September 24, 2015

#tbt stories - it's fall, y'all


It's fall, y'all!  This is my favorite season, by far!

One of my favorite things that we do every year is to visit the pumpkin patch.  They always have an old truck set up for picture-taking, and this was the first year that we tried to get the kids to sit together on it.  It was so difficult to get them both to look at the camera at the same time, and this is the best we got!

Hey - no one is crying or has their finger in their nose, so I'll take it!



September 18, 2015

friday favorites: parenting quotes


I love being a momma.  I believe that it is such an incredible privilege and is the most meaningful job I will ever have this side of heaven.  Since being a momma is how I spend the majority of my days (and nights), quotes on parenting are always standing out to me.  I love the power that words have and how they can speak directly to us.  Today, I thought I would do a round-up of some of my favorites - the ones that inspire me on this wild ride I'm on called motherhood!


"God designed motherhood to be a deeply meaningful role.  We mothers have the opportunity to influence eternity by building a spiritual legacy in the lives of our children."
- Sally Clarkson - 


"There is no way to be a perfect mother, but a million ways to be a good one."
- Jill Churchill -


"Enjoy the little things, for one day you may look back and realize they were the big things."
- Robert Brault -


"Children are not a distraction from more important work.  They are the most important work."
- C.S. Lewis -


"Our goal in parenting is not ultmately for our kids to get a great education or to be great athletes or to find a great husband or get a great career.  Our goal is for them to love a great God."
- David Platt -


"Life affords no greater responsibility, no greater privilege, than the raising of the next generation."
- C. Everett Koop -


"Being a mother is learning about strengths you didn't know you had, and dealing with fears you didn't know existed."
- Linda Wooten -


"A baby will make love stronger, days shorter, nights longer, bankroll smaller, home happier, clothes shabbier, the past forgotten, and the future worth living for."
- Pablo Picasso -


"There is nothing more important than parents passing on a generational legacy of faith and values to their children."
- Dr. James Dobson - 


"It is easier to build strong children than to repair broken men."
- Frederick Douglass -


"Each day of our lives we make deposits in the memory banks of our children."
- Charles R. Swindoll -


"We have a higher calling than to just live out this life.  We are not raising our children to just get through the day or the week, but rather with thoughts and prayers about who they will be in twenty years, how the Lord will use them, and ultimately where they will be for eternity."
- Betsy Corning -


"Your greatest contribution to the kingdom of God may not be something you do but someone you raise."
- Andy Stanley -


"You will never have this day with your children again.  Tomorrow, they will be a little older than they were today.  This day is a gift, breathe and notice, smell and touch them; study their face and little feet and pay attention.  Relish the charms of the present.  Enjoy today Momma, it will be over before you know it!"
- Jen Hatmaker -



September 17, 2015

#tbt stories - a couple of things


Today's Throwback Thursday is brought to you by a couple of things.

The cutest things around in my humble, completely unbiased opinion!


September 15, 2015

meal plan tuesday 9/15/15


It's that time again!  Week One was a weird one for us this time around.  We had some family visiting and different things going on, so we had a lot of dinners at my parent's house.  So, it wasn't a great week as far as meal-planning goes, but that's life for ya'!


Week One

Monday - Family Dinner

Tuesday - Grilled Chicken Sandwiches
Can you tell this is one of my go-to meals when I don't know what else to do?  Since I wasn't quite sure what the week would look like, I just planned for simple and fast things I could throw together without really thinking about.

Wednesday - Family Dinner

Thursday - Family Dinner

Friday - Beef Tacos
Just regular old ground beef tacos.  My husband was actually really happy about this one!  Sometimes I forget that it's the easiest and simplest meals that are some of his favorites!

Saturday - Pizza Night

Sunday - Leftovers

Week Two

I've made this before and it is a hit!  It's easy to make and Makayla loves anything with noodles, so this one is good as far as she's concerned!

Tuesday - Family Dinner

Wednesday - Picnic Dinner
We were planning on going out to the lake and taking a picnic dinner, but just as we were about to leave, the sunshine disappeared and it started to rain.  Sigh.  So we gave up on our plans and threw a pizza in the oven.  It's a really good thing we like pizza!

