At Home with the Harris Family

Birthdays

2012-02-13T22:38:00.001-06:00

The last few weeks we have been busy celebrating lots of special people in our lives!

Sorry it is all getting lumped together in one big post, but that is what happens when life gets crazy.

Flint celebrated his birthday on February 2nd. Cilla thought her daddy would love a football cake, so that is just what he got! Look at these two peas in a pod! I just love them to pieces. My cup overflows!

Practicing a little self control. Cilla girl was itching to run her sweet little finger through all that yummy chocolate icing! And she was oh so proud of her choice of the football cake!

Cilla and I are so lucky to have such a wonderful man in our lives! We are so thankful for all he does for us and how he loves us.

Flint picked Mellow Mushroom for his birthday dinner, so went out for yummy pizza. It is a Harris family favorite.

One week later, my bestie, Laura, celebrated her birthday. I didn't get to help her celebrate, but she was in my heart and on my mind all day long! Hopefully, we can celebrate together soon!

This past Saturday, Cilla helped her little friend Owen celebrate his 3rd birthday. The party was at a local gymnastics gym and the kiddos had THE BEST time jumping on trampolines and playing in the foam pit. {I may not have all the gymnastics terminology correct!}

Of course, this little love enjoyed her birthday treats!

Sweet little friends- Anna Kate and Cilla! Cilla kept hugging on Anna Kate. She adores her.

The birthday boy enjoying every second of his party.

Doesn't this look like the perfect recipe for wearing the kiddos out?!?! Cilla had so much fun. I had to drag her out of the gym.

To my surprise, I got a text about 7 o'clock Saturday night from my friend Candice informing me that she thought her little mister would be arriving that evening. You may remember the shower for All-Star Baby Luke one one week ago.

Well, here he is in person! I was so excited to meet this precious little guy! He is a little peanut, but perfect in every single way!

The newest Schulte family member......

How precious is this one?!?!

We have been busy celebrating lots of people we love! We are incredibly blessed!

Crazy Bliss

2012-02-10T12:13:00.000-06:00

One of the many reasons for my lack of blogging lately is these two babies.....

AND this little Miss.....

Although, if you call Cilla a baby she is quick to correct you and let you know that she is a "big girl" now!

I call Bliss one of my babies because it just like one! It requires care and nurturing. It has to be fed, we have to spend time with it and it requires a lot of love!!! But it is so rewarding and we love it being a part of our family!

We are in the process of opening a second store near the Northwest Arkansas Mall, which we are super duper excited about. But that will not be happening until the beginning of May. So, since we are staring our busiest time of the year in the face, we have opened a temporary location just down from what will be our permanent location. We would love for all our NWA friends to come out and see us and get your Valentine goodies from Bliss!

The Fayetteville Flyer wrote a great article about our new location. Check it out here.

A Little of This...A Little of That...

2012-02-08T15:50:00.001-06:00

Our weeks have been so full and I have just not been able to post as much as I would like. So, here is a bunch of randomness with just a teeny tiny bit of what we have been up to!!!

One night last week, Cilla woke up crying, almost a scared cry, so I got up with her and rocked her. All this to say, we ended up on the couch and she ended up asleep so I ended up back in my bed and she ended up like this the next morning!!! Doesn't look too comfortable to me, but she was passed out. Not even all the stirring in the house woke her up!

We had to make a little stop at Home Depot getting ready for daddy's birthday (a whole separate post!) and the little munchkin knows that at Home Depot she gets to ride in the race car! So, there is no twisting her arm to make that stop. She loves the race car!

Saturday, while mommy was crazy busy with baby shower stuff, Cilla and Flint helped our friend, Will, celebrate his 4th birthday in superhero style! Notice the blue icing on her face!

She was in full force Saturday night! I wish I had all the energy this girl has at bedtime! My house would be much cleaner and my life would be much more organized if I did!

Love love love this smiley face!!!

She was hiding in the closet trying to avoid getting ready for bed. She is getting really good and hide'n'seek.

Sunday, after church, these two snuggled on the couch before nap time. We had Super Bowl plans Sunday evening, so we had a lazy afternoon. A much needed lazy afternoon!

We went to our friends', the Carney's, house to watch the Super Bowl.

It was pure craziness and as you can see there was more blue icing involved!

I told you it was a bunch of randomness!

All-Star Baby Luke

2012-02-06T15:37:00.001-06:00

This past weekend I had the honor of helping to host a baby shower for my dear friend, Candice and her future all-star, Baby Luke! It is no secret, I have a deep down desire of being a party planner one day. So, I love all the frills and details of planning. I have to admit, this was one of my very favorites!

The inspiration was obviously Candice and Tim's love of the Razorbacks. But we were aiming for a southern chic tailgate party and I think it was all of that and more.

The invites were red, white and gray with pennants on them. So, we carried that throughout the shower. I loved the colors. Contrary to some beliefs, there is such thing as over the top Razorback, so we added subtle touches throughout the shower. The Arkansas fight song was written on the chalkboard on the dessert table.

The food table.

The menu consisted of BBQ Pork Sandwiches (yes, we eat pork here in Razorback country!), Sweet Potato Fries with Sweet Butter dipping sauce, Asian Coleslaw, Fruit Skewers and of course Cupcakes- Red Velvet, Apple Cake and Marshmallow Brownie.

Cute little pennants.

We used pennants to label all of the food, too.

The Sweet Potato Fries were served in cups with the Sweet Butter at the bottom.

And this was one of my very favorite details of the entire shower. I saw a similar idea online and copied it. They used Mason jars from a tree at a wedding, but Mason jars would have been too much. So, I found little glass bottles at Hobby Lobby, added a wire handle, added flowers and hung them with ribbon. Viola! It was the perfect baby shower decoration with the silver baby cups added.

There was Strawberry Lemonade, Sweet Tea and Water to drink out of what else but- Mason jars! Each jar was adorned with twine and a an "L" for Luke.

His name on a banner of course!

The mantle.

This did not go according to plan. As part of the hostess gift were were giving the month labels with Razorbacks! But, the labels did not make it in time, so it looked more like a plain ole clothes line. Still, cute, I guess, but not as we had planned!

More flowers hanging.

Guests.

Little Cooper tried to sink his gums into a red velvet cupcake. Apparently, he already knows a good thing when he sees it! Look at those eyes!

A little sussie for Baby Luke and his family signed by all the guests. It will be perfect hanging in Luke's room.

The door wreaths with Luke's initials made out of diapers.

Razorback cookies for the guests to take home with them. The perfect ending!

Hostesses.

My dear friend, Candice.

Ready to pass out!

Showers are hard work!

It was such a fun day so it was worth it all!

Pick Your Plum

2012-02-03T08:41:00.000-06:00

My bloggie friend, Janette from The Johanson Journey, recently asked me to participate in a series called Show Us Your Plum. She and Ashley from Cherished Bliss want to feature items from a site called Pick Your Plum. If you haven't heard of it you should check it out here. You can also follow them of Facebook. It is all kinds of little lovlies at great prices.

Here I am attempting to model the scarf that I received in the mail.....notice all the help I am getting in the background!!! It is a perfect pink color and light weight for the mild winter we are having here in Arkansas. It will great for spring and summer, too. I love clothes and accessories so it was the perfect treat!

If you do not follow Pick Your Plum, do so! You sign up on the website to receive the daily deals and believe me, they sell out quickly! Then visit Janette and Ashley's blogs for the link party! You can see all of the cute and creative Plum! Be sure to pick your plum and you can join in the fun!

Tahoe Get-A-Way

2012-01-31T21:42:00.000-06:00

This past weekend, my parents graciously agreed to keep Cilla so Flint and I could have some time away. We jetted off to one of Flint's very favorite places- Lake Tahoe.

As always, Tahoe was beautiful and our time away together was relaxing and wonderful! We had so much fun together and time away from the kiddo is always refreshing! It definitely makes me a better mom when I get back home!

So, we failed at taking pictures. This is the only shot of the two of us....and it was taken on Flint's phone! Ooooppps! But take my word, we had a blast and ate lots of yummy food. We ate at one of my very favorite restaurants- Cafe Fiore. And had one of my very favorite desserts- White Chocolate Ice Cream. It is seriously a little glimpse of heaven!

Of course, we enjoyed the views. There has been very little snow this year, but it was still beautiful!

We spent time just people watching and enjoying time together in Heavenly village.

This gal has been around for many years. We see her every time we are there.

It was a quick get-a-way, but much needed and just about perfect. But, we sure missed our Cilla girl and there was no better feeling than coming home to her! That really is the best!

Lawson's Superhero Party

2012-01-30T16:04:00.001-06:00

Last week we helped our friend, Lawson, celebrate his third birthday at the Little Gym. Cilla has been twice in the last couple of weeks for birthday parties and she loves it so much we signed her up for classes!

Meet the birthday boy, Superhero Lawson! How cute is he?!?!

His momma is the author of Cut Through the Caution Tape and it is hilarious!

And here is our little party animal!

The kids love this place!

Little Miss Lilly.

Lawson's creative momma had capes and masks made for all the little superheros! How fun is that?!?!

Birthday boy, Lawson. I love his mask!

We had lots of fun celebrating Lawson! So thankful for sweet friends.

Low Key Week

2012-01-24T14:34:00.001-06:00

I took Cilla to the doctor last Monday and after being diagnosed with pneumonia I knew that she needed nothing more than a week with little on her agenda. Apparently, pneumonia is not contagious, however I still tried my best to keep her in and get her well.

Our little sickling.

This picture was taken before we realized she had pneumonia. There is local Thai spot that we love. Here is our little champ eating Chicken Satay and peanut sauce. She has always been such a great little eater.

Sunday night was the low point of her being sick. We were up most of the night. We did manage to catch a few z's on the couch in the living room. Here is what I woke up to Monday morning.- Cilla's head in my lap and Sophie and the opposite end of the couch. So, for those counting, that is three of us sleeping on the couch!

Midweek, things were looking up, so Cilla got out with mommy to run some errands. We stopped at Firehouse to get lunch for mommy and daddy and while I was ordering this is the mess she made. And she was so proud of herself. Always has a sense of humor!

I caught this sweet moment. She was reading "Happy Birthday, Jesus!" to Sophie!

Of course, there were multiple trips to Bliss. She is always a good sport when mommy and daddy have to tend to business there.

We read lots of books, watched some Dora and Mickey Mouse Clubhouse and even played some Candyland.

After spending a lot of the week at home and resting, she is doing so much better. One funny memory that I want to remember is that she was prescribed Amoxicillin, the yummy bubblegum flavored medicine that every kid loves. Not Cilla! She hated it! At first we we had to give her M&M's to get her to take it. She has gotten better with it, but still not a fan!!! She is such a mess!

Angry Birds and Sweet Little Owls

2012-01-19T08:00:00.000-06:00

Last weekend, we had a fun fun Saturday celebrating two special little friends! I get told so much that we go to A LOT of birthday parties. And my response is always the same. We are so so blessed to have such sweet friends with kids close to Cilla's age to walk through this stage of life with. I don't know what I would do without all these families. They are such support and encouragement!

First we headed to Brayden's Angry Bird birthday! Check out more party details and more party pics!

