Cruisin' for Haircuts

It was haircut time in our house!  Both girls were in need...Lily was flat out desperate.  We headed down to Fayetteville to Pigtails & Crewcuts & the girls had a blast!  I'm not sure what was more impressive...the fact that both girls were so still & cooperative or the stylists who can cut a moving target!  If you are local & have kiddos I highly recommend them! 

Fun Chairs!

Lily thought the water was cold.

Aubrie watching Toy Story.  Genius!

New Summer Cuts.

Rachel

~Tasty Tuesday~

Do you salt your watermelon?  I personally do not; but I can appreciate those who do.  My Grandma Raye ate her watermelon with a salt shaker right next to her & Bferg also enjoys salting.  There isn't really a recipe to today's Tasty Tuesday; just a suggested salad.  The feta cheese adds the salt component & the balsamic reduction adds a sweet element that works well with the sweet watermelon.

Watermelon & Feta Salad
Bed of greens (I used 1/2 of mixed greens & 1/2 arugula)
Cubes of fresh watermelon
Feta cheese crumbles

Balsamic Vinegar Reduction Dressing
Bring to boil 3/4 Cup of balsamic vinegar.  Boil until it reduces down to a thick consistency but not quite syrupy.

Assemble your salad.  Dress it & enjoy!  Healthy, light & perfect for a summer lunch or dinner.

Lily digging in without her fork!  Keeping it classy!

Enjoy!

Rachel

Favorite Thing Friday!

This week's favorite thing is a compilation of some of my favorite things.

Bferg.
A great dinner out.
A magnificent view.
A beautiful sunset.

We went to The Horizon for our anniversary dinner this year.  The food was great, the view was spectacular & my date was hot!  :)
Here are pictures from our sunset.

Happy Friday! 

Rachel

I Still Do!

Happy Anniversary to Us!  Eight years together.  Eight!  That is 2,920 days as a married couple.  And every one of those days I have felt cherished, loved & honored by my husband!  I am blessed beyond belief!  Our marriage isn't perfect, but our foundation is built on Christ & He alone has helped us weather the "storms" of life.  Our love is deeper now than 06.21.2003 & I would not have taken a single short cut to get to where we are today. 
I immensely love & respect my husband!  Thank you Brett for loving me for me & for making me a better me!  I love doing life together! 

Here's to the next 2,920+ days together!
Love you Brett!

Rachel

Happy Father's Day!

I have an amazing husband!  Amazing.  All of the qualities that I find amazing in Brett as a husband are magnified x 1,000 as a dad.  Bferg is truly an amazing dad!  He is loving, patient, loyal, trustworthy, & absolutely devoted to leading our girls spiritually. 
Our girls adore their Daddy & while both have different relationships with him there is one common theme: Unconditional Love!  I love you Brett & love how you parent our girls! 
Today I am celebrating you.

First Time Daddy!

A little more relaxed in Round #2.  :)

He brings wonder into their lives.

He helps them see...important things.

He carries the load.

He keeps them on their feet.

He leads by example.

Joy & love are written on his face.

Happy Father's Day!  We love you Daddy!

 Celebrate the Fathers in your life this weekend!  I am blessed to have a loving, devoted one of my own & I am thankful to God that my girls do too!

Rachel

10-2, 10-2, Drift, Mend, Drift (Repeat)

Catchy title, huh?  I said this little phrase at least 500 times in my head yesterday & probably a few times out loud.  Bferg fulfilled his birthday wish from February & took me fly fishing.  Yes, he took a vacation day to patiently teach his extreme Type A personality wife a very detailed & technical sport.  My casting needs some work & I have to work on must get over my fear of touching/holding fish but I did good enough to catch a few.  (More than Bferg, but he did spend much of his time de-tangling my line, tying on new flies after I broke them off & being my personal photographer...so his actual fishing time was limited.  And I am pretty sure that I was the only one keeping score.)

Got one!

