Sunday, June 28, 2009

A faithful friend is the medicine of life.

Andie and Scott, our most wonderful friends and Ty's Godparents, are in town this week, and Ty and Averie picked up right where they left off (we haven't seen them since NOVEMBER!) and proceeded to be the cutest things you have EVER seen as Ty showed Averie his toys, and they had some bonding time.



We watched fireworks at Temple Baptist Church. Ty was a little nervous, but Averie was so very brave and exclaimed, "BOOM BOOM," while she clapped for the beautiful sight. This gave Ty a little bit of courage, and after we left, he decided that he liked them but that "fireworks gone, mommy!"



I had to cover Ty's ears. It is so good to see our friends; it has been too too long!

My future daughter-in-law is so very beautiful and the thumb-sucker is so handsome himself!

Really?!


We took Ty to cut off his mullet. I was worried that he wouldn't sit still because, believe it or not, he has a little bit of energy, so I bought him a frosty. I needn't have worried, however, because Lindsey was ready and prepared with a dum-dum sucker, and he never even moved. Thank God for NANDY!

It is around 9:00 a.m. and we have probably just woken up. Not completely awake in this picture.

We are found pool-side with Loop (Luke) quite frequently these days!


At the beach with Mommy!
As you can see, we are having such a grand time this summer, and although we are exhausted approaching the terrible twos, we don't remember life EVER being this much fun! More pictures to follow of Ty and Averie as they play hard this week!

Monday, May 25, 2009

The difference in a year

What a difference a year makes!

















Not quite a year ago we took a family trip to Jellystone Park in Pelahatchie, MS. This place is the place to be if you have small children because you can use them as an excuse to have kid fun that you know all of us adults really want to be doing. This Memorial Day weekend we went back, and although it rained and rained and rained, we did get to play some. Ty really enjoyed himself, and Ty's parents are marveling over the change in him in JUST ONE YEAR.




Above-2008, Below-2009



























































































I just thought these were funny!
















On this one I told him to SMILE...



We are going to have the most funtabulous summer EVER!!! Starting NOW!

Sunday, March 29, 2009

So very good to me!

I got this recipe out of WW magazine, and then I lost the magazine. I have been looking for it everywhere and finally found it on an awesome cooking blog called aggieskitchen.blogspot.com. It is SOOO very good, makes a ton (again I half it and freeze one). Bryan, Ty, and Ron looove it, but Ron says if you put ground lean beef in it then it is better, but ya'll know he is very "meat and potatoes." Bryan and I like it just fine veggies only and don't miss the meat. (I put roasted asparagus* and mushrooms in it too and they are very good). Enjoy!

*Spray asparagus with olive oil pam and sprinkle with kosher salt. Broil. YUMMY!

Vegetable Lasagna
Weight Watchers Magazine Sept/Oct 2007
9 lasagna noodles
1 medium yellow squash, cut lengthwise into 1/4 inch slices
1 zuchinni squash also cut up
1 16-ounce container fat-free cottage cheese
1 10-ounce package frozen spinach, thawed and squeezed dry
3 cups shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
2 large eggs, lightly beaten
1/4 cup chopped fresh basil
1 garlic clove, crushed through a press
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 24-ounce jar marinara sauce (I use Light Ragu)

Cook the noodles according to package directions. Drain and rinse, set aside.
Spray a large nonstick skillet with nonstick spray and set over medium-high heat. Add the squash and any other veggies that you want and cook until golden, 2-3 minutes per side. Set aside.
Combine the cottage cheese, spinach, 2 cups of the mozzarella, 1/4 cup of Parmesan, eggs, basil, garlic, and salt.
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Spread 1 cup sauce in 9x13 baking dish. Top with 3 noodles, 2 cups filling and the squash (here is where I added asparagus and squash). Top with 3 noodles, 1 cup sauce, and remaining filling. Top with remaining noodles, sauce and cheeses. Cover and bake 30 minutes. Uncover. Bake 20 minutes. Let stand 10 minutes before serving.
Serving size: 1/12 of lasagna (half it and freeze one and one will feed 6), Points value: 6

Monday, March 16, 2009

Some lately's


Here are some things we have been up to lately. I can not believe how big that boy has gotten.


