Let the Season Begin

October 1st seemed like the perfect day to enjoy my first one of these...

PUMPKIN SPICE LATTE! YUM!

I am sure this is the first of many for this fall season! Happy Fall, Ya'll!

Spanish according to Walker and Kathryn

Walker and Kathryn have Spanish class this year, and they are really amazing us with their grasp of the Spanish language. For example, they are currently learning the colors in Spanish.

They must really be overachievers because they have also picked up a few words on their own. According to Kathryn and Walker, the Spanish word for night is space (as in outer space). And Kathryn informed me yesterday that the Spanish word for acorn is nut!

I think they are slowly grasping the idea of translation, but with their own little flair! That doesn't surprise me coming from these two:)

Two Little Hurricanes

The rainy weather this past Saturday necessitated a trip to the McWane Center, a great place to expend energy on a yucky day! I loved these pictures of Walker and Kathryn in the hurricane simulator.
I won't lie. There are days these two act like little hurricanes, running here and there with speed, leaving me feeling all tousled and making my hair stand straight up!

Go Greek!

Did you know I like Greek food? In fact, I really LIKE it. So much so that whenever I see a sign like this, you can bet I'll be there!

Maybe I should say, I'll TRY to be there. You see, I really haven't been to a Greek festival in, well, about 6 years. There was this one time in Memphis, when my sweet husband attempted to take me. We only had one available night during the entire festival that we could go, so the kids and I were going to meet Matt after work to walk around the festival and enjoy some Greek food. We parked, we walked and we got there only to find out you had to have cash.

Well, neither Matt nor I EVER have cash on hand. And in a crazy twist of fate, Matt didn't have his ATM card either. I did have the checkbook, but our attempt to cash a check at the local grocery store failed. Sad to say, we had to load the kids up and drive to the local Mexican restuarant for dinner! Now, you know I love me some Mexican. But this particular night, I was REALLY, REALLY craving Greek food!

Fast forward to last night. The Greek Festival is in town, and guess what this wonderful festival has--A DRIVE THRU! GENIOUS! Matt had to attend a football game, so the kids and I loaded up in the car, drove downtown, and with a large stack of cash, I bought myself a fabulous Greek dinner!

I enjoyed it so much, I am tempted to go back tonight:) The good news is, if you live in this area, you can enjoy Greek food all year long. Here are a few of my local favorites...


Here are some more options for enjoying the Greek life all year round!

Classic Greek Key Bedding

Greek Key Towels

Greek Key Notepad

Greek Key Ribbon

Greek Key Belt

I think I might even learn to make baklava. Looking at this recipe, I think I can do it! Of course, a trip to the Greek Isles just might be my most preferred way to experience all things Greece!

A Yummy Recipe!

I don't think I've ever actually tried one of Giada de Laurentiis' recipes nor have I ever made orzo, but this one is too good not to share!

Tri-Colore Orzo

Ingredients

1 pound orzo pasta
3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, plus 1/4 cup
2 cups fresh arugula (about 3 ounces)
3/4 cup crumbled ricotta salata cheese (or feta cheese)
1/2 cup dried cherries
12 fresh basil leaves, torn
1/4 cup toasted pine nuts
3 tablespoons lemon juice 1 1/2 teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Directions
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over high heat. Add the pasta and cook until tender but still firm the bite, stirring occasionally, about 8 to 10 minutes.

Drain pasta and put the pasta on a large cookie sheet. Drizzle the pasta with 3 tablespoons olive oil, toss, spread out, and set aside to cool.

Once the orzo is cool, transfer to a large serving bowl. Add the remaining ingredients and toss gently to combine.

If you know me, you know I improvised on a few things, so here goes...instead of arugula I used baby spinach and instead of dried cherries I used craisins. I also went real light on the basil (like maybe 3-4 leaves instead of 12...I'm not a huge basil fan).

Try it, and let me know what you think!

The Many Faces of Kathryn

Meet Snow White, I mean Kathryn.

I was not only lucky enough to have a picture taken with this lovely princess, but she gave me a kiss too:)

Somedays I wonder if she'll be a princess or maybe a chef??? Yes, that is pepper she's eating!

Or maybe a scientist???

Only the Lord knows what the future holds for this little princess/chef/scientist, but I have no doubt it will be a bright one!

"For I know the plans I have for you," says the Lord. "They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope." Jeremiah 29:11

Firstborn

Perhaps many of you have never met our firstborn. Maybe I should describe her for you...four legs, furry, wet nose, pointy ears. Wait, here's a picture...


That's her--Georgia the cat. Today at school, the kiddos had to take a picture of their pet for show and tell. The fact that the most recent picture I have of Georgia is circa 2006 shows just how quickly pets can take a back seat when babies arrive on the scene.

As shown in the first photo, when I first got Georgia, her days were spent lounging in her cat seat watching the birds and squirrels crawl across the power lines outside the second story window.

When we moved to our first house, it was Georgia who dominated our "first snow" pictures and our holiday pictures.

But much like the picture of Georgia under the Christmas tree, her days are now spent hiding...desperately hiding from my two children. In fact, she only comes out at naptime and bedtime and that's no exaggeration!

So, in honor of our pet, our firstborn, here's a post all about Georgia. And here's the photo the kids took to school to share with their classmates!

We love you, Georgia!