Piggie Dreams and Pesto Pizzas

At 6:45 yesterday morning, I was awoken by wimpers from inside Allyson's room. It's Winter Break for me, so I was hoping to get her to go back to sleep. Afterall, it was still dark outside!

I went into her room and asked what was wrong. She told me that a piggie had been chasing her. She had little tears streaming down her cheeks as she told me about how she had been running outside and a piggie got her on her on her pajamas. She was holding her leg and she was so upset.

It took a few minutes to comfort her. I told her it was okay. Mommy is here and there aren't any piggies to chase her. She finally quieted back down and went back to sleep. Thankfully!

I wrote about this because it was her first time telling me about a bad dream. I know she has had nightmares before, but I never heard what they were about.

Clearly, piggies are a phobia for her. Well, maybe just piggies that chase you and get you on the pajamas!

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On Monday, Mike and I went to the bookstore just to look around. Allyson went on to daycare. We still have to pay for it even when I'm off. So, we may as well take advantage.

So, I grab a load of cookbooks and park myself on a bench where Mike likes to browse mags.

I found an interesting recipe in a Rachael Ray cookbook. She called them ladybug pizzas. I made a few changes and called them Pesto Pizzas. Everyone at my house loved them and they were super easy. So, here's how you make 'em.

Pesto Pizzas

1 Package of English Muffins, seperated

1 jar prepared pesto

1 can premium chicken breast

3 small tomatoes, sliced

1 C. mozarella cheese, shredded

1 sm. can sliced black olives

Lay the English muffin halves out on a cookie sheet. Mix pesto with canned chicken until spreadable. Spoon pesto/chicken spread onto English muffin halves. Top with a tomato slice. Sprinkle with cheese. Top with black olive slices.

*Note: tomato and black olives can be left off for picky eaters!

Hope you and your family can enjoy this recipe. It is YUM-O!

Valentine's Day Weekend 2009

We had a great Valentine's Day/President's Day weekend! I wanna tell you all about it!

So, we'll start with Saturday morning. Allyson woke us up around 7:30/8:00 like she always does on the weekends. Then, I brought her to our bed and we exchanged our Valentine's gifts with each other.

Allyson got from Mommy & Daddy: a new movie-Barbie and the Diamond Castle, pink M&Ms, Disney Princess candy, and a pink monkey.

Mike got: a card and candy Reese's heart from Allyson. I was told not to spend money on him. But, I have to do something for my Valentine. So, I gave him 40 love coupons that I printed from the Internet. They say things like "Good for one footrub" (he already used that one!) or "Good for a romantic dinner at home". And I wrote him a love letter. So, see Valentine's Day doesn't have to cost money! Mike was VERY happy with his gift. He plans to use all of them, but he says he doesn't want to be wasteful. So, he'll probably still have some a year from now!

I got: A very sweet card, in which he wrote that I am the perfect woman for him. That really made me smile! And, a tin of Dove truffles. Yummy! Also, I asked him to get the Fireproof DVD for us to watch together. That was all I really wanted for Valentine's Day.

We all really liked our gifts from each other. Allyson said, "I am so happy!"

We went out for a special lunch later. We tried the new Greek Village restaurant. It was so good and they had decorated the place for Valentine's Day with red and white balloons.

So, can you think of a better way to spend Valentine's Day than at a kid's birthday party? Well, I cannot! Especially, when you get to hang out with some very good friends!

We went to Noah's fifth birthday party Saturday afternoon.

Here's Noah. He had a Star Wars party.

The kids are all in line to hit the pinata. I got some really good smiles in this picture! I wish Isabelle had been looking!

It was Allyson's turn to hit the pinata. She was hitting it very gently, despite how this picture looks. Look in the top right-hand corner and you'll see her daddy grinning at her.


Get the candy!!!

Anytime I was trying to find my kid, I could just look in someone's lap. She loves her some Mama Jan! Baby Kirkley will learn all about Mama Jan one day.

Baby Kirkley was so sweet at the party!

Allyson says she's starting an all-girl band. She's very serious about it.

Here we are all singing playing Rock Band. It's a fun game. We'll have to play again sometime. Maybe someone could have a Rock Band party and maybe invite us. We would bring some good food. That would ROCK!

