Fridays on the Front Porch

Tonight we went to "Fridays on the Front Porch" at the Carolina Inn - an old historic inn in chapel hill. They have blue grass bands come and set up out on the lawn every Friday night during the summer. You can bring chairs and blankets and picnics and let the kids dance their hearts out! ours love it and wear themselves out....christa and the girls

griffins new BFF - Dr. Connolly (one of brent's attendings)

Avery dancing with Anna Claire and Gracie

Busy Days

We have had a really busy and hectic last week. I worked Thursday, Saturday, and Tuesday - which is a lot for me! The kids had 4 different babysitters in a 72 hour period!!! And Avery has since announced that she doesn't want any more friends (aka: babysitters) to come over. And she told me (again) today that she doesn't want to go anywhere else!! (she just wants to stay home!!)

Avery did VBS this week at the church where she did Parents Morning Out this past year. Her best friend Carter went as well. She has seemed to really enjoy it - came home with paint on her clothes every day - and took a good nap every afternoon (which she has been trying to give up)!

avery and carter

She is also doing swimming lessons every evening at a neighborhood pool. We made a major advance last night - she is voluntarily putting her head under water!!! We have 1 more week of lessons so we'll see how she does...

swimming on the noodle

preparing to jump

jumping to mr john

Budding Artists

Avery got a double-sided art easel for her birthday and we've really gotten into "projects" lately. We have quite an array of chalk, markers, crayons, and paints with which our masterpieces are made...and I must say that I am extremely thankful for Crayola's invention of WASHABLE products!! (it comes off skin, clothes, the deck, and even my coffee table! ) I've started taking the easel out on the back deck - its shaded so not too hot - and then i don't have to worry about what drips where...and I can throw the kids in the baby pool afterward and consider them bathed!! Summer is wonderful!

griffy did really well until he realized he could paint his own arm!!

I forgot one!!

this one is for those seeking a vegetarian meal!!

Grilled Eggplant Parmesan
8 slices eggplant (3/4 inch think)
salt/pepper
1/4 cup olive oil
2 garlic cloves, minced
2/3 cup grated Parmesan
2/3 cup shredded mozzarella
4 medium Roma tomatoes, thinly sliced
1/4 cup finely shredded basil
3 cups hot, cooked whole wheat angel hair pasta

Sprinkle eggplant with salt/pepper. Combine olive oil and garlic. Reserve one TBS and then spread remaining on both sides of eggplant slices. Toss together mozzarella and Parmesan. Grill eggplant on medium heat for 5 minutes. Turn slices over and sprinkle with 1/2 the cheese. Top with tomatoes and remaining cheese. Grill 2-3 more minutes until eggplant is tender and cheese is melted. Top with shredded basil before serving. Toss cooked pasta with reserved olive oil and garlic mixture. Serve eggplant over pasta mixture.

I'll trade ya!

I'm posting a few recipes that we enjoy and that our kids eat! I'll love any that you have as well!

Pasta with Chicken, Roasted Peppers, and Feta
2 cloves garlic, minced
1.4 cup olive oil, divided
1 jar (12 oz) roasted red peppers, drained and finely chopped
Chicken breast - cooked and shredded (i use a rotisserie chicken)
8 oz bowtie pasta
4 oz of crumbled feta
1 TBSP chopped fresh parsley

Cook pasta according to instructions on package. Cook garlic in 2TBSP olive oil for 3 minutes. add peppers, chicken breast and remaining oil. cook 2 minutes or until heated through. toss veggie mixture with hot pasta and feta. Sprinkle with parsley.


Pecan-crusted Chicken tenders
16 saltines, finely crushed
1/4 cup pecans, ground
2 tsp paprika
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper
2 egg whites
cooking spray
1 1/2 lbs chicken tenders
1/4 cup flour

Preheat oven to 425. Stir together crackers, pecans, and next 4 ingredients. whisk egg whites until foamy. place wire rack on cooking sheet lined with tin foil. spray rack with cooking spray. dredge chicken in flour. dip in egg white. dredge in saltine mixture. lightly coat tender in cooking spray. arrange on wire rack. bake for 18-20 minutes, turning once after 12 minutes.

