Pea-nut update!

Okay.. so, the roasted peas are really good! I had to make Casey quit eating them for fear I wouldn't have any left for tomorrow's "Park Snack".
I've even been snacking on them a good bit (and I hate peas). So, if you or your kids don't like veggies and are looking for a clever, healthy-er, snack.. try these!

Although, I'm not sure how healthy they are (I'm sure all the nutrients get sucked out) but they have to be better than cookies and goldfish =)

We'll be back soon!

Our Picnic Lunch, Books, and Pea-nuts!

For some reason ham and cheese, goldfish, fruit, and grahm cracker cookies just taste better at a picnic!

It was hot.. but very worth it.
Caroline chilled in her stroller under the table (it was the only shade). I think she was happy!



After we ate our lunch I fed Caroline and Anna took Casey up to the top of the hills.



Ever heard the expression.. You are what you eat!..?
Well-



My child is definitely a ham!!

In other "blog news" I have a few things for you to try.
I've been on a reading kick lately and here are my suggestions for ya- If you haven't read Heaven is for REAL get it today... you will not be sorry!
Also.. before the end of summer and the movie comes out you must read The Help.. I loved it.
Something Borrowed followed by Something Blue are both wonderful beach reads.
Right now I'm reading In the Sanctuary of Outcasts by Neil White. It is really good too. It's a memoir of a man (Neil White) that had to go to a federal prison that doubled as prison and leper colony in Carville, Louisianna for bank fraud. - I'll let you know how it is but so far it's really good!

ALSO-
I have a recipe for you. If you know me at all you know I hate all peas BUT when I'm trying to convince my two year old to eat green veggies I have to suck it up and eat them too. I thought I would just mix my few spoonfuls in with my pasta...which I did.. but they weren't so bad. Then when I was cleaning up afterward I decided not to let the rest of the peas go to waste so I decided to try and roast them.



I poured the peas in a mixing bowl with oil and various seasonings and roasted them for about 30 minutes..



They were actually pretty good. But OBVIOUSLY I'm no chef.. they were a bit salty. But, it occured to me that kids will eat anything from a ziploc =)
Anna loved them!

Today when the girls wake up from naps I'm off to the grocery store to get more peas and some different spices for this recipe I found on Google:

I figured if I thought to roast peas and make a sort of "Pea-nut-snack" then someone else had thought of it and made it better! I'll let you know- this recipe is for roasted spicey peas:

2 Cups green peas
2.5 Tbsp oil
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
1/2 tsp ground cumin
1/2 tsp garlic salt
1/4 tsp paprika
1/4 tsp ground coriander
1/4 tsp white pepper

375 degrees

Line sheet pan with parchment paper.
Thaw green peas. Pour off any water. Pat dry.

Put in bowl. Coat with oil.
Add spices. Toss until evenly coated.

Place in single layer on sheet pan.

Place on center rack for 1hr- or longer depending on how crunchy you want them.

Let dry completely.

Keep covered. Last 2-3 weeks.

Well, the girls are up so we're headed to the store.

I'll let you know how our taste test goes!

Y'all have a good rest of the day!

Make Me an Offer!

I'm selling Anna's old bedding I made for her nursery. Click HERE and HERE to see old post with more photos.

The Euro Sham, Standard Sham, bed skirt (TWIN) and the curtain tie-backs.. NOT, the curtains just the paisley tie-backs.


(Euro and Standard Sham)


(Pleated bedskirt..needs ironing)
If you are interested or have any questions email me: momatt412[at]yahoo[dot]com.

First come, First serve!!

********************* NEXT *******************

Pictures of yesterday's Park Adventures:

Casey and Anna Sliding:

"Woah Nelly"

"Sweet Anna"

Our "Snack-guard"



"HEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEY"



"The most fun EVER"



"4 Year Anniversary Date.. Pizza and Baseball (MY choice)"



Y'all have a happy afternoon and a SweetMonday!!

Be back soon. Don't forget to email me about the bedding -I could uses some extra cash :)

Without A Title!

I couldn't think of an appropriate title for this blog post. I've tried to write this post a few times and keep deleting it.
Although I don't consider myself a wonderful writer.. or even a WRITER.. I do normally spend some time thinking over what I'm going to say and how I should say it.

I've spent more time thinking, writing and banging on the "delete" button with my two pointer fingers like Tom Hanks in "You've Got Mail" (tell me you know the scene and I'm not CRAZY) than you could possibly imagine. BUT.. I've decided to just sit and type (RAW) without thinking... and just write it!

Two weeks ago massive, deadly tordanoes swept through this part of the country like ... well, like some huge, ugly twirly nightmare... and what was I doing? I'm totally ashamed and embarrassed to say that I was sitting at the kitchen table proudly painting a magnetic board for my new house! Yes, I knew the weather was crazy bad, I knew the sirens were going off and I knew my phone was ringing off the hook with concerned calls and texts... in which I responed.. "Not bad here.. y'all?" or something to that nature.. but I had no clue just how bad things were.. even just down the street!!

It wasn't until the next day when it was all over National news that I realized how terrible the "storms" (as I casually called them in my April 27 post) really were.

This past weekend we were in North Alabama visiting my family (for the BBQ Festival like last year) and we drove around to see some of the damage. Damage is the understatement of the year! I couldn't believe my eyes! These picture were taken in a neighborhood less than 3 mintues from where I graduated highschool and 5-7 minutes from my parents' home. Sadly, from what I understand.. there were MUCH worse scenes to be seen than even these awful sights!



















My heart just aches for all of the people that lost loved ones and/or homes! It just blows my mind. But, I'm thankful for how God's almighty love has really surfaced through this tragic event.

I was thankful for the safety of my family and friends the night after the tornadoes but after seeing some of the devastation first-hand, I'm even MORE thankful they were all safe!

We had a very fun and blessed weekend with the family....and Yes,I apologize! I feel somewhat guilty adding my "happy-life" photos after showing pictures of the nonexistent homes of so many tornado victems. (And this isn't even a small percent of those affected.) BUT... I know my family is wanting to see a recap of the weekend.. for it was a blessed time we are all thankful for!! I'm also sorry to all of my sweet friends that I didn't inform I was in town.. but it was a packed SHORT weekend that we were not even sure would happen until it was happening. Next time we'll all get together tho!



I rode in the middle of my sweet girls because Paula rode over with us. It was a squeeze but actually worked out nicely...



I got out of diaper changing duty =) AND I got to read just about the whole way without feeling guitly for not talking to Casey.. ha!

Anna SHOULDN"T have needed a diaper change now that she is practically a big girl..but, things happen!

The boys cooked fabulous BBQ and everyone had a blast just hanging out.. Here are some of my pictures:

















































AND Naturally Anna wanted to take pictures too:



BABY COUSIN



FOX



UNCLE NATE and CAROLINE



MOMMY and UNCLE LUKE



BEENE WORKING



UNCLE NATE and CAROLINE...again

It was a great, fun time!!

Before I have to head:

If you have two children under the age of three then you know how hard it is to get a coordinating picture of the both of them:



They Move



They Wiggle



They Scream



and They Giggle

Leaving my favorite picture of the moment looking like this:



I love this for the sole reason that it depicts their stages PERFECTLY!!

I hope you all have a HappyDay.. I'll be back soon!