Trey's Birthday Week

Not only did we celebrate Trey's birthday DAY all day long, but we actually celebrated Trey's birthday for almost an entire week...

First, the Wednesday before Trey's big day, we celebrated February birthdays at church with cake AND brownies!!! I didn't get too many pictures because the big kids were in a hurry to eat and run outside and play. The little ones were a little more cooperative though.

Then the Sunday after Trey's birthday, we had ice cream cake at Papa and Ah-ee's to celebrate!

Finally, on Monday, dear ole Daddy and Mommy treated Trey's class to pizza and cupcakes in celebration of the birthday boy!

So, 3 cakes, cupcakes, ice cream, and brownies later and we're still not done! We will be celebrating Trey and Jesse's birthdays together at their party in March with another cake of course! Wow! How lucky can one 8 year old be???

Flashback Friday: Trey's Nursery

Our first child was coming and I had BIG plans for his nursery, which is ironic now because Trey actually spent very little time in his nursery and it was one of the least used rooms in our home. I can count on two hands the number of times Trey actually slept in the crib. And all his toys were in the living room. However, it didn't matter how much or how little we used the nursery, I wanted it to be perfect. And in the end it was...just like I wanted it.

Our theme was Alphabet Pooh. I picked out the pattern at BabiesRUs, but unfortuently when we went to buy it, it had been discontinued. They had some things, but not every thing. Like curtains! My sweet, sweet hubby spent his lunch hour (plus some) at BabiesRUs the next week searching the internet with a sales associate looking for all the missing pieces. And they found them in Baton Rouge. So my sweet, sweet hubby had them shipped. He did everything in the nursery just the way I wanted it...the crowne molding, the wains coting, the corner shelves, Pooh knobs on the closet and dresser, painting, everything! Well, almost everything. He painted the walls exactly the way I wanted them. I wanted the walls to look like a forest. Phil actually had planned to "blend" the colors a little more, but I walked in after he had gotten the first three colors on and he said he knew by the look on my face that it was perfect! And it was, the perfect backdrop for my Mama to add some Winnie the Pooh scenes. I've shared the amazing murals my Mama has done in other nurseries...well, Trey's was her first nursery and she did a wonderful job adding Pooh and friends over the crib, changing table, and by the closet.


When we moved away from our first home, I hated to leave that nursery. Although, we never used it, except to change diapers and store all his many, many clothes, it was my perfect nursery and I knew there would never be another one like it. And there hasn't been. For while I spent hours on the internet buying Pooh light switch plates, and Pooh knobs to replace the ordinary ones on the dresser and closet, Pooh bookends, Pooh lamps, and well everything Pooh, my poor, sweet Jesse didn't even have a nursery. He slept in our room in the cradle, the playpen, and the bed, and shared a dresser and closet with his big brother. However, one day we will build our house...and then, Trey and Jesse are going to get the most fantastic mural they can imagine. In their playroom! (Although, by then they may be so old that it may be a game room instead of a playroom:-)

Wordless Wednesday

Mixing up Trey's special birthday cake...

Tasty Tuesday: Cream Cheese Sausage Roll

It is rare to find a recipe that BOTH my boys love, but there are one or two out there. Great for breakfast or for a finger food at parties, my boys will gobble these up any time! Almost everyone who tries them loves them and requests the recipe.


1 lb sausage of your choice (I use Lee's mild)
1 8 oz cream cheese
2 pkg crescent rolls

Cook sausage until done. I sometimes add about a teaspoon of dry mustard to the sausage. Take the sausage off the burner and stir in the cream cheese until it is mixed well. Roll out the crescent rolls in one rectangle shape. I usually place the crescent rolls on plastic wrap, "smush" the creases together, and roll with a rolling pin. Spoon the sausage measure along one of the "long" sides of the crescent roll rectangle. Starting at the side with the sausage mixture, roll up the rectangle into a long cylinder. Wrap the cylinder in the plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight. Slice the crescent roll cylinder into small circles and place on cookie sheet. Bake at 350 degrees until light brown.

Trey's 8th Birthday

And what a birthday it was!!! February 6, 2010 fell on a Saturday and being as it was Trey's 8th birthday, it was a very busy Saturday indeed! Trey got up Saturday morning and went to town to get breakfast with Daddy. While eating he lost a top tooth...so the tooth fairy made a special birthday visit this year!

Later, Trey had a visit from Papa Mitchel and Ah-ee and they brought a gift!!! The Lego Star Wars game for the Wii! Trey was very pleased!

Such intense concentration.