We went on the traditional "it is entirely too cold to be on the boat yet, but the big boys are crazy and want to prove themselves MANLY," boat ride.


We went to the Irish/Italian Festival parade. I find it ironic that St. Thomas Catholic Church holds such a mardi gra-like party during lent, but oh well! Party on!



Ty got to drive the pontoon boat. He loves loves loves to drive more then anything in this world. He constantly makes motor sounds, knows what keys are, where they go, and how to turn them. SCARY!!




We hung out with friends at a birthday party and other places. How precious are these three muskateers?



And I am hoping that I can get this video to work because it is such a forshadowing, ominous moment and everyone will see it, nod, and "umph" knowingly while saying, "Wow, she has got her work cut out for her!"











Monday, March 2, 2009

New favorite Snack

Haystacks:

1/2 cup chocolate chips (or any flavor)
1/2 cup peanut butter
2 cups Fiber One cereal

Melt chips and pb in microwave for 2 minutes.
Stir cereal into stirred up pb and chips.
Drop on plate by the tablespoon full.
Refrigerate.

Makes around 16-18

Yummy to my tummy! One point a piece

Saturday, February 28, 2009

Poppy Seed Chicken Casserole

3 to 4 boneless, skinless chicken breast, seasoned, cooked, and diced
Can of 98% fat free cream of chicken
8 oz of fat free sour cream
1 teaspoon of poppy seeds

Stir all of this together and pour into a sprayed casserole dish.

To make the topping, crush one tube of townhouse or ritz reduced fat crackers
and mix with 1 TB of melted margarine or butter. Spread crackers over top of casserole and
sprinkle a little more poppy seeds on top.

Bake at 350 degrees until bubbly (20-25 min)

6 points per serving and this will serve about 6.

Thursday, February 26, 2009

Yummy!

Well, I am really interested in turning my childhood, or anyone else's childhood, comfort food into a healthy "they will TRULY never know it is diet food" recipe. I feel like eating right is a life change, and it affects so many other things. I do think it is important to indulge every know and then, but wouldn't it be nice to FEEL like you are indulging yet not be because you have figured out a way to make your food healthy. My favorite compliment is when, after eating, I say, "Hey, that was weight watchers," and for people to be (or at least "act") surprised.

My point, my point is that I have started to follow food blogs (which are really fun), and I am terribly bad about making recipes, going through the trouble to figure out the point value for the recipe, really enjoying the recipe, and promptly forgetting the recipe. So this blog will henceforth contain photos, commentary on my epiphanies, and my newest yummy recipes (complete with points values for my weight watcher buddies).

Best of all...I NEVER make anything difficult because I don't have the time, and I have a picky eater at my house now (I am talking about Bryan, not Ty...Ty loves sushi, risotto, and escargots for goodness' sake...have you ever heard of anything so crazy!); therefore, I can not afford to by expensive ingredients for outlandish and unheard of recipes. It is ALL comfort food. YUM-O

Without further adieu...the first recipe (photo to come)

Chicken Spaghetti
(Serves 8; I made two small ones though that serve four and froze one for Bible study or Bunco nights)
One 8 oz box of cooked spaghetti (whole wheat or ronzoni-don't forget to salt your water)
4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts cooked and diced (season chicken with salt and pepper)
can of 98% fat free cream of mushroom
can of 98% fat free cream of chicken
one diced onion
half of a bell pepper diced
can of rotel or diced tomatoes if you don't want it spicy
1/2 block of 2% velveeta cheese
1/3 cup of 2% cheddar cheese

Point value: 5 points per serving


Saute onions and bell pepper in skillet sprayed with olive oil spray until they are soft. Stir rotel (and I like black olives so I slice some and put them in the veggies too) into the onions and bell peppers and warm them up. In a BIG pot stir spaghetti, chicken, both soups, veggies, and cut up block of cheese to stir in as well. Pour all of that into a large casserole dish OR two small casserole dishes (and put one in freezer for Bunko night). Sprinkle with cheddar and bake at 350 degrees for around 12-15 minutes. ENJOY!

