Wednesday, May 9, 2012

Butter-Me-Not Biscuits

After my Granny passed away a few months ago, Mama asked me if I would like to have some of her cookbooks.  For those who know me, cooking is not one of my strong points, so I figure I need all the help I can get...hee!  Anyway, one of the cookbooks she gave me was Calling All Cooks, a cookbook put together by the Birmingham Chapter of the Telephone Pioneers of America from 1982.  It is a GREAT cookbook and I have already found a few really good recipes.  I had to share these yummy biscuits with you.  They are so very easy and so very good!

Butter-Me-Not Biscuits

2 cups Bisquick
1 stick Butter
8 oz. Sour Cream ( I used reduced fat and it worked great)
Water
All Purpose Flour

Preheat oven to 425 degrees.  Mix Bisquick, butter and sour cream; add water if needed to moisten.  Form into a ball on a floured surface and knead 10 times.  Roll out and cut with cookie cutter.  Place on ungreased cookie sheet and bake 8 to 10 minutes.   

Tuesday, May 8, 2012

No Training Wheels Here

My sweet little 4 year old, Jack has learned to ride his bicycle without training wheels!  Yay, Jack!  I am so excited for him.  He wants to be like his big sister so bad.  Last week his friend Bry came to play and he can ride without training wheels too.  I think that is what finally pushed him to get the courage to take them off.  Friday evening Michael removed them and he was able to stay up for a few seconds at a time.  It was late and getting dark so we came inside.  Well 6:00 am Saturday morning he is up and ready to try again.  All I have to say is Michael is a good Daddy to get up that early on his only day off!  Within about 5 minutes we was riding like a pro.  


Monday, April 30, 2012

Children's Sabbath


This past Sunday was the Children's Sabbath service at church.  The children lead the worship service with singing, reading of scripture and prayers.  It was a wonderful day and such a joy to see these sweet babies take part in such a meaningful service.


This was Daniel and Jack's first time to sing with the Cherub Choir.  They both love going to choir and I enjoyed seeing all of them have fun!!  Just look at those sweet little faces!



Georgia Anne had a reading part during prayer.  
The Grace Choir sang two songs.  This is such a sweet group of kids!


Saturday, April 28, 2012

The Tree House



We have a tree next to the patio and house that the kids love to climb.  They have pretty much stayed in it for the past 6 months.  Jack got the idea that he wanted a tree house in the tree, so after asking Papa continuously for the past month or so, Papa got on it and made him one!!

Papa and Michael adding the braces to the tree.

Jack was a very good supervisor and oversaw the entire process.

The first time in the tree house!!

Thanks Papa and Nana!!

The perfect place to enjoy a snack after school...
and to watch what is going on in the neighborhood.



Friday, April 20, 2012

Patio Spruce Up

Last week what started as pulling weeds and trimming hedges, turned into a patio overhaul.  I wish I had some before pictures to share with you, but at the time I didn't think about it.  I did manage to find some really old pictures to give you an idea of how it originally started.   
Shortly after we purchased our house in 1999,we added the boxwoods around the perimeter of the patio .


In 2003 we added a white picket fence.  (Aren't those silly pugs funny sunbathing??)

I pulled out the boxwood hedge on this side of the patio to give us a little more room and to finally make use of the space between the patio and fence.  It made the patio feel so much bigger and gave the kids a little more room to play. 


I chose pretty pink mandevillas for the hanging baskets on the fence.
My view from the kitchen window.
In one planter, I used a boxwood and variegated ivy.  In the other two containers I used a wrought iron trellis with a red mandevilla and a left over fern from last year.

Love the foxgloves!  I've never tried growing these so we will see how it goes??
We got all of the rocks from our local river, the Tallapoosa.  One of the perks of owning riverfront land....pretty free rocks!  I must admit that hauling them home isn't much fun though!


PJ lounging in his favorite spot!


We bought a whiskey barrel from Home Dept and added a Kimberly Queen fern with marigolds around the base.  
We planted a pair of arborvitae evergreens on either side of the whiskey barrel with day lilies in front.
And finally, we planted a peach tree in the corner.  I must admit this is my favorite thing in the patio.  About a week ago, the children received some money from some very sweet family friends in memory of Granny.  In the note they asked that they use it for something to remember Granny.  Michael and I were going to put it in their saving accounts but Georgie had a wonderful idea of her own.  She wanted to use the money to plant a tree in memory of Granny.  She said it would remind us of her everyday.  What an angel she is and what a wonderful idea!  So the three kiddos picked this tree and they wanted a fruit tree.  So there is our little peach tree named "Sara" in memory of Granny!  We are going to get a little plaque made and put it at the base of the tree to remember sweet Granny.  

Sunday, April 8, 2012

Happy Easter


Hello friends! I hope everyone had a wonderful Easter filled with the love of family and worshiping our risen Savior! I wanted to share a few family Easter pictures with you.

Michael selected what the children wore this Easter. I wasn't too thrilled about the boys wearing suits, but I will be the first to admit they were awfully cute in their little linen Easter suits. Michael even got a new matching suit as well!


Me, Georgie and Nana

Jack, Papa, Banks and Daniel

Tori, Banks and Bryan

Last week on Palm Sunday, the children participated in Sunday morning service at church by waving palm branches. We had a church picnic and Easter Egg Hunt after church. We had so much fun!

Bradyn, Elizabeth and Georgie


Bradyn, Elizabeth, Georgie, Jack, Daniel and Bry

Georgie and sweet Emily