When Life Gives You Key Limes...

You make key lime pie, of course! 

More on that below...

Happy Friyay!  This is our last weekend before summer kicks off for the babes & it is a B U S Y one.  It's my last week of Tennessee speech before summer break.  Goodness, I'm just having a harder time saying goodbye to my kids every year.  They become so special to me.  I feel so blessed to meet them & their family & be a small part of their lives for this short time-all from the comforts of home!  How is May almost JUNE?  You guys.  It's almost officially summer.  

 MY BABIES

Mostly things I want to remember about this week...sorry(but also not sorry) for all the mom details🤗

Conley & Baker just had their last day of MDO yesterday.  Tuesday they will go & we will meet them for their graduation...this year has flown by in so many ways.  I'm so thankful for this program & that we got to be a part of their first year.  It has been such a blessing to our family.  They had "Disney Day/Mickey Day" & "Red, White, & Blue" day this week.  

Cam has had a fun filled week, too.  His school is so festive-even for the last week of school & he eats it up.  They've had Field Day, Willy Wonka Day, Neon Day, Happy Birthday Tennessee Day, & Camping Day.  How fun is that??  Also, I take him so early in the am...that pictures are not cool for him🤪

Picture overload...Haircuts, Cheese Dip, Baseball, & Build a Bear (Baker's first trip)❤️

CAN WE TALK ABOUT THIS MILESTONE??? BAKER'S PIGGIES???  AND SHE WEARS THEM ALMOST ALL DAY (MOST DAYS) LOL!  And has started asking for a bow.  I've been waiting so long for this!

FAITH

I've been slack on learning a verse this week, but I picked a new one out this morning.

It's longer🥴  I may be in trouble!

"Be careful for nothing but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be known unto God and the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.  Phil 4:6-7

The reoccurring theme of "grace" has been in my devotions this week.  I mean, can we really get over the fact that once we are saved, God has cleansed us from all unrighteousness forever?  FOREVER?  I don't deserve that.  How can we ever hold a grudge with another person with such forgiveness being given to US?  I've been there!  And it humbles me to think that I've held grudges with such forgiveness being given to me.  Wow!

ENTERTAINMENT

I'm loving the following podcasts during my walks-  I love my music, but I gain such a sense of  accomplishment working on my brain & physical health at the same time😆 

(Granted, I miss a lot of info with my Conley talks)...now those r e a l l y educate me!

These are all so good-health, work, & faith based-found all on Spotify 💕

ALSO-THIS BETTER NOT BE A JOKE!😍

                                            

Why is it this time of year that I always get SO EXCITED ABOUT FALL & HALLOWEEN!? 👻🍁

HOME

I'm going to share our bedroom!  It is by no means finished...I still have a list of things to do one day-but we at least have some color & some sort of bedding that is beginning to capture my vision.  I've got to get two more picture frames for above the bed so don't let that throw you!  When you talk Cade into hanging something...you get what you get & you don't pitch a fit.

We got some "sad" house news yesterday.  We ordered new living room furniture in January, that was supposed to be delivered in February.  That got pushed back to mid May.  Here we are mid-May-& now it has been pushed back to mid-June😢  We have holes in our couch LOL #boys.  I'm so ready for this to come!  Also, I can't get Cade interested in hanging lighting fixtures until it comes...SO...there's that, too!

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Homemade Key Lime Pie- it's just my favorite.  And I'm pretty sure it's my kids favorite, too.  They loved helping me make this one, & while I said I wanted to find the best recipe...

1.  I don't know how it can get much better than this one. (The only thing I added was cinnamon to the crust mixture.)

2.  And I don't know if it is going to be a conducive factor to trying to be healthy, to always have one on hand.  Every couple of weekends?  Maybe.  Everyday?  No. 

Ingredients

Graham cracker crust

• 1 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs
• 1/3 cup granulated sugar
• 6 tbsp butter melted

Key Lime Filling

• 28 oz sweetened condensed milk
• 1/2 cup light sour cream
• 3/4 cup key lime juice
• zest from 2 regular limes or 4 key limes

Whipped Cream Topping

• 1 cup heavy whipping cream
• 1/2 cup powdered sugar
• 1 tsp vanilla extract

Instructions

Graham cracker crust

• Preheat oven to 375F.
• Mix graham cracker crumbs, sugar, and butter in a small bowl. Press the crumb mixture into an 8" - 9.5" pie pan. Bake for 7 minutes. Cool for at least 30 minutes.

