Happy Birthday Phoebe!

Today is Phoebe's birthday.

While I'd love to write something sentimental and sweet and timeless, but I'm wordless.

I'm still trying to figure out where this baby went.



She's been replaced by a little girl whose personality is as sparkly as the clothes she loves to wear. A little girl whose heart is as big as the song in it and who can be so sweet it makes your teeth hurt.

But don't worry. Yesterday when I asked her just to stay three forever so she'd always be my little girl, she said, "Mommy, eben dough I'm four, I'm stiw going to be widdle."

How I wish I could convince myself that were true...

What I've Been Doing Today

In getting ready for Phoebe's birthday party tomorrow, I looked around and noticed how happy my house looked with all the pink and orange. Maybe it was the natural light coming through the windows when the sun (finally) decided to show its face today or maybe it was the enchanted face of my little helper as she watched her party come to life. Either way, it made me want to snap a bunch of pictures. And the most amazing thing about these happy pictures? I didn't edit them one bit! If only I could make sure I always had the right light for all the moments that need capturing.















Do you like how ModPodge coordinates perfectly with our party colors? :)

Hope you are having a Happy Friday!

Please Don't Call CPS

This is Phoebe's new after dinner chore.



While cleaning off the table she did make a "Mommy makes me work just like Cinderella" comment under her breath. Oh, the joys.


And apparently I am only taking pictures of Phoebe this week and posting short blog posts. I'm spending all my time getting ready for the big, princess birthday party this weekend. If I'm not baking, I'm cleaning. If I'm not cleaning, I'm crafting. If I'm not crafting, then I'm running errands. It's very glamorous. I promise to be back next week with random rambling posts. I just know you'll all be waiting with bated breath.

Baked Chicken Penne Recipe

I have just discovered the greatest new food blog! Well, it's not exactly new, but it's new to me and I am so excited about it. And it probably isn't the "greatest" food blog either, because I have several food blogs I like to frequent, but OUR BEST BITES holds the "greatest new food blog" title at the moment.

I haven't actually tried very many of their recipes (it being "new" and all and we've been busy), but I did manage to make BAKED CHICKEN PENNE on Sunday night. It was delicious and it makes enough to freeze for later. Yay!



My picture isn't great (as usual), but it's here because I took it and pictures make a post more fun to read unless it's a "deep" post, which this is not. I made a few adjustments to the recipe (mostly just used less mushrooms and sundried tomatoes because not everyone loves them around here). Be sure to check out the link for the exact recipe, as I'm posting the adjustments.

Baked Chicken Penne:
6 tablespoons butter
kosher salt and black pepper
1 pound penne
olive oil
3 boneless, skinless chicken breast halves, pounded thin
1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons flour
4 garlic cloves, finely minced
6 cups whole milk
8 ounces white or cremini mushrooms, trimmed and thinly sliced
1/2 sun-dried tomatoes
1 1/2 cups shredded provolone and mozzarella cheese blend
1 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan

Preheat oven to 400. Grease two shallow 2-quart baking dishes. If you're going to freeze one, use a disposable foil pan. Cook pasta 3 minutes short of al dente; drain pasta and set aside. While pasta is boiling, heat oil over medium-high heat in a large skillet. Season chicken with salt and pepper; cook until done. Slice thinly. While chicken pan is still hot, toss the mushrooms in and saute until golden brown and add a little salt. Use a little extra olive oil if needed.
In a 5-quart Dutch oven or heavy pot (I just use the pot I cooked my pasta in), melt butter over medium. Add flour and garlic; cook, whisking, 1 minute. While whisking constantly, gradually add milk; bring to a simmer. Keep whisking frequently as sauce thickens. Add mushrooms and tomatoes; cook 1 minute. Take the pan off the heat and and gradually stir in provolone and 1/2 cup Parmesan. Add chicken and pasta to pot; season with salt and pepper to taste (it ended up being more than I thought). Divide pasta mixture between baking dishes. If freezing, place remaining Parmesan cheese in a zip-top baggie. If cooking, sprinkle on top. Bake, uncovered, until top is golden and bubbling, about 25 minutes. Let stand 5 minutes before serving.

