Snapshots (Christmas Edition)

Looking in the windows down town. 

We went to something called the Christmas Nights of Lights with my in-laws. You drive through the lights and tune your radio to a certain station and the lights flask in time with the music. It was so much fun. Afterwards, there is Santa, bouncy houses and food. I wish I had carried my camera in, but I left it in the car. I think we have a new family tradition!

We went to Rock City with my parents. On it's own, during the day, Rock City is lovely, but covered in lights at night, it is breathtaking. I have so many more pictures that I still need to go through from that night.

Family picture in a sleigh/ Our gorgeous view/ The view looking down the waterfall/ My gingerbread men

So much good food this year!

Crockpot Coconut Hot Chocolate (make it!) / cookies at the mall before Santa pictures (it is a tradition) / eggnog, white chocolate deliciousness / toasting hazelnuts (I made a play on this oatmeal)

Christmas Morning

 I cannot handle the cuteness here! 

We wore coordinated pjs again this year. Instead of a color theme, I decided to pick something all my boys could love and went with a DC comic super hero theme. Caleb and Liam wore Batman, Lee wore the Flash and I wore Wonder Woman.  

Santa has his own plate and glass this year! Thanks Aunt Karen!  (She always finds the best stuff!)
Santa is so polite, he took the time to leave the boys a thank you note.

Waiting for Santa. We left him Browned Butter Salted Chocolate Chip Cookies.

Admiring our new tree

 I think this may be my favorite year for wrapping paper yet. Do you coordinate your wrapping paper too?

I  have always wanted a white tree!

Snapshots

Sally girl previously known as Shark Bite. 

Caleb decided to change her name and went to Nightmare Before Christmas for inspiration.

Salsa before blitzing.

Chocolate Heath Doughnut

Found this shot of one of my iris from this summer. Is it really already fall?

Oatmeal Cookie Granola from: Seriously Delish: 150 Recipes for People Who Totally Love Food

veggie lo mein with a fried egg and black sesame seeds. 

Asian inspired BBQ pulled pork stuffed sweet potatoes with bok choy, sesame slaw.

coconut berry smoothie

 Spinach and Broccoli Cheese Soup (Recipe coming soon!)

Ramen Noodle Bowls with alllllll of the toppings!

This is Denmark. Love her eyes!

Date Night, well sort of...

Both kids were gone to church and I was sick but we were alone for a couple of hours. 

We sat in the floor, ate and watched Selfie. 

You take what you can get. 

OK, last picture of this meal. It was so dang good! I think this recipe will be coming soon too!

Starting him young. 

 I doughnut see you! Get it? Get it? I'm lame...

 Made my Mother in law red velvet no bake cheesecake pots for her birthday. 

 We went to a pumpkin patch recently and the boys LOVED every second of it! 

This slide got tons of use from Caleb.

 Sudden and unexpected naps are the best!

 My newest salad creation. It was missing tortilla chips. I should have hidden them!

It consisted of chipotle orange shredded pork, Monterrey Jack cheese, quinoa, spinach, homemade salsa, cilantro lime puree, avocado and bell peppers. It was sooo sooo good but sooo sooo ugly! 

 Veggies!!!!!!

Whipped cream is the bestest!!!

Happy Tuesday!

xoxo,

Ashley

Snapshots

Flowers from my Mom's garden.

Another view of the flowers.

This is Shark Bite. Can you tell I let my son pick the name?

I found this shot of my peony on a memory card last week. It is from earlier this summer.

Sprinkles for life!

Favorite lunch of the moment.

Blackberry Hibiscus Lemonade.

I basically followed this recipe and just remixed it slightly.

I made this guy this pudding and it was a hit, as you can tell from his face!

This is Fanta, he is my favorite.

This is River, she is named after River Tam. My husband picked this one.

I have no words.

Dough love.

My Mom and I took the boys to see my Granny, She has been diagnosed with Alzheimer's but she was having a clearish day. I was so much better than I had braced myself for.
I was not nearly as heartbroken leaving as I feared I would be.
Alzheimer's is a terrible awful disease that has affected my family too many times! 

Liam wanted to give "geat ganny" a "mooch" and Caleb decided to photobomb. I kind of love it.

 Made some Pina Colada Brown Sugar Ice Cream Sauce.
Not sure if I'll share this one or not. It's good, maybe too good.

 These two went on a midday Daddy date to the movies.

 Breakfast

 Handpies getting ready for their close up.
(Wow, I didn't realize how dirty my windows are. Guess what I'm doing today? It involves Windex!)

Recipe testing with shaved brussel sprouts. To be continued...

Sticky Mango Stir Fry. That one is another you should see sooner than later.
I just want to perfect it first.

xoxo, 

Ashley