Playing with Cow Patties, Spaghetti, & Fire

Here's the latest collection of happenings from our world:

Last weekend, we gladly accepted an invitation from some of our dear friends to do one of our most favorite things... escape from the city to wonderful, rural Virginia!  Bella loved it.

See?

No really.  She loved it.

I think she and that cow are channeling the same sentiment: "Get me out of this cold, cow patty minefield." 

Okay, so Spring can't get here fast enough for this girl.  Back to our warm, little nook in the world...

So, I've got this new strategy when it comes to spaghetti: 

Spaghetti in the nude!  It's working out great for everyone involved... um, everyone being just Bella.

 And there's that smile we've been looking for!

 Also, new at the dinner table this week:  Bella's adopted a love for blowing out candles.

They don't even have to be lit, and she practices all the same. That equals extra peace of mind for me.

Daddy's coaching her for her next birthday.  

I hope you're able to enjoy the simpler things in life this week.  

From farm to tea table, it's pinkies up from our world!

Texas, Our Texas

I'm a Texan.  I love, love, love being from Texas.  I also love talking with people who've never been to Texas... you know, to really help them understand what it is about the place that makes people from there so proud. 

Oh, I'm sorry.  Some of you out there don't know what I'm talking about?  Well, let me explain. I'm sure those of you from Texas can bear to hear yet another explanation of what makes us so great. :)

Ask anyone, and right up there with the fact that everything is done BIG in Texas, they'll tell you it's the people that make the place so grand.  Over the Christmas break, we had the opportunity to visit a good friend's ranch for a day of fun and good eatin'.  No wait, actually, let's go ahead and call them what they are: family.  In Texas, you actually call your acquaintances your friends.  But the real friends get lumped in with family.  And when this fun family gets together, we like to call it "circling the wagons." 

This particular "circling of the wagons" over Christmas captured everything I love about where I'm from.  I'll just let the pictures tell it all:

See what's behind us?  In Texas, I love the rolling hills and the trees that grow wide and low to the ground.  Perfect for sitting under.  

(And hello, Bella's snarl face.)

And in Texas, I love watching kids do exactly what kids were meant to do.

 In Texas, I love how the men push the boys on tire swings that hang from oak trees in the backyard.

 And I love how the adults teach the youngin's how to fish off docks.

Oh, how I love the fine lookin' family men one finds in Texas!  Especially the one that belongs to me.  

Did you know that Mike is an honorary Texan?  Perhaps someday I'll blog about the crazy initiation he underwent during one of our engagement parties.

Hey, there's another fine lookin' family man!

Nothing beats family chats around the Gator.

Or even better, how about family chats while sittin' on the back porch?

And if nothing else convinces you, then the fact that these three faces were hanging out in Texas recently makes the State pretty grand to me!

 Like I said, everything is bigger in Texas... including hugs.

And finally, to close my whole "Texas is great" rant, I would like to point out that the adorable girl you see above lives in Texas.

Need I say more?

Christmas in Texas... Finally!

It's been quiet on the blog since Christmas.  We've been just a little busy.  Our ten days of traveling to three different homes came to an end on New Year's Eve, and we immediately had to move out and back in to our home for some new carpet installation.  It's actually not so bad now that we're on the back end of it.  Let's just say spring cleaning came early for us this year.

I've also been working on this here blog of mine.  I figured it needed a new face for a New Year. 

Oh, and then Bella decided to get three molars these past two days.  Sleep, where are you?

So I realize most Christmas trees have already been taken down, and most people have already broken a New Year's resolution or two, but I still have a Christmas story to tell.  So, here goes:

If you want a quick snapshot of what Christmas looked like at the Davis house, then I think this picture captures it perfectly. Christmas was full of fun and family and excitement and giving and warmth... and it whizzed by!  (By the way, that baby doll in Bella's hand was totally thrown in to the toilet today.  Nice.)

It whizzed by so fast, that we really stunk at getting good pictures of Bella and Kate.  Take these shots, for example:

A poking war gone picking.  Gross.  Sorry, Kate.

But Bella loved the gifts... er, boxes.                    And Cole's reactions were priceless.

And the boys loved being, well, boys.  

And the kids loved lovin' on their GREAT grandmothers.  Yes, that makes for four generations in one house this Christmas.

The adults loved having the kids to make things extra crazy and extra special. After the kids had opened presents on Christmas Eve, Papa read passages out of Isaiah and Luke to everyone, and then he read a special rendition of "The Night Before Christmas" just for the kids.  Well, minus Kate... she was already nestled, all snug in her bed.

And then came Christmas morning: 

The girls loved all the toys (and vitamin bottles) that had magically appeared.

And Bella loved sneaking some snacks from Papa in the pantry.  Isn't this what grandparents' homes are all about?

There are so many special moments that our cameras didn't capture, so I'll stop there and leave you with the classic Davis family pose under the mantle crowded with stockings:

What a second.  That's not the classic pose.

There.  That's much better.  

Here's to Christmas 2011!

My Apple Pickin' Adventure

Guess what I got to do yesterday?

Pick me some apples.  It was awesome.

Mommy and Daddy dwove us out to this place with lots of twees, and lo and behold, there was weal apples growin' on them!

We even got to take some of our best fwiends... like "Uncle" Danny.  It's so cool to have other people who wuv hanging out with me.

See?!  I'm a master picker... and eater.  Well, I twied, but Mommy's going to have to make me some applesauce so my gums can handle all this goodness.

She also loves making this wecipe during apple pickin' season.  It's the perfect breakfast with a dowup of yogurt or the perfect dessert with a wittle homemade whip cweam:

Cran-Apple Crisp:

Filling:

8-10 apples, cored and sliced (I tend to leave the peels on)

1/4 cup honey (approximate)

1-2 tablespoon(s) all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon (or more) ground cinnamon

1/2 cup water

1 tablespoon lemon juice (not needed if you use craisens or cranberries)

1 cup craisens or cranberries - optional; if you use cranberries, add a little more honey

dash of salt

Topping:

1 1/2 cup quick-cooking oats

1/4 cup all-purpose flour

3/4 cup wheat germ

1 cup packed brown sugar

1/2 cup butter, softened

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degree C).

Place the sliced apples in a 9x13 inch pan. Mix the honey, 1 tablespoon flour, lemon juice, craisen/cranberries and ground cinnamon together, and sprinkle over apples. Pour water evenly over all.

Combine the topping ingredients (oats, flour, wheat, brown sugar and softened butter). Crumble evenly over the apple mixture.

Bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for about 45-60 minutes.

What's your favorite apple recipe??

Anniversary Tea for Two!

Yesterday, Mike and I celebrated TWO years of marriage.  Yay!  We made it!  As my mom and a few others said, "It's only been two years?"  I know.  A lot has happened to us in two years.  

All the more reason to celebrate!

Mike began the day by waking me up with Georgia and Texas biscuits served on a "WE are special today" red plate.  Ha!  Georgia suffered from some Texas pride before I took this picture. :)

Bella celebrated by asking for "more" cheerios.  She's getting really good at her sign language.  But she kind of asks for more of everything.  More food, more toys, more of me, etc.  I think I've created a monster.

After breakfast, she proceeded to perform a knife show for us in the dishwasher.  Come to find out you don't get to take a break from parenting on your anniversary.

Then, Mike was all romantic and left me this note as he rushed to his busy Monday.  Tea for two?!  At the Mayflower?! Yes, please!

A tea party anniversary, complete with champagne!  Mike really has come so far in only two years. I think mountains are in our future for next year. (Sorry, even the fanciest of waiters always take fuzzy pictures.)

But may I just point out that Mike loved the clotted cream?

Mike brought pictures from the last two years to our tea, and we had so much fun going over all the Lord has done in such a short time.  It's such a great thing to step back and take a look at the big picture in a marriage.  Remembering God's specific faithfulness to us left us encouraged and looking forward to the years ahead.

But then, our coach turned in to a pumpkin.

Or perhaps I should say that our child turned in to a gremlin.  A special thanks to our dear friend Jennifer for helping us celebrate!

It's been a wonderful two years full of love and trials and joy and new life!  So much of our conversation these past few days has revolved around all the friends and family that made our wedding and these last two years of marriage and parenting a real success.  We are so thankful and truly indebted to you all.  

Let the fun continue!

Oh wait!  Just one more very important thing about today.  A special Happy Birthday to my mother in law, Gigi!

I love celebrating you right around our anniversary because you gave me such a wonderful husband in your son.  So thankful for your life and how it blesses our marriage.  Happy Birthday!!

We've Been Missing You

Bella and I recently had to say good bye to Mike for two weeks and decided to head to Texas to help pass the time.  Our family was a huge help and blessing.  But before I post pictures of swim parties and birthday fun, Bella wanted to make sure I pass along our special message. (And I want to be sure you check out the new pool our family just inherited via big sis!)

I love Bella and Cole's sad face.  Mike, you have surely been missed by all!  See you soon!