Jenna made a life size Angry Birds game for the kids to play and they LOVED it! It started like this.....

and ended like this! Isn't that a fun idea?!?!

And this little sweetheart is always a show stopper! Miss Jillian was so cute helping the big kids with the blocks!

The Birthday Boy!!! He enjoyed every last bite of his cupcake!

Thanks Brayden for letting us help you celebrate your third birthday with you! We had the best time.

After a little detour to visit our family in Gravette, a drive around because Cilla fell asleep in the car (which never happens!), and a few minutes resting at home we headed out again for some more celebrating! We got to help sweet Harper celebrate her third birthday at the Little Gym.

They do such a good job with the kids. Everyone had so much fun!

Sweet Harper

Stella and Harper playing with the parachute.

Cilla kept saying, "I love Little Gym!" and "I am having so much fun at Little Gym!" I loved watching all the kids have so much fun! You couldn't help but smile!

And for a few short seconds, there was a calm in the room! But of course it didn't last!

Singing happy birthday! Kelly did such a cute job and all the little Owls were so cute! Check it out!

Happy Birthday to Miss Harper and thanks for letting us celebrate with you! We had a blast!

And Cilla passed out that night! Success!

13 Going on 14

2012-01-17T07:48:00.000-06:00

Our Golden Retriever, Katie, turned 13 right after the new year so our course we had to have a little celebration!

Yes, we are those people!

Cilla loves celebrating any birthday, but Katie holds a special little place in her heart. She helped Katie blow out her birthday candle.

Then for the good part! Katie and Sophie both got birthday treats! What's a birthday without cupcakes?!?!

Happy 13th to the sweetest puppy dog I know!

Cotton Bowl Victory

2012-01-11T15:51:00.000-06:00

So, I know this is about five days late and five dollars short, but I want to get back into the groove of blogging and documenting the happenings of the Harris family! I sure do love walking memory lane through the pages of this silly ole blog. So, that is what keeps me blogging!

Last week the Harris crew, all 5 of us (2 doggies included), spent the week in the Dallas/ Fort Worth area. Flint grew up in the Metroplex, so it is home to him and we currently have many friends there, so it is always a fun fun trip for us!

Of course we love seeing family and friends, but our main objective was to bring home a Cotton Bowl victory and that we did! GO HOGS!

My "professional" husband was busy capturing as many Cotton Bowl moments as he could on one of his two cameras, so I did not get to enjoy the game with him. But, I have loved looking at all of this work. This post game pic is one of many! Check out more Candid Cotton Bowl Pictures and 2012 Cotton Bowl Pictures Run the Gamut on HolyTurf!

He even shot a pic of his friends from the field!!!

I missed sharing in the fun evening with my hubbie, but I had a special date! My bestie, Laura, generously gave up her evening with her three boys to join me! Also, special thanks to her hubbie, Brad, for sharing her with me for one night! We had lots of fun! We sat with the Carney's and the Schulte's and loved being together!

Laura and I and Lacey and I heading into Jerry World.

We saw lots and lots of interesting characters. This grown lady included. That's right, I said grown lady. Not an 8 year old!!! She must be more comfortable in her skin and in a tutu than I am!

And Flint captured this image. I love this little guys and his sign! In one word....AWESOME!

See more interesting folks from game day at Jerry world here.

Flint even managed to catch a few moments of Bobby P smiling. Not something you see very often, but he certainly had a lot to smile about that night! See a few more smiles here.

Well, that is my first attempt at catching up from Christmas and from our trip to Texas!

Oh, and Happy New Year!

2011 Favorites

2011-12-31T20:32:00.004-06:00

We had record amounts of snow in Northwest Arkansas in 2011. It was so beautiful!

Unfortunately, Cilla didn't like playing in it near as much as Katie the dog did!

Daddy went to North Carolina to run the Krispy Kreme Run and to see a Duke Basketball game. Cilla and I had our own fun! We made Red Velvet cupcakes....

.....and we visited Krispy Kreme, of course!

Club Cilla!

Cilla got a tent for Christmas and loved it! One big party! Sophie also loved the tent. We found her in the tent several times!

Silly girl. She loves to eat at Slim Chickens and mommy and daddy love Mondays because kids eat free!

We made a trip to San Diego before Cilla turned two. She loved the zoo.

She also loved Sea World! Any thing with animals!

A Barnyard Bash for the Birthday girl!

Mom made a girls' trip to Dallas and Cilla and daddy some fun of their own. Daddy figured dumping multiple puzzles would keep Cilla occupied for a while and that would buy him time to get some work done! Genius!

We went to Razorfest.

We played with our friends.

We spent a lot of time playing outside.

Cilla is all girl and thinks it is so fun to play in mommy's make-up. I am afraid this my get worse before it gets better.

We went to South Padre with some of our friends from Waco.

We clearly had a blast.

Cilla loved the ocean and the waves.

My little beach baby.

Daddy's girl.

She found a new love for sidewalk chalk.

All smiles.

We made two trips to Coke Coke's house in Colorado. We spent Memorial Day and the Fourth of July in Colorado.

Cilla went to her first parade.

I will never forget the MISERABLE 14 mile bike ride from Vail to Frisco. Cilla screamed the entire time because she hated the bike trailer. I walked the bike and carried her the last mile.

I helped throw a baby shower for Sweet Baby Cooper.

Flint and I got a little time away with the Cramer's right after our anniversary and we beat the August heat in Pebble Beach.

I just love this sweet face.

We conquered potty training. We had a "Potty Princess"!

We enjoyed fall in Fayetteville.

Are these two not the sweetest things?!?!

We had a little lady bug for Halloween. Cilla took it all in this year.

I got to go to several Razorback games because Nana graciously kept Cilla.

Cilla got into princesses in a BIG way!

We soaked in every ounce of Christmas that we could. It was so fun celebrating with her this year!

And Katie was a good sport through it all.

We had a wonderful 2011. So much fun and so many memories made. Being a mom is harder than I could have ever imagined but I love every second of it and I am trying my hardest to take it all in with Cilla. It has brought us so much joy watching Cilla grow from a toddler to a big girl over the last year. 2011 brought on a new business venture for us. We are now partners in the local cupcake bakery, Bliss. It is lots more work than I ever could have anticipated, but it brings with it many rewards too! Of course, we enjoyed cheering on our Hogs this season and we are so proud of the Baylor Bears. Both teams had lots to be proud of this season. God has blessed us way more than we deserve and I am so so thankful. I look forward to see what 2012 brings our way!

Razorback Hoops

2011-12-30T08:16:00.000-06:00

We took a little break from all the Christmas celebrations to go to a Razorback basketball game with the Schulte's. Cilla loved it and took it ALL in. She walked into Bud Walton Arena and immediately said, "This is soooo fun!"

She wanted nothing to do with Big Red. She liked him from afar, but would not get near him for a picture. She was, however, completely smitten by Madison, the Razorback cheerleader. All smiles!

The daddies and their girls.

Cilla loves being with Laci. They always have the best time together!

Honestly, I can't even tell you the outcome of the game. But, we sure did have a fun time!

Happy Birthday, Jesus!

2011-12-25T16:15:00.002-06:00

Just what is Christmas, anyway?

Why do we celebrate?

Why is Decemeber 25th a very special day?

Is it about the Christmas tree,

With all the twinkling lights?

Is it about the Christmas cards,

The ones my mommy writes?

Is Christmas about the Christmas gifts?

I love them very much.

Is Christmas about Santa Claus?

His beard is fun to touch.

Is Christmas about the candy canes?

I think they taste quite nice.

Is Christmas about Santa's list?

They say he checks it twice.

Or maybe it's about the food!

Mom's Christmas cookies rule!

Or maybe it's about the snow.

White Christmases are cool!

Is it about the Christmas songs,

the ones we sing each year?

Is it about the Christmas elves

And Santa's eight reindeer?

No, that's not what Christmas is about!

All these things are really nice and superduper fun.

But Christmas is much more than that-

It's all about God's son.

God sent his son, Jesus Christ,

From Heaven up above.

He came to earth to save the world-

God's greatest gift of love.

So, Christmas is the Lord's birthday

The day he came to earth.

Forever we will celebrate

His very special birth!

Okay, now I get it.

Santa Clause and Christmas trees and presents are okay.

But Jesus is the real reason

We have a Christmas Day!

Merry Christmas.

Love, The Harris Family

Merry Christmas

2011-12-25T07:07:00.000-06:00

We have had a fun day of celebrating Jesus today.

From our family to your's- Merry Christmas!

A Picture with Santa

2011-12-21T16:38:00.001-06:00

Well, with one week to go before Christmas, Cilla decided she wanted to take her turn and "have her picture taken with Santa." After two failed attempts, and by that I mean I gave her the opportunity twice while we were at the mall. She respectfully declined and we went on celebrating the true meaning of Christmas. No big deal. I refused to be THAT mom that had the picture of my child screaming in Santa's lap. Why do that to them?! Well, we were finishing up our Christmas shopping at the mall on the Saturday before Christmas and as we passed Santa and all the happy children getting pictures taken with him, she thought it looked like a lot of fun. Of course she did on the Saturday before Christmas!!! The line was about 20 kids deep and we had all but rolled out of bed in order to beat the crowds. So, I promised we would come back when it wasn't so busy.

This is where I failed as a parent. Rather than going first thing in the week and first thing in the morning, we didn't make it back to the mall until mid-week or until school was out for Christmas break. Oh, and did I mention we went at lunch time? Because we did! So, the line was even longer than it was when we were there the previous Saturday! By golly, we were getting in line and getting our picture made with Santa. So we hopped in line and I reaffirmed with Cilla that this was what she wanted to do. She sweetly said, "yes". So, we stood in line for about 45 minutes and once we got to the front of the line she looked at me and said, "I don't want to sit on Santa's lap!" What in the world?!?!?! I calmly told her that she had told mommy and daddy that this is what she wanted to do and that we were going to go talk to Santa.

And this is what we got. They tried hard to sell us the pictures that they took but we couldn't bite the bullet. It took everything in her to get out this "cheese". She got in his lap and did what we asked of her and NO more. She would not tell him what she wanted for Christmas. She would not smile for the camera. She just sat there. Just like we asked!

Getting her pep talk from dad!

So, the lesson is...

Go see Santa early! Nothing good comes from standing in line for 45 minutes!

Dinner Guests

2011-12-12T23:17:00.002-06:00

We have had dinner guests the past two nights.

We had a little pj party with some of our dear dear friends- the Allens and the Schultes. Our four girls love love love to be together so there is never a dull moment with these four!

For the second year in a row, we have worn our jammies, had dinner and decorated cookies.

Total silliness!!!

This is the four of them last year. What a difference a year makes!

Such a baby face.

And here is what you get when you try to get 2 two year olds, a three year old and a four year old to pose for a picture.....

.....and.....

I give up!

We also had the Dough's over for dinner. This is the first time they have been back since they moved out in September and it was Jake's first trip (hopefully of many) to the Harris house!

It was so so good to see them and we all three enjoyed their company! We had to snap a picture on their way out the door.

And just for the record...Cilla actually warmed up to Jake. And why wouldn't she?!?! He is as cute as a button!!! Warming up to babies has not been her strongest trait. But she was great with him.

We are so thankful for such special friends and time with them during this busy season. We love them all dearly!