Key Lime Filling

• Preheat oven to 350F
• Whisk together sweetened condensed milk, sour cream, lime juice, and lime zest in a medium bowl. Pour into prepared graham cracker crust and bake for 10 minutes.
• Let pie cool slightly before chilling. Chill for at least 3 hours.

Whipped Cream Topping

• Beat heavy cream and sugar together in a mixer until stiff peaks form. Beat in vanilla. Spread or pipe the whipped cream on top of the cooled pie. Top with additional lime zest if desired.
  
  
  Recipe from Mom On Timeout

HOLIDAYS

All the red white & blue stuff is speaking to me🙃

I love the fourth!

MOM LIFE

Hard75-has turned in to the Hard50🥴

I can't quit starting over when things aren't perfect.  I'm on day 3 of a perfect streak...but in my health podcast-I learned that this is my flaw.  I can't ever aim for perfection because it isn't a lifestyle.  I'm just proud of myself for being active!  And while I'm going to try to keep up checking all the boxes, if I don't-I'm going to keep moving forward.

I've applied all the "brain" information & how we control our thoughts/feelings to this time of year.  I get so sad this time of year seeing my babies grow.  It's such a blessing!  Of course...but, I just can't believe how fast it is going by.  It hurts my heart, & I think a little bit of the anxiety I talked about last week comes from that.  But-what if I channeled that thinking in to being thankful I've got to be right beside them through it all?  That they are healthy & growing into little people God created-& that he has big plans for their life & I get to be a big influence in that.  It's given me a whole new fresh perspective.

This is just proof that God works in my life everyday-he is helping grow in my faith & in Him.  I'm so thankful.  I don't want to stay where I'm at-I want to grow!  I need to grow!  

Can we talk about how cute (and motivating) my new water cup is???  I'm in love!  And I've drank a gallon of water a day no problem with it.  The only down side is I can't put ice in it, because the vinyl custom parts start to fall off:/. It seems to be fine without ice.  I do love it despite that flaw!

LOOKING FORWARD TO...

SUMMER!  Our pool is open now & we are planning to bust it wide open this evening!

Hope you all have the best weekend & week<3

                                                                

A Yucky Week in May

This has to be the g r o s s e s t week in May, ever (personally & weather related).  

Rainy & 40-50's?  Breathing treatments, snot, & sleepless nights?

 You heard that right.  My poor girl has been so sick since the beginning of this past weekend!  ALL the sick things, she has had basically every symptom-I'll spare you the details.  We've snuggled lots & that keeps us going!  Thank the Lord for breathing treatments-I think that is what finally made her start turning a corner about Wednesday! 🥱. And if this weather doesn't make up it's mind soon-these allergies may do Baker in.

I love sweatshirt weather, but... I. am. over. it.

Bakie's babes are all sick too...

 MY BABIES

Conley: Mom!  I'm done! (pooping)

Ok, cool.

Conley:  Mom!  You're just saying that so I'll wipe my butt!

Yep, Con.  You're right.  5 year olds tend to wipe their own butts. 

*Side note: I've made him wipe his own butt for a long time now...he just NEVER does it without me telling him he has to.  I wonder when he will finally understand those days are over?!🤪

---

Bae has decided it's fun to take her diaper off.

And then, she says: "Poop!"  And wants to go sit on the toilet.  She's going to potty train herself before she turns two. Without a doubt.

FAITH

One morning this week, while I was reading my Bible, I had it on my heart to start memorizing scripture...the first verse I came to was 2 Thes. 5:18-

"In everything give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you."

I've had a lot of anxiety this week & I'm not sure why.  One morning I could barely even workout because my heart rate was running so fast-it was scary.  I felt so much apprehension & I don't know why...

So when I thought on this verse, it always calmed me.  So thankful for prayer & God's word & all of his many blessings on my life.   Look at God.  And how he works-He knows just what we need, when we need it.

ENTERTAINMENT

On the sick day I took off of work with Bae, while I wanted to just play Fuller House in the background while I worked, I mini-Cassidy-style binged Emily in Paris while doing laundry (my t.v. loving family influenced me).  I'm still not finished & probably will never finish it, but it kind of gave me an adult version of "Passport to Paris" /Mary Kate & Ashley vibe.  It's a little raunchy...though what isn't these days?  I will say, what I took away from the episodes I watched was how CONFIDENT Emily was throughout every negative & impossibly horrible thing that could go wrong for her-despite being in a foreign country.  She never doubted her worth,  though being completely out of her comfort zone, dumped by her boyfriend, oblivious to her surroundings, & challenged daily by people who wanted her to run home crying with her "tail tucked between her legs."  But she didn't.  She refused to give up.  May we all be as true to who we are as Emily is in Paris...

