Lemon Bundt Cake

Last week I fixed the most delicious lemon bundt cake. The recipe comes from my Aunt Tammy. I'm not sure where she got it from.

Lemon Bundt Cake lemon cake mix 1 small package vanilla pudding 4 eggs 1/2 cup milk 1/2 cup oil 1 cup sour cream Icing confectioners sugar 2 TB butter melted lemon juice Bake 40-45 minutes

What's For Dinner?

I am going to (try my hardest) to dedicate my 2013 blog to food. I am going to post recipes that I cooked and recipes that I want to cook. Please not too many harsh comments on the amount of desserts my family eats! ;) I promise none of my recipes will be created by me and I will post links if they are from the internet. I will try to post only new stuff I cook. Happy eating!

Justin Beaver and Grandpa

Jack just finished his PK4 year. There were 16 boys and only 4 girls in his class. One of the funniest things Jack learned this year is that there is an individual named Justin "Beaver". He has no idea who he is or what he's famous for. Well, neither do we. We have explained to him who Justin Beiber is but still he insists on calling him Justin Beaver. The other night we were at my parents' house for dinner and my Grandpa was there. The General has always loved taking out his "teeth" and scaring us. We use to beg him to do it all the time. So of course, I want to pass the tradition on to my kids. Now my 3 and 5 year olds know that Grandpa can take out his teeth. After dinner the boys asked Grandpa to do it. He did it. I hear them having fun screaming and laughing. Next thing I hear is Cooper screaming, "You're Justin Beiber!" Now not only do I have a 5 year old talking about Justin Beaver, but I have a 3 year old screaming at my Grandpa (in an ugly accusing voice) that he's Justin Beiber. I think it's time to break out Christian's CDs and teach the boys exactly who Justin Beiber is. Maybe Daddy can show them some new dance moves while we are at it.

Happy 5th Birthday Jack Jack

Happy 5th birthday to my sweet Jack Jack! The month of Jack seems like one big celebration for Jack's birthday. We are preparing for his party the beginning of January, have his class party on his birthday Jan. 12, celebrate with the family on his birthday, and then his party the 3rd weekend.

The 1st celebration was January 11 at Chuck E Cheese with Cooper and their friends Peyton and Cooper Rongey. Jack had school all day on his birthday so we had to celebrate early.

Jack woke up on his birthday with balloons and streamers and a special seat at breakfast. He remembered all of this from Coop's birthday, and he was crazy excited about his turn.

The 2nd celebration was on his birthday at his school. Chocolate cookies made by Mommy for all! Jack was so proud to have his Mommy, Daddy, and brother in his class to celebrate with him.


The 3rd celebration was a birthday dinner with us, Gigi & Poppy, and his best buddy Preston.


Cake and gifts followed at home.






The 4th celebration was at Bounce Spectrum. All of his friends and family came to celebrate my little pirate. He had a blast!


A special pirate even showed up to surprise the birthday boy!

All Things Boy

A lot of blogs I read have decided to go with meaningful themes for 2012. I like this idea so I've thought long and hard about what meaningful direction I want my blog to head in for 2012. Well, I decided to scrap that idea. I have a horrible memory. I don't hold grudges because after a couple of days I have no idea what the grudge was for. I guess it's a blessing in that sense, but a curse when I try to remember things said, events, vacations, and just every day life. I need to see if there's a pill for that!

I have decided to use my blog to post things my kids say and do. So for those of you who hate when people are ALWAYS talking about their kids, you may want to check back in in 2013!

Cooper lays in my bed every morning and drinks his milk and snuggles with me while watching Mickey Mouse Clubhouse.. Right now he is obsessed with all things boy and by that, I mean ALL things boy. He pulled down his undies and pulled out his pee pee. It went a little like this:

Ashley: Cooper, put your pee pee up.
Cooper: You don't like it?
A: Put it up.
C: Mommy, you don't like my pee pee?
A: I like your pee pee. Now put it up.

And back in it goes. So for those of you that may hear, "My mommy likes my pee pee," you now know why!

Faith Like a Child

Jack asked me tonight why he can't hear God talk to him. I told him that God doesn't always talk to us out loud. I told him that we talk to God when we are praying and talked to him about feeling a certain way. He cut me off and said, "Well, I think God needs to learn how to speak."

In the same conversation he asked me what God looks like.

I love that Jack is thinking about all of these things. Lately Jack has been asking me if I will ever stop loving him. Usually it comes right after I correct him for doing something wrong.

With tears in his eye and a quivering lip, "Mommy, will you ever stop loving me?"
ME: "No, Jack, I will never stop loving you."
J: "Even if I do something really bad?"
ME: "Jack, I will never stop loving you no matter what you do. I will always be your mommy and I will always love you."
J: "Will God ever stop loving me?"
ME: "God will never stop loving you or anyone else. You are God's child and He will always love you."
J: "Okay, Mommy, that's good."

Usually he smiles and hugs me and we are done. But one of the 1st times he stopped and asked me if I would love him even if he did something really bad, he leaned over and hit his brother. Needless to say, that won't be happening again! Well, the hitting his brother will, but not testing me verbally in that EXACT instance! (Because I know more testing will come!)

I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God's love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow - not even the powers of hell can separate us from God's love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below - indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.
ROMANS 8:38-39

Christmas Eve and Christmas Day

I'm skipping a lot of posts because, frankly, I am ready to be caught up. So here goes Christmas!

Jack and Coop were SO MUCH FUN this year! Coop was excited, but Jack truly was out of this world excited, and we loved it! He is into all things Christmas, Santa Claus, and the Elf on the Shelf. We had a great month with Monkey Toes. He kept the boys on their toes (not really) with good behavior and kept Christian and I on are toes with making sure Monkey Toes remembered to move. We might have been caught once, but we told Jack he woke up too early and had to go back to bed!

Christmas Eve day was spent at Christian's parents house where we had a good time visiting with them. The afternoon even ended with their neighbor backing his Hummer into the back of my car :( But we were all so excited about Christmas it couldn't dampen our spirits. (But when the other neighbor backed into Christian's the 2nd week of January it all became quite comical!)

We had our family over Christmas Eve night and even had our traditional visit from Santa Claus. Jack was amazed that Santa came and couldn't get enough of him. Coop tried to get outside the whole time so he could check on Santa's reindeers. Oh how I love sweet children and their faith during this time!














We put the boys to bed around 9:30 and then quickly went and woke up Jack. We forgot to put cookies out for Santa and the reindeer food in the front lawn. I guess Coop will participate next year!


Coop woke at 7:30 and we actually had to go wake up Jack at 8 because WE were so excited to see their faces.



The look on Jack's face was priceless!

The boys had a blast ripping open their presents.


Jack automatically held up each opened gift and smiled with it. He was either very proud or well-trained...or a little of both!


Merry Christmas sweet boys!

A couple of pics was even taken of Christian and me.


My favorites were my awesome Hunter boots and a Kindle Touch. Thanks honey!

We went to my parents house so we could have a 2nd Christmas! Gigi and Poppy spoiled everyone rotten...as usual.






My boys got a really cool Jeep that they love to drive. Christian has brain washed the boys into thinking that Jeep's are the coolest cars ever.

Christmas lunch was at my parents also.

Yummy!

We had a great Christmas with our 2 boys!