The Big Bash for the Baby...or, Ok Me!

The Birthday was a hit! With all the hoopla and stress about the odds and ends I thought for sure the sun was going to come crashing down around my ears and everyone would be around me laughing. No really, this is how worked up I got. I mean the cup cakes still needed to be iced, heck I hadn't even make the icing. There was stuff all over the house let alone the back yard. And I had no cups, plated or really anything to drink..ugh.
It wasn't until my wonderful husband brought me back to reality. He simple said "Everyone would understand ".
 When he said that, I was thinking, to myself of course, right. I mean it's a party, there are expectations..
Then something beautiful happened that gave me peace. My two darling children under the age of three started giggling.  And that is when I truly started to enjoy the party. Before a guest ever got here, before a cup cake got frosted or a game got started.

I took a moment to think about why I get so, um, what's the word? Oh, I know, Crazy!
Well the truth is that it's not because I want to give Daisy a wonderful memory. I mean she is only a year old. Don't get me wrong, I would love for her to remember, but that's just not reality.
What I was doing, unconsciously of course, was giving myself the best birthday a kid could have as an adult. all the things I dreamed of as a child all wrapped up in my daughters 1st birthday.
I know that is kind of well, just wrong but at least I had been given the insight to see it early on so I don't become "that mom' again and again.

So Yes, people will and do understand. Everyone knows that having two young children is like rock climbing with monkeys hanging on your every limb, trying to make you laugh, or cry for that matter. It's tough to be a parent, but dang it is so rewarding too. Especially when you get to give yourself the best 1st birthday ever!

Birthday Party on a Dollar or two

Goody Bags

Today is my baby Daisy's first birthday and I am "That Mom" who would buy a pony and walk it down the red carpet to present it to my queen of sheba. Yes, yes, I am. And I am ok with that, however my reality is not.
Ok, so first I went overboard on the invites. Small and sweet was my intention, but I think there might.be more people at her party then there were at our wedding..  Silly me, oh well at least I know I can cook for a crowd and it will be great.
But wait! The kids, it's a kids party and half the quests are kids, what are they going to do?
Well, clever me, I'll make up a game, hand out goody bags and send them home all sugared up.
The game: a simple bean bag toss using a recycled 1/2 pallet, some cool vynal baskets fome the dollar store, and bags I already have! Nice. One down and two to go.
The goodie bags; brown bags tied with twine filled will a few "normal candy", some I can't even begin to understand and simple blowers and toys.
Woohoo, I just killed one bird with two stones...wait, two birds with one stone.
Anyway, I find myself obsessed with this birthday stuff. The party is Saturday so stay tuned for more on this ongoing crazy mom.

First few foods that pop in your head?

Black eyed peas, oranges, cake, mint(? Really?), pork butt and cheese..

Memorial Day Weekend

Wow! This weekend FLEW by, and I mean flew! Between The pool opening, having friends for super, driving to family and a boat ride in the swamp.. It's amazing the children aren't flipping out. But ya know, with all this craziness happening it was just what we needed and not a bit less.

I think the highlight was seeing the family and getting to break bread, watch the next generation play, and learning a little from the previous generation.
Ma ma and Pop Pop had another round of veggies for us, Yeay, and we finally got to bring them some. I have never canned anything before, but with all the snap beans I will be tackling something new. (this Should be interesting)
I wonder what crazy way I will incorporate them into our diet since this type of bean is something I'm not accustomed to. Funny how regionally different veggies are.

The drive down to manning was beautiful as always. The corn is coming a long quite nicely. Hope we manage some great crops this year.
Whenever I head down that way and the corn is tall and green, it always makes me want to stop the dang car and just run and play like a kid again. One day i will, with permission of course.

Wouldn't want some poor guy thinking something crazy is happening in his fields.

The Resourceful, Crafty Mom: Chocolate Peanut butter

The Resourceful, Crafty Mom: Chocolate Peanut butter: Hello wonderful readers!!! I hope you all are having a lovely Thursday.  I have been busy preparing for a trip with my boys to see my family...

Black Rice?

I'm here at my dinning room table shoveling pumpkin seeds down the spout and reading over some fine recipe's people have wrote about.
I came across one that had black rice in it and thought, "What the hell is that?". Well ya know since I'm just looking to be creative with the stuff my family will actually eat, I thought, hahaa ya right. But, yes, but! as i read, I found that black rice is kind of like these pumpkin seed I am sooo enjoying at the moment. Crunchy on the outside and blissful on in.
So, my dilemma is, do I pound it down their throat, or blend it with, say a brown rice?
I could see a lightly seeded quinoa, sweet corn and cilantro blend going on. What do you think?

Straight from the Farm Red Pot's

Yummy Farm Fresh Red Pots from Pop pop made a super delish dish and easssy.

Pop Pop's Pot Sld

Pots (I used the Red)
Kraft Vidalia Onion Vinigerett dressing ( about 1/2 cup)
Onion ( Vidalia of course)
Fresh Basil
Fresh Chives
Salt and Pepper to taste

Slice onion, basil and chives. Half pots and boil in salted water. Mix together in bowl and ruff cute the pots with your spoon.