Wordless Wednesday

Cheese Log

I went to a MOPs gathering at Lisa's last week and brought along a cheese log. It's a recipe my aunt had given me a few years ago. It's the best thing ever! I can't tell you how many times I've been asked for the recipe... and how many times I'm asked to make it! And it's so simple. Here it is (I wish I had a picture to post!):

Eileen's Cheese Log

(This recipe makes 2 logs)
One bag shredded sharp cheddar cheese
1 pkg cream cheese, softened
2 cloves garlic, crushed
1 cup pecans
4 Tbl chili powder
1 tsp cayenne pepper

First, lay out 2 sheets of saran wrap and 2 sheets of foil (you'll want to do this first as your hands are about to become very messy!). Combine chili powder and cayenne on a plate and set aside. Mix first 4 ingredients together in large bowl. Separate into 2 halves, then form each into a log. Roll each in spice mixture. Wrap tightly in saran, followed by foil. Refrigerate. Can make a day or 2 ahead of time.

Yum-O!!!!

Preschool Delay

Ian is a little bummed. He was supposed to start school today, but since his school is housing hurricane evacuees, he can't start until next Tuesday. At least I get him one more week!! : )

And Daddy stayed home today to get some work done. Although I don't know how much he'll accomplish with all this rain!

But, Ian's pretty happy... he gets us all to himself today!

Fun With Friends

Bella invited me to lunch on Friday! Ian and I met her in the cafeteria and had such a fun time! She was very excited. The night before she told me I could pack my lunch in her old princess lunch box. So, that's just what I did!

Afterward, we hung out on the playground and got to meet some new friends. Very fun. I finally got a picture of Bella with her teacher, Mrs. Thornhill. She is very sweet, and Isabella just loves her!
Saturday afternoon we had a playdate and dinner at Brian and Abby's house.
Don't judge him because he's driving a pink barbie jeep! (the manly 4 wheeler wasn't charged up!)Catching bubbles!Last Thursday morning, after dropping Bella off at school, Ian and I headed to Krista's for some swimming and play time!

We spent a fun day at the zoo last week before school started. We brought along a picnic lunch... or should I say, snuck in a picnic lunch!
Aren't they adorable???

The bird sanctuary was fun.... Bridget was laughing so hard at those birds. It was too funny!

First Day of School

My sweet baby girl started kindergarten yesterday. I was a basket case.

She was just so excited and couldn't wait to get there. She picked out her clothes the night before and helped me pack her lunch. Chris took the morning off to share in the momentous occasion. (I think he really just wanted to see if I would break down in uncontrollable sobs).

Bella couldn't have been more assured. I thought she'd be a little overwhelmed, but if she was, it didn't show. She couldn't wait to get in her classroom and get started! And I did extremely well, considering I thought I'd be a complete mess throughout the entire ordeal. I didn't shed one tear in front of her!

Afterward, the parents (mostly moms) gathered in the library for the BooHoo Yahoo. They served donuts and juice and the principal and school counselor spoke. Everyone was holding it together really well until the principal started crying. Then most of us lost it. And there were A LOT of people in there!

Ian had some donuts at the sob-fest

When I picked her up after school, she told me how much fun she had and how she had made a couple of friends. At bedtime, she told me she wished she was already asleep because she couldn't wait to go back to school! I'm so relieved and happy she loves it!!! But I'm really sad that my sweet pea is growing up. Things will never be the way they were again. I know that's supposed to be a good thing, but I don't like it one bit!

Ian and I had a really fun day together! He's been wanting "pointy hair" like Daddy's, so I bought some spiking gel and we fixed it up! We also did a mohawk, but I didn't get a picture of that!

Here's Day 2. Do you think they're trying to tell me something through those clenched teeth?? ;)

Girls' Day

KINDERGARTEN STARTS TODAY!!!!!!!

Saturday, Bella and I had a girls' day to celebrate her starting kindergarten. She's been asking me for some Mommy & Bella time, so, we made a plan to do some girly stuff!

First, I took her to get a pedicare, then we went clothes shopping. My intention was to buy her one new outfit for school, but ended up buying her several! (Kohls had so many cute things... and a great sale going on!)

We topped off the day by stopping at Andy's for ice cream on the way home.

We had such a great day hanging out together! What am I going to do without my baby home with me every day?????????????????????? :(

4 Things About Me

4 Things

I've been tagged by Andrea. The first question was a tough one. My memory already is shot, but trying to remember what I was doing 10 years ago was next to impossible!

4 things that I was doing 10 years ago

Well, all the years pre-kids just blur together. I have absolutely no idea what I was doing in 1998… but I’ll take a shot at it… it's pretty general, because specifics escape me right now!

• Working at good ol’ SPI
• Eating at Outback…. A LOT
• Fervently repeating my "no babies" mantra
• Feeling proud that our marriage had made it to 10 years!

4 things on my To-Do list for today

• CLEAN MY HOUSE
• Laundry
• Make salsa
• Replace my shower curtain

4 random things I like about my hubby

• He’s the hardest working person I know
• He's a complete handy-man. And he's great at woodworking (has made some beautiful things)
• He never complains about my much-lacking housekeeping skills
• He has a forgiving heart

4 jobs that I have had

• Assistant Mgr. at 5-7-9 (about a million years ago)
• Bus”boy” at a country club (about a million and a half years ago)
• Bank teller
• Admin. Asst. for engineering firm

4 movies I've watched more than once

• The Sound of Music
• Auntie Mame
• The Parent Trap (the original)
• Giant

4 places I have lived

• Tyler
• Sour Lake (what moron came up w/that name??)
• Jackson, TN
• Here

4 places I have been

• Cancun
• Durango, CO
• Red River, NM
• Nashville, TN

4 places I want to visit

• Vermont
• Scotland
• Hawaii
• Gulf Shores, AL

4 TV shows I watch

• DWTS
• Ugly Betty
• Desperate Housewives
• Big Love

4 things you may not know about me

• I’m an accomplished pianist
• Danced professional ballet for 10 years
• Competed in the Olympics in the 90s
• I have a lying problem

4 people I tag

• Alisa
• Krista
• Laura
• Sam (sorry, Sam!)