Our hearts (and arms) are full!

Such happy sweet smiles. 

   

Happy Thanksgiving!

Our 2nd family Thanksgiving was a success!

Girls were sweet, but hesitant around everyone...next year will be lots of fun!

The Blackburns

Allen told me Ryan and Erin et. all were coming in town for the holidays. We are super excited and took this picture to capture the moment!

Their 1st Duet

I figured it wasn't too early to introduce musical instruments. Looks like they have some of their Mama's musical talents. :) 

Alyssa really enjoyed her jam session. 

Audrey has been good at this for a while...

Audrey has been good at this for a while. But it is still neat to see her do this on her own.

She put her pacifier in during one of our walks recently. 

Alyssa is so funny!

So this morning we're hanging out in our bouncers and I watch Alyssa discover (again) the dangling bee over her head. She would jump...stop and then reach up and touch...no swatting...no grabbing...just touch the bee gently then continue jumping or slapping the objects in front of her. It just cracks me up the random little things she does sometimes....

Sloppy Joe Meat Pie

So Allen and I have been compiling a list of "Delicious Meals" and this is one of the easy ones that Allen loves. 

I got the idea from a book I love. "Fix it & Freeze it & Heat it & Eat it" Its a Southern Living book and so far has had some really tasty and east recipes. 

Pretty much you want to fix your favorite sloppy joe recipe (the one in the book is delicious) and put it into a baking dish. I top it with a sprinkling of cheese then spread mashed potatoes on top. My Mama introduced us to refrigerated mashed potatoes, and we discovered there are lots of flavor options...because its sloppy joes, I got the jalapeno version and used that. You can also whip up your own mashed potatoes if you like, or have the time. I like to think of this recipe as semi-homemade (You know that show from the Food Network...is it still on?) Sprinkle some cheese on top of the potatoes and you're done!

Bake at 350 for 25ish minutes....just give the cheese time to melt and begin to brown and you've got dinner! (Allen turned on the broiler for a few minutes to crisp and brown the cheese in this picture.)

Directions:

1. Cook sloppy joe recipe of choice.
2. Put in baking dish.
3. Sprinkle cheese to cover sloppy joe meat mixture.
4. Spread mashed potatoes over meat and cheese.
5. Sprinkle more cheese on top.
6. Bake uncovered at 350 degrees for 25 minutes or until cheese is melted and browned.

For variations we have browned hamburger meat then added onions and peppers and cooked until softened instead of using sloppy joe mix. You can then season the meat however you like...we have used taco seasoning and it turned out pretty well... get creative with that you like to eat and season the meat however you like, then follow the rest of the recipe to finish up.

Now...about freezing... If you fix a double batch while you're making dinner you can split the meat mixture half, and put the half you want to freeze into an aluminum throw away dish. You can prepare as usual and freeze one dish for later. I was able to make enough sloppy joes meat mixture for sandwiches one night, and 2 meat pies to freeze for later. I used 3lbs of meat...a lot I know, but wait until Publix has a sale and make this recipe.

Great for new moms and an easy freezer meal to gift to the new mom too!

So about nap time.....

I know it's not optional to skip naps...but the girls thought they'd try it today...Mama knew better, but I didn't fight it....we spent the evening fussy and not very happy...then totally fell asleep during our bottles. 

***I risked taking a flash picture to show y'all these tired babies.***

Audrey zonked out before I could even lay her down. 

Alyssa Has. Not. Moved. Since Daddy laid her down. 

Yes you see 6 pacifiers in her crib....what you don't see are the other 4 to the foot of her crib....just in case...

6 months old!!!!

Here we are getting bigger and so much fun with DIFFERENT personalities!

We eat pears and love them! We eat cereal like champs, and drink some juice. We still take 3 naps a day and sleep through the night most nights!!!  

Here is Alyssa. Alyssa can almost sit up on her own, balance on her knees and rock. She has a big personality and loves to laugh and smile. When Mama tickles her she laughs and covers her mouth with her hands. When Daddy walks in the room her face lights up and she always gives him a big toothless grin. 

Here is Audrey. Audrey can roll over both ways. Loves to rub noses with Mama, and grins at Daddy like you wouldn't believe. She's more reserved and likes to watch the room and what is going on from her door jam bouncer. She will jump and jump and jump until Mama says she's jumped long enough.

1st Halloween

We had a blast for Halloween!

They visited Mama's school, were Daddy's side kicks at a chili cook off judging and enjoyed seeing the other trick or treaters at the door later. 

Daddy minion and his little side kicks. 

Audrey Hepburn and her little minions

Audrey and Audrey!

Babies on the move!

Love these onsies! These girls are starting to notice one another!!

Trying to take pictures these days is interesting. Getting them to look at me is a challenge because they want to check each other out!