We went to my parents' this weekend
to celebrate the engagement of this sweet couple....

my cousin, Rachel, and her fiance, Wes.

Aren't they adorable?

  It was so fun to meet Wes's parents and we are excited to have them join our family!

Rachel, her maid-of-honor, my sister, Lauren, and  Krista.

  Lark Events, Lauren and Krist's event planning business, did such a beautiful job!

Rachel, me, and the baby of our family, Brad. 

Brad and Lauren's husband, Richard.

 Uncle Brad is loved by these boys, especially when he introduces them to the finer things in life like whipped cream sprayed directly in your mouth!

 The babies enjoyed their first "cousin adventure"....quite the line up

Lyla James lover her "La La"

Such a fun weekend!....

despite the fact that I came home looking like I had gone a few rounds in the boxing ring and lost.

Lyla James woke up Sunday morning at 3am screaming bloody murder.  I went running acrooss the room in the dark, tripped over a chair, and was airborne until my face unfortunately met a table.  Black eye, large gashes down my face, and carpet burn on the other side of my face....all in a day's work. 

 It's a good thing I love my job!

Coconut Pound Cake

This is the best pound cake ever!!

4 eggs
2 cups sugar
1 cup buttermilk
1 cup canola oil
2 cups self-rising flour (sifted)
1 1/2 teaspoons coconut flavoring
1 1/2 small cans Baker's coconut

Glaze:
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup water
1 taspoon coconut flavoring

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.  In the mixer, cream the eggs and sugar.  Add the buttermilk and eggs and mix well. Add the flour and mix well.  Add the coconut flavoring and coconut.  Bake in a tube pan for 45 minutes.

For the glaze,  bring the water and sugar to a boil in a small saucepan.  Boil 3 minutes and remove from heat.  Add the coconut flavoring.  Loosen the cake from the sides of the pan.  Pour glaze over the cake and let it soak for 7 minutes.  Shake and remove from pan.

Head over to Kelly's for tons of sweet recipes!

It's Official.....

they are kindergarten graduates!

We spent the morning with Brian's class and celebrated the end of the school year with ice cream....does anything say "summer break" like sundaes piled high with sprinkles and gummy bears at 9 in the morning?

Brian with his sweet teacher and teachers's assistant.  Mrs. B's calm nature has been so good for Brian....I knew she was special when she came to visit me in the hospital last summer and brought tomatoes and cucumbers from her garden!

Next, we went to a swim party at one of Anna Cate's classmates.

 



Anna Cate with her teacher and teacher's assistant.  AC adores Ms. C, to put it mildly. In the note she wrote to go with her gift for Ms. C, she wrote- I think you are the best person I have ever met....

We are fortunate to live in a community that has many great public and private school options and we really struggled with the decision....I think it's fair to say it has probably been our biggest struggle in parenting this far.  It has been such a great year and I feel we are in the very best place for our family.

Summer is here!!!!

What I'm Loving Wednesday....

I am loving  Pinterest....this is so much fun, though slightly addictive!  I have wasted lots of time on here lately.

I'm loving these bags from k.Mac .  Megan and I grew up together and reconnected through blogging.  I can't wait to get my new bag, if I can ever choose a fabric!  I love them all!

As our teething struggles continue, we are all loving the baby safe feeder.  The girls love frozen cantaloupe and honeydew in these!

Most of all I'm loving that it's summer!  I'm so looking forward to having all my little one's home and being on a more relaxed schedule!!

Prayers of Children

I love listening to my children's prayers because they are so uncomplicated with their requests and they just put it out there.  It's so logical. 
Just place it before Him.  Whatever is on your heart and in your mind, just put it out there.  Why do we as adults complicate this so much?
In the last 24 hours, I have had 3 separate coversations with people about very specific payers that they have asked for and they have been answered.  Difficult, complicated matters that He has solved because He loves us that much.


At Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream by night; and God said, "Ask! What shall I give you?"1 Kings 3:5-13 (NKJV)

Wrapping Up

Today was our final field trip for this kindergarten year. 

We couldn't have asked for a better school year and I am sad to see it end!

Fun Weekend

A date and fun night out......

and 2 days spent at the pool....

The Class of 2023

And this is the best picture I was able to get, but it's so reflective of these 2 that I love it!

All of the graduates together.....they sang, recited poetry, Bible verses....so sweet!

Brian trying to find us in the crowd....

Anna Cate and Mary Jack leading the pledge to the Christian flag

Brian received awards for high honor roll, excellence in Science, and the Abraham Bible Character Award for Obedience.  He also earned the Spirit of Unity Award .

Anna Cate received awards for high honor roll, excellence in Phonics, excellence in Spelling, and the Moses Bible Character Award for Leadership,

I am so thankful Coach was able to make it for the graduation and to help me so much....Todd is playing in a golf tournament and my car has been in the shop getting a new transmission for over a week.  Needless to say, Dad's help was priceless!

I was so afraid the babies were going to melt down at the graduation because it didn't start until 6:30 and that is their bedtime.  But, they were wonderful and just sat in the stroller and never made a peep!

4 more days until Summer Break!!!!

It's Friday....

and that means it's time for Kelly's Show Us You Life and the topic is favorite main dish recipes.  This is so yummy and worth the calories!

Tenderloin with Horseradish Cream Sauce

11/2 teaspoons dried rosemary
1/4 teaspoon each dry mustard and ginger
1/8 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon each seasoned salt and kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon onion salt
1 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 (3 to 4 pound) beef tenderloin
2 teaspoons each olive oil and butter
Mix all seasonings and rub evenly over the tenderloin. 
Heat the butter and olive oil in a large roasting pan over medium heat.  Add the tenderloin and brown on all sides for 15 minutes. 
Cooking in the oven: Roast at 425 degrees for 22 minutes for medium rare. 
Grilling: Grill indirectly over high heat for 30-40 minutes to reach medium-rare.
Remove and let stand for about 20 minutes before slicing.

Horseradish Cream Sauce:
1 cup whipping cream
1/2 cup drained prepared horseradish
2 Tablespoons dijon mustard
1/2 cup mayonaise
salt and pepper to taste

Beat the whipping cream in a mixing bowl just until soft peaks form.  Whisk the horseradish, dijon mustard, and mayonaise in a medium bowl.  Whisk 1/2 cup of the whipped cream into the horseradish mixture.  Fold the remining horseradish mixture into the whipped cream.  Season with salt and pepper.  Chill until serving time.

In other news, today is "All Grown Up Day" at our school so the kids got to dress up like they will for their jobs when they are grown ups.

Anna Cate chose to dress up like a mommy.  I am flattered that this is her perception of my daily wardrobe!
Brian went as a video game inventor (Mario shirt and laptop) and an explorer (head lamp and binoculars)
The laptop is an ancient one we had sitting in the attic and when I brought it down last night, it was all taken apart but fine for him to just carry for a prop.  When he was supposed to be going to sleep, he managed to put it all together and get it running....I was amazed!

Little Miss Independent.....

Mealtimes have gotten to be a contact sport around here....

and our pledge to not use paper towels has gone out the window.

 

But, this peanut is feeling pretty proud that she can feed herself!