Friday Family Day

 It's FOOTBALL time in TENNESSEE!!!!!!!

 The boys were dressed to impress today with their TN orange.  We are so excited about the kickoff of college football tonight.  We will be cheering on the TN Vols as they play NC State tonight!

My family is here visiting for the long weekend!  We are so excited to spend time with Nana, Granddad and Uncle Matt!   

We decided to take the boys to the Children's Museum today.  We haven't been in a long time and I thought everyone would have a good time. 

Ryan had the best time playing in the sand box and huge water table.  He played and played and played.  We ate lunch there at the museum. 

He played with this ball thing for at least thirty minutes.  You place the tennis ball at the top and let it go and it rolls down and around back into the bottom hole (close to Ryan's foot).

Colton had fun today too!  He played and crawled all over the place.  It was such a fun day!  

Lemon Blueberry Cupcakes

 I saw this recipe on my friend Holly's blog a few weeks ago.  I don't know Holly in real life but I have become friends with her through our blogs and twitter.  She makes AMAZING cookies!  I always love seeing what her latest creations are and getting baking tips too.  

I made these cupcakes last Friday for our small group Bible study.  They were super yummy and I will definitely make them again!

Lemon Blueberry Cupcake

Recipe by Annie's Eats

For the Cake:

3/4 Cup plus 2 TBS all purpose flour, divided

3/4 Cup cake flour

1 1/2 tsp salt

8 Tbs. unsalted butter, at room temperature

3/4 Cup plus 2 Tbs. sugar

Zest of one lemon

2 large eggs at room temperature

1 tsp vanilla extract

2 tbs lemon juice

1/2 Cup plus tbs milk room temperature

1 Cup fresh blueberries

For the Frosting:

8 oz cream cheese

5 tbs unsalted butter at room temperature

3 Cups confectioners sugar, sifted

1 tbs freshly squeezed lemon juice

Zest of one large lemon

Extra blueberries for garnish

Preheat the oven to 350*F.  Line cupcake pans with pater liners.  In a medium bowl, combine the 3/4 cup all-purpose flour, the cake flour, baking powder and salt; whisk together and set aside.  In the bowl of an electric mixer, combine the butter, sugar and lemon zest.  Beat together on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, about 2-3 minutes.  Beat in the eggs one at a time, blending well after each addition.  Beat in the vanilla and lemon juice.  With the mixer on low speed, mix in half of the dry ingredients just until incorporated.  Blend in the milk.  Mix in the remaining dry ingredients, beating just until incorporated. 

In a small bow, toss the blueberries with the remaining 2 tablespoons of all-purpose flour. Using a spatula gently fold the berries into the cake batter.  Divide the batter evenly between the prepared liners, filling each about 3/4 full.  Bake 20-22 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.  Let cool in the pans 5 minute, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.  

To make the frosting, combine the cream cheese and butter in a bowl of an electric mixer.  Beat on medium-high speed until well combines and smooth, about 2-3 minutes.  Mix in the lemon juice and lemon zest.  Gradually beat in the confectioners' sugar until totally incorporated, increase the speed and then beat until smooth.  Frost cooled cupcakes as desired.  Garnish with fresh blueberries.

Little Summertime Left

 

This morning we had a fun playdate at the splash park with Claudette, Noah, Monica and Matthew.  Ryan had the time of his life running around playing.  I'm sad that it might be our last time to go this year since it closes next weekend! Sad!

We played for  a while then headed over to CFA for lunch.  The boys did great and they were worn out by the time we got home.  They both napped from 1-4 today!  Love long nap days!

This afternoon we went outside to play.  Ryan played with his tball that Nana and Grandad got him for his birthday!  He was having a blast and pretty good at hitting the ball!  I think we might have a little baseball player on our hands!  Batter Up!

How cute are these two!  Usually Ryan throws a huge fit when Colton sits in his chair but tonight while I was making dinner Colton climbed in his chair and Ryan called out "Mommy, Colton and I are sharing my chair together".  Precious!  Doesn't get much sweeter than that!

 And who is ready for some FOOTBALL!!!!!!!!  

Look what just came in the mail this week!!!  I am SO excited it's almost college football time!  We will all be sporting our Tennessee Orange for the games this year!  Go Vols!!!

14 Months

 

Colton - you are 14 months old!!!

You weigh around 20 pounds

You wear size 12-18 month clothes

You wear size 4.5 shoe

You wear size 4 diapers

You are one fast crawler.  You crawl everywhere.  You love to walk around furniture and use your walking toys to walk but not independently yet.  You always crawl and find wherever I am in the house.

You love your big brother and want to know and do everything he is doing.  

You are a great sleeper!  You have officially dropped your morning nap and take a 3-4 hour nape in the afternoon.  You sleep great at night and go to bed between 7:30-8 and wake around 7:45.  So thankful for two great sleeping boys.  

You are a great eater.  Your favorite things are blueberries, raspberries, grapes, green beans, strawberries, oranges and peaches.  You LOVE your fruit.  You eat pretty much everything and love snacks food like cheerios and goldfish.  

You wave hi and bye-bye.  I'm trying to teach you to blow kisses. Sometimes you do it.  

You say "momma" and "dadda" and try to mock all the sounds we make.  

You are into everything!  You are into every cabinet, pantry and drawer right now.

You are so sweet and still just so content.  You just go with the flow.  Everyone loves you and we just adore you.  You have this sneaky, mischievous grin that makes us laugh so hard.  I'm sure it won't be long before you are Ryan are getting in trouble together.  

 You are such a sweet blessing in our lives and we love you so much we can hardly stand it.

A Full Weekend

 

We've had a busy weekend around here!  It's been fun.  Friday night we had our small group from church and it was so good to get back together and see everyone.  