This was on our last meal plan, but I never did get to make it.  So we tried it this time, and it was super yummy!  I did cheat and use a jar of marinara instead of making the sauce, but it was still so good.  We will definitely make this one again.

Friday - Leftovers

Saturday - Creamy Tomato Soup
During the fall, it is almost always Soup Saturday at our house!  I love to have a pot of soup simmering all afternoon while the weather outside is crisp!  This soup is one of our favorites, and it goes perfectly with a grilled cheese sandwich.  Especially if the cheese is havarti and the bread is sourdough.....but that's just my opinion!  I taught Makayla how to dunk her sandwich, and she quickly mastered the skill!

Sunday - Birthday Dinner Out
It was my mom's birthday, so we went out to celebrate her!

Bonus Recipes

Y'all - make this.  It is so, so good.  I subbed blueberries for the cherries.

These were good, although I actually ended up enjoying them better the next day.  The first night, I thought they were way too tart, but the second day, I thought they were perfect!  So I don't know - maybe my taste buds were just off or something, but I will definitely make these again.

September 11, 2015

according to instagram: august favorites


Well, since it's already mid-September, I guess it's about time for August's Instagram round-up!


he left us for college | last day of swimming lessons | he got right to work


first day of school | sunday afternoon | that hair


something in the water | a girl and her shades | a sweet moment


love this boy | miracles | catching up on her reading

You can see all of our Instagram moments here.

I'm linking up with Erika, Andrea, and Narci for Friday Favorites!

Happy weekend, friends!


September 10, 2015

#tbt stories - football


In case you don't already know.....football's back.  Back again.

My husband is a happy man.

This picture is from the fall of 2008.  We had gone away for the weekend with my family, and if I remember correctly, we spent our time eating, watching football, and loving on our sweet little chunk of a baby boy, because look at him!

Also, I guess you can tell who our team is!!!


September 8, 2015

last week: this and that


Where in the world did last week go?!!  We have been super busy with a lot of extra extended-family happenings and visiting, and then we went straight into Labor Day weekend.  I'm not sure when the last time was that I got out our real camera, and even my phone hasn't been put to much use as far as picture-taking is concerned.  So once again, my pictures are lacking and I am resolving to do better!

We have managed to get moving and get outside, even with the unbearable heat last week.  The kids and I raced each other, and they eagerly pointed out to me that they are much, much faster than I am!  Something else I am looking to resolve!

Throw in some relaxing, some just-dancing, some schooling, some churching, and a tiny bit of sleeping, and that's our week in a nutshell!



September 1, 2015

meal plan tuesday 9/1/15


Is it seriously September already?  I tell you, August just flew by at our house!  We are more than ready for some fall weather around here, and I am definitely ready for some fall-weather cooking. Give me pumpkin everything!


Week One

This one never happened, y'all.  I don't even remember now what happened to make this day so crazy, but I think I just threw some quesadillas on a plate for the kids and called it a night!  This looks so good though, so I will definitely be making it soon!

Tuesday - Family Dinner

We really liked this.  I served it with shredded lettuce, diced tomatoes, chopped cilantro, and sour cream on top.

I've never heard of Winger's, but these were so easy, and so good!  I was afraid they would be too spicy, so I left the sauce off of Makayla's, and she gobbled them up.  We ate them with a regular ol' side salad.  I can see these becoming a go-to meal for me when I need something simple and quick.

Friday - Fish Tacos
Bobby made fish tacos for us with grilled Mahi.  This is one of our favorite meals to make during the summer, for sure!

Saturday - BBQ Chicken
Another grill night!  And what goes better with barbecue chicken than a loaded baked potato and corn-on-the-cob?!!

Sunday - Leftovers

Week Two

Ok, so this one never happened either!  Apparently, ever since school started back, I just cannot get my act together on Mondays!

Tuesday - Family Dinner

Wednesday - Chicken Fried Rice
I don't really follow a recipe for this, but this one looks like a good one.

Thursday - Balsamic Salmon
I've made this before and it is excellent!  Although I must say, I love almost anything with balsamic vinegar!

Friday - Leftovers

Saturday - Hamburgers

Sunday - Pizza Night
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