Sunday, February 22, 2009

Tagged Before Bed

I was about to go to sleep, and decided to check my blog before bed. I have been tagged and have to post the fourth picture of the fourth folder of my photos, offer an explanation, link it back to KA, and tag some others. So here goes:



This is at Keith Ann's house and Ty is playing with Gray, Amanda's son who is really close in age to Ty.

I would like to tag Andie, Julia, Barbara, Ashley, Melissa, and Hugh.

On a side note: I am going to see Beth Moore and I am really excited about it.

Friday, February 13, 2009

Happy Valentines Day

Kalyn
Love Chris

Youk and Ty


Straw Wars

Boys
KA and ME
and our gifts
Short stuff and me
Ty and his beautiful Jenny
Love her
Abie (averie) and Ty

Two boys and their two kids
Big boy at the Carters
Snow day

Halloween Adam and eve

Soooo...in case you can't tell, I have the BEST friends ever...and I love you guys so much. Thanks, just thanks.

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!!!












Crystal






































Friday, February 6, 2009

25 Random things: Andie I have things specifically here for you; look quickly.


Andie, I loved your 25 Random things, and I love the fact that your little girl is AWESOME! And ...I laughed out loud at UH-OH-song! Anywho, this looked like fun so I did it too; you do realize that our childless friends are rolling their eyes terribly at us; however, they will find out soon enough, and since they are surely in denial, it will be much worse for them. Sooo...you ready to have another yet? We need to see you soon! We are prolly going to come that way camping spring break or early part of summer.

Okay, so 25 random things about Tyson Howard Giles. I know you are DYING to know what "that boy" has been up to.


1. "That Boy" knows basic body parts: hair, eyes, nose, ears, tummy, teeth, "the toes" (thank you, Averie), knees, and "butt" (sounds okay coming from a boy)

2. Ty has really gotten to know his Uncle Ron, finally, because he is back with us from Florida, and they have a lot of fun together. Ty calls him Ronnie and loves Callie (Ron's dog), but he yells "NO, hush, and down" at Tiger (Ron's other dog).






Riding the Motorcycle with Uncle Ron








3. Ty loves to see the pish (fish) at church. We have been attending Temple Baptist, and Momma loves it! They have a lot for Ty to do, and is so cute in the nursery because he washes the dishes at the kitchen and plays plays plays with all the children.
4. Ty loves lima beans, sushi, edamame, escargot, foot (fruit), baked veggie ziti, and risotto ("That Boy" has very exquisite taste!)


5. He does not like nandy at all (verbal irony).
6. His grandma feeds him way toox much nandy (candy) and it makes me furious. Also, "Mom, do not feed him after three in the afternoon," is not so much a rule but a suggestion apparently.
7. He has new black converse shoes that are so cool.




8. He repeats EVERYTHING we say, including DAMN, and damn is said with PERFECT annunciation, unlike any other normal, decent word he says.

9. He loves baths and has a new sesame street potty seat that we are going to try because now he tells us when he has "poop." (we are so proud)

10. His favorite song is "My Name is James" from James and the Giant Peach, and it has been putting him to sleep without fail since 2007.
11. He "freestyles" on his power wheels four wheeler. I will post video later. We thought, at first, that he didn't like it because it was too fast. We were wrong. It was too slow. Upon sitting on the power wheels, he will immediately begin to look at us incredulously, as if to say, "Seriously, I can walk faster than this!" and we soon found out that he just wanted to make it more extreme.

12. He bites hard.
Qbut then...

13. He loves hard. His love language is going to be physical touch, and I know this because he pats me, holds my hand, sticks his face in my hair to go to sleep, and runs full speed to me for a hug and kiss at least every 30 minutes.

13.5 When you tell him not to touch something, he will get this, pardon the expression but no other phrase fits as well, "sh**-eating" grin on his face, point his pointer finger straight out and slowly advance toward said forbidden object almost, but not quite, touching it, literally centimeters away, and "ACT" as if he is about to do what you told him to do until you almost pass out from trying to hold in the laughter that is about to burst out of you. Hilarious, but B-A-D!

