mom

i was cleaning out my bank box the other day,

and i ran into this!
let's take a closer look...

1. my head is tiny
2. there are two HUGE round things...hmm?
3. notice the tiny little sticks as legs..no arms..?
4. the word MOM

my son drew this of me....

i was 9 months pregnant,

and to a 5 year old this is what

a pregnant mom looks like...?

the best part about this picture is we were

sitting in the middle of church, i look over to see what

he is doing, and this is what i see.

i start quietly,... laughing uncontrollably.

(you know the laugh where you keep

laughing because your NOT supposed to be laughing)

tears were streaming down my face.

this little chickens big brown eyes melt my heart.

even if i am a huge, small headed, tiny legged, big boobed mom.

in his eyes he loves me just the way i am.

i will never, ever throw this away.



the white couch

from day one i wanted a white slip covered couch.

so, last year i set out to buy one!

then,...reality hit me.

i have 4 kids!!

it just wasn't going to happen!

so, i got my brown microfiber couch, and i love it!!!

why, do i love it?!?!

1. i can whip it clean with baby whips

2. it doesn't show the dirt that i'm sure it is covered in.

3. it's comfy
4. when i want a change, i change the throw pillows!
(everything goes with brown!)

p.s. i didn't completely give up on my white couch.

i did get a white tufted couch for my living room. ;)

my kids know this is my "nice room".

here are few of my favorite couches!

the osborn's home.
in architectural digest,
amazing!!

french country

i love the legs on the couch.

 

i love the tufting.

this is the one i wanted,
very pottery barn...

simple

do you want a white couch?

moddy

miss c's 5th birthday!

it was my little miss c's 5th birthday on saturday.  i can't believe she's 5 already; she's my caboose, my baby, my last, and she is the reason and the glue for everything in my life.  born to just a little 'older' parents, she has kept me 'kind of' young, a little more informed, awake and i will say, happy!  i love this little girl and i am so glad to have her here. she has so much personality.  by the way, her birthday party was so much fun!

bee

jani photography

i have a friend...and, she is an AMAZING

photographer.

this girl doesn't mess around!

i am so excited,...in sept.

she will be doing our family shoot...again!!

ok, so....here is the deal on her photo blog she is

sharing some of her photo secrets every tuesday.

i so need this!

she can take a picture of seriously ANYTHING and it's fantastic!

check her out here!!
*after checking her out leave a comment letting her know you
linked to her through moddybee, and receive %50 off a session!

here are a few of our family pictures from our last session.

p.s. we are missing one little chicken.

it was a little sad looking back on these pics. and

seeing how big the kids have grown!

moddy

jammin it up freezer style!!!

i made my jam this year alll..by..myself!!!

i don't know why...but, every year i get

 a little nervous when i think of making my jam.

i'm not sure why...

1. i always make it with bee

2. she basically ends up doing all the work.

3. i do all the talking (that's what little sisters do, right?)

unfortunately this year we just couldn't find any time to get together!

so, it was up to ME!

it was wonderful!

 i felt so...homemakery.



my best friend grows and sells boysenberry's every year!!



tasty, delish, HOMEMADE jam!!!

this is our last day of salad week!

boysenberry salad!!

dressing:
1/4 c. olive oil
1 tsp. horseradish
2 tbls. rice vinegar
2 tbls. brown sugar
2 tbls. boysenberry jam

salad:
1 bag romaine hearts (i like to mix in spinach)
1 c. fresh boysenberries
1/3 c. feta cheese
1/4 c. toasted pecans or slivered almonds

blend olive oil, horseradish, rice vinegar, brown sugar,
and boysenberry jam in blender.

pour over salad mix.
if you want add chopped chicken!
serve immediately!
enjoy!

Have a great weekend!!! 



 



 











moddy

 

fingerling potato salad with bacon and sun-dried tomatoes

                         

                          



 this potato salad is a little different than the traditional but it's so good! 

 i found this recipe in country living  magazine a while back.  
 if you don't like to fry bacon, and i don't, then use the stuff you buy in the salad section of

 your grocery store; not bottled bacon bits  but the bacon in a pkg.. 

 i think it will be a part of the moddybee 4th of july celebration this year!
 www.countryliving.com

bee

       

• 3 pound(s) fingerling potatoes, scrubbed and halved vertically
• 1 tablespoon(s) salt
• 3 tablespoon(s) white vinegar
• 1/3 cup(s) chopped fresh parsley
• 1 teaspoon(s) chopped fresh sage
• 1/4 cup(s) oil-packed, sun-dried tomatoes, drained and chopped
• 6 tablespoon(s) finely chopped Vidalia onion
• 4 slice(s) bacon, cooked and chopped
• 2/3 cup(s) mayonnaise

---

Directions

1. In a large pot over medium-high heat, bring potatoes, salt, and enough water to cover by 1 inch to a boil. Cook potatoes at a gentle boil until tender, about 20 minutes, then drain. Transfer to a large bowl and sprinkle potatoes with vinegar. Let cool to room temperature, about 15 minutes.
2. In a small bowl, stir together remaining ingredients. Gently mix dressing into potatoes until all ingredients are evenly distributed and potatoes are well coated. Serve at room temperature or refrigerate before serving.

