Easter Saturday 2011

At least I am running consistently a week behind with all my Easter posts. :-)

Last Saturday, we held my family's annual Easter Saturday egg hunt and get together. The kids had an egg hunt followed by an adult egg hunt and then a delicious dinner. My mom told everyone to bring a "cold salad" to share AND a dish made in a crock pot (I am so proud!). Everything was so yummy and perfectly cooled or warmed when it was time to eat dinner.

My two youngest-youngest cousins, Erin and Devon.

Bryce wins the prize for the best Easter basket. :-)

Gramma helps all the sweet peas start their search.

Once Jake found out there were pretzels in his eggs, he decided to share with Grandpa.

Brooklyn and Nanny

I think this was the only shot I got with both my kids together.

Zoe and Brooklyn are never far apart.

This face just melts me every time.

My beautiful girl all grown up.

Jake asks Silas why he isn't out there collecting eggs.

She's an old pro now!

And Jake is a very quick learner.

These kids aren't spoiled at all, are they? And this was BEFORE the Easter Bunny paid a visit to our house.

An Annual Tradition: Easter Eggs

Jake had the fun of dying eggs at school last week (God bless them!).

So, on Good Friday we let Jake go play with Gramma and Pops while Brooklyn and Zoe dyed Easter eggs at home.

Jake's First Easter Egg Hunt!

Jake had his first Easter party at school last week. It is probably my favorite "school holiday" at this age because I love to see the wee ones run around collecting the eggs. You can't be late to this one because that hunt is over in about 2.8 seconds. :-)

Here are some pics from the day...

Hellloooooo candy!

Our precious "niece" Ansley

Way Back When-esday!

Remember this from a few days ago? Here are Jake, Nanny, and Gramma at a Friday night Girls Night.

But we've actually seen these grandmothers (and this loveseat) at a Girls Night once before!

[May 2008]

Happy Way Back When-esday, y'all!

Just leave me a mustard, darn it!

When you have "Coupons" in the title of your blog, it's naturally going to raise a few questions.
1. Do you use coupons?
2. Do you watch Extreme Couponing on TLC?

I have to say that (1) yes and (2) no. I am not sure why I haven't jumped on the EC bandwagon. I think that parts of me just get so mad by my "local" EC's that I just will refuse to watch a show about the "extremists."

Don't get me wrong. I love a good deal. I do clip coupons weekly and subscribe to my Harris Teeter eVic program. I'll even do a rebate now and again. The "Coupons" part of my blog title simply represents the "home" in me- the wife, mother, supporter, etc. [And the "Thin Mints" represents the "work life." But I try not to mix that into the blog too much. I'd like to KEEP my job. :-)]

But I don't use the online coupons. I don't "borrow" extra Sunday papers. I don't spend hours pouring through ads and flyers and websites comparing who has what on sale and when.

I have a job. And kids. And limited time. And no ink in my printer.

But again, I do love a good deal. And when Harris Teeter has their super doubles or triples, I would like to go and get my mustard for 0.03 cents. And maybe a "free" jar of sauce or box of macaroni.

But by the time I get there, these items are gone because some local EC has just stockpiled 87 jars of mustard for their bunker...ahem, I mean pantry. I mean, come on folks. Leave some for the rest of us. Take two. Keep one and donate the other to the local food pantry. Get three even, and give one to your momma who can't do her own grocery shopping.

Just leave one for me.

One of my favorite author's, Jen Lancaster, wrote this blog post yesterday. If you have not read any of her books (and you are somewhat in my demographic) you will probably find her hilarious! She's so brutally honest, and I love it! Here's what she had to say about "Extreme Couponing." [Because she actually watches the show.]

Oh, I almost forgot!

Remember when I asked you to click here and help me out?

Well, today, my second blog post "aired" on Charlotte Mom Favorites.

This was a pretty popular one I posted back in October.

You know, the one about the boobs.

So, please do me one eensie favor and click here.

And then you can go back and click here.

And then back here.

And maybe even leave a comment or two.

Or tell your friends.

Thanks so much!

Slow Cooker Sunday: Shrimp and Corn Chowder

Did you miss me? We had a crazy Sunday night that started with a baby hacking up a lung and ended with a kindergartner puking in my bathroom.

But don't worry. She didn't eat this chowder. :-)

And I realize that I probably shouldn't talk about ailments in my recipe posts but I am just too exhausted to edit.

But before the madness began Sunday, I did manage to get this yumminess rockin' in the crock pot.

Shrimp and Corn Chowder

Ingredients:
4 cups of chicken broth
2 carrots, sliced in discs
2 potatoes, diced
2 (16 ounce) bags of frozen corn
1 onion, diced
1 red pepper, diced
1 bay leaf
salt and pepper
1 pound of medium shrimp, peeled and deveined
1/2 cup cream

Directions:
1. Combine chicken broth, all vegetables, bay leaf, 1 tsp of salt, and 1 cup of water in the slow cooker.
2. Cover and cook on low for 6 hours or until all the vegetables are tender. Note: I found that, unfortunately, after 6 hours my vegetables were a bit al dente. I should have done 6 hours on high, but just trust your instincts and watch your pot.
3. Puree three cups of soup in a blender (or Magic Bullet) and return to slow cooker.
4. Stir in shrimp and cover and cook for 15-20 minutes until shrimp are pink and done.
5. Stir in cream and cook until warmed through (about 2 minutes).
6. Season with salt and pepper as needed.

This was a great recipe that made a bunch of soup! Now, planning a soup dinner for an 85 degree day was not our smartest move, but Chad wanted corn and shrimp and this was what I came up with thanks to Google and myrecipes.com. :-)

Happy Easter!

This is the extent of our Easter decorating, but we hope you have a blessed Easter holiday today! Cuter pics to come later. :-)

Friday Night Fun!

Ok, so it wasn't THIS Friday night's fun, but it was on a Friday night...and even in April.

I have spoken before about our "Girls Nights" that we host at our house when the dads play poker. It is always a great time and the girls, who have all grown up together, have the best time playing and eating.

This "Girls Night" we had tacos and then cousin Jessica brought over cupcakes to decorate. A craft and a snack in one? Bingo!



But then let's not forget our precious boys at "Girls Night." Jake was the first boy born into the group, and I was a bit worried that he would be the lone ranger.

But then sweet Kyle was born 6 months later, and Jake had a buddy!

And then in January, Silas came along! The "big boys" are just waiting for him to wake and join in the fun!

"Girls Nights" also include my other favorite girls- Nanny and Gramma. Oh boy, I would not survive without them! And Jake and Brooklyn are kinda fond of them, too. :-)

Now, if we can just schedule that night where the dads watch the kids and the moms go out...

Take me out to the ball game....

...and buy me some McDonald's.

Chad had his first church softball game Tuesday night, so we took the kids out to watch and enjoy the beautiful weather. We got them McDonald's to eat as a picnic since we knew they wouldn't wait until 8pm to eat the slow cooker pork chops.

I spent a lot of time watching Jake run around like a fool and Brooklyn play with her BFF, Avery, under the bleachers. But, we did also try to cheer for the church guys as much as we could.

Jake has mastered the art of the "High 5."

One day, Jake. One day. But right now I just want to admire your precious curls.

Way Back When-esday: Easter Edition

I hope everyone has a blessed and beautiful Easter this weekend. I truly enjoyed taking this trip down Memory Lane for Way Back When-esday looking back at the last several Easters. 2005: 2006:

2007:

2008:

2009:

2010: