Rolling & Recipes

Last Saturday Stephen & Madison went to King's Dominion so Olivia, Reece & I went to the skating rink with Ashley & her 2 girls... 

We had SO much fun. It was the girls first time going to the rink & they did a great job. Ashley & I are old pros. I remember the good ol' days (I say that like I'm 67 or something) when I used to go roller skating every Friday night. Oh man, that was the place to be. 

Anyway... I seriously had way too much fun (I've got a monster blister to prove it too!) As a matter of fact we had so much fun that we're in the midst of planning an 80's skate night with the BFFs. (Bffs if you are reading this... be expecting an Evite very soon! Carmen you can be our cheer leader!) I can't wait... 

Olivia managed to give "Mr. Roller Skating Teddy Bear" a hug...

This was major! She has had a horrible fear of big headed characters like this ever since she was very little. ("hiding under the table, violently shaking, don't even think about coming a step closer or I'll pass out" kind of fear) Even though we've told her that they aren't real the closest she has gotten to one of these things was when we went to Disney about 4 years ago or so... Tigger bounced & carried on with her for about 10 minutes (as she held the death grip around Stephen's neck) until she finally gave him a very brief high five. We've prayed that she'd get over this fear & it seems as if she has! Thank you Jesus!

She also won the sock race (they must have not seen her sneaky corner cut... lol)...

After skating Ashley's husband came over...

By that time Stephen & Madison were home. I cooked this parmesan crusted chicken w/ white cream sauce recipe. I made parmesan/pine nut couscous instead of rice though (right out of the box baby!).

I also made the asparagus, but I cooked it my own way...

• Preheat oven to 400
• wash the asparagus & cut the ends off a little   
• Melt about 3/4 a stick of butter in a sauce pan on medium heat, mix in 2 cloves of minced fresh garlic
• drizzle garlic butter over a handful of asparagus & then roll the asparagus in the mixture so it gets nicely coated
• sprinkle a bit of salt on top 
• cook on a baking sheet in the center of oven for 20 minutes

The tips got a bit crunchy... it was so yummy! 

OK, this wasn't really MY asparagus. It's actually a random pic I found online. I  didn't take a picture of mine... so we'll just pretend, shall we? 

These, however, are my pictures. Enjoy... 

& yes, this is me on the floor with the stroller. Good times I tell ya! 

Ankles?

Liv: Mama, LOOK... I just found 2 new ankles. 

Me: What? 

Liv: I have 2 new ankles  

Me: Babe, I'm sorry... I'm not really sure what you're talking about!

Liv: See, mama... 2 new ankles... right there... can you see them?

Me: OOOOH... you mean 2 new freckles. Yes honey, I see them. Very nice freckles you have there. 

Liv: Thanks mama

Me: You're welcome Bug 

Mud Buds & Beach Buds

One of my Bffs Ashley (have you noticed that all of my buds are my Bffs?!) spear headed a softball initiative at our church. So for the entire summer there will be ladies softball on Saturday mornings. She did an excellent job promoting it & recruiting for it. She really took the bull by the horns... kinda like she ropes the bull by the horn in this video...

(This video was taken back in March when the ladies fellowship at our church did a Hallelujah Hoe-Down. I think she looks like the Marlboro Man in her "get up"... a much prettier version, of course! Anyway, I love this video of her. She had more fun than anyone did at the event roping that metal bull!) 

I won't be able to play ball every Saturday, but I did play last Saturday. Olivia & a few other kids played at the playground while we played ball. It was when we were getting ready to go that I noticed this....

I asked her what in the heck happened & her response was "Me & Tatum got into a mud fight". 

Tatum is Ashley's little girl... 

I stripped her down & we headed straight home to the bathtub. I didn't get too mad because I knew if Ashley & I had known each other 20 some years ago it would have been the 2 of us in the mud fight instead! 

These days I'll settle for sand... instead of mud that is... just not throwing it at each other, of course....

Love you Ash!!! 

In Kasie's Kare

OK, so I'm not starting a daycare or anything, BUT if I was that sure would be a cool name for it, huh?... 

I did start the childcare thing this week though & I must say I have had a wonderful week. I love being home with the kids & they seem to love it as well.. mom's not such a fuddy duddy after all... thank-you-very-much!

Meet Israel: 

I will be keeping him Monday-Thursday & occasional Fridays. He's one of my Bff's little boys. He has been such a good boy this week & we've had lots of fun hanging out with him. 