Yummy, yummy, yummy. And we ended up having it on two different nights, too. In the coming weeks, I hope to try NATCHITOCHES MEAT PIES, BAKED TAQUITOS, BREAKFAST TAQUITOS, and I'm making BREAKFAST PIZZAS sometime this week. I told you there were several!

What are your favorite cooking blogs? I currently check out ANNIE'S EATS, PIONEER WOMAN ('cause who doesn't?), FINDING JOY IN MY KITCHEN, and EAT AT HOME. There are a few more, but I'm tired of posting links. Because, apparently, I need even more new recipes to try! :)

Phoebe Lou Who

While taking a bath the other night, Ms. Erin styled Phoebe's hair "WHO-Style". Then she told Phoebe that she looked "pretty goofy". Phoebe said, "Did you mean pretty awesome!?!"

Why, yes. That's exactly what she meant. :)

Finally...My Menu Board

Despite the face that Phoebe's birthday party is next weekend and all I see is orange and pink (the color theme for her Princess Party), I did manage to knock out a project that has been on the docket for months...like since last September. I borrowed a friend's CRICUT to whip up some "birthday things", so after I spent the afternoon cutting out all things pink and orange, I tried my hand at vinyl lettering. It took awhile to figure it out, and my spacing could use some work, but now we have a dry-erase menu board for the kitchen. Yay!



I can't remember exactly where I got this idea...and I searched all over the blogosphere, too. I found THIS tutorial, but it wasn't the inspiration for the weekly menu board because I know I saw that somewhere, but I just can't find it! I wish I could because it was better than the one I whipped up. Using a vintage tablecloth in the frame was all my idea, though. Mostly because I while did have leftover fabric from my curtains, I wasn't thrilled with using it because I was afraid it would make my kitchen too "matchy-matchy". The tablecloth is one that was sitting in a wire basket in my living room so it seemed perfect...especially since I didn't cut it. I just folded and folded and folded it till it fit.

Brad is especially thrilled with this new project. While his reaction to my projects is usually underwhelming (remember the BACON SHIRT?), he was pleased with this one. And he should be since he was the real inspiration behind this little project. He's always and forever asking what we're having for dinner. Now he'll know..and it will be easier to read since I'll be using dry erase markers that I'm picking up at Wal-Mart tomorrow (the one I had was lost after a certain little girl decided she needed it to write notes on the bathroom mirror). I'm pretty sure it will be darker than the plain ole Crayola marker I used in a pinch this afternoon.

Now I just need to figure out what to make for Sunday night dinner...

Have you ever seen such a sassy ponytail?!

And here's the sweet, smooshy baby sassy, silly big girl who sports it.



I think I blinked. Sigh.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, GRANDADDY!

Today is my dad's birthday. To honor his birthday (because we aren't there to help him celebrate), I asked the kids to tell me a few things about thier Grandaddy. And you know, kids do say the darndest things! :)

Eli:

What is something Grandaddy always tell you? "That he loves me."
How old is he? "Somewhere in the 40's."
What is his favorite thing to do? "Play golf."
What does Grandaddy do when you're not around? "He goes to work."
What is his favorite food? "Pancakes"
What is he really good at? "Golf"
What is something he's really bad at? "He's pretty good at everything except playing darts."
What was he like when he was a kid? "He liked to play games."
What does Grandaddy do to make you laugh? "He tickles me."
What do you play together? "Golf"
What does Grandaddy like about Nena? "She's cute."
What do you want to tell Grandaddy on his birthday?
"I love you!"

Phoebe:

What does Grandaddy always tell you? "That my hair is crazy!"
How old is he? "18"
What is his favorite thing to do? "He likes to visit."
What does Grandaddy do when you're not around? "He misses me."
What is his favorite food? "Noodles"
What is Grandaddy really good at? "Working on the computer."
What is he really bad at? "He's pretty bad at getting me dressed."
What was he like when he was a kid? "He liked to play swords."
What does Grandaddy do to make you laugh? "He makes funny faces."
What do you and Grandaddy play together? "We play in the kitchen."
What does Grandaddy like about Nena? "She's so nice and she makes him food."
What do you want to tell Grandaddy on his birthday?
"Grandaddy, I wub you and sank you for being so heawfy!"