14. He loves his Papa's hats, and looks darn cute in a "two-huge" hat. On a side note - his papa loves him more than I have ever seen him love anything. Ya'll know my dad as a stoic, stern-faced man. Well, not anymore, he is a big ball of mush, and it is hilarious!



15. He has trouble saying his T's and G's, which is sort of a problem... Tyson Giles.

16. He would be outside all day, everyday, no matter what. He loves to swing, slide, balance on his balance board (it's a skater/wakeboard thing), and he LOVES bubbles, tractors, trucks, balls, and anything that goes vroom.






At the bowling alley











17. He loves to dance, sing, and rock out on his new guitar. How ironic will it be if he ends up with musical talent?
18. He walked at 10 and a half months, had teeth at 4 months, got out of his crib at 13 months, and learned to climb up and down the stairs at 16 months (which means I have not had a private shower in over 8 weeks). He has been on the go and not slacked up since he could figure out how to go.


19. He is a very good picker upper.
20. He loves to ride on puppies, no matter how big or small they are. Poor Lucie. She is a very good sport. They play tug of war to, and she wins, dragging him all around the floor, much to his delight.

21. He loves Elmo, Oscar, Caillou, Rogers, and Rainbow. (PBS)
22. He loves his momma more than anyone in the whole wide world (ask Bryan).

23. He loves the moon, tars, sun, and "The Sky, The Sky." Again compliments of Averie.

24. His best friends are Youk (Luke Bailey), Baby (Rebecca Carter), and Abbie, say it with a long "A" like it rhymes with baby (Averie Larson).

25. He wants a brudder very, very badly, and since he was the most easy going kid in the world, his mama thinks (probably very naively) that she is ready and willing for this as well. I hope I am right! Pregnancy and national boards in the same year; Do I dare climb that spooky old tree? Next year will be crazy. Oh well, up the meds and pray, pray, pray!

Whew...crazy long!





Tuesday, January 27, 2009

I yam what I yam---did you know Popeye was a biblical scholar?

So...did anyone watch Dateline tonight? Probably not since so much else was on. It was a "What would you do?" episode. Anyway, it almost made me cry because they set up a scenario where a blind woman was shortchanged at a cafe in front of everyone. The cashier and blind woman were actors, and the point was to see if anyone would step up. Some did, some didn't, but this very large and intimidating italian man became so irate and protective of the poor blind woman. I loved it! He looked so scary and macho, and definately not the "do the right thing when no one else will" type, but he did and it was AWESOME!!! You definately can't judge a book by its cover, and I don't know that I would have done the right thing, but I hope I would... and so when I feel tiny and insignificant, and afraid to do the right thing, I will remember the Italian man, and the REALLY cool bible study that I am doing with some really awesome friends that spoke to this exact thing. I love this verse from Day 4.

"But by the GRACE of GOD, I am what I am..." 1 Cor. 15:10

Guaranteed to increase the self-esteem of people who don't believe in themselves, but keep us in check when we feel like we are doing it on our own.

LOVE IT!

Tuesday, January 20, 2009

Valentine's Day is fast approaching!

I love a holiday like nothing else, so in honor of the holiday entirely devoted to love, here are some new pictures of my loves. But above all, thank you, God, for BEING love! Isn't it amazing that since God is love and we are born of his image, we MUST love, we must feel so strongly for others and be tied to humanity so entirely that when others hurt, we hurt, and when they are happy, it is contagious, and hugs and kisses from others can feel so good! I just think it is amazing that we are born knowing how to love, and it is in our nature, "for EVERYONE that loves is born of GOD and knows GOD", thank you thank you thank you, Jesus, for BEING LOVE. So without further adieu...how could you not love these?!*


*anyone know how to get it to stop underlining my words when I copy and paste?

Ty loves to swing!
Andie, this one is for you. We got ourselves some CONS!


Working on the Lawn Mower. Like father, like son!


Rockin' out at Jenny and Chris's.




Awww, sweet!




And if this works, it is Pretty darn cute.