I decided it would be a good idea to start the day off with an outing or something fun around the house, then eat lunch & then nap time (time for me to study, blog, clean, sleep, whatever!) 

We had a great first week....

MONDAY: 

Went to the park to take grad pictures of my little bro & "just because" pictures of my mom (pictures to come).

Then we found the perfect spot for a picnic...

Then we fed the animals (no geese were involved... trust me!) ...

TUESDAY: 

Grocery Store... OK, not so fun, but when I told Israel that we were going to the grocery store & it may be a bit boring he said... "It's OK Ms. Kasie, I'll go to the grocery store with you everyday" He's such a sweety! 

WEDNESDAY: 

I met up with another one of my Bffs Robin (& her 5 kids) for a fun trip to the library. You should have seen us with all 9 kids... who says a library needs to be quiet?!? Not me! 

The kids signed up for the summer reading program, which has been the hot topic of discussion for Liv this week. She is very excited about this & has started her first book "Curious Goerge visits the library". 

After the library we came home & made pizzas for lunch. 

THURSDAY: 

We spent some time at the pool. 

FRIDAY: 

We didn't have Israel today. I watched my friend's 3 daughters this morning though. We made vanilla waffles & watched movies. 

This little doll... 

helped me stir the waffle mix... 

while bug washed the grapes...

What a great week! I know I've said it a million times, but I am so excited to be home this summer! Lots more summer fun pics to come! 

(I've also been doing a little bit of photo editing (www.picnik.com) Can you tell?) 

Gone Fishin'

As we were laying in bed the other night chatting Stephen mentioned... "I need some man space in this house"... He proceeded to tell me how the pink & frills were getting a little much. It was then that I reminded him that he is definitely manly enough to balance out all of the girlie-ness in the house. (wink) I'm sure it can't be easy though to live with 4 girls... you know, if you were a guy & all. Not to mention the fact that we all share 1 bathroom! He does a great job though & I know he wouldn't have it any other way. 

I bought him this to help mark his territory. Let's just pretend there aren't girly flowers underneath... not manly... 

He took off today to go on a fishing trip with a friend from church. His friend owns a boat & they are going to go out on the Chesapeake Bay. He was so excited. I told him he should bring along the the camera & take some pictures. He said no & that he wasn't even going to take his cell phone. He's retreating into the man zone today to fill up on manliness so he can come home to pink bows, frills and shiny sparkly things...  and be totally OK with it! 

I captured this cool shot (or at least I think it's cool) at the Crohns walk the other day. After all the shrieks Tatum & Liv, with their newly found park buds, circled around the bucket. 

So in honor of Daddy's man time today...  

Bye Bye 5th Grade

My very 2nd post in blog world was last August. It was about the girls starting school. Here we are in June & the girls are OUT for the summer. Their final day was last Friday. Madison graduated 5th grade! Wow... 

That's all I have to say about that. She starts the youth group this Sunday at church. She is so daggon excited... & I'm excited for her. 

She has grown so much in the last year. See... 

(Maddy with her 5th grade teacher) 

It's ridiculous! 

Ever since she was born people have questioned the idea of me being her mother in public. I'm sure that has absolutely everything to do with the fact that I look so great for my age & nothing to do with the fact that we are only 17 years apart & she has always looked older than her age.... ahem. 

But I tell ya... these days I feel like I have to convince people. When she calls out "mom" in a store you should see the heads turn... it never fails. She's growin' up! And don't even think about getting a 12 & under kids meal... gee wiz.. I really feel like I need to break out the birth certificate for the waitress to believe me.

She is almost taller than I am. Trust me... I know... She measures just about every day... back to back. She past me in shoe size months ago. She wears a size 11 ladies! I'm trying to talk her into basketball, but she will have no parts of that. She wants to cheer.... which she plans to. Her school has a cheer team & she will start this summer. 

My sweet little girl is not so little anymore! 

She's starting Middle school

Liv will be going into Kindergarten 

Mama is starting college 

& Reece... well, she is still diggin' the Baby Einstein videos... 

Pics from Maddy's graduation.... 

Yes, that is the principle & yes Madison is taller than she is :)... 

My brother...

My parents...

Just the girls....

Maddy with her dad...

Can you tell she's just a wee bit excited? 

Happy Graduation Mad! I'm very proud of you!