because this recipe looks fabulous

I had to blog about a recipe again, because this one recipe looks fabulous!  I love breakfast food.  It's possible my favorite type of food.  When I saw this adorable and tasty looking concoction, I had to blog about it.  I hope it's as good as it looks!  I will let ya'll know when I find out ... u

BREAKFAST CUPCAKES
This is a really easy dish to prepare, and it looks so darn cute! It is also a great dish to serve on a buffet table because each serving is completely self-contained and can just be picked up and popped on a plate.

Ingredients
1 20 ounce package pre-shredded hash brown-style potatoes
2 large eggs, lightly beaten
4 tablespoons flour
1 small sweet onion, coarsely grated
2 thick slices turkey bacon, chopped into small bits (about 1 cup) ... or Stripples!
1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
1 dozen eggs, scrambled*
chives for garnish

Procedure
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F., and lightly spray a 12-cup muffin tin with non-stick cooking spray. Mix the first eight ingredients together in a large bowl. Spoon potato mixture into each prepared muffin cup until about 1/3 full. Gently press the potato mixture down in the middle and up the sides of each cup. Bake until golden brown, about 25-30 minutes. If the nests have puffed up too much in the center, scoop out a little with a teaspoon. Spoon a few tablespoons of scramble eggs into each nest and top with chives.

blueberries everywhere!

We went blueberry picking today at Blue Youth Blueberries.  They are just perfect right now!  The blueberries are ripe and sweet.  We picked 5 pounds!  Colton had fun helping ... for the first row and a half.  Then he went racing around with friends.  Khloe never really helped pick ... she just picked to eat ... and I'm pretty sure it didn't matter if they were ripe or not!  It was a hot day, too.  It seemed to get hot fast, but that's probably because there was zero shade where we were picking.  Colton told everyone, "We are making the specialist blueberry pie for Daddy!"  I let him help make the pie crust and the pie.  He had a lot of fun making the "specialist blueberry pie".

At Blue Youth Berries with the kids!

Picking berries with my girlie!

Colton with the bucket ready to pick!

Koki picked all colors of blueberries.  She just picked and picked and ate and ate.

My blueberry pickers!  They are so cute!

He is a pro!  He was a lot of help ... until he got bored about one and a half rows through. 

Tasting the goods!

Whilst picking, I unknowingly stepped on a red ant mound.  I was attacked ... by an angry mob of red ants! I have over 21 bites!  My foot is swollen ... it hurt and itched and burned.  Well, at least it was me and not my kids!

We picked 5 pounds!

Here they are in all of their glory!

The fruits of our labor of love!  A "specialist blueberry pie" for Daddy ... made with love by Colton and Mommy!

After our morning picking berries, we headed to lunch with friends.  We ate at Johnny Rocket's.  Then the kids asked to ride the carousel in the mall, so we all had a little ride.  This was the first carousel ride where the animals go up and down (because some don't) that Colton said, "Weeeeeee!  I love going up and down."  As opposed to his usual, stiffened body yelling, "I don't want it to go up and down!  It's going too fast!"  I guess that's an improvement.  Koki kept saying, "Up!" when it would go up ... and "Down!" when it would go down.  Then we came home for much needed naps!  Me, especially!

Riding the carousel!

He had a great time!

I feel like she was using this ketchup as one would use sunblock ... she just kept running her finger through it and rubbing it onto her nose.

This past week has been rough, because the kids have been a little sick.  Colton got sick on Sunday.  Well, I felt it coming since last Friday.  I heard a small cough then ... and I hoped it would just go away, but to my dismay, he had a fever on Sunday of nearly 100.5.  It last until evening.  Koki's nose started running on Sabbath ... clear.  Then it started to get yuckier and yuckier by Monday.  It's been a faucet of yucky all week.  Both with a little cough.  I put the humidifier in Khloe's room.  Ay!  I dislike.

Sunday morning ... my boy just laid there on our bed under lambie quilt ... with a temperature.  He was feeling so sick!

We have had great weather!  Last weekend, the kids helped us work outside a little bit, and I worked on the vanity for Koki.  We dug up the flower bed directly behind our Florida room.  It looks better even now ... and it's still awaiting a layer of weed block, Preen, and some new flowers!  I never liked what was there before.  Now, it's gone.  We're doing small portions of our flower beds each weekend/month.  Small bits are less overwhelming!  I want to do what we can see all of the time and the front first.  Just sections ... slowly, so we don't get burnt out.

