Strawberry Pretzel Salad

I usually do the grocery shopping alone during the week or on the weekend when Adam can watch the girls.  But during the past nausea, don't know what to cook phase I went through, I really needed assistance.  Encouragement, really, from Adam to pick meals to cook.  I was satisfied with saltines, but the family could not survive on just crackers.  Now that I'm feeling better and back in control of the kitchen, we've made a couple of family grocery shopping trips since we are in the habit of it and it causes problems.  Adam goes down rows and points out what he would like to eat or what treats he got to eat as a kid.  I'm strictly business.  I've got a list and a menu.  His favorite place to hang out is the meat section. Aubrie is usually walking around with me and he has Emilie in the cart.  Aubrie and I will be all the way down in the cereal section with our hands full and we'll have to walk all the way back to the meat section to put our items in the cart and hear his plea as to what is on sale and what he would like to eat.  I usually give in.  I especially have to give in because his birthday is coming up and I like to spoil him.  This past week, ribeye was on sale so we grilled out last Sunday. 

On the menu was steak, potatoes, corn on the cob, and strawberry pretzel salad.  The first time I heard about strawberry pretzel salad was when I started working in Rutherford County Schools.  These Southern women talked about it all the time and I thought it sounded gross.  I don't really like pretzels.  But I finally had a chance to have it at my friend Shannon's house and it was delicious!!  It is, of course, a Paula Deen recipe.  You'll have to give it a try.  Everyone around here omits the pineapple, so I did it as well.

Strawberry Pretzel Salad

from Paula Deen, of course!

• 2 cups crushed pretzels
• 3/4 cup melted butter
• 3 tablespoons sugar, plus 3/4 cup sugar
• 1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese
• 1 (8-ounce) container whipped topping
• 2 (3-ounce) packages strawberry gelatin dessert mix
• 2 cups boiling water
• 2 (10-ounce) packages frozen strawberries
• 1 (8-ounce) can crushed pineapple
• Whipped topping or whipped cream, to garnish

Directions

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.

For the crust, mix the pretzels, butter, and 3 tablespoons of sugar. Press this mixture into a 9 by 13-inch pan and bake for 7 minutes. Set aside and allow to cool.

In a mixing bowl, beat together the cream cheese and 3/4 cup of sugar. Fold in the whipped topping, and spread over the cooled crust. Refrigerate until well chilled.

In a small bowl, dissolve the gelatin in the boiling water, and allow to cool slightly. Add the strawberries and pineapple, and pour over the cream cheese mixture. Refrigerate until serving time.
To serve, cut slices and serve with a dollop of whipped topping.

The girls having their own picnic in their house.

Adam got an early birthday present from me.  A sun umbrella!!!

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Everyone is good!

Aubrie's procedure went great today.  We didn't really tell her what we were doing we just loaded her up in the car this morning and told her we were going to the doctor.  She decided to take her dog, Woof Woof, and her pet rock, Rocco.  She did great.  She let them put the bracelet on her and she did great when the nurse took her blood pressure.  When our doctor came over to brief us, he was wearing a surgeon's hair net thing and she said, "Look!  He's a pirate!"  That made everyone laugh.  She thought everyone looked like a pirate that was wearing one of those nets.  Later they gave her some medicine that loosened her up.  She started acting silly and talking slowly.  She was definitely more relaxed.  She and I cuddled in her bed while we waited her turn.  The nurses were great and told her that they were going to take her bed for a ride and off she went! 

Dad and I waited in the waiting room and read up on important things...like Peyton Manning and Tim Tebow.  It took longer than they said it would, but finally they came and got us as she just got into the recovery room and she was rolling around in the bed, but didn't have her eyes open.  The nurses said she was so cute because as they were rolling her to the recovery room, she got up on all fours in the bed and was trying to bail, but her eyes weren't open.  As soon as she heard her daddy's voice, she reached for him and he picked her up.  It was so precious.  She opened her eyes about two minutes after that.  She was crying a lot and wanted her IV out, but overall, she was pretty tough and did really well.  She drank some apple juice and we were out of there by 10:30! 

