Fall Family Pictures 2013

 

Annual Utah Trip 2013

Goodness, I love my home state.

I miss it so much, and every time we go back to visit, I want to move back.

I pretty much drive Lance crazy about it.

I do love Mississippi. It's beautiful here.

But Utah will always be my home.

 

We had THE time of our lives. As usual.

All except for the 2 weeks we all passed around pink eye.

Worst.Illness.Ever!

Like EVER!

 

But we won't dwell on that.

We had plenty of Café Rio. Went to the lake as often as possible, roasted marshmallows and ever starbursts (yummy!), played with cousins and had numerous sleepovers. Papa and Grandma even slept on the trampoline with all the grandkids.

Talk about some pretty awesome grandparents.

My children will always remember such precious memories.

We went to Lagoon for a weekend with the whole family, and when we went swimming in the hotel swimming pool, we filled up that whole pool and hot tub.

It was awesome, having us all together.

 

Now the 30 hour drive there and back... that was another story.

Actually the drive there was tougher than the drive back.

Lance drove the majority of the way to Utah while I sat in the back entertaining, feeding, holding, and playing with the kids. Then on the way back, my mom and sister-in-law helped me drive back and it was much more peaceful...ONLY because we had Baby Einstein. Talk about a miracle DVD! Layla flew home with her Uncle Greg, and that was a HUGE help. Her and Marx in the back seat together just to go to Wal-Mart is treacherous.

So, in 30 hours, I'd hate to imagine what they'd do to each other.

 

Anyways... here are our memories via iPhone.

Sadly, I sold my camera...

 I'm ready to step up in the DSLR world, so I'm researching new

camera's. So for now, it's going to be pictures from my phone.

Which, btw, I'm pretty happy with.

 

THE Zucchini Brownie Recipe

Now that I am getting the hang of 3 kids, maybe I can find the time to blog again!

I miss it so much...

So to celebrate coming back to the blog world, I want to share with

you the most amazing brownie recipe.

Courtesy of my wonderful mother.

 

Zucchini Brownies

2 cups white flour

1 1/2 cups sugar

1 tsp. salt

1 1/2 tsp. baking powder

1/4 cups cocoa

2 cups grated zucchini

1/2 cup canola oil

2 tsp. vanilla extract

1/4 cup water

 

Mix zucchini and oil together in stand mixer. In separate bowl mix together all the dry ingredients. Add dry ingredients to the zucchini and oil slowly, scraping sides as you go. Once mixed add the vanilla and water. Pour into greased 9x13" pan. Bake for 25 min at 350 degrees.

 

Chocolate Icing

1/4 cup butter, softened

2 cups powdered sugar

1/3 cups cocoa powder

1 tsp. vanilla extract

4-5 TBS. half & half (just enough for desired consistency)

 

Place all ingredients in a stand mixer and mix together with the whipping attachment. Stop mixer, scrape sides, and mix again on medium speed for 2 min. Spread on completely cooled brownies.

 

In my opinion these taste the very best the day after you make them from then on out. I recently made two pans in a week. You will thank me. Promise.



 

"Life doesn't come with a manual...it comes with a mother."

Happy Mother's Day to all you wonderful Mother's.

Especially my own. I love you.

Craft Area Makeover

So I have a HUGE love for IKEA.

But this is the thing, I have never even been in one!

Omg! I know!

The IKEA in Utah opened right after I moved away and the closest one to me

is 6 hours away, in Orlando, FL.

 

My dear friend, Elizabeth, has family that lives near IKEA, so whenever she goes,

I send her a list. And just recently, I sent her parents a list because I knew

they were coming to visit, and would be making a stop at IKEA for her.

Phew.. Got that?

 

So our previous craft area wasn't much of a craft area.

I kept all the supplies in a basket, put away.

Therefore, we didn't get it out very often.

Out of site our of mind, right.

 

But my children need entertainment. A LOT.

Is everybody else's kids like that?!

 I knew just what to do.