Of course, we've been at the water park, again!

He is my jumper!

Checking out the pool ... waiting to jump in!

Koki helping to weed the garden ... who needs shoes?

Watering the garden?

Ready to go outside ... she put her shoes on herself!

We had Caleb and Elizabeth over on Saturday night for dinner, chocolates sundaes with homemade chocolate fudge, and game night!  We played DVD Clue.

We have gong on several walks this week in the evening.  It was nice to have Billy home for a few of them, and then while he's been on a business trip, we went on a couple just me and the kids.  Colton has enjoyed riding his tricycle around the neighborhood, and Koki ... well, she has been enjoying falling into everyone's yard.  It seems she likes grass ... and she likes to fall into the grass!  It's kind of funny ... then it gets annoying, because it makes going for a walk last a very, long time.  It's like herding a cat.

Colton riding his tricycle!  He wants a bike, but he has to wait until his birthday. 

Koki and her favorite push toy!

Daddy chasing Koki ... both chasing Colton on this tricycle.

Racing!

Running ...

One night, while Daddy was on a business trip, we watched Bambi ... Colton liked it a lot! 

Tonight, Khloe surprised me.  I ask her every now and again, if she wants to go on the potty.  I bought her a potty chair (I had to throw Colton's away--he learned to pee standing up ... enough said.), because she kept taking me into the bathroom, pointing to the toilet and saying, "Potty, potty, potty!"  Sometimes, she'll even start to pull her pants down and say, "Potty!"  I let her sit and try.  Usually ends with nada.  One time, she sat down ... fully clothed ... and said, "Pee, pee!"  So, I sat on the toilet in front of her and she said, "Mommy, potty!" (as she pointed to me) Then she said, "Khloe, potty!" (and pointed to herself)  She did not potty ... even in her diaper, but I knew she was getting it.  No pressure, though!  I just completely finished potty training Colton a month ago (night and naps, included) ... I don't feel super rushed to go at it again!  But, like I said, every now and again I ask her, "Koki, do you want to go pee-pee on the potty?"  She usually says, "Yep!" And then sits there ... and then starts to play ... no success.  No problem!  Tonight, I took off her diaper to get her changed for bed.  I asked her, again, "Do you want to go pee-pee in the potty?"  She said her usual, "Yep!"  She walked in there, sat down ... and I went to get Colton changed while she sat there for a while.  I came back and she said, "All done, Mommy."  I looked ... and sure enough, the potty was filled with pee!  I gave her a high five ... even Colton said, "Great job, Baby Khloe!"  He gave her a high five, too.  I asked her if she wanted a sticker, and Colton gladly let her share his poop chart as a place to put the sticker.  She was so happy!  I asked her a few more times before bed, "Sis, did you pee on the potty tonight?"  She happily grinned, "YEP!"  Then we high fived.  I'm still pretty lax about it, though.  I know all of the books say to do it or don't do it.  But I feel no pressure to get her potty trained this weekend.  I just want to take it easy.  She knows how to do it, and she knows what's up ... so I'll keep asking ... and letting her try, if she wants to.  Maybe I'll go to pull-ups when these diapers run out.  I was just pretty proud of her tonight, and I could tell she was proud of herself! (Just when Billy thought the potty talk was done for a while ... I have a new kid to talk potty about!  Sorry, Bud!)

Trying out the potty chair ... just sitting, fully clothed.  She had fun, though.

A sneak peek ... this is a vintage vanity table I am working on for Khloe.  I love it!