Saturday I had a MOPS leadership retreat all day so Matt was Mr. Mom.  The boys had fun and Matt survived, ha!  The first thing Ryan said when I went in to get him this morning was "I had fun with Daddy last night".  Love that these boys LOVE their Daddy!  

This afternoon we went to a fun family baby shower for my sweet friend Claudette.  She has a cutie pie little boy Noah who will be two in October and she is due with baby #2 in about six weeks.  She's sitting in the purple and curly headed Noah is in front of her.  

My sweet and funny friends Monica and Claudette.  They are so fun and I loved "partying" with them today.  

I made these fun cookies for the shower!

Claudette and her husband Kelly don't know what they are having so we went with the green, white and brown theme.  They turned out cute.  For the record I think it's a boy but we shall see soon enough.

Colton and I before church this morning!  Love this sweet baby boy.  He just gets cuter and sweeter by the day!

 Both of my wild boys before church this morning.  We were running super late but I love getting a good picture of all of us.  

Playscape playtime

 

This morning the boys and I headed to the nature center.  They have a new playscape just for kids.  It has sand pits, pea gravel, and a creek that kids can play in.  We had never been so I thought today might be a good day to check it out.  

 Ryan had the very best time playing in the creek!  He loved picking up rocks and moving them to another spot!  

Sweet Colton is at this hard age right now.  He isn't walking so he can't play on the playground. He basically just chills in the stroller while Ryan plays!  I know this phase will pass quickly and soon enough they will both be running all over the place. 

 

Ranch-Style Chicken

I think I'm going to make Wednesday's on the blog Recipe Wednesday and share some of my favorite recipes.  I am always searching for new good and easy recipes to make for my family.  

Now it's no secret that I am not a fan of cooking.  I LOVE to bake but I struggle with cooking. I'm not good at tasting something and knowing what it needs.  It's definitely a work in progress.  I'm getting better at cooking with a little help from The Pioneer Woman.  I have two of her cookbooks and love them.  Her cooking style is simple and scrumptious!  

I made her Ranch Style Chicken the other night and it was a huge hit.  Matt absolutely loved it!  The boys didn't really eat it but it was so good I can't wait to make it again.  

So here's the recipe

Ingredients:
6 bonelss, skinless chicken breasts
1/2 cup honey
1/2 cup dijon mustard
juice of 1 lemon
1 teaspoon paprika
1/2 tsp salt
1 pounds chick cut bacon, sliced in half and fried until chewy
2 cups grated mild or sharp cheddar cheese

Directions:
In a large bowl, combine the honey, dijon, lemon juice, paprika, and salt. Stir to combine.
Add the chicken to the marinade and toss to coast. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and marinate in the fridge for 2 -4 hours.
When you are ready to cook the chicken, remove it from the marinade and grill it over medium-high heat, 3-4 minutes per side.  Brush a little bacon grease on the chicken before placing it on the grill.  When a couple of minutes of grilling time are left, lay 2 pieces of bacon on each chicken breast. Top with some grated cheddar cheese and allow to belt on the grill.

Serve with some potatoes or put on a bun to enjoy as a sandwich.

Tuesday and A lot of Cookies

This morning we went over to my friend Anissa's house for a playdate.  The boys love playing with Elizabeth and Quinn.  Sadly I didn't get a single picture while I was there, boo!  I'm so excited that Ryan and Elizabeth are in the same class for preschool this year.  So glad he will already have a friend at school.  

I had a very busy weekend.  I made 200 cookies for the grand opening of my friends new church in Loveland called Mosaic Cincinnati.  Initially they asked me to make 100 and I said sure!  Then last Tuesday they called and asked if I could make 100 more! YIKES!!!  At first I was going to say no way but after contemplating how much time it would take I knew I could do it and agreed to give them 200.  The design is the churches logo.  

I worked on them for a few hours each day from tues - friday then pretty much all day saturday.  I finished packing them up on Sunday morning just in time to deliver before church.  Ever wonder what 200 wrapped cookies look like?  Well, here they all are pilled on my coffee table.  

That's A LOT of cookies! 

Happy Graduation

 

Saturday night we went to a graduation party for Matt's cousin Isaac.  (Picture above is Isaac, his Dad Steve and Step-Mom Teresa)  He just graduated from Ohio State University with a degree in Engineering.  We are so proud of him and we're thrilled to celebrate his big day!

The party was at a country club.  It was so nice and just perfect location for a great party.  We were so excited to see lots of family and meet some of Isaac's college friends. 

We decided to leave the boys at home with a babysitter.  We knew if we brought them it would be hard to entertain them and we wouldn't be able to stay as long.  Everyone was asking about them and was bummed not to see them but we enjoyed a night out without them.

Matt with his Uncle Steve and Aunt Teresa.  

Matt's sister Erin and our close family friend Gail!

Some more family - Matt's Uncle John and Aunt Jaymie, Aunt Michele in the purple.  It was such a fun night and a great party!

Fun Finds

Last week while I was at the MOPS convention in Dallas I found these super adorable fun find at the resource center of the convention.  They are called Tabletop Truths.  They are placemats that "bring God's truth to your everyday routine".  

I knew the boys would love these and be able to learn about the Bible at the same time.  Love, love, love!  Raych and I each got 4 placemats.  The creation story, the Fruit of the Spirit, Jesus is... and Love -I John 4:19. 

Love the creation story.  Fun pictures that Ryan can pick out things and help learn the story.

Every kid needs to learn the fruits of the spirit.  Love this one!

All four placemats have this on the back!  Every child needs to know God loves them and I love the verse around the bottom. 

Ryan has been in a cleaning frenzy lately.  We went to get the boys haircut this afternoon and he was begging the whole time to use the broom to sweep of the hair on the floor.  I think Santa needs to bring him his own vacuum cleaner this year. ;)