The Busbee Buzz

Wild West Day

2012-02-06T13:21:00.000-08:00

Today was Wild West Day at school. Hotdogs and s'mores along with some pony rides and lassoing cows added to the fun (ponies and cows were all pretend mind you)...One of the many reasons we love our school! There is always something fun and engaging going on!

Walt Disney World, Part 3—Disney Dump

2012-02-05T13:45:00.000-08:00

Me, Kathryn & Walker live atop Dumbo

I apologize in advance for all of the randomness this post will hold, but I needed somewhere other than notes and calendars on my phone to help myself remember all.this.stuff!

Places we ate (time of day and rating)

*We made reservations for all of our seated meals.

Akershus Royal Banquet Hall, Epcot (Norway), Character dining

We ate here for dinner, and it was my favorite princess venue. I actually liked it better than Cinderella’s Royal Table as far as actual interaction with the princesses, and it’s my understanding that it’s easier to get reservations here, at least it was for us! Food was just so so. It’s Norwegian food, so it’s not your everyday fare. It did have a nice salad bar and a large basket of bread that could hold your kids (or you) over if you didn’t just love the menu items.

Upon arrival, we were able to have our picture made with Belle (I’m not sure if they change this princess up or if it’s always Belle), and they give you copies of the picture before you leave. Each princess also stops by your table for picture taking and autograph signing. At the end, the princesses gather up the children and parade around the room. We saw the following princesses: Belle, Ariel, Snow White, Cinderella, and Jasmine.

Liberty Tree Tavern, Magic Kingdom, Liberty Square

We ate here for lunch. The food was good, and according to this blogger they have the best hamburgers at any Disney property.

Spirit of Aloha, Polynesian Resort

We ate here for dinner. This venue is dinner and a show, so it takes up two meals on your meal plan. Matt and I enjoyed the food (typical luau food) and performances, the kids not so much. The show lasted almost 2 hours, which was part of the reason the kids didn’t love it. I think we will place this on the “been there, done that’” list. Although, if you are going sans the kiddos, or you think your child would like that sort of thing, it might be worth it.

Hollywood & Vine, Hollywood Studios, Character dining

Oddly enough, this was probably my favorite character meal. We ate here for breakfast, and breakfast is my favorite meal of the day, so that might partially explain it! The food was buffet style and had all of your standard breakfast foods, including Mickey-shaped waffles!

This was a very active breakfast. The characters were taken straight from your favorite Disney Channel shows (As a side note, I specifically booked this character meal to balance out the plethora of princess viewings for Walker, and it certainly fit the bill!!!), and the entire breakfast featured interactive songs and such in which the kids could participate.

The characters all came by the table for pictures and autographs. We saw Oso the bear, Jake from Jake and the Neverland Pirates, June from Little Einsteins, and Handy Manny.

Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater, Hollywood Studios

I booked this venue for myself. How’s that for selfish! It just sounded like fun, and honestly I really enjoyed it! We ate here for lunch. The tables are “cars” in a drive in movie style. The room is large and dark. The atmosphere is quiet (just like at the movies), and well, it was just a nice departure from all of the activity that is Disney World. I also thought the food was pretty good, probably one of the best meals I had (remember Disney World food as a whole, in my opinion, is average, so that’s not saying much). The only thing I was disappointed with is I read the drinks have glow in the dark ice. I thought, how cool (for the kids, of course), but alas, a la Disney, glow in the dark ice was only included in “specialty drinks.” Although, in hind sight, it would have been worth the extra money!

Kathryn making a wish at Cinderella's Royal Table

Cinderella’s Royal Table, Magic Kingdom, Character dining

I was only able to get reservations for two during our time in Disney, so Kathryn and I made a girls’ outing of it. We ate here for lunch, and the food was enjoyable but nothing to write home about. It was French inspired, if that tells you anything? I enjoyed the one on one time with Kathryn, but in my opinion, I liked the princess dining at Akershus Royal Banquet Hall better.

This was very similar in that you have your picture taken with Cinderella upon arrival, and you get to take a picture home with you. They also hand out wands to the girls and swords to the boys (they even let us take a sword for Walker), and they give each child a wishing star (everyone stops and makes a wish at the same time, and this happened to be Kathryn’s favorite part).

At this meal, we saw Cinderella, Belle, Snow White, Sleeping Beauty, and Ariel.

Garden Grille, Epcot, Character dining

We ate here for dinner. The platform that you are sitting on subtly rotates during the entire meal, and the food is served family style. The kiddos really enjoyed meeting Farmer Mickey, Chip and Dale and Pluto. I thought the food was good, but this was our last meal at Disney, and by this point we were stuffed. We even passed on dessert here! It was actually a pretty healthy meal—salad, grilled/roasted meats and vegetables.

I have to admit, most of these restaurants offered your standard American foods (well except for the Norwegian and French food) that are mild in flavor. By the end of our visit, I was desperate for some Mexican food or even Italian. So, next time, I think we will spice it up a bit with one of these restaurants: Tony’s Town Square Restaurant (Main Street, Magic Kingdom), San Angel Inn (Epcot, Mexico) or Teppan Edo (Epcot, Japan).

As for our favorite counter service restaurants, Casey’s Corner (Main Street, Magic Kingdom) is definitely the winner! Matt also enjoyed Pecos Bill Tall Tale Inn and Cafe (Frontierland, Magic Kingdom). We will probably do more counter service dining on our next trip!

Kathryn & Buzz outside of Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin

Character Viewing

The kid in me had to include this because when I went to WDW for the first time as a 10 year old, seeing the characters was my most memorable part of the trip!

I thought the character meals were perfect venues for this because you are assured that each character at the meal will stop at your table plus you don’t have to stop and take time to stand in line throughout the parks , if you don’t want to.

Alice, Walker & Kathryn near the Mad Tea Party

In addition to the character meals, here are a few other great ways to capture lots of characters at one time…

Town Square Theater…Meet ‘n Greet experiences with Mickey and Minnie and the Disney Princesses. This allows you one on one time with the characters and best of all there are Fast Passes!!! Also, Tinkerbell and the other fairies have a nook in Adventureland and Rapunzel has her on Fairytale Garden in Fantasyland.
Of course, in each of the “lands” there were characters stationed throughout…Peter Pan was right outside The Crystal Palace (Main Street) on several occasions. Alice and the White Rabbit were beside the teacups (Fantasyland). Buzz Lightyear was outside of his Space Ranger Spin (Tomorrowland). Woody and Jessie were standing at the exit of Splash Mountain (Frontierland). We even spotted Ariel and Eric at Tinkerbell’s Magic Nook (Adventureland). As you can see, the list could go on and on!
Above mentioned are all at Magic Kingdom. Epcot also features its own Character Spot. Everytime we passed by the traditional characters were there: Mickey, Minnie, Goofy, Pluto and Donald.

There is also a TIMES GUIDE that can be picked up as you enter the park. It will list character greetings, dining, show and attraction times.

I will end it with these last two thoughts (although I could go on and on and on…I’m sure you get the picture:)

FASTPASS Example

FASTPASS--Ahhhh…the fastpass. Disney in the world of fastpasses truly is magical!!! In short, these passes allow you to enter a separate (and MUCH SHORTER) wait line than those without fastpasses. This truly makes waiting in line so much more enjoyable, especially with kiddos!

Sample Undercover Tourist screen

Undercover Tourist----A FREE app for your iphone that allows you to see the wait times at all of the parks’ attractions. Invaluable! You will soon start speaking the lingo…green, yellow, red. IT’s addicting. Matt and I still find ourselves checking out ride times just for the fun of it. Yea, we are nerdy like that!

Until we travel again...

Tea for Three

2012-02-05T04:59:00.000-08:00

In rocket-building news, Matt and Walker had to make a second run to Lowe's last night for some extra spray paint. The girls and I took that small window of opportunity to host a tea party!

Nothing fancy, of course, just a few key ingredients: plates, napkins, tea cups & saucers, some yummy eats and something good to drink! Oh, and don't forget a vase of flowers (thank goodness there's a Japanese tulip tree blooming in the backyard)!

Here's Kathryn dining on our spread of turkey, cheese, crackers, apples, pears, carrots and peanuts...
And don't forget the other little miss of the house...

Here's our "secret" punch recipe...

And for the boys, rocket progress...

I am so thankful for my husband. Besides accompanying him on our early morning Lowe's and Hobby Lobby run, he has done ALL of the rocket building so far!

Bubba + Baby and A Few Other Things

2012-02-03T17:32:00.000-08:00

I have to admit, Frances is quite smitten with her sister. I guess it's just a given for girls to be drawn to girls. So I can't help but melt a little bit when I see her and her brother bonding. She likes to call him Bubba (she calls herself Baby and Kathryn remains Sissy), and he's especially sweet with her. I took these pictures while at Dauphin Island last weekend...

We hit the D.I. for their local Mardi Gras parade. Here's Kathryn waving for some beads and moon pies!
In other news this week, Wal Mart was sporting some super cute party supplies. I love the polka dots. Unfortunately, I don't really have any parties on the horizon, but I couldn't resist a pack of plates and napkins especially at $1.97 a pop! The red and white would be cute for Valentine's Day for all you room mommas out there!

