My "Lord of the Flies" Child...

...we hiked by our house a month or so back and this is how Asher ended up looking...

Could he not be cast for the Lord of Flies remake? 

Lord of the Flies

Ella had a rough time as well and ended up looking like this...sigh!

Easter Continued...although Asher is kinda like Ralphie's lil brother Randy from Christmas Story

Tate was excited about his first basket he can remember, last year he was about 2 weeks old...  

Asher looking like Randy, right?!?!

Asher being super silly with his cousin Peyton

Ella got some super serious Hello Kitty (yes Hayley just for you) nails, which she paired with her uber fancy 80's net gloves...ha ha ha

Here we come...

...I even got pictures on Easter Sunday and I'm posting them!

ASHER - in his usual demeanor

TATE - My handsome baby boy!

ELLA - All she wanted for Easter was her two front teeth

William's Update

I know a lot of people on my personal blog also ask how my Nephew Will is doing after his life threatening illness a few summers back. So here is the latest update I posted on his blog.

http://williamantoniotodd.blogspot.com/2013/04/2013-update-on-will-all-labs-are-within.html

Friday Fun Day Recipe: Southwest Chicken Soup- Crock Pot

Friday Fun Day Recipe

So if you know me well enough you know I don't cook as often as I'd like. I actually DO enjoy cooking and love a new yummy meal.

I just have SUCH a hard time figuring it out timing wise.  You know actually having the ingredients on hand, shopping for the ingredients I don't (usually that's a lot), then still having time to do all the million other things I do each day and then still have time to prepare dinner and have it ready for our early dinner/bedtime routine.

So since I decided discussed with Ned that Friday's I do not cook (no pizza or taco night, much to Ella's dismay).  I just really want to go out. As much for the sanity as the food but it gives me the idea that we are changing up the weekly routine and feeling like the weekend is started.

SO I thought I would post one of my favorite recipes here each Friday.  Sometimes I will just share others that have been posted elsewhere, sometimes they might be healthy or not, but usually they will be fairly easy ones and ones that my family all enjoy and not SO much prep time. So I'd label them "good family meals", not one of Julia Child's gourmet ones.

So let's go, first one is one of the hubbies favorite.  He would eat it everyday, really.

Southwest Chicken Soup- Crock Pot

 

In a large skillet, saute the chicken in oil until lightly browned.  Transfer to a 5-qt. slow cooker with a slotted spoon.  Stir in the remaining ingredients. Cover and cook on low for 7-8 hours.  Stir before serving. (Serves 10)

1-¼ lb. Boneless skinless chicken breasts (cut into thin strips)

1-2 tbsp. Veg. Oil                                           2 cans (14 ½ oz) chicken broth

1 package (16 oz) frozen corn, thawed           1 med. Onion, chopped

1 can (14 ½ ox) diced tomatoes, un-drained  1 med. Green pepper, chopped

1 med. Sweet red pepper, chopped                1 can (4 oz.) chopped green chilies

1 tsp. Ground cumin                                       ½ tsp. Garlic powder

1 ½ tsp. Seasoned salt (optional)

I usually serve with tortilla chips crunched up on top, sour cream, and freshly sliced avocado's, because that's how I roll.  While Ned usually only adds the avocado because, well, he is better about being healthy, but it is SO much better with...so try both ways and see how you roll.

FINALLY Cruise (Pictures 32 of 500)

Remember back when we planned our cruise and started counting down HERE.

Well a lot of you have been asking, "WHERE ARE YOUR CRUISE PICTURES"?  Well with close to 500 pictures, yes that's right (it's own album/book to create, someday), I was feeling overwhelmed to even start, SO...

...here we go...at least a START and overview anyway....

the MAGIC happened on the Disney Magic to the Caribbean (Cayman Islands and Cozumel) February 2013.

We left port in Galveston Texas to head out to the Caribbean!

The kids were so excited that even the bus ride from our hotel to the ship was fun for them!

When we checked into our tiny room they were beyond excited to check out the Mickey and Goofy pools, complete with water slides and tire shaped mini pools!

Ella even got her hair braided by the cutest gal from the Caribbean (tears in her eyes she didn't complain, NOT what she does with me EVERYDAY, I need a personal braider I tell you!)

The first night of dinner the kids couldn't believe how fancy everything was and the food that they could choose from!  It was Magical!!

We ALL love our Shirley Temples that were always waiting for us before we even sat down with honestly about 20 cherries per cup, it was hilarious! People even asked us, "what in the world are you drinking"?

Ned and I loved the selection of food, probably our favorite thing, I know we are glutenous, but only for a 5lb week...ha ha ha

It's safe to say the kids favorite part of the meals was dessert.  The loved it, but the display of Mickey everything was just beyond heaven for them.

I even ordered dessert off the kids menu a few times as well.  Does that look delicious and perfect in every way!

The kids loved the character breakfast but I think Ned and I loved it more. Since we sat and ate (did NOT wait in a 2 hour line) and the characters came to us to take pictures while we enjoy our nice brunch!

Ella ADORED all the fancy nights and dressing up (probably the only one who loved it SO much!)

 PIRATE NIGHT was a family favorite!

We of course packed costumes so the kids could dress up for the pirate night!

We LOVED LOVED the nightly shows, all family appropriate and so much fun!

 Ned and I also got most of the adult shows (still family appropriate...he he) in because our kids LOVED the Oceaners Club and Oceaner Lab.  More on that later.

 But of course the ports were our favorites.

Ella & I had to muster all our courage to jump in the water and swim (it was FAR!) out to the trampoline and climbing water wall/slide.  It was hard but SO SO SO worth it and one of our favorite excursion experiences.  I was afraid of sharks because the water was so nice and warm.

I kept declaring it was the most beautiful and clear water I had ever seen, it was. The kids asked me, "Why do you keep saying that over and over!?"  But it was just beautiful weather and water the entire time!

Asher loved the LARGE Iguana's (bottom left), Ella NOT so much!!  Another story here that I'd rather forget.

On the trip we lost 2 teeth. 1 wedding ring (Ned's).  1 small wedding ring diamond (mine).  2 hats (mine & Asher's).  1 bathing suit cover up.  But we did gain 2 things...weight and a GRAND experience!