She slept on the way home and we put her in our bed when we got home but she didn't nap.  She heard her sister's voice and wanted to get up and see the action.  By the time all the anesthesia was out of her system, she really was her old self.  You can't tell that she had surgery.  She was just really tired tonight.  We're so thankful for good doctors and nurses.  We also appreciate everyone's kind words and encouragement today. 

Our brave little patient.  I made her some homemade spaghetti and turkey meatballs.  She's got marks under her eyes from either a mask or something else they did.

The girls got pudding cups tonight and Emilie gave herself a uni-brow.

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Great. Costco too??

I joke about restaurants or stores putting our pictures on the wall, meaning we aren't welcome back because our behavior was no good.  Well, now the girls have ruined Costco.  We went there after church this past weekend to eat and shop and it did not go well.  By the time I got back to the table with the drinks, Adam and Emilie had a falling out and she was hanging out of the cart like a lifeless doll, but screaming.  She had thrown her fork on the ground.  Adam's face was red.  Meanwhile, Aubrie was asking for a bite of pizza like a broken record and nobody was acknowledging her. 

Sundays are sometimes hard for Emilie.  She likes going to the nursery for church.  She snacks big, plays hard, and then expects a quick lunch and immediate nap.  Apparently her lunch didn't come soon enough and the way Adam presented it to her wasn't suiting her.  So I stepped between the two and held Emilie on my lap.  She's at a point where you're not allowed to feed her.  You MAY stab food with her fork, but you can NOT have a direct hand-off with the fork.  The fork must be placed on her plate in front of her and she may or may not choose to pick it up.  Trying to feed her yourself or doing a direct hand-off results in her throwing the fork.  (We're working on it, people.  We're not perfect.  The child has a temper.)

We got half way through lunch and Emilie no longer wanted to be held so we put her in the main part of the shopping cart and she was like a caged animal.  She was so happy and loud and was rocking that cart hard.  Wild.  Being in the cart changed her mind on what she was eating so she switched from pizza to hot dog and she was so busy bouncing around in the cart, that she didn't care about her fork hand-off rule and would just lean over like a baby bird and open her mouth and Adam would shove chunks of hot dog in her mouth.  She would chew and dance and had ketchup all over her face and people cautiously walked past our cart like you would cautiously walk by a, well, caged animal. 

Once eating was over, we halfway successfully got shopping done, but not without Emilie getting a time out in the laundry detergent aisle.  Hitting mom.  Immediate timeout.  What we do when you're in a store is sit them down in the aisle, turn your back to them, and let them cry.  It's more embarrassing for the parent than the child, but she changed her act after that.  BUT, needless to say, if they posted pictures of unwanted customers, we would be one.  :)

A rosebush he dug up and carried around his mouth during his puppy days

We have had some gorgeous weather lately.  It blows my mind that Arizona and Texas both have snow and cold weather.  It's been in the 80s here and I've really enjoyed it.  We spent the past two weekends making flower beds in the backyards.  Flower beds in this family are risky.  I have a dog that LOVES to dig up my flowers and I have two girls who love to pick flowers.

Here is a before of the right side of the patio.  I'm currently seeing the gardener ;)

 

Lots of worms in the soil.  I was thrilled it was such good soil.  But one would ask, why does Petey have to be laying with half his body in the dirt?  (Can you see the baby bump? (Don't offend me and say no.))

An after shot of the right side.  Grandpa Huhnke, do you see your bird feeder?

Adam and I laid pavers where the grill sits and here is the opposite side of the patio after all our hard work.

Our "helpers" got weary and needed mini-ice cream cones.  Look at those long legs!

After a 25 shot attempt, this is the only decent picture of me and the girls before church and Emilie is definitely pulling on my hair to keep her balance. 

