These Two

I love when babies get about 6+ months old and their personalities start to really blossom!

Not that I don't love the newborn stage but the 6+ month stage brings new elements I really enjoy.

Ansley cracks me up-- she always wants to be around Avery.

Every morning when we wake up I get Avery a cup of 'bunny' (aka milk) while I get breakfast going.

Ansley always wants Avery's cup.  So I got smart (well, somewhat) and got Ansley her own cup with water so she wouldn't take Avery's.

But still Avery's cup is better! & for the most part Avery is a good sport about it!

Morning Cuddling

(melts mommy's heart)

Ansley's first pump knot!  So stinkin' CUTE!

Playing peek-a-boo with big sis

Avery and her babies! THEY ARE REAL!

She acknowledges them each by name and even feeds them.

I walked in the other day before she was laying them down for a nap and she had pinky pie under her shirt feeding her...

I think I too may be entering into this imaginary world, or we've watched too much Toy Story or maybe I'm going crazy you tell me...

For the longest time Sunshine Bear has been her special toy. Special as in I don't make her share it and it goes everywhere with us.  Recently she rediscovered her Pinky Pie Pony which is a little cooler than Sunshine (who only rattles).  Pinky Pie talks when you press her feet, and makes a sucking sound when you place a bottle in her mouth.  Well, we have a rule when we go somewhere that we only take one thing/toy with us.  Otherwise our car would end up a disaster area!  The other day she wanted to take them both and I told her just one.  This time she chose Pinky Pie ( previously its always been Sunshine Bear).  My first thought was about poor Woody and how he felt when Andy chose Buzz over him and do you know what I did?!?!  I let her take BOTH of them...

I think I really might be going crazy...

This month Avery has been working on her Articles of Faith

Daddy and her come up with pictures to help her remember the words on her glow board.

Ansley wanting out!

I love finding them in the mornings-

Sometimes Avery is laying in her bed telling Ansley to be quiet.

Other times Avery is throwing toys into the crib for Ansley and they are both laughing hysterically:)

Miss Ansley got her first haircut!  & now I'm dying for the sides to get longer so I can give a full A-line Bob!  Look at her pulling herself up and those yummy rolls!

These two

Rock our World!!!!

My Valentine

Doesn't get much hotter than this:

 Man I love him!

We enjoyed our Valentine's celebration a few days early and got a babysitter so we could go see "Just Go With It!"  We have both been waiting for this to come out & it was HILARIOUS!!!  After the movie we came home, relieved the babysitter and grabbed the girls to go get some Krispy Kreme Valentine's Donuts!  They were Delicious!  Hope you all had a Happy Valentine's Day!

Going Down in the Books

I've joined a virtual quilting bee started by one of my friends here.  The pinwheel block above is my very first quilting block ever!!!  (I only had to use my seam ripper three times!)  This month is an elephant applique quilt block which I am working on now.  Visit 12squared.blogspot.com to see some of the creative quilt blocks done by some of the ladies in our group!

After telling my sister, Rose, about this she wanted to start another one of our own.  So we put together a group of friends and family who sew/like to sew and so now I'm in two quilting groups and loving every minute of it!  The block for our "Material Girls" quilting group was the churn dash and this is how mine turned out:  To see more of our groups blocks visit www.sewincorporated.blogspot.com

After doing these I got brave and decided I wanted to make an article of clothing.  A friend of mine had this adorable twirl skirt pattern she got from etsy, so I made one for Avery.  Avery is in love with it and I'm pretty proud!  (I need a pic with her in it!)  I think I'll go get more of this fabric and make a small matching one for Ansley

& last of my accomplishments to boast about-

We went to a dessert bake off for Valentine's with some other students and their families.

Each family was to bring a dessert to enter into the bake off-

I picked to make one of my favs:  Key Lime Cake (a recipe I got from a Better Homes and Garden Magazine)  & Guess who took first prize?!?!  ME!!!!!!  I was in shock!

I wasn't even going to post about this but when I told my sister about it the first thing she said was, "are you serious, you mean you didn't burn it, and people liked it?!?"  In her words, "This needs to go down in the books Rachel! I'm so proud of you!"  HA HA  

At the moment I'm feeling like & telling myself I am a Domestic Goddess! *Sigh*

 Recipe For Key Lime Cake:

- 1 3oz package of lime-flavored gelatin

-1 1/3 cups granulated sugar

-2 cups sifted all purpose flour

-1/2 tsp salt

-1 tsp baking powder

-1 tsp baking soda

-5 large eggs slightly beaten

-1 1/2 cups vegetable oil

-3/4 cups orange juice

-1 Tbs lemon juice

-1/2 tsp vanilla extract

-1/2 cup key lime juice (squeezed from 4 large regular limes or 25 small key limes)

-1/2 cup confectioners sugar

Icing:

1 8 oz package cream cheese

16 oz confectioners sugar

1 stick unsalted butter

Preheat oven to 350. Grease and flour three (I did 2 and made mini cupcakes with the rest) 9 inch round cake pans.  In a large mixing bowl, mix gelatin, sugar, flour salt, baking powder, and baking soda.  Stir to mix well.  Add the eggs, oil, orange juice, and vanilla.  Divide the batter evenly among the 3 pans and bake for 35-40 minutes.  Test for doneness by lightly touching the tops of the layers or inserting a toothpick.  Cool the layers in the pans for 5 minutes, then turn them out onto racks.  While the layers are still hot, mix the lime juice and confectioners sugar and pour it over the layers on the racks.  You can pierce the layers with a fork to allow the glaze to soak in better. Allow the layers to cool completely as you prepare the icing.  Cream the butter and cream cheese.  Beat in the confectioners sugar until the mixture is smooth and easy to spread.  Spread the icing between the layers and on the top and sides of the cake.

& my Cuties making my deal of the month look BEAUTIFUL!

I got these two matching dresses for the girls for $6 each!!!

(Gotta love when Old Navy takes an extra 50% off their already reduced clearance prices!!!)

Arkansas "Blizzard"

Within the past month we have seen so much snow!  Yesterday we got our second snow storm or southern "blizzard" (for you Abbey) of 6+ inches of snow!!!!  & last weekend we received a little over an inch.  Although I'm ready for days at the lake with the sun beating down on me as I listen to some Kenny Chesney or Tim McGraw (ahhh that sounds so good) its been nice to have the extra time with Daddy.    

Since our first snow Joey has really wanted to go sledding.  When he mentioned it yesterday morning, Avery quickly asked, "What is sledding?"  From that moment on we were bound to find something to work as a sled.  (They are hard to come by here especially when snow is in the forecast)

So this is what my clever husband came up with:

Just an ordinary saucer for the baby...

 Makes for a pretty awesome sled!!!!!!!

We lasted quite a while!

& even Ansley took a turn

These are taken later in the evening-

Avery loved making snow angels &

I still can not believe how much snow!

A short clip of Joey and Avery going down the hill

(please ignore my obnoxious laugh... is it just me or does it make everyone as uncomfortable as it makes me to hear myself on audio?!)