As for this weekend, we will hopefully succeed in our efforts to recreate something along these lines for the school's Mardi Gras parade. The four year olds choose a letter and decorate a "wearable" float accordingly. Walker has the letter "O", so we are aiming for an "Outer Space" theme! Wish us luck!!

Minnie Love

2012-01-27T11:38:00.000-08:00

Sorry for the Disney overload. I do have one more post on our trip to Disney that I'm hoping to complete, and then I promise we will move on to other things! But I also had to document Frances' new found love of Minnie Mouse! We brought her a small Minnie doll from Disney World, and well, it was love at first sight!

I also bought her a few pairs of Minnie pajamas from Wally World. Good news is she loves them. Bad news is she LOVES.THEM. Like she doesn't want to take them off!!! Prime example, Christmas day, she wore her Minnie pj top OVER her Christmas dress! Matt and I have found ourselves digging Minnie pjs out of the dirty clothes because she refuses to wear anything else!

She rarely sits still, so it's hard to get a picture of her. Here's the best I could do for proof...

Notice the Minnie buggy too! Oh, my! And you should see her when Mickey Mouse Clubhouse comes on! She gets so excited and starts saying, "Mimmy, Mimmy."

Guess we'll have to plan a return visit, so Miss Frances can meet Mimmy!

Walt Disney World--Kids' Favorites

2012-01-16T07:03:00.000-08:00

Kathryn's Favorites translated:

Pirates of the Caribbean, Magic Kingdom
Voyage of the Little Mermaid, Hollywood
Fairy Tale Garden (Rapunzel), Magic Kingdom
Turtle Talk with Crush, Epcot
The Haunted Mansion, Magic Kingdom
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, Magic Kingdom

Walker's Favorites translated:

Soarin', Epcot
Star Tours, Hollywood
Toy Story Mania, Hollywood
Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin, Magic Kingdom
Mickey's PhilharMagic, Magic Kingdom
Mission to Mars, Epcot
Space Mountain, Magic Kingdom
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, Magic Kingdom

Walt Disney World--The Details

2012-01-07T06:48:00.000-08:00

Walt Disney World…Where do I begin? Maybe I could start with the fact that Matt, the kids and I are STILL talking about a trip we went on over a month ago now. The kids daily have conversations like, “If Disney World was our house, we wouldn’t have to stand in line for Soaring (or insert other favorite ride).” Or of course, “When can we go back to Disney World?”

I could also start by answering the first question we usually get asked…No, we did NOT take Frances with us, and we are 100% glad that we left her behind (love you FEB, but it’s the truth!). That being said, what works for one family may not work for another. I have lots of friends who have taken children Frances’ age without any complaints. And much to my surprise, there were LOTS of people at the parks with newborns, yes, newborns. And there were SO many pregnant women, I almost couldn’t believe it. AGAIN, I conclude, what works for one family, may not work for another. And I think that’s the biggest lesson I learned!

That being said, I thought it would be fun to capture our feedback in a post (or it may be a few) as a starting point for any of you hoping to plan a trip to Disney World!

Here are the details of our trip….

How many months in advance we booked: 3 months

Hotel: The Contemporary

Meal Plan: Deluxe (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Snacks)

Tickets: Park Hopper, 4 days

Parks: Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Hollywood

Transportation: Airplane (and car…we were able to book a really cheap flight out of Panama City, so we had to drive to and from there)

Travel dates: December 1-5 (Thursday-Monday)

Feedback on the above....

How far in advance to book: Three months at the least, especially during the peak seasons! And at least this far in advance, for meal reservations.

Hotel: We were 100% pleased with the hotel. I’ve stayed at the pricey and not so pricey “in the park” hotels as well as “off campus” hotels, and the number one things we like about the Contemporary is its convenience. It’s within walking distance to Magic Kingdom, and the monorail (which runs right through the hotel) conveniently drops you off at Magic Kingdom and Epcot (although Epcot requires hopping off one monorail and getting on another.)

The Contemporary is supposedly one of the nicest hotels on the Disney properties, and the rooms were comfy and very nice, but quite frankly we spent MUCH more time at the parks than in the room. And when we were in the room, we were SO tired, we would have slept on a log if we had to!

Take Away: If you can, pay for the convenience of the closest hotels. You will appreciate it, especially when your kids are tired and melting down as you leave the parks late at night. Plus you already have to stand in enough lines at the park. No need to always be waiting in line for a bus just to get to the park, like you would have to do at the more distant hotels.

Matt carrying Kathryn to the monorail after a long day at the parks.

Meal Plan: 75% pleased. We will probably do this a bit differently next time. The pros included having all of our meals paid for ahead of time and having TONS of food at our disposal. The cons included having TONS of food at our disposal. We honestly had a hard time using up all of our meals, and about 8 of our “snacks” included candy we brought home as “souvenirs.” Each adult meal on the deluxe plan included an appetizer, entrée and dessert. I mean who eats like that at breakfast, lunch and dinner??? After about the fifth ice cream sundae, even this dessert lover was screaming uncle. Not to mention, the food isn’t exactly haute cuisine!

Take Away: For us, we will definitely use the meal plan again, but probably not purchase as many (Maybe 2 adults and 2 children if we go back with the five of us or bring our own breakfast foods, and only purchase lunch and dinner). Whatever the combination, the convenience and accountability of already having our food paid for outweighed the inconvenience of “having” to eat all of THAT food!

Character breakfast at Hollywood and Vine, Hollywood Studios

Tickets: 100% pleased with spending the extra money on the park hopper tickets. We went to multiple parks each day we were there. Wouldn’t do this any other way!

Parks: We only went to Magic Kingdom, Epcot and Hollywood Studios. We did not go to Animal Kingdom simply because the kids were so captivated by Magic Kingdom, and much to our surprise Epcot, that we spent all of our time riding (and re-riding)the attractions at these two parks. We were pleased with Hollywood Studios too, but one day of hitting most of the attractions there was enough.

Take Away: Is there a bad park? I don’t think so. We will definitely go to Animal Kingdom next time. It just didn’t fit into this trip’s schedule. Don’t underestimate Epcot. Our kids LOVED it. In fact, some of their favorite attractions were at this park.

Kathryn hanging out with Bruce (Finding Nemo), Epcot

Transportation: This is definitely a personal preference. We had a three hour drive and an hour flight. Add in stops, parking, etc., etc. and we probably could have driven there in the same amount of time. I think driving will be our mode of transportation next trip. Mostly because we had to wake up EXTREMELY early on our departure day to catch a bus to the airport which after multiple days of pure exhaustion was hard to do. Also, when you drive, you can bring snacks and drinks with you. Plus, my husband says parking at the hotels is not extra, so I am pretty sure the it is much more cost effective to drive!

Travel dates: We may never go to Disney World any other time of the year! It was perfect. Lines were extremely short (the longest we waited was 30 minutes and that was for Space Mountain), everything was decorated for Christmas, and well, as I said, it was just perfect.

Take Away: Definitely put some thought into when you book your trip. Obviously, avoid major holidays and spring break times (which is basically all of March and April). Summer can be precarious because of the heat (not to mention the crowds). We had upper 60’s/low 70’s at the first of December and it was glorious!

OK. Hope that wasn’t TMI. I’ll be back soon with the fun stuff….our favorites from the trip and some helpful tips!

Put Me In The Zoo

2012-01-02T06:33:00.000-08:00

Last Friday, we drove to New Orleans for a trip to the zoo. The kids had been cooped up inside for way too long, and the weather was too gorgeous to continue lounging around.

Here are Kathryn and Walker on our way inside the zoo...

Walker's favorites were the turtles...

Kathryn even got in on some turtle action...

Frances loved the goats. Not sure if she's ever petted a real animal, with the exception of a dog or cat, so this was a big deal. You can tell she was a wee bit excited!

Kathryn, loving a theme just like her Momma, wanted to pose with the giraffes since her outfit featured giraffes too:)

Although the zoo was all we fit into this trip, we had a fabulous day! It's hard to beat sunny and 75 degrees in December!

2011: Year in Review

2011-12-31T17:04:00.000-08:00

We don't have big plans for New Year's Eve, so as we watch Auburn play Virginia in the Chick Fil A Bowl, I thought I would put together a little "year in review" post to kick of the new year!

January

Wow! Auburn's National Championship. What a way to kick of 2011! Matt and I were blessed to be at the game, and it was definitely a night to remember.

February and March

These months were mostly filled with school for the twins, and lots of watching Little Miss Frances' personality bloom. We were able to make a trip to Birmingham to celebrate Addison's first birthday in February. And Brad, Mak and Addi came to Mobile in March for the Arts and Crafts Festival in Fairhope.

April

Sadly, we said "goodbye" to our firstborn. The kiddos still talk about her, and I still can't believe she's gone. There were few cats like this one! She is greatly missed.

On a happier note, we celebrated a wonderful Easter with family! And managed our first family picture of the year!