Putting the purple bow in Papa's hair:-)

Then it was off to Dairy Queen for an ice cream celebration with Grandma Gwen, Aunt Janie, Cora Jane, Vera Kate, and Whitman!

That night Daddy and Trey attended the Men's Wild Game Supper at church.

Once Daddy and Trey came home, it was time for the birthday boy's specially requested chocolate cake with chocolate icing and chocolate sprinkles.
Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you, happy birthday dear TREY, happy birthday to you!

And finally a present from Mama, Daddy, and Jesse...Lego Batman for the DS!

Wordless Wednesday

~ My Jesse ~

~ Can always bring a smile to my face. ~

~ February 6, 2010 ~

Date Night...well, sorta

We don't get many opportunities to get dressed up and go out around here...especially during the week. However, Phil had to present an award at the Chamber of Commerce Awards Ceremony last Tuesday, so we got to dress up and hit the party for a date night. We enjoyed wonderful food and listening to guest speak Barbara Dooley and her husband Vince, and most of all just getting out of the house for a change:-)

My fabulous hubby and myself before heading out.

Jesse wanted to take a picture with Mama and Daddy:-)

Vince and Barbara Dooley

Barbara taking her final bow after singing I Just Called to Say I Love You.

Phil presented the Industry of the Year Award to Bacon County Hospital System.

Barbara Dooley spoke at length about counting your blessings, and showing love to one another. She ended her speech by asking the audience to join her in singing I Just Called to Say I Love You. She encouraged us to not postpone telling those around us that we love them. Two days later this devotion arrived in my inbox that totally reminded me of me and my hubby. We are definitely mismatched candlesticks. Luckily, our differences compliment each other, rather than cause strife (most of the time anyway). And I can say without hesitation, that my hubby never forgets, gets too busy, or postpones telling me that he loves me! Thank you Lord for blessing me with my best friend as my husband. May I always remember to treasure him.

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.
Ephesians 1:3

Hinson's Nursery

As we anxiously await the arrival of my new nephew, Hinson, I thought I would share the mural my talented Mama painted in his nursery.

Praising the Lord in Song

These children constantly amaze me with their gifts and talents. And when they use them to praise the Lord, it's wonderfully amazing!

God's Musicians

Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.
Proverbs 22:6

Where has the time gone?

It's hard to believe that my Trey is 8 years old today! It seems like only yesterday, we found out we were expecting him! I can't believe how the time has flown, and my little tiny peanut has turned into a wonderful, loving, sweet, handsome, caring big boy! I am so proud of him and I love him more every day!
Happy Birthday Trey!!!

From this...Our little peanut at 9 weeks pregnant ~ July 10, 2001

And again at 20 weeks pregnant, when we found out he was a BOY! ~ September 26, 2001

To this... Just born and still under the heating lamp ~ February 6, 2002

At home, about 2 weeks old ~ February 20, 2002

And now this...
Today after losing his other front tooth ~ February 6, 2010

Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward.
Psalm 127:3
Thank you Lord for blessing my life with Trey. I pray that You will continue to watch over him all the days of his life. I pray that he grows into a strong, loving, caring man whose love for You surpasses all the things of this earth. I pray that You will continue to grow his gifts and talents, and that Trey will use those gifts and talents to bring praise and blessings unto You. I pray for his safety, his health, and that all his many dreams come true.
Amen

Great is thy Lord...

and greatly to be praised
Psalm 48:1a

As always, our Joyful Noiz Choir did a wonderful job singing their praises unto our Lord...

Joshua fought the battle of Jericho

This is the day that the LORD has made

Tasty Tuesday: Hot Spinach and Artichoke Dip

A recipe that I stole from a friend, began making for kids birthday parties and other gatherings, found that EVERYBODY loved it, and was recently requested for a blog entry:

Hot Spinach & Artichoke Dip

2 boxes frozen chopped spinach, thawed & drained well
1 can artichoke hearts in regular juice
1 small onion, diced and sautéed
1 cup mayonnaise (I usually use a little extra)
1 cup sour cream
½ cup grated parmesan cheese
20+ oz. Monterey Jack cheese (Colby & Jack mixed works well, too) plus
some to sprinkle over top.

Drain most of the juice off the artichokes and chop/mash them as mushy as possible. Add spinach. Add onion. Add mayo & sour cream (I add about 1/3 of a block of cream cheese, too if I have it). Mix in both cheeses. Season to taste with garlic powder, black pepper, Tabasco, & a pinch of cayenne pepper. Mix well. It should be “gushy”. If not, add more sour cream & mayo. Sprinkle Monterey Jack over top. Can be garnished with red pepper flakes and/or paprika (I usually don’t do either).
Bake at 350° for 30-40 minutes.