Special Visitors

Since Hanna was in town for the weekend I thought it would be a good time to try out some new recipes.  I have been in a big slump lately when it comes to preparing actual meals, so this was a nice change, and John was busy most of the weekend so I had free range to make whatever I wanted (ie chicken or meat free dishes)! 

I had pinned several recipes I wanted to try, including this Four Cheese White Pizza.  I made a few small changes, like substituting Feta for Goat Cheese.  I love the white pizza at CocoBolos in Manhattan and was hoping for a similar flavor.  Mine turned out nothing like theirs, but it was delicious!  Next time I will be adding chicken for sure and maybe some black beans.  We will also be using the recipe for homemade pizza crust that goes with this recipe from now on.  It was so much better than store bought dough!

We also made this Oriental Chicken Salad (pretty good) and good old basic banana bread (Lilly's favorite).  I sure hope Hanna doesn't think I cook like this all of the time!

Hanna brought Jack with her and Lilly has been asking to play with him ever since they left.   This picture is pretty old, but it is one of my favorites!  This kid loves this dog!  

Don't tell my husband but I am thinking about getting one!

My Weak Attempt

 I am in no way, shape, or form an artistic person.  I am really not creative either.  However, as I get older I find myself becoming more domesticated and enjoying new crafty things.  The latest...hairbows.  Lilly already has quite the collection, and while none of them were expensive to buy, I thought I would give making them myself a try.  I hit up Hobby Lobby for ribbon, clips, and a hot glue gun.  It was apparently perfect timing because all were on sale.  

Lilly loves all things with ladybugs

Standard black

This one went with her Easter dress

These were a b-day gift for Lilly's friend Zoe

 All in all, pretty easy and not too time consuming.  The hot glue gun and I got off on the wrong foot but our relationship is gradually improving and my burns healing.  I think my next task with actually be bows instead of simple clippies.  First step....learn to tie a pretty bow!

Forgotten Easter

Somehow I missed a good half of the Easter pictures when I wrote the last post.  It was Lilly's first year decorating eggs so I figured they were worth sharing.  She did a great job of waiting patiently for the eggs to color and got super excited when three eggs came out with Lilly, Mommy, and Daddy written on the eggs!  Silly Easter Bunny!

 Easter morning was a bit of a chaotic scramble.  John has to do all of the feeding/choring before church, and Lilly and I go to 9:00 Sunday School classes. Between showers and breakfast and getting ourselves out the door, it gets kinda crazy.  We let her open her presents before church because I had one gift I knew we needed to take with us. 

 New East er basket, crayons, a big girl cup,

 a couple Clifford books, and a really cute fabric bag/book that opens up and becomes a doll house. 

It may have been her first year to decorate eggs, but my poor deprived child did not get to hunt them.  She was sick until Tuesday and somehow after that we just never got around to it.  The eggs are still in the fridge, so I guess there is still a chance!

Easter

 We had one eventful Easter complete with church, family time, and an ER visit.  Here is the pretty girl before heading to church.

 The standard family pic.

 Me feeling like I am about to blow.

And Lilly trying out the new swing at the farm.

It was such an atypical day for us.  Lilly had been coughing for several days but we had been to the doctor Saturday morning and they assured me it was just a cough.  She was up most of Saturday night coughing but was fine when we got to church.  About three fourths of the way through church she lost it.  She just didn't feel good.  We got home and she refused to eat and more or less we right to sleep.  We let her nap until going to John's parents for supper.  She played for a while at the farm and was really having a hard time breathing.  By the time we got home she was grunting with every breath and just cried and cried.  I finally said enough was enough around 9 and called out to the ER.  The had an out-patient med ready for us but we ended up with a full ER admit and stayed for two hours of observations.  She is still coughing a lot today and hasn't eaten at all.  Hopefully the meds will kick this bug and she can finally hunt Easter eggs, since we never got around to it on Sunday.

Easter Goodies

Lilly wanted make Easter treats for her party at daycare.  I hit Pinterest and this is what we came up with.

They weren't as quick and simple as I hoped, but weren't bad at all.  Simple little pretzels filled with yellow chocolate and decorated with food coloring and gel frosting.  Pretty cute! I am thinking it is time to quit my day job and open a candy store!

Daddy's Girl

John likes to tease me that since Lilly looks so much like me and really not at all like him, she must have come from some other guy.  Well, this just shows that she is clearly his, like there was ever any question!

If you know me very well, you know that I hate corn!  Lilly loves it and doesn't mind getting messy while enjoying it!