Friday Favorites!

Today I am linking up with some of my favorite bloggers for their Friday Favorites edition.

 1. Lunch at the pool with my girls is one of my favorite things this week (and every week during the summer).  I love taking time to relax and enjoy the pool while eating some yummy food and I keep the best company.  :)

 Doesn't she look so big?

That sweet baby smiles melts my heart everyday.

2. I get a pedicure every 2-3 weeks on Friday or Saturday, but this week I changed it up and went on Wednesday.  This is Aloha by OPI, I felt like it was a little bit summer and a little bit fall.  I love a good pedicure!

3. I cannot believe my sweet baby Caroline is 11 months old this week!  In less than a month my baby will be one-year-old, where has the time gone???

4. I am loving the house red from Barrel Oak Winery.  I have had a glass with a slice of pizza the last few nights and it is just perfection!  If you live in Northern Virginia, you really need to pack a picnic and head out to Barrel Oak Winery for a beautiful afternoon.  We haven't opened the white yet, I am saving it...

5. Ben's homemade pizza is one of my favorites this week!  I could eat an entire pizza, but I limit myself to two slices.  It is soooo good and is not just a Friday favorite, but an any-day-of-the-week favorite!

Next week.. College football starts!!!

Happy Friday y'all!

A week of dinners

I am always looking for new recipes and I love to mix up our dinners.  I follow a couple of good blogs that post recipes and sometimes I just google.  I thought I would show a sample of some of our dinners, and maybe it might help some of you out.  Back-to-school is always a busy time of year and sometimes you just need some extra help coming up with something to eat.  :)

Chicken enchiladas with southwest rice

*I just googled "easy chicken enchiladas" and picked a recipe.

The southwest rice is a frozen Birdseye steam fresh vegetable.

 The platter of enchiladas

Meatloaf muffins, green beans, and mash potatoes

* I previously made the meatloaf muffins and froze them, the green beans are from a can, and the mash potatoes I made from scratch before dinner

Breakfast for dinner

*Ben previously made the banana muffins and froze them, scrambled eggs, and bacon.

Ranch pork chops with mash potatoes and honey glazed carrots

*The pork chops are covered in ranch seasoning (1 packet for 4 pork chops), the mash potatoes are left over from meatloaf night, and the carrots I made in the crock pot

Grilled hot dog with leftover 

*Ben grilled hot dogs and we enjoyed left over mash potatoes, honey glazed carrots, and cucumber pasta salad as sides.

 Homemade cheese and pepperoni pizza
*Ben makes the dough from scratch and it makes enough for two pizzas.
We usually do cheese, pepperoni, sausage, or mushroom pizza.
It's the best!

The pizza makes four meals, so we enjoy it for lunch or dinner


Happy Thursday y'all!

Eleven Months Old!

Dear Caroline,

You are 11 months old today!

I know I say it every. single. month. but I truly cannot believe how fast this month has gone- you are eleven months old.  You are almost one and it has gone way to fast!  I don't know where the time has gone, but it has flown away this month faster than any other month.

Your dad and I took your measurements today and you weigh 21.6 pounds and you are 28 1/4 inches long.  You are wearing size 3 diapers and size 12-month clothes.  

We switched today from formula to whole milk.  You didn't particularly like the switch, but your dad and I think it is because the milk is cold and your formula bottles were room temperature.   You are getting (4) 7-ounce bottles and (1) 4-ounce bottle everyday.  

You have started to eat cheerios, puffs, and bananas.  You love to feed yourself and you have lost almost all interest in baby food.  You have two bottom teeth so we have not tried too many foods with you, we are waiting for you to get a little better at chewing.  :)

This month you have been busy, busy, busy (maybe that's why it went so quickly).  You have been to the zoo, to the spray park in Alexandria, to the spray park at Lee District, you have gone to feed the ducks with the big kids, and you took your first wagon ride around the neighborhood.  

Along with all that fun, you have also helped dad celebrate his birthday, play at home with your sister, have a play date with Alice and Evie, play with baby cousin, and go on your first boat ride with Grandpa Fred.  

You have been to the pool almost daily, helped us start our family lunch tradition on Sundays, and played on the beach for the first time.  

You love to crawl up the stairs, you chew on everything, and you only want to play with Elizabeth's toys.  You are cruising everywhere and can even take six or seven steps by yourself.  We are pretty sure you will be walking by your first birthday.  

My sweet baby, you have started talking more and now say "mama", "dada", and "sissy".  You can sign "more" and you always want more puffs.

 End of July box fun with sissy

 Your first wagon ride

 Playing at home

 Playground time!

 So cute in footed pajamas!

 I was trying to take pictures of you in this cute outfit 

and your sister crawled into the picture

 How fabulous is this outfit?

 August 5th- Happy Birthday Dad!

 Silly sisters

 Playing with baby cousin!

 Went to the zoo and saw a dinosaur!

 And a waterfall :)

 This was your first time playing with the tunnel

You loved it!

 Cruising around...

 Working on feeding yourself :)

 Feeding the ducks with the big kids

 Sweet sisters

 Post-workout selfie with mom

 Morning snuggles

 First boat ride for you and Elizabeth!

 And... first time on a beach!

 Boat ride home

 Fun with cousins!

 Sunday family lunch 

Mommy and sissy on one side

 You and daddy on the other side

 Lunch at the pool is the best!

 From this morning, your first whole milk bottle

(you were not a fan)

 Also today... trying banana for the first time

 You loved the banana!

 Up the stairs...

Ha!  I see you!

 My sweet baby love

 Sissy wanted to be in the picture too

(and you tore off your sticker)

Our sweet baby girl, we love you so much.  You are turning into the sweetest little girl and you are hardly a little baby anymore.  I am already missing the baby days with you, but I am looking forward to this next year.

We love you,

Mom and Dad