This is one of the knobs that came on it.  I love it, but it clashes with the color I am painting the vanity ... so I can't use them on this particular project.  But I am keeping them ... hopefully, I can reuse them somewhere else!

spring cleaning

I have been so obsessed lately with getting those "not usually reached" places clean.  I guess you could call it spring cleaning ... but whatever you call it, I am feeling so accomplished!  It all started when Billy's allergies flared up.  He's only allergic to a couple of things ... pet dander (and we have no pets) and dust/mold.  I guess that opened my eyes to a few things.  I realized that I hadn't changed our air filters in nearly 5 months.  I needed to get those changed, and continue to keep them changed, every three months!  Then ... I started obsessing with getting places clean that hadn't seen a dust rag, vacuum, or mop in a while.  I have washed all of the fan blades.  I have dusted everything I can think that needs dusting ... including all tops of doors on either side of every door.  I started washing all of the plantation shutters.  I cleaned out my fridge ... wiped down each shelf, drawer, and side holder.  I threw away old food and organized the entire fridge.  My conclusion ... houses get dirty.  They get a lot dirtier than what you can clearly see ... and what gets cleaned every week.  It was gross, but it gave me a huge sense of accomplishment.

So ... that got me thinking.  It had been a while since I had looked at my blog ... I mean, more than just blogging in the "edit" section.  I never really liked the header on my last layout, so I set to work today making it something that I love.  Spring cleaning came for Tasha's Chat'n'Chew today ... and I'm so glad for it!  I love how the new layout looks, and I am feeling that same sense of accomplishment today.  I love spring ... and I love cleaning!

On another note, I have been reading this book the past couple of days.  Billy has been bugging me to read some of the books he has been reading ... I guess, he has been itching to talk to someone about his thoughts on his books.  I have been putting it off ... declaring that I am way to busy and way to tired to read a book!  That's a lie I tell myself.  I decided to lie no more ... I delved in to this AMAZING book by Laura Hillenbrand.  It's called Unbroken.  It's a WWII story of a man ... who is, let's face it, INCREDIBLE!  I don't want to divulge too much, in case you want to read it.  But it's a story of survival, resilience, and redemption ... according to reviews.  It is a great read ... according to me!  Reading this book has made me realize two things: #1--I love to read, and I can't believe I ever thought I didn't have the time. Priorities, people!  #2--I love history!  I am in love with learning about our past and how it has shaped our future.  That's what I long to do in life ... study how the past has made us who we are today.

Anyway, if you're ready for a read, this one is it:

reflect and be thankful

I just recently found out that an old friend of mine from high school just had a 24 week-old preemie.  She is in the fight of her life right now, and only a miracle of God will heal her and give her a chance at life past these next few terrifying weeks.  Her parents are putting all of their faith in the healing powers of the Lord, and they are asking for Prayer Warriors around the world to do the same and send up words of comfort and healing for their Emilie Grace each day.

I was crushed to hear about their news.  I think it was three-fold.  First, it is so sad to hear of any child entering into this world in a fight for his/her life.  Second, it's always saddening and heartbreaking to hear of struggles your friends (and family) are enduring. Lastly, as a mother, I feel attached to "motherly" things ... babies, for one.  To think of a child ... like my child in every way ... being born with such difficulties ahead.  My motherly-heart breaks and yearns for this sweet baby girl.

All of this has made me stop to reflect upon my own life and daily situations.  Lately, I have been feeling a disconnect between me and my son.  Nothing that isn't the usual "what is going on here ... my child turned 3 ... where did my sweet child go?"  He is finding his own personality ... coming into this own by pushing boundaries ... and growing through a typical toddler stage.  But he was the PERFECT baby.  Okay, every mother says that about their kid.  I get that.  But he felt like the perfect baby ... to me and his Dad.  He slept through the night--12 hours--by just before 3 months (and never looked back)! He ate well.  He was kind ... so kind and sensitive to everyone else's feelings.  He was so laid back and relaxed most of the time.  He shared without question.  He loved ... and loved everyone.  He had such a sweet, sensitive demeanor.  He never said, "NO, MOMMY!" He never said, "BUT I DON'T WANT TO!"  Okay, so he wasn't perfect ... he did throw the occasional fit, but it was cuter back then, somehow.  He was so little, and he would get frustrated and say, "Throw myself down!" (as he would lay down on the floor) or "Run away!" (as he would run into the other room).   The funniest part about that was his voice inflection.  He didn't have the "I'm throwing a fit" sound in his voice.  He didn't scream it, or wail and shed tears about his fit ... he just simply stated it as a fact.  Then ... he turned 3. It's like a light switched clicked inside of his brain!  Just when I thought he wasn't going to experience the "typical" terrible twos ... he goes and has the terrible threes!

