Staycation

So Jake and I needed a mini vacation, but didn't have the money for it. So we did a stay-cation in Dallas instead!  My Mom and Dad stayed with the girls Saturday night (thank you Mom and Dad! Sorry about the 3am Madelynn wake up.)  Jake and I stayed at the Belmont Hotel in downtown Dallas. It's a 3 star hotel that is on this awesome hillside with fantastic views of downtown Dallas. It's simply decorated with a modern feel, but very nice and clean. It was too cool to swim, but the pool is backed up against the hill with a fountain that looks like it's coming from the hillside and the uninterrupted view of downtown can be seen 180deg. around the pool (what a great place for a wedding!) There was a local rock band (nobody knew the name) being interviewed at the hotel and looked like they were going to shoot video at the pool. The staff was very nice and courteous and the valet people didn't even roll their eyes when we had them park my car about 3 times during the night (we were coming and going for various events.)
Next door to the hotel is The Smoke Restaurant.  Jake and I ate breakfast there the next morning, and the food was FANTASTIC!  The atmosphere in the restaurant was very cozy with a large fire going. On the menu was some very interesting dishes that I'd love to try (like blueberry pancakes with a vanilla apricot cream sauce,) but I just stuck with the eggs, bacon, and biscuit with a cheesy grits casserole.  The grits were very good and had some spice to it that made it better than most grits I've tasted. The biscuit was large and homemade and came with the chef's homemade pineapple cinnamon jam (he makes a new jam every week). VERY Awesome!  The bacon was the largest slice of meat I'd every seen that had been grilled but left very juicy on the inside. The plate also came asparagus and tomato.  I'm normally not a fan of either vegetable, but these had been brushed with barbecue sauce and grilled.  DELICIOUS! I will never look at asparagus the same way again!  This is my new favorite spot! Jake and I can't wait to try their lunch and dinner menus.  I recommend everyone to try it!
Jake and I also recommend everyone to try a stay-cation of their own! It was a lot of fun and we had a great time with some great friends!

Nicknames

I've never been one for nicknames, yet I seem to have picked up a corny name for each of the girls. Funny how that happens...
We have Miss Madelynn, Anniebells, and JoyJoy. 
Poor Jake has picked up Jake-ie (sprung from his "Corr-ie!" so I'd answer "Jake-ie!")

I change my mind. I love endearing, corny family nicknames!

Happy Valentine's Day!

To me, Valentine's Day is a day to tell everyone who is important to you that you love them. It isn't just for your honey, it's for all your close friends and family too.  I've decided that a new tradition for our family is to make Valentine's Day about showing God's love to our neighbors too. So today the girls and I will be baking cookies and making homemade cards to take to our neighbors.

Essential Valentine FriendThis Valentine is meant to let you know
How much you mean to me, my best friend,
but there aren’t words
warm enough, fond enough,
or deep enough to express my feelings.
You are an essential piece of my life’s puzzle.
You clarify me, enrich me,
energize me, comfort me.
"Fun" would be just another word without you.
As the days of our lives go by,
I fervently hope that I can bring to you
the abundant joy you have brought to me.
Happy Valentine’s Day!By Joanna Fuchs

My Girlies

These are some of my favorite pictures of the girls:

My Wish for You

I wish you Health.....
So you may enjoy each day in comfort.

I wish you the Love of friends and family.....
And Peace within your heart.

I wish you the Beauty of nature.....
That you enjoy the work of God.

I wish you Wisdom to choose priorities.....
For those things that really matter in life.

I wish you Generosity so you may share.....
All good things that come to you.

I wish you Happiness and Joy.....
And Blessings for the New Year.

I wish you the best of everything.....

It's the Dad Life

This is Greatness!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fZa7hU6tP_s

Corn Chowder

Here is another one of my favorite easy recipies. Don't expect it to taste gourmet, because it's not. But it's decent enough on a cold day when you need to use up the Christmas ham; and most importantly it's something healthy that the kids love.

1 1/2 milk
1can cream style sweet corn
1cup cubed ham thinly sliced
1can whole new potatoes drained and coarsely chopped
1can whole kernel golden sweet corn, drained
1cup shredded cheese

Stir milk into cream corn in large saucepan.
Add ham, potatoes, and whole corn.
Heat through, stirring occasionally.
Remove from heat.
Stir in cheese until melted.

Garnish with green onion slivers if desired.

Enjoy!