Bliss

2011-12-11T15:03:00.000-06:00

I have some great friends! No really!!! I asked a couple of my friends who just so happen to have pretty popular blogs to help us out at Bliss.

They came and taste tested cupcakes (I know, I know. Somebody has to do it!) and they agreed to have a "blogger" social. I know it doesn't sound like a terribly dreadful job, but I appreciate these girls taking time out of their busy busy days to support us!

The kids had a fun time.

Stella, Cilla and Brody. Such sweet little friends!

And how precious is this sweet girl?! Jillian wanted the entire tray of cupcakes! She knows a good thing when she sees it!

Brody Francis

Melissa and Grayson

Kelly, Hollis, Jennifer and Jillian

Thanks to everyone who came out on the cold Friday morning! I loved meeting some new mommies! And a special thanks to Jennifer and Kelly. You girls are the BEST!

Class Act

2011-12-10T16:23:00.000-06:00

I know lots and lots of people will be cheering on Robert Griffin III tonight to win the Heisman. The obvious, he has turned Baylor's football program completely around during his time there. Most Baylor fans have never seen such success in their time as a Baylor fan. Everyone hears what a great guy he is and it is easy to jump on the bandwagon and like a "nice" guy. I do it!

But, RG3 truly is a class act. He just is.

Flint wrote a great article on HolyTurf about Robert and you can read it here...

The Real RG3

It is a great read for guys and gals! It will seriously make your heart happy to hear that there really are guys like that out there.

So, obviously Robert holds a special place in our hearts. He has a heart of gold. He is an amazing athlete. He is a hard working, ambitious guy. He has a smile that could light up a football stadium. Oh yes, and he was one of Flint's athletes while at Baylor. So, whether he wins the coveted Heisman tonight, or not, we will be cheering him on in the future.

We have several pictures of Robert from Flint's time at Baylor, but this is one of my very favorites! Do you think Cilla will ever regret this?!

Here is a pic of Flint with Robert at this past spring's practice game.

Go RG3 and Sic'em Bears!

We are so proud!

Cupcakes

2011-12-08T22:41:00.004-06:00

This is not the only little cupcake in our lives!

I have mentioned how busy life has been around the Harris house lately and there is a good reason! We are now proud owners of the local cupcake bakery, Bliss Cupcake Cafe, here in Fayetteville!

We are located right off the Fayetteville Square on Center Street.

Being in the cupcake business is a lot of fun, but it sure dose keep us busy!

We would love for you to follow us on Facebook and Twitter. We do lots of fun giveaways, so it is definitely worth your while!

Tomorrow we are having our first Blogger day and Kelly Stamps and Jennifer Francis are both going to be at Bliss from 10:30 to 11:30!

We would love for you to come out and join us, eat some cupcakes and visit with the girls! Kids are welcome, too, of course!!!

I told you we had lots of excitement in our lives these days!

In Good Company

2011-12-02T08:04:00.000-06:00

The Allen's came over for dinner a few nights ago and we loved having them!

Cilla and her Bestie, Katie!

Silly girls! We gave the girls matching jammies for Christmas and we gave them to the girls a little early so they could enjoy them through all of December. They looked so cute!

Cilla loves Paigey and Avery like they are sisters. They play so well together and have so much fun together, but they also fight like like sisters sometimes, too!

Three little messes!

Just one more thing to add to the list of things we are thankful for! We love the Allen family and are so blessed by their friendship!

It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas

2011-11-30T15:22:00.004-06:00

This has to be the sweetest, most patient puppy dog in the world!

This is what happens with a two year old in the house.....

Sweet Katie Bug!

And for anyone who has been to our house at Christmastime, you know that we top our tree with the traditional Razorback hat! Why I ever let that tradition start, I am not sure?!?! But I did. And yes, we really do! So we got out old trusty last night and Cilla had to try it on before we topped our tree with it!

Love this little Hogs fan!

Unfortunately, we noticed our tree was a little lop-sided as we (by we, I mean I) put the last of the decorations on it. So I took off all of the glass ornaments and had to readjust the tree. By that point I was "decorated out" for the night, so the tree did not get redecorated. As frustrating as it was, I would have been crushed if the tree fell over and broke all of our ornaments! Only in the Harris house!

I took Cilla to the mall yesterday for lunch and we decided to pay Santa a visit. She was so excited when she first spotted him, but she was a little unsure about him the closer we got. She did go up to him and shook his hand, which is a 180 from the screaming she did when she saw him last Christmas. But, she is still not ready for his lap! Maybe by next year! This was the closest I got to a picture with Santa. Little Stinker!

Honestly, she was a little more into the carousel than Santa.

Hopefully by the end of the day I will have pictures of our decorated tree. I can't believe it is Christmastime! I have so much to catch up on and so many pictures to share. Thanks to everyone for checking in on us. I am happy to report that we are all well and life has been full and wonderful the last few weeks. Life has just taken a sharp turn toward crazy, so bear we with me!

A Bouncing Birthday

2011-11-22T06:45:00.000-06:00

Does this look like the face of a gal who loved helping Zach celebrate his 4th birthday? He has his party at a local bounce place and all the kids had the best time!

Of course, Cilla would rather rock on the pink horse and play in the play house and drink from the water fountain than jump and slide! Welcome to the word of a two year old!

This is her new pose. Sweet face!

Cilla and her friend, Brody. They are a pair of crazy!

I love this picture of the birthday boy with some of his big boy friends. They all slid down together and dog-piled at the bottom! It is so fun to watch the energy of boys. We are just not accustomed to that at the Harris house!

One thing I love about helping all my friends' kids celebrate their birthdays is getting to see my friends. Life gets so busy, so it is one thing that brings everyone together. I am so blessed God has given me such sweet mommy friends to walk through this phase of life with!

Brody, Ava and Cilla

Cilla was in class with Ava last year and she still talks about her all the time. Her friends hold such a special place in her heart. She is definitely our little social butterfly.

And the birthday boy, Zach!

If that face does not make you smile, I don't know what will!!! He is such a fun boy and we are so glad we got to help him celebrate his birthday!

#3

2011-11-21T15:05:00.001-06:00

We had a crazy weekend and I will share more in another post, but look at this reaction when Cilla realized Baylor won, USC won, Iowa State won and her Hogs were #3 in the nation!

Please don't judge me by my nasty front doors! Oh my goodness, I had NO idea they were so bad!!!

It is such a fun time for Razorback fans! And we are so so proud of the Baylor Bears and happy for all of our BU friends!
After all, Cilla was born in Waco and cheered on the Bears for the first year of her life!
I found a couple of pictures while Flint was at Baylor- Cilla's first football season.

I am not sure what was or is more tiring...carrying her around in the Baby Bjorn or chasing her EVERYWHERE?!?!

Look at all that drool on her shirt! Oh my, how life has changed! It is fun to look back and to see where God has brought us in the last couple of years!
Look at her now!

I have lots more fun stuff to share and I will soon. But, I have to get busy catching up from the weekend.

Phone Photos

2011-11-18T11:40:00.001-06:00

A couple of nights ago we made a trip to Sam's Club and I couldn't resist this picture! We go to Sam's at least two times each week. Sometimes more! You know your life has taken a sharp turn towards different when Sam's Club is a form of entertainment! We actually look forward to going.

Recently, I was cleaning out Cilla's closet and pulling outfits that were entirely too small and she decided that she needed to wear this little pink dress, size 18 months. That's right! Oh, and this blue step, she carries it every where! She uses it to wash her hands. To help me in the kitchen. To change the temperature on the thermostat. To put DVD's in the DVD player. To switch on light switches. To get things out of her closet that she couldn't otherwise reach. To get things out of drawers....you get the idea. They definitely get her into trouble.

Yesterday, we had lunch with some of our best friends at Rick's, a local bakery. These little cuties loved watching the ladies decorate cakes through the window.

Speaking of cuties. Have you seen these mini purple sparkly TOMS?!?! They also come in pink, by the way. They are the cutest things, especially for a little gal who insists on wearing purple or pink in some fashion with EVERYTHING! They are her favs! I get nothing for promoting them. Just thought I would share this little tidbit of cuteness!

Happy Friday!

The Darndest Things

2011-11-15T16:00:00.002-06:00

Be sure to check out my Bread Dip recipe on HolyTurf. It is one of my very favorite dip recipes! I know football season and tailgating are coming to a close for the year, but this one is a good App to use around the holidays or for a party or a shower. It is a definite crowd pleaser!

Check it out here

And a total different subject. The older Cilla gets, the more and more I realize how I long to document the things that she does. Sure it is great to look back and remember when she first smiled or when she first rolled over or what her first solid foods were or where her first outings were and when she got all of her teeth. But, now that she has developed her own {BIG} personality and can talk up a storm and is learning to use her imagination, I long more than ever to bottle up the sweet, tender moments. I want to record the funny things that cause my drink to spew out of my mouth. I try to commitment to my memory all the witty things that send my head to spinning because I can't possibly believe my two and a half year old just came up with that!

So...I think I have come up with a perfect idea. Besides using this blog as an opportunity to record a small glimpse of Cilla's childhood, I love the idea of writing things on little pieces of paper, dating them and storing them in a jar. What momma or daddy would ever regret having that?!

I wish I could say that this idea was all my own

but I found it on Pinterest and it originally came from inchmark.

A couple of funny things that I thought I would share.

Cilla is known for being a very independent little thing. But she also can be very selective in when she wants to be treated like a big girl. She was recently asked to do something by my mom and her response was:

"Nana, I'm JUST two!"

Seriously?!?! The sas has already started!

Recently, she had a little conversation with her friend Lilly who calls her "Ciwa", pronouncing the "L's" like a "W".

Cilla's response:

"My name is CILLA not CIWA. I'm going to call you LIWY!"

Oh my goodness. I don't even have words for this!

Then there is the filling up the sinks with soap and water...

Dumping dog food out all over the laundry room floor.....

And her love for dog's water continues. Only now, she thinks it is funny to drink out of the dog bowl like a dog.

These are the things that keep me on my toes and keep my days full! But, I love it and wouldn't trade it for anything. I don't want to forget any of it!
If you have any fun ways to save memories of your kiddos, I want to hear them!

Winner and a Recipe

2011-11-14T17:10:00.001-06:00

Drumroll please........

The winner of the 2 VIP tickets to the NWA Boutique Show is......

True Random Number GeneratorMin: Max:
Result:11Powered by RANDOM.ORG

That means you KATE FLOYD are the winner!

Guess what?! As a thank you for participating, the NWA Boutique Show is giving each of you one free general admission ticket to the show! To claim your ticket, e-mail Julie at

julie.nwaboutiqueshow@gmai l.com and reference this contest.

She'll e-mail you the ticket!

***And, for a bonus chance to win two VIP passes.... visit NWA Boutique Show on Facebook, like their page and comment on their contest!

http://www.facebook.com/pages/NWA-Boutique-Show/130367947042342?sk=wall

And now, as promised, a yummy recipe that is a staple in my recipe box! The are called Tailgate Sandwiches and they are perfect for just that. I figured I better squeeze this in since there are only a few left for tailgating! But, they are also great for showers, birthday parties and Sunday lunch!

