The Green Scene

Drying my first load of cloth diapers. Isn't it just the cutest?!

Dance Recital

My beautiful ballerina

Proud parents.

Gracen and her good friend Carson. Love this.

Practicing for the big show.

Gracen had her Spring Recital the night we left for the beach. It was a crazy day of packing and getting ready. But somehow we managed to get her there, and ready to perform. She did such a great job! I'm serious...such a great job. I'm not one of those moms that thinks her kids are the best at everything...I'm totally aware of their flaws and their weaknesses. I actually didn't know what to expect with her. At her Christmas performance she ran off the stage crying. But she has matured a little bit even in the 6 months since then. So when she got up on stage, I could tell it was gonna be a good night for dancing....and was wonderful. I love that she loves to dance.

Dress Rehearsal

She looks like she's at least 6 years old to me...the make-up is freaking me out.

My little Daisy

Her very first bun.

Gracen has her dance recital this Wednesday. It's going to be a lot of fun. She's really excited...which is great. Because, she had a massive melt down at the little Christmas recital at the studio. This one will be in a huge auditorium. But she did fabulous tonight. I guess you can never tell. Gracen takes dance at Dance Emotions. www.emotionsdance.com. It's a great studio. The owner and Gracen's teacher is Sarah, who is a friend of me and Ryan's from high school....and she is wonderful with the little ones. Next year we'll add Grier into the dancing mix.

Real Food...Sort of....

I finally started feeding Evan some rice cereal. She's about to be 6 months old...in 10 days. You know how excited you were to feed your 1st born cereal? You couldn't wait until they were eating real food. Well, I was like that too...with Aiden. And maybe with Gracen...I stress maybe. Well, definitely after Gracen, that ship had sailed! As our family grows, it is so much easier just to nurse a baby, then to gather up some solids. So I dreaded having to feed Grier baby food, and I've been that way with Evan too. Although, I am looking forward to making baby food. There is something about making my own food, that makes me feel like I'm going above and beyond. You know how bad mommy guilt can be...making baby food sort of redeems that momentarily. Anyways, as usual, Evan was laid back when I gave her cereal for the first time. She ate the entire bowl, like she'd been eating cereal her whole life...no faces, or grimaces. After one bowl, she was a pro. So I guess I'd better gear up, and face the fact that solids are here to stay.

A Thumb Sucking, Tummy Sleeper

I love that Evie is choosing to sleep on her tummy...I am a tummy sleeper. I really appreciate this about my daughter...just another reason to adore her.

Kindergarten...here we come!

My kindergartner
They were singing us "So Long, Farewell" from "The Sound of Music"...yeah, I was a crying mess.

Aiden's teacher, Mrs. Nicole, was going down the line, saying what each kid wants to be when they grow up. Aiden apparently wants to be a "House Cleaner". :)

He was so proud and such a little performer, concentrating very hard.

My handsome guy, excited about going to his graduation.

We had Aiden's preschool graduation a couple of weeks ago, and I still think I'm in denial that I have a kindergartner on my hands. He looked so grown up that night. They sang about 5 songs, complete with hand motions...it was awesome! Aiden was a very focused little man. He took his singing quite seriously...and it made this former singer, pretty proud. He really showed us his sentimental side, realizing that he wouldn't see his friends very often (or in some cases, ever again). I kinda got caught up in his emotions, which rarely happens, and doubted for a few days about our schooling choice in the Fall. But after much prayer, and talking it out with Blake, and some friends...I once again recognize God's leading in this area. So kindergarten....here we come!!

Meal Idea Monday

White Bean Chicken Chili


1 lb. dried Great Northern Beans
2 medium onions, chopped
1 TBS olive oil
3 (4.oz) cans chopped green chilies, undrained
4 cloves garlic, minced
2 tsp. ground cumin
2 tsp. dried oregano
6 cups chicken broth
5 cups chopped cooked chicken breast
3 cups shredded Monterey Jack cheese with jalapeno peppers
½ tsp. salt
¼ tsp. pepper
¼ C. chopped fresh cilantro (optional)

-Sort and rinse beans; place in a large pot. Cover with 2 inches of water; let soak overnight. Drain; set beans aside.
-Sauté onion in hot oil in Dutch oven over med-high heat until tender. Add green chilies and next 3 ingredients; cook 2 minutes, stirring constantly. Add beans and chicken broth. Bring to a boil; cover, reduce heat and simmer 2 hours or until beans are tender, stirring occasionally.
-Add chicken, 1 c. cheese, salt and pepper. Bring to a boil; reduce heat, and simmer, uncovered, 10 minutes, stirring often. Stir in cilantro if desired.
-To serve, ladle chili into soup bowls. Top each with remaining cheese. Yields: 13 cups.

-For the chicken broth, I keep the broth from boiling the chicken. When boiling the chicken, I add minced garlic, a couple bay leaves and some chicken bouillon. The broth is excellent. I put the extra in a container in the freezer, for future chicken noodle soup. This recipe is from Southern Living...and it SOO good!

Meal Idea Monday

*This is one of Blake's favorite meals.

Chicken Divan

2 pkgs. (10oz. each) frozen broccoli spears, or one large bunch of fresh broccoli
1 can (10oz.) of condensed cream of chicken soup
¼ C. Sour Cream
1 TB Lemon juice
1 tsp. Soy Sauce
¼ tsp. Garlic Powder
2 C. Cubed Cooked Chicken
1 TB Butter
1/3 C. Grated Parmesan Cheese
¼ C. Unseasoned Bread Crumbs


Cook broccoli according to package directions or until slightly tender; Cover bottom of 9 x 13 baking dish w/ broccoli. In Medium bowl, mix soup, sour cream, lemon juice, soy sauce, and garlic powder; Stir in chicken; pour over broccoli. Set aside. Melt butter in small pot; Stir in Parmesan cheese and bread crumbs; Sprinkle over casserole; Cover w/ foil. Cook at 350˚ for
40-45 minutes.

*I serve this with a salad and bread