Our trip to Chattanooga...

We all took a little weekend getaway during the kids Spring break to Chattanooga. While we were there we stayed at the Chattanooga Choo Choo Hotel and we went to Ruby Falls, Railroad incline, and Rock City. 

We went to Rock City during Shamrock day. They had fun activities for the kids, Irish food, drinks, and music.

Now we are back to school! I can't believe how fast this year has flown by. I'm trying not to think about Dawson starting Middle school and Avery being in 3rd grade!! 

I am looking forward for the Summer though. It has been so cold here I am ready for some warm weather! 

Wordless Wednesday: Valentine's Day decor

You may remember this from last year, but I wanted to share again. Enjoy!

Tasty Tuesday: Crockpot Baked Potato Soup

This soup is so good and so easy. I found the recipe HERE. I have made this several times and it seems to just get better and better each time. I love being able to throw everything in the crock pot and serve a meal with little or no mess. With this soup all you need is your topping of choice....and your good to go!

I will include the recipe for your convenience:

• 1 bag of frozen hash browns (I used shredded)
• 3 cans of chicken broth
• 1 can cream of chicken
• 1 block of cream cheese (regular)
• 1 small onion (chopped)
• salt and pepper 

put everything in crock pot except cream cheese and cook 4-6 hr on high. Mix cream cheese in about 1 hour before serving. Cook until thoroughly melted. Serve with you favorite toppings. I loaded mine up like I would a loaded baked potato. 

WW: Kids Valentine Craft...

One day last week the kids were out of school so we had a craft day.

We made cute little Valentine Robots. 

don't  they look so happy to be getting their picture taken??? 

Happy Wednesday!

Friday photo dump...

 doing a photo dump today from my instagram...

If you already follow me you have probably already seen these. 

If you don't you need to : )

@amandapersinger

top left: 

1. starting my resolution to add lots of fresh/raw fruit and veggies in my diet
2. my future song writer. this one is titled: what would I do without you
3. homemade dressing from avocado, cilantro, garlic, lemon juice, and evoo
4. geting ready to start training again
5. my super bear 
6. crockpot freezer meals for our meal swap moms
7. after school snack: homemade cheese sticks
8. ready for summer (it was 70 degrees that day)
9. my colorful fridge artwork

Happy Friday!

The Smokies and New Years....

The day after Christmas we packed up and headed to Gatlinburg like we did LAST YEAR.

We had high expectations to do all this stuff that we didn't get to do last year. 

Unfortunately, as soon as we got there my sweet girl got a horrible stomach bug.

It lasted the whole trip... and some!

Despiste her being sick we made the most of it and had a good time.

Our view at the cabin was amazing. 

My favorite part was going to the park. 

I could have spent the entire trip in there.

I can't wait to go back in the spring so we can do just that.

Then on New Years Eve we celebrated at our house just the four of us.

Avery still wasn't fully recovered from being sick and I felt like I was starting to get it (which I did)

Avery always likes to decorate the house anytime we have a party or celebration.

So we did a little decorating and I got everything ready for us.

food, drinks, games, just dance

Then I passed out.... before the New Year.

Oh well.

Hopefully that will be the last of any illnesses for the rest of this year.

I wish everyone a happy, healthy 2013!

Our Christmas (in pictures)....

blurry picture...

but love still the same....

look at that face....

full of excitement....

full of joy....

 pilot didn't get left out....

he loves his penguin...

 christmas eve tradition...

orbeez , orbeez....

that's all she wanted was orbeez....

ummm...

i hope we don't regret this one...

every year we have big breakfast on christmas morning....

this year i made my first egg quiche...

after christmas we took off to the smoky mountains....

i'll share that next....

                                                                                           

             

 Thank God for his Son - a gift too wonderful for words!

2 Corinthians 9:15

Baking Party...

My baby girl is eight!! It's bitter sweet. I think every mom wishes they would stay little forever and I am no exception.

She is growing into such a beautiful little girl.....full of imagination.

This year she wanted a baking party.

Here they are in their aprons and chef hats.

I had everything set up in "stations". When the girls arrived they got their aprons and decorated their chef hats (that I got for free from the meat department at my local grocery store).
The aprons were made with the help of my MIL and my sister.
My sister and I sewed the ruffle on the bottom and my MIL embroiderd each girls initial on.

The next station was cupcake decorating. They iced and decorated their own cupcakes.  This was Avery's favorite part.
I had to cut out a few things I planned on doing, but overall I was pleased with the way it turned out.

Avery and her friends had fun and that is what's most important.


I could not have pulled this off without the help of my sister....thank you!!

Hope everyone has a Merry Christmas!!

i.e. : not the best quality of pictures due to lighting

Christmas 2012: Miniature Gingerbread house

We started with a pre-made gingerbread kit.
Which did not turn out so well. So we made our own with graham crackers.
I think they are so cute and it was so much fun to make.
No more pre-made for us.

I assembled the house for them and they did all the decorating.

Now we have a cute little gingerbread village...

I used instructions HERE

Christmas tour....Dinning room

It feels like Christmas around here....

now all we need is some snow....

I would love to have one good snow.... and that's all (preferably on Christmas day)

There's nothing better than a White Christmas!

Ok on to Christmas decorating....
The dinning room was the first to be done. I really like how it turned out. Even if it hadn't changed much from last year.

I love my Johnson Bros plate and wish I had the whole collection. I only have the one plate that sits pretty displayed on my hutch.  Also, I have two coffee cups that come out around Christmas time.

One of the new things I added this year is my lovely plaid table cloth I found at GW.  I have it draped down the center of my table and used my white enamel basin filled with poinsettia's as my center piece

 Nothing fancy just classic and simple....the way I like it. I try not to spend to much on decorating by using natural elements like pinecones and greenery from my yard and gathering things from around my house that I can tie into Christmas.

And of course I can't leave with out a picture of our best decoration in the house...Mr. Pilot.

Happy Friday!!


linked up @whipperberry