Southwestern Salad
8 oz wagon wheel pasta
1 cup corn kernels
1 cup black beans, rinsed
1 cup fajita style chicken strips (can use grilled chicken or rotisserie)
1 pint graped tomatoes, halved
2 TBS fresh cilantro, chopped

Dressing: juice of 1 large lime, 2 TBS honey, 1-2 tsp chili powder, salt/pepper to taste, 1/4 cup canola oil

Cook pasta according to package. drain rinse under cool water. put in large serving bowl and add remaining ingredients. Pour dressing over pasta mixture and stir well.


ENJOY!

Avery Turns 3!

Happy Birthday Avery!!!

she loves her cooking set gammy!

Today we celebrated Avery's 3rd birthday - very hard to believe! We are kind of celebrating all week - we had our "party" last weekend in jasper with my family, opened presents from aunt Cara and from gammy last night, celebrated today with mommy and daddy, and then we're having a little party on Saturday with a few friends.

she's been living in costume!

Avery requested "chicken fil-a lemonade" today so we stopped by and had that for lunch (on a side note, we went to walmart this morning and a very LARGE LADY checked us out. Avery announced not once, but twice "that MAN has a HUGE belly!!!)...and after naps (which she never actually took), she started anxiously awaiting daddy to come home so she could open presents! He showed up with a "white bagel" - also know as a powdered sugar donut - and made her day! She has been hysterical and so animated. It has been a blast to watch!

budding artists?

Weekend in Jasper

We had a busy visit to ATL - but it was wonderful...time with family, a trip to the aquarium, play date with my high school friends, braves game (thanks for the night out Lindsay!)...and then we finished off our days in Atlanta with a pedicure for me (more importantly, an hour to sit and read my book - painted toes were a bonus!), and a few rounds of golf for Brent! We were both in need of some time off so it was really enjoyed.

Then Brent and I took the kids down to Jasper on Thursday morning for a long weekend. Nina and Big Daddy joined us Thursday night and then Peyton/Ann/Addison came down Saturday around lunch. We had a great time. Lots of swimming in the lake; the kids loved the boat; Avery tried to fish; and eventually, they both loved the 4 wheelers. Griffin was stone-faced and serious when riding but he cried if you didn't take him on a ride!

Avery turns 3 tomorrow and Addison turns 2 next week so we celebrated the girls birthday while they were together. Aunt Ann made yummy cupcakes and we had birthday hats and candles (both per Avery's request!).

Addie gave Avery a suitcase of "Fancy Nancy" dress up clothes and she has been wearing them ever since. We were able to con her into sharing an item or 2 with Addie!

The grand finale for our trip was the 26th annual Shady Dale Rodeo!!! Mom/Mike kept Griffy so that we could take Avery. She loved the horses and cows but not the "scary men" - rodeo clowns! She and Addie managed to stay up until 11:00 PM!!!

Now it back to life, back to reality!!! We thoroughly enjoyed our week! Thanks to all who were involved! We enjoyed our time with everyone!

Movie Time

Brent took Avery to see her first movie in the theatre today! She was really excited even though she had no clue what a theatre was...they went to see the new Disney Pixar movie "Up" - and its 3D so they got to wear the glasses and everything!

ATL Aquarium

We spent a few hours yesterday down at the Atlanta aquarium and had a blast. Avery was especially intrigued with the turtles and alligators...Both kids loved to stand up in the windows and just stare at the fish. Griffy got a little restless, mainly because he just wanted to be loose - but Avery could have stayed another hour at least. Some of these pics are dark because the lighting was bad and no flashes were allowed at some points...

in front of the big aquarium

avery and the jelly fish