Come Out, Come Out SBP

So, I know my SBP was Nicole. But, I'm not sure it's one of the blogs I follow. So, if you're reading, let me know how to find you and thank you :-) And to commemorate the reveal day, I got a sweet card in the mail from her today.

Thanks for the little pick-me-ups in the mail every week!! :-)

Social Butterfly

We had a busy weekend. Gabriella had birthday parties both Saturday and Sunday.

Can you tell she missed her nap?

Cake twice in one weekend - yummy!! She is soaked both from sweat and rain. She was so filthy from running around and falling in the puddles and mud we had to strip her down to her diaper for the ride home. Daddy had to sit in the back and do everything under the sun to keep her awake for the ride home so she could get a nap. If she falls asleep in the car for even 5 minutes, so won't go down again once we get home.

Steelers are #1 !!!!!!!!!!!!

What am I supposed to do with this towel?

Wear it as a scarf?

Ohhhhhh, I'm supposed to wave it around. OK!

There's that famous smile!!!

Hey, who's that cool chick in the mirror??

Do you think she could possibly get anything else on her arms??? Three purses and a ring stacking toy. She loves to do this. And when she's done, she'll bring it all over and put it on my arms. She cracks me up.

Fav Foto Friday!

I decided to go back and pick a picture that I thought was just cute. I love the way she is just chilling in her stroller. This picture was last December at a Christmas parade.

Where's Gabriella?

Shhhhhh. She's sleeping.

Ha, just kidding mom!

I figured I'd try to buy a couple of minutes in the kitchen by giving her a fridge activity.... Ferdy has made it clear the first time Bing plays with it in the middle of the night and we hear farm sounds, it's gone!

I love the look of concentration with her tongue out in this one.

Lucky 13

Today is our 13th wedding anniversary. Wow!!!! Happy Anniversary honey!!!!!!!!

Grandma came over and after Gabriella went to bed we went out to dinner and celebrated last night since it's easier on a weekend.

Here's a few pics of Miss G.

Do you think her hair will ever grow and get thicker???? Maybe it's a blessing in disguise since she won't wear her bows or clips.

I think I'm all hot stuff standing on this bin. Mommy doesn't think so much of it. Wonder why??

What can I get into? Mommy you sure have a lot of junk, I mean stuff on your desk!

I also owe my Secret Blog Pal a thank you for 2 adorable cards she has sent in the last 2 weeks!!!!!

Help for Fellow Adoptive Family

Tricia has a post on her blog about a family that has 7 adopted children and the father has been diagnosed with terminal cancer. You can get a cool cookbook for a donation of $13 or more to help the family with the inevitable bills they face. So, if you feel you can help, I know they'd appreciate it. Oh, and Tricia is also giving away a $50 Starbucks giftcard!!

Time for Shopping!!!

Sorry for not posting for favorite foto Friday.. I've just been LAZY about taking pics and updating the blog lately....

I also didn't post that yesterday Gabriella turned 18 months old. Wow, so hard to believe!!!! She only had to have one shot - yeah!! She cried for like 3 seconds and then was fine.

Now, on to the title of my post. Need to get some early Christmas shopping done and help a cause at the same time??? Mayan Traditions has some really cool stuff on their website and to celebrate Guatemala's Independence Day today, they are offering 15% off of everything in stock through tomorrow(Sept. 16) if you use the coupon code GIND15. Visit the website http://www.mayantraditions.com.

I had some stuff I put in a shopping cart and never checked out. Now I will!!

Recipes for Fall

Since most of you live somewhere that Fall is actually around the corner(unlike here where it's still mid 90's and HUMID not to mention still hurricane season), I thought I'd share some recipe information.

I LOVE to cook in the crockpot, even more than ever with an active toddler. If I attempt to cook, she literally HANGS on my legs and I can't move. So, I can put together a crockpot meal during her morning nap and voila... dinner is done!

Here is a recipe that I've seen call for cooking on the stove, but I do it in the crockpot and it's YUMMY. I just made it yesterday. It's also pretty lowfat and high in fiber.

Taco Soup

1 lb. lean ground beef

1 onion, chopped
2 cans tomatoes(either stewed or diced or a combo)

1 large can corn

2 cans of beans (kidney, black, white, pink.. your choice). I use kidney and black
1 envelope dry taco seasoning

1 envelope dry ranch dressing mix

Brown the ground beef with the onion(I use a mixture of onions and bell peppers). Put it in the crockpot with all of the other ingredients and about 1/4 cup or so of water just to thin it a bit. Cook on low for anywhere from 4-7 hrs.

And here is an awesome website with a gazillion crockpot recipes and more types of recipes if you follow the other links.

http://southernfood.about.com/library/crock/blcpidx.htm

And here's a Gabriella fix. I haven't taken many pics this week.

Here are a few I didn't post from vacation:

She didn't forget her purse and credit card.

Love her profile....

She climbed up on this bin to read her book yesterday.

I was playing peek-a-boo from around the side of the desk.

Nice try....

Happy Birthday to Daddy!

Happy Birthday Ferdy!!! His little cheerleader was happy to help him cheer on his Steelers to a season-opener win for his birthday present(sorry to any Browns fans).

Woooohooooo, they won!!

I think I'll e-mail all my friends to let them know.

Bing is having a low-key celebration just hanging out.

MMMMMM, chocolate cake.

More please!! (she finally gets the sign for more correct some of the time instead of her own version)

)

Favorite Foto Friday

Our blogger buddy Sarah has started a tradition of Favorite Foto Friday. So, I'm finally participating!! And I have so many more beach pics I didn't post, so I'll use one of those as mine this week.

Life's A Beach

We are back from our wonderful vacation on Siesta Key. I just love that place and have looked forward to the day I could have my baby girl there...... I have to admit though..... I'm one exhausted mommy! She was on the go from the minute her feet hit the sand. We brought a chair for her and I did get a few pics, but don't let that fool you. She sat in it for all of 30 seconds.

I took more pictures than I know what to do with and they are all so cute. So, get ready for the mother of all posts with mucho pics.
































































Holy Cow... That was more pics than I even thought. Are you still here????? Wow, I'm impressed.