"Reunited & it feels so GOOD"

ALL 4 of the Harris' back
together under 1 roof!!
Life is as it should be again.

YEAH!!!!!! we are reunited & as the song goes... "it feels so good". A-man & I could hardly stand ourselves waiting the last 30 minutes to get Joey & Josey back. I must have called Joey 4 times asking "where are you??" As soon as we heard the garage door- we bolted for it. To my surprise I found my little Priss- chewing bubble gum & wearing new flip-flops (she looked WAY older than I remembered). Ashton could not be persuaded to eat dinner in his chair- he shared one with Joey. And as for Josey.... she sat on someones lap too. I'm sure that I do not have to tell you who's??? MINE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Thanks for ALL of your prayers for their trip. A BIG thanks to Grandma Harris for helping out with Josey & coming back to NC. We loved having you here!!!!! Hurry back to us- WE LOVE YOU VERY MUCH!!!!!!!!!

this is Ashton's new favorite thing:

Joey's old GI Joes....
(and Joey thought that he

couldn't love him anymore??)

this was the initial reunion-

now these 2 boys LOVE
one-another!!!!!

this is my take on a family favorite from P-Bread (Panera Bread)....
1 jar Trader Joes (your families favorite) marinara sauce
2 cans pear tomatoes (without the juice)
2 cups whole milk or heavy cream
1 can tomato sauce
1 teaspoon Italian spices (oregano, basil, red pepper, & parsley- combined)
combine all ingredients, puree in blender, return to pot, bring to a boil, let simmer for 5 min & serve!!!!

There you have it:
Panera's Creamy Vegetarian Tomato Soup
serve it up with croutons

& a yummy hot sandwich-
YUMM-O!!!

"for those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor, and immortality, He will give eternal life."
~Romans 2:7
go out and seek Him today- He is waiting for you............

"it's a Spring thing....."

ok so it's like 42 degrees outside, but I got the itch..... I had to hang our Bunny & clip some tulips. I LOVE spring. It is such a beautiful site everywhere- the pear trees are in full bloom here, the birds are out, & my kiddos are begging for the swing set!!!!!!!

I found this teapot @

a thrift store for $7.oo
(it has a small hole in the bottom
but who uses them for tea anyway?)
I cut off the bottom of a H2O
bottle for a vase inside...
now you know one of my
dirty little secrets....
(keep this in mind, if you see a great deal)

I bought this little beauty

on sale after Easter last year!!!
(if you look close you can see
2 tiny bunnies on my new lamp-
they were mine from my childhood.
Well one was for Travis, but I stole his.
I bet that he isn't even missing it!!)

my A-man is a big-time snacker. He loves to carry a bag of anything around with him ALL the time. I like for him to eat healthy so... I came up with this little pantry-party-mix. I guarantee the kids will LOVE you for it!!!

I added some:

raisins, pretzels, cheerios, gold fish, dried cranberries, almonds, & animal oyster crackers. (add whatever you have in your pantry- all of the things that you love together.. what could be better??)

p.s.- I have a list of supplies to get then.... I am gonna be in full CRAFT MODE!!!! get your sewing machines out & your scissors handy........ We are gonna make some of the cutest things ya'll have ever seen!!!!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY
UNCLE MICHAEL!!!

(hope ya'll enjoyed your unplugged Friday-
thanks Kimba!!)

"unplugged"

today I'm doing this:

have a great weekend!!!

"take good care of my baby.."

well........ my Priss has been visiting Grandma & Grandpa Harris for the last few days, & my heart longs to see her. She is sorely missed around here. Ashton mopes around looking for her, carrying around some of her prize possessions (I think in hopes that she will jump out & bust him). I myself grabbed our chapter book last night just out of habit- she was not waiting for me on the bed as she always is to read it to her..... Anyway from what I have been hearing from phone calls & pictures from their days- she is is NO hurry to return. Do not think that I am above making ALL of her favorites to get back into her good graces upon her return??? A-man & I are making brownie sundaes for dessert tonight- with only 1 girl in mind!!! I thank GOD that He has given me such a gracious extended family. I love you Harris family- what I lucky gal I am to call you mine!!!!

is there anything more precious than a sibling's love???

Momma loves you guys more that anyone ought to be allowed!!!!!!

please keep my sweet travelers in your prayers today!!! May they have a safe & fast trip home to us......

"did ya know?"

for those who do not know me well.... I LOVE MAGAZINES!!! I patiently (sometimes not so much) wait for them to come every month. I love getting them even before the markets get to stock them. Doesn't that sound so corny- well then I guess that I'm bringing corny back- along with the side pony-tail. Prissy has to darn one at least every other day. It so reminds me of my youth.... Anyway my neighbor & I recycle magazines back and forth (this is a great way to get ALL of your fixes in on a budget). She gets "Kraft Food & Family"- I had seen it on the shelf at the market with yummy looking pictures on the front. I was informed from her that you can go to the Kraft website & get it for FREE. So you can either buy a copy for $3.95 or subscribe for FREE on-line. Go & subscribe- you will love it. The recipes are super easy & quick. I especially love the coupons inside!!!!!!!!!!!

