We Accomplished A Lot Today!

Today turned into a very productive day, part was expected, the other part, no so much!

What we knew that would happen today is that Lola would be starting her dance classes as a BIG girl! That is right, no more mommy/daddy and me classes and she couldn't have been more excited! This was partly due to the fact that this class is more than just ballet and she gets to rock the tap shoes too!
And there she is actually in class...no more mommy! She has no problem being Miss Independent, and did a great job in class. In fact, when it was time to put on her tap shoes, she didn't want to come out of the room for me to help her, she wanted her teacher to! She is such a big girl!
It was so much fun watching her!

Ok, so then after dance class, we knew we were going to Costco to stock up on food, some for now and some for our Super Bowl party next weekend. Well, we spent more money than we ever have there (and my hubs said we didn't even get anything really cool to show for it...ha!) and got enough food to feed a small army! I immediately started thinking about the condition that the pantry was in and knew there was NO WAY that any of it was going to fit.

Insert unexpected productivity of today.

I did not plan on reorganizing the pantry for like 6 hours, I needed to do lesson plans and finish my wreath! Duty calls sometimes I guess.

Although it is embarrassing, I feel like if I show the before picture, my pantry will never look like this again!

Seriously, there was little (very little) rhyme or reason as to what went where. Before anything new could go in, everything had to come out!
My kitchen looked like this for several hours. Want to know the most random thing pulled out of the pantry? A hand-saw. It was on the top shelf, I am sure that I am the one that put it there in an effort to save a little time, I don't know why I do that, I just do! I am proud to say that it is now safely put away in the garage thank you very much!

After a trip to the Dollar Store to get plastic storage bins to help with the organizing and several hours later, I finally have a clean pantry!
All of the kids snack items and food choices were moved to the bottom two rows so that picking out their food could be nice and easy! The appliance that are rarely used are still housed on the top shelf, along with the paper towels. All of the cleaning supplies are to the right when you walk in, but are high enough off the ground that the kids can't really reach (although they do love to help their mama clean)!

It was worth the several hours that it took to get it looking so nice! After I was finished I got to sit down to a wonderful dinner prepared by Short Round (what Kyan asked to be called from now on, hoping that it is only for tonight) and the hubs! I even got to enjoy a bath uninterrupted, while everyone was entertained by an Indian Jones movie downstairs! A little piece of heaven that was for me!

PS - I know this has nothing to do with my post, but I just wanted to share my latest food obsession. I want to eat it for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. It annoys Chad about any food I do this with, just so happens that right now it is Edamame! I already ate it for lunch today, but am thinking about eating another bag before I go to bed...

Lovin' Me Some AFD!

So awhile back when I did the Matilda Jane giveaway, I "met" a super awesome girl named Heather, who had hopped over to my blog to enter into the giveaway (did I mention that this is one of the reasons why I love to do giveaways, I get to "meet" new people!). Well, I hopped over to her blog (just like I do to everyone's blogs who leaves a comment or is new to mine) to check her out! Learned that not only does she have a fun blog, is gorgeous, and has an adorable family, but she designs hand stamped jewelry as well!

You know I am a sucker for homemade jewels, so I immediately headed to her shop, where I preceded to fall in love with this one special ring...any guesses why?

I emailed Heather, making sure it would fit, she sent me a message back with a little story behind the ring and asked if she could send it to me! It needed a good home and let me tell you it fits perfectly! It isn't a ring you can wear with just anything, but will definitely make a statement when you do!

What to know something even cooler? All of her rings are on sale through the end of next week!!!! Right now you can get any ring for $12, instead of $15! Yeah, even more reason to head over and shop! Please tell her hello from me if you do!

Here are just a few more on my "I really NEED these" list!

Thanks again for my ring Heather! I love, love, love it!

Can't get it outta my head...

I'm not typically a Pink fan (don't get me wrong, I like her, just don't usually bump her on the ipod), but when I heard this song, something struck a cord and stopped me in my tracks. I have played it over and over again and just can't stop singing it. I think it sends a pretty powerful message.

Do you have a song that has stuck lately or that you think sends a powerful message? I would love to listen to it!

A Party Fit For a King!

Today we celebrated Kyan's 6th birthday with a few close friends and family members at our house, Kings and Queens style!

The kiddos who attended and who looked so cute in their crowns!

Lola, Kyan, Jayla, Dan, Sydney, Steven, Saige, Mason, Michelle, and Gage!


After our bellies were full from pizza and wings, the kiddos (and a few mommy helpers) painted treasure chests and jewelry boxes! We did this first so that they would dry in enough time to put all the candy collected from the pinata later on!

After much playing time outside (and painting), we headed in to sing happy birthday to Kyan! Kyan begged for homemade chocolate chip cookies (not sure which he likes more, the batter or the actual cookie?!) for his birthday, and although I didn't have time to make for his classroom treat, I made it happen for him today! Instead of cupcakes, we ate cookies!!! The candle stayed up long enough for us to sing to him!

While the guests munched on cookies, Kyan opened up his presents!