Sandwiches

Kaiser Rolls or Slider Buns

Shaved Turkey

Shaved Ham

Sliced Swiss Cheese

Sliced American Cheese

Sandwich Dressing

1/2 cup butter

1 Tbsp Prepared Mustard

1 1/2 Tbsp Worchestershire Sauce

1 1/2 tsp Poppy Seeds

1 Tbsp Finely Chopped Onion

For the dressing, melt butter then combine all other ingredients and mix well. Sometimes, I leave out the onions and they are still delicious!

For the sandwiches, slice rolls in half. Put rolls in either a baking dish or sheet pan. Either works great. Spread dressing on both sides of the rolls. Layer turkey, ham and cheeses. Put top half of roll on sandwich. Cover with foil and bake on 375 degrees for 10 to 15 minutes.

These are sure to be crowd pleaser!

Weekends (that's right...weekends) Review

2011-11-14T08:28:00.003-06:00

This weekend was jam packed with friends and fun! We had a house full of company which is just the way we like it!!! Our friends, the Maxwell's, were in from Atlanta for the weekend. The main attraction was the Razorback game, but we managed to find lots of other fun things to do to fill our time with our friends.

This picture is for Cilla! She was so excited that I saw Big Red!

This guy's name is actually Pork Chop, but because we have a book named "Hello Big Red" she thinks all Razorback mascots are named Big Red.

Flint says this is the most beautiful view in all of Fayetteville. Although, it is quite a site for all Razorback fans, I happen to think there are lots more sights around our area just as pleasing to the eyes!

We had a fun night out and enjoyed a big win over the Tennessee Volunteers! Wooo Pigs!

Max and Dru.

It was Dru's first trip to Arkansas and her first Razorback home game!

Pregame, we had a little tailgate party of our own at our house! Cilla loved running around like a crazy girl with her friends!

Cilla and Reese.

Rhett. Reese. Stella. And Cilla. Four Crazies!

We had to show our company some of the cute little swanky shops around town! Cilla found this jewel. Dear Santa, please take notes!!! I could finally breath when we found our way to the exit doors. I was a nervous wreck watching her explore her way through this store. It is times like those that the monkey leash would come in handy! HA!

And of course our weekend wouldn't be complete without some yummy food and time with friends! Friday evening, we had a childfree night out on the town with three other couples at Bonefish Grill. Yum Yum!

Now this is when the weekends, yes plural, part comes in. I wanted to be sure to document all of the fun we had LAST weekend, too.

I already shared this family pic before Flint and I headed off to the Razorback game last week. My mom, Cilla's Nana, so graciously kept the little munchkin so Flint and I could go to the game.

We also had two super fun birthday parties celebrating two special little ladies!

Friday, we headed back to Farmland to celebrate Laci's 3rd birthday! Cilla loved Farmland the first time we went and it was just as big of a hit the second time around!

Pretty sure she rode the ponies at least four times.

Our little animal lover! Maybe a future 4-H'er?!?!

All smiles!

The birthday girl!

Our sweet friends, the Scott's.

Cilla, soaking up some Katie lap time! She loves her Katie Bird!

After petting the animals, playing in the corn, climbing the hay bales, riding the ponies and a hayride we ended our night with a bang! We roasted hot dogs for dinner and roasted marshmallows for s'mores! It was yummy and lots and lots of fun!

And what third birthday party would be complete without cupcakes covered in pink icing?!?!

I am pretty sure Cilla was so sugared up she didn't go to sleep until nearly eleven o'clock! Luckily, she woke up just in time the next morning to head to Adeline's ladybug birthday party! Adeline's mommy outdid herself with all the red, black, white and polka dots! Everything was precious! And Cilla loved loved loved jumping in the ginormous bounce house they had in their front yard!

And yes, this cake not was not only the cutest thing, but it tasted delicious, too!
Such a precious little Ladybug!

Cilla has reached the point that she loves to open presents. She had a big ole time (probably a little too big!) helping Adeline out!

It was so much fun sharing these special days with precious friends!

As I reflect on the last two weekends, I feel so blessed to have had so much fun and I feel so blessed to have such sweet friends in our lives.

Northwest Arkansas Boutique Show

2011-11-08T21:12:00.000-06:00

I am excited to announce a fun giveaway!!!

The Northwest Arkansas Boutique Show will take place at the Springdale Convention Center Friday, November 18- Saturday, November 19 and I have the opportunity to give away two VIP tickets to one lucky person!!!

In addition to getting first dibs on all the fabulous shopping, each VIP ticket holder will receive a signature shopping tote swag bags, a delicious treat from Briar Rose Bakery, coffee or iced tea from Mama Carmen's Espresso Cafe, a savory treat from My Brother's Salsa and Catering Concepts, free return admission all weekend and the chance to win hundreds of amazing door prizes!!!

This is a great opportunity to get a jump start on your holiday shopping. There will be over 150 merchants from over 5 states selling all kinds of unique finds from home decor, clothing, accessories, gourmet foods and much much more!!!

For more information of the NWA Boutique Show click here

Don't miss out! All you have to do is leave a comment at the bottom of this post with either your blog address or your email address so that I can contact you. A winner will be drawn on Monday.

Happy Shopping!!!

Mmmm, Mmmm Monday: White Chicken Chili

2011-11-07T15:25:00.000-06:00

I love to eat soup and chili as the temperatures drop outside. This White Chili is a delicious variation to change things up a little. It is one of my favorite things to eat in the winter. I made this last week and have had several requests for the recipe, so here y'all go!!! This is actually a Pioneer Woman recipe that I have taken and made easier and in my opinion...better.

White Chicken Chili

3 cups Cooked Chicken, Diced or Shredded

1 whole Medium Onion, Diced

4 cloves Garlic, Minced

2 whole Cans Green Chilies, Chopped

2 Cans Cannellini Beans , Rinsed

4 cups Chicken Broth

1 1/2 Tablespoon Ground Cumin

1/2 teaspoon Paprika

Salt To Taste

White Pepper, To Taste

1 cup Milk

2 Tablespoons Cornstarch (or Cornmeal)

Grated Monterey Jack, To Taste

Sour Cream For Garnish

Cilantro For Garnish

Guacamole (optional)

Pico De Gallo (optional)

Corn Tortillas (warmed)

Preparation Instructions:

Cook chicken for 20 to 30 minutes or until done. Set aside.

In a dutch oven over medium-high heat, saute onions and garlic for 2 minutes. Add chopped green chilies, then rinsed beans. Pour chicken broth into the pan. Season with salt, pepper, and cumin. Place lid on pot and reduce heat to low.

I cook this for about 30 minutes then add 3 cups of cooked chicken.

Let simmer then mix milk with cornstarch (or cornmeal) and pour into the chili. Cook for an additional ten minutes to thicken. Mine is never very thick after adding this, but I think it adds a little to the flavor. Check seasoning and adjust, adding cayenne pepper and paprika if desired.

You might want to add some Monterey Jack cheese to the pot and stir to melt.

Serve chili in a bowl. Garnish with cilantro, sour cream, extra cheese---even pico de gallo and guacamole, if you have some on hand. Roll up warm corn tortillas and serve on the side of the bowl. Or it is delicious with Frito's or even sweet corn bread. Whatever your heart desires!!!

Love Our Hogs

2011-11-06T18:31:00.003-06:00

We had a busy busy game day and a big victory over the South Carolina Gamecocks yesterday. Here is a family picture before Flint and I headed off to the game and a picture of the Razorbacks taking the field!

In honor of the victory and our #8 ranked Hogs, I thought I would share this video of Cilla singing the Arkansas fight song. This video was taken back at the beginning of football season but still worthy of sharing. She knows all of the words, but she likes to add different mascots into the song in place of "Go Hogs!" and she gets a little side-tracked with all the jumping around. Pardon my voice.

Without further ado......

We are such proud parents!

GO HOGS!

Brighter Days

2011-11-03T16:54:00.001-05:00

I have been home with a sickling today, so I thought I would share a few pictures of brighter days.

Here are a few more pics of our venture out to the U of A.

Sweet sweet smiles.

She had the best time running around and playing in the leaves.

So much to take in.

We had breakfast at IHOP Sunday morning with Nana and Poppa before they headed home. We told Cilla to make a silly face like her pancake. This was was we got.....

Enjoying a little froyo after running around the college campus. Cilla always requests Orange Leaf or TCBY when we go to the U of A! You can tell it is good to the last drop!

And to add to the randomness.....

This girl is crazy about sidewalk chalk. Here is one of our masterpieces!

We got to spend a little time with our old "roommate", Kelli and her sweet little guy, Jake. Cilla is nuts about Kelli (and Josh) and soaks in every moment she gets to spend with them. I just love this picture of Cilla, Kelli and Jake.

She also loves loves loves her puppy dogs. I think the feelings are mutial...most days!

Tomorrow is a new day and we are hoping to have a healthy little gal. She has lots of fun ahead of her this weekend!

Arkansas Razorback Fan

2011-11-02T16:05:00.000-05:00

Sunday, after church, I took Cilla to the University of Arkansas campus in hopes of getting some pictures. It was a beautiful day and the trees are changing to beautiful shades of red, orange and gold so whether we got good pictures or not we enjoyed our time there. It always brings back such good memories and a warm, fuzzy feeling to be on campus, despite the fact that I feel ancient being surrounded by college kids!

We have a book called "Hello Big Red" that is about the Razorback mascot visiting different landmarks around campus. So, Cilla kept asking if we were going to see Big Red. I just think it is so sweet how literal and innocent these little ones are.

I got a few smiles, but I mostly captured the serious side of Cilla.

Such a sweet girl.

She is so busy and so inquisitive. Nothing gets past this girl! She wanted to know who was inside so she kept peeking in the windows!

We had fun so much fun walking around campus on such a beautiful fall day!

Little Lady Bug

2011-11-01T15:41:00.002-05:00

This year, Cilla was a little Lady Bug for Halloween. After last year (she wouldn't even put on her costume!!!) I didn't put too much thought or worry into what she would wear. But when I came across the lady bug costume with a tutu, I was hoping it would be a grand slam. Turns out it was. She loved trotting around in it and I thought she was super duper cute!

Sunday night, we went to a Fall Festival at the U of A Campus. A local church does this every year and they do the best job. They have pony rides, a cow train, bounce houses and slides, lots of games and candy and they provide dinner to every person that comes.

I told Cilla she was my Little Lady Bug and she said, "No, Mommy I'm Big Girl Lady Bug!"

Our little Big Girl Lady Bug with two of her besties: Paigey and Avery.

They were so cute holding hands.

The Pony Rides were a hit!

And so was the Cow Train.

All smiles!

On Halloween night, we had some of our friends over for dinner and trick-or-treating.

We only had six littles and it was a lot of craziness!

Lilly, Reid, Stella, Emerson, Cilla and Hannah

I love these two sooooooo much!

Cilla's first time trick-or-treating.

Sweet little chick, Emerson. She was so good and patient.

I tried to recreate these cute little things that I saw on Pinterest, but mine were not nearly as cute!

The Kaundart's.

Just the three of us.

I am not a big fan of Halloween, but seeing all the smiles on Cilla's face made it so much fun this year!

And she was the cutest little Big Girl Lady Bug I ever did see!