We got matching dresses on our famous Costco trip. 

It's been March madness at our house.  We pre-gamed some Chick-fil-a for lunch before the game.  Unfortunately, this was not the year for Belmont. 

On Monday we enjoyed a picnic in the backyard for lunch. 

Tonight we had another picnic.  But it was a chick-nic because it is kids night at Chick-fil-a and so we now call Tuesday afternoons chicknic and the park night.

I'm glad we had a picnic and stayed busy today.  Tomorrow Aubrie is getting her adenoids out and will be put under for the procedure.  It's a minor, outpatient procedure and we would appreciate everyone's prayers tomorrow morning around 9.  Adam's parents are on the way down to spend the day with Emilie while we are with Aubrie.  We're thankful for their help and we are thankful for all our friend's prayers. 

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Park Picnic

Today was a GORGEOUS day in Nashville.  80 degree weather.  After bible study, I was outside in the yard, messing around and enjoying getting sweaty from the hot sun.  It was fabulous.  I love when we have a beautiful Tuesday, because do you know what Tuesdays are?  Kids night at Chick-fil-a in Brentwood!  Free kids meal with a purchase of a combo meal.  We love going through the drive thru, picking up some chicken and then picnicking in the park.  Afterwards is non-stop fun playing on the playground.  It doesn't get much better. 

Today was the first day in a long time that both girls were healthy and got to go to school.  The time change has them sleeping in late and it makes it difficult to get out the door on time.  They had a blast at school.  Aubrie was a bug and her class made antenna and she was buzzing around for me.  There is something about leaving the school building and trying to get the kids to the car that is so difficult.  They both go brain dead on me.  They magically can't hear my directions, want to wander in every direction but the right one, try to pull up flowers from the planters, point out every airplane in a 30 mile radius, and stress me out.  I'm carrying 4 bags and herding them safely to the car and they just aren't having it.  It's not just my kids either.  I've seen other kids pull the ol' "I'm not going to do what I'm supposed to" trick on their parents as well.



Trying to get the girls to stand together for a picture outside of school




Picking flowers and saying cheese instead of looking at me and saying cheese.  Forget it.




Emilie and I at our picnic.  Dad took Aubrie to go look for a bathroom. 



Miss Slow and Steady on the Slide

Miss Spicy Red on the slide.  No holding back with this kid.

The girls are growing so fast.  Tonight Adam and I are writing in their journals and catching up on the latest happenings.  To help us refresh, we go back and look at pictures to remind us of what happened the past couple of months.  It's amazing how Aubrie can talk so plainly and hold a conversation.  Tonight as we were pulling into the garage, she said "Oh my gosh.  Can't believe it.  Seriously."  When I asked her what she was talking about, she didn't say. 

The other day at school she wore a skirt because it was warm.  It was her first time wearing a skirt without a diaper or leggings and I didn't know if I should put bloomers on or what.  When I picked her up later that day, I learned she had trouble not showing her undies to everybody and at story time she just pulled them down to her ankles and pulled them back up.  It was recommended that she wore shorts or bloomers next time!  Um, yeah!  (blushing)  So when we got home, I noticed her fiddling with them and then she pulled them down again and pulled them back up.  I think that is how she is picking her wedgie!  So now I've got to teach her how to dig out her underwear without dropping her drawers down to her ankles.  Steve liked that story so much that he came into our room and picked his wedgie "Aubrie style" for us. (with his shorts, not underwear, thankfully!) 

Emilie is talking a lot, too.  She repeats everything.  When she was at the doctor last week, she didn't want her touching her any more so she started yelling "BYE!" at her.  Then when the doctor looked in her ears, she started yelling, "No!  I don't!!"  She wasn't very happy with the doctor.  Just this past weekend we were at a restaurant and Adam's mom spilled her drink right in front of Emilie and she yelled, "DA DEEE!!!  SILLY DADDY!"  Adam turned a little red because people looked and Emilie was making it seem like it was his fault.  She's a funny girl. 