May

We were blessed to celebrate Mother's Day and Frances' Baby Dedication on the same day. It was one of my most favorite days this year.

When the twins wrapped up school, we headed across the Bay to Fairhope for a weekend at The Grand Hotel. This is one of our most favorite things to do! And it was a fabulous start to our summer.

June

Anniversary, birthday, birthday and birthday! June is a very busy month at the Busbee house. We were also able to squeeze in a trip to Destin.

July

Birthday party + birthday party+ cousins+ Fourth of July+ trip to San Diego for Mommy and Daddy=another very fun-filled month!

August

Walker and Kathryn started 4K. They LOVE their new school and especially loved the ice cream that completed their first full week of school! Mommy even managed to sneak away to Birmingham for a girls' weekend, and Daddy made it to a Spiceland extended family reunion in North TN/South KY.

September

We enjoyed a wonderful fireworks display in honor of the ten year anniversary of September 11th.
October

What can I say, I love the fall. Pumpkins and football, mums and caramel apples. We soaked it all in! This was the cutest pumpkin I saw this fall!

November

We spent a WONDERFUL Thanksgiving in Camden with Nana, Papa and the Dillons. The kiddos LOVED catching up with their cousins. It had been way too long!

December

I've got two words....DISNEY WORLD!!!! We took the twins for the first time, and I don't know who fell in love the fastest, the kids or me and Matt:) We are still talking about it a month later, and can't wait to go back. I promise I'll have a WDW post soon. There is just so much to process! It was so.much.fun!!!!

We are so thankful for all of the Lord's mercies and blessings throughout this past year and look forward to all He allows in 2012!

Brotherly Love

2011-12-29T06:31:00.000-08:00

Awkward Family Photo

2011-12-21T05:53:00.000-08:00

Need I say more??? I'm sure we'll look back one day and laugh:) At least we were able to check picture with Santa off of our list!

Quite the Mess

2011-12-17T08:20:00.000-08:00

Miss Frances is quite the mess these days!

Here she is making the most of her sister being at school by playing in Kathryn's Little Mermaid dress and shoes.

And here, she's all painted up having taken advantage of Mommy leaving the kitchen to do some laundry!

This required her second bath of the day. The first was necessary after she worked her little hands into her dirty diaper:) See what I mean!

Around here...

2011-12-13T13:58:00.001-08:00

Christmas is in full swing!

There are Little Pet Shop hamsters popping in on our nativity scenes...

These yummy crackers are the most requested snack...

and I found a fool proof home recipe for Starbuck's beloved salted caramel hot chocolate!

Two little kings (or should I say, one king and one queen) made their debuts in the Christmas play at school today...

And I'm keeping my fingers crossed that my amaryllis will make it's debut on, if not before, Christmas!

Only 12 more days to go!!!

Sorry for the lack of posts...

2011-12-08T19:53:00.000-08:00

We've been hanging out with royalty...

Hope to have a recap of our trip soon. Right now, we are still in recovery mode!

Christmas Decorating Inspiration

2011-11-28T18:47:00.000-08:00

We are more than half way there in our Christmas decorating. The tree is up, the staircase is flowing with garland, the stockings are hung by the chimney with care...you get the picture! But I'm always up for a little more decorating inspiration. Here are some favorites...

Veranda

Southern Living

Better Homes and Gardens

Southern Living

May you be inspired too!

A Pilgrim+An Indian+A Recipe

2011-11-19T05:42:00.000-08:00

Yesterday, Walker and Kathryn's school put on an Thanksgiving Program. The kids have been busy working on it for weeks! Kathryn, as you can see, and her classmates were Indians, and Walker and his class were Pilgrims. A fun time was had by all!

I couldn't help but share a recipe too. Some of my favorites are best served this time of year. I haven't made these in a decade or more, but they are yummy! And since they are so simple to make, I thought they deserved a little blog love!

Sweet Potato Balls

6 med. sweet potatoes, cooked, peeled and mashed
1/2 c. butter
1 c. brown sugar
1 c. chopped pecans
12 lg. marshmallows
2 c. crushed cornflakes

Mix sweet potatoes with butter, sugar, and nuts. Form balls around each marshmallow. Roll in crushed cornflakes. Just before serving warm in 350 degree oven for 15 minutes or until warm all the way through. NOTE: May be made ahead and frozen until ready to use.***

***I think I would add a little cinnamon and nutmeg too! Maybe 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon and 1/4 tsp of nutmeg. And I would definitely drizzle some extra butter on top right before baking:)

Paula Deen also offers an even sweeter version using orange juice and coconut. I bet it's sure to please too!

Great Holiday Brunch Recipe

2011-11-14T09:16:00.000-08:00

Mom and I hosted a bridesmaid brunch for a very dear childhood friend on Friday. As always, I neglected to get any "good" pictures, just a few phone pics of the tables...

There were lots of yummy items on the menu but this is one of my all.time.favorites--Nutty Orange Coffee Cake. So great for the holidays! No surprise it's from Paula Deen!

On The Menu

2011-11-05T09:13:00.000-07:00

Auburn is off this week, and to be honest, I kind of like being able to watch football and eat without all of the suspense and pressure of having your own team play!

So "on the menu" for this relaxing day of football and food...

Two Gray Pumpkins' Tortilla Soup

Plain Chicken's Taco Dip

Ranch Cheese It's

Toffee Crackle Cookies

On a side note, one of the things I love most about soup season is pulling out the big orange monster, that is my soup-cooking pot! It just reminds me of fall, don't you think???

Happy Saturday!

All Dressed Up

2011-11-01T13:13:00.000-07:00

Thanks to our smallest trick or treater, our night didn't go exactly as planned. She was diagnosed with a pretty contagious little virus, so we sadly had to cancel our company. This left Walker and Kathryn doing more "boo-hooing" than simple "booing." But, after lots of outside play and lots of candy collecting, I think the night was redeemed. Kathryn went to bed saying, "this was the best night ever!"

Bumblebee, the Transformer, in action...

my beautiful Rapunzel...

and the cutest little pumpkin in the patch...

Even though she was sick, we still let her in on the action. We just made sure she kept her distance from everybody:)

It Might Be, It Could Be...

2011-10-23T17:53:00.000-07:00

...it is! A Flying Squirrel!!!

This little fellow was hanging out in our house for the last few days. By Friday night, he was all but clawing on the kitchen closet door. Matt and Papa were at a football game, and all of his noise-making had me and Nana calling for the men folk!

Sweet little guy got one more warm night inside, but the men went to work Saturay morning. I wasn't there, but Nana was able to capture some pictures. Is he not adorable??? I kind of wish we could keep him;)

Thank you Nana and Papa for not only helping with the squirrel but for all of your help with the little ones! Frances loved her time outside...

And Kathryn and Walker enjoyed all of Nana's fun art projects...

And Matt and I enjoyed the adult company and extra sets of helping hands!

Field Trip Friday

2011-10-18T20:04:00.000-07:00

The twins enjoyed a field trip to a local farm last Friday. I drove Walker and two of his classmates and their mothers. It was lots of fun for us mom's to chat along the way, and the kids always enjoy riding together.

This is Walker and Kathryn's first year to be in different class rooms, and wouldn't you know it, both of them tend to be buddy buddy with friends of the opposite gender? I guess that's just what they're comfortable with! Kathryn rode with one of her best guy friends and his mom, and I carted Walker and two of the girls from his class. Too funny! I love that they are still at that sweet age where gender really doesn't matter! They just love to have fun!!! And everyone's included!

My two waiting to ride the pony...

Kathryn and her classmates in the covered wagon...

And let's not forget this one....

Her new favorite thing to do...ride in her wagon. Or just sit in it for large amounts of time! That's why it's sitting in the middle of the playroom!

My Version of "Pins"

2011-10-17T19:31:00.000-07:00

I've not joined Pinterest, so this is my version...pictures of websites taken on my iPhone. Silly, I know, but I do A LOT of web surfing, more specifically blog stalking, on my phone. When I see something I like, I simply press the home button (located on bottom front of phone) and the sleep button (top right of phone) at the same time. Voila!

It's not perfect because I don't always have the source included (like these below), but if I'm just needing the picture for a little inspiration, it sure is a quick and handy way to go back and reference something that I like.

For example, I love the mix of colors and patterns in this breakfast nook...

And what's not to love about this dining room?!?

I saw this Halloween treat bag idea last year but didn't give it a try. This just might be the year!

Put Me in the Zoo!

2011-10-09T19:55:00.000-07:00

Walker and Kathryn participated in their school's "Zoo" this past Friday! They were so.excited. They made their own costumes, and might I say, the teachers and kiddos worked wonders with some paper bags, paint and yarn. The animals were absolutely precious! The parents, siblings, and younger classes fed the animals popcorn. Too cute!

Here's my little alligator (aka Kathryn)....

And my giraffe, Walker...

And here's Frances giving us her best growl after seeing all of the animals...

A Truckload of Fall + A Recipe

2011-10-01T10:20:00.000-07:00

Earlier this week, I finally gathered up some pumpkins and a mum for the front of the house!