I had to leave on a funny note...I happened to take a glimpse at the TV on Halloween morning and saw that the hosts of the Today Show were all dressed up as the Royals from Will and Kate's wedding! I thought it was hilarious and very clever!

That just made me laugh. Especially the cousins!

The Princess and The Pumpkin

2011-10-31T08:14:00.002-05:00

Once again, I have found myself with so much to write about and so little time. We have literally gone nonstop since last Thursday when daddy left for Nashville. In fact, Thursday was so hectic and I knew the weekend would be jammed packed, so Cilla and I curled up in my bed on Thursday night for a girls' night. We put on our jammies. We watched Dumbo. And we ate popcorn for dinner! That's right! And as much fun as we have had over the last few days, it was probably the sweetest moments we shared all weekend. I just love that Cilla girl. She talks non stop and it so witty, but she is so tender-hearted all at the same time. But, enough about that, on to the fun stuff!

After a little play time with our friends, lunch and Nana and Poppa's arrival in town we headed to Chick-fil-A Friday evening for Princess and Superhero night! It was CRAZY but so so fun to see all the little cuties dressed up and enjoying themselves!

Some of our friends were there, too! Princess Stella, who Cilla has started referring to as her BFF, along with Princess Cilla! Oh dear! I can only imagine what it will be like with a twelve year old! Cilla has also mastered the chin to the shoulder move when she smiles. Again, OH DEAR!

There was nail painting. Face painting. Balloon flowers for the girls and balloon swords for the boys. I just love Chick-Fil-A. Besides the fact that I genuinely like their food, their service is impeccable and I greatly appreciate their commitment to the family.

Cilla with another sweet friend, Lilly. Lilly goes to church with us and is in Cilla's class at school. So, these two spend a lot of time together. Cilla's report home from school last Thursday read, "Had a fun day with Lilly." Not sure exactly what that meant, but I love that she is making friends.

Saturday, we set out to Farmland Adventures. I hated to miss watching Arkansas play Vandy, but let's face it, that doesn't really ever happen with a two year old anyway!

Turns out, we made the right decision. The game stunk and Farmland was a blast!

Cilla loved petting all the animals. I am pretty sure this girl has never met an animal she didn't like!

Petting the goats.....

...and the ponies.

Taking it all in.

Then we took a ride on the wagon that was pulled by this beauty!

"Farmer Jed", as Cilla called this man, let her hop on Andy the cow! We have a book about a farmer and his name is Farmer Jed. She has a big imagination, but probably couldn't come up with that on her own just yet!

Cilla loved playing in the corn.

And we couldn't leave without pictures in the pumpkins! My little Pumpkin!

Before you are a mom, you dream about your kids taking Christmas card pictures and pictures with Santa and their Halloween costumes and Easter dresses- the list could go on and on. One thing I have always loved are kids at the pumpkin patch! And now, after having a little one, I know that those things do not always go according to plan. Cilla wouldn't let me put her down last year to take her picture with a pumpkin. And look at her now. Hamming it up! What a difference a year makes!

I have always called her my little pumpkin! And, what a sweet one she is!

Razorbacks and Rangers

2011-10-25T08:14:00.001-05:00

Over the weekend Flint and I, along with some of our sweet friends the Kaundart's, took a road trip to Oxford, Mississippi- one of our favorite college towns. We tell everyone you have to experience Ole Miss and the Grove (on game day) at least once in your lifetime. It really is the biggest, most elaborate tailgate party you ever will see!!!

Of course, we immediately started stuffing ourselves shortly after arriving in Oxford. We had breakfast at The Beacon, an Oxford original.

Then we headed over to the Grove to get the party started.

Words and pictures really don't do it justice. You have to see it to believe it!

We got to spend a little time with Flint's family in Memphis. Then Cilla and I headed to Nana and Poppa's house and Flint headed to Texas for game 4 of the World Series.

Another item checked off of the bucket list. Flint and Peter enjoying a Ranger victory.

We all reunited in Little Rock and made the trip back home together.

Cilla and Katie are little travel buddies. How uncomfortable does Katie look?!

Four states. Two victories. One weekend.

Tuesday

2011-10-20T08:06:00.000-05:00

Tuesday I had my discipleship class and just like every other week, I was so encouraged and so blessed. This week Michelle Duggar came to speak to our group and she brought along her oldest daughters and her daughter-in-love, Anna, as she calls her!

I wrote about hearing Michelle speak once before.

She spoke about many of the same topics from training your children, instilling Godly character and discipline. What mother can't learn a little something in that area of their life?! I feel like I take it all in like a sponge. I certainly do not agree with everything that the Duggar family does. But, one thing is for sure. They love their Savior. I am so thankful that Michelle takes time out of her busy schedule, and if you ever hear her speak about training her children, you would know just how busy this momma is. I get exhausted just listening to her. But, I am so blessed from hearing her.

Here is our group with Michelle and her oldest daughters.

I don't know how she does it. I seriously have darker circles under my eyes and more wrinkles than she does! And I only have ONE!

Such a sweet lady!

After we got home, Cilla took a two and a half hour nap. Then she took a three hour nap yesterday! We are turning a new leaf at the Harris house!

Fruit Salsa and Porcupine Meatballs

2011-10-19T16:22:00.006-05:00

You may remember me talking about the yummy food from Hannah's birthday party. Well, here is a recipe that is too yummy not to share! This refreshing fruit salsa is perfect for birthday parties, BBQs, tailgate parties, or baby showers...you name it. I think it originally a pampered chef recipe but it can be found on on allrecipes and apparently it is one of their all-time highest ranked recipes.

Fruit Salsa with Baked Cinnamon Chips

2 kiwis, peeled and diced

2 Golden Delicious apples - peeled, cored and diced

1 (16 oz) carton of strawberries, diced
(I think you could add about any fruit you wanted or anything in season and it would be delicious!)

2 tablespoons white sugar (more or less to taste)

1 tablespoon brown sugar (more or less to taste)

3 tablespoons fruit preserves, any flavor (I prefer strawberry)

Cinnamon Chips:
10 (10 inch) flour tortillas

melted butter or butter flavored cooking spray

1 cup white sugar

2 Tablespoons cinnamon

1. In a large bowl, thoroughly mix fruit, white sugar, brown sugar and fruit preserves. Cover and chill in the refrigerator at least 15 minutes.

2. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

3. Coat one side of each flour tortilla with melted butter or butter flavored cooking spray. Sprinkle tortillas with desired amount of cinnamon sugar. Cut into wedges and arrange in a single layer on a large baking sheet. Spray again with cooking spray (not necessary if using melted butter).

4. Bake in the preheated oven 8 to 10 minutes. Repeat with any remaining tortilla wedges. Allow to cool approximately 15 minutes.

Serve with chilled fruit mixture. This salsa can also be served with cinnamon graham crackers (which I think is just as DELICIOUS!) or cinnamon pita chips.

Best when made and eaten the same day otherwise the fruit gives off so too much juice and it gets runny.

Speaking of yummy recipes.....

Another of our family favorites was featured as HolyTurf's Tasty Tuesday this week. You are gonna want to to take a looksy at this one and mark it to try with your family.

It is Y.U.M.M.Y!

click here for the recipe

Porcupine Meatballs served over mashed potatoes.

My mouth is watering right this second!

Story Books, Bumble Bees and Diego

2011-10-17T16:18:00.003-05:00

We had another packed-full-of-fun weekend.

And this might be my favorite picture from the entire weekend!

Cilla wanted her picture with Katie. She would say, "Pretty as a princess!" I just think they are precious!

Nana and Poppa were here again this weekend. We love having them in town and all the extra loving that we get! Cilla was scheduled to go to Friday Night Out at our church on Friday night. But, she was acting a little under the weather, she got to hang out with the adults. We went to Feltner Brothers, a new burger joint in town and I think Cilla was glad she got to tag along.

Saturday morning, headed to Noah's Story Book birthday party. It was at his beautiful farmhouse and it was the sweetest party! Cilla had so much fun playing outside with all of her little friends.

She loves both of these little friends- Ava and Adeline

Noah got lots and lots of books.....

and I think he loved every single one of them!

After Noah's party, we ran a couple of errands and tried to squeeze in a nap because Cilla had Hannah's Bouncy Bumble Bee birthday party Saturday afternoon.

Brody. Seriously, one of the funniest little guys I know!

The Birthday Girl, Hannah!

Stacey, Hannah's mommy outdid herself with this one! It was so cute and the food was so yummy!

Cilla's little friends.

Hannah. Anna Kate. Cilla. Stella.
Love them all!

How cute is this little gal?!?!

Our friends Jennifer and Jillian.

After the birthday party, we headed home for a little relaxing and football.

Cilla and Poppa blew bubbles. Cilla got bubbles at both birthday parties and she was so excited about them. Poor baby. Never gets to blow bubbles!

She helped Nana make Chicken and Dumplings for dinner! Yum! Cilla cut her dumplings out in the shape of hearts! Even yummier!!!

And then she got dressed and ready to taste test!

Sunday was filled with church. Lunch at one of our favs, The Catfish Hole. And our cousin Max's Diego birthday party!

Here's the birthday boy!

Family.

Cilla loved loved loved playing with her cousins. She thought she was as big as they were!

Cilla and Emily

Natalie, Emily and Cilla.
They were so sweet to her and they all played so well together!

I am pretty sure I need a weekend to rest after this weekend!

But it sure was fun!

Lunch Date and Play Date

2011-10-16T15:58:00.000-05:00

Thursday, while Cilla was at Mother's Day Out, I had the sweetest lunch with my discipleship group. Mrs. Trudy, my mentor, had the sweetest fall lunch planned for our group at her beautiful home. I just love this group of ladies and am so thankful that God brought them into my life. Of course, I didn't get any pictures. The story of my life! But, the sweet time I had with them is hidden in my heart.

Friday, our dear friends, Melissa, Caedmon and Honor came into town and we had a play date with them. We have been missing our sweet friends since they moved away this past summer. I didn't get many pictures. It was pure craziness with about 11 mommies and 20 kids!

I did get these little sweeties all dressed up. It is funny how the little girls just have a radar for the crowns, bracelets, necklaces and sunglasses!

Cilla and Gigi. Anna Kate. Hannah.

I managed to snap this quick shot of Xander taking care of business on his mom's phone! Isn't he precious!?

We went to Chick-fil-A afterward with our friends and then headed home to squeeze in a nap before Nana and Poppa arrived for the weekend.

And this was all before the weekend ever got started.

Sugar and Spice

2011-10-13T10:17:00.001-05:00

This little pumpkin makes my fall so sweet. I just love her to pieces!

This little cup of sweetness is something that I look forward to all year long! Yum yum Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte! I know it is not the most appropriate summer bev, but come'on Starbucks I would love it all year round!

And even though this is not edible, it smells like it should be. I burn this all fall and it just makes me happy! It pleases my palate and is a whole lot less calories that the real deal!

Ahhhhh...just a few of the simple pleasures of fall!

The Fair

2011-10-12T07:59:00.000-05:00

So, I am still catching up on some of the fun things we have been up to this fall.

A few weeks ago, we went the county fair here in our area. Not to ride the rides, but to see all the farm animals. It was super duper hot outside, but it was still a huge hit with the kiddos.

Cilla is still partial to the goats!

Always making a new friend!

Reid.

Laci.

