Low Country Boil 2009

I am sorry that it has been so long since my last post. I am having trouble getting back into the swing of working and trying to get everything done that I want to get done. I hope I will get better.

On the weekend of the 13th we had our 4th annual Oyster Bake and Christmas Low Country Boil with Eric’s family. It is always so much fun but this year was the coldest it has ever been. I think it was around 40 degrees the whole day. We did not let that stop us though.

Eric and Michael always have to shuck the oysters for all of the girls. We usually keep them real busy.

  She is her father’s daughter. She loves them steamed or raw and has to have hot sauce on them. Chicklet #2 will not eat them at all. She just eats the crackers.

While the boil was cooking, Chicklet #2 and I picked up pecans from the front yard. We picked up a red wagon full. We are going to be busy shelling them now.

After we ate the boil, we all sat around talking and playing Jinga. We always have such a good time when we all get together. There is nothing like a good time with good family.

Just for the record, Chicklet #2 was the champ. Boy could she pull the pieces out of some tight spots.

 

Goodie, Goodie Gumdrop

On Thursday when the Chicklets got home from school, I had everything to make our gumdrop trees for the kitchen. The chicklets look forward to this every year. I have to buy an extra bag of spice drops to have enough of them to cover the trees.

Chicklet #1 made hers into a pattern at first. It turned out really cute.

Don’t you love the Kool-Aid stain on her upper lip. 

These are the finished trees. They sit on our kitchen table. I decorate the whole kitchen in a bright red and lime green.  Now I just have to keep Eric from eating all of the gumdrops. I find more and more holes in the trees as we get closer to Christmas.

Thanksgiving 2009

I am sorry that it has taken me so long to post these pictures. As you all know, I have been sick for the last 3 weeks and am just starting to feel normal. We had a wonderful Thanksgiving and got to spend a lot of quality time with family and friends. I hope everyone had as good of Thanksgiving as we did.

Chicklet #1 helped Mama cook all of the Thanksgiving dinner on Saturday. They got to have fun cooking together like I did with Mama when I was her age. 

Eric, Jamie and John Mark spent the day watching football. Clemson did not do too good against South Carolina. Eric was really upset they lost.

Chicklet #2 got this dress and some dress shoes for her birthday from Mamaw. She did not have any panty hose so she took some of Mama’s and put them on. They were thigh highs on her. She thought she was “Miss It”. She was too funny. I hope all of you have a good weekend and try and stay warm.

Chicklet #2’s Birthday Day

This year I made the most delicious Cupcake Bites to take to the school for Chicklet #2 to share with her friends.

These were the best cupcakes I have ever put in my mouth. If you have the time to make them, they are worth the try. 

The sweet lady on her left is her teacher and the sweet one on the right is her Para-pro. I just love them both. They are so good to my child.

That evening we went out to eat Japanese at our favorite restaurant. Her Nana, Aunt Amy and Mr.... Bill came over to eat with us. We had a ball like always. Chicklet #2 had to wear a crown to dinner so everyone would know it was her special day.

Chicklet #1 even received presents.

Everyone fought over the last few cupcake bites. Chicklet #2 had a wonderful birthday this year.

First Birthday Party

Here are pictures from Chicklet #2’s first birthday party. They are too cute. I hope you enjoy.

Can you see where chicklet #1 put her finger in the cake? Nothing has changed.

   They made a big mess, but it sure was fun to watch.

She still hams it up in front of the camera.

See Ya Later Folks.

On This Day…

It is hard for me to believe that my baby chick is turning 8 today. I thought I would take all of you on a trip down memory lane with me to the day she was born.

This is her picture from the Hospital. She was born at 3:12 AM, was 7 lbs. 8 oz. and 21 inches long.

For 2 years that Passy was her best friend.

Daddy’s Little Girl

This was taken before we left the hospital to bring her home.

This is the first time her big sister held her.