Can I say, I just LOVE this time of year!!!

But you know what I may love more than Fall? These crackers!!! Promise me you'll try them. They are made just like the popular ranch oyster crackers, but you use Cheese Its instead!

And promise me that when you do try them, that you will use the Big Cheese Its. It really does make all the difference in the world. Sorry oyster crackers, I may never purchase you again:)

Following recipe adapted from Hidden Valley Ranch Oyster Cracker recipe...

½ teaspoon dill weed
1/2 to 3/4 cup vegetable oil
1 box Big Cheese Its
1 packet (1 ounce) Hidden Valley® Original Ranch® Salad Dressing & Seasoning Mix
Optional: ¼ teaspoon lemon pepper or ¼ teaspoon garlic powder

Instructions

Place crackers in a gallon-size bag. Pour oil over crackers; seal bag and toss to coat.
Add dressing mix and spice; seal bag and toss again until coated. Bake on ungreased baking sheet at 250°F for 15 to 20 minutes or until golden brown.

Etsy Roundup: Oh My!

2011-09-26T14:18:00.001-07:00

You know I love me some Etsy, but every once in a while, I come across some things that just make me wonder! A few recent examples...

Baby Doos

Monogram Stamp from Wedding Photo

Ultrasound Shower Invitation

It just makes me love Etsy even more knowing you can find EVERYTHING there!!!

Dinosaur Dig

2011-09-26T13:47:00.000-07:00

Well, it's almost October, and I'm just now posting pictures from Labor Day! The pictures were just too cute for me not to share...

Labor Day Rewind: We made a quick trip to Camden to visit with Nana and Papa. They surprised Walker and Kathryn with homemade dinosaur eggs. The eggs were buried in the sandbox (as seen in the first picture), so not only did the kiddos have a fun time digging for the eggs, but then they were able to crack them open!

They saved an egg for Little Miss who especially enjoyed wearing her safety glasses.

Thank you, Nana, for sharing your recipe!!!

Dinosaur Eggs

What you need:

1 cup flour
1 cup used coffee grinds
1/2 cup salt
1/4 cup sand
3/4 cup water
mixing bowl
small plastic toy dinosaurs

What you do:

1. Mix all the dry ingredients together in a mixing bowl.

2. Slowly add the water and knead with your hands until the mixture is like bread dough.

3. Break off a piece of dough and roll it into approximately the size of a tennis ball.

4. Make a hole with your finger in the center of the ball big enough to hide the dinosaurs inside.

5. Put a tiny dinosaur inside of each egg. Plug the hole with some extra dough.

6. You can let your dinosaur egg air dry for several days until hard. If you are in a hurry you can choose to bake the dinosaur egg in the oven on a cookie sheet at 150 degrees for 15-20 minutes.

NOTE: If you want them you eggs colored add 1 tablespoon of powder tempera paint to tint your eggs when mixing different colors.

Beauty Product Review

2011-09-17T07:19:00.000-07:00

I thought I would share a few products I have been enjoying recently. I called on my trusty sidekick to help me...

She's typical girl in that she loves trying on shoes, brushing her hair, and running around in her sister's "big girl" underpants (don't worry there's a diaper underneath)!

So, here's the lineup and a short preview of each...

Loreal's Go 360 Clean Anti-Breakout Facial Cleanser...I have really enjoyed the built-in scrub brush this product offers. I still use a washcloth to get all of the soap off, but the brush is perfect for cleansing pores. I honestly feel like I have seen pore size reduction since using this, so for now it's my face cleanser of choice.

Neutrogena Eye Makeup Remover Lotion...I go back and forth between liquid and cream eye makeup removers, but I'm on my second bottle of this particular one. I love the moisturizing qualities of it, but I especially love that it gets all of the makeup off.

Aveeno Positively Ageless Moisturizer...I have used this moisturizer for years. I love it because it has a 30 SPF (lots of face moisturizers just have a 15) and because it doesn't break out my skin.

Loreal Voluminous Extra-Volume Collagen Mascara...I feel as though I am forever on a quest for a good mascara. It may be the one beauty product that I would be willing spend big bucks on if it's a good one. Well, good news, I found one I love, and you can get it at your local drugstore!!
This mascara goes on easily, stays on, and the brush is just a regular ole brush! I don't know about you guys, but I do.not.like all of these funky shaped and sized mascara brushes. This one is just right! I'm on my 4th or 5th tube of this stuff. I wear black brown for the daytime and black noir for dressing up occasions (so you can imagine which one I have to buy most often:)

Let me know if you try any of these products or if you have your own favorite!

Our Weekend

2011-09-12T09:59:00.000-07:00

Halftime Poses...

Firework Celebrations...

Bring On Fall

2011-09-07T09:34:00.001-07:00

I found these "Fall" products during a quick Target run last Friday...

Yummy Pumpkin Spice Waffles
they would go perfectly with this popular recipe for cinnamon honey butter...

And Essie nail polish in Case Study...

described as a rich camel beige

And if these aren't "harvest-y" enough for you, I snagged a jar of Nutella at WalMart today....

Because after reading this recipe for Pumpkin Nutella Swirl Bread passed along by Valerie I may never make regular pumpkin bread again!

The Weekend

2011-08-30T18:58:00.000-07:00

Nothing completes a successful first week of school like a trip to the ice cream parlor! Whoever came up with the "flavor" Super Cow was a genius! You see, it's not really a new "flavor," it's simply vanilla ice cream in a rainbow of colors. I do not kid when I say every child in there had chosen this ice cream! And of course my two were no exception!

Saturday night, we met our friends the Penaskovics for some fun in the sun and sand at Fish River Grill. Gotta love these pictures...

Are You Ready???

2011-08-26T08:55:00.000-07:00

For fall, that is! With the hot tempatures we are enjoying here in South Alabama, I have to say that I am very ready!

Well, lets get your doors ready too! My very talented sister-in-law has done it again! Created the cutest door hangers you'll find anywhere!

I've just got to have this Aubie...

And what about the fun football in your favorite team's colors...

And my favorite fall treat turned door decor...

And probably the most creative of all, the reversible pumpkin. "Boo" on one side for Halloween and "Happy Fall Y'all" on the other side will carry you all the way through Thanksgiving. Genius!

You can purchase all of these items here or email Makenzi at partyoftew@gmail.com. You'll be glad you did!

Don't Forget Me

2011-08-23T15:28:00.000-07:00

Somebody else had their first day of "school" (aka Moms Day Out) today!

She looks a little somber in the picture, but she did great!

Off To A Great Start!

2011-08-23T05:42:00.000-07:00

Walker and Kathryn started school today. To say they were excited would be an understatment. Walker was so anxious to leave the house that I finally offered to leave early with the understanding we would have to sit in the parking lot and wait to go in. That sounded just fine to him, so we left more than thirty minutes before we needed to!

It gave us time for a little picture taking! I mean when did Walker turn into all legs???

Little Miss has been coughing and pulling on her ears for several days, so once we dropped off big sister and brother, we headed to the doctor's office for a check up. Thankfully, no ear infection just a little upper respiratory infection, something her brother and sister have been fighting for months now. And finally, we got around to making Dora cupcakes, something I had been promising all summer. They were pretty easy, and turned out super cute! They made the perfect after school snack.

Yea for a new school year!!!

It's Not Too Late

2011-08-16T18:20:00.000-07:00

Alice Kathleen & Company Trunk Show

Wednesday, August 17th 9:30 a.m. until 2:00 p.m.*
*or by appointment

A few new things....

The world's cutest coats

An adorable cardigan

Comfortable lounge wear

And don't forget their trademark appliques!

It's not too late to join us for this season's show! Email me at laurenbusbee@aim.com for location information or check out Alice Kathleen & Company on Facebook!

It's That Time Again...

2011-08-15T09:35:00.000-07:00

Alice Kathleen & Company Trunk Show

Tuesday, August 16th 9:30 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. & 5:00 p.m.-7:00 p.m.
Wednesday, August 17th 9:30 a.m. until 2:00 p.m.

This week, I'm hosting a trunk show that features some of THE cutest kids' clothes. If you need some precious fall/winter clothes for your little girls and guys, please join us this Tuesday and Wednesday. You can contact me at laurenbusbee@aim.com for location information!

What We've Been Up To & A Recipe

2011-08-10T10:46:00.000-07:00

It's hard to believe summer is coming to an end. I can remember back in May, when school was wrapping up, thinking that we would have a quite, relaxed summer! Well, it's been anything but quiet and relaxed, but believe me, that's a good thing!

We've stayed very busy and had LOTS.OF.FUN!

Last week, the kiddos wrapped up four weeks of gymnastics with their good friends Michael and Anna. The parents were allowed to "observe" the last day of class, and they sure put on a show for us!

Matt was out of town last weekend, so the kiddos and I enjoyed a few days at Dauphin Island. Here are Frances and Douggie post-nap...

We also enjoyed a birthday party at the Exploreum. They currently have a space exhibit, so Walker was very excited about all of the "space stuff!"