Gah, I'm such a mom.  

And you can't go without saying something about the Paris scenery -it is so dreamy in this series.  Swoon.

HOME

Is it too early to decorate for the fourth?  

Spring is my least favorite season to decorate for.

More organizing.  

I began working on my spices & am starting on our coffee station.

I think the hardest thing to organize are cups & spices🤪

I wish we had a container store close by...but we don't so Marshalls it is.  I almost made the mistake of getting a spice organizer at Walmart for 12.99-but found the SAME thing at Marshalls for 4.99!

J.Gaines Tortilla Soup

As for recipes, I think I'm going to challenge myself to find the best homemade key lime pie recipe this summer.  Try different ones & see which is the best?  That might be a fun weekend thing.  I need other volunteers for different flavors...any takers?  We can compile a list of the BEST summer pies-tried & true.🙃

For Mother's Day, this is one resurrected from last spring-JoAnna Gaines Oatmeal Creme Pies (Can you ever go wrong with a JoJo recipe?).  I swear they remind me of the scene from Honey I Shrunk the Kids which a l w a y s makes me want a blown up oatmeal cream pie.  

HOLIDAYS

Mothers Day 2021 is in the books.  My 8th Mothers Day❤️.  For the weekend we went to NC with family & had the nicest day celebrating the special ladies in our life.  I just wish Baker would have felt better.  As for the official Mothers Day... I spent the first part of it alone working in Baker's class during the church service in the nursery because Bae was sick & everyone else stayed home with her so I could fulfill my child care working duty (long story there, but again...I'll spare you).  No cute "Mothers Day" background family picture for me!  🙃. I do wish we would have at least taken one picture-sickly or not!

I will admit I was sad when I walked in & seen little flower pots waiting on their mamas to pick them up...& then Baker's teacher brought hers to me (she had made it last week).  A bright spot to the day!

My secret sis gift❤️. It cracks me up at how well she feeds the coffee & "choc choc"(Baker-ese for chocolate) obsession that I have.

MOM LIFE

75 TOUGH. A new adventure for health...Hard 75/75 Tough (not sure the official name-apparently it's a tiktok thing? but I'm not a hardcore Tiktok-er🤷🏻‍♀️I can't let myself get sucked into another social media outlet).  Supposedly this app/program is supposed to help you develop "mental toughness"-  I've began & started it over 6 times if that tells you how hard it is. The reviews online basically say it's for crazy people-I guess I'm in the right place😂.  I make it harder on myself because I want perfection-you get three "hearts"or grace days-I just want all my boxes to be green!  Despite that, I have managed to have 10 "good" days.  I'm not giving up.  I like the challenge!  I typically do an indoor workout only, but this has made me find a love for walking (I've been on a run only kick the past few years)-who new I'd burn almost as many calories with much less work???  And Bae & I are obsessed with our outside walking adventures (besides the time we got caught in a monsoon & Con crashed in to the curb)...Conley is not so much a fan.  But we make him come anyway!  It's great for all of us!  If you are doing this/or start-get in touch with me-I need some camaraderie!

Walking at practice is fun too!  I love having something to do besides sit & phone surf.

The view is super cute!

And even on the days when Bae was too sick or it was too cold-I've found many indoor walking YouTube options!  Where there is a will, there is a WAY!  Def works on mental toughness.  And I need that.

LOOKING FORWARD TO...

Last week of TNVA.  I love my kids...I fall in love with them each year-it's always such a bittersweet time to see them for the last time-thinking I may never see them again.  But I'm proud of the progress they've made & the blessing of getting to know them and their family.  

Excited to meet my summer kids from California!  

SO GLAD THIS CHICA IS FEELING BETTER!

<3

                                                                

Friday Happenings | April Showers Bring... May SHOWERS

It has been a rainy week here in Knoxville, Tennessee.  Stormy, too!  Kind of fitting for the mood of this much dreaded week, as it marked the first anniversary of my brothers death on May 4th.  Here is my post honoring him & sharing his testimony last year.  As I grow "older" (it's very hard for me to say that🤗) the more I realize how time is fleeting, we are not promised tomorrow, & what "seize the day" really means. 

This was a visit with Brody in rehab in 2013

A couple of months ago, I remember thinking about how the night time routines had changed since moving into our home in December of 2016.  Cam was almost 4 and Conley was a fresh one year old (younger than Baker is right now!)  I can't wrap my head around that.  I think of how every night, though I didn't realize it-they were changing.  Growing.  Our season of life was changing.  Today I have a headed to Kindergartener and an almost third grader.  How many nights did I fall in to bed surviving?  Too many!  I've purposed in my heart to see every night for what it is now.  A memory-a time I never want to forget!

