Happy Birthday Adam

Well today is the 22nd birthday to my little brother Adam. I just wanted to say how much I love him and how thankful I am to have such a wonderful little brother. Our mom would be so proud of him now I really wish she could see him...But I do feel peace knowing she is looking down and smiling.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY UNCLE ADAM WE LOVE YOU!

Adam, our nephew Taylor and our Dad

Gulf Shore Al 2009

Say My Name Say My Name...

Who remembers that song by Destiny's Child? I do I can also remember dancing around my bedroom singing this song into my hairbrush. I don't remember all the lyrics but I remember that line from the chorus!

The other day I realized that most of Cooper's vocabulary is made up of peoples names and he LOVES to say peoples names! I spent all day here at the house with him and we spent the better part of an hour saying peoples names. I would say "Say Jesse" and he would respond "Esse" or I would say "Say Duece" and he would respond "Uce". This was so much fun and it was neat to see how many names he was able to actually say. It was great it totally made my day!

Then just this morning while I was chatting it up on the phone with Linds he was in the floor rolling around saying "Ola" over and over and over! "Ola" is how he pronounces his BFF's name Lola. He must have been board because he was just saying it and wouldn't stop! I think his little mind was thinking "Hey lady get off the phone and find me someone to play with!"

If you are ever down stop by and play this game with Cooper yourself...There is nothing like hearing his most precious voice say your name or well any ones for that matter!

Just for fun this is a short list of the names he can say and his pronunciations. Oh and for the record he says "Momma and Dadda" just regular and he is always saying those two names for sure!

Jesse=Esse

Duece=Uce

Adam=Anam

Papa=Pa

Lola=Ola

Lindsey=Lili

Brandy=Ba

Ellen=Eee

Izzie the dog=Dooooog

This is just a few and these are people he sees alot! Most of them he knows because I have worked with him and because we went over every single person we know that day we were playing the "Name Game". Can't wait to see how he pronounces other names and things later!

Recipe Sunday????

I didn't post a recipe on Sunday and was way to busy on Monday. So here is one passed on to me by my step-mom. It is yummy and easy. Enjoy....

Chicken Chowder

2 c. half and half

1 c chicken broth

2 cans cream of potato soup

1 can cream of chicken soup

1 sm. can green chillies

1 can mexicorn

1 med. onion chopped

2 chicken breast cooked and cubed

salt and pepper to taste

Mix all ingredients and heat until boiling. Serve warmed through with bread, crackers, or corn chips. Also can be made in crock-pot.

HAPPY COOKING!

Such A Pretty Fat...

That is the title of a super funny book I have been reading. My dear friend Brandy (or Mrs. Brandy as she is called around here) gave me this book and I have been reading it every chance I get! I can't stop laughing when I am reading it. I have laughed, cried and almost peed myself reading this hilarious book. But the title made me think...Well remember all the times I have heard a statement that takes on the same meaning and as I read about the overly confident "heavy" Jen in my book I wonder if those kinds of statements bother me?

Michael has a friend who always use to say " Well you have a pretty face!" Like that made me feel better. But as far as he was concerned pretty face didn't matter if your butt or gut were "big". HA! What does he know isn't it about personality anyway? I have seen people double take Michael and I as we walk through the mall I am sure those girls are thinking "Cute guy who is the fat chick!" Maybe they aren't thinking that but there looks make me think they are.

This book has made me realize...I need to take pride not only in the way I look but how I carry myself. People can only hurt you if you let them and I have spent years letting people hurt me because of the way I look. Well not any more. Michael is always telling me I am hot so sista is going to start knowing it herself. I mean a little make up and some cute clothes can change my mind and others!

Ok so back to the book...You must read it! You will laugh on every single page. There is a little well "strong" language but come on we all need a guilty pleasure every now and then. Here is the sample from the back of the book...