And in other news, we've got twins! Well, we don't, but the Momma Bird that's been nesting in my front porch fern sure does! She built her nest a while back and then several weeks ago she set up permanent roost there. Needless to say, I haven't been able to water it for fear of killing the baby birds. So, now I have a dead fern hanging on my porch. It's a small price to pay to look out the window and see her tending these two feathery babies (picture is blurry b/c I didn't want to get too close for fear of scaring her)....

And as promised, a recipe....

Zucchini and Onion Frittata

from myrecipes.com

Ingredients
3 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
2 medium zucchini, thinly sliced
1 medium onion, cut in half and sliced
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese, divided
8 large eggs
1/4 cup milk
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1/4 cup chopped fresh basil
Garnish: chopped seeded plum tomatoes

Preparation
Melt butter with oil in a 12-inch ovenproof skillet over medium-high heat; add zucchini and onion, and sauté 12 to 14 minutes or until onion is tender. Remove from heat, and stir in 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese.

Whisk together eggs and next 3 ingredients at least 1 minute or until well blended. Pour over vegetable mixture.

Bake at 350° for 13 to 15 minutes or until set; increase oven temperature to broil, and broil 5 1/2 inches from heat 1 to 2 minutes or until edges are lightly browned. Sprinkle evenly with remaining 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese and basil. Garnish, if desired.

Lauren's Variations

I only use about 2 T of butter and 1 T of olive oil. To use more is really unnecessary. I also like to bake mine in a 9x12 casserole dish. It does require cooking it longer, about 20-25 minutes depending on your oven, but it works out better for serving purposes. For example, we made this recently for a baby shower, and it was easier to cook and serve in a dish than putting a skillet on the food table! I also like to slice roma tomatoes and place on top with some extra parmesean cheese before I broil for the last few minutes!

Be creative--I really think this dish could be made with so many different ingredients. I'm anxious to try asparagus and feta, but the options are truly endless!

It's Just What We Like To Do

2011-08-01T14:54:00.000-07:00

The kids love drawing their own game boards. Don't ask me why, it's just what they like to do! I can't tell you how many renditions of Candyland they've drawn this summer. I have to admit, I prefer helping with Candyland rather than Chutes and Ladders. Drawing all 100 squares+chutes+ladders=one crazy momma!

I'm thankful both Kathryn and Walker enjoy drawing/coloring. It takes up tons of time, an it's something I really enjoy too. Because let's face it, I don't really enjoy "playing," if you know what I mean. I few minutes, yes. An entire afternoon, not really. I remind the kiddos that's why God gave them each other--built in playmates!

In other game board news,we also drew and cut out our own Memory cards. In an effort to knock a few more things off of our summer bucket list, we decided to put a twist on "Play Memory," by creating and then playing with our own cards!

Other variations to the list include:

Dance in the rain....replaced with....Swim in the rain (after we were caught in a sudden rain shower at the pool)

Make S'Mores...replaced with.....S'Mores Popcorn

Hopscotch..replaced with......Aqua Blast Hopscotch

Make popsicles....replaced with......Make yogurt pops

Making the list "our own" has really helped us accomplish lots of fun things. But rest assured, we've got a lot more things to do, and in a little time I might add!

At the top of the list, we are still hoping to accomplish baking cupcakes, painting with pudding and family movie night! I'll keep you posted on how those go:)
I

Let's Go For A Dip

2011-07-30T06:37:00.000-07:00

You'll love this easy dip! It's great for summer and even better for all your fall football dippin' needs.

Black Bean and Corn Dip

2 cans black beans (drained and rinsed)
2 cans white shoepeg corn (drained)
1 bunch of green onions (chopped)
8 oz. feta cheese, crumbled
1 cup canola or vegetable oil
1 cup apple cider vinegar
1 cup sugar
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper

Combine all ingredients and refrigerate for at least 8 hours before serving. Serve with corn chips or tortilla chips.

A couple of other items on our menu this week included zucchini bread recommended by this dear friend and pasta primavera from Ree!

On a side note, we are up to week 3 in our effort to make the kiddos eat what the adults eat for dinner. Feels silly to even type that. Probably should have been doing this all along, but I confess over the years I've turned into a short order cook! Every night hasn't been easy (but thankfully I don't "cook" every night, so there's still plenty of PB&J and macaroni & cheese), but we have seen much improvement!

Miss Frances enjoying a late afternoon snack of zucchini bread. Can you tell she just woke up???

Some More, Please

2011-07-22T16:11:00.000-07:00

When I saw this recipe for S'Mores Popcorn, I knew we had to give it a try! Kathryn loves s'mores and is always asking to make them. Well, an open fire isn't always readily available especially in the hot muggy south! This was the perfect compromise!

Look at the yummy goodness....

Kathryn, before the S'mores Popcorn...She asked me to take a picture of her. Gotta love it:)

The kiddos waiting for the popcorn...Can you tell they were in a marker fight? Notice Walker's half of a green marker mustache:)

The verdict on the S'Mores Popcorn....DELICIOUS!!!

I wouldn't change a thing! Well, I might add whole chocolate chips as well as the chocolate drizzle, but I'm just kind of crazy for chocolate like that. If you didn't want to melt the chocolate and prefer a more "trail mix" approach, I think it would be just fine with chocolate chips added to the graham cereal, popcorn, marshmallow mix!

Let me know if you try it!!!

S'Mores Popcorn

1/2 box of Golden Graham cereal
1/2 bag of miniature marshmallows
1 & 1/2 bags of Tender White Orville Redenbacher Popcorn, popped
1 bag of chocolate chips, melted

Mix cereal, marshmallows and popcorn in large bowl. Melt chocolate chips in microwave or double boiler. Spread dry mixture onto baking sheet and drizzle with melted chocolate. Wait for chocolate to harden and enjoy!!!

Very Special Guests

2011-07-18T08:48:00.000-07:00

Saturday, we had the special treat of welcoming our sweet friends, the Anthony's, to our home. We hadn't seen each other in two whole years (since we moved from Memphis), and to say the kids (and the adults;) were excited would be an understatement!!!

In the midst of playing dress up, eating lunch, snacking on yummy cookies, and lots and lots of catching up, we tried to also take some pictures of the kids...

You see how well that turned out:) Ashley, if you have any better ones, please send them my way! Not sure what Walker is doing in this one:) Can't imagine why we didn't throw the little ones in the picture too!

We so enjoyed our visit. Please come back to see us again soon!!!

California, Here We Come

2011-07-14T18:52:00.000-07:00

Last week, Matt and I enjoyed a quick getaway to San Diego, CA. He had a conference to attend, and I was just along for the ride! Fortunately, most of his meetings were in the a.m. which left me just enough alone/downtime (EVERY momma's dream, right!?!) while also giving us plenty of time together to enjoy the city!

All vacations begin with a good book, and this one sure fit the bill! Have you read it yet? If you haven't, what are you waiting for!?!? It's the happy, fun-loving kind of read I've been searching for! I read it on the plane, in the room, by the pool, and successfully finished it up in less than three days. Consider this my stamp of approval!

Next on the list for any good vacation...good food! We found lots of it. Our favorite was Rama Thai. We haven't had Thai food since moving back to Mobile, and this version was as fresh and yummy as I've ever had it! We also hit up Nicky Rottens for a very large delicious burger and Lou & Mickey's on our last night for a steak dinner. Quite honestly, we could have been served cardboard, and we still would have been excited about the opportunity to eat adult food sans the kiddos!

We didn't venture beyond the Gaslamp Quarter simply because it was a convenient walk from the hotel. If we'd had a car, I would have liked to have tried the Captain Crunch pancakes at Cafe on Park or any of the pizzas at Alexander's on 30th. We'll save these for our next visit!!

Which leads me to my San Diego sales pitch...I really think this would be a great vacation spot for families with kids. Maybe not very small kids (if your like me, I'm not ready to fly cross country with two five year olds and a baby), but 5 years and up....perfect!!!

There's the San Diego Zoo, Legoland, and SeaWorld just to name a few. I look forward to taking our little crew back one day!

Matt and I took advantage of some of the local "to do's" by touring the USS Midway located in downtown San Diego just minutes from our hotel. Here we are on the deck...

Matt in the cockpit...

Me in the brig:)
Our hotel, Manchester Grand Hyatt, is located in the back right of this photo...

The next day, we took a cab to the famous San Diego Zoo. It did not disappoint!

Here are some of our favorite animals...

My absolute favorite...I could have just snuggled right up with these koala bears. They were so.cute. all cuddled up in the trees like that! Who knew we had a thing for bears? Just realized they make up more than half of these pictures!

Thank you Nana and Papa and Tula and Pops for keeping our little ones so Matt and I could get away. We had a fabulous time, and we couldn't have done it without your help!!!