My First Catch of the Day!

This is why I don't like to hold them!  Slippery, squirmy little guys!

I really look like I know what I'm doing...it is all in the photography.

My cute Fly Fisherman.

I'm already looking forward to our next trip out to fish.  I've tasted just enough of the sport to know that I want more!!!!  This could lead to issues if Bferg's fishing time turns into "the guys + the wife" time!  :)  Just kidding.  I know the boundaries & the unwritten guy code.

Thanks for your patience Bferg & for touching/de-hooking all my fish.  I had a blast & love our time spent together!

Rachel

Livin' Like It's 2006...Before Kids!

We have been kid free since Friday at 5:47p.m.  Where did we go?  What big kid-free adventure did we have planned?  No where & nothing are the answers to that.  We spent a relaxing weekend at home with each other where the only thing planned was to savor the quiet.  Being at home without two pre-school aged girls is, in one word, "weird".  If you want three words, I'd say, "a good weird".
We started Saturday off at our local Farmer's Market.  We strolled the streets of downtown Bentonville with coffee cups in hand instead of a stroller.

We stopped in multiple Antique Stores where I never once had to remind or exclaim, "No touch.!.!.!"  We had a romantic dinner for two at a new local restaurant & ordered both an appetizer & a dessert because we weren't paying for a babysitter.   We held hands & listened to jazz in the park.  We remembered how fun just the two of us are & how much we really do enjoy & love each other.
We gave this big buddy a lot of love playing the never ending until you go inside game of fetch.

We headed out to the Lake on Sunday where I packed the lightest & least amount in the last 3 1/2 years.  Two towels, sunscreen & lip balm.  No swim diapers, no extra diapers, no little life jackets, no extra clothes, no sippy cups & no toys.  Although, I wasn't officially on duty; I did manage to find my inner Mom & question my 26 year old brother-in-law (who has a wife!) as to his sunscreen application on his face.  (Sorry Jferg!  Can't take the MOM out of me completely!)

This morning I met my sweet sister-in-law, Lindsey, where we pampered our feet & toes with a pedicure.  I was really thankful that we scheduled our girl time because truth be told I am going CRAZY today in my quiet, perfectly clean house without my girls!  I cannot wait to pick them up tomorrow night!!!

I know that they are having a fantastic time in MO with Grammy & Papa.  I am so thankful that my parents have a great relationship with my girls & want to be such a big part of their lives!  I am also really thankful for the break as a Mommy.  I LOVE them to death...but they sure can wear a girl out!


Rachel

~Tasty Tuesday~

Thai food.  We love it in our house.  This recipe is one that I morphed off of a recipe from BH&G June's issue & a dear friend who makes an amazing peanut dressing.  If you like lime, cilantro, a little bit of spice & peanuts you will LOVE this recipe!  Trust me.

Thai Chicken Tacos
1 Pound boneless, skinless Chicken breasts or tenders, cut into 1/2 to 3/4 inch pieces
1 Lime, juiced
1/4 Cup fresh Cilantro, chopped
2-3 Green Onions, chopped
2 Cloves Garlic, minced
1 Tbs. Soy Sauce
1/2 - 1 tsp. Crushed Red Pepper Flakes
1/2 - 1 tsp. Hot Chili Sauce (such as Sriracha)

Mix together all the above ingredients in a large bowl.  Cover & let marinate an hour in refrigerator.
In large skillet, heat 2 Tbs Vegetable Oil over medium-high heat.  Add chicken mixture.  Cook 5-7 minutes or until chicken is done, stirring occasionally.
To Serve: Warm flour (or corn) tortillas, top with chicken & a cabbage slaw (I just used a store bought bag & added a chopped green onion to it).  Drizzle with peanut dressing (recipe below) & top with chopped peanuts (optional).

