Fun In The Sun

Umm, can you say it is a hot one?  Seriously, this weekend was crazy hot and we are not even into the June or July not to mention the dreaded August heat!  Ugh!  So, we played outside in the WATER most of the holiday weekend.  We had a busy one too.  I have been recovering from being on the go and I still have lots of allergy/sinus issues - so sick of that!

Friday, we went to a Sugar Land Skeeters game.  Super fun but exhausting with Nic!  Saturday, we headed to Humble area to see some old friends {The Lomax's}.  They have a little boy 8 months older than Nic so it was fun to watch them play and interact.  Sunday, dinner with The Raska's.  Fun as always.  Monday, we went to the neighbor splash pad.  We are tired. . . . . . .!!!!!

I bought Nic this blow up pool ~ he loved it!  We played in it before and after nap. 

Skeeter's Game ~ Riding the Carousel

Playing in the sand box at the Skeeter's game

Nic & Nolan ~ Sweet boys!

XOXO

Heather

Homemade Pesto

So, guess what I made Wednesday for dinner . . . . . . . . . . . . . Homemade {Basil} Pesto Sauce.  AND it was yummy!  The best thing about it was I went to my back patio and cut the basil for it myself.  :-)  Most of the herbs I planted 3 weeks ago are growing well - I am so proud of myself!

Here how I did it!

Ingredients:

2 cups of Fresh Sweet Basil

1 cup of Baby Spinach

1 1/2 cups chopped Walnuts

1 1/2 Tbsp of garlic paste

1/4 cup of Parmesan cheese

1 1/2 {maybe 2}cup(s) of olive oil 

salt and pepper to taste

Fresh Sweet Basil {cleaned & dried}

All my ingredients {ready & measured}

THIS was a nightmare. . . . . . .I don't have a nice big food processor so I had to use my little bity chopper to get everything cut up finely.  I had to do a little bit at a time.  Again, a NIGHTMARE!  Then put it in the blender to slowly add olive oil.   I am sure if I would have had the processor, it would have turned out just like in the restuarants!  Needless to say, I am purchasing a food processor SOON!

It ended up more like a paste but the taste was still very good.  So, I decided to use it as a marinade instead of a sauce.

I put it in the fridge to marinate for 24 hours!

Bake in oven for 35 minutes @ 350 degress!

AND. . . . . .dinner is served.  It had a very good flavor. 

Herb/Plant Update

Here are some pics

Patio Tomato, Cherry Tomato & Jalapeno Plants

Sweet Basil {planted 3 weeks ago}

Thyme {finally sprouting out}

Parsley

Happy Herb Growing!

XOXO

Counting 1 to 10 en Espanol

We have recently discovered that Nic can count 1-10 in Spanish.  Proud Moment, Proud Momma!  Anyway, at school, they have been working on his ABC's, counting {in English & Spanish}, recognizing colors.  Tuesday night, T was putting N to bed and I was listening to them on the monitor when low and behold N was counting loud and clear from 1 to 10 in Spanish.  I raced to get my video camera and of course, N got alittle camera shy when I started videoing but this is what I got!

Party Rockin' In The House Tonight. . . . . . . . . .

This past weekend was overflowing with fun-filled events and celebrations.  My little co-caption and I headed north to to spend some time with my family and celebrate Rachel's graduation from the Murray State RN Program.  Yay Sister!  It has been a long hard road but she made it and we were all there to enjoy it with her!  Not only did we celebrate Rachel's graduation, but we recognized my nephew's {Payton} birthday ~ he turned 7 years old!  We celebrated old school style at the skating rink.  I was in hog heaven as I used to be an awesome skater.  Not in-line skating, but the traditional ole roller skating.  We even got to throw a quick trip to Urgent Care for Nicholas . . . . . . . . !

Here's how the long weekend went. . . . . . .

First, Nic and I headed out to road trip it up!

Of course, Nic & Payton had to catch up on their boy cousin time.  So, we took them to the park!