The Final Birthday "Tail"

2011-07-11T07:54:00.000-07:00

As promised, here's the final download from our week of birthdays....

bunny invitations from Sweet Bella (found on Etsy)

tissue pom poms, "how to" via Martha Stewart

felt banner, strips of felt threaded on white thread

you can buy one here

bunny ears from Target $ aisle

stretchable bunny bracelets from Oriental Trading

gummy bunny teeth from Oriental Trading

bunny cake via Pastry Shop, Mobile, AL

salads

Corn Salad
2-15 oz. cans whole kernel corn, drained
2 cups grated cheddar cheese
1 cup mayo
1 cup green bell pepper, chopped
1/2 cup red onions, chopped
1-10.5 oz bag coarsely chopped crushed chili-cheese corn chips

Mix first 5 ingredients and chill. Stir in corn chips just before serving.

Oriental Coleslaw
1-16 oz. bag coleslaw
1 bunch green onions, chopped
1 pkg. Ramen noodles, crushed (discard flavor package*)
1/2 stick butter
1-6 oz. pkg. sliced almonds, toasted
1/2 cup sunflower seeds

Brown crushed noodles in butter, add sunflower seeds and browned almonds and cook until hot.

Dressing:
1/2 cup oil
1/2 cup sugar
2 T soy sauce
1/4 cup vinegar

Mix ingredients for dressing and heat 1 minute in microwave. Mix all salad ingredients together, add dressing, stir well and serve immediately.

*You can also mix the flavor packet in with the dressing, if you like more flavor!

Pink Fluff
1 can pineapple tidbits, drained
1 can mandarin oranges, drained
1 12 oz. container cool whip
1 8 oz. container cottage cheese, small curd
1 small pkg. strawberry jello
1/2-1 cup pecans, roasted until browned and chopped, divided
1/2-1 cup coconut, toasted until browned, divided

Mix all ingredients, including half of pecans and coconut. Stir well and chill. Sprinkle remaining pecans and coconut on top of salad.

Pink Punch
2 cans frozen pink lemonade
1 container raspberry sherbert
1 liter Seven Up

Mix together and serve.

Splash and Slide Party Details

2011-07-05T09:25:00.000-07:00

"Walker and Kathryn are turning five! Join us as we splash and slide!"

I used Simplicity Papers, found on Etsy, for the invitations. I was EXTREMELY pleased with the customer service as well as the finished product. There were about four other invitations from this company that I liked, but I ultimately chose this design. Imagine their names and the five highlighted in the color "pool" with "papaya" colored envelopes. They turned out really cute!

Simplicity Papers via Etsy

The menu had to be simple, mostly because I was preparing a spread for Frances' party the following day. So we went with every kids' favorite--nuggets from Chick Fil A.

Large Chicken Nugget Party Tray via Chick Fil A

We upped the fun value with these twirly cheese puffs....

Cheetos Twisted Puffs

And rounded out the menu with a fruit salad of strawberries, pineapple and grapes along with a strawberry cheese ring and crackers (mostly as an appetizer for the adults).

I was planning to do cupcakes for this party, and the bakery suggested arranging them in a five. I thought it was the perfect gender neutral solution for this party!

Cupcake Cake from Pollman's Bakery
Mobile, AL

We chose the water slide because in order to have a party outside in Mobile in the summer, you HAVE TO HAVE water!!!! Best part was we were able to keep the slide for 5 days because of the holiday. We pulled it out again for Frances' party and even used it for our Fourth of July festivities! Now that's a deal!

Water Slide from Jumps A Lot
Mobile, AL

I saw this fun decorative idea and just had to give it a try. The surprising part about it is that Walker blew up pretty much all the balloons. He would blow up the balloons, Kathryn would "organize" them and I would string them along. It was a lot easier than I anticipated, and I was very pleased with how it turned out!

Your only seeing one banner here. There were two that I hung from either side of the gate. It was a great backdrop for the cake table!

Balloon Banner, idea via Design Mom

Of course, we had to have some party favors! These fish sunglasses fit the bill!

Sunglasses, Oriental Trading

While the parents fixed the kids' plates, we kept the kids entertained coloring these fun party hats!

Color Your Own Party Hat, Oriental Trading

Loved these party favor/loot bags!

Favor Bags, Hey Yo Yo via Etsy

As for party favors, I knew I wanted to set up a candy bar, so when I saw this little display, perfect for a "pool" party, my juices started flowing. Sadly, I don't have any pictures of the set up at our party nor did I have the time to make signs "explaining" the candy selections, but this picture will give you an idea.

Inspiration for Candy Bar via Candy and Cake

I chose sour straws (aka pool noodles), Swedish fish, gummy octopus, M & M's (really no relationship here, just thought I should include some chocolate:), and gummy life savers. The party favor bags were used to corral the candy!

Additional party information/sources:

Polka dot table cloths: Walmart (on sale!!!)
Plates, Bermuda Blue: Target
Napkins (Cupcake and "We Do Fun Here"): Target
Dot candles: Walmart
Candy: Walmart, Target & Sam's
Kathryn's swimsuit: Garnet Hill

A Hip Hoppin' Good Time

2011-07-04T06:44:00.000-07:00

"Hop on over for lunch and some fun. Our little bunny is turning one!"

Thus began Frances' bunny-themed first birthday! In lieu of a traditional birthday party hat, Frances opted for some gussied-up bunny ears! She actually enjoyed wearing them.

You may recall that Easter is one of my favorite holidays, so it wasn't hard to round up some party decor for this middle of the summer soiree. Aunt Mak scouted out these adorable rabbit topiaries at Pier One back in April. Thankfully, I had already chosen the party theme at that point, so I stocked up while they were on sale. Flowers were courtesy of Tula's front flower beds.

I couldn't resist adding some cabbages and carrots to the decorative mix!

I saw this adorable felt banner on Etsy and decided I would make one for myself. Very easy and so cute!

Some bunny ears for the guests...

The menu consisted of salads, lots and lots of salads--chicken salad, pasta salad, corn salad, Oriental coleslaw, fruit salad and pink fluff! There was also pork tenderloin with jezebel sauce and yummy party punch!

And the cake, oh, the cake! I was very pleased with how it turned out!

Tissue pom poms and a string of photos from each of Miss Frances' 12 months.

I think Miss Frances enjoyed her cake too!!! She was digging in before her brother and sister could help her blow out her candle:)

Hoping to have a post with all the details and how to's along with some recipes!

Let The Parties Begin

2011-07-03T19:27:00.000-07:00

Three birthdays and two birthday parties later, it suffices to say we have had one party-throwing, candle-blowing, cake-eating week!!!

Kathryn and Walker were so blessed to have family and friends on hand for their "Splash and Slide" party! See Walker running to get back in line and Kathryn sliding down. The kids couldn't get enough of it!!

The birthday girl

The birthday boy

I just adore this picture. They were soaking up every second of their friends singing "Happy Birthday" to them. They had been waiting for this party, and this moment, for a while!

After all the chicken nuggets, fruit and cheese curls were devoured and the last guest had left, Nana and Papa took Walker and Kathryn to stay with them at the Battle House. Kathryn, aka Rapunzel, LOVED the ballrooms there. Walker also liked staying at the hotel, and it allowed me to get ready for party number two on Saturday!!

Let Her Eat... Doughnuts!!!

2011-06-30T16:34:00.000-07:00

Our sweet little Frances turned one today! My how quickly time flies when you are having fun! I sure do love this little girl. Our lives just wouldn't be the same with out her!!

Happy Birthday, Baby Girl!

The Birthday Boy and Girl

2011-06-28T19:25:00.000-07:00

Oh, my goodness! They finally made it. Walker and Kathryn have been waiting for their birthday since, well, Christmas! So, you can imagine how excited they were to see daylight today!

I thought this was the sweetest picture. You can tell they are only half awake. They made it to about 6:45 a.m. which I thought was pretty good! I heard Kathryn get up first and go in Walker's room to tell him it was time to open presents. Good thing I had them ready!!!

We, of course, had to start the day off with candles and a round (or two:) of Happy Birthday! Kathryn's candle is in her "usual"--a cheese stick!

Walker is the one who has been SO EXCITED for his birthday. He gladly blew out his breakfast candle!

After breakfast, we enjoyed a quick visit from Pops who brought the birthday boy and girl a balloon for each! After ballet camp, we enjoyed a yummy lunch at Moe's (kids eat free on Tuesdays--perfect!!) with their friends Michael and Anna! After that, we made a quick trip to Target to let them pick out a birthday goody, and then back home to play with their loot!

After dinner, we enjoyed cupcakes and another couple of rounds of Happy Birthday! I think the day was a success!

Now I have to get over the fact that my "babies" are FIVE, and my real baby will be ONE on Thursday!

FIVE

2011-06-27T13:37:00.000-07:00

My babies will be FIVE tomorrow! Can you believe it? I hardly can!

I'm posting today because I hope to be back tomorrow with a recap of their special day. But as always, I couldn't help taking a stroll down memory lane...

June 28, 2006--Look at those bundles of joy!

A picture never before seen on the internet...this was the morning we left for delivery. Am I huge or what!?! I didn't even have clothes that fit anymore!

But it was worth it when I saw these two sweet angels...