“My Cutie Patuties” 

I hope all of you enjoyed my walk down memory lane as much as I did. I will post pictures from her first birthday party as well as pictures from today and tonight when we celebrate her special day tomorrow, so check back.

Waiting on Jamie

Last night we all tried to stay up to wait on Jamie and John Mark to get to the house after the Georgia-Auburn game. Chicklet #2 was the first to fall asleep and Eric put her in our bed. A few minutes later I looked aver and saw Chicklet #1 asleep on the couch. It was too cute not to share.

I hope everyone had a good weekend.

Happy Halloween

It was raining this year but the chicklets still had loads of fun trick-or-treating. They stood outside with their umbrellas waiting on Eric to take them around to the houses. Chicklet #1 was a good witch and chicklet #2 was a princess.

We hope all of you had a good and safe Halloween this year.

Sweet Dreams

Last night Eric went to go and check on the chicklets because they were quiet and this is what he found...

Chicklet #2 had fallen asleep on her bed with the lights on. Eric thought it would be funny to scare her and this was the result...

Boy she can pout. Eric calls her "Duck Lips" all of the time because of it.

Go Team, Go!

This past weekend was Chicklet #2’s last game for the season. Here are some pictures from that game.

The Team

Before the game, the girls hold a banner for the guys to run through.

Her turn leading the cheer. The little girl beside her is one of the coaches daughters and she was the teams unofficial member. She would get out and do all of the cheers and the dance with them. She was so cute.

They did pyramids and because of her height, Chicklet #2 had to stand in the back. She loved it though.

I am going to try and put a video up but I don’t know if I will be able to. So stay tuned.

Sweet Potato Cake

 Yesterday I thought I would try my hand at changing around a recipe I found for Pumpkin Spice Cake here into a Sweet Potato Cake. Being a Southern Girl at heart, I love sweet potatoes a lot more than pumpkin. The results were delish. Yum, Yum!!

 

Sweet Potato Cake

2 c. All Purpose Flour

1 c. Brown Sugar

1 tsp. Baking Powder

1 tsp. Baking Soda

1/2 tsp. Salt

1 Tbsp. Cinnamon

3 Large Eggs (At Room Temp.)

1 c. Sour Cream (At Room Temp.)

1 c. Cooked Sweet Potato

3/4 c. Oil

1 tsp. Vanilla

You need to cook a med. sweet potato at 450 degrees until done. Let cool. While the sweet potato is cooling, set eggs and sour cream on the counter to get them to room temperature.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees . Butter and flour bundt pan (I use Bakers Joy). In a medium bowl, sift together flour, sugar, baking soda, baking powder, salt and cinnamon. In the bowl of a stand mixer, cream sweet potato, eggs, sour cream and oil. Scrape down the sides. Slowly add in the flour just until it all is incorporated. Scrape down the sides again. Blend in the Vanilla. Pour batter into the pan and just tap the beaters on the side of the bowl to remove the extra batter. Do not clean off the beaters. All of the strings from the sweet potatoes gather around them. Bake in the center of the oven for 35 to 45 min. or until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool in the pan for 10 min. and then turn out onto a wire rack to cool completely.

Enjoy!

Report Cards Are Here…

Report cards came home the other day from the chicklets school and I am proud to say that they did great.

Chicklet #1 had all A’s and one B. Her B was in advanced math and it was an 89. She had a 100 for the 9 weeks in Social Studies.

Chicklet #2 had all P’s and CA’s. The P is for progressing at level and the CA is for consistently achieves. She scored above grade level in writing and in the money portion of math. I guess she will know how to spend money like her mama. Lord help us all.

They make their parents proud!

Welcome All

I hope I have not bitten off more than I can chew with this blog. I am starting it to give our family and friends a chance to watch the chicklets grow up. With most of you being out of town you are not able to be with us and enjoy the little thigs in their childhood. I hope to capture it all here so you can share in the joy too. I will also be posting decorating projects I have done around the house as well as recipes too. You all know how I love to cook. Keep checking back often.