Happy 4th of July and a Horse Race!

Hello friends!

We have had a wonderful, busy, but fun weekend! On Friday night, we went with our friends/neighbors to the 4th of July fireworks show, it was really beautiful! They had the fireworks at Big League Dreams, an awesome little league park that each of the fields look like professional baseball fields. Yes, I realize I'm super sweaty!And the best part was that it was all FREE~

Anderson sat still for two seconds to watch...then he did some handstands. ;)Anderson fixed his zoo keeper to sit on George Washington's horse...that's patriotic, right?!On Sunday, we headed over to Grand Prairie to Lone Star Park(A kept calling it the Kentucky Derby;)The jockey's are REALLY tiny. Like under 5 foot tiny and around 100 pounds or so. Guess you have to be little and light when trying to win a horse race. This horse just won the race! Look how beautiful he is and how his veins are sticking out...I hope that they don't give him steroids. :(Anderson absolutely LOVED the horse races! He kept holding blades of grass through the fence as the horses would come back from racing...haha!!One of the ladies even let Anderson pet a race horse. This is Woodrow. His color is called "Paint" A argued with her and told her he was Appaloosa!It was 10,000 degrees that day! More like 106, but you get the idea. They had a petting zoo and pony rides that we kept A entertained in between races. Those were big hits too!

Live and InTechnicolor

Hello friends!!

Adam's parents were here this past weekend and I was terrible and took hardly ANY pictures. We really enjoyed their time here and did lots of things to "see animals" as Anderson tells me he wants to do everyday when he wakes up. ;) We traveled over to the Ft. Worth Zoo, The Dallas Aquarium, the Outlet Stores and Cabela's in Allen, TX and the list goes on. But not ONE picture! :(

On Saturday, Anderson's friend, Castin( our neighbor) turned 4, and we attended his monster truck party. Anderson was VERY disappointed that 1. their were NO monsters driving the trucks and 2. it wasn't his birthday and he didn't have any presents to open. Ha!! Castin, the birthday boy and Anderson(notice their fake smiles...like "alright, already lady"!!!)However, I did remember to take pictures at the birthday party.Hey, there is a picture of Gami. Haha...I think she was telling them not to splash her! Happy BELATED Father's Day to my wonderful husband Adam!!! You are a SUPER DUPER Dada!!Adam looked like he was having more fun than Anderson! ;)Happy Father's Day to my Daddy! This is Daddy and me around 1979?Happy Father's Day to Bob my stepfather! Love you all!!

The Skinny

Hello friends!

Anderson and I have been quite the busy little bees this week. We have gone to the Botanical Gardens and had a picnic. Yesterday we hit the pool and saw some pretty cool horses out in the country(which makes A all smiles)!

Today was our mall day and I had probably, the nicest compliment I've ever had. Anderson and I were having lunch at the food court and we were talking. The lady beside us, got up after she finished her lunch and said "I would love to teach your child when he gets in school. You are doing a fantastic job with him"! "WOW- thank you" was all I could say. Sometimes, you just really need nice compliments.

This is what Anderson has been up to:I ordered him a bridle and horse blanket in the mail and they finally came! This kiddo was all smiles!!

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My real reason for this post was that my sweet friend asked me how I do Weight Watchers. I don't pay and go to the meetings. My mom does, but I just don't have the money to do it. So, I bought the old books on ebay telling me what I could eat and how many points it has etc...

Every night, I cook from this website www.skinnytaste.com. It doesn't matter how tired I am...whatever. Gina, the author of the website has some great ideas and this is the best food that I have ever made. If you navigate around the website, it's pretty easy. Gina has the website split up into sections for chicken, beef, pasta, Mexican and so on.

We have tried many of Gina's recipes and I wanted to share with you some of our favorites.

1. Chicken and Spinach Rollatini ( you can't taste the spinach)
2. Pasta with Italian Chicken Sausage, Pepper and Escarole(I use spinach) This is one of our favorites!
3.Chicken and Mushrooms in a Garlic White Wine Sauce(we use beef broth)
4.Chicken and White Bean Enchiladas
5. Slow Cooked Black Eyed Peas with Ham(think Hoppin' John's) THIS IS SO GREAT!!!
6.Mexican Slow Cooked Pork Carnitas( and I use her amazing salsa recipe too)
7.Crockpot Minestrone Soup(better than Olive Garden's!!!)
8. Crockpot Santa Fe Chicken(we are having this tonight and it's TOO easy!)

And finally, Gina's desserts are to DIE FOR!!! You can access them here.

Please don't think I'm trying to brag(because I've still got a LONG way to go-30 more pounds for me) but I have lost 32 pounds by strictly cooking her recipes and following WW and not to mention that Adam is an amazing side kick to have on a diet with you. I truly think it's a balanced nutritional plan and the BEST way to lose weight.

Mornin'

Hello friends!

For about a month now, Anderson and I get up and go have our breakfast outside. Do you spy that huge grape inside his cheek? It's the first thing we do. I absolutely love eating outside with my favorite kiddo. We swing(even me).Gus enjoys the cool morning air and Annabelle delights in all the wonderful, earthy smells. Can't believe she will be 9 in August! We refill the bird feeder and point out all different kinds of birds. I think this is a mockingbird? Or maybe it's Mom's ever so elusive scissor tail?? Anybody know who has aviary expertise? I have been wanting to use that word in a sentence. ;)

But my favorite part is we swing and usually it's before 8 a.m.! I LOVE summer and this boy!

Summer

Hello friends!

Summer is definitely here! We are running temperatures into the 100's. I know that the rest of the southern states can attest...it's really hot this year! Anderson and I can't seem to stay out of the water.We went swimming with our neighbors across the street and I put swimmies on A...figuring he would freak out. Not a chance. Don't you know that swimmies are super cool. Same thing with sunglasses. Anderson has NEVER liked anything on his head or eyes. But now for some reason, sunglasses are the coolest thing around.

San Antonio: Part Dos

Hello friends!

I forgot to put this hilarious picture of Anderson on here. We got a mariachi band to play "The Chicken Dance" song and I think A really liked it! Hahaha!!We decided that to head over to the botanical gardens since it was only 101 outside. ;) (Doesn't mom look great, she's lost about 30 pounds and so have I, but we still have a long way to go)!

But, the heat was totally worth it. Beautiful views of downtown San Antonio free piggy back ridesand feeding the ducks, of course. I love this picture of Mom and Anderson. darnit, I couldn't get it to turn the right way. We made our way to the infamous River Walk. And took the guide boat, when Anderson started getting restless, I would give him popcorn. That, my friends, is parenting at it's finest! ;)While we were in town, we had to make a trip to Sea World. Thank heavens they have a water park located in the park, or it would have been too horribly hot!We miss you Nunna! Come back soon!!

Google Chrome: Dear Sophie

Hello Friends!
Mom left today and I am sad. We had a wonderful time with her here. Anderson and I have watched this video and I have cried(in fact I have watched it about 500 more time). Wait to you get to the part where the dad put "you are growing up so fast"! Eeekkkk!!! Tears!

Be back soon with pictures of mom's time here! :)