Thanks to all of you for the birthday wishes!! Joey & I both had good birthday’s & now we are gearing up for Jaxon’s birthday on the 11th!
Yesterday I was off work & so I got to go spend my birthday $$ – always fun! I actually found some great stuff!

Many of you wanted the cake recipe, so as promised here it is. One of my little secrets is a website called allrecipes.com. I love it because you can search for anything at all & they usually have it. I also love it because real people submit & try the recipes. There have been so many times I think “I have chicken for dinner, but don’t know what to do with it”. I can go to this website & type in chicken & there are too many ideas to choose from!

The cake…It did taste as good as it looks especially the frosting, I think I’d make it for a fruit dip too!

So… Here are the links to the recipes!

Strawberry cake from scratch
Whipped cream cream cheese frosting

Ok, now that we’re done talking about cake (and eating it for me!), I got this book at the library yesterday. I’m sure you saw the author on Oprah last week. I’d been wanting to read the book for a while, then I saw Oprah. I went to Barnes & Noble but they were out & told me that the publisher is having to reprint it because they are sold out! I’ll keep you posted!

I got this book for my birthday & I am loving it!!! I totally recommend it – just a great reference book for the house. It’s a fun read!

Ok, this is about all I have time for this morning, but I will leave you with one of the funniest pictures of Jax.

Jaxon’s hair is growing so much faster in the back than on the sides & top, thus creating a mullett of sorts. I am not okay with this. I always thought that his first haircut would be because of hair in his eyes not to cut off a mullett. We can have no mulletts around here (Joey already had his as a young boy).
So, the question of the day…should I cut it, or wait?
Have a great Thursday!!!

Today is my 27th birthday. I am so thankful for today. I am so thankful for my parents. I am thankful for my family. I am thankful for my friends. I am thankful for my health. I am thankful for my home. I am thankful for being a mommy & a wife. I am thankful for my job. I am just so thankful that my life has turned out the way it has. Overall there is not much I can complain about.
Have a great Sunday!

Oh yeah, & I am SO thankful that my “pink eye” is pretty much gone!!

Today is Joey’s 29th birthday!
(note: this picture was taken last year for our birthday celebration at the Conley’s house. I was VERY Pregnant. This is one of the only pictures of JUST Me & Joe since Jaxon…! We need to take more pictures!)
I am so thankful for this man. I am so blessed to have him as MY husband. He is wonderful to me & to Jaxon.

In honor of his birthday, I made him this:

Strawberry cake & Whipped cream cream cheese frosting – ALL FROM SCRATCH!! That’s right! It was so yummy. Jaxon was the most excited I think. He will have no problems with his cake in a few weeks. I must say, I totally enjoyed making this today but if I hadn’t been home, it probably would have been from a box. The frosting is worth it though, so easy & super delicious! If you would like the recipe let me know!

On the infection front: I saw the Dr. again today. It is bacterial conjucntivitus, not viral. That means that the stronger antibiotic drops I got yesterday should cut it. I sure hope so. My right eye looks so much worse today than yesterday. I NEED this to end. I need to go back to work next week. For now, I will just stick with the drops & wash my hands constantly so that Joey & Jax won’t get it (again)!!

Hope you’ve all had a great Friday!!

I’m still infected here! Now it is in both eyes. I think it’s getting better, but was informed today by the Dr. that I am still contagious. Thank goodness Jaxon is better. I just hope I don’t give it back to him. It’s hard to keep a loving, active baby away from your face. I’ve just been washing my hands constantly!

In other news…Since I’ve been home all week(by the way, I’m so thankful to work for such a wonderful, understanding Woman. I couldn’t imagine myself working any other place, execept for home!), I’ve been cooking, cleaning, organizing & catching up on a few shows I DVR’d!
Before I begin all the randomness, I must report. I got my first real kiss from Jaxon today. I was holding him while we told Joey goodbye this morning. Joey and I shared a quick peck & Jaxon watched so intently. Next thing I know, his lips are puckered and right on mine! How sweet. It was only once & he will not give one to Joey. It totally made my day!

Random stuff:

We woke up to snow this morning. Yes it is March 23 & it’s FREEZING outside. CRAZY!!