Cilla, Laci, Paigey and Avery petting the cows!

Lilly's favorite animal was the stick horse.

Sweet girl.

Cilla loves loves loves animals and loves being with her friends.

It was a fun day!

Food Swap

2011-10-10T21:17:00.000-05:00

In leau of Mmmm, Mmmm Monday I thought I would post about the food swap I recently took part in with some of my girlfriends. I must say, it is a little bit of work up front, but hopefully it will payoff over the next month!

There were five gals that took part and we each made two recipes. We made five portions of each recipe making a total of 10 meals.

I made Homemade Lasagna and Chicken Enchiladas.

We all met at our friend, Sara's house to trade meals. I received Taco Soup, Turkey and Black Bean Chili, Chicken Spaghetti, Homemade Spaghetti Sauce with Meat, Southwestern Egg Rolls, Three Cheese Baked Pasta, Taco Meat and Chicken Chili.

You might notice that I have six of each dish I made. I had one extra of each to take to another family.

One tip that I got from the internet was to cover the metal pans with Press'N Seal then cover the pans with foil. That helps to preserve the quality when in the freezer.

I labeled the top of each dish and wrote out the cooking instructions...all in permanent marker of course!

And Viola! Ten less nights in the kitchen!

Here is my Lasagna recipe. It really is yummy. Flint says it is his favorite Lasagna.....ever. I think that is a pretty bold statement, but he swears by it. He is not a fan of Ricotta which most Lasagna recipes call for, but this recipe just calls for Mozzarella.

I have to give credit where credit is due. This recipe originally came from my friend, Hillary several years ago. I have made a few adjustments, but it is a home run and is a staple recipe around our house.

Homemade Lasagna

1 pound Mild Sausage

1 pound Ground Beef

1 package Oven Ready Lasagna Noodles

16 ounces Tomato Sauce

2 large cans Diced Tomatoes

2 packages Spaghetti Seasoning

2 packages Lasagna Cheese

(I have trouble finding this sometimes, so I just use grated Mozzarella)

Cook Sausage and cook Ground Beef.

Put meat, tomato sauce, canned tomatoes and seasoning into a large pot. You may also want to add some garlic to the mixture. Simmer about 45 minutes.

Layer noodles, cheese and sauce. I usually repeat this three times making it a total of nine layers. Bake at 350 degrees for about an hour or until it is hot and bubbly.

Okay, I need some good ideas for freezer meals for the next time. I vowed to myself to not make such labor intensive dishes next time. I thought of Poppy Seed Chicken, King Ranch Chicken and my Italian Vegetable Soup. BUT, I am open to other ideas!

My Cup Overflows

2011-10-10T08:04:00.000-05:00

It was, once again, a busy weekend. That seems to be how we like things and how we thrive!

Friday night, Cilla went to Friday Night Out at our church and Flint and I had a night out with friends! Some of our dear friends, Candice and Tim, were having dinner out and finding out the gender of their family's newest little blessing. I have to say, I have been invited to gender reveal parties, but this is the first one that I have been able to attend. And it was so so fun!

Proud Mommy and Daddy!

The big reveal......

everyone at our table cheered with joy and everyone in the restaurant turned to see what the excitement was about!

It's a BOY!

Saturday night, daddy went to cheer on our Hogs to a 38-14 victory over the Auburn Tigers!!! Wooo Pigs! But the girls had more important things to do....like play princesses with our friends!

Our friends, Sydney, Stella and Emerson invited us over to watch a little football (like that ever happens at this phase of life!), eat dinner and play since the daddies were at the game.

These two little messes had so much fun playing together! Cilla never wants to leave Stella's house!

Once we got out the princess dresses, the mommies got a little time to visit and watch the game.

Our Royalty, Calling those Hogs!

Once again, I didn't get any pictures, but Nana and Poppa were in town for the weekend and we got to see the Clemons clan for Sunday morning brunch.

-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-

I have bunches of pictures that I have not posted, so I wanted to play a little catch up.

I kept Laci a couple of weeks ago, and the girls helped me make a cake! Such little helpers!

Their favorite part of all was licking the bowl...and why not?!?!

Yummy!

Here are the two crazies at the park.

We were so excited to welcome Baby Jake to the world a couple of weeks ago. Our dear friends Josh and Kelli lived with us from May to the end of September and little Jake was born just days after Josh and Kelli moved out! So, we were super excited to welcome him!

He is just perfect in every way!

Josh and Kelli did not know whether they were having a boy or a girl so it was even more exciting to celebrate Baby Jake's arrival!!

Dough family party of 3!

Fall is always a busy time around the Harris house, but we love our time with our precious friends. We are so grateful for the little blessings that God has blessed us with.

My cup overflows!

Go Hogs!

2011-10-08T16:43:00.002-05:00

I love living in a college town that is so insanely excited about game day. Everywhere you turn there is red, white and Hogs!!! Today our Razorbacks take on the Auburn Tigers here at home! It is a BIG day! The atmosphere is electric and we have one little fan cheering them on! She probably will not see the outcome tonight since the game does not kickoff until 6 PM. But she is dressed and ready to go and I am confident that she will hold out tonight as long as I will let her!

She insisted on the crown with the cheer outfit! Why not?
Future Homecoming Queen?!

Admiring her reflection.

She thought she was pretty stink'in cute...and so did her momma!

Wooooo Pig Sooie!

Go Hogs. Beat the Tigers.

Wet Cement

2011-10-06T01:12:00.000-05:00

I have been going to a women's discipleship class at our church this fall and I must say, it has done my heart good!

Thus far, we have talked about God's plan for our spiritual life, for our marriage, and for raising children. Of course each one of the topics hits home. I don't know about you, but I often feel convicted about the time I give to God and the time I give to my husband during the season of life known as raising a little one.

Tuesday, one of the Women's Directors from our church spoke about family values and raising our kids. Gina said several things that really sank down deep. She talked continually about how raising little ones is like having wet cement. You have this cement. You pour it and can form it relatively easy while it is wet. But, the longer it sits out, the harder it gets. Eventually, it is rock solid. Then to make changes is much much more difficult. You have to chisel away and this is a much slower and harder process than forming it to begin with.
WOW! To compare this to raising kids certainly makes me look at each hour of my day. Each activity that we are involved in. The people my daughter is around. If that doesn't make you think about how intentional you are with your kids, I don't know what will! As parents we are only given a few short years to mold our babies into little people who radiate Godly character. After that, they are like "hard cement" and to make changes is like chiseling away cement....a slow and painful process. I am pretty sure no job is as important as investing in my kiddo. No meeting is more important. No TV show is more important. Twitter or Facebook are not more important. This blog or any other blog is certainly not more important. Where am I spending the bulk of my time?
Gina challenged us mommies to think ahead to what we want our little ones to be like as big people. Since, after all, the TRAINING starts now.

Train up a child in the way he should go,
Even when he is old he will not depart from it.
Proverbs 22:6

This is not a new concept to me but it is good to see things in a new light. And it does a momma good to be reminded sometimes.
So, as difficult as I think it is some days to deal with the "terrible two's", which by the way I think are so wonderful in many ways. I choose now! I choose, with everything in me, to point my daughter toward Christ. I choose to guard her heart from as much ick in this world as I possibly can.
Do I think this is easy? NO. Am I naive enough to think that I will never make mistakes along the way? Absolutely not! But, I know one thing for sure. I do not want to look back on these formidable years with regret.
God has blessed Flint and I with the greatest gift and with that comes great responsibly. So for now, I am working on forming my wet cement.

Know therefore that the LORD your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commandments.
Deuteronomy 7:9

DFW

2011-10-04T07:58:00.000-05:00

This past weekend we loaded up the car and all five of us, yes our two dogs in tow, headed to Fort Worth. Not only were our Hogs taking on the Texas A&M Aggies in Jerry World, but we get to spend time with Pappy and Susu and some of our dear friends.

On Saturday, Cilla refused to put anything red on. I took several choices for her and nothing would suit her but to wear pink. So, here is her game day attire. That's right, pink butterfly dress!!! Nothing cheers Go Hogs, Beat the Aggies like pink with butterflies!

These are some pictures from a trip to the park. I took Cilla Saturday evening after we returned to Fort Worth from our day trek to Dallas. She had the best time and made four new little friends and how random that two happen to be the daughters of a girl that Flint used to ride in carpool with growing up. After striking up a conversation with the parents, we quickly realized that I was Flint's wife and that I had just run into two of his childhood friends! It is a small world!

Cilla was so cute with the little girls. She would ask them, "What's your name?" Then one of them asked her how old she is and here she is holding up her fingers.

"TWO!"

This little gal loves the swing!!!

And since I failed at picture taking over the weekend, I thought I would do bullets of all the fun our weekend was jam packed with!

*Flint and I got to see one of our besties from Waco. Katie and her BF Todd, who Flint worked with at Baylor and I had never met, drove to Fort Worth to have dinner with us! Oh so sweet to have time with our friends! Pappy and Susu kept the munchkin and we had a fun dinner out at one of our favorites- Joe T's!!!

*After a late night party at Pappy's casa, as in our two year did not go to bed until 11:30 PM, we helped Pappy celebrate his birthday a little late with lunch at Rivercrest.

*Flint and I were blessed with and spoiled with another night out with friends. We joined Corby and Peter, two near and dear friends, for dinner at Railhead. Does is sound like all we have done thus far is eat?!?!

*Flint experienced Aggie Midnight Yell practice. Not sure what else to say about this!

*Cilla and I got to make a day trip to the Big D to see my bestie, Laura, and her family. We got to meet her precious precious almost two month old baby boy who I have been dying to get my hands on. We also enjoyed a couple of our Dallas favs- Bubba's and JD's Chippery!

Pure Chaos!

As usual, our visit was a little chaotic and not nearly long enough. But that just makes us enjoy our time away from being mommies and the girls' weekends away that much more special!

Oh, and Cilla and I managed to squeezed in a teeny tiny bit of shopping!

*Of course Flint headed to Arlington, with Peter, to watch the Hogs take on the Aggies. Wooo Pig Sooie!

*Flint did a great job covering the weekend.

Check it out on HolyTurf.

*Oh yes, and the HOGS WON!

*Cilla cried when we started packing up and loading the car. She wanted to stay at Pappy and Susu's. Despite the long trip, we will be making a trip back soon! We always love our time in DFW.

Mmmm, Mmmm Monday: Apple Dumpling

2011-10-03T15:42:00.000-05:00

This is another Harris family favorite and it is a super duper fall dessert. This recipe is a deviation from Pioneer Woman's dumpling recipe. We have it down to an art and it is perfection, if I do say do myself! Eat it at your own risk!!!

Apple Dumpling

2 whole Granny Smith Apples

2 cans (8 Oz. Cans) Crescent Rolls

1 stick Butter

1 1/2 cup Sugar

1 teaspoon Vanilla

2 teaspoons Cinnamon

1 can (12 Oz.) Mountain Dew Soda

Preparation

Peel and core apples. Cut each apple into 8 slices each. Roll each apple slice in a crescent roll. Place in a 9 x 13 buttered pan.

