Memorial Day at its best!

I really didnt take many pictures this weekend because everyone else was taking them and I will just steal theirs later but heres a few that I actually took. I was sick so I will blame it on that okay??
Saturday I had about 30 people over to the house for my sister baby shower and it turned out really well. Everyone seemed to have a good time. Props to my mom,leslie,sarah & diana for all their help. I will post much better pics later that Kassandra took with Chrissys camera. I was too busy to take anymore than this plus why???

 Memorial Day Kassandra & Mady marched in the parade...

First day of summer vacation~

This is how the first morning of summer vacation started out.

Kalis not sure what to think about havin the girls home all day.

 Yep, its that exciting! This is how I will look after summer break is over! ha!

 The girls celebrated by having a sleepover downstairs lastnight.

Enjoy your summer everyone!!!

School Desks & Etsy bows~

So, the other day when Mom,Chrissy & I were G.Saleing we(I) seen this cute little school desk and although I didnt need it I was drawn to it. Maybe it was the blue color on the bottom or maybe it was just because Im a desk/chairaholic! Anyways, even though it was only $1 and the proceeds went to Relay for Life Mom & Chrissy wouldnt let me get it. How Mean! Right? Well, I just happened to be driving past that same place yesterday and it was still there so something told me I had to stop. It was a whoppin 75 cents!! I mean I couldnt pass that up. It was for chairity and all. I then had to deal with Doug when I got home and he said what desk? I put it in the trash already. funny. NOT!

 Another Etsy bow I kept for Mady instead of giving to Claira. :)

 I love this one!

Creative Gift Wrapping 101

I seen this on a blog for a Baby Shower gift they decorated an egg carton and rolled up baby socks in it but I decided to use it to put all of Clairas Prettys in. ;)

 Ive been having way too much fun wrapping her gifts up! I had bought these 1,2,3's number clippys from Land of Nod(love their stuff) but wasnt sure what I was gonna do with them..well, it just so happens it matches Clairas bedding so I decided to hang some booties I got her off Etsy and I think it will be a cute decor item for her room.

~ FYI: At Chrissys Shower we will all as guests be opening the gifts since this is an akward time for her with everybody staring and such so this way it speeds the process up plus its enjoyable for everyone so were all happy!!  Ha!!

Copy Cat

Everytime we go to Olive Garden I have to get this soup so you can see why I was excited to find a "Copy Cat" recipe for it...I havent tried it yet but its on this weeks menu.

Olive Garden Chicken and Gnocchi Soup

Yield: 8 servings
Prep time: 15 minutes
Cook time: 20 minutes
Total time: 35 minutes

1 cup chicken breasts, cooked and diced (you can use a rotisserie chicken)
4 tablespoons butter
4 tablespoons flour
1 quart half and half
1 14 ounces can of chicken broth
1/2 cup celery, finely diced
2 minced garlic cloves
1 cup carrots, finely shredded
1 cup onion, finely diced
1 cup fresh spinach, coarsely chopped
1 tablespoons extra virgin oil
1/2 teaspoon thyme
1/2 teaspoon parsley
Freshly grated Parmesan cheeses i optional
1 pound potato gnocchi you can buy this in the gourmet section of many supermarkets

Saute the onion, celery, and garlic in the butter and olive oil over medium heat until the onion becomes translucent. Add the flour and make a roux. Let the butter and flour mixture cook for about a minute before adding 1 quart of half and half.
Cook gnocchi according to package directions.
Into the roux, add in the carrots and chicken. Once the mixture becomes thick, add the chicken broth. Once the mixture thickens again, add the cooked gnocchi, spinach, and seasoning;, simmer until soup is heated through.

Mothers Day 2011

I enjoyed my Mothers Day. It was filled with gifts,goodies & my girlys!!

                                                                         Me loves my mommy!

 As usual its hard to get a serious picture...

 In church this morning Pastor Mark asked us to think of 1 characteristic of our Mom that has influenced our life and although there are so many I could think of the most important to me is her "Selfless love" she has for others,her children & grandchildren.

 My girls minus Mady...she was at an overnight G.Scout camp in at Cosi. She came back this afternoon...

 Heres my picture of Mady and me...She gave me a card she made and some coupons she had made me at school, plus a gift card to Buchwalters.

 My Mothers Days gifts!!!