!!! 

I am hoping he/she arrives on my birthday! 

Shelby starts school

When I returned to school after Christmas break, I had someone very special in the car with me.   Shelby started her career at CMS.  I am very please with the class that she is in and her teachers are fabulous.  She is in the room right next door to my class.  I even have windows that look out on the playground that she plays on, so I get to watch her play.  It took Shelby a few days to transition.  We have lots of tears the first couple, but now she is a pro.  In fact, now she walks into her class unassisted and walks straight up to her teacher each day.   They are so sweet to her! She has yet to wear the same outfit twice....yes, you just read that correctly, Shelby has not had to repeat outfits since she started school.  Tomorrow will be day 34 and still no repeat wear-- it is almost OBSCENE the amount of clothing this kid has.   Here are some photos her teacher had printed for us at the end of the first week.  I scanned them in, so that is what they look a little grainy. 

There are twelve children in her class.  She love a little girl named Lila and talks about her ALL of the time.   Which is funny because I have known Lila since she was in her Mother's belly and we always talked about the two girls being best friends.  It is nice that it worked out just the way we planned.

And a Happy New Year

We headed to Knoxville in the last week of December for three days with Mr. D.'s family there.   Mr. D. got a speeding ticket on the way to Knoxville--- his first ever! Of course, Shelby's cousin Henry was her favorite playmate.  Here are some photos from that trip. 

The three little ladies celebrate Christmas

On the 28th of December, we celebrated Christmas with my family.  
Here are photos of the three little ladies.
Rylee turned 2 in June, Charlie in December and Shelby will be 2 in August.

Christmas Day

Christmas morning, Shelby woke up with a fever, runny nose and congestion.  She definitely didn't feel well.  She had not interest in gifts, or breakfast or anything.  She wanted her sippy cup and her Mama.   We snuggled on the couch, I gave her a bath and a cup and she went back to bed for almost a 4 hour nap.  Once she woke up she was feeling a little better.  A clean indication of how bad she felt can be seen in these photos-- especially  by the fact that she wore pigtails all day without protest.   Here are some photos from our Christmas morning...in the afternoon.  

 In the afternoon, Mr.D.'s parents Linda and Tom arrived.  We continued to play and relax.  I made a somewhat fabulous dinner of Wedge Salad ,  Pancetta Wrapped Beef Tenderloin with Horesradish Whipped Cream,  Garlic Mashed Potatoes, Green Beans, Rolls, and Apple Dumplings for dessert.  OH--and I HAVE to share this recipe with you which I had made in the early afternoon for an appetizer...Baked Feta.  I wish I had more time to take photos, but the day simply got away from me with all of the entertaining, the sick girl, the cooking and cleaning that had to be done.  I will try harder next year, or solicit more help in that area.

Here is a photo from dinner of Shelby's shirt after she had a lollipop.

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