Party Hardy!!

Today we celebrated Anna Cate and Brian's 7th birthday...it was a full day of partying!
Brian's party was in the morning and then Anna Cate's was in the afternoon.  The girls of Lark Events were my saving grace and we couldn't have pulled it off without them! 

We dressed up like Mario and Luigi.....

 AC and B's favorite babysitters were sweet enough to come spend the day with us-  welove them so much!

 Even the baby girls got in on the dress- up action before they went down for their nap...they were not impressed with their toad hats!

 We played memory with Mario characters...

 The boys raced around collecting gold coins in the yard while we tried to hit them with water balloons...

 Morgan decided to make it extra challenging!

 Princess Daisy and Princess Peach being held captive by Bowser...

 The boys had to try to kick a target on Bowser while coming down the zip line...

We had 2 hours in between parties to transition for Anna Cate's party....once again the girls of Lark events were essential to this happening!

 We were so happy Maryanna came over to help with the pampering

 Soaking their feet in rosepetal water, an avocado masque on their faces, and cucumbers on their eyes...

 Manis and pedis....



It was a long, crazy day but so much fun!!!

Show Us Your Life: Favorite Side Dishes

Kelly's topic for this week is favorite side dishes.  I have shared this recipe before, but it's so good and easy!

Green Beans with Bacon Balsamic Vinaigrette:


2 lbs of green beans, ends trimmed

2 bacon slices

3 tbsp shallots, minced

3 tbsp almond slivers

2 tbsp brown sugar

1/4 cup white or brown balsamic vinegar

Cook the green beans in boiling water for 2-3 minutes or until tender yet still crisp. Drain and rinse under cold water to stop them from cooking. Drain well and set aside.

Cook the bacon in a small skillet over medium heat until crisp. Remove the bacon from skillet and crumble; set aside. Add shallots to bacon fat in the skillet, sauté for 1 minute. Add almonds, sauté for 1 minute. Remove the shallots and almonds and let cool. Add sugar and vinegar to the skillet; stir until sugar dissolves. Add the green beans, crumbled bacon, almonds, and shallots then stir until evenly coated.

Getting a Record

AC and B can drive a person crazy with their fussing, teasing and competing.  But, they have a bond that is unbelievable.  Just wanted to record a few glimpses I've gotten of this over the past few days so I can go back and read it during the "driving me crazy" moments.
About a hour after their bedtime last night, B woke up very upset from a nightmare.  I didn't think AC was awake, but when I went in to check on him later, she had gone in his room to give him her B- a bunny she has had from birth and sprayed his sheets with monster spray- a linen spray we found at the farmer's market that they had to have!
This morning they were playing in their jungle- a huge, old magnolia tree- and AC got stung by a yellow jacket.  I looked out the window to see B stumbling up our steep yard with AC on his back.  While I was trying to get her inside, he ran to get an ice pack and neosporin for her sting.

What I'm Loving Wednesday....

I'm loving that the big kid's birthday parties are this weekend!  We have had so much fun planning for them and they are very excited!

I'm loving that we have been blessed with great friends....



I'm loving that these girls have been sleeping great!

The baby girls are almost ready to transition to their next carseat, so I ordered a replacement cover since the current one is for a boy.

I love it!  It's from Elizabeth Park Designs on Etsy.  I can't wait to put it on the carseat!

Happy Wednesday!

Linking up with Jamie at This Kind of Love

Happy 4th of July!

Another Year Has Passed...

Birthday breakfast- blueberry pancakes with chocolate whipped topping for B

7 years ago today Daddy and I went in for our routine weekly check-up and ultra sound, and left with instructions to return to the hospital at 3 pm- it was baby day!!

LJ enjoying the pancake breakfast

Nothing could have prepared us for the miracle of you two.

Mary Connor enjoyed the pancakes too...each bite was followed with "mmmmm"

We came home- after stopping to pick up my monogrammed robe, if that tells you anything about my state of mind...

AC's birthday pancakes with plain whipped topping..

For 2 hours- between dusting, mopping, mowing the lawn, and calling everyone we knew- we would stop and high-five because FINALLY our dream was coming true!

And nothing has been the same since that fateful day....

and now y'all are 7!

and we still look at each other and high-five because we can't believe the miracle of you two.

Yankee-Pleaser Casserole

Kelly's  topic this week is favorite breakfast recipes.  We love Yankee Pleaser-Casserole- a dish containing all of the foods people expect to have in the South!

Yankee Pleaser Breakfast Casserole
serves 6-8

1 pound bulk sausage with sage
1 cup shredded sharp Cheddar cheese
1 8oz package corn muffin mix
1 cup hot coooked grits
1 stick butter, melted
4 eggs
1 3/4 cups milk, heated
1/2 cup shredded sharp Cheddar cheese


Brown the sausage in a skillet, stirring until crumbly, drain.  Sprinkle into a greased 2 quart baking dish and top with 1 cup cheese.
Combine the corn muffin mix, grits, butter, eggs, and milk in a bowl and mix well.  Pour into the prepared dish and top with 1/2 cup cheese.  Bake at 325 degrees for 45 minutes.
 
You can prepare the dish in advance and refrigerate or freeze until you need it.  For a frozen casserole, allow it to thaw before baking and increase the cooking time to 55 minutes for a refrigerated casserole.