They keep us humble and keep us laughing!  Love to all! Pin It Now!

Banana Pudding Muffins

I promised this muffin recipe ever since the we hosted Andrew and Ashleigh's baby shower in February.  (They had their beautiful little girl, by the way!)  Well, finally I'm posting the recipe.  They are delicious and super moist since they having pudding in them!

Banana Pudding Muffins

from Katie Sundstrom

1 (2-layer size) yellow cake mix

1 (6.4 to 7.6 oz) package of banana nut muffin mix

1 (4 serving size) package banana flavor instant pudding

3 eggs

2/3 cup vegetable oil

2 medium, ripe bananas, mashed

3/4 cup crushed vanilla wafer cookies

Preheat oven to 350.  Place paper liners in muffin pan or grease the pan.  Set aside.  In large bowl, combine cake mix, muffin mix, pudding mix, 1 1/3  cups of water, eggs, and oil.  Beat with a mixer on low speed until combined.  Beat on medium to high speed about 2 minutes or until batter is smooth.  Gently fold in bananas and vanilla wafer cookies.  Pour batter into cups and bake for 20-25 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean.  Makes 26 muffins.

I don't know if I shared the hat I made for little Anna Sophia, but here it is below.  (Forgive me if I already shared it, but it was by far my favorite)  It was a fun one to make!

The girls are both feeling well now.  I took them back to the doctor and was told that it must be a viral infection and later that evening they broke their fevers and were feeling better.  They are both to their old selves, except Aubrie has a cough.  She seems to always have a cough and her doctor says it is related to her allergies.  She's getting her adenoids taken out next Wednesday and they are hoping that will help with the air flow and help her breathe through her nose and not have so many problems with cough and congestion.  I hope it works.  Last time we went in, they said her tonsils were big, but we hope to not touch those for a couple more years.  Her recovery is easy and she should feel fine the next day.  But we would appreciate it if you could keep her in your prayers next Wednesday!

One of our mother's day out friends is a photographer.  She is doing Easter mini-sessions for only 50 bucks with baby chicks!  She wanted to take a couple of shots with the girls to try it out and we absolutely love them!  They turned out great and the girls loved holding the baby chicks.  It was so much fun.  If you are in Nashville and interested, just contact her at marcie@marciekindred.com or go to her website www.marciekindred.com.  

She's saying "AWW!"

My red head.  Look at that hair!

Aubrie had to wear last year's Easter dress and Emilie wore Aubrie's from a couple of years ago.  I love Easter dresses.  So does their dad.  He spares no expense and no accessory is too much when it comes to his girls' dresses.  And his theory is the fluffier the better.  :)  It's fun shopping with him for the girls. 

Love to all!

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Drabyns, Tornadoes, and Dicey health

We were blessed to have Steve and Brit come and visit this past weekend.  They always come around this time to have Adam help do their taxes.  I enjoy this visit annually.  Steve's mission is to bond with Emilie while he is here.  Emilie had other plans.  She was pretty with Brit.  She kept smiling at her and making sweet eyes during meals.  She loves her Aunt Brit.  But Steve earned his way into her heart by helping Adam play with the girls at the park.  Brit and I stayed in the car, reclined our seats, and visited while the boys chased the girls around. 


Uncle Steve being wild with Emilie



The girls tickling Uncle Steve.  They aren't gentle ticklers.



