Coach Flint

As if we need anything else on our plate...Flint has been helping coach our friend's son's football team the last few weeks.  Aside from the heat, I think he is having fun with it!  Of course, that is right up his alley!

This is what you miss having a girl!!!  Little guys in football pads are so cute!

Cilla and I picked a free night to go out and take a looksie at all the fun. 

 Cilla had fun playing with Titus and Kate.  She loves Titus.  She talks about him all the time.  It could be because he has lots of fun toys at his house or possibly because he is so full of energy and funny.  Either way, Cilla loves to be around him.  

And what is not to love?!?  Can you say male model?!?  He loves to have his picture taken and pretty sure the camera likes him right back!

The football was fun but as usual, with a two year old, I didn't watch much of it!

Better Together

Cilla loves loves loves to be around people and other kids, so I try hard to make sure every couple of days she gets to play with some of her friends.  I think she gets so bored with me...and I can't say that I blame her!!!

We played with our sweet friends Stella, Emerson and Sydney one day this week.  The girls love one another and play really well together.

How cute are they?!

 Tea for two!

 Stella's sassy pose!  

This little gal is tutu cute and we love her!

 Friday is playgroup day.  

Despite the chaos, we love our playgroup and the friendships within.  There is something about having other ladies right where you are in life.  We encourage each other.  Laugh at each other's stories...a lot.  Support one another.   Blah blah, I know.  But I love each and every mommy in the group and Cilla loves her little friends too!

Today we met to play at the Scott's house (thanks sweet Sara for opening up your home!) and then went to Chick-Fil-A for lunch.  I am pretty sure when Cilla outgrows loving Chick-Fil-A, I will go on sabbatical from eating there!!!  But for this stage of life, it is easy and the kids love it!

 We seem to have taken up about a fourth of the restaurant!  They were probably glad to see us go!

 And just because they are cute...Hannah, Jillian and Cilla!  Love these girlies!

So thankful for sweet friendships.

The New and Improved Cilla Suite

I know my little lady is rapidly approaching the age for a big girl bed, but we do not have any reason to rush her out of her crib so- I'M NOT!  I am just not ready to move her and frankly, I do not think she can handle it.  She sleeps great in her crib.  She is confined.  And those two reasons alone are enough to let it be right now.   

Since we moved back to Arkansas, there has been nothing on Cilla's wall above her crib.  Recently, my friend, Kelli, showed me an idea that she pinned on Pinterest and I knew I had to do it in Cilla's room.  Which by the way, was the last straw for my signing up on Pinterest!

So....here it is.  I think it turned out super cute and it made for some great conversation as I explained to Flint about embroidery rings!!!

I painted wooden letters, put hangers on the backs of each of them and hung them.  Then I filled different sized embroidery rings with fabrics from Cilla's room and a couple of other coordinating fabrics.  Voila!  A project that was done in under one nap time!  That is way I like them!

Makes Me Feel Old

These are my little flower girls almost nine years ago.

Caroline and Carter

This is our little ring bearer, Henry.

They were so cute!!!

  {These pictures were before the digital age.  Yep, these were printed from film and scanned!!!}

A couple of weeks ago we spent the week with them in Colorado and loved our time with them as "big kids".  Caroline, our oldest flower girl just turned Sweet 16.  I can't believe it!  I think that realization is the first thing to make make me feel kind of old!!!  Not the fact that Flint and I have been married almost nine years.  Not when I realize how long I have been out of high school or even college.  Not having a toddler.  But realizing that our flower girl is sixteen years old!

And here they are today!

{Plus David who was a little over a year when we got married.}

We loved our time with all four of these kiddos.  Despite the age age gap they were all so sweet to Cilla, too.  They loved on her and played with her just like she was one of the "big kids".  And she loved every minute of it!

Mmmm, Mmmm Monday: Almond Mandarin Salad

This is one of the best summer salad recipes I have found!  It is too yummy not to share!

Almond Mandarin Salad 

1/2 cup Vegetable Oil

1/4 cup Sugar

1/4 cup Vinegar (any kind is fine.. I use Balsamic or Salad Vinegar)

2 Tablespoon fresh chopped Parsley (I used dry before and it was fine)

1 teaspoon salt and pepper

1/2 cup of slivered (I have also used sliced) Almonds

2 Tablespoons sugar

Fresh Baby Spinach Leaves

1 can Mandarin Oranges drained or you can use fresh sliced Oranges, peeled of course
(I like these better than the ones from the can)

1 cup of Chopped Celery

3 Tablespoons Green Onion

Combine: oil, sugar, vinegar, parsley and salt and pepper in a jar with a tight fitting lid. Shake well

Mix almonds and sugar in small pan over low heat. Stir constantly until sugar melts. It may turn brown... that's OK, just don't let it burn. Pour into saucer to cool. Toss spinach, celery and green onion together, and put oranges on top. Right before serving add dressing and toss until evenly distributed and then sprinkle almonds on top. Enjoy! 
Dressing will make spinach wilt and almonds won't be as crunchy if you mix dressing in before hand.

What a Week

Whew....what a week.  

First of all, thanks to everyone for making my birthday and my week so sweet.  It was a fun and special day!  Our dear friends are temporary living with us during a transition time and they so graciously agreed to keep Cilla over night so Flint and I got a quite dinner out, ice cream and a room at a local hotel!  Thanks Josh and Kelli!  Thanks so much for the greatest birthday gift of all!  Unfortunately, I didn't get any pictures!  I was enjoying my peaceful, quite time so much, I didn't even think about it!   

Flint was in Birmingham for SEC Media Days all week so it always more of a challenge and exhausting parenting solo.  But, my parents jumped right in and were a huge help!