I’m totally enjoying this:

I’d never REALLY looked at real simple before a few months ago. I got a trial subscription & I am totally hooked. It is the only magazine that I ACTUALLY read every page of. They even have Real Simple organizing things at Target now. So cool. I went today. Tomorrow is Joey’s birthday & I had to go get his gift. I saw the organizing stuff, had a great organizer in my basket, then decided to wait until after my birthday, which is Sunday.

While at Target I scored a couple of deals. I walked the ends – you know where all the clearance stuff is! Oh Yeah!! I got some wrapping paper for $.74! I also got a new bathing suit for $9.76!! It is not the cutest in the world, but I know we will be swimming a lot this summer & I don’t want to wear the same one every time. I AM NOT where I want to be with my weight, so I’m not going to spend a lot of $$ to cover it!

I had to go to Wal-Mart to get Joey’s gift, because it was cheaper there. Right around the corner from us is an old-fashioned Wal-Mart. I don’t mind going there at all. I DO NOT like the supercenter’s around here though. I wasn’t there too long & found some great stuff.
I got Joey’s Video Game – The Godfather (I know 29 might be too old to be playing video games, but that is his “wind down” thing, while the computer & my addiction to all things blog related are mine). Oh yeah, and I got carded while checking out. His game is rated M for mature & I guess you have to be older than 18 to buy it. I guess someday I will love the fact that I look like I’m still in high school!

For a while now I have wanted a wooden salad bowl/set. I came across this while looking for a candy dish. Oh my. I really like it. I again decided to wait until after my birthday, so I just got A small bowl for candy. When I handed the lady (that had just carded me)the bowl she said “Oh, I love these”. I said “me too, I’ll be right back, I’m going to get the rest” I knew if I waited & they weren’t there in a few days that I would regret it & always wish I’d bought them!!
Here they are:

This bowl has some YUMMY Reeces Pieces Easter Eggs in it!!! I’m sure they won’t be there for long!

I also found these videos for the playroom for $1.00 each!! Jaxon is watching the Muppet’s right now!!

That’s about all for today. I’d like to ask you all to keep Joey in your thoughts & prayers. He has been having back pain since August. He recently found out he has a herniated disk. He is undergoing decompression therapy & will be for the next month. Normal, every day tasks are very painful for him & sometimes impossible. He is not the “sit around type” and is taking this very hard. I just pray for a full recovery so he can get back to normal. Thank you so much!

I’ll leave you with a cute picture of Jaxon from this week:

I hope you are all having a great day!!

I’m beginning to realize that there is a lot for us as parents/adults to re-learn as we teach our children. I think that along the way we loose sight of all the “little things” that matter. I remember some of the basic things I was taught as a child, but there are so many others that I’m being reminded of. I think it’s great. It keeps me humble & makes me want to be a better person. One of my all time favorite lessons is so cliche, but has really worked for me. “Treat others how you want to be treated”. I always try to “put the shoe on the other foot”, when thinking over situations. It works for me.

Today I realized how twisted our society is. I was watching Oprah from last Monday. The one where all the teenage girls were discussing their issues with Venus & Serena Williams & Jada Pinkett Smith. WOW. What a show. What a reminder that times have changed. I will be 27 this week & times have changed so much just in the 9 years since I’ve been out of high school. This scares me. A lot. I know there is not much I can do about it, except to teach Jaxon how to be secure in himself and treat others with respect & to trust in God. And so many other things….
The thing that stood out to me the most today was how many people, especially female don’t like themselves. Most of what we don’t like is physical. I’m in the same boat. I think we can all relate. If I were only ______, or ________, or ________, I’d look better, feel better, have more friends, blah, blah, blah. This is so depressing. I hate how our society has set “standards” that we all think we have to meet. Oh man, I could go on & on, but I won’t.

Those of you that know me know that I am a big Laurie Berkner fan. She is also a fav of Jaxon’s! You can find her on Noggin or Noggin.com. I am reminded today of one of my favorite songs of from her.

is the correct term for “PINK EYE”. Jaxon & I both have it. It is no fun. It is yucky, but at least we feel ok otherwise. We really shouldn’t leave the house, as not to infect anyone else, but we did have to go to homeland to buy milk.