5K, and SUMMER SALAD WEEK!!

we had a wonderful father's day weekend.

we swam all day friday and had pizza.

we got up early saturday morning so i could run in a 5K for the

Ronald McDonald House.

we went out to breakfast at 

 our favorite breakfast restaurant, valhalla's.

we went out on a double date with bee and her husband.

sunday the kids made breakfast for dad in bed.

he opened his presents...and he loved the stepping stones we made him.

we went to church and had a wonderful dinner and dessert with the family.

we love weekends!
now, it's time to take on another week!!!

getting ready for our race! (this is bee's daughter)

after the race! (i'm seriously slammed!)

they were so supportive!

it was so fun, i'm already looking for another race!!

moddy's lentil salad

1 c. dried lentils, rinsed

2c. water

2 c. sliced fresh mushrooms

1 medium cucumber, cubed

1 medium zucchini, cubed

1 small red onion, chopped

1/2 c chopped sun-dried tomatoes (not in oil)

1/2 c. rice vinegar

1/4 c. minced fresh mint

3 tbsp. olive oil

2 tsp. honey

1 tsp. dried basil

1 tsp.dried oregano

4 c. fresh baby spinach, chopped

1 c. feta cheese

4 bacon strips, cooked and crumbled

your favorite marinade chicken, chopped

enjoy!









 







moddy

it's done!!

i lovvve it!!

it went from drab cream to

fantastic GOLD!!
check it out here

i spray painted the frame, ordered my paper
from here

and drove my self down to

hobby lobby..(love this store)

i picked out my navy matte

and the kind people at

hobby lobby put it together!

i couldn't be happier!

grand total...$70.00ish!!

check it out!

p.s....i just figured out how to link!!!
i think i'm finally getting a hold of this blogger thing!

 

just cream..it needed a face lift.



i spray painted it with my favorite metallic gold spray paint.

it's DONE!!



it was just to big for my fireplace.

much better!





i moved my sunburst mirror into my family room.
i really like it here.



my living room is FINALLY done..for now ;)

i'm in love.
(if you look closely my littlest chicken rearranged my bookshelf...)

check out that rug i scored for $19.99 @ target!

*check out what my living room looked like before here!



 moddy





pinterest

i just discovered 'pinterest'. it's a 'virtual pinboard' (that's what the site says). see what everyone likes and loves. it's so fun! i love this 'house beautiful' kitchen.
http://www.pinterest.com/
http://www.housebeautiful.com/

bee

it's summer!!!

the kid's are home.

it's hot!

they get bored.

i have to keep them busy.

here is our summer schedule!

1.  make a summer chart

this includes when the kids need to be dressed.

when they need to do their daily chores...ect.

2. activities ideas

 library reading program.

we always find time to hit Sonic for "happy Hour" (2-4 p.m.)

the park

swimming (this is a HUGE part of summer...right?!)

BBQ's

we always pick a book to read together.
this year it's, Where the Red Fern Grows.

movies at the mall for $1.00

play dates
trips to the water park
craft's
cheapy water slide for our back yard and a GIANT amount of popsicles!!

 3. vacations

this year we are going to Monterey bay aquarium,

and the Santa Cruz beach board walk.

last but not least....

OUR anniversary!!!

we are going to

Catalina Island.

(i can't WAIT!!!)





we have these plus other fruits and veggies in abundance being sold on every corner.
( we also have a garden)





right now we are growing dinosaurs...??.
(my little chicken thinks they will be able to walk up the stairs)



last day of school!
(this picture makes me laugh...look at the girl in the back)





craft projects!

so, happy it's SUMMER!

my favorite summer salad!

greek orzo salad

1 package of orzo pasta. cooked, drained, and cooled
1 package of cherry tomatoes, cut in half
1 can of olives, chopped
2 cucumbers, peeled and seeded
1/2 c. parsley
half of a purple onion, chopped
1 package of feta cheese
combine all ingredients

dressing:
1/3 c. olive oil
1/3 c. fresh lemon juice
3 cloves of crushed garlic
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. pepper

mix and pour over salad.
enjoy!

 



moddy

$5.50 face lift!

i bought this frame for $3.00 at a yard sale.

i bought the Couture 1955 re-print at Hobby Lobby

for $5.50!

it looks great in my master bathroom!

i'm now motivated to finish my bathroom valence!

anyone want the hilarious magazine dog picture?!?

love it!

have a great weekend!!!

moddy 

cousins

                                         
moddy and i had my 5th and her 3rd child  together.  well, almost together.  the girls are ten months apart.  they love playing together; one just hangs out with teenagers and the other is the only girl in her family!  i was informed that they'd eaten the sand  that day.
might i recommend 'otter pops' for the summer?  they are now made with fruit juice (and sugar) and there's still the classic 'otter pop' made of sugar, water, and flavoring.  does the powerful flavoring make anyone else cough? 

bee