At this park, they have a water area which the kids loved.  We did not have their swim trunks so we stripped them down to their pants/shorts so they could enjoy the water!

More cousin time ~ Nic adores Payton and follows everything he does.  The kids eating their breakfast together ~ watching cartoons!  Sweetness!

Pre-Graduation Pic of the Family

Graduation {the Pinning}

We went to dinner after to celebrate ~ Rachel cutting the cake!   Congrats to my sister!  She worked very hard this past year!

Papaw & Nic playing peek-a-boo!  Too C-U-T-E!

Somewhere in the middle of all this celebrating, my kid got to take a trip to Urgent Care on Saturday morning because he had what is called Nursemaid's Elbow {pulled elbow}.  This poor kid cried all night and the motrin I gave him did not helped at all.  I thought I had pulled his shoulder out of socket or something because he would not move it or bare weight on it!  This happened when I was pulling his arm through the floaty {we were headed to the hotel pool for some swimming after dinner on Friday}.  When we got up on Saturday, he still seemed to be in some degree of pain so we loaded to the Urgent Care next to Rachel's place.  Somehow, he popped the ligament back into place because he was fine when the Dr examined him!  I think it was when he climbed up onto the couch to see the fish ~ see in the pic here!

Payton's Roller Derby Party

Saturday, we celebrated Payton's 7th birthday at the skating rink.  Now this is what I call a party!  It was FUN for everyone {even the adults. . . . . . .me}!!!

Happy Birthday Payton!

Roll On Payt!

Rachel & Bailey

This is how I ROLL!  I love skating and am still fairly good at it {tooting my horn} ~ I didn't fall once!  Me & Missy!

The cake ~ Isn't it cool!  Payton is big into wrestling ~ John Cena!

Payton and his Friends

After the birthday, we headed home to spend some quality family time!  We enjoyed the Wii {alittle Just Dance}!  Our fav!

And that's the end to this way too long blog but I had to fit all the fun pics in.

Needless to say, we had a blast and can wait for the next get together! 

Love & Miss you family!

XOXO

Party at the Zoo

Today, Nic and I had our first visit to the Houston Zoo!  We were there to celebrate our friend Emma's 2nd birthday ~ Happy Birthday to Emma!  It was both of our first time to the Houston Zoo - I did not grow up down here {moved when I was 14} so I was passed the age of going to all the cool children's educational places!  We both enjoyed it.  Nic loved the play area,  carousel and petting the goats.  I didn't take my camera but I have some pics from my phone.

Me & Nic before heading to the Zoo!

Nic & Daddy

Happy Camper!

Party At The Zoo

Checkin' out the goats!

Petting the goats ~ I think he thought they were big dogs!

He loved the play area!

Nic & Addy enjoying their lunch!  His first time with cheetos ~ ummm, he LOVED them!

Fun had by all at the Houston Zoo!

XOXO

My Gift

I love me some Amazon. . . . . . .and today, Amazon gifted me with a new lens for my camera.  Let me just say right now that I am NOT a professional photographer nor am I trying to be.  I just want to get good quality photos of my family.  With that said, I purchased the Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 ll from Amazon for my birthday present.  I did some research on it and found that it takes great quality photos for a very reasonable price {$119}.  It takes great portrait shots of people, pets, objects, food, etc.  I love the way it focuses on the object and blurs the background.  I also bought a lens hood and a lens cleaning kit.  Happy Birthday to me from Amazon!

Guess what I did tonight - I took pics with my new lens.  Just some randoms . . . . .

Check it out - the new lens!

My delivery from Amazon - the lens, lens hood & lens cleaning kit!

Random Photos to Test out the New Lens

Of course, the first pics of Nicholas!

How sweet!

Miss Daphne

My Knock Out Roses - Look how CRISP the picture is!

Focused on the 3 roses but background is blurred {I love it}!

Just thought I would share my happiness about my new gift!

Happy Hump Day!

XOXO