Look What My Mommy Found!

Teething cookies! What's the big deal you ask??
These have NO soy, milk or corn in them! Found these while scanning every label at Whole Foods for evil ingredients that would bother the Coop man. He loves them as you can see!! This company makes all kinds of things like this, which is nice to know since the allergy thing isn't being "outgrown" anytime soon. Coopy loves to rub these into his ear and hair- watch the video!

Recipe to Share

I've made this a few times and Jackson actually eats it so I thought it was worth sharing!

Tex-Mex Bake

1# ground beef

1 pkg dry taco mix packet

1 small can mexi-corn, drained

1/2 C finely chopped onion

1 C mild chunky salsa

canned chopped green chiles, to taste

1 pkg cornbread mix

sour cream, diced olives, shredded cheddar, diced tomatoes

*Heat oven to 400'

*Combine beef, taco mix, corn, onion, salsa and chiles ( I use only a spoonful )

*Transfer to a 9x9 baking dish, cover with foil, bake 30 minutes

*Prepare cornbread according to pkg, set aside

*When beef is done cooking, spread cornbread batter over top

*Bake another 20-25 minutes uncovered until golden brown

Top with sour cream, etc...

Lucky in Love

Today is Jason and I's 7th wedding anniversary! I can't believe how fast it has gone by. It seems like yesterday we were still commuting into Austin together in our little Ford Escort from Thorndale everyday. Saving for "someday", a house, kids. Then moving into our 1970's duplex. More saving. They were some of the most stressful, but happy times together. We still drive by there and smile. Getting pregnant with Jackson was such an unexpected miracle. We quickly put all of our hard earned money down on our first home. We had so much fun making it ours and painting the nursery. Some unforseen job changes that tested our marriage and made it stronger than ever. A much planned for and prayed for Cooper. Trying our hardest to create close and strong family ties with our children. Working hard at home and on the job to give them the best we can. I am so proud of everything we have accomplished and the family we are. We have learned the value of being good friends, besides husband and wife. Everyday is a new adventure, and I am so glad we have found each other to share life with. I can't wait to see what the next 7 years hold for us.

My turn!

Jackson looked JUST like Jason at birth and for quite a while afterwards. He is starting to have more of my facial features, but continues to be "long and tall" like Daddy. And stubborn like him too...When Cooper was born I was all set for another little blondie Jackson. Nope! He looked JUST like I did at birth. My mom came across this picture of me and I had to do a double take! That's Cooper! God must have so much fun with DNA... P.S. Happy 7 months Coop!

Heavenly...

The boys are asleep, the dishwasher is running, and I'm eating a bowl of ice cream...

Calgon, take me away!

Oh what a day...

Nothing terrible happened, and I am thankful for that. Nothing even just a bit upseting. Just nonstop annoying behavior from a three year old!!! One of those days when you honestly think about hiding in the closet with a bag of cookies.

Jackson was totally WOUND UP today. He already talks nonstop, so in the hyper mode it is just LOUDER! He would run up to Cooper and yell baby talk into his ear. I'm sure that's just what a healing ear infection needs. Then he would push him over and laugh when Cooper looked like a roly-poly bug on it's back. Okay it's kinda funny.


He wouldn't eat ANYTHING which isn't out of the norm, but today was ridiculous. Chocolate milk, the peanut butter in between mini peanut butter ritz crackers, not the actual crackers. And a vitamin.

He thought it was great fun to run full speed and head-butt me from any angle. Especially when I was bent over the dishwasher or dryer. Then he told me I am squishy.

I was rocking Cooper to sleep, which I hardly ever get to do ( read above ). He was just starting to do the fluttering eyes thing, when Jackson bursts through the childproof door and yells "COCK-A-DOODLE-DOO"! Adorable.

At naptime, which is a sacred event, he remained quiet for 20 minutes before starting his rendition of "MOMMY I WANT OUT OF HERE"! After an hour of threatening him to sleep or else, I gave up. Cooper woke up anyway, what the heck.

Like I said, nothing devastating. No vomit to clean up. No wounds. No diarrhea. No missing child at Wal-Mart.

I'm going to gaze at Jackson and Cooper in a minute and have that revelation that most parents do when thier children are asleep. They really are angels.


But first I'm going to take a long bubble bath...

Snips, Snails, and Puppy Dog Tails...

...that's what little boys are made of! We have gotten to be regular visitors of a locally owned pet shop. They have everything from your standard hamsters and goldfish to the more unusual sugar gliders and hedgehogs. Jackson loves the mice and bunnies and wishes more than anything he could hold them. But today he was pretty fixated on the frogs. He stood at the tank and watched them for a good 15 minutes and laughed everytime one of them even blinked an eye. He also really liked the little hermit crabs and baby turtles. Daddy was all for getting him one of course. I guess as the mom of two boys I should get used to the idea of critters in the house. What's one more kind of species' poop to clean up?