Happy 4th...a little late!

Okay, so I'm behind this week! I had a great weekend, but I'm just know downloading the pics so I can share it with you! But, hey, up until yesterday, people were still setting off fireworks in our neighborhood!!

Here's E sporting her red, white and blue.


Kris and K had to play a little football, of course!




B with Grandmom.


K couldn't wait to shoot fireworks. He kept asking, "is it time, yet??"




We even had to set some off before it was even dark!




The fireworks were great, but this is the only pic I got of them because two of the little ones were terrified of them. K was not one of them!



Hope you all had a great 4th!!

Show Us Where You Live Friday!

I'm joining Kelly at Kelly's Korner for



Today's party is for showing your garages and yards. I did a post on our yard a few weeks back when I joined a garden party. I thought I'd repost that today and join Kelly. So, here it is...




My wonderful husband has been working hard on our yard to make it an oasis for us and our family. He'd do a little and then change a few things and add some more. We still are trying to decide on whether or not to get a fence, but I think we have it the way we want it....at least for now!

I so wish we had some before pics to show you. There was nothing in the back yard and only holly bushes in the front. I need to take some more pics once everything is in bloom, but I wanted to brag on my hubby a little now for all his hard work!

The front:

We plant pansies in the fall and begonias in the spring. These look a little beat down from all the rain we've been getting!

The Back deck and yard:

My new patio set !! I picture a lot of summer dinners out here!



He alternated knock out rose bushes with a small evergreen around the deck.


A close up of the knock out roses in the back yard.


Before long, these will bloom into my favorite flower- hydrangea!!! I can't wait to cut some of those babies and bring them inside! We lined the back of the house with these.

Here's one more recent pic of the front of the house!

I didn't post any pics of our garage, because let's face it, it is a MESS!!
Go over to Kelly's and check out everyone else's yards and garages.

In the quiet

I only have 1 out of 3 Dolberry children home this morning. The two oldest are at Grandmom's house. Hubby and I are amazed at how quiet it is!! Granted, Baby boy does make his share of noises, but he's not fighting over "the spot" on the couch or asking if he can buy a toy since he didn't get to buy one yesterday either. He's pretty happy if he's just fed and dry. It's funny how sometimes when there has been a lot of "noise" and all the sudden, there is quiet, it's like you don't know what to do with it! God often speaks in the quiet. Sometimes, I think His voice may be loudest when you can't really hear Him. He's called Kris and I to step out on faith. We are excited about where that will take us and our family. We know He's up to something and we can't wait to see what He does!

So, take time today to listen and see what God might be whispering to you....


PS- don't worry, I am already starting to miss K and E!! I'm sure they will come back to me as rotten as ever!! : )

My baby boy's pics

Here's some pics of baby B at 9 months...It's taken me a month to get SOME of them edited!! Needless to say, it's been a little busy at our house!






I had to take some of Big Sis....


and Big Brother too!

Two out of three of these sweet kiddos are headed to Grandmom's house today to give mom and dad a little break. Whatever will I do with my time?? :)

Transformation

I transformed a couple thrifty finds recently into treasures! I found this picture frame at GW for $2.99. I originally bought it to use as a picture frame, but decided to make a message board for my daughter's room.


I just loved the detail...


I loved the black, but decided to spray paint it cream to match E's room.


Then I cut down a cork tile I had to fit the opening in the frame.


I wrapped the cork in the fabric. I just used painter's tape to hold in place.


Next, I fit the fabric covered cork in the back of the frame.



I also added a ribbon hanger.

I glued some buttons on some clear tacks to dress them up a bit!!



I also found this little wooden box for $1.00.




It was pretty hideous, but I took a cue from it's original condition and turned it into this:



I painted and distressed it and then used my mom's Cricut (LOVE this thing!!) to cut out the monogram and brackets in vinyl. I absolutely love how this turned out. There are so many uses for this little tote! Right now, it is sitting on my dryer and catching loose change and lonely socks. I'm sure it will find a more suitable place soon!

When I take someone else's trash and turn it into my treasure, it reminds me of how God takes all our "garbage"- our sins, burdens and hang-ups and uses them to transform us and make us more like him. I pray that I am always willing to be inconvenienced for His sake!

Hope you all had a great weekend! Go over to Rhoda's and Susan's to check out other's thrifty finds and makeovers!

Catalina Chicken

Okay, you’ll remember that I made a post the other day about my 10 month old B learning to climb the stairs. Well, yesterday morning, I was deep into paying bills and updating the check book register online. B was in the living room with K and E. He was playing in the floor while the older kids watched cartoons. I was on the phone with Kris, when I looked over at the spot where B had been and he was GONE! After calling out for him (did I think he was going to answer?) and looking all over the house, I found him UPSTAIRS in the bonus room. I couldn’t believe that he’d crawled all the way up the steps by himself and so quickly. So now, we have a chair turned over sideways in front of the stairs. What a morning!

Well, last night, I made one of my new favorite dishes: Catalina Chicken. My friend, Caree shared it with me and it has quickly become an easy go-to meal at our house! I thought I would share it with you today!

Ingredients you will need: boneless skinless chicken breast, catalina dressing, and cranberry sauce. Yeah, that's it!!

Cut up the chicken into cubes and brown for a few minutes on each side in EVOO.



I used about half a can of cranberry sauce and a little over half a bottle of catalina dressing for 2 1/2 chicken breasts.
Mix together cranberry sauce and dressing with a whisk.
Add chicken

Transfer into a baking dish and cook for about 30 minutes at 350 degrees.


We like it served over white rice!!


I'm telling you, it is some kind of good!! It's a sweet and sour taste.

Kris liked it!



And so did E!!


She asked for seconds and thirds! Hope you guys will try it sometime! We're off to Auburn this weekend. War Eagle!!

Stairs and Zzzzzs

Monday morning, this is what baby boy did when he woke up...




Yep, he can go all the way to the top, too. He giggles the whole way.

I have to find a gate! It's hard to find one that will work at the end of our stairs because one side is a wall and the other side only has a railing. Someone told me to try a pet gate.

Last night, I had a horrible headache. After running after B a billion times and trying to come up with makeshift gates to keep him in the living room....I finally put him in his jumper.

He kept saying "uh uh uh uh..." My sweet husband, who was cleaning the kitchen for me (I know, all you wives, be jealous!!) said, "Why is he making that noise?" I said, "because he probably wants out!"

Just a few minutes later, I looked over and saw this:


That precious boy lulled himself to sleep! I had to take some pictures of him. He stirred a little and then laid back like this:


It's so funny to me how when babies get really tired, they don't care where they are, they can sleep. Actually, that reminds me of his daddy a little bit. : )