I can't wait to try

the cheesecake on the front!!!!

p.s. we took Josey's training wheels off this weekend!!! Ashton insisted that we take the back two wheels off of his tricycle too- thankfully he was quickly diverted with football!!! Any great tips for learning the ropes???

this was a much deserved
water break, after MULTIPLE
falls with MUCH perseverance!!!!!!

this is A-man showing me
that he was OK- after a
HUGE fall off of the porch!!!!

"the wise woman builds her house, but with her own hands the foolish one tears hers down"
Proverbs 14:1
(get into the word today- what a great use of your time. I promise that you will not regret it!!!!)

"Toile Tuesday"

I (HEART) TOILE....

Ok I am a toile-aholic & so when one of my favorite sites, Pretty Organized was hosting a toile-party... I had to go.... Please humor me by checking out some of favorite toile things. Joey once said "why does every room in our house have to have that old looking stuff (meaning toile)? Every grandmother in America would feel right at home here." To which I replied "and if she were a fellow lover of toile- she would be welcome with open arms!"

I have it-
in my foyer:

I inherited this chair from
my Grandma Sissy.
She liked toile before it was cool..

in my living room:

I re-covered this $5.oo chair with
red & white toile- now I have
extra seating to pull in for company.

in my bathroom:

I love this shower curtain-

I added length with ribbon
& of course the walls go
along with the theme.
I love that toile can be
people or flowers..

in my bedroom:

I love my cozy toile
bedding- perfect along side
stripes & plaid

in my kitchen:

this was Josey's first apron

that I made for her.
She too loves the stuff!!!
(did I mention it comes in
children themes too)

& in my closets:

matching skirts for girls
who love toile-
what a beautiful thing!!

fun fun fun- I need help from this addiction, but do not want any!!!!
(http://prettyorganizedpalace.blogspot.com/2009/03/toile-party.html)-
go check out all the other toile-junkies......

"make mine fancy"

Gift wrapping is one of my favorite things- I LOVE IT!!! I have been known to spend more time/money on the packaging than on the gift itself? Why bother? Do you dare ask? Because it says so much to the person receiving the gift. It says that you cared enough to spend extra time on them- that in itself is a gift. So you see- you could have been giving 2 gifts instead of 1 all of these years. Here are some of my favorite tips & ideas....

1. Super Fun Wrapping Paper- Dollar Tree has the best paisley, zebra, and other animal prints. They are sure to get attention with some funky hot pink or apple green ribbon.

2. Add textures- I like to add things to the bow like: cookie cutters, small toys (lip sticks, glow sticks, etc.), Art stuff (a sheet of stickers, pencils, pens, etc.), Jewelry- (Josey loves to get a bracelet or a ring on her gifts she always says "Momma make mine fancy"), baby items (rattles, precious ruffle socks, etc.), great kitchen gadgets (wooden spoons, Pampered Chef tools, etc.), & ornaments or candy canes @ Christmas time. I have used a jump rope for a ribbon for a boy & a feather boa for a girl- so fun!!!

I started with a pack of baby
wash cloths from the Dollar Tree. Roll
them up and tape the ends.

when it starts to look like something
you would want to eat- wrap it with
plastic wrap, add a baby spoon,
& tie a fun ribbon around it!! I think
they turned out precious!!!!!!!

3. Recycle- I have started recycling old cards/invitations (Christmas, birthday, baby, even thank you). Just cut out the picture on the front with fun scissors and add it to the gift. Save your old road maps- they are very "vintage" looking as wrapping paper. I also reuse paper grocery bags. I use them inside-out as wrapping paper. It is a quick fix for a masculine look- add a simple black ribbon with a Starbucks gift card tied to the bow (coffee is Joey's love language). I save all of our coffee cans for treat containers @ Christmas. So sweet, easy, & best of all free!

these are all parts of cards
that I cut apart to use
as gift-tags...
(tip given to my by my dear
sister-in-law Carol)

I just added red & white spray paint
and polka dots of course. Priss made the
beaded handles for me. They were the perfect
container to hold our Holiday Goodies...

4. Be creative- try using a baby blanket as the wrapping paper. You can buy plain blankets @ Target that are super cute & great for swaddling. Also you could use a table cloth. My Mother-in-law used one on a wedding gift for us, I still love it. For summer B-days, I use sand pails as gift bags- they are cheap & cute. My favorite things to add are Hair Bows- so perfect for little girls (and their mothers will love you).

this is a little gift for my niece-
with a new tricked-out Easter hair bow
from her favorite Aunt!!!!