" To whom the fat rolls...I'm tired of books where a self-loathing heroine is teased to the point where she starves herself skinny in hope of a fabulous new life. And I hate the message that a women can't possibly be happy until we all fit into our skinny jeans. I don't find there stories uplifting; they make me want to hug these women and take them out for a fizzy champagne drinks and cheesecake and explain to them that until they figure out their insides, their outsides don't matter. Unfortunately, being overweight isn't simply a societal issue that can be fixed with a healthy dose of positive self-esteem. It's a health matter, and here on the eve of my fortieth year, I've learned I have to make changes so I don't, you know die. Because what good is finally being able to afford a pedicure if I lose a foot to adult-onset diabetes?" Jen Lancaster Such a Pretty Fat

I have the book so if you would like to borrow it let me know...I am almost done and no to her next one...Hope it is this funny! HAPPY READING

This Is Momma's Room Stay Out

I have been super busy this week...I moved Duece and Cooper into a bedroom together. Michael had spent the better part of the weekend painting the room and prepping it for its new "job". This well sized room use to house just Duece, who for some reason a looooong time ago decided he didn't even want to sleep in there. Well so he then started sleeping in my bedroom floor *sigh* I can not believe I ever let that happen! So after talking it over with Duece we moved Cooper into his room. Now they share the room and it is feeling a little small to me. But it works and it turned out so cute! I am so happy with how it all came together the perfect mix of big boy little boy for a 5 year old and a 18 month old. And guess what Duece loves sleeping in there! I have a couple more things to do in there then I am going to find a way to post some pics...I know you will love it so much you will even want to come sleep in it.

This means Michael and I are now reclaiming our room! WOOOO HOOO I am so excited about that part. I mean every married couple deserve that right !? Well with moving Cooper out of his "nursery" that freed up the 4th bedroom here at our house....So guess what? Momma got a sewing/crafting room which I couldn't be more happy about:) This really excites me the most even more than having my bedroom to myself. Because a Crafting Room (as I am calling it) is all mine. I am even thinking about posting a sign on the door that say "This is Momma's room stay out!" Ok but to be serious this really is great... A place to make my "mess" and not have to clean it up just so we can have dinner. And this also frees up alot of closet space in the master closet which on top of housing our shoes and clothes had been housing all kinds of crafting supplies. I am so excited I can not wait to break it in tomorrow I think Ellen is coming over to sew! YEAH!

There is more sprucing up to come. I have a million projects to go but thanks to some wonderful friends and really wonderful husband they are all getting done and I can't wait to get it all done and post pics! WOW I am feeling a lot better about my New Years "Not Resolutions" now:)

Confession Time

Ok I am going to have a little confession session here.... Part of my New Year's "not resolution" was to get a handle on my house and my time management. I am not so happy with my lack of control of things concerning the way I "run" my day. It is so out of balance and I go to bed every night with countless things undone. This now is making me crazy and now I just don't want to do a thing. I have decided to start using a chart to plan my day out and this will give me a place to do menu ideas and such. I am revamping my home management binder and I will now have a relationship with it like I do with my Bible. I can't wait to have a better grip on my day. I am a little scared that I will become an even more anal person than I already am. But what can I say you know you will love me despite my quirks!

When I have perfected my new chart I will share it with you. And now that I have shared this with you I will be counting on you to keep my accountable:)

Potato-Bacon Chowder

I am going to share another recipe out of my churches cook book. I make this alot at my house and even served it on Christmas to our family that came over.

Potato-Bacon Chowder (June Denny)

8 slices of bacon

1 lg onion

4 c. (about 6 ) cubed potatoes

2 c. water

1 lg. can of cream of chicken soup

2 c. sour cream

1 3/4 c. milk

salt and pepper to taste

Fry bacon until crisp. Saute onions in bacon grease. Drain fat. Add potatoes and water then bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 20 minutes or until potatoes are tender. Add soup, sour cream, milk, salt and pepper. Cook until ingredients are blended and heated throughout. Crumble bacon into soup. Serve with shredded cheese goes well with a salad and yeast roll.

HAPPY COOKING!