A Shout Out!!!

Today's post is dedicated to one of my soon-to-be, dedicated blog reader, sister in-laws that I have not met yet. JC's sister Missy and her family do not live in the states and the only communication her and I have had is through email, facebook, and blogging!! I will not officially meet her in person until just before our wedding!! Hopefully.....she will approve!

She has once told me that she loves reading the blog and seeing the pictures so that she knows what is going on with us over here! Soooo....this past Monday we had the family over for burgers at our house and I made everyone pose so that we could do a "Shout Out" to her!!!

HI Missy!!

Here you go! Can't wait to meet you in the spring!

Catching UP!!

I was traveling last week so I just didn't have any time to do any updates. Here we go....

Last weekend me, JC, his sister Andrea and her boyfriend Lonnie all headed to Destin for the weekend. JC's aunt and uncle had rented a house and invited us down. We were originally scheduled to have Savanna but her grandparents wanted to take her out of town instead. At first I was so upset because I had gotten front row seats to Sesame Street live for that Sunday AND I am a planner so changing the plans really gets me fired up. I had also told Savanna about the show and she was excited....I think she forgot thank goodness. But fortunately...we got the call shortly after to head for Destin and I was happy just to spend time with JC. We just hung out and watched football, swam (freezing) and went out! If you don't remember...this was Alabama's first lost for the season and my boy is a HUGE fan.....he didn't take it too hard (the fact the my Auburn Tigers won didn't help too much).

Hanging out at AJ's

Andrea and Lonnie
Swimming in the Freezing Pool

JC and Uncle Mike
Sunset

So then we had Savanna this past weekend to make up for our other weekend. Saturday a friend of mine's little boy was turning 2 so we went to a birthday party (football and beer....so the dad's were happy too) and then to the Pumpkin Patch.

Warming up to the Jumpy

Birthday Boy

Swinging...she liked the little swing because she could "push myself"

Pushing Mary Elizabeth
Stacey's (bridesmaid) little girl

Just hanging outAfter the party we left for the pumpkin patch. As we were heading to get our pumpkins....I was thinking "It's getting close to nap time...she played really hard at the birthday party....maybe we should just skip the Pumpkin Patch." BUT...did I listen to my gut feeling..NOPE....we went and at the very end was a huge melt down!! Fortunately I did get some cute pictures before it fell to pieces.....mainly over sand in her shoes!! The great news...she took a 3 hour nap once we got home!!

Very proud of the Little Pumpkins

See the baby pumpkin on the big one!

Checking it out

Looking for boo-boos

Overall we had a great weekend!!!

Family Project (haha)

Our kitchen table chairs have needed a long overdue "makeover." The seat cushions were white and were filthy! It was almost embarrassing to let people sit on them. I really didn't care too much though because with an ALL INDEPENDENT 3 year old feeding herself home cooked meals such as chili, spaghetti, roast, and a few desserts here and there.....the dirty chair covers made me relax over spills and such! BUT...the time had come!!!


Have you ever covered chair cushions before?!?! Well we both (JC and I) admitted to each other that we had....we both felt very confident in our ability to do this task!!! Well I sure hate to know what the final product of our past adventures looked like because LET ME TELL YOU.....neither one of us had our "Martha Stewart" skills showing! And corners.....just forget the corners!!

As we got started on the seats....we both of course thought each of our methods was the best....so the deal was....He did 3 and I did 3 and then we pushed them under the table!



I think they turned out pretty good....they definitely look better than before....AND

We still love each other!

Halloween Treat

I made these little guys last year and got so many compliments. So I am posting them now just in case someone needs to make these before I get around to it this season. They taste so good and are perfectly cute for any Halloween gathering!!

Enjoy!

GHOST COOKIES!!!

Nutter Butter Cookies
White Almond Bark
Mini-Nestle Chocolate Morsels

Crock Pot Jambalaya

Here is an AWESOME....super easy recipe!! I love jambalaya!! I was born in Louisiana but did not live there long enough to find my inner Cajun (or so I thought)!! My dad is totally an Italian food lover (hence my last name)....but I am a sucker for spice!! I LOVE it!!