My Buddy ... I sure love this kid!  And I am so thankful for him each day!

I really lamented for myself.  I felt like he would never grow out of this new challenging stage.  I longed for my dear, sweet child ... the boy who always followed directions and rarely challenged what Mommy and Daddy told him to do.  Every now and again, God throws in a peek of that boy for me.  Here are a few examples that remind me he's in there ... he's just growing and changing and learning.

*******

Last week, he woke up one night at 2:00 a.m.  He did the "sneak into our room" trick.  The problem is that a three year-old is anything but sneaky!  I have become a lighter sleeper since becoming a mother.  I guess it comes with the territory ... I used to be a lead sleeper (I hope to join those ranks again, someday).  I woke to the sound of little feet on the carpet.  Who knew something so little could make the sound of a T-Rex walking on carpet!?!  It's incredible!  He is definitely not part Native American! He would rustle up every animal in the forest.  Anyway, I hear him walking ... and his breathing (he is quite a heavy breather, too).  I tell him go to back to bed.  He denies my request.  I take him back to his room, and I sing to him.  30 minutes later ... he seems asleep.  I go back to my bed.  T-Rex returns to our room within minutes.  Argh!  I take him back to his room.  I sit there.  He stares at me.  I rub his back.  He flips from side to side.  Finally, he seems to be asleep.  I sit there for a few more minutes (an hour and a half has elapsed from the first initial waking).  His little hand shoots out from under the covers and touches my knee (NO!  He's not asleep! I am frustrated.).  He says to me softly, "Mommy, I love you.  Thank you for staying with me!"  And suddenly, I feel so many emotions.  I feel EXTREME and DEEP love for this perfect boy.  I feel embarrassment and guilt for being so frustrated by him.  I feel sadness that these times are not forever.  I feel tired ... and want to go to bed.

*******

Two days ago, I went to a MOMs Night Out event with my MOMs Club friends.  We had dinner together at a local restaurant.  There is something so peaceful about eating at a restaurant with other adults ... sans your kids!  Billy watched the kids and put the kids them to bed.  I had a great 3 and a half hour meal chatting with friends.  I hadn't heard anything from Billy, so I assumed all went as it usually does.  I walked into the house from the garage ... made my way through the laundry room, and as I opened the door into the kitchen, I stood face-to-face with my son.  "Hello?" I said to him.  I confusedly looked around to see if Billy had been duped by him and was crashed out asleep on the couch.  But he was awake!  Colton then says to me, "Mommy, will you rock me and sings me songs?" I asked Billy what was going on.  "He has been coming out of his room every five minutes for the past two hours. I can't seem to get him to go to bed.  He wants to see you."  I took Colton into his room, and I sat on the rocking chair that my Mom and Dad rocked me in ... the same chair I first rocked Colton in three years ago.  His big, old toddler body doesn't fit upon my lap the way he once cradled in my arms.  I sang five songs to him.  After I was done, I gave him a kiss, and I told him goodnight. As I was laying him in his bed, he said to me, "Mommy, I am just so tired."  I left his room, and I told Billy what he had said.  He told me, "Of course, he's tired!  He's been exhausted all night.  He just couldn't go to sleep until you got home to rock him.  Every five minutes, he would come out and say to me ... 'Did you hear the garage door? Is Mommy home, yet?'" That melted my heart ... he is still Mommy's little guy.  

*******

Then I hear the news my friend and his wife are facing ... the challenges ahead ... the decisions ... the faith ... the heartbreak ... the hope ... the longing.  I am filled with feelings of ridiculousness.  How could I be so selfish!?!  I hold my baby boy EVERY NIGHT and rock him to sleep.  I get the privilege of hearing his thunder footsteps on the carpet and feeling the tap, tap, tap of his finger as he whispers that he needs to use the potty.  It sure makes every fit he throws, every back-talk statement he udders, every "I'm-not-listening" moment of each day seem inconsequential.  These moments of our lives are fleeting.  All too soon, he will be graduating from high school ... college ... getting married ... having babies ... and then I will be saying to myself, "Where did the time go?  I sure miss that little three year-old boy!"  I have found that every challenge he has presented since I have found out about my friend's struggle has diminished in importance.  I no longer get as frustrated.  I no longer feel as disconnected.  I no longer fight to keep my sanity.  I no longer let it ruin what I am experiencing each day with my child.  I have two healthy, happy children whom God has given me each day with which to live life to the fullest.  I pray each day and thank the Lord for my two babies ... for my rotten times and for my sweet times ... I am thankful.  I am blessed.  Thank you, Lord.