The Park Crew





I'm ashamed that I don't have any pictures of Aunt Brit with the girls.  I loved having her around.  She's fun to talk with about recipes, her job, staying healthy, and how to live with Steve.  :)  Steve is such a lucky guy to have Brittany.  She's so patient with him.  We all have to be.  Adam always says that he's spent half his life waiting on Steve.  But that's because in college, Steve knew everybody.  So when he and Adam would be walking somewhere, Steve would stop to talk to people and Adam would keep walking until he got about 10 feet away and turn around and wait for Steve...instead of being socially normal and stopping WITH Steve and visiting with people.  haha.  But really, for some reason, this past weekend we all waited on Steve.  Waited for him to call, waited for him to shower so we could go eat, waited for him to get off the phone.  STEVE!!!  Thank goodness Brit is so patient and loving.  It is so refreshing to see her support him and his career and he is so blessed to have her.  :)

Another good part about having Drabyns in town is that the local Drabyn (Aimee) comes over and spends the night.  She was so content coming over on the evenings, playing with the girls, and then just laying on the floor in my sweatshirt and "resting her eyes" while we watched basketball.  I think she needed to step away from campus and enjoy some family time.  I'm glad she got to spend time with her big brother.  Petey was pretty pleased that she was here because he got some extra snuggle time. 


Lovin.

 Most of you know, horrible storms went across the Midwest and South on Thursday evening and Friday.  The weather channel had me feeling like we were all going down.  I was a nervous wreck.  Steve was out recruiting, Adam was at work, so it was just Brit and me with the girls.  I was good most of the day, but once the line of storms came close, I changed out of my slippers, tightened on my running shoes, and got the girls up from their naps and put their shoes on as well.  Brit thought I was crazy.  But my theory is that you always see people in their pajamas or without shoes being interviewed after these things, so if I'm prepared, I won't be caught off guard.  For tornadoes or news interviews.  (I know, I'm crazy.)

I was nervous for many reasons.  Amanda was downtown and headed home as it was approaching.  Aimee called from Belmont and said she was going to head over, and Adam was downtown at work and I had asked him to get home before the storms got here.  Thankfully Adam made it home first.  Belmont wouldn't let Aimee or anybody leave campus.  Amanda made it home safely.  And what do you know...it didn't even rain at our house.  Just some big wind.  Everywhere else got hail and damaging winds. 

When we moved to Nashville, I didn't know that it was tornado alley.  When I lived in Dallas, we only had to take cover once and I thought that was a more dangerous place for tornadoes.  But recently I learned that there is Tornado Alley, Dixie Alley (TN), Hoosier Alley, and Carolina Alley.  I found this interesting article that explains it best.  Luckily, we have a great hiding place under the stairs and in the center of the house that we all can fit in.  Still, I'm on the chandelier when these storms come through.  The next day my shoulders will be tight from the stress and my jaw will hurt from clinching.  I was thankful to have Brit there with me that day to keep me occupied. 



Sweet angels showing off their boots.

 This is the first week that I haven't had to pop a pill for nausea or take amoxicillin for strep.  I'm at the top of my game.  I've had energy, I've had good sleep, but I've had sick kids.  Starting on Monday evening Emilie started running a temperature.  I ended up taking her to the doctor on Tuesday but they just said viral infection and bring her back if the fever continues for 72 hours.  Well guess what?  We are going back.  The poor girl isn't herself and her fever won't stay down.  Now Aubrie has a horrible cough and is starting to run a fever.  So I'll probably have her checked out as well tomorrow.  It's been a long week for me.  I will miss Mother's Day Out tomorrow.  The girls are a little stir crazy from being home so many days.  Today I let them go outside for a little bit since it was warm, but windy. 


I asked Emilie, "Did you eat dirt?"  She smiles big and says "YEAH!"




Happy girl.  That big flower on the top of her hat is a huge temptation for Petey.  I can't tell you how many times he tries to run up to her and puts that flower in his mouth and tries to pull her hat off. 




We had gorgeous warm weather before the big storms.  The girls got to expose their chicken legs and wear sandals to school.  We love the spring!



I hope everyone is doing well!  Love to all!

ps.  Belmont is dancing in the big tournament again!  Can't wait to see who they are matched up against on Sunday.  Go Bruins!

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