So, we finally got our little rockstar home. She only has red nails because it is Valentine's Day. I think they look too grown-up to do any other time.

Sunday night I put her in her sister's cheerleading dress and pigtails. My parents bought this outfit for Morgan years ago. I found it when I was looking for all the Christmas decorations. FHU stands for Freed-Hardeman University.

After church when I was walking with her out to the car, she kept saying, "My hair is cute! My hair is cute!" I'm thinking she gets her vanity from her daddy. :D

After evening worship, we took all of the kids to BK. All the girls got Pink Panther glasses in their kid's meals. We thought this would make a cute picture. I think it did!

L-R: Me, Jason, Stacia, and Tabby

Well, the dads needed a fun picture, too!

L-R: Aric, Darren, Jason, and Mike

Now, c'mon guys. There is no way to look tough in pink sunglasses, but try if you want to!!

So, we had a great weekend! We can't wait for the next time the Bramletts and Simmons come visit!

Papa's Birthday and Happy Valentine's Day!

Happy Valentine's Day!

Allyson is looking so grown up in her pillowcase dress made by Heather Britton.

Well, she's still got baby cheeks!

Today was her class party, so pink and red were in order!

A close-up!

Her teacher, Ms. LaJean had a big hug for Allyson when she gave her a gift.

Here are some of Allyson's friends at her school. Sydney is on the left and Savannah is in the middle.

The 3-year-olds hang out in the two-year old room until about 8 am. These are some three year olds. I don't know their names. But, they all wanted to see the picture on the camera after I took it. These kids in the digital age, huh!

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Last weekend, we went to Gray, Ga, for my dad's birthday. He's 62. Exactly 30 years older than me.

Allyson and her Papa

I love this picture of him leading all of us in singing Happy Birthday to him. :)



He let Allyson blow out a candle.

Here's Allyson's gift to her papa. She wanted to get him this monkey balloon she saw at Wal-Mart. He loved it, of course!

Heather's House of Bows

I have a new blog on my list. It is for Heather's House of Bows. Heather is so creative and she makes BEAUTIFUL creations for everyone. I love to order gifts from her for all occasions-baby showers, birthdays, wedding showers, Mother's Day, Secret Pal and Teacher's gifts.

She also makes custom outfits for children and she designs t-shirts. Everyone at my school has one!

If you are looking for something personal and special for an upcoming event or party, get in touch with Heather. She will hook you up!

Note-This was not a paid ad! Heather is my friend and I try to help my friends as much as I can. :D

Youth Progressive Dinner

Last Friday the youth group at church had a progressive dinner.

Appetizers were at our house.

Before everyone came over, I had to snap this picture of our baby girl looking so big at her desk. Where is the time going!?

The theme of the evening was "Mexican Fiesta". So, of course, we had chips and salsa. I also made cheese dip (Velveeta and Rotel tomatoes, melted together in the microwave. Easy, cheesy!). We had taquitos, too. They are rolled tacos. So yummy!

Oh, to be young again!

Allyson was a bit confused about why all these people were in our house. This really was a great chance for us to spend some time with the youth.



Sheila had the main course. She made taco salads. She got the shells from El J's. Apparently, she couldn't find them in the store. They were so delicious!

It can't be a youth function without a fun game. We played Never Have I Ever. Everyone gets ten tiles. You have to say something you've never done that you think others have. If they have, they lose a tile. The last person with tiles is the winner.

Sheila had her place all decorated for the theme.

Then, we went to Holly's house. Holly is four; she has a playroom. She wanted to play Candy Land with Allyson, but we just aren't there yet.

At Holly's house, for dessert, there was a chocolate fountain. Need I say more? :)



Here's Holly's parents, Kim and Goran.

Holly and Allyson had so much fun playing.

Ummm...looks like someone got into the chocolate fountain!

It was a fun evening! We were glad that we could help with the youth in this way. When I was a teen, the adults did this kind of thing for me and the others. It's nice to give back.

At the end of the evening, we all sang and Joe led a devotional. It was about letting your light shine as a Christian teenager. He did a great job. Bry did a great job, too! She is a wonderful support to Joe and his efforts with the youth.