Melt butter, then add sugar and cinnamon, stir. Will be thick and grainy. Add vanilla, stir, and pour entire mixture over apples. Pour Mountain Dew over the dumplings. Bake at 350 degrees for 35 to 40 minutes. Serve with Blue Bell Homemade Vanilla ice cream, and spoon some of the sweet sauces from the pan over the top.

You will not be disappointed!!!

You Make Everything Glorious!

2011-09-27T16:11:00.000-05:00

The last few weeks have been absolutely beautiful here. I know I sound like a broken record, but after a really hot summer (hot according to Northwest Arkansas standards) I am so so thankful that God is blessing us with beautiful weather and dear dear friends to enjoy it with.

We have been spending lots of time outside. Lots! After being cooped up for a lot of the summer it is wonderful to be outside!
One of Cilla's favorite things to do lately has been having picnics! She has loved picnics with one of her besties, Laci. We have packed a lunch and snacks (of course) and headed to the park for the entire morning. You just can't do that in July!

I keep finding myself humming the David Crowder song, "Everything Glorious". Not that I do not always feel that I serve a BIG God who does wonderful things for me and my family each and every day. I believe, without a doubt, that God loves me beyond comprehension and blesses me far more than I deserve. But, sometimes I feel like God gives us simple things, like beautiful weather, to remind us of how He cares about the little details in our lives, too! And just to think that I am HIS and HE is mine.
Now that is worth singing about!

The day is brighter here with You
The night is lighter than its hue
Would lead me to believe
Which leads me to believe

You make everything glorious
You make everything glorious
You make everything glorious
And I am Yours

My eyes are small but they have seen
the beauty of enormous things
Which leads me to believe
there's light enough to see that

You make everything glorious
You make everything glorious
You make everything glorious
And I am Yours

Happy Fall, Y'all!

2011-09-26T07:43:00.000-05:00

Fall is in full swing here in Northwest Arkansas and we are LOVING it!

I have a picture that is too cute not to share!

Last week, my friend, Sydney, kept Cilla while I attended a Junior League meeting. While I was sitting in my meeting, I got a text with this picture.....

The first text read, "Future Junior Leaguers?" I busted out laughing and I am sure no one appreciated it!

Then she resent it and it read, "Princess Flint and Princess Tom!" Which made me laugh even harder!!! Those are their daddies and both girls look so much like their daddies! LOVE THEM! They are such sweet little friends!

Tis the Season

2011-09-20T16:03:00.002-05:00

It is that time of year for us! Football and birthdays fill our weekends!

This past weekend Nana and Poppa came to town for the Razorback game so we got some quality time with them. We love when Nana and Poppa come into town to love on us and spoil us!

We have also been busy celebrating our friends.

This past weekend we celebrated sweet Jillian's first birthday. This little girl is seriously the definition of a living doll. She is beautiful and sweet and we loved helping her celebrate! Her party was so dainty and cute.

Her mommy thought of every little detail. It was so cute and so personalized. Check out Jennifer's blog for more on Jillian's party!

Cilla supervising the birthday girl while she works a puzzle.

Then the bigs took over opening presents! Little Jillian was not doing it fast enough to suit them!

How cute is Harper munching on a cookie?!?!
One thing I love about birthday parties is seeing our friends whom we don't get to see often enough. Cilla and Harper are a lot alike, so I always love exchanging parenting stories with Kelly and just visiting with her too.

Welcome to the life of toddlers.

Cilla and her buddy Hannah.

Of course mine is the toddler getting into trouble.

Cilla decided she needed to adjust the lighting. This picture makes me laugh because it shows what happens when you turn your back for 20 seconds!

The weekend before last, we got to celebrate the birthdays of Lilly who turned 3 and Reid who turned 2.

It was a beach themed party, and oh my goodness, Sara thought of everything to make the party perfect! And it was perfect all the way down to the weather!

Sara had beach cupcakes and jumping dolphins in jello! The banner was made from letters written in the sand and there were balloons covering the ceiling over the food. Seriously, EVERY. SINGLE. DETAIL. was thought through!

Some of the food was served in beach pails and shovels were used as serving spoons! Genius! Each food item was named something cute and the food labels were sea creatures made from the kids' hand prints. Love!

As usual, Cilla didn't love all the craziness and the crowd, but she still managed to have some fun with all her little friends.

Cilla loves her friends Hannah and Stella.

The birthday boy chowing down!

And for all of you who always comment on how Cilla is always put together and looks so cute, here is proof that we live a normal life with toddler and I get tired of fighting battles, too! It was a huge fight to get her to put on the hog dress since it is red and not pink! Too bad the University of Arkansas colors aren't pink and purple!!! Oh yes, and her hair...that is a whole post of it's own! And have I mentioned that she went to this birthday party barefoot?!?! Because she did! Because this momma didn't have it in her to fight over shoes! Oh, and two days before, she face planted on the concrete! So, just like your house, we have our own battles!

Like I said, we love when the Grands come to town.

Look at this face!!! Doesn't she just look spoiled and loved down to the core?!?!

I love this picture of Cilla laughing at her Poppa! So cute!

We have been trying to soak up every ounce of this fall-like weather!

Our weekends have been full. But they have been fun!

Tailgate Extravaganza and Gameday Gear

2011-09-16T14:32:00.003-05:00

It is not out of the ordinary for Ole Miss fans to empty their dining rooms of their finest. Drag it all out to The Grove. Hire someone to setup (including the chandelier), serve , and watch the tent all day. They party into the wee hours of the morning. Then they take it all back home and do it again the next weekend. Not too shabby!

But, that is not the reality for most people.

I love a good tailgate party. And there is so much out there these days to put that special little touch on your party- no matter how big or small and no matter your budget.

This past weekend, my Razorbacks played at home away in Little Rock (figure that one out!) So, the Harris house decided to throw a little shindig to watch and celebrate from home in Fayetteville!

I shared some of my favorite details from our party on HolyTurf.

Click here to see more

So, I had big intentions of making one of these, but when I found one in a local store, I knew that would save me several hours! And this one is way cuter than mine would have been!

I did, however, make this burlap banner. Can you tell I am loving burlap?!?!

Some of you may remember this post: TV and Modeling-Fail

This time last year, my friend Randi launched a website that has all things you would need for college game day. Here are a some of the cute "big girl" items. But they also have super duper cute stuff for the littles.

Last year Cilla was asked to do some modeling for Passionately Rivalicious and it was a train wreck! She was super cute in all of her Hog gear, but she was very overwhelmed and was just being a nineteen month old.

Look at this little girl. What a difference a year makes.

Well, Passionately Rivalicious is have an awesome giveaway.

You can win a $100 gift card to their site!!!

Today is the last day to get in on the giveaway, so act fast!!!

Go here to HolyTurf,

the details on how to get entered!

Drama Queens

2011-09-14T16:58:00.002-05:00

Today, I kept our friend Laci and I thought it would be fun to take both girls to jump at our local play zone.

This little girl was a MESS!

She didn't want to put her socks on to bounce. She wanted to sit in my lap, play at the water fountains and play on the rocking horses. She has such a mind of her own. Sometimes I wonder why I even bother!

Laci tried to get Cilla to put her socks on and go slide with her, but Cilla just threw a fit.

I told you...such a MESS!!!

Other than that, it was a fun morning. These two are two peas in a pod and I feel sorry for any teacher that has them in class together!

Mmmm, Mmmm Monday: Caramelized Onion Dip and Queso

2011-09-12T15:56:00.000-05:00

I have been drooling over the Caramelized Onion Dip since Kelly shared it, so I decided to make it for our tailgate party over the weekend. It was love at first taste!

Caramelized Onion Dip
2 large yellow onions
4 tablespoons unsalted butter
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1/4 teaspoon ground cayenne pepper
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
1 teaspoon balsamic vinegar
4 ounces cream cheese, room temperature
1/2 cup sour cream
1/2 cup mayonnaise

Cut the onions in half and then slice them into 1/8-inch-thick half-rounds. (Yielding about 3 cups of onions)
Heat the oil and the butter in a large sauté pan over medium high heat (it works better to NOT use a non-stick pan). Add the onions, cayenne, salt and pepper and sauté for 10 minutes. Reduce the heat to medium low and continue to cook for 40 more minutes, stirring occasionally (but not too often-the onions should start to stick to the pan) until the onions are browned and caramelized. Add the Dijon mustard and balsamic vinegar and continue to cook for about 10 more minutes. The onions will turn dark because of the Balsamic Vinegar. Allow the onions to cool.Combine the cream cheese, sour cream and the mayonnaise. Whisk until smooth. Add the onions into the cream cheese mixture. Stir to combine. Refrigerate overnight to allow flavors to combine. Serve at room temperature with potato chips. I used Kettle Chips and it was YUMMY!

I also made queso for our football party, because, well, football and queso just go together!!! So in honor, I thought I would share my recipe. It is super simple, but it is always popular with the crowd!

Queso
Large block of Velveeta
1 can of Chili (no beans)
1 can of Tamales
1 can of Rotel

Cut Velveeta into small pieces and put into a large microwavable bowl. Add Chili. Mash Tamales and add to cheese mixture. Add Rotel. Microwave until cheese is melted and serve with your favorite dipping chips. I think it is exceptionally good with homemade tortilla chips. But it is yummy with Tostitos Scoops or Fritos!

We Remember

2011-09-11T17:31:00.000-05:00

I can't believe it has been 10 years.

Just like everyone else, I remember that morning. I remember exactly where I was. And I remember my world stopping that September day.

I will always remember the events that changed our world forever. I will also never forget the lives that were lost and the brave men and women who stepped up that day and in the days thereafter. Rather than accepting defeat, they showed we are a strong nation. They exemplified what it means to be an American. Because of 9/11, I have a pride for our country and appreciation for our serve people that I will carry with me for the rest of my life.

"With the distance of a decade, 9/11 can feel like a part of a different era, but for the families of the men and women stolen...that day will never feel like history,"

-President George W. Bush

This boy is rubbing his dad's name from the memorial at Ground Zero. That touches my heart so deeply. So many innocent lives affected by such evil acts.

These images still move me to tears.

We remember.

Hair Bow Hanger and Door Wreaths

2011-09-08T16:28:00.000-05:00

I recently went on search for the best way to keep all of Cilla's hair bows in one place. We had bows everywhere.....until recently!

I have seen several cute ideas for hanging bows. So this is what I came up with.

I took what looked like an old frame, but it was new at Hobby Lobby.

Stapled chicken wire, which can be found at any home improvement store, to the back. I bought a small roll of the wire for just a couple of dollars at Lowe's.

Finally, I stapled thick ribbon to the back. I wanted to be sure it was strong enough to hold the frame.

The back is not pretty. It is FULL of staples from the stable gun, but it works!
I had some questions about my Razorback door wreaths.
Basically, I just raided the Christmas section at Hobby Lobby for anything red and white or football.
The balls, footballs and the ribbon are actually Christmas decor! That is the good things about being red and white!
The Hogs are magnets and I just used hot glue to secure them to the wreath. You could probably find these at your team's store or your university's bookstore. And lastly, the "Go Hogs" are just decals that I stuck to red card stock. That is why they are a little bent. Then I used hot glue to secure those as well. Not the best option for being out in the weather, but they held up all last fall. So, I have faith

And there you have it.
I want to see your wreaths! Please share!