Peanut Dressing
1/8 Cup Apple Cider Vinegar
3 Tbs. Soy Sauce
1 Tbs. Honey
1 Clove Garlic, minced
1/4 Cup Peanut Butter
Salt & Pepper to taste

Mix together & then slowly whisk in 1/2 Cup Olive Oil until smooth.
(This can be made ahead of time.)

I know that this sounds labor intensive.  I promise you that it isn't.  I made it all ahead of time (during naptime :) formed an assembly line while the chicken was cooking & then we filled our tortillas.  The chicken mixture would be great without the peanut sauce added to it & it would also be great as a lettuce wrap.  The possibilities are endless!

Enjoy!

Rachel

Girls Just Wanna Have Bats!?!?

We went to our town's First Friday Street Festival last week to start off our weekend.  Pony rides, face painting & a huge inflated slide. It is always fun & once again this month didn't disappoint. 
The girls asked to get their faces painted & Aubrie knew exactly what she wanted.
 Batman.  Batman?  Yes, Batman.  At least she asked for it in pink!  (Okay...so I might have suggested she get it done in pink after my efforts to have her choose something girly were thwarted! :)  

And of course what big sister gets little sister wants.
"Me match Haubie" was the exact quote.

Isn't this precious?!?!

We left the fairy princess booth with two pink bats (complete with sparkles) on two cute cheeks & they showed them off to anyone who cared!

Rachel

Favorite Thing Friday

"He is the standard for your holiness, and He is the source of your holiness."

"Your holiness is God's supreme purpose for your life."

"It is your created purpose and your ultimate destiny to be holy."

All three of these quotes are from Nancy Leigh DeMoss.  I have been meditating on all three all morning. I have much work to do in my spiritual journey. Very thankful that His mercies are new each morning....

Happy Friday!

Rachel

Last Day of School

Today (thanks to February snow days) was the girl's last day of Pre-School.  I honestly don't know where the school year went...but just that quick it is over.  I cried on the first day.  (Yes, I'll admit it.)  And I got really choked up today.  (Not because I will no longer have 4 glorious hours to myself once a week.  Although that might have something to do with it.  :)  I got the knot in the back of my throat because I am SO proud of my girls!  They are truly growing up too quickly.

Last Day Smiles!

 When Aubrielle started school back in September she was quiet, shy & had to have Lily dropped off first so she could delay her entrance into her room.  Over the past 9 months I have watched her grow into a little girl full of confidence.  She has become assertive & a very disciplined rule follower.  (She might get that from me!?!?! :)  I have watched her become friends with new kids & be a leader amongst the group.  (That she gets from her Daddy.)  We love you Aubrielle and we are SO proud of all your accomplishments this year!

September 2010

September 2010

Back in September Lily was just an 18 month old little girl.  She had no clue she was going to school.  She just knew she got to carry a lunch box that matched her big sister's.  She has made more of a change physically than emotionally.  Her little "baby" looks have changed into those more of a little girl.  She finishes her school year potty-trained & speaking in full sentences (that we are able to make out every word 80% of the time).  Her biggest accomplishment of the school year besides her colors might be that she has learned to leave her shoes on & her hairbow in!  :)  We love you Lily & love your strong independent spirit!  You have made us very proud!

We are looking forward to a FUN summer!

Rachel

Wordless Wednesday {Well...Almost}

Just a few words to set up the following pictures.  Sunday at the Aquarium we wanted a group picture with all the kids sitting on a big brass alligator.  It was hot, it was windy & Lily was over the whole experience.  We asked her to come sit with all the kids & this is what we got.

Can't really blame her.  It was hot, the alligator was hot & she had walked nearly the entire time inside the Aquarium.

Bferg did his best to try & coax her over to the group & that is when she proceeded to turn her back on him!  It was hilarious!  We don't normally condone that type of complete defiance but we all couldn't help but crack up!


Oh Lily Katherine...you are a "hot mess" as your Daddy likes to call you!  We love your sassy side!  (We just pray everyday for wisdom on how to parent it! :)

Rachel