If you want to learn more about my friend and his wife and the trials they are facing with their baby girl, Emilie Grace, please follow this link (Emilie Grace: A Journey of Faith) to their website chronicling the journey they are facing as God leads in their lives ... and whatever you do, please pray for them.

BlogLovin'?

So, my good friend, Stephanie Murrill (find her amazing blog through this link here at Murrill's Pearls of Wisdom), posted recently that Google Reader will no longer be beginning July 1st!  I am so bummed. I had no idea!  She let everyone know how to continue to follow her blog via BlogLovin'.  I have no idea what that is or how it works ... I'm sure it's simple and easy ... as was Google Reader ... but I just haven't had the chance to really use it.  I made the switch today from Steph's blog post, and I encourage you to do the same.  Just click on the link below and set yourself up today!  It's super easy!

Thanks!

it's arrived, ya'll!

It's that time of year again ... summer has arrived in Florida!  We've had two weeks straight of high 80s weather ... some days filled with humidity ... other, more glorious days, just heat.  We went to the park after our MOMs Club meeting on Monday, and that's when I made the decision, it was time to start going to the water park!  It was so stinking hot on Monday.  I about melted out of my clothes.  The kids were hot and sweaty ... with red faces!  It was definitely a wake-up call for summer.

So yesterday, we did it for the first time.  I took the kiddos to the water park, and they had a blast!  I was worried that Koki would run off the whole time, but it turned out my worrying was for nothing.  She loved the water, and she stayed and played in the water park area the whole time.  She didn't run off once!  I think this will be a great summer!  It's so nice to just sit in the water and watch the kids play ... dump water on them ... chase them around ... have them jump into my arms in the pool ... all without having to worry about Khloe.  Last summer, she sat in-between my legs the whole time, and she got cranky pretty quickly.  This year, it's tough to get her out to go home!  She's pretty good at leaving the toy section at the store by saying "Night, night, [bear].  See you next time!"  So, we do that at the water park, too.  "Night, night water park.  See you next time!"  Then she will come with me to get changed into her dry clothes.  Hey!  Whatever works!

First jump of the season! 

My cutie pie!

Big brother helping his sister out to the middle.

Today, our friends (the Adams) came with us.  The kids had a lot of fun rediscovering the water park and pool together.  Colton and Mason kept Gwendy busy by jumping into her arms in the big pool over and over and over again.  I had Koki jump into my arms over and over.  She is so silly!  She would barely let me get her put back onto the side of the pool ... I mean, I would just get my hands off of her sides, and she would jump right back into the pool!  It was nuts!  I was trying to teach her to count, "1 ... 2 ... 3!"  But she just wanted to jump right in immediately!  She kept giggling and laughing.  She was having a grand 'ol time.  I guess I need to look into swimming lessons for the kids this summer.  Colton is okay with putting his head under now ... and Koki wants to go swimming so badly.  I just want them to be safe!  Koki kept saying to Gwendy, "GWENDY! Swimming, swimming, GWENDY!"  She's so loud.  It's hilarious!  She just loves Gwendy, and she wants to tell Gwendy everything!  It makes me laugh.

Round #2 at the pool this week.  He's so cute!

Love this girlie!

The nice thing about the pool is that both kids are wiped out when we get home, and I don't have to coax Colton to stay in his room for "quiet time".  It gives them a much needed rest and me a much needed break.  Plus, it's great exercise and fun times had by all of us!

Speaking of getting outside to the water park ... we headed to the beach this past weekend.  Billy's boss told us about Honeymoon Island.  So, we went there to check it out.  It was super nice!  You can see Clearwater from the beach where we were swimming.  It was supposed to rain on Sunday, so there were lots of huge rain clouds ... and it was cloudy, but that actually made it really nice to be at the beach.  The sun wasn't shining down in the kids' eyes, and it wasn't extremely hot.  It was just the perfect temperature to be at the beach.  We had a great time!  Colton is a fish just like his Daddy!  He didn't want to leave the water.  He kept trying to lick the waves ... it was nutso! I told him that it would make his tummy sick, so he stopped.  But he was just splashing and playing in the waves.  Koki is a little more hesitant at the ocean than the pool.  The waves (as small as they are) are just a little intimidating to an 18 month old, I guess.  She'll get used to it.  She was having a blast digging holes in the sand and carrying around the buckets.  I guess they are both like their Daddy!