June 28, 2007--Look at these adorable little one year olds!

June 28, 2009-- A barnyard party to celebrate turning 2!

June 28, 2009--Princesses and Cars were the theme as my little toddlers turned into preschoolers at age three!

June 2010--Four! What a summer! Here they are enjoying their birthday party Toy Story 3 style!

It's hard to remember what life was like before these two. They are precious, each in their own little way, and I love them more and more each day!!!

Happy Birthday, Walker and Kathryn!!!

Breakfast with Douglas

2011-06-23T18:41:00.000-07:00

Meet...Douglas...

That's Frances' new stuffed lab. Her daddy bought him while we were at the beach last week. According to him, Frances latched on to the puppy and wouldn't let go! They've been attached at the hip every since!

FYI...yes, those are Fruit Loops my baby's eating. Not the healthiest breakfast in the world, but trust me when I say, 3/4 of them end up on the floor!

Also, Frances' new favorite thing is sitting in chairs or on just about anything she can crawl on--stools, fireplace hearths, stairs, you name it! Here's she's in Kathryn's big girl chair (Kathryn doesn't use it any more, so shhh, don't tell Frances, but I ordered a new cover for Kathryn's chair with Frances' name on it! Chair cover was less than $40...a new chair with new cover would have been close to $100!).

Nine

2011-06-22T07:07:00.000-07:00

Nine years ago today, I walked down the wedding aisle. It's got me thinking this morning...would I go back and change anything about that special day???

Perhaps a dress with a few more bells and whistles...

bows and flowers (hate the black sash; LOVE the lily of the valley detail)....

or lace a la Kate???

Perhaps a sassy shoe? In blush, I might add. What better color for a bride!!!

Maybe a new color palette? I'm thinking citrus hues would be perfect for a summer wedding...

Or this lovely chartreuse green reminiscent of all the lushness summer has to offer...

Either paired with this beautiful punch of pink would be ideal...

Perhaps a more colorful cake (notice the citrus colors continue)....

Or perhaps a trio of cakes would be best?

The one thing I wouldn't change would be the guy waiting on me at the end of the aisle! I love him to pieces, more and more each day! He makes me feel like the luckiest girl in the world!

Wish I had a picture of just Matt, but I think he'll be glad I didn't:)

Sources: J Crew, Martha Stewart, Vera Wang, and BHLDN

Our Week in Pictures

2011-06-19T18:19:00.000-07:00

Monday at the grocery....

Wednesday on their way to Chick-Fil-A with their favorite friend....

Thursday wrapping up a great week at Soccer Camp....

Friday snacking in the hotel room at the beach....

and playing on the beach.....

Sunday covered in coffee grinds found in hotel trashcan....

We are in full blown summer mode around here! Between ballet classes, soccer camp and a very fun trip to the beach, we are one tired bunch!

The Many Faces of Kat Lloyd

2011-06-12T15:30:00.000-07:00

Wow! Last week was a busy one!

A few notable things from last week's calendar....

Kathryn's first day of ballerina princess camp

A fun filled week of Vacation Bible School, New York Style

Our Little Helper

2011-06-10T19:32:00.000-07:00

Hello, Summertime!

2011-06-05T05:42:00.000-07:00

This is how we spent a good part of our day yesterday, and it was wonderful!

Looking for some fun things to do now that summer is finally here? I loved this list from Laura Winslow Photography. I have it printed out and hanging on our fridge. You can do the same here!

Oh, yes, I did...

2011-06-02T08:49:00.000-07:00

...order this adorable cupcake stand for Frances' first birthday. I just couldn't help myself!

Have any upcoming birthdays (did I mention we have three this month within two days of each other?)? You too can order one of these here.

May I...

2011-06-02T06:03:00.000-07:00

...introduce you to this May-o?

Kraft's new Mayo with Olive Oil and Cracked Black Pepper is definitely worth a try! I bought some the other day, and so far I've enjoyed it on several sandwiches. But I have to say my most favorite "recipe" for this mayo is smothered on grilled or roasted corn on the cob. Delicious!

More Firsts...

2011-06-01T18:46:00.000-07:00

FEB (Am I the only one who refers to their children by their initials? I don't know if it's because we monogram just about EVERYTHING around here or because at one of my previous jobs that's how we referenced our coworkers in all interoffice communication. Either way, I do it alot. So much so, that I've half decided to rename Kathryn, "Kelby." Get it? KL-B. And Frances, "Pheobe." FE-B. And anyone who's around me long enough knows I call Walker, WGB, a whole lot more than I call him Walker.) Anywho...boy, do I digress...FEB or Frances or Pheobe had her first boat ride this past Memorial Day weekend.

We had a fabulous time in Camden with Nana and Papa, and this little trip down the river late Saturday afternoon was one of the highlights.

She also got some time in the baby pool...

The "big" kids had a ball playing on the extra large intertube...

And Walker walked on water!

Watermelon

2011-05-30T06:42:00.001-07:00

Frances enjoyed watermelon for the first time this Memorial Day weekend...

It reminded me of the first time these two enjoyed watermelon!

My how time flies!

Grilled Chicken Tacos

2011-05-24T17:08:00.000-07:00

Southern Living, Grilled Chicken Tacos

Made these yummy grilled tacos tonight from the April 2011 Southern Living...

Ingredients

* 3 tablespoons olive oil
* 2 tablespoons lime juice
* 4 teaspoons Montreal chicken seasoning
* 1 1/2 pounds chicken breast tenders
* 1 (8-oz.) container refrigerated fresh salsa
* 1 large mango, peeled and chopped
* 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
* 2 teaspoons chipotle hot sauce
* 6 (6-inch) fajita-size flour tortillas, warmed
* Toppings: crumbled queso fresco (fresh Mexican cheese), and shredded romaine lettuce

Preparation

* 1. Preheat grill to 300° to 350° (medium) heat. Combine first 3 ingredients in a zip-top plastic freezer bag; add chicken, turning to coat. Seal and chill 10 minutes, turning once.
* 2. Meanwhile, combine salsa and next 3 ingredients. Cover and chill until ready to serve.
* 3. Remove chicken from marinade, discarding marinade. Grill chicken, covered with grill lid, 6 minutes on each side or until done. Serve in flour tortillas with mango salsa and desired toppings.

Instead of making the salsa, I found this Mango Pico De Gallo at WalMart. I thought it would be easier (and maybe even cheaper) than making my own. It worked perfectly with these tacos. I think it would be safe to say this recipe would also work well with your favorite fish !

A Book Report

2011-05-23T12:00:00.000-07:00

***Edited to include book review***

Here are books #4 and #5. You may recall my New Year's Resolutions that I listed here included to read at least one book a month, optimally alternating fiction and non-fiction. So here's my latest "book" report:

April's non-fiction selection....James Dobson's Bringing Up Boys

May's read (This is technically non-fiction too since it's the author's memoirs): Jeannette Wall's The Glass Castle

After reading your comments, I decided I better chime in too with a review in addition to my "report"!

To be quite honest both of these books were somewhat disturbing to me. I guess once you become a parent, you have a whole different way of looking at things. Topics and subjects that may have never bothered me before just about turn my stomach when reading them in light of knowing what a huge commitment it is to raise our children.

That being said, Dr. Dobson's book, Bringing Up Boys, was scary in terms of what us parents are up against to raise up our boys for the Lord in today's world. Feelings that I felt throughout this book ranged from fear to anger to thankfulness for a better understanding of the challenges that lie ahead as we raise our son.

If you have a boy, I would definitely recommend this read. I would say it's a good parenting book in general. Three good pieces of parenting wisdom I got from the book...

"Rules without relationship lead to rebellion."

"Love is giving somebody your undivided attention."

"The primary mechanism by which these goals are realized is the application of confident leadership and discipline at home, tempered with love and compassion. It is an unbeatable combination."

As for Walls' The Glass Castle, I was having horrible dreams two nights into reading this book, so if you wonder if it's disturbing, the answer is yes. Now, I did profess to having a "weak stomach" for these sorts of things, but still. Perhaps the reality of knowing the events taking place in the book were true and that the author lived to tell about them is what stung the most. That being said the book was a compelling read, and I would definitely recommend it.

So, now, I have two questions for you!

1) Has anyone read Jeannette Wall's Half Broke Horses? If so, would you recommend it?

2) Does anyone have a good "light hearted" read? I think I'm in need of one!!!

One More Look...

2011-05-23T11:50:00.000-07:00

at our busy week (last week) and weekend!

Here are a few more pics of the "graduates"...

And in their complete graduation regalia...

The only graduate who would stand still long enough for a picture. Can you tell he was having a fun night!?!

After the last day of school/End of School Year Party on Friday, we headed east for the Grand Hotel. The big kids stayed in motion, and we were having too much "hands on" fun to take many pictures, but I did snag a few of this little one. It's "Beauty and the Beach, Part II"...

This is our first official day of summer vacation, and I'm happy to announce we've done absolutely nothing. Exactly, what I've been looking forward to!

Hooray for Tarjay!

