Silly Stuff.

Not much happening in our neck of the woods ...


Just thought I'd share a picture of our "silly stuff" today.

Happy Saturday!

Boys, Bubbles & Ice Cream

Yesterday was just a glorious day!

Our friends Carol and Sam came over for lunch and some playtime.


There's nothing like bringing in some warm weather with short sleeves and bubbles!


The boys taking a rest with a popsicle break.


And then they played so hard ... the needed an ice cream cone break ... cheers!

We are so lucky to have such great friends.

Little Red Wagon.

If you've visited my blog before, you've probably seen this wagon in many of the pictures.


I bought this wagon when I was pregnant with Griffin. I got it from the local Clothes Closet Thrift Store for only $10.00. I remember when I bought it Mike asked me what on earth I was going to do with it. It literally sat on our front porch for about a year and a half before Griffin was old enough to show any interest in it.

Then when he did ... he pulled it everywhere. It's carried him, his friends, pumpkins, leaves, wood, even a snowman and too many other things I can't think of.

He's had ALOT of fun with it ...


Well ... let me introduce you to the newer, improve model.

This was one of our gifts to Griffin for his birthday.


Looky there ... this wagon is big enough to hold three boys! I took these pictures a couple of weeks ago when Grandma Bett and our friends Heidi, Ryan and Evan were visiting for his birthday.


Taking a walk down to the farm ... it's actually a picture of me in all my gray hair glory. Griffin and I have both had haircuts since this picture was taken. Unfortunately the gray hair still remains.


We made it down to the farm and Griffin got out of the wagon to stretch his legs.


Here Griffin is pulling Grandma and Ryan is in the back pushing ...


Another view so you can see Ryan.


And ... honestly ... if there is a mud puddle ... Griffin's going to find it.

He loves playing with his wagon. His little imagination just goes wild when he's pulling it around the yard playing this or that.

Hope ya'll have a GREAT day!

Good Morning Sunshines.

When Griffin was in school yesterday I had a little time to create.


I made this new Winter Fun Tear Bear Paper Piecing. The weather here has been SO cold. This morning the temperature is reading 21 degrees. I am SO ready for some warm weather. Maybe I need to make some springy Tear Bears to spur on spring.

You can find this paper piecing by clicking HERE, it's in my eBay store.

I think I mentioned before I'm a member of "The Great Minds Think Alike" Paper Piecing Team (GMTA). Cecile and I post our newest items on our Great Mind Think Alike Blog when we have new items. If you don't already ... please visit out GMTA Blog and follow us. It's a great way to find out when we have new items listed.

This morning I woke up to wailing coming up the stairs.

I heard Moooooom-meee ..... Mooooooooo-meee.

I couldn't believe it ... Griffin was downstairs looking for me. Normally when he wakes up he makes his way into our bedroom and snuggles in the bed with us for a few minutes before we come down the stairs. I got right up and headed down the stairs. He was scared. I could tell. I snuggled him and asked him was he looking for me and he said "I can't find you Mommy". Awwww ... that just about broke my heart.

Then I walked into our downstairs bathroom and I saw he had opened the little wooden mini blinds and moved his step stool over there to peer out the window. He was looking for me. I can't believe I didn't hear him going down the stairs.

We of course had lots of extra hugs, kisses and snuggles.

I hope you all have a great day!

A Big Decision.

Okay ... Okay ... I hear you ... you want an answer.

Ever since our dear, sweet Wyatt crossed the rainbow bridge in August 2006 I have longed for another pet. There's just something about the unconditional love that a pet gives that fits in with who I am.


I became this little guy's Mommy in May 1995 ... he was part of our family for 11 years. Sadly he died when Griffin was only a year and a half old. Every once in awhile Griffin mentions Wyatt. It surprises me that he remembers him. Wyatt was such a good dog ... he will always be part of our family.

I think that's why I'm having such a hard time making this decision.

If the truth be told ... when it's time for us to get another dog ... I think I truly want another dalmatian.

Though the Great Pyreenes breed is a wonderful choice for our family. After doing my fair share of research I've discovered they are wonderful animals. They are protectors and are great with children.


This is a picture of Griffin with the mother, Nalah. See how big they get? I read where they can grow up to 40" tall. I am only 60" tall myself (5 feet for those of you trying to do the math, lol!)


But ... I'm still having a hard time with this decision. It's a decision not to be taken lightly. I have to think about the size, the shedding, the responsibility, the inability to travel with Mike. The love, the unconditional love.

{sigh}

I truly think this sweet puppy would fit right in with our family ... just as Griffin is fitting in with their family here.


And look ... right now he's just the right size.

Is it wrong that I've been thinking of names, too?

Webster, Winston, Fred, George, Hartley, Simon, Seth, Sampson ... those are just a few I've thought of.

Hartley is a favorite.

So the answer is ... I don't know, yet.

I'm still thinking about it.

I will let you know as soon as I do ...

Down On The Farm.

As I mentioned in my previous video blog post, Griffin and I were invited down to Mike and Becky's farm on Saturday to meet their new Great Pyreenes puppies.

We love going down to the farm ... Griffin always has such a good time.


Here we find Brandon and Griffin running with the puppies.


They have at least four turkeys. This one was so funny ... he kept puffing up and prancing when we were nearby.


The baby goats were only 4 hours only ... yes I said hours. They were soooo adorable. The little brown one was already walking. The little white one wasn't walking yet when I took this picture. He did get on his feet before we left though.


