Mother's Day

Mother's Day might have been a wet one due to tropical storm Ana, but it was a laidback one.  I woke up feeling much better after getting crazy sick on Wednesday night which one me a trip to the hospital for fluids on Thursday.  It took a few days to recover, but so happy I felt better for Mother's Day.

Vivian woke up at 5:30 am!  5:30!!!  Sleep regression?  I have no clue.  I got her in bed with me to cuddle for a little while...that only lasted 30 minutes.  I was starving anyway because of not eating much due to being sick, so her and I went to Cracker Barrel for breakfast.  French toast?  Yes, please! Vivian had her pancake and OJ.

  

After our full bellies, we got dressed for church.  She did so well sitting in the church pew.  Proud mama. Afterwards,  I planned on taking her to the aquarium but it was raining cats and dogs.  Not the best of days to go.  Instead we came home and finger painted.

  

After a morning of play, we crawled into bed and Vivian took an almost 3 hour nap.  She was wiped out!

That afternoon we laid around and I opened my cards and present.  Brian got me a Lily Jade diaper bag.  Love that it doesn't like a diaper bag :) A little more stylish than my Skip Hop bag I had with Vivian. 

For dinner, I wanted Cracker Barrel again LOL!  Roast beef, green beans, sweet potato, collard greens and biscuits.  Yummy!  Not ashamed to say I ate all of it.  

I am so blessed I'm the mommy to the sweetest little girl.  Next year I'll celebrate this day with two sweet angels.  Thank you Vivian for making me a mommy.  I love you oh so much!!!      

Easter Weekend

On Good Friday, our church held an Easter Egg hunt at Hugh McRae Park.  This was Vivian's first Easter egg hunt, which started at 10 am, we arrived at 10:15 am and it was over.  Thankfully, they had extra eggs for late comers.  Vivian collected 3 and it was adorable watching her grab the egg and place in her basket.  

Our friend Tara and her daughter Julia met us their and the girls couldn't be any cuter.

Not a single tear!!

She wasn't ready to leave

On Easter morning, Vivian woke up to her Easter basket.  It was so cute when she saw her basket and she goes, "ooohhh!!"

^^ The Yookidoo bath spout is awesome!  Vivian loved it...highly recommend this for your little one^^

After opening her Easter basket we got dressed for 8:45 church service.

After church, we stopped by the old house and then ate lunch at K-38 Mexican.

After lunch, we went back home and Vivian took a little nap.  After nap we had an Easter egg hunt in the backyard.  Again, she had a ball!

We couldn't have asked for a better Easter.  Holidays are really starting to get fun with this little lady.  

Valentine's Day

What a wonderful second Valentine we had with our little lady.  Even though she's a complete handful, she's the sweetest girl.  I can't believe last year she was just over 7 months old.  Just a tiny peanut! 

Little girl woke up to her Valentine happies.  A book, reusable stickers and a teddy bear.

She loves The Little People books.  They really are cute!

After B woke up we went for a late breakfast which turned into lunch at Crepes and More.  The line and waiting for your food was ridiculous.  I think we were there for 2 hours.  When we were standing in line, the French owner talked to us saying we could cut the line if we wanted.  We go there often, ha.  We didn't, but was nice that he offered.   B and I both got the ham, egg and cheese croissant.  So buttery and flaky.  Definitely worth the wait.  Vivian got the egg and cheese croissant which she ended up eating half of it.  She thought it was yummy!  Before we left, the owner came to us saying he had a Valentine's gift for us.  He gave us a chocolate croissant to go.  So very nice of him!

After our late breakfast/lunch we headed home in which Vivian fell asleep in the car.  We napped on the couch.

  

B made reservations at the Osteria Cicchetti  for dinner.   Vivian looked so cute in her little Valentine's dress!

I ordered the tortellini michalangelo with a spinach salad, B had the chicken parmesan and Vivian ate bread.   

We skipped dessert.  If I hadn't gobbled up the chocolate croissant an hour before leaving dinner, I probably would have ordered something.

We got home and started Vivian's bath.  B went to a basketball game and I crawled into bed after Vivian went to bed and watched tv.  My kind of Valentine's day!!    

Next Valentine's we'll be sharing it with two little ladies!  Still can't believe that one :)

Heart Shaped Strawberry Hand Pies

With Valentine's Day right around the corner, I thought I would make Vivian and I a special treat.  I've had a major sweet tooth lately...maybe because I have my glucose test coming up on the 25th and my high risk Dr says I'll be diagnosed with gestational diabetes again...so I'm getting in all the sweets I can.  Not great for the growing waistline, but I want to enjoy yummy treats while I can.

I did make B some Valentine cookies so he wouldn't feel left out.  I did an easy recipe of 1 cup butter, room temp, 1 cup sugar, 1-1/2 tsp vanilla, 1 egg, 1 tsp water, 3 cup self rising flour.    

Cream butter, sugar and vanilla

Add egg and water

Add flour and blend

Divide dough in half and wrap in saran wrap.  Chill in the refrigerator for an hour.

Roll dough on a lightly floured surface and cut them using your cookie cutter.  I used a heart shape since I wanted Valentine cookies.

Bake at 375 degrees for 6-8 minutes, take them out just before the edges are brown.  I like to like my cookie sheet with parchment paper for easy removal and clean-up.   

Use your favorite icing or make your own. 

Now, back to the hand pies.  These were so good and so incredibly easy to make.

The recipe makes 4 hand pies, but you can make 8 if you use 2 frozen puff pastry sheets.

Heart Shaped Strawberry Hand Pies

Ingredients 

1 sheet frozen puff pastry (I used Pepperidge Farms)
4 - 8 Tbs of strawberry preserves.  The original recipe called for cherry jam if you prefer cherry over strawberry. 
1 egg, lightly beaten
1/3 cup powered sugar
1-2 tsp water

Directions

Thaw your pastry sheet either overnight in the fridge or at room.
temperature for 40 minutes.

Preheat oven at 425

Lay your thawed pastry sheet on a lightly floured surface.  Roll out your pastry sheet to at least 12 inches long.  If there are any cracks in your pastry, add a little water to smooth it out.

Cut out 8 hearts.

Place 4 hearts on a rimmmed cookie sheet with parchment paper. My heart cookie cutter was small so I was able to cut out an extra one.

Add a tablespoon of your preserve or jam to your heart cut out.

After filling your heart, go all around the edges brushing your lightly beaten egg.

Top with your remaining heart cutouts.  Seal your hearts by pressing a fork all around the edges.

Pop in the oven and bake for 10 minutes or until lightly brown.

You may have some hungry beavers trying to wait patiently :)

While your pies are baking, mix your powdered sugar and water.  Mix until smooth.  Drizzle on top of warm pies.

You can double the recipe by using both pastry sheets if you want.  This also makes for a nice after school treat for your kiddos or indulge them for yourself.