Birthday Invite

Here is Matthew's invitation for his birthday party. (I blocked out all our personal info to post it on the blog here...)  I LOVE how it turned out!  A lady on Etsy.com made it.  I printed off copies at Walmart for family members.  I am getting way too much into this sock monkey theme!

Matt's First Year Book

Click here to view this photo book larger

Cousins

Saturday and Sunday evening we spent the night at my Brother's house.  My parents were nice enough to baby sit the three grand kids while we went out to eat and had a nice date night with my Brother and sister-in-law Jill.  Before we left, I took these cute pictures of them eating some good Southern BBQ.

Here's Haylie trying to "rock" Matthew to sleep when we got back that evening...so sweet!

Papaw with Hope and Matthew...

Miss Hope playing "dress-up"...

Here a sweet video of my parents playing "Ring Around the Rosie" with all three of their grandkids...

Outdoor Fun in GA

Matthew helped my Mother and me pick some rosemary that was growing outside (The nice thing about the South in the winter-some things still survive and grow!), for a dish we were making that evening...

Outdoor fire pit...

Matthew climbing a tree...

Fly Fishing on the Soque

Chris and my Father were able to get out one afternoon (when it wasn't raining!) and fly fish on the Soque River that my parents house is next to.  Chris loves how relaxing it is.  I of course went down to take a few pics when they were starting to fish...

 

"Bubble" Bath

Matthew loved the big whirpool bathtub at my parents house in GA.  It was his first time being in a whirlpool bathtub.  He thought it was quite funny.  He kept running into their bathroom over the next couple of days wanting to go into the tub.  The kid loves a good bath...

The Varsity

When we arrived in Atlanta this past Wednesday, for our trip to visit my family in GA, we were treated to dinner at the Varsity Diner in downtown Atlanta.  It is a landmark in that town, and they are famous for their chili dogs.

Matthew with his Papaw wearing the Varsity Diner hats...

Views from outside the diner, you can see the Olympic Park from there...

 

Adorable Onsies

My friend Megan also made these adorable "sock monkey" onsies and burp cloths for another friend's baby shower.  They are so cute!  There are both a 0-3 month and 3-6 month size onesie in each color with coordinating burp cloths. 

 

Missouri Munch Granola

I made this yummy granola this past week.  Don't ask me why it is named "Missouri Munch", but I'm sure there is a reason, and that was just the title given by the friend who I got the recipe from.  We all enjoyed it very much.  Very good over yogurt, fresh fruit, or just to "munch" on!

Missouri Munch Granola

1/4 cup vegetable oil

1/2 cup (1 stick) butter

1 Tbs. molassas

1/2 cup brown sugar

1/2 Tbs. vanilla extract

1/2 cup honey

1/4 tsp. salt

1 lb. old fashioned rolled oats (dry oatmeal)

1/4 cup sunflower seeds (I used salted)

1/2 cup chopped pecans

1/2 cup wheat germ (I used honey flavored)

1 cup Grape Nuts Cereal

1 Tbs. cinnamon

Preheat oven  to 350 degrees.  In a saucepan, melt  and mix together first 7 ingredients; cool slightly.  Combine remaining ingredients in a very large bowl; mix well.  Pour in liquid mixture; mix together well.  Spread into a shallow, lightly greased pan (I used a jelly-roll style pan).  

Bake 20-25 minutes, stirring every 10 minutes.

Makes 2 1/2 quarts

Enjoy! 

Sock Monkey Party Prep

I have been busy planning Matthew's second birthday party since a little before Christmas.  I decided on a "sock monkey" theme.  I wanted something cute for a two year old boy, but not too "cartoonish".  Little did I know that the sock monkey was invented right here in good 'ol Rockford, IL!  People started making sock monkey's out of the "red heeled" socks made by the Nelson Knitting Company, also known as Rockford socks.  I stumbled upon this fact after researching sock monkey ideas online.  I had mentioned something on Facebook how I found some cute sock monkey t-shirts for birthday parties on Etsy.com, but they were a little pricey.  One of my sorority sister friends from college, who is quite crafty, volunteered to make Matthew one herself!  Megan did an excellent job!  I am so excited and happy on how the shirt (and hat!) she made turned out.  Thanks again Megan!!

Here they are together:

A close up of the the shirt:

The hat:

Here is a photo I found online when "googling" sock monkey party ideas.  I came across this banner on another blog, and I will attempt to make it soon!  Another friend from church, who is an artist, will hopefully help me.  Wish me luck in the recreation of it...

Fun at the YMCA!

This past Sunday we signed up to join our local YMCA.  We are blessed to have several in the area, and two that are really close.  I have already taken an aqua fitness class, and last night we went as a family to have some fun in the pool.  It was a blustery 13 degrees outside, but they keep the pool at 85 degrees at all times.  There is a nice area for the kiddies to play in.  Matthew of course loved it.  I am excited to get back to regular exercising, and for the "free" child care they provide.

Matthew is checking it all out...

 

Water fun!

 

 

 

 

The water slide...

 

Happy New Year!

We had a great New Years Eve over at our friends the Plummer's. Fantastic food, fellowship, and a fun time playing the game of Balderdash.

The food...

The fun...