Sisters Week III

Saying bye to Auntie D.

I have the most awesome sisters ever.

Unfortunately I didn't get a lot of pictures the rest of the day. We were pretty pooped from all our running around. J and I fell asleep watching a movie that evening, woke up for an hour or so . . .

then went back to sleep!

The next morning - saying goodbye to Auntie J.

Dropping her off at the airport.

Them coming right back to get her because she missed her flight!

Which ended up being fun because we went to the mall until her next flight that afternoon.

Payton tried to go home with her.

Saying bye - for real this time!

We had such a great time and CANNOT wait until we have another trip like this planned again!

Sisters Week Part II

I woke up to a SnapChat from Jeannine. She and Payton were already up having tea (and cookies!).

Did I mention it was cold (but beautiful)?

This frozen fountain should give you an idea of the temperature outside.

In Downtown Franklin we came across the most amazing store, Philanthropy & Compassion. My favorite part was the Prayer Wall where you could write down a prayer request and hang it up for other people to pray for you . . . and to pray for the other requests already there.

Gigi (our mom) sent money for us to go and enjoy some Gigi's Cupcakes.

You can't see Ry's shirt but it says, "I love my aunt". Auntie J got it for him.

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Back home hanging out.

And having fun in the kitchen!

Oooohhh, we had breakfast at Loveless Cafe. The biscuits? A.MAZE.ING.

We met up with our cousin at a coffee shop (that he works at) in The Gulch.

While we were there, look who came in!

Gunner from Nashville (the tv show)! My sister was "taking a picture of Rylan" who somehow didn't end up in the picture at all! LOL!

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Then we went and walked around Downtown Nashville and Payton got serenaded by a band. (So sweet!)

View on YouTube

We ate at Jack's BBQ. Actually we all shared ONE plate. We were so full but still wanted to try it. So yummy!

The kids had been saving their allowance (and Payton had some Christmas money) and wanted to go to Build-a-Bear. Davese & Jeannine's kids missed the Build-a-Bear craze so I thought they would enjoy experiencing it with them.

Auntie D was packing up, getting ready to fly out the next morning and came out saying she was ready to go!

Payton said that she would FaceTime with me while she was gone.

Sisters Week

Both of my sisters came to visit for a few days. It was EPIC. I didn't get a lot of pictures (since we all were taking them) so here are (some of) the moments that I captured.

Davese came in on Tuesday afternoon from sunny and warm California. It was snowing (flurry or a snow shower I'm not sure which one) and her first comment was "What's all this white stuff?"

Here she is saying hi to the kids.

Then they needed a good tickle when we got home.

She brought Chris an In-n-Out burger and fries.

I think he almost cried.

Getting lots of snuggles!

The next morning we headed out . . .

to get breakfast at Cracker Barrel!

Then drove by the Bluebird Café. I was shocked at how small it was!

At Opry Mills shopping.

Then it was time to pick up Jeannine from the airport. She flew in from Denver, Colorado.

Picking the kids up from the bus.

Out to dinner at Burger Up.

Oh my was it FAN.TAS.TIC. I'm salivating just thinking about it again.

Back home in our jammies just being sisters.

We caught up on life, reminisced, and laughed. I am truly blessed to have this kind of relationship with them!

Twenty One Months

Says "hot"

Says orange, popcorn & please

Loves the Wheels on the Bus song & the Itsy Bitsy Spider

Makes lots of animal sounds

Loves "Ooo oooo aaa aaas" (monkies)

Says "Bible" & Jesus Loves (giggle giggle)

New Words

Rylan's vocabulary has taken off the past week. Of course I know what he's saying, but a stranger made still need some help with the translation.

Listen at the end  of this one he makes a grunting sound that I make when I am frustrated . . . They really DO pick up on everything we say/do!

When he slowly stopped signing "please", he began to say "wow" instead. I loved it.

That is until Thursday night when Chris told him to say "please" and he all of a sudden said it right.

He's growing up too fast!

I love when kids have their own way of saying things.  Just the other day I had to correct Dylan . . . He says "secret", "seagret".

Trader Joe's Chunky Tomato Soup

My favorite thing about Trader Joe's is the samples that they give out. 9 times out of 10 I really like what they are serving and end up buying it. Here is one of those "recipes" I tried recently.  I quoted that because it really isn't a recipe . . . More of a throw together. 

Trader Joe's Chunky Tomato Soup

1 box Trader Joe's Tomato & Roasted Red Pepper Soup

1/2 package Trader Joe's Cheese & Garlic Croutons

3/4 cup French Fried Onions (I already had some at home but Trader Joe's sells them as well.)

Before opening the soup, shake the box really well. Open and pour into a medium saucepan and bring to a slow simmer. (Don't leave it to boil over like I did. Huge mess - ugh!)

Turn off heat and add the croutons and Fried onions.  Stir until the croutons have slightly softened.

Serve and enjoy!

Remember this isn't a "recipe" so you can play with the amount of croutons and fried onions you add in. The croutons will absorb the liquid of the soup so keep that in mind as well.

Sometimes I like to serve soup in a big mug.  I don't know why, but the kids get a kick out of it!

Weekend at Papa & Sasha's

We headed down to Papa & Sasha's for the weekend. Having a movie and lollipops sure make the drive easy!

Although we've warmed up to the mid 50's, there was still some amazingly beautiful icicles hidden in the shadows of the granite walls along the freeway.

Sasha gave Payton one of her hats and I think she looks adorable it in!

(Yes, we were in the middle of Costco when I snapped that picture!)

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Sasha's birthday was earlier this week and we celebrated with a super yummy dinner!

She's a vegetarian so the steak was more for the rest of us, but she loves roasted vegetables (and so do I!).

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Dylan was reading before bed and Rylan crawled up in his lap with his own book to be just like him!

Heading back home! 

Chris hates when I take pictures of him driving . . .

I think he looks handsome.

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It was a fun, relaxing weekend just hanging out and enjoying family! Thanks Papa & Sasha for putting up with our noise, mess and crazy chaos!