5. Bag it up- I saw this idea on Martha Stewart. I just buy these plain plastic bags @ Michael's and add different colors of tissue paper and ribbon. Super Fast & Cute.

they come in 3 sizes- I usually get the multi-pack
(this is also a great way to wrap
a gift that you need to mail)

"let your light shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven"
Matthew 5:16

"bright lights little city"

Today we (Josey, Ashton, & I) accomplished great feats. We started our day with a Broadway play (or Josey's latest) named "Indians From Indiana With North Carolina Manners Who Like Reading" (this very acclaimed play/musical starred ALL of my grand-daughter-dolls). We thoroughly enjoyed it & the beautiful costumes!!!!! Next we went on a boat (or laundry basket) trip around the world (or house). We ate lunch on top of a very high mountain (or pillow fort), then took a dip in the ocean (or tub) with our new swimsuits. I love imagining- I hope that the days of make-believe are still around for many years to come. Although it did start to rain on our journey. Josey quickly gathered ALL of our rain gear. Later as we were getting off the boat, I yelled "Oh don't forget your umbrella it's really starting to down pour!!!" To which she replied "Momma we are just pretending......."

here are some of our vacation pics from today:

this is the entire cast of:
"Indians From Indiana
With North Carolina
Manners Who Like Reading"

this is the very handsome

gentleman who shared the front
row with me @ the play....
(he got a little picture-happy)

this was from our very scary boat trip- (on the
hardwoods...) It became very rainy & we
had to cut it short! (note the change
of clothing-lunch on a mountain
can be very messy!!!!!

this was our final destination The Beach!!!!
WE LOVE THE BEACH... I particularly love
this beach- cause there is no sand to fight!!!!

have a great day ya'll- make some fun memories with your kiddos.... Did I mention that I LOVE Spring Break??????????

p.s. by the pics you can see that my family did not get to come. We are sad, but we understand. They are coming FOR SURE to A-man's b-day next month!!!!!!!!!

"WELCOME Hayes Family"

My family is coming to town tomorrow and we are soooo excited!!!! Cooner, Travis (my brother), Tucker (my nephew), Jaylee Kay (my niece), Missy (our sweet friend), Gauge (her son) & Landon (her other son). I can't wait to see all of them again, although secretly I want Cooner ALL to myself..... Josey adores Jaylee, & Ashton adores Tucker. He has no idea that he is only 1, he doesn't miss a beat when the big boys are around. I love to see our children play together- it so reminds me of us at their ages (although he wanted NOTHING to do with me- I loved him way more than he loved me). We have so many fun things planned during their visit- I just hope that the weather stays pretty??? I am going to use some of my recipes from previous posts, but I want to share a new one. These little gems are a hit- no matter the occasion. I make them @ Christmas with red & green, @ Valentine's Day with pink & red, @ St. Pat's with light green & dark green. The possibilities are endless. Josey has perfected this snack- she loves to make them for school parties- everyone loves them! Enjoy.....

this is all you need
I am using pastel colored M&M's
for Easter with yellow chocolate melts.
I have used Hershey's kisses-
but I like the extra color from the melts.
(you can't mess them up- everyone loves chocolate)

Preheat oven to 170 degrees
Lay out waffle-shaped pretzels in a single layer on a cookie sheet
Top each pretzel with a Hershey's kiss or chocolate melt
Bake for 4-6 minutes- until chocolate feels soft to touch
Remove from oven & quickly press M&M's candy into the center of each
Allow the treats to cool for a few minutes
Then pop cookie sheet into the refrigerator to set- about 10 minutes
Place in air-tight container or plastic bag with a fun ribbon as a party favor

ya'll are gonna love them-
sweet & salty..
YUMM-O!!!!!

please keep my family in your prayers- I know that the trip is LONG.... but I would like to think that we are worth it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! May God bless their traveling, keeping them safe & sane..

"my cup runneth over"

"Little Harris' where are you?" I yelled through the house. Only to find a most precious site...... Josey & Ashton were sitting shoulder to shoulder watching "Little House on the Prairie". WHAT A BEAUTIFUL THING!!!!! I feel as though I have reached a parenting finish-line. They do love the things that I do!!!! I asked Prissy today what her favorite color was??? she answered "pink". What then is your second favorite I asked??? "light pink"- she said smiling. My cup runneth over!!!! We are on Spring Break here and LOVING it!!!!!! I had forgotten how fun it is to just have NO schedule. A-man & I are so enjoying having Priss all to ourselves. We do not like sharing her with the world. I can remember Joey saying when she started pre-school- "they should be paying us to let her go here"!!!! Sooo true- she is a blessing in every sense of the word. Today we are having an Art Show- complete with one-of-a-kind originals by who else but- Josey Faith. We can't wait!!! It is economical too- admission only 1 cookie........ Maybe Ashton & I will go back again after lunch????

check out this cute sun-dress
only $5.oo @ Wally.
(I couldn't make one for less!!)

Ashton couldn't take his eyes

off of the golfers- he wanted
to ride on the carts....

p.s.- we finished up "Charlotte's Web" last night and my eyes are still swollen. I loved Charlotte, I want to be a friend like her when I grow up........

"I waited patiently for the Lord; he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the slimy pit, and set my feet on a rock."
Psalm 40:1-2
(this is Ashton's favorite passage, he cackles when I read it aloud!!!!!)