Sweet baby girl ... digging in the sand at the beach.

Our perfectly, cloudy day at the beach.

The little fish ... playing in the water.

Everyone digging holes together. 

This nut tries to lick the water ... hmmmm, can we say, "bad idea?"

Silliness!

The sand was gorgeous!  Had great layers and marbling all throughout.

Sissy found a hole to sit in.

This is her dancing for me!

Going to the beach ... going to the pool ... the smell of sunblock ... summer is here!  We are having a great time, and I am happy to have the warmer weather here to stay for a while.  Talk to me in August ... I will be SO ready for fall/winter ... somewhere else!

On Friday last week, I decided it would be fun to do something with these bunny shaped marshmallows I bought around Easter time.  So, after Colton's nap, he and I made rice crispy treats with them.  He had so much fun being a helper!  He placed the butter in the pan and stirred it until it melted. Then he dumped in the marshmallows, and I helped him stir them until they melted.  He, then, dumped in the cereal, and I mixed it up.  Then he poured the bunny shaped marshmallows in, and I stirred them into the mixture.  He helped me to pat down the bars into the pan.  He was so proud of himself!  We'll have to make more things like that where he can be such a big helper.  He really liked it!

Big helper, Cole stirring the butter!

The proud cook and his finished product!

I got a surprise treat from Billy on Friday! Yummy!

On Sabbath, we had the pleasure of attending the early service to support our friends whose children were being dedicated to the church.  Our friends, Mike and Duska Mewhirter, had both of their kiddos, Landon and Beckham, dedicated.  We were so happy to be there to support them!  It was really nice.  I taught Sabbath School again this week.  It was a new lesson ... Breakfast by the Sea.  It went really well.  Somehow, I always get stuck teaching the first week of the new lesson, but that's okay ... I don't mind it.  Koki ended the day singing "Sabbath is a happy day!"  I love how kids seem to gravitate to that song.  It seems like that was one of Colton's first Sabbath songs that he learned.  It's catchy ... and repetitive.  I guess that helps!

The kiddos listening to the children's story.

The Mewhirter Family having their children dedicated to the Lord. 

Cole took this picture with my phone.  Not bad for a 3 year-old.  There were many, MANY more bad ones.

Daddy and Sissy at Sabbath School.

Proud to bring me Colton's art project.

She said, "Oh, sheep ... baaaaaaa."

Sabbath evening at the park ... she is such a climber!

She can even climb the big wall all by herself!

Of course, the big girl prefers the big girl swing! 

Colton said, "Look, Mommy!  I'm flying!"

Hope everyone's weeks is going well!  I get a MOMs Night Out tomorrow evening ... dinner with my MOMs Club friends.  That's always a nice treat!  On Friday, we are going to a MOMs Club event ... Kids in the Kitchen.  So, they kiddos always like to "cook" something.  This weekend, we have a lot of yard work ahead of us.  Well, we've decided to do the flower beds little by little, so we have the first "little" section to complete.  Plus, we haven't mowed in a couple of weeks.  I have a bush I want to transplant ... so that's another thing.  Plus, I have to start on my restoration project!  That vanity is calling my name!  I hope to get started this weekend.

 A few pictures to end the blog ...

I cannot keep this boy off of the floor.  He wants so badly to be near Mommy and Daddy that he keeps falling asleep in the hallway just inside of the sliding door. Silly boy!

And on a different night ... and these are just the two pictures I took!

We were at the park this Monday ... and a little girl had a stroller with a baby there.  Koki kept trying to take off with it.  Colton broke our stroller trying to "fold it up to take on the plane".  I guess I need to get another one ... she misses it, obviously.

A flower in our yard ... spring has sprung!

I took this picture on a family walk we took this week.  It's so beautiful!

Colton zooming around the neighborhood on his trike!