Now having mentioned spice....this jambalaya was not too spicy at all....in fact I didn't add quite all the red pepper it called for. I'd rather season when I eat with Tabasco. So it is a totally family safe recipe!!

Here you go!! Note the last 5 ingredients are just seasonings!



1 lb chopped chicken breasts (raw)
1 lb of chopped sausage (I used conecuh sausage)
1 cup chopped celery
1 chopped onion
1 chopped bell pepper
1 large can (28oz) diced tomatoes
1 cup chicken broth
2 tsp dried oregano
2 tsp dried parsley
2 tsp cajun seasoning (I used Tony's)
1 tsp cayenne pepper
1/2 teaspoon dried thyme

I chopped (used the food processor...I hate chunks) all of my ingredients the night before and stored them in separate baggies. The best part about this....I just dumped it all into the crock pot the next morning...AWESOME!!

Here it is just starting!! Cook on Low for 8 hours!

After I got home....

I added the cooked rice (4 cups cooked) to the jambalaya just before I served it. I would let the rice cook with the jambalaya for about an hour next time so it absorbs the last of the liquid!

The finished product!!! Thanks to my bible girls for being the testers!!! I brought some leftovers to work the next day and it smelled so good!

Kidz Klozet

Oh my.....a consignment sale!!! In Mobile we have this huge consignment sale twice a year, spring and fall!! I went this past spring to pick up a few things for Savanna. I happened to get a Charity Sale pass so I was able to go in before the public. I stood in line for about 30 minutes and was just behind about 20 people....not so bad!!

Well this year I happened to luck up with a Consigner Sale pass which once again meant that I could go in before the public but with all of the consingers!! So Sunday afternoon....I went out in the rain to go catch some bargains!! When I pulled up to the parking lot....there were no spaces left and I was re-routed to some grassy, rooty, patch in between some other stores!! As I parked I sat in my car one moment and said "To heck with this!" and left! I am not the richest girl in the world....but I DO NOT fight or want to feel crowded or overwhelmed for a good deal!! Nope...never have and NEVER will!! I LEFT....I couldn't believe it but I did.

WELL....the sale was opened to the public three days this week, so on Tuesday (with MOM in hand) I attempted again and it was much better!!! I may have missed out on the best stuff but I got quite a few bargains and was happy!!! Here are some of the nicer things...I got her a few other outfits too AND mom found her some pink, sparkly, Sleeping Beauty high heels!! I'll have to show those when she puts them on!!

What a Difference....

....A 3 Year Old Makes!!

Our Friday nights are VERY different!!

I must admit that finding the man of my dreams did not necessarily include also finding a 2 year old (at the time)! Most single girls are not looking for a family at the same time they are looking for a man....I was looking for fancy dinner dates, romantic get-a-ways, weekends of sleeping late, and all of that "just the two of us" time!!! I mean, seriously.....what girl dreams of being a step-mother?!?!? NOT most! After all, we all know how Cinderella's step-mother was such a witch...If I think of being thought of as "that" kind of step-mother I am just plain frightened!!



BUT.....with every other weekend that we have Savanna....her and I are building the bond that feels like a mom and a daughter! I love that she comes to me for things and tells me everything on her mind (I understand about half)!!! I love that she finishes her sentences with "Steph" to make sure that I heard her!! I love that I help her put on costumes all day every day!!

I love that she gets so excited she nearly jumps out of the car to see me (when daddy is out of town)!! I love that if she makes a bad choice, my disappointment is enough to make her feel remorseful! I LOVE that yesterday she let me fix her hair without screaming and crying...I reinforced her good behavior with 3 M&Ms!!!



AND...I love that when I told her I was going to marry Daddy.....she said "Me too!!!"



I guess after all.....it was at a child's party where I met JC and Savanna!! Maybe we were destined to be a family!! I know that God has brought us together in what "the world" may see as a nontraditional way.....(perhaps a little harder)...but I trust Him!

Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.
Proverbs 3:5-6