Wordless Wednesday: Excited about the New Season

Noah's super excited that fall ball has started! 

For more Wordless Wednesday check out 5 Minutes for Moms and Special Exposure Wednesday at 5 Minutes for Special Needs.

Paisley's Gotcha Day

When we brought Paisley home a year ago, it was not planned. Well, it was sort of planned. We had been talking about getting a dog but I wanted a dog and not a puppy. I wanted a dog that was about a year old. I thought that with a dog about  a year old they'd have some of the hyper puppy-ness out of them and be better with Noah. Ending up with a puppy just kind of happened but in hindsight I am so glad that it happened that way.



She's growing up around Noah and special needs kids and has so much patience with them. In the beginning, she did jump on Noah a bit but she quickly learned not to jump or lick his face. She's grown up going to Miracle League games with us and I'm always amazed and proud at how good she is with those kids. Sometimes they might not be the most gentle hands to pet Paisley but she patiently just sits there and lets them pet her. She's never tried to bite or snap at any of us, well except when playing. 

Noah loves her pieces. We all do. She has captured a special place in all of our hearts, turned me into "one of those people," and I'm very glad she came into our lives one year ago today!

Quote of the Week: The Wise Old Bird

"The wise old owl
Sat in an oak.
The more he saw,
The less he spoke.
The less he spoke,
The more he heard.
Why can't we be like
That wise old bird?"
~ Unknown

Momma's Helper

Last night after dinner I was standing at the sink washing dishes. Noah was still at the table finishing up and I turned to check on him and this is what I see.

He was bringing me his plate! First time he has ever done that and I didn't even suggest it or ask him to or anything. He just did it all on his own!

Wordless Wednesday: Kisses for Momma

 

I had my Dad snap this picture last week (on my birthday) before Noah's first Miracle League game of the season. I adore this photo - it's now one of my faves!

For more Wordless Wednesday check out 5 Minutes for Moms and Special Exposure Wednesday at 5 Minutes for Special Needs.

Dressing Up Canned Candles

Ya know those little candles you can buy in the tins? Well right now, Michael's has two new fall themed scents in the canned candles that I'm in love with. One is called "Autumn Breeze" and the other "Fall Foliage" and they both smell like fall. Love it. The problem? It only comes in the canned candles and those are just displeasing to the eye. 

 So, I got to thinking that I could just cover it with scrapbooking paper. All I did was cut scrapbooking paper to fit around the side of the tin using the tin as my guide and glued it on with my fantabulous glue stick. Easy peasy! If you were giving these as a gift you could also trace the lid and cover that with paper as well. 

I did one with some cute fall polka dot paper. That one didn't need anymore embellishing. I did a second one in brown and gingham paper and then used one of my birthday gifts, a Martha Stewart owl punch, and punched out a few brown owls and glued those on the sides. Now, look at how cute they are! 

Linking up at the following link parties:

Sassy Sites
Someday Crafts
Craft-O-Maniac

Fingerprints on the Fridge

Just a Girl Show and Share Day

Charlie's 9th Birthday

Nine years ago today a little boy was born. He taught me the lesson of loving someone so much you let them go because it is the best thing for them.  

Happy birthday, Charlie! I love you!

Quote of the Week: Sing in the Rain

"When God gives you rain clouds - 

sing in the rain!" 

~ Unknown

Goodwill Score for Noah's Shelves

Most of the time when I go to Goodwill/thrift type stores I'm looking for potential in the items I see. Most of the time I buy an item, fully intending to totally transform it once I get it home using paint and whatever else I deem necessary. Rarely do I find something that is awesome just as it is. But today that happened....

We found this awesome little Clemson basket. Ok, J actually saw it first and brought it over to me with a huge smile on his face. He commented that he didn't know what we'd use it for though but it was only $1.00. My first thought when I saw it was that it would be perfect to hold Noah's diapers on his bookshelf in his new Clemson room. I'd been wanting to get some kind of basket to hold the diapers anyway.

It just needed washing off with some soap and water and it was good to go. It looks great holding Noah's diapers now!

Wordless Wednesday: Help with Blowing out the Candles

No matter who's birthday it is in our family, Noah jumps in and helps blow out the candles. I think it's his favorite part of birthdays.

On Sunday, we celebrated mine (it's not till Thursday) and my Mom's (hers was Monday) birthdays.

Oh and for my local friends, the cake was made by Deborah of Deb's cakes. They are amazing, affordable, and delish! 

For more Wordless Wednesday check out 5 Minutes for Moms, Special Exposure Wednesday at 5 Minutes for Special Needs, and Wordless Wednesday Headquarters.

Easy Chicken Linguine

I made this for dinner the other night and it was so easy and so delicious. It had been a long time since I have made it but it was so good and quick that I know I will be making it again soon.

I made a few minor changes to the original recipe which was given to me by a friend.

