Lean In

Our Annual Valentine's Day Dinner...at home

Well, I had debated back and forth whether to continue our tradition for the third year in a row or just go out to eat because I was feeling lazy and didn't want to go to the grocery store, cook, etc...but I got over myself after posting a poll on Facebook about which to do..and most everyone said "stick with tradition"...so I did...

We had fun :)

The menu? Our usual pork loin, mashed potatoes, peas, and rolls...and four beautiful cupcakes from Gigi's Cupcakes..they are so special..I love buying them..the kids and Brad were quite impressed with them...

Brad and I moved the table to the living room in front of the fireplace like we always do...and everyone has to get dressed nicely..it's a rule ;)

(This is a new favorite picture..I think I shall put it on a necklace)

LOVE this vase I got at Hobby Lobby for practically nothing..burlap with old looking printing makes me happy...especially with red tulips :)

All of us with our cupcakes ;)

Brad is so cool..he just plays along with our antics :)

(I can't post the card Brad got for me..hee hee)

(Note: he was NOT happy to get two nice Gap tshirts as a gift..in fact, the night sort of went downhill from here for him...I knew he would probably get mad, but really, what else is there to get the child???...) ..but I will leave it at that ...

We had a good time...and went out to eat the next night..lol

Project Life-Week 6

It is Week 6, right? I've lost track already..lol...Not a lot to say here except I need to start keeping some notes or something..when it comes to the journaling, I go blank, except on the pictures...I went on a little shopping spree at Designer Digitals during their quarterly sale and added quite a few of Ali Edward's brushes to my already pretty big collection :)

Left page: I got al ittle crazy and added a football sticker on this page...lol

Right page:

This week is going to end up with some sort of insert due to all of the Valentine's Day goings-on...looking forward to that..and then next week is DISNEY, so definitely an insert for that..I have a feeling I'm going to get a bit behind though on my weeks..I need to start printing pics for this week tomorrow....

Off to go out to eat..Chili's...yum!

I used to LOVE Valentine's Day parties at school...

They aren't quite the big deal they used to be in my time in school, but they are still fun (or maybe I just remember them as being a big deal, and they really weren't? lol)...I stopped by each kid's class yesterday...

Chaz's teacher had the cutest cake made for the class...

Big dorks..lol

It was a fun day for them...

I will be back with pictures from our traditional at home dinner (yes, I decided to stick with tradition...but we are going out to eat tonight..lol)

I will also be back with Project Life for this week..running a tad behind on that...

Happy Valentine's Day...

We got most of our Valentine goodies ready on Sunday...of course, Bailey had already had her Valentines filled out for days..Chaz still had to do his, Bailey and I made her dipped marshmallows, and I baked cookies for Chaz to give out..however, I ran out of sprinkles and refused to go to the store, so I had to finish those up last night...

They headed to school with their bags of goodies for their parties today...I'm going to stop by their parties later...I'm still debating on whether I want to just go out to eat tonight or do our usual tradition of a nice dinner in front of the fireplace (2011, 2010)..it's cold and rainy outside and I just don't want to go to the store..lol

I baked big cookies that I saw on Pinterest and put them into Cd sleeves and then slapped his Valentine on the top..now, if it was for girls or something, you can dress them up much cuter with twine and all, but for third graders? NOT...

(excuse the horrible lighting/color..it was at night)

She loves to make these...

These turned out so cute with a cellophane cover, ribbon, and the Valentines attached...they are Bailey's speciality..lol

and with that, I think I am Valentined OUT! :)

No other factory in the world mixes its chocolate by waterfall. ...

said Willy Wonka..."But it's the only way if you want it just right. "

Friday night we hosted our Life Group at our house...about mid week I realized I sort of happened to get the Valentine's one..or at least I used that as an excuse...TO BREAK OUT THE FONDUE POT...and melt chocolate and dip all sorts of things in it...

I had forgotten I had the darn thing..came across it in our horribly unorganized hall closet...

I had Rice Krispie Treats, strawberries, angel food cake, and marshmallows to dip...