 I've always been a "there's always tomorrow" kinda girl, but lately, in my thirties-that is changing.  Today.  This week.  Make it count!  Go outside and play with your kids, read that bedtime story, let them sleep in your bed.  Don't sweat the small things (Are you listening, Cassidy?). I'm off my soapbox.  I hope that wasn't too gloomy?  I just want to be encouraging!

MY BABIES

This week was "Under the Sea" Week at MDO.  Bae was the cutest mermaid & left her hair bow in ALL day.  First time ever!  Proud Mama over here!

Also, can we just talk about there is nothing more in this WORLD I love more than these homemade gifts??  I die.

I have a little Cam shout out. This babe has overcome a lot this year in the world of sports.  He is so tender hearted, sensitive, and has such a desire to please others-so having a coach switch out on you twice in the middle of the season as he was just getting to know them- and then learning to accept criticism & different coaching styles-worrying all day every day about always making the right moves/plays etc. all to watch him as he grows in to a confident growing/striving athlete- I'm SO proud of him!  He scored all the points in the game Thursday for his team.  To go from a kid who is so worried about everything and scared with a crippling fear of messing up-to THAT.  He had a lot of pressure on him at the end of the game and he STILL hit that ball and grabbed all the bases.

SO INCREDIBLY PROUD.  A little event with a big powerful punch in character building.

Crying now.🤧

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Also...Nobody:

Baker:

FAITH

What has God taught me this week...🤔

This week hasn't had "a moment"-but reoccurring things I think God has emphasized for me lately have been thoughtfulness/thinking of others more than self, being coachable & teachable in everything, how imperative self control is in every aspect of life.  Praying over all these things in my life-may God grow me & my family in each of these areas!

My sister and mother in law are always so thoughtful💕 They inspire me ☺️

ENTERTAINMENT

Mama Bear Apologetics l o v i n g this book & the confidence/assurance it is investing in me so that I can strive to be the Christian parent I have been called to be in the world we live in today.  It also gives me confidence in talking with other people about more "touchy/controversial" topics-though I will always probably shy away from that.  I, however, never want to be afraid "to go there" with another person & have a great open minded discussion -show them how we as Christians can be respectful with a differing opinion or belief & hopefully help shed some light (some JESUS light) on things❤️

Over half way through -and so far...HIGHLY RECOMMEND to everyone!

HOME

I heard a quote this week that said, "If you want a clean house, you will have a clean house." It halfway made me mad as a mom with three young kids😂...but then it also made me determined.  I give myself grace on those late nights at baseball or work-but when I have the opportunity-I try to stay on top of everything.  I also am constantly trying to give Cam and Conley more responsibilities so they can learn how to help AND take care of what they have.  It's often like I'm starting over at day one again everyday-but I hope one day it will become a reflex for them!  Lately, I've been on an organizing kick...

Recipes 

This week was all about grilling...and it was SO good-that I didn't even take any pictures🤪

chicken, corn, veggies, steak.  YUM! 

But I did snap a picture of these zucchini noodles cooked with EVOO, salt, pepper, and parmesan 🤤

Perfect grill side...

HOLIDAYS

Mothers Day Coming!  I'm excited about our gifts to our mamas and grandmas-we will spend today baking & wrapping that up.  I foresee a trip to Bradleys in my near future!  See Looking forward to...👇🏼

MOM LIFE

Baseball & rain.  I like that recipe when I am feeling overwhelmed!
We've had a few days off from practice & games which is just what I think we needed.

Yesterday, we "pushed play again" on the season, and I must say-being outside for the evening watching our boys play ball was so refreshing & made our hearts proud.

Also-Mom life & Target.  These days, all I do is get yelled at by babies & I get out as fast as I can...

We found a cute backapck & mini baby to get through this trip last week for the baseball games...

Also a cookie for this one...

LOOKING FORWARD TO...

Mother's Day this weekend.  I heard someone recently say it was their favorite holiday since becoming a mom.  Holidays have always held on to most of my memories.  I'd say that's why I love them so much...so, needless to say, though I'd never thought of it as a "holiday" so to speak- I love that & becoming a mother is truly my most blessed/the best part of my life.  What a thing to celebrate-though I don't want to be insensitive.  I know all too well some struggle with this day.  Whatever you are feeling this weekend-my love & prayers go out to you💕. God is near to those who are broken hearted!