If you truly know Griffin ... well ... you know how much he LOVES to chase chickens. Becky teased me that I needed to get Griffin a couple of roosters to keep him busy.


In the video blog ... this is where the puppy fun began. He started pulling down Griffin's sweat pants. What's a Mommy to do? I video taped it of course!


Ms. Becky is letting Griffin hold a sweet bunny ... they have so many different varieties and colors. They are just beautiful.


The bunny is only about 3 days old. While we were there they removed him from his nest for the first time. His eyes were still closed.


Taking a little break ... watching Mr. Mike cut up some red cedar wood for their fireplace.

We always have the BEST time when we go down to the farm. Becky was teasing me if Griffin disappears I'll know where to find him (down at the farm).

I hope everyone has a great day!

Should We Or Shouldn't We?

We went down to our neighbors house to visit with their new Great Pyreenes puppies.

I am sooooo, sooooo torn ... I would love to bring one home with us.

Mike says it's up to me.



After viewing this video ... what do you think?

Broccoli Cornbread Recipe.

Today I thought I would share one of my all time favorite recipes.

Though I have shared this recipe before ... it's so good, I thought some of my newer blogging friends might enjoy it as well.

Broccoli Cornbread is a great side dish. It's a tasty way to get our children (and broccoli phobic adults) to eat broccoli.


The ingredients are pretty simple ... most of the items needed you probably already have in your pantry and refrigerator. I make it a little bit different from the original recipe. So, I'm thinking I will share both my version and Jeri's version.


Mmmmmm ... fresh out of the oven.


Just look at this warm and buttery yummy delight!

Brocolli Cornbread Recipe
Originally from Jeri Glave

1 Box Jiffy Cornbread Mix
1 Stick Butter - softened
1 Teaspoon Salt
1 Small Onion Chopped
3/4 cup Cottage Cheese (I use sour cream instead)
1 Package Chopped Broccoli - thawed and liquid squeezed out
4 Eggs

Mix all ingredients together
Pour into Pam'd 8x8 casserole dish
Bake at 400 degrees for 20-30 minutes

Broccoli Cornbread Recipe
Missy's Version

1 Box Jiffy Cornbread Mix
1 Stick Butter - softened
1 Teaspoon Salt
3/4 cup sour cream - I never keep cottage cheese in my fridge
1 Package Chopped Broccoli - thawed and liquid squeezed out
4 Eggs

Mix all ingredients together
Pour into Pam'd 8x8 casserole dish
Bake at 400 degrees for 20-30 minutes

Though my recipe is quite similar to the original ... I leave the onions out and I use sour cream instead of the cottage cheese.

This is a really good recipe.

If you make it ... let me know how you like it!

Happy Birthday Bonnie!

Happy, Happy Birthday to my dearest, sweetest sister-in-law Bonita Fay!


May this be the HAPPIEST birthday ever!

If you have a moment, please CLICK HERE to send Bonnie some birthday love.

Love, Hugs and Kisses coming your way ...

Cecile's Give-A-Way!

My sweet friend Cecile has a darling give-a-way going on over at her blog right now.


She is celebrating her 300th blog post by giving away this cute altered journal that she made!

So CLICK HERE to visit her blog and enter to win!

Raggedy Ann Gingerbread Blessings.

I received a really nice surprise in the mail yesterday ...


Isn't this just one of the cutest Raggedy Dolls you have ever seen in you life?

She was a complete and total surprise gift from my great friend Sue.

She knows me so well ... she knows how much I love Raggedy Dolls and gingerbread.

Thank you soooooo very much for your friendship and this beautiful Raggedy Doll ... she will always have a very special place in my heart and home.

♥ to you!

M.O.M.

Ever since Griffin could say my name he's called me Mommy ...

Over the past few days I'm beginning to hear Mommy less and less.

I have officially been renamed ...
MOM.


I'm not so sure I'm ready for this.

I'm Mommy
I like Mommy
Mom just sounds so grown up

Where, oh where has my little baby gone?

And just so you know ... he's calling Mike Dad too.

This is probably happening 80% of the time ... sometimes he forgets and still calls us Mommy & Daddy ... but most of the time it's Mom & Dad.

{ Sigh }

Zoo'ing It.

Friday was a gorgeous day ... a bit on the chilly side ... but absolutely beautiful.

Griffin and I had no plans ... so we decided to visit the Metro Richmond Zoo. We haven't been there in a long time and we were happy to discover new exhibits and even a train ride!


Griffin is fascinated with peacocks. For a long time they were his favorite animal. Of course the peacock is one of the first animals we came too. He wanted to touch it ... lol ... of course the peacock was having none of that.


After looking at the picture of Griffin with the peacock it made me think of this picture. This one was taken almost 2 years ago (March 2007) ... do you think it's the same peacock. If so ... he's probably thinking "Oh No ... Griffin is BACK!". LOL ... just teasing.


Of course when we go to the zoo ... we have to feed the giraffes.


The majority of our time is usually spent around the giraffes ... wow ... just look at that tongue.


Griffin did really well at the zoo. I'll be honest, this is the first time I didn't use the stroller. When he found out we were going and I was loading him in the car he said "No Stroller Mommy" ... I told him we would try it without the stroller. I was proud of him. He listened, he stayed with me ... he was on his best behavior.


It was fun watching the orangatans ... this one was napping in the warm sun.

I'm sharing a video of Griffin feeding the giraffes below this post ... hope you enjoy it.