Today I got to spend the day with Carlie... always a good day...

After getting back from two and a half days of running and some sorrowful moments, I was able to just sit and be with Carlie. My mind was racing today... I try to keep my mind busy... but... I need some down time as well... so... today... we sat.

I really needed to go to the grocery store to pick up some things. I had some recipes that I wanted to try them out. It is good she went with me as my arm is still a bit sore, but, all in all, I refuse to complain about it... but is whining allowed? Just a little? My fingers were swollen by noon and the hot poker reappears to remind me to take it easy.

I finally got around to getting somewhat ready... if brushing your teeth and brushing your hair could be considered getting ready. No eyeliner even... just wanted to get it done and over with. I asked her to be a big girl and get herself ready and we were going to go and get some things to make peach cupcakes... recipe will follow later. She loves picking out her own clothes... getting herself ready... so this was fun for her.

Soon she came down in a little summer dress she wears around the house and a COWGIRL hat. How could I make her take it off? The answer is... I couldn't... so we went to the store... and she wore her cowgirl hat...

That's my girl.... so my girl...

PS... she had on lip gloss and perfume to boot.... ha...

Another blog that I have looked at for hours...

Getting started. Carlie always wears a tshirt when she cooks to keep her clothes clean. I really wish I knew how to sew well as I would make her a cute little apron with frills, whistles and bells for Christmas or her birthday. For now, she loves the tshirt. She always says she is cookin with Dr King. LOL


Carlie making a batch for her brother to take back to his home. She loves cooking for others as well. Wonder where she gets that behavior from.

She is always so pleased with herself when she completes things in the kitchen. She did a great job. Now the mess she made... she did a great job at that too... 100% or nothing with this little girl.


I go to some of the cooking or foodie blogs and when I have the time I could stay there forever... so very fun for me. People surely must think I am crazy. That is okay... they won't be the first. I have so many posts to catch up on with things I have been cooking here for my family... but... I will start with this one.

I found Mommy's Kitchen in the first couple of days I was on blogging this go around. I saw this particular recipe right away and knew I was going to make it for the 4th of July. Each year our neighborhood gets together for the 4th and we eat and laugh and talk and enjoy each other. Everyone brings fireworks and we let those off when it gets dark. We also live near the golf course and they have a larger fireworks show that we can watch from the street. It is fun for everyone. The deal with the potluck is... everyone brings their own meat to grill. Some people opt to share, but in reality it is for your family. They then bring one side dish. So... not yo mama's banana pudding was on my bucket list of to makes. Something cool for a hot day. Something I knew not anyone else would make. I also try to incorporate Carlie helping me in the kitchen as she loves to cook. So... we did... and it was fun. We had a great time. She was a little bossy with me... but that is nothing unusual when we are cooking as she wants to take over. I may have a future chef on my hands. So... we did this recipe together. We doubled the batch however, so I could send an 8x8 back home with my son Taylor... (but he is a nilla wafer fan so he got that in his... with his autism, sometimes you are better off leaving well enough alone on some of the things he likes...) and I took an 8x8 to work for the people that had to work swing on 4th and had to miss out on festivities. This had raves... and it was wonderful... so try it... you will like it....

We never bring one side dish... it just isn't me... and those that know me know it isn't me. So.... we also brought some corn on the cob... some limeade punch... a taco salad, and an enchilada casserole. We had carne asada for our meat. It was sooooooo very good.

And visit her blog... she has a lot going on over there and you will love her site...

Not Yo' Mama's Banana Pudding

2 bags Pepperidge Farm Chessmen cookies
6-8 bananas, sliced
2 cups milk
1 - 5-ounce box instant French vanilla pudding
1 - 8-ounce package cream cheese, softened
1 -14-ounce can sweetened condensed milk
1 - 12-ounce container frozen whipped topping thawed
or equal amounts sweetened whip cream.

Line the bottom of a 13 by 9 by 2-inch dish with 1 bag of cookies and layer bananas on top. In a bowl, combine the milk and pudding mix and blend well using a handheld electric mixer. Using another bowl, combine the cream cheese and condensed milk together and mix until smooth. Fold the whipped topping into the cream cheese mixture. Add the cream cheese mixture to the pudding mixture and stir until well blended. Pour the mixture over the cookies and bananas and cover with the remaining cookies. Refrigerate until ready to serve.

Yield: 12 servings
Preparation time: 30 minutes
Difficulty Level: Kid Easy
Adapted from: Let's Celebrat

If I get arrested... I did it for my grandbaby... have mercy

There are times that I feel I have to do something totally wild and crazy.... that is what feeling old does to us perhaps... I don't know... but it does it to me perhaps. My idea of wild and crazy... forget tearing the tags off of pillows or mattresses.... I like to... (shhhhhhh....).... take pictures in stores. It began at Christmas time when they flipped out I took a photo of Carlie in a Victoria's secret trying on perfume. She had gone to get her photo taken with Santa and her sister Amanda was with us. (Amanda being my oldest) Amanda had bought us strawberry fraps at Starbucks... we went shopping afterwards... a fun girls day out. Sooooooo when I saw Carlie spraying herself with perfume... knowing she will most likely love Victoria Secret when she is older, I thought it would be a great photo to scrapbook. Well... they had other ideas. They made me feel like a criminal and like a jerk. I guess that is when I felt rebellious. I wouldn't erase the photo although they said it was against the law to take a photo in there. PULEEEEZE... if that is what our law enforcement officers are going to run to do is arrest women that are 40 something (but don't look a day over 35... ha... wishful thinking) then so be it. However I know a police or two that would run to a call if it was to V.S. Hahahaha.

Now, when I went shopping with my girls last weekend... I must tell you... we went into Gymboree... I love that place... I must admit it. I know they are way over priced... I know it... but I love that place. I don't buy much there... but to look and browse and see the cute things... I could be in there for hours.

Amanda was shopping there for Bella Jo... I was trying to get an idea for sis for school. Yes... although I am old as the hills I have a daughter going into kindergarten. I love it. (I will be the room mom until I die I suppose.... sheesh!!!!) We were walking around in there... and... I had a sudden urge... photos... photos... photos. I usually carry a camera in my purse at all times. The only problem with this is simply that sometimes the battery is dead and I don't know it.....

But not on this day... I was rebellious again... and this is our day....

Bella Jo... you and Auntie Carlie are princesses.... here is a day shopping for the girls....

Smiles and Miracle Mondays...

Time for a blog hop on what made you smile!!!! Many people don't like Mondays... ***Capeesh*** so I thought Mondays would be a good day on our new blog for others to post either a photo or perhaps a blog entry they ran across this week that they would like to share. We all need smiles... and the more we share the better we feel... so go ahead... share your smiles with us today. And for me I will add some photos I ran across last night while looking and clearing some old photo cards getting them ready for the coast.

We teach our kids that *Ohana* aka *family* goes beyond blood lines.
These photos make me smile as Carlie has grown so much in the past year. These are some special people in her love line, Ohana.
Scott and Car and a spring function at the college. Nicole teaching Car new tricks... hah... caught again. Sabrina and Carlie playing... Carlie is Sabrina's mini me I think. Carlie with her third favorite guy (after her dad and brother) Kevin... (she still thinks she will marry him one day. HA We still laugh to hear her say it.) Car and her Auntie Terrie (Carlie's Godmother and a spectacular woman and nobody will ever take the place of her kindness and caring she shows Carlie). and Carlie with her good friend on stage at the luau. She pulled Carlie on stage to hula last year and this is her telling Carlie she won the contest. So precious.

So give me your smiles from last week. It can be articles... or posts... or recipes... Can't wait!