Tuesday, August 4, 2009

Seven Years Together


Dan and I celebrated our 7th wedding anniversary on August 1. I can't believe we've been married seven years!! The time has gone by so fast that the only thing that reminds me it's actually been 7 years is our 3 children - especially since Natalie is about to start school.


We celebrated together at a bed & breakfast in Wimberly, TX. I told Dan I didn't want to do gifts this year, just spend time with each other on a getaway. So Dan found this quaint little cottage out in the country with a big jacuzzi bath (doesn't get any better than that!!). We went out to dinner at a steakhouse owned by Bruce Collie - a two-time super bowl winner (yeah I'd never heard of him either). But the man sure had a great menu! We had the best fried zucchini ever, yummy sandwiches with DIVINE fries and onion rings, and our favorite dessert - creme brulee!!! Oh it was sooooo good!


We stayed up really late watching movies and eating junk food, slept in late, then woke up to finish watching our movie and eat more junk food!


The breakfast was home-cooked biscuits and gravy and of course we ate waaaay too much! It was so funny when we walked into the dining hall the owner insisted on introducing us to everyone. One older lady came up to us and asked if we were newlyweds! We laughed and said, "No, we're celebrating our 7th anniversary!" What a compliment - I'd like to think we still have that spark in our marriage that makes people wonder about us. Then I told her how we have 3 kids and if they were with us she wouldn't have made that mistake. :)


Since we were in Wimberly on the first Saturday of the month we ventured over to Market Days which I've never been to before. It was fun walking through and seeing all the fun things people make and sell. We got some delicious honey-mustard sauce and candied jalapenos (if you've never had them you're missing out!!) I found a decorative tile for our living room that I can't wait to put up once I find a shelf for it. We didn't stay too long once it started to get hot.


We were able to catch a nap at the cottage before we met up with Dan's parents who were gracious enough to watch the kids for us. In return we let them stay at the cottage that night since we had to book it for two nights. It was a win-win for all of us!


We ended our anniversary at Texas Roadhouse with my parents for dinner. The kids always love going there and eating the peanuts. And of course the food was amazing as usual, I live for their pulled pork!


I am so glad that we got to spend this wonderful weekend together since Dan left on Sunday and will be travelling ALL MONTH. So if you want to hang out with me I am willing - I'll even make you dinner! It's going to be a long month so hopefully we can fill up our calendar and keep ourselves busy. On the plus side, Natalie will be starting school in 3 weeks! I'm scared and happy for her at the same time.


Now to my hubby-


We made it! 7 years. That was always the mark I set in my mind that if we made it the first 7 years then we were in the clear. I feel so greatful and priveleged to be your wife. You have stuck by me through so many ups and downs - including bringing our three beautiful children into this world. You are such a great father to them and they adore you. And you are the perfect man for me - I couldn't ask for a better husband. I loved spending this past weekend with you because it helped me remember how much fun we have together as a couple (which can easily be forgotten in all the chaos). You have always been my knight in shining armor ;) (remember the card?) and I can't wait to see what this next year has in store for us. I'll follow you anywhere, as will the kids, we're all on the same team. I am missing you terribly and can't wait to see you again. Thank you for making our anniversary so magical. I love you!!!


Your Babe :)

Sunday, July 19, 2009

Summer Happenings

Wow - this summer has gone by SO FAST! I know it isn't over yet, but it feels like it since I'm already buying school supplies (yikes!!). I was looking through all the pictures I've taken this summer and realized that I hadn't posted a lot of funny/cute pics of the kids. So here's what we've been up to this summer...



The kids have found so many ways to keep entertained!




Tyler has become very curious and loves to get into everything!

Tyler's favorite place - our kitchen table
(He can always find something fun there!)

Sometimes you just need a nap (he fell asleep in the laundry)

Summer haircut!

Summer treats - YUM
Camping at Lake Bastrop (before it got so hot!)

It's always fun to play t-ball, especially naked!!

Natalie's tea parties are the best!

Playing with friends at the splash park

Planting flowers with Grandma - the kids have loved watering them and watching them grow all summer

What you're not seeing is all the swimming, bike-riding, book-reading, running, and other craziness that goes on around here. We're having fun while we try to endure the 100+ degree days and keep our cool!

Hope you're having a great summer too!!!

Wednesday, July 15, 2009

Hotdog fun!


We've been on a hotdog roll these last few weeks. Nothing like summer to throw out a healthy diet and find new ways to eat my kids' favorite food - hotdogs!


Actually, I didn't come up with anything new but remembered some fun ways we had hotdogs when I was growing up. So all the credit goes to my Mom for these wonderful and DELICIOUS recipes!


Bean & Hotdog Casserole
  • Large can baked beans

  • Hotdogs

  • Bisquick

  • Milk

  • Cheddar cheese

Cut up hotdogs (however many you prefer, I think we used 6-8) and add to baked beans in a casserole dish. Mix bisquick with enough milk to spread across top of beans. Bake at 350 degrees about 20 minutes, add these on top and bake another 10 minutes.


My kids love this! So easy and yummy!!!



Bacon-wrapped Hotdogs

  • Hotdogs

  • Cheddar Cheese

  • Bacon

  • Hotdog buns

Slice hotdogs length-wise to where they open, don't cut apart completely. Place strips of cheese down slit hotdogs. Wrap with one strip of bacon.


We grilled ours over medium heat to allow the bacon to crisp without burning the hotdogs. Serve in buns or without - the kids ate them plain. I promise you will LOVE these!! So juicy and crispy - you can't go wrong!!!


(I'm craving one just looking at this pic!)

Got any fun hotdog recipes? Please share!!

Friday, July 10, 2009

4th of July

Independence Day, 2009
We started off our 4th of July with a parade in my parent's neighborhood. It was a police and firetruck-led parade of old cars (classics), motorcycles, bicycles, and golf carts all decorated with flags and streamers. The firetruck had on its siren so of course Nathan ran inside as soon as the parade started. Once it passed he peeked outside to see what was happening... It didn't take him long once he realized the people in the parade were throwing out CANDY!!!
After the parade, the kids consumed enormous amounts of candy and then played in the slip-and-slide. We wanted to make sure they were really worn out so they'd take good naps - we didn't want them to be too tired for fireworks! Fortunately, the boys took a very long nap and woke up just in time for our steak dinner that Dan fixed (you're the best babe!!). We headed over to the city park once it started getting dark and got to see a 20-minute show of FIREWORKS!! I was afraid they would frighten Tyler, but he loved it!
That's all the kids could talk about this past week - seeing the fireworks and the parade with candy.
Oh and one more thing.... Natalie lost another tooth on the 4th of July! She's now lost 7 teeth!
Happy Birthday, America!