Princess Potty

2011-09-06T15:23:00.000-05:00

One day my daughter will be so embarrassed about this, but I want to have some sort of record of Cilla potty training, so this seems like the perfect place.

Cilla has been wearing big girl panties since Sunday (for the most part) and she is doing quite well! I will admit, I have been dreading the potty training stage and might add that I still dread what is ahead,. But, she is ready and ready or not, Mommy, here we go! She has had a few accidents, but that is going to happen. Our biggest struggle is that she wants to wear the big girl panties, but doesn't want to get on the potty. So......we pulled out a book that Cilla's friend Laci gave her called "Princess Potty" and it has worked like a charm. The book is hilarious and each time we have a successful trip to the potty, a "jewel", otherwise known as a sticker, gets to be added to the princess tiara!

Viola! Our little Princess on the potty!

Can you believe this face?

A must have for little girls!

We have been taking it slow because that seems to be the best method for us. I know everyone has their opinions about this. We still have a little way to go, but at least we are going in the right direction!

Does anyone have any good tips? I sure would appreciate them!

Family Ties

2011-09-05T21:39:00.001-05:00

Saturday, Cilla and I got up early and headed to my grandparents little town for a little family get-together.

I am surprised I had not been disowned, since it had been so long since I had seen that side of my family. Traveling with a toddler is just not as easy as it used to be. But, I was so glad that we made the trip. I got to see my grandpa whom I am sick I did not get a picture with. It is always good to see family and catch up and Cilla actually met some of her distant cousins and instantly became besties with them!

Cilla and Mazy

Marleigh, Cilla and Mazy.

Cilla enjoying a the lov'in from her Aunt Vicky and Uncle William

He even got suckered into pushing her in the swing!

Cilla insited on wearing her new Razorback Team Squeaks. I normally take the squeakers out of her shoes before she wears them, but this time I forgot. She loved jumping around and hearing herself squeak all day long! It was so cute!

We didn't get to stay very long because we were hurrying back to Northwest Arkansas for the Razorback game. It was a fun quick trip.

Wooo Pig Sooie

2011-09-03T23:47:00.000-05:00

It is here, it is finally here!!!

We love the Arkansas Razorbacks at our house and we were super duper excited to kick off football season on Saturday.

Flint went to Texas to see the Baylor game and the LSU game (double yay for both of their wins!!!) My parents came to town for the Razorback game and Nana graciously volunteered to let me use her ticket so she could stay with Cilla!

We tried to get a pic before leaving for the game, but somebody (not gonna name any names) was not having any of it!

This was the biggest smile we could get out of her...she was trying to lock her Momma, her Nana and her Poppa outside. Little Stinker!!!

This sight just gives me chill bumps. I love walking down the hill and seeing our stadium fill up with rowdy fans.

My dad's tickets are on the front row and although some may not prefer this for watching the game, no doubt you are right in the action.

{Sue E.}

{The Pom Squad}

{Calling the Hogs!}

{Taking the Field}

{A Little Football}

Oh, and we won! It was a fun day!

Go Hogs!

I Heart Football

2011-08-31T10:36:00.002-05:00

It is that time of the year. Besides Christmastime with my family, nothing makes me feel more warm and fuzzy than football season.

I love high school football.

But even more, I love college football. I love the pride fans have. I love how it runs deep in family trees. I love crazy fans painted in their team's colors. I love little old ladies in their 25 year old hats adorned with their team logos and charms and feathers. I love little guys in football jerseys and little sweethearts in team colored tutus. I love that toddlers learn to say their parents' team name right along with their first words. I love extravagant tailgate parties. I love student sections. I love when teams run out on the field and you get goosebumps because the atmosphere is so electric. I love Homecoming. I love ESPN College Gameday. I love living in a college town and the excitement that is in the air. I love it. I love it. I love it!

Since football season officially takes flight tomorrow, we are busy as bees getting ready. We had a quite little weekend last weekend as a family before life really gets crazy.

If you have followed my blog or know the Harris family, you have probably heard us talk about

Merry Football Christmas. It has become a little tradition around our house.

So, the wreaths are hung. The gifts are wrapped. And the yummy treats will soon be in the oven. I will share pics later.

I know, some may think we are crazy, and that is okay with me.

If you are like me, you like cute game day outfits. HolyTurf is having one great giveaway and one contest with a really great prize. I am linking both here so you don't miss out on either!

Go here to enter to win a dress up to $100 in value!

I love these dresses!!!

Go here to make your picks for a chance to win tickets to your team's bowl game!

I love decoration ideas or tailgate recipes so please- do share. What do you do around your house to celebrate football season?

I am so excited, I can hardly stand it!

Filled Days

2011-08-25T17:12:00.002-05:00

I have lots of random pictures I want to be sure to document. Our days have been filled the last few weeks.

Today we went to Cilla's "school" to meet her teachers for this year! I am excited for her to start back to school. I love spending my days with her in the summer, but it is always good to get back on a schedule and for her to have a better routine
They asked each kid to wear their favorite color and Cilla chose purple.

Already doing art projects!

I tried to get a picture before we left our house, but this was about the best I could get. Gigi in hand. Check. Blanket. Check. Bow ripped out. Check check.

The only way I could get her to not run the opposite direction from me was to agree to her request of taking my picture!

And here I am getting my picture made! Cheese!

We have been on the go the last couple of weeks. I have been trying to catch up on some projects and some house cleaning. In order to semi do this, our two year old has to have some sort of entertainment.

So, here is the party which we also call our entry way.

In case you couldn't see all the toys, here is another angle!

Whatever it takes some days!

These are the little "ice cream" brownie sundaes I made for baby Cooper's shower, who by the way is here and he is so sweet and cuddly! The leftovers have been in my freezer and Cilla just ate the last one! She has loved them!

Nap time has been a struggle the last week and a half. Actually, it has been non-existent! I am terribly afraid that we may be on the brink of being a no-nap family. I left Cilla "napping" at home one afternoon while Flint was working from home. I came home to this sign taped to the door. It is a spin off of the paper Cilla brings from "school" reporting her day. Last year, she often had the box next to "I was not sleepy today" checked. Which could not be further from the truth. We will see how it goes year!

Please tell me it is not normal for a two and a half year old to give up nap time and we are probably just in a funk. Please!!!

And just because I love these two little dearies and they do not get much face time on this blog...

Here are my first babies. I got a couple of sweet shots of them recently.

Sweet Sophie.

Katie Girl.

This is a lot of randomness. I feel like that is pretty much my life story these days!

Mmmm, Mmmm Monday: Best Chocolate Chip Cookies. EVER!

2011-08-22T16:48:00.000-05:00

Look at these faces, don't they look like this cookie dough is pure bliss?! I don't claim for this to be healthy, but it is delicious!!! I know everyone has a Chocolate Chip Cookie recipe in their recipe box, but this is seriously worth trying. I have made this recipe several times and I have yet to hear anything but delicious comments!

This recipe came from my Waco friend, Kimberly;) So, I am assuming she got the recipe from Mimi.

Mimi's Chocolate Chip Cookies

2/3 cup Crisco sticks

2/3 cup Butter (soft)

1 cup Sugar

1 cup Brown Sugar

2 Eggs

2 tsp. Vanilla

Mix these ingredients with beaters.

Stir in pecans or nuts (optional).

3 cups Flour

1 tsp. Soda

1 tsp. Salt

12 oz. bag of Chocolate Chips (I prefer Ghirardelli Milk Chocolate Chips)

Mix into other ingredients with a large mixing spoon.

Bake at 375 degrees for 8-10 minutes.

Serve warm with Blue Bell ice cream!

Never a Dull Moment

2011-08-21T23:16:00.005-05:00

This week has been crazy and busy and busy and crazy!

We have been on the go. Unfortunately, I did a horrible job of taking pictures. But, I have a few to share and I have a couple of stories that I have to document because I simply can't forget them!

Friday we had a little play date. My friends Lindsey, Katie and Candice came over so our four crazy two year olds could run off a little energy! Did they ever!!! It was a riot to watch them run and squeal and knock each other over the head with toys! Sound like fun?!?! In the mean time, Flint was at a Razorback football luncheon and according to the guys it was a lot of fun and we {the girls} should go next year!

So, back to my house. As nap time rapidly approached our friends started leaving so I turned on "Mickey" in my bedroom as a last ditch effort to get Cilla to sit still and calm down before her nap time. Great idea, right? Wrong. Here is where the story gets a little gross. *Disclaimer: I don't normally put this kind of grossness out there for everyone to read, but since I use this blog to document our life as the Harris family, I feel like I have to document the good, the bad and the ugly. And this will go down in the books as "The Ugly!" Back to the story. I was picking up and chatting with one of my mommy friends, Candice whose hubbie was also at the luncheon with Flint, when little Laci comes marching into the living room looking for some toilet paper. {You can probably guess where this is going.} Candice immediately ran into my bedroom, to find the bio-hazard zone. Cilla had a "dirty" diaper halfway off and "poo" was smeared all over my bed and upon closer observation all over both girls!!! WHAT. IN. THE. HECK?!?! Seriously, next year I am going to the football luncheon!!!

After fumigating the room, hosing down the girls and about four loads of laundry things were back to normal. Or as normal as normal can be! We bravely had Laci and her mommy over again tonight while the daddies were busy drafting their football teams.

We were off to a good start by making chocolate chip cookies!

And all was going well until the tots disappeared out to the deck and the mommies were in the kitchen cleaning up the cookies and making dinner. They reappear COVERED in sunscreen. Yep, that's right! It is ALL over both girls. ALL over the deck. ALL over everything in the line of fire! These two are NUTS!

Are we seeing a reoccurring trend, besides the fact that they need constant supervision?!?! I am pretty sure these two will be in lots of trouble together over the years. Heaven help us!

Like I said, never a dull moment! Never!

Are you Ready for Some Football?!?!

2011-08-19T10:17:00.003-05:00

We love football season at the Harris house! Let me rephrase that. We pretty much live and breath football all fall and pretty much wait the entire rest of the year for it to start back up. At least Flint does. I just love football.

Here are some of the lovlies I have found to help make game day complete!

Time is ticking away. Hurry and enter the Giveaway for one of two items from Gameday Girl Stuff!

Go to Holy Turf to enter!

Today, Zulily is celebrating Football season! And why wouldn't they?!?! They have girl stuff. Boy stuff. Mommy stuff. Tailgate stuff. Lots and lots of cute stuff!

How cute are these finds?

I LOVE this little dress.....

and of course I love anything smocked!

I am so sad these were not available in Red and White with Hogs all over them!

But, there were lots and lots of other teams available!

Go here to check out even more cute finds on Zulily.

For this Arkansas born and raised girl, I think this is is just perfect!

I found it here.

I am pretty sure that every little Razorback fan needs one of these!!!

I found it here.

I wish it came in my size!!!

I may just have to stick to some red and white TOMS or a cute and red and white scarf!

A football fan's house is not complete without some little touches of school spirit sprinkled around!

These are just a few of the few things I have found that I love!

Is is for sale on Etsy here.

I am loving this subtle touch.

Find it here.

If I were a Bama fan, I would have one of these! I saw this on Pinterest! Isn't it the cutest?!?!

The countdown is on.

12 Days. 15 Hours. 40 Minutes.

I know, I am crazy! I told you we love football at our house!