Hello, World!

So, I promise I haven't fallen off the face of the Earth. I have just been so busy with work, enjoying my family, and trying to keep my head above water. ;)

We have been EVERYWHERE it feels like. I will give you a brief rundown of what we have been doing the past few months.

In April, my Momma came out to visit. My baby sister joined in on the trip later that week! We visited the flower fields in Carlsbad, SUCH a gorgeous place! And then we went to Sea World and Disneyland. The boys had so much fun with Nana and Brooklyn. I was so happy to see them too!

For my Mother's Day present, Robert helped me landscape the front of the house.

Robert and I celebrated an early anniversary at Ruth's Chris (our favorite). 6 years of marriage. Wow. I still look back at how young we were when we got married, I was 20 years old and Robert was 22. I still question my parent's sanity of letting me get married that young. ;) But they set a wonderful example of how a marriage should be. It's not always easy. You will face the darkest days of your life. But finding someone to be by your side at the end is the best feeling ever. Robert and I have had so many hard times in the past 6 years. New marriage, new homes, new careers, new babies, just growing up in general. But he is my partner and best friend through it all. I love him and am so glad that I married him 6 years ago.

We enjoyed trips to Target

went on hikes up the mountain (Lord help me if I ever agree to a 15K hike again!)

Spent nights at the house

and went out to dinner before the boys left for their summer vacation.

 The boys and Robert went back to visit all the family back home. I had to stay and work, so it was my first time to miss a family trip. I was so disappointed, but I was glad that they were all going to have a great time.

Thompson got to see his best friend Kalli!

 Toby kept me company!

The boys had many trips to White Water and Silver Dollar City!

Brycen loved getting to swim all of the time

I ended up flying to Arkansas and driving back with Robert. The boys were staying with my family, so I was excited about all of the date nights I would get with Robert!

We went fishing a lot! He LOVES to fish and I enjoy it too! Problem is that he catches them and I can never catch one. Seriously... the fish hate me!

We even found a Bass Pro Shop

We went and watched lots of movies, enjoyed quiet dinners at restaurants without dealing with children (my personal fave!), and just spending time together.

Eventually, the boys came home! I was so glad to see them!!! I seriously missed them more than they did me. Thompson is obsessed with Arkansas, so it was hard telling him that he had to come back to California. I promised him that we would be moving back there for good in 1 year and just to bare with me. Brycen was just glad to see his Momma! :)

My neice, Jilian, came out with my mom. We took her to Hollywood (which was a huge eye-opener for a 10 year old... get an education... you don't want to be one of the homeless on the streets) and then we took her to the beach.

Then of course we had to go to Disneyland! The boys could live at that place! Thompson even rode the Tower of Terror with us! His idea!

I only had a few days off so mom took all of the kids to the zoo by herself! After that, they had to go home. I keep telling myself that Christmas is less than 5 months away! Hopefully my sister, Britt will be out here this fall!

So we are getting back into the routine of things. We spend our nights at the park, the boys now love to help me cook and we just enjoy one another. That's all I could ask for!

Thompson is actually enrolled to start Preppy-K this month. It is through the school system here on base and is basically a transitional kindergarten (a 2 year Kindergarten program). His birthday falls so late that by California standards, he is ready to go to Kindergarten. But Arkansas wouldn't allow it. Personally, I believe that boys need that extra bit of time to grow and mature, so I was never for him going to Kindergarten and then being the youngest in his grade next year when we went to Arkansas. So I feel like this is a perfect option for us! He is so excited. Thompson is my little social butterfly. He would much rather be with his friends all day than anything else. So we are excited for him! Brother probably won't be as happy, seeing as how he won't have his side kick with him everyday. :(

But, I think that is about all that we have been up too! I will try not to let another 5 months go by without an update. :)

Nom, nom, nom

I have been cooking A LOT here lately. Robert has been requesting a cheesecake to take to work weekly. Apparently his co-worker's have been asking for multiple ones, but he limits them to one a week. ;) I can't take credit for the recipe, that one is all by Mrs. Paula Deen. HERE is a post with the recipe! You can thank me later!

I also have been making some recipes I found on Pinterest. So neat to find new stuff to try!

The first one I made for Valentine's Day! It was sooooo good! Really, so good! It is Spicy Chicken Rigatoni

The second recipe I tried was Sour Cream and Bacon Crockpot Chicken. To be honest, wasn't so crazy about this. Maybe I cooked it too long? Anyways, it was so-so. I might try it again where I don't cook it all day. Probably would be a lot better!

 Next is my favorite, White Chicken Enchiladas!!! I am telling you, this is so yummy! I have made them twice now. Robert loves them too! The green chile sour cream sauce just makes the whole thing. Trust me.

I also whipped up these bad boys one Sunday morning. I might have ate like the whole pan. Maybe. Anyways, I didn't have any chocolate chips (I know, darn!) but don't you worry... I found something else! Nutella! Oh yes, I said nutella! Peanut butter + Nutella = HEAVEN!!!

I also made these bad boys! SLUTTY BROWNIES! Yes, I said said slutty brownies. And they were worth every calorie!

And of course Robert says, "You know what would make these even more AWESOME?! Marshmallows!" So of course I had to make them again... with marshmallows. I found the flat ones made for smore and lined them up under the oreos. They bubbled up big and gooey and made it so yummy. If you don't like "lava-like" cakes, this might not be the dessert for you. Unfortunately, I do! So this dessert is for me! And I had to try it with the ice cream... the author said I had too. ;)

So there are a couple of recipes for yall to try! I will be walking 10 miles just to try to make up for all of the naughty foods I have ate. Talk to yall soon!

Catch up...again!

Well, well, well... isn't this a coincidence. I am playing catch up, yet again!

We have all been sooooo busy! Robert started back to work, the boys started back to school, and I have been busier than ever.

I sometimes wonder if I will ever get the hang of being a full-time mom and working woman. I have to come to realize that it is near impossible! I am EXHAUSTED at the end of the day. I come home, cook dinner, play with the boys, snuggle on the couch with Robert, and fall asleep. Rinse, wash, repeat.

And I am okay with that. :)

Robert is still not doing well with his knee. He is doing physical therapy 3x a week. I am praying for some relief.

The boys are just as rowdy as ever. We took them to Chuck E Cheese tonight and they had a blast! We ran around there for 2 hours! Finally we got them home and in bed.

Brycen had surgery a few weeks ago. He had a tonsillectomy/adnoidectomy/tubes. Not fun! We had to spend the night in the hospital and then eat soft/liquids for 2 weeks. Luckily, the boy chugged about 2-3 Ensures a day to keep up the nutrients he needed. (P.S. Those things are not cheap!) Thankfully, he has fully recovered and didn't lose any weight! Happy momma! He is also a happy camper now that he can enjoy all the good food again! We celebrated his check up appointment with a trip to Chick-fil-A! Did you expect anything else?! ;)

We have started going to a new church, too! I am thankful for that. Robert really seems to like it. We are both (he more so) picky on churches, so for us to find the perfect one was awesome! I was actually invited by a lady who was our server at a restaurant when we first got back out here in November. We went and loved it! Kind of fate.

So here are some pictures from the past month. Going to get off and get ready for bed. Church in the morning, playing at the park, and spending time with my boys. Sounds like a perfect Sunday to me! :)

Chuck E Cheese!

Yummy dinner at Red Lobster!

B after surgery

Waiting for his surgery

B at the playground

My big boy!

 

Me and my love 

Growing the hair back out...

Our lap dog

My little sister came out to visit too! I will do another post about her trip! :)