Then we headed outside to bust open the treasure chest pinata!

This was the first pinata that I have ever bought for a party (we always do parties away, where someone else can clean up the mess, like Peter Piper Pizza or something) so I wasn't really prepared! Uncle B had to get rope out of his car and the bat that we had wasn't very strong and Kyan broke after just one swing, so the rest of the kids swung away using a golf club! Oops!

Just a picture of the kids "loot" that they got to take home with them! Their painted treasure chest (I know, kinda pirate-ish, but didn't know what else to use for the kings) or jewelry box, candy, crown, coins, and jewels! The boys also got compasses and swords to take that aren't pictured and the girls had their wands!

I am pretty sure that all of the kids had a blast, I know Kyan sure did! He told me over and over again how much he LOVED his party today and that he hoped everyone else did too!

Happy Birthday (Party Day) King Kyan!
Love you sweet boy.

PS - Kyan lost his second tooth on his actual birthday! Auntie Kiki pulled this one out! Now he is talking even funnier than before!

And if you are wondering where my header went, blogger is having some technical difficulties and when I went to put a new one up (even try to put the old one back in after I realized their was an issue, like hours later) it just showed up blurry. I have been reading blogger news and seems like it is not just mine, so until it is fixed, I can't seem to stomach looking at it like that, so it will just be our title for now, no picture. So if you were thinking about changing your header right now...WAIT!

FINALLY, Blogger seems to have fixed the header issue! Yay, no more blurry picture!

He Is Six.

Happy Birthday Kyan!
Today you are six.
It seems like just yesterday you were born and we weren't even sure if you were going to make it, I get a big knot in my throat just thinking back to that day (I posted about his birth story last year, if you have a little time to read and maybe a tissue or two, click here).

You are the most special (does that even make sense?) little boy I know. From your blue eyes to the sweet little hugs you give me for no reason, to our secret "thumbs up" message to each other, to your love of video games like your daddy, to your patience and tenderness with your sister, to taking out the bad dreams at night and putting the good ones in before you go to sleep, ...I love every moment with you.

I am so excited for you and your special day, today and Saturday. Birthday cupcakes at school (we didn't have enough time to make chocolate chip cookies, but will for his party on Saturday), Ah-So for dinner, as our little family of four (his choice, the birthday person picks! He is a boy after my own heart, seriously...LOVE that he loves that place as much as me), and your Kings and Queens themed party on Saturday (I had so much fun shopping with you Tuesday for everything and can't wait to put it all together)!

I will be singing this in my head all day today and thinking of you.


Happy Birthday Kyan.
I love you more than you will ever know.

The Supper Club - Winter

The Supper Club met up last night at the Butler's house for the Winter Menu! This was our second time meeting, if you missed the first post/menu/introduction to what the Supper Club is all about, click here!

Supper Club Members: Angela & Ryan (Host Couple), Adam & Holly, Abel & Kristen, and Jenni (that is me!) & Chad

Not only do we get to try new foods, that I would typically NEVER try on my own, I get to hang out for an evening with these beautiful ladies! Yes, I get to see them every day at work, but it is few and far between where we get to unwind together for an evening. We try not to bring up school (our husbands do a great job reminding us that it is not the time or the place each time something is said). Last night was a blast and we found lots of ways to keep ourselves entertained!

Ok, so just in case you don't want to click back to the first post on the Supper Club, let's review The Rules quick:

1. No kids.

2. The host comes up with the menu and then divides out the recipes to each of the supper club members to prepare for the party.

3. The host always provides the main dish/side dish with a variety of beverage selections.

4. Remember that it is sometimes best to semi-prepare your dishes and do last minute baking, chilling, slicing, or arranging at the home of the host.

5. Menu items should be new and adventurous.

6. Portion sizes must be small so that you have room to taste every course of the evening, so feel free to reduce recipes in half where ever you see fit.

The Menu
Cocktail:
Rum-Spiked Ginger Beer Cocktail

Appetizers:
Bacon Cheese Poppers
Chicken Bites with Apricot Sauce

Soup:
Holiday Tortellini Soup

Salad:
Fruit with Honey Ginger Dressing

Main Course:
Cranberry Wild Rice
Bacon-Wrapped Grilled Quail with Bourbon-Pepper Jelly Glaze

Dessert:
Creamy Hot White Chocolate with Peppermint Whip Cream
I can't find the recipe online to the whipped cream, so here it is:
In a small bowl, beat 1/2 cup heavy whipping cream unitl it begins to thicken. Add 1 tablespoon sugar and 1/8 teaspoon peppermint extract; beat until stiff peaks form. Garnish with 1 tablespoon crushed peppermint candies. Makes 1 cup.

Mint Cookies 'n' Cream Brownies

Another very interesting menu that was surprisingly very delicious once again! I learned how to cut quail properly and got over the fact that I was eating a bird that I see in my backyard on a daily basis! The Bacon Cheese Poppers were to die for, along with the Creamy White Hot Chocolate!

Can't wait to see what Holly and Adam's menu looks like for Spring!

It's Been Awhile...

Can't wait!