MY personal favorite was the Rice Krispie Treats...

and I had to include the incredibly cake like sugar cookies that Kroger sells..always a favorite with the kids...and my husband...

I have a thing for black and white gingham or polka dots..I really consider it a neutral...

Fun was had by all as we ate and talked...and dipped into chocolate...and talked...and then we started our study :)

I love  my Life Group by the way...have I mentioned that before? Awesome people...

She takes her holidays seriously...

I had gotten the note from the teacher about making THE Valentine box and to be honest, I was sort of dreading it..trying to find a cute idea on Pinterest...wrangling boxes into some mailbox shape, etc...but Bailey and I were at Target and the angels sang when I saw these boxes ( I can't find a picture online..but they had a frog, a dog, and I think a monkey)...the dog one was PERFECT for my dog loving girl..and you still had to put it together..so it allowed us to spend some time together assembling it, but not TOO much time...lol..she took it to school the next day...she's WAY ahead of the game..lol.

There's a slot behind the head to put the cards in...very cute...

And she's got all her Valentine's already filled out..now she is bothering me about when we are doing the chocolate dipped marshmallows on a stick to give each person..sigh....THAT will be on Sunday... :)

Now Chaz? I've finally realized not to put too much effort into his box..I just bought a cheap one that folds out from Hobby Lobby and we're going to slap some stickers on it...lol

Project Life- Week 5

Wow, I made it to Week 5..PEOPLE, you just don't get how monumental this is for me..actually sticking with something scrapbooking! And still feeling excited about it! Something that this project is making clear to me is that there is something every week to celebrate...or something fun going on amongst the everyday stuff...and that our lives are full and blessed :)

(click on the pictures to see them larger)

 

 

Something I am working on is making sure to include Brad and I on each week in some way...not just the kids..and of course, I have to have a picture of Ace too :)

I'd like to bump up the "embellishing" a little with some scrapbook supplies, but it never really seems to happen except here and there..but guess that's just my style...not a ton of embellishments...guess I like clean lines with a touch of something here and there...

This cracked me up...

I am not that great at including a ton of journaling..but I tend to put my journaling on my pictures digitally, so that counts, right?

Linking up to The Mom Creative and One Happy Mama...

Happy Tuesday!

Welcome February!

I'm a few days late on that welcome, but nonetheless, this is a fun month at the Crawford household..lots to look forward to this month...

I got some of my few little Valentine decorations up on the 2nd..always love this wreath...

Bailey and I broke out her heart shirt to wear to school on the 1st, and when she got home from school, we baked some cookies...we don't do homemade cookies..lol..and I burned these on the bottom..bummer

Lots to look forward to this month...we leave for Disney in TWO weeks from today, finishing up a fun season of basketball/cheerleading in two weeks and then a big party for Upward on the 27th, Chaz has his first baseball tournament as a Stinger the weekend before we leave on our trip, Valentine parties, Brad's birthday on the 19th, the second Just Us GIrls craft night that filled up in about 24 hours...lots of fun...!

I'm working on putting together my Project Life Week 5 today..getting pictures edited and printed..hope to have it to share tomorrow or Wed :)

Project Life Week 4

I'm having to REPOST this because I decided to start categorizing my posts and I accidentally deleted my Week 4 post...grrr...so it won't be as detailed..mainly just pictures...

Up close shot of my Terrier..acting like I'm torturing him...lol

Sorry I deleted my post with more explanation... :p

Holy cow! I made a Pinterest recipe that I actually LIKED!

I'm pretty sure I've shared recipes I've made and the results that I've had on here with trying new recipes...The other night I gave this a try, and it was very good..Kids gobbled it up..NOW, they don't sell this particular brand of garlic spread here in Georgia (cause I Googled it), but I just bought the Kroger brand garlic butter spread and used it...

Lia Maries Garlic Baked Chicken

and I ate leftovers for lunch at work today...

I served it with mashed potatoes and green beans..and I think next time I may add a tad more garlic with some garlic salt or something...I like my garlic :)

Happy Saturday!