girlymama

she's her mama's girl alright!

Last night we had Ellie's soccer game.  She was sooo excited - she loves soccer and knows that Daddy loves soccer and wants to play just like him.

The highlight was Ellie charging down the field chasing the ball towards the goal, when she looked up and saw the entire other team running right towards her.

She stopped dead, turned around, and ran away.

Clearly, she takes after me in the athletics department. Pictures next week! Promise! Its just too adorable!!

wordless wednesday: sunday at the park

  
 

try this: fruit smoothies

This is a favorite breakfast treat in our house! Its super healthy too!

Fruit Smoothie

1 cup plain yogurt
1 cup frozen berries (blueberries are our favorite)
1 banana

Blend. Add ice if desired and enjoy!

Here's Gracie, age 2, enjoying one for breakfast:

can a promotional diaper bag actually be cute? yes it can!!

Recently the nice folks at Forte Promo sent me an adorable diaper bag to test out. Look how cute this is:

What they say about it:

• Large main compartment with zip closure and a large exterior pocket. 
• Includes a colorful changing pad and has several interior compartments.
• Long handle for easy shoulder carrying.
• Your organization/logo is added to the side.

What I say about it:
Remember that ugly free diaper bag they gave you at the hospital or your doctor's office? That you brought home, took out the coupons and immediately threw the bag out?
This is not one of those bags.
This bag is great - large enough to lug around all the necessary baby gear, but it doesn't feel like you're carrying a duffel bag. The interior features tons of compartments for organizing your things and the straps are the perfect length - fits perfectly over your shoulder and they're not so long that your bag drags on the ground when you sling it over the handles of the stroller.
The included changing pad folds and fits perfectly. It is cushy for baby's bum, fully washable and big enough to use with a squirming toddler. 
One thing I really love is that this bag doesn't scream "I'm a diaper bag!" so even when your kids get older, it would still be useful. I'm thinking the fully lined interior would make it perfect for toting along to swimming lessons at the pool this summer!
These bags can be personalized with your organization or business logo printed on the side. Perfect for any organization catering to young moms!! Its so cute that this is one free bag that moms will actually use!

inspiration - 4.26

Take my life, and let it be
consecrated, Lord, to thee.
Take my moments and my days;
let them flow in ceaseless praise.
Take my hands, and let them move
at the impulse of thy love.
Take my feet, and let them be
swift and beautiful for thee.

Take my voice, and let me sing
always, only, for my King.
Take my lips, and let them be
filled with messages from thee.
Take my silver and my gold;
not a mite would I withhold.
Take my intellect, and use
every power as thou shalt choose.

from the hymn Take My Life, and Let It Be

a few random thoughts for you to enjoy

Overheard during my kids playdate:
"I just love watching tv. Its my favorite activity."
Glad I bust my butt thinking of crafts and games for them to do.

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The Girl Scout cookies are almost gone. Moment of silence, please.

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Colin is almost weaned!! He's nursing only twice a day. I feel like I have so much time on my hands... its amazing what a difference it makes. AND he's sleeping almost 12 hours a night now. Its. Amazing.

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Can I just say how much I heart Ikea? First I get to drop off my (big) kids for free while I wander around looking at breakable things. Second they have such cute stuff for so cheap. Third we can all eat dinner for like $5. They have some cuuuuTE new stuff! If you live near one, go browse!

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Sorry for the boring blogging. I have been so busy lately. Its totally nuts - I've been running constantly all day, then collapsing into bed exhausted. I can barely find time to sit at the computer and check my email. I have been checking the "mark all as read" button on my blog reader and just moving on! Oh well! This too shall pass! 

wordless wednesday: what do you think?

try this: french toast apple bake

Its my week to bring brunch to Bible Study! This is super yummy! And the best part is that you make it the night before and just pop it in the oven in the morning.

French Toast Apple Bake

3/4 C butter, melted
1 C brown sugar
1 tsp cinnamon
2 (21 oz) cans apple pie filling
15 to 18 slices white bread
8 eggs
1 3/4 to 2 C milk
1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract

Grease/Pam/Butter a 9X13 baking dish. (I often half this recipe and put it in a oval baking dish.) Pour butter into the dish and then sprinkle brown sugar and cinnamon into the dish. Top with the apple pie filling. In a mixing bowl whisk together eggs, milk and vanilla.  Layer the bread slices on top of the apple pie filling, pressing down firmly so that they get all nice and smooshed down onto the apple pie/butter mixture. You can alternate layers of bread with pouring the egg mixture so that every layer is thoroughly saturated.
Make sure that you pour SLOWLY, so as to avoid spillovers! Cover with aluminum foil and refrigerate overnight.
Uncover and bake at 350 for 1 hour. If desired, drizzle with syrup and put in the broiler for a few minutes to caramelize. Or I usually just sprinkle with powdered sugar and serve.

Recipe origin: Blissfully Domestic

man, when i take a break from blogging...

...its really not a "break" at all!

But I (well, WE) got a TON done this week. Including:

• a butt-load of yard work. But mainly digging up all of our bushes (that were ALL dead - every! single! one!) and replacing them with new ones (that are actually alive!) and finishing up our landscaping, mulching, planting grass, etc.
• Scrapping wallpaper off the powder room walls. That I have been wanting to do since we moved in almost 4 years ago. Now I'm halfway done painting it this adorable rust-color called "apple blossom." (My husband hates it, but I think its great. Naturally. We rarely agree on paint.)  I'll post a picture when I finish!
• Cleaning, cleaning, cleaning, cleaning. Washing windows, cleaning out the fridge, sorting clothes, etc.
• Putting in my volunteer time at the kids schools.

That's only part of it. My back is killingme and we have been falling asleep by 9 o'clock, but at least the yard and house look great!!

But - by the grace of God - Colin started sleeping ELEVEN HOURS STRAIGHT this weekend. Its heaven.

a perfect summary of my personality

 Realizing that I am reading the South Beach Diet Cookbook... while eating raw cookie dough.

Then laughing outloud at myself.

I have such good intentions. Really, I do.