Cute Pics

Aaron & Alyssa

It is amazing how much Alyssa looks like Aaron!! You almost can't tell them apart!!

Aaron at around 3 months old:


Alyssa at about the same age: (at least she is wearing pink!!)


Another one of Aaron at 3 months:


And Alyssa at 3 months:


Playing in the car

We got the car cleaned up and ready for Alyssa this week. We bought this car when Seth was about her age. I thought it would be fun to look at the first pics of the kids in the cars...realized I guess we never got any pics of Aaron in the car. I know he played in it! But I can't seem to find any pics...sorry Aaron.

Anyways, here is Seth:


And here is Alyssa! (they don't favor as much as Alyssa and Aaron)



Too Sweet!

I found another forgotten picture on a camera!! This was taken the night we came home from Galveston (we were at my parents house that night). I propped Alyssa up on the couch to run and do something (don't remember what) but when I came back just a couple of minutes later she was sound asleep! I guess the vacation wore her out!!



Have a great evening everyone!

VACATION!!!

We just got back from a great vacation with my parents, sister and nephew! We went to Galveston and had fun at Moody Gardens, playing on the beach and then going to the Houston Aquarium!!

We discover how to survive 5 1/2 hours on the beach with a 3 month old...get a canopy!! It was super nice and provided a breezy shaded area!! We kept the kids lathered in sunscreen and everyone had a great time!

Here's the canopy!



Enjoying the sand!



A great mother/daughter pose!!


The whole family! The only one missing is my brother. He wasn't able to make the trip but he was surely missed!



My little beach girl!!


Seth looks kind of like a drowned rat!


A wiped out Aaron!! And see Alyssa in the swing? She slept almost the entire time we were out there!! I guess she thought the sound of the ocean waves was very soothing!


A great time was had by all!!

Isn't she a cutie?!?!

I just had to share pics of Alyssa from yesterday! I crocheted the top she's wearing!!

She is such a cutie!!!

Stay tuned for beach pictures!! We leave Wednesday!!

Our Fun Weekend

We had a fun family weekend!!! I thought I would share some pictures!

On Friday night we took the kids to the Bass Pro Shop. They enjoyed looking at all the goodies in the store.


They were a bit scared of the huge stuffed bear.



They really enjoyed looking at giant catfish!!


Alyssa had fun playing with Daddy at supper.


On Saturday we went to Granny & Papa's to play in their pool.



Also on Saturday Papa brought out the clippers and cut the boys' hair.



Here is Seth's before picture...


here he goes...bye bye hair...


and the after picture


Aaron enjoyed playing with the water hose!


Daddy & Alyssa napping on Sunday!


It was a super nice weekend!

Mommy has been in the kitchen

I have been asked to share some of my recipes...so I thought I would share the two I made last night - A new one and a favorite!!

Sweet 'N Sour Meatball Simmer
This was adapted from the Kraft recipe but I made a couple of changes!!



Ingredients

16-oz. pkg. frozen prepared homestyle meatballs

1 red pepper
1 yellow pepper
1 orange pepper
1 yellow onion

3/4 cup apricot jam

3/4 cup KRAFT CATALINA Dressing

4 Tbsp. soy sauce
3 Tbsp. ground ginger
2 Tbsp. garlic powder

Steps:

COMBINE all ingredients in large skillet; cover.

COOK on medium-high heat 10 min. or until meatballs and vegetables are heated through, stirring occasionally.

SERVE over hot cooked rice or pasta, if desired.

Next time I will add a can of pineapple chunks! This was super easy and super delicious! I will be making this again!!

Now for a favorite!! I have made this a lot!!!

Mom's Banana Bread

adapted from Cooking Light's recipe...but of course I made some changes...beware - with my changes it is not as light of a dish :-)

Ingredients

• 1 cup sugar
• 1/4 cup butter, softened
• 3 mashed ripe bananas
• 1/4 cup milk
• 1/4 cup sour cream
• 2 large egg whites
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• Cooking spray

Preparation

Preheat oven to 350°.

Combine sugar and butter in a bowl; beat at medium speed of a mixer until well-blended. Add banana, milk, sour cream, and egg whites; beat well, and set aside.

Combine flour, baking soda, and salt; stir well. Add dry ingredients to creamed mixture, beating until blended.

Spoon batter into 4 (5 x 2 1/2-inch) miniature loaf pans coated with cooking spray. Bake at 350° for 45 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Let cool in pans 10 minutes on a wire rack; remove from pans. Let cool completely or serve warm with butter!!

Note: To make one 9-inch loaf, spoon batter into a 9 x 5-inch loaf pan coated with cooking spray; bake at 350º for 1 hour and 10 minutes. Yield: 1 loaf, 20 servings (serving size: 1 slice).

Enjoy!!

A Beautiful Smile

Sometimes you just have to cherish the small moments of life!! Alyssa was being so cute tonight. I thought I would get out the camera and take a few pictures. Everytime I told her to "smile at the camera" these are the smiles I got!! She just melts my heart!!!

Happy Birthday Aaron!!

My baby boy turned 2 today!!! It's hard to believe!! We had a lot of fun celebrating this weekend. We had a fireworks birthday party with the family - complete with popping fireworks on Saturday night.

Here are some picture highlights of the event!

Aaron got a lot of fun presents!!



My little yankee doodle!!



His fireworks cupcakes!!


The funniest picture of all!!


Happy birthday Aaron!! Mommy loves you very much!