 

I'm pretty embarrassed to show the before.

I've been doing little projects at a time.

Trying to stay in budget.

Out with the old, in with the new.

 

BEFORE:

 

AFTER:

 

I  made all the art, and cut the vinyl myself!

All using my Silhouette Cameo.

Love that thing.

And the frames I got at Target, not IKEA.

 

 

Next up?!

Our Entry way.

Wish me luck!

Lily :: 4 months old

Dear Lily,

 

What a personality you have all of the sudden!

The 4th month has been the best thus far.

You are quite the talker. I think you just want to be heard over your big sis and big bro.

I can barely hear myself over them. So I don't blame you!

 

You are rolling! But only from your belly to back. You've almost got it from you back to belly.

In fact, you started doing this last month, and the first time you did it I stopped you.

There was no way you were going to roll over yet, you were just to little!

But you insisted, every time I put you on your belly.

So... You're quite the pro at it now.

 

You're a great sleeper, and I've found that you sleep best, at nap time, in the bathroom

with the fan on. Probably because is drowns our the noise and everything else going

on in the house. You'll snooze in there for 2-2 1/2 hours.

And you always wake up with a big smile on your face.

At night... you go to bed around 8:30, wake up at 5:30 to eat, and go back to bed

usually until 8:30.

Pure angel I tell ya!

 

You are starting to enjoy cartoons and Baby Einstein.

Baby Galileo and Baby Mozart are your faves.

I think it's the music that you love so much.

You'll start kicking your legs and practically bounce yourself out of your seat.

 

We've started you on rice cereal.

The first night was a fail, but that was my fault.

You were so tired, and just wanted to nurse and go to sleep.

But now, you giggle and squeal when I feed it to you because it's so nummy!

Only problem is, you giggle with your mouth wide open, so I'm constantly raking it back

into your little mouth.

 

You love your hands,  and I think it's safe to say your cutting teeth,

or trying too. You love to chew on everything!

 

You're such a perfect little piece of Heaven on earth.

We love you so much!!

 

Love,

Mommy

 

 Stats:

Weight- 14 lbs. 6 oz.

Heights- 22 1/2 inches

Head circumference- 16 1/2

 

Spiers Family Reunion 2013

 

We LOVE going to Uncle Troy and Aunt Charolette's homestead!

They have a beautiful house and property in the country

outside of Purvis.

And you know what we love even more?

Getting together with our family and eating some delicious food.

Then watching our kids run wild and enjoy their cousins.

It is the best! :)

 

 

Easter 2013

It's nearly impossible for me to blog nowadays!

So, the easiest thing for me right now is to just give a post a title and add pictures!

Anyhow...

Here's our Easter in pictures :)

 

 

 

Park Play date

 

We try to do a play date once a week with our little friends.

Right now, we're taking full advantage of the "spring" weather and spending our

days outside, at the park!

 

Lily Hazel

This girl...
@ 3 months old, she's sleeping through the night!! YAY! Finally! It was a LOOONG 11 weeks, but she finally got the hang of it. She usually goes down around 9:30PM wakes up at 5:30AM and eats, then goes back to sleep until 8:00AM or so. Couldn't ask for much more than that!

She's got the sweetest little grin, and the most adorable giggle. Usually, pinching her little rolls on ther legs, playing patty cake, and talking in a very high pitched voice makes her crack up. But, all you have to do is look at her, and she'll smile. She's such a sweet, tender little baby.

She loves to have little conversations. She's really starting to coo. I love watching her little lips when she does it. She'll move them in the most precious ways.

I've introduced her to Baby Einstein. It will catch her attention for about 15 min. or so. I think we'll have a little Einstein lover just like her big sister and brother. Which helps, so mommy can get things done (:

She loves her chubby little fingers. I'll catch her going crossed eyed while starring at them. It makes me giggle every time.

We call her "little squishy" because she's just that! You should see her legs.

She's such a little angel. Just a perfect piece of Heaven, that we all adore.

Lance's 30th Birthday Bash