Jaxon has something to say:j kfmff gfg giikim jtgvjkdg./

Ok, thank you for listening to him!

we just got up from a little rest on the couch, now we’re headed to the kitchen to make some lunch.

I have more to post about later…..

Renee rented the movie The Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio & she let me borrow it last night. I stayed up way too late to watch it, but am so glad I did.

This is the movie:

This is the book: The actual Ryan family

You can go here to read the full reviews.
You can go here to the Evelyn Ryan website.
I love that this is a true story. I love the way Evelyn Ryan treated her family and made them feel special. I love that she was mostly hapy. I love that she was creative. I love her jingles that allowed her to thrive. I love the excitement in the house when she would win a contest. I love the way she perservered and could always make something from nothing. Her husband was not always what he could or should have been, but she didn’t let that get her down. I mean, she had 10 children to nourish & shelter.
You should really check this out if you haven’t already. It has really touched me. I want to treat my kids like Evelyn Ryan treated her children: always with a kind word, a sweet heart & respect.

I totally have the sweetest husband and son you could ask for! I came home from work today & Joey said they had surprises for me!!! Here’s what they got for me!

Oh Yeah!!! Roses (Joey said he had tulips in one hand in roses in the other & he asked Jax wich ones & he immediately hit the roses, indicating his choice!! Go Jax!!), Oprah’s live your best life book, a gift card to target, my fav southwest chicken french bread pizza from Mazzios & a St. Patricks day card!! I didn’t even know they made St. Patty’s card’s! Way to go Joey!!! I am truly blessd to have a husband that appreciates me & all that I do. I tend to not feel appreciated, but I know that he really does “get it”! Thank you to my sweet Joey & Jaxon…I love you too!

This week’s SPF assignment is…
::Your couch
::Your coat
::Your candles

We just got these couches about a month ago & love them. They are very similar to the one’s we had for seven years, but updated lines & a great color. They are starting to get “worn in” & it’s a good thing, because the first few days we were missing the comfort of our old couches. Ok, enough about the couches!

Here is our coat closet…

My favorite coat. Speaking of coats, looks like we’ll be bringing them out again this weekend. Last weekend we were in “spring” clothes, this weekend there’s a chance of snow! What in the world!! I really don’t like Oklahoma weather!!!

I posted this picture a few weeks ago, but these are my favorite candles in our house!

Happy SPF & St. Patrick’s Day!! Did YOU play?

Ok, so I married an English major… Sometimes it comes in handy, sometimes not so much. Well, at least he will never let me appear to be stupider than I am. (yes I used that non-word just for him!!!!) Ok, so here’s the story…I spent hours on Saturday night creating the perfect birthday invitation on vista print for Jaxon’s party in April. I printed out a proof, we went over it & made a few little changes. (It is soo cute, it even has his picture on the back of it (I’m sure I’ll share it later!)) After the finishing touches, I ordered them. Yesterday during church it came to me that I think I made an error. Why in church I don’t know, but I couldn’t stop thinking about it. It was a common error, at least I think. I used the word YOUR but it should have been YOU’RE. Long story short, I re-ordered them this morning. Vista print was great & gave me a discount, but man. This whole first birthday party thing is turning out to be costly! But Jaxon is totally worth it.
So please tell me you’ve made similar mistakes before & I’m not grammatically uneducated!

We enjoyed our weekend around here. Joey surprised us on Saturday with the news that he wasn’t going to go to Jackson, TN. this week for the national tournament. He chose us. It is spring break around here. Jaxon and I are both so excited & the fact that I already had taken today & tomorrow off of work makes it even better!

Yesterday we went to Joey’s parents to see his family. It was great to see everyone & to actually have time to catch up & play!

We plan on doing some work in the yard today…should be interesting

Have a wonderful Monday!

This week’s assignment is::
:Your trash can
:Your junk drawer
:Your trunk

This is the trash can next to my desk…

My junk drawers – side by side in the kitchen. I must say that I love my junk drawers & I know exactly what is in each of them. Joey HATES them, but that’s ok, they are MY junk drawers!!


Here is my trunk – The very used stroller & a blanket

Did YOU play???

Today starts the first day of my 5 day break!!! I need to get off the computer so I can actually accomplish something. Jaxon and I are off to run some errands & maybe to play with Isabelle for a while. I hope you all have a wonderful Friday!!