Here is a little of what Flint was up to this week.....

Check out HolyTurf for more football and media day coverage!

We almost started our weekend with a trip to the ER after Cilla took a dive out of her crib.  Luckily, she was alright.  After the doctor agreed to see her at the Pediatric Clinic, this momma was reassured that things were okay and we could get on with our weekend.

Cilla and I were so ready for daddy to be home.  We had a fun-filled Saturday as a family.  We started our day off at Rick's for donuts.  Now that is a good start to the day!!!  It was a low key day, but nice to all be together.

This girl loved her chocolate covered donut!!!

I have so much more to catch up on.  I have several projects and fun pictures to share and I have loads of laundry to fold and some house work to catch up on.  But, I think I might just go put my feet up and close my eyes!

This is just one of the 354 reasons I am so worn out...

I was making a fruit pizza this morning and when I turned my back to get a banana Cilla dumped a package of Chipotle Cheddar Tortilla Strips right smack dab in the middle!  Yum!  Further proving you literally can't turn your back when you have a two year old!  

But, I would not trade it for the world!

Sweet Baby Cooper

On Saturday, I had the privilege of hosting a baby shower for one of my very best friends, Katie and her Sweet Baby Cooper.

 We decided on a sweet shop theme since Katie LOVES sweets so much!

Yummy goodies. 

Oreo Pops.  Chocolate Fountain.  Candy Bar. 

 We had diaper wreaths on the front door..... with candy accents, of course!

 Lots of little details naming the man of the hour!  Baby Cooper James!!!

 CUPCAKES!  What is a sweet shop without cupcakes?!?!

The cup cake cups and straws were ordered off of Etsy and turned out so cute!

 Brownie {Ice Cream} Sundaes
These were not ice cream at.  Just a brownie with icing on top!

 The Food Table

 The Sweet Shoppe

 Grab a bag and fill it with candy!

 We wanted something that guests could sign and that Katie could use in the nursery.  After searching several ideas and doing a little tweaking, I came up with this.....

 His monogram painted on blocks!!!

 Christmas balls filled with candy hung from the light fixture.

Hostesses.
Alaina, Erin, me, Katie, Andrea, Cari, Meredith and Candice

 Katie's family

 Paige"y", Katie's oldest daughter and Cilla's bestie!

 Katie and I

 Candice and Katie

Katie's dearie friend, Rachel, made her this fabulous canvas to hang in Cooper's nursery.  I just love it!

It was such a "Sweet" and perfect day!

Our friend Lindsey took some great pictures at the shower.  She also made the invite and the Thank You notes which we gave Katie as a Hostess gift addressed by all the guests!  What mom doesn't love that?!?!  Thanks Linds, for sharing you talents!!!

Colorado

Be prepared for picture overload!!!

Like I said in the previous post, we were in Colorado last week with Flint's aunt and cousins.  It was a wonderful, wonderful get-a-way!  We had tons of help entertaining and taking care of little Miss Priss and that makes makes it easier to enjoy vacation!  And of course, Cilla loved all of the attention.  Every last bit of it!

A Family picture.

 Cilla just adores Flint.  It is so cute to watch their relationship blossom.  Look at he smile at him!

 Cilla had so much fun with her cousins and did not want for ONE SINGLE THING the entire week!

Henry, David and Caroline with Cilla.

 Ice cream after dinner!

 Cilla really took to David over the week.  She could not quit smiling when she was around him.

 She smothered him and thought that he should spend every waking minute with her!

God gave us the most beautiful blessing while we were there.  It was a double rainbow!!!

We (as in Rebekah) clearly lost sight of the fact that I have a very head strong, likes her way kind of two year old and thought it would be fun to join the rest of the fam in the 14 mile ride from Vail to Frisco.  Let's just say it was almost a disaster!  The first half of the trip was okay (at best).  But after a stop in Copper, I didn't think I was going to ever get Cilla back in the bike trailer.  You know, the kind that you always see people pulling their kids around in and the kids are halfway asleep?!?!  Well, not mine!!!

She screamed and fought it so much that she got tangled in the straps, so I ending up walking Cilla and my bike the last leg of the trip.

This is the face of a screaming two year old!

We went on a hike the next day and that was much better than being confined in the bike trailer!

The views were unbelievably beautiful!

So happy to get to run around!

Exploring with dad.

 Cousins.

Henry, Carter, Caroline and David.

 After our hike, we headed to Breckenridge for a little shopping and for lunch.

Cilla loved petting all of the dogs that were out.  She has no fear of dogs.  Not even this 150 lb beauty!  She just hugged her and talked to her.  Our little animal lover!!!

 We had lunch at Downstairs at Eric's.  It is one of our favorites!

 Cilla's favorite part about eating there is the video games!

 Carter, Cilla and Caroline.

We had dinner at The Mint one night.  It is place where you cook your own meat.  It is yummy and a fun experience.

 Caroline and Cilla, silly girls!

 Our last night in Silverthorne was an adult night out.  YAY!!!  The kids volunteered to stay home with Cilla so the mommies and daddies and Coke Coke could all go out.  That was a special treat!  Cilla had so much fun playing with the big kids and watching Nemo and Flint and I enjoyed our dinner so much!

Here is the masterpiece we found when we got home!

It says, "Hi Mommy & Daddy" and "Cilla's Dance Party".  Who knows what they did but I know they had a blast!!!

You know you have successfully worn your baby out with this is the sight in the back seat of the car on a three hour drive home from the airport!

We had so much time with our family.  Enjoyed the wonderful weather.  Had lots of great food.  Did a  little shopping.  Laughed lots and made lots of memories.  But, it is good to be home.