Ingredients:
1 box of angel hair spaghetti
2 cans cream of mushroom soup
1 - 2 Tablespoons of Olive Oil
2 Tablespoons of minced garlic
1/2 of a small onion finely chopped
2-3 chicken breasts chopped into bite sized pieces
1 small can of mushrooms (drained)
1/4 cup of milk

Instructions:
1. Cook spaghetti according to package instructions.
2. While spaghetti is cooking, put the olive oil in a skillet and saute the onion and garlic. Add the chicken and cook until the chicken is done.
3. Once the chicken is done, add the cream of mushroom soup, canned mushrooms, and milk. Stir together well. Let simmer for about 15-20 minutes on low heat.
4. Serve with spaghetti and enjoy!

Happy Birthday Momma Bear!

Happy Birthday to my Momma!
(posing yesterday with Grandpup Hansel)

Quote of the Week: Book of Life

"In the book of life, the answers are not in the back." 

~ Charlie Brown

Dreamsicle Pudding Recipe

On Labor Day we had my parents over for a cookout and I was trying to find a Weight Watchers desert recipe and came across a recipe for something called Dreamsicle Pudding. It looked easy and yummy so I gave it a try. My initial impression was right - it WAS easy, quick, and delicious. Noah enjoyed helping because it was orange and re-named it Tiger Pudding.

Ingredients:
1 box sugar free orange jello
1 box of sugar free vanilla pudding (I used french vanilla.)
1 can of drained Mandarin oranges (I used two small cans)
1 container of light Cool Whip

Directions:
1. Dissolve orange jello in 1 cup of very hot water.
2. Add 1 cup of cold water and set aside for about 5 minutes.
3. Add the pudding mix to the jello and blend or whisk it all together very well.
4. Fold in the Cool Whip and the oranges.
5. Chill for at least 2 hours and serve.

YUM!! (And yes it tastes like a dreamsicle.)

Source

Linking up at the following link parties:

Sassy Sites
Someday Crafts
Craft-O-Maniac

Wordless Wednesday: Spoiled Scrapbook Page

Ok, so he is probably spoiled but I still like the saying.

For more Wordless Wednesday check out 5 Minutes for Moms, Special Exposure Wednesday at 5 Minutes for Special Needs, and Wordless Wednesday Headquarters.

White Chicken Lasagna

I love lasagna but with my ulcer and stomach problems I can't eat tomato sauce so I had to find a new way to make lasagna. I found this recipe somewhere online a couple of years ago and have tweaked it lots since then to our liking. It's one of those recipes that you can make and freeze for later too.

When I posted that I was making this for dinner on my Facebook status many people commented that they'd like the recipe so I thought I'd share it here!

Ingredients:
3 cups of cooked chicken (I used the Tyson brand you buy in the store that is already cooked and cut in strips. I just chop the strips into bite sized pieces.)
1 jar of Alfredo sauce
Lasagna noodles (I use the kind that you do not have to boil first.)
2 boxes of frozen spinach
1 container of ricotta cheese
1 package of Mozzarella cheese

Instructions:
1. Defrost your frozen spinach and then strain in a colander getting out as much water as possible. Mix the ricotta cheese with the spinach and a splash of the Alfredo sauce.
2. In your baking dish, pour a bit of the Alfredo sauce to line the bottom of the pan. Place enough lasagna noodles in the bottom to cover the dish.|
3. Pour some of the Alfredo sauce on top of the noodles. (I probably pour about 1/2 a cup.)
4. Place half of your diced chicken on top of the noodles.
5. Place one half of the spinach ricotta  cheese mixture on top of the chicken.
6. Sprinkle with mozzarella cheese.
7. Now add another layer of noodles, another layer of sauce, the rest of the chicken, spinach and ricotta mixture. Sprinkle with remaining mozzarella cheese.
8. Cover with aluminum foil and bake for about 55 minutes.
9. Remove foil and bake for another 10 or so minutes until the top is golden brown.
10. Enjoy!!

Hello September!

My Laptop with the September
background featuring a picture of
 me and my Mom
from last year's birthdays.

Well, hello, September!

I don't know why I am so happy to see September this year. Perhaps it has something to do with it being the month of my birthday - and my Mom's too! Or perhaps it has something to do with the fact that with it no longer being August it feels like the summer was over and we had a rough summer. Perhaps it's because, to me, September means that fall is right around the corner and I love fall. (Although it's still hitting the 90's here in the Carolina's.

Whatever the reason, welcome September!

Quote of the Week: Reading

"Reading is a basic tool in 

the living of a good life." 

- Mortimer Alder

Wordless Wednesday: Paisley Watching Over Her Boy

Noahie fell asleep on the couch and I snapped these pictures of Paisley watching over him before I  moved him to his bed. So sweet!

For more Wordless Wednesday check out 5 Minutes for Moms, Special Exposure Wednesday at 5 Minutes for Special Needs, and Wordless Wednesday Headquarters.