We love you, Grandaddy! Thanks for being so wonderful. Happy Birthday!

I Need Some Help!

Because my husband loves me, he bought me a KINDLE for Valentine's/birthday and brought it home on Friday. I've been wanting one for awhile now and I may or may not have forwarded him an email where Amazon was giving you free shipping if you bought one. My mother-in-law gave me money for one at Christmas, but I spent it on SHOES. What can I say? I'm a complicated person.

Anyhoo's, I "unwrapped" my gift on Friday. My husband (bless his heart) still does not understand the power of a well-wrapped gift and just stuffed tissue paper in a used Eddie Bauer sack. Sigh. It's progress though. I have received gifts from him tied up in Wal-Mart sacks. Be still my heart.

The Kindle is A-M-A-Z-I-N-G! I read for seven hours straight on Saturday, completing THIS book and starting THIS one. These books are fabulous, by they way. But now I've decided that I need a cover for my new best friend. I can't very well carry it around in my purse or in the car unprotected from it's environment! And we all know that I need to be reading in the elementary pick-up line...

Here's where I need your help. I can't decide which cover I want. I went to The Most Dangerous Place (you might know it as ETSY) and there were several to choose from. I narrowed it down to three choices.

Option #1: THIS AMY BUTLER COVER. I love the bright, happy colors of this one.

Option #2: THE VINTAGE BOOK COVER. This one is fun and vintage and whimsical! Love it!

Option #3: THE BROWN PEACOCK COVER. This one would be nice because it's dark and might not show as much dirt. Plus it's cute.


Since I can't decide which one I like the best, I need your help! Let me know which one you like best and why so I can make an informed decision. In the meantime, I'll be ignoring the children and the laundry and the dishes and the world while I read. This Kindle could be bad news.

Love Letters To My Family

Today is Valentine's Day. A holiday I love and loath all at the same time. I'm not one much for romance or flowers or sappy cards or romantic comedies. But I love a good holiday and any excuse to have a party and red and pink are some of my favorite colors.

But just because I don't get into all the lovey-dovey parts of Valentine's Day doesn't mean I don't feel deeply. Unfortunately, I'm not always good at expressing those deep feelings in words...well, spoken words, anyway. I'm way better at writing them. Since my children are too little to read well and cards get lost in all the hustle and bustle of daily-ness, I'm writing to them here. So they can come back later, after the the Hershey Kiss scavenger hunt and the heart-shaped pancake breakfast and the fajita and fondue dinner, and read the words I probably won't be able to say.


Dear Eli,
You are the baby boy I never knew I wanted so much. You have filled my life with cars and guns and noise. I love to watch you set up elaborate playtimes with cars and a Twister mat...maybe because I know those days are almost over. Already I blink and find a half grown boy before me when just yesterday I saw my baby. A half grown boy is who is so much like his mother that it makes my heart hurt. I know what you struggle with. I know how strong your emotions run. I know how stubborn you really are. Sometimes I'm knocked over by my love for you and sometimes I'm drowning in exasperation. You are the firecrackers and lightening in my life and I love you more than Star Wars.



Dear Phoebe,
You are my light and my sparkle. My life would be a much dimmer place without you in it. I love the way you feel the need to express yourself in all that you do. There's a part of you that needs a creative outlet or you won't survive. You sing. You dance. You draw. You feel. It amazes me to watch you go through every day. You bring to our family what I had always hoped a daughter would: wonder and whimsy and light. You're my best girl and I love you so much it hurts.



Dear Brad,
What is there to say, my dear? You are exactly right for me. I love that you won't let me take myself too seriously and you keep this family together when I am falling apart. You are driven and hard-working, but kind and funny and patient at the same time. It's so nice to have found the one I want to annoy the rest of my life! :) I love you.

Happy Valentine's Day, Friends!