Best mom ever!

I just opened up my email to find pictures of the diaper bag my mom made for me this weekend. Isn't this fabulous?!! I cannot wait to carry it!





FYI: For anyone interested, I'm sure Mama Reita would be more than happy to do commissioned work!

Introducing...

Cecily Evelyn Bell

9.8.09

6:08 p.m.

7 lbs. 11 oz.

21.5 inches

Kids' rooms

Here are some photos of the kiddos' finished rooms. I put the full description of everything on our family blog if you want to check it out!

Ginger Krinkles and Menu Monday

I just love to make a batch of cookies, and even though it does heat up the kitchen when I fire up the oven to do so in the middle of the summer, I have found it to be a very good activity to keep my two little assistants busy when it is just too hot to venture outdoors! This particular recipe has been in our family for a very long time; my mom's mom, my Mammo, loved this recipe and made it very often.

Ginger Krinkles
(I don't know why we spell this with a K instead of a C, but that's just the way we've always done it - lol!)



2/3 cup cooking oil
1 cup sugar
1 egg
4 tablespoons molasses
2 cups flour
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ginger
1 teaspoon cinnamon

Mix all ingredients together. Roll into 1-inch balls and dip in sugar. Bake at 350 for 8-10 minutes. (Do not overbake. These cookies will still be very soft when they come out of the oven, but they will firm up to a chewy texture once they are cool.)

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So now that I've covered dessert, here's what's on tap for us for supper. ;)

Monday - Veggie Night: Balsamic Green Beans with Potatoes and Caramelized Onions, Steamed Squash, Caprese Salad, Bread
Tuesday - Spicy Black-Eyed Pea Soup with Bacon and Jalapenos (using my recipe here that I originally made with fresh pinto beans)
Wednesday - Movie in the Park Night: Pulled Pork Sandwiches, Hoppin' John Salad, and Orange Stuff (and orange jello salad made with buttermilk and crushed pineapple - so cool and delicious!)
Thursday - Chicken Marsala with Fingerling Potatoes and Broccolini
Friday - Out to dinner for my birthday! (Leftover pork for my mom and the kiddos)
Saturday - Fajitas with Black Beans and Guacamole
Sunday - Pork Chops with Leeks in Mustard Sauce with Roasted New Potatoes

My mom is coming on Thursday of this week to help me continue in my nesting quest. I can't wait to have her, and I'm hoping we get enough accomplished to also sneak in some sewing time while she's here!

Have a great week!
Amy

This week's menu

We just got back from our marathon trek to New Mexico yesterday, so today was our day to get back settled in. I am really looking forward to everything on tap this week. I love that feeling!

Tuesday - Broiled Cod Fillets with Sun-Dried Tomato Pesto, Farfalle and Peas
Wednesday - Beef with Broccoli and Yams, Brown Rice and Bread
Thursday - Spaghetti and Sauteed Mushrooms with Bread and Salad
Friday - Tamales Compuestos (Thanks to Mama Reita for hooking us up with some scrumptious tamales she and her friends put together last fall!) with Black Beans
Saturday - Barbecue Chicken with veggies from the farmers' market
Sunday - Veggie Night (We love having a veggie smorgasbord just after our runs to the farmers' market each Saturday)

Nesting has now hit in full force! This week's goal is to get as many of the nooks and crannies in the house cleaned out as possible (I tackled my laundry "closet" today, something I am very happy to have behind me!), and this weekend we will start the transition of moving Charlotte and Jack into the same bedroom. I am so nervous about how they are going to sleep with their new arrangement!

Another outfit for Miss Priss

My weekend sewing convention getaway with Mom last week was absolutely amazing! I learned so much, but the real fun was in spending so much time with Mom, just the two of us. I cannot remember the last time we were able to do that! After getting so many cute ideas, I had to put them into practice this week, so I fired up my machine and made Charlotte another little outfit. I am hooked on these ruffled skirts and matching tops! The little peacock here turned out a bit more...er...detailed than I had originally intended, but I think it's pretty darn cute, if I do say so myself. I finally had to cut myself off from adding extra "touches"...designing these shirts is so much like scrapbooking!

Here's Miss Priss in her new duds...I am fairly sure these grins mean it got her "fancy" seal of approval. :)





I love this shot of Jack.



And Charlotte's (very accurate) Mama impression! Here I am this week, at 27 weeks (now in the third trimester...gulp!). This shot was taken post-workout, so you'll have to bear with my lovely hair. ;)

Made by Mama

There is something so incredibly gratifying about dressing Charlotte in something I made for her myself. I was given the tip to check out this adorable ruffled skirt tutorial a while back (thanks, Donnell!), and with a few adjustments in the measurements, I was able to make one for Charlotte lickety split! I even fancied things up a bit by adding some ric rac to the top tier. This one was so easy and fun, I have fabric in mind to make another very soon!



I am off in just a few minutes for my sewing convention getaway with my mom in Dallas. So excited!!