2011-05-20T12:17:00.001-07:00

Look at the latest "loot" I found at the Tarjay (or Target if you must!). I guess I'm into green this summer. I didn't intend to grab all things green, but I'm quite pleased with these fun summer shades!

I thought the hot pink monogram on Frances' new swimsuit was a cute nod to our summer friend, the watermelon.

The polo shirt and green striped suit are by Circo. Kathryn's swimsuit is by their new brand Calypso, and I love it. If you haven't checked these new goodies, that would be a great thing to add to your weekend to do list. You will love it!!!

The Graduates

2011-05-20T12:11:00.000-07:00

You are looking at the Class of 2011, well, at least as far as 4K is concerned!

Last night, Kathryn and Walker celebrated 4K graduation. They sang, they even danced. It was very cute! They also wore caps and gowns!

(iphone pic, sorry for poor quality!)

HELLO, SUMMER!!!

Beauty and the Beach

2011-05-17T19:21:00.000-07:00

We spent a fabulous Saturday afternoon at Dauphin Island with our friends the Penaskovics. Our "big" kids played so well together, and the babies did great too! Elizabeth and Frances even caught a quick nap on the beach. What could be better!

The weather was just fabulous--sunny with a cool breeze. I'm hoping we can get back to enjoy it again before the hot, hazy days of summer settle in!

Caught

2011-05-14T05:59:00.000-07:00

Someone was caught playing in Mommy's craft supplies...

On a side note, this little gal stood up on her own for the first time yesterday. We may just be walking before the big number one! Of course, I would keep her my little baby forever if I could!

A Mother's Day to Remember

2011-05-09T05:16:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was most certainly a Mother's Day to remember! Not only were we able to celebrate the mothers in our lives, but we were blessed to participate in baby dedication at our church. Here's Miss Frances with her Daddy...

Trying to get a family picture before going into church. The key word here is "trying!"

And again, after church. Still not much luck. Can you tell these four year olds are something else!?!

This one's not so hard to get a picture of...yet!

The tables all set up and ready for lunch! Because church let out right around lunch time, we decided to let the Olive Garden prepare lunch for us:) It was yummy!

Dessert? Well, you don't have to twist my arm to order a cake from the Pastry Shop! Yellow Cake with a lemon cream cheese filling. It was wonderful, and their detail always amazes me!

We decided to give Frances a crash course in cake eating. After all, she has less than two months until here next "big" day.

After lunch, Nana and Papa took the big kids to South Alabama to play on the Jaguar. Kathryn especially loved this perch on his tail.

It was a day filled with three of my most favorite things: Family, Fellowship and Food!

A Few More Pics

2011-04-29T09:01:00.000-07:00

Aunt Mak kindly captured some great pictures of the fam over Easter weekend! Here's our Hive of Five (get it Busbee and hive...corny, I know, but I just couldn't help myself)!

Don't you just love these faces? I mean are they something or what?

Pops and Tula and their grands...I think this is the first picture of the two of them with these four!
And the adults...
This cutie kept us in stitches all weekend long. She is so adorable and so sweet. We could just eat her up!
The Easter table, thanks to Aunt Mak and Tula...

An Egg-cellent Easter

2011-04-25T05:52:00.000-07:00

Have I mentioned that I love Easter? And to top all of the fun Easter activities off with an awesome church service on Sunday morning is just one of the reasons this is my favorite of all celebrations!

Of course, we had to tear through the Easter baskets on Sunday morning! Frances was busy doing her norm--crawling all over the place!

My two bunnies...

All dressed up and ready for church!

Hunting eggs at Pops and Tula's. Uncle Brad was the master Easter egg hider. He did a great job!

Little Miss just sat around enjoying the scenery!

Mom, Dubby and Grandmother...

We lunched on some yummy dishes: ham, potato salad, corn casserole, potato casserole, strawberry fluff, carrot salad, and asparagus. All of that goodness was topped off by a delicious strawberry cake made by Aunt Mak. Of course, it was all rounded off by lots of Easter candy!

Since it's so easy, I thought I would include the corn casserole recipe here:

Corn Casserole

1 can whole kernel corn, drained
1 can creamed corn
1 box jiffy corn muffin mix
1 cup sour cream
1/2 (1 stick) butter

Mix all ingredients together. Pour into a greased baking dish and bake at 350 degrees for 45-60 minutes or until golden brown. (Note: I only use about 3/4 stick of butter. I found a whole stick to be too buttery, if that's possible:)

Doesn't get any easier than that!

Spring Break '11

2011-04-23T05:04:00.000-07:00

Walker and Kathryn were out of school this week for Spring Break. Kathryn had fun at Art Camp with her friends Katie-Ruth and Michael while Walker, Frances and I kept busy with some other fun activities. Here are a few pictures from our week!

Monday: Horseback Riding

Walker was quite the little equestrian! If you are in the area and would like to do the same, check out Silver Lining Horse Farm. Mimi is fabulous and not only teaches them how to ride but teaches them about the horses and how to care for them.

This is unfortunately what Frances did most of the week. Thankfully, I don't think she minds!

Tuesday: Walker's first visit to the dentist

I know not the most fun thing to do on Spring Break, but after 4 1/2 years it was time! Surprisingly, he did great, and his teeth looked great too!

Wednesday: Breakfast at Chick Fil A and the Exploreum

Walker has been asking to see the "Big Bugs" (the current exhibit at the Exploreum, hence what he calls the Exploreum) for a while now, so we finally made it there. Of course, the Spring Breakers were there en masse, but we still had fun!

Thursday: BSF and lunch at Zoe's

Friday: Breakfast at Dick Russell's and visiting with Cousin Addi, Uncle Brad and Aunt Mak

And Miss Kathryn didn't miss a beat! She painted, she made pottery and paper-mache. They even ended their week of Art Camp with an Easter parade. Don't you just love her bonnet?

Easter Shoes

2011-04-19T11:13:00.000-07:00

I think someone was a little jealous that she didn't get a new pair of shoes for Easter! I assured her she would get to wear these one day!

Approximately 2,400

2011-04-18T11:47:00.000-07:00

That would be the number of questions Walker and Kathryn asked while we dyed Easter eggs on Saturday. Let me remind you that dying eggs is no quick task. You have to boil the eggs, cool the eggs, boil the water to mix with the food coloring. All of that waiting about drove my 4 year olds (and thus their mother) crazy! Thankfully, we all thought the end results were worth the wait!

Are your kids this inquisitive? Or is it just mine???

Some Sweet Ideas

2011-04-16T06:26:00.000-07:00

Have you heard of Sweet Paul Magazine? Well, I hadn't until today, but what a treat! Check it out for some great recipes and fun ideas. I especially enjoyed the Special Kids Issue. Let me know what you think!

A Circus Parade

2011-04-15T14:44:00.000-07:00

Kathryn the Seal and Walker the Lion enjoyed a circus parade at their school today! We had so much fun "home-making" their costumes. Low stress, low cost and the kids were pleased. Can't beat that!

Fry Gal

2011-04-09T05:44:00.000-07:00

Hi, I'm Frances, and I love Chick Fil A fries! I just pop one in my mouth and watch it disappear! No one would ever know I don't have a.single.tooth to eat them with. Doesn't stop me!!!

I'm In Easter Candy Heaven

2011-04-06T15:11:00.000-07:00

Chocolate Dipped Peeps... Does it get any better than this!?!

Photo Fun

2011-04-04T09:16:00.000-07:00

Nana and Papa were in town this past weekend, and we sure enjoyed our visit with them! Papa took the big kids to fly kites Friday and Saturday, and Saturday, we all ventured our for some photo taking.

Here are Walker and his buddy...

Kathryn, Frances and me or "the girls" as Kathryn would say!

Little Miss playing at home. Nana brought down this sweet outfit perfect for this time of year and for our upcoming Easter Egg Hunts. Frances is blessed to have two older girl cousins who had some very cute clothes. Thank you Aunt Amy for passing them along.

A few more pictures of Frances...We don't really have that many of her, so thank you Nana for taking these!

Our Little Patient

2011-04-02T14:56:00.000-07:00

If you feel so lead, please keep our "firstborn", Georgia, in your prayers. She had major surgery to remove a lump from her abdomen this past Wednesday. Results won't be in until next week, but all signs point to mammary cancer. We are praying for the best for her which ultimately may include simply keeping her comfortable and loving her for as many days as the Lord allows.

She wasn't too thrilled with my picture taking, but hopefully, I can get some better ones as our little patient recovers over the next week!

The Most Wonderful Time of the Year

2011-03-26T05:48:00.000-07:00

I confess. I'm a seasonal decorator--Thanksgiving, Christmas, even an occasional Halloween or Valentine's Day. But if I had to choose the holiday I enjoy decorating for the most, it would have to be Easter!

Maybe it's all the "Spring" that is springing up everywhere that motivates me. Maybe it's simply that I love me some chicks, bunnies and the like. Either way, I have some how accumulated a box-load of bunnies, Easter grass, decorative eggs, baskets, etc. so I thought I would share a few of my favorite things!

via Party of Tew Designs