ragan's birthday

Ragan woke up and was on a mission to find the birthday cupcake, it did not take long before she found it and got the treasures inside. (No pictures....the girl is too fast) Happy birthday to my 11 year old....

Not only was it Ragan's birthday, but my niece Emily's (Leslie's youngest) 10th birthday. The kids and I went to Pops and MiMi's house for pizza and cake.

Happy Birthday girls...

We headed home to make Ragan's requested homemade chocolate chip cookie cake and to pick up Ragan's friend S to spend the night.

the crew... Meghan, Emily, Kenneth, Brooke, Catherine, Shelby, Ragan, and WIlliam

Ragan got Money from MiMi, Pops, Aunt Shilo and MawMaw Pat and we gave her a bunch of zebra print decor for her room that she picked out. Since Shilo and Kenneth were over we did our Christmas with the kids since they were in Ga. for the holidays. The girls opened their gifts so fast I didnt get a shot of any of them but William was a little more forgiving as I made him wait for me to grab the camera. He was happy to get an awesome train with lights and everything, it has kept him quite entertained the past few hours.Kenneth on the other hand thought Aunt April had fallen off her rocker when he was handed a roll of toilet paper with a ribbon nicely tied around it... He smiled politely and said thank you (and probably was wondering what to do next)...then he realized...I think that made him happy to find out his gift was NOT toilet paper but money wrapped neatly inside....nothing like workin' for your gift! And that my friends, is how we ROLL!!!

happy 11th birthday ragan

11 years ago we became parents for the first time. You have taught us so much, we love you for all you are and who you are becoming. Ragan, we are so proud of you and pray your birthday is a very happy one and everything you want it to be.

Favorites:
TV shows: Cake boss, Millionaire Makeover, Four Weddings, Sara Palin Alaska

food: hamburgers

color: green

team: LSU!

restaurant: Texas Roadhouse

subject: math

free time: crafts

movie: Ramona and Beezus

animal: dog

christmas 2010: part 4 pops and mimi's house

After opening gifts at home we went to Pops and MiMi's house for the day.

the girls...emily (leslie's youngest), ragan, catherine, meghan (leslie's oldest), and brooke..meghanraganemilycatherinebrookewilliam deciding to open or not to open...

all three of the girls asked for comforters to match their new painted bedrooms as one of their gifts from Pops and MiMi...

emily helping william with his microphone...

No pictures of MiMi as she would kill me for posting pictures of her being so yellow....more updates on her very soon.


Sunday Paw Paw John came to visit us at MiMi's house, he brought a huge loot of gifts and the kids enjoyed spending some time with him. William got the best gift ever, although I don't know if Paw Paw John was totally sold on it....I told him it would be used more than any other gift he has been bought...I look forward to getting started with Your Baby Can Read program in the next couple of days. He also got a very cool remote control truck which is is lovin'.
B and C got these cute Lalaloopsie dolls, which I have never seen before. They insisted they wanted some and were so happy to have one plus their gift certificates will buy them some other goodies which will probably include a wii and Ds games .

Thank you Paw Paw John for stopping by and spending the afternoon with us!

christmas 2010: part 3

Christmas morning at home...

christmas 2010: part 2...stockings

ready....set....let the day begin... waiting for the slow people (catherine)... catherine reading her letter from Santa...digging in our stocking was always such fun growing up as a kid for my sister and I. I loved getting it off of the mantle and seeing what goodies were tucked inside. The kids had kisses and other yummy candy on the bottom of their stockings and all William wanted to do was to eat the candy...as a matter of fact he did not begin opening his presents until his candy was close to gone....the girls had finished theirs! that's my kind of kid ;)

brownie oreos

Don't these look so pretty? I found these yummy and super easy deserts at Picky Palate.
I made some the other day and they are absolutely delish and fun to make. I will warn you to expect messy fingers or utensils b/c you dip the oreo into the brownie mix but it is worth it and your family and friends will thank you (or maybe not).

Brownie Covered Oreos
1 Brownie mix (or use your own brownie recipe)
1 package Oreos, I used the Holiday ones
White chocolate, melted for drizzle, or Wilton White frosting pen works great
White nonpariels Sprinkles

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Prepare brownie batter according to package directions. Leave in mixing bowl. Dip Oreos in brownie batter then place in bottom of cupcake tins that have been generously sprayed with cooking spray. Bake for 12-15 minutes, until brownies are cooked through (doesn’t take long). As soon as you remove, take a plastic knife and run along edges, (this is VERY important so you get the cookie out with brownies not stuck to pan

2. Let cool for 5 minutes, remove drizzle with melted white chocolate or the Wilton White icing pen, sprinkle with nonpariels and EAT! Enjoy
Makes entire package of Oreos

**Some are having a hard time getting theirs to look just like mine, so here is the exact muffin pan I used. Apparently all muffin pans are shaped different!!

deer Ragan,

John and Ragan went to Alabama yesterday morning in the freezing cold. That girl is hooked on hunting and since Daddy killed another one with C last week she was ready to one of her own. They called on their way there to tell us about snow flurries they were running into, exciting enough for this little southern family.

But if that weren't enough, last night Ragan called as they do every night after they are finished hunting to tell me she killed a DEER!! Yep, never thought my girly girl would do it but she did and was thrilled. I was just as happy for Daddy b/c he was so darned excited for her too. Quite impressed with her shooting skills he went on to tell me that she hit the deer at 175 yds away and he dropped straight to the ground. Oh yeah and it's a 4 point!

So now for the gross part, he put blood on my child's face....something the hunters do for their first kill....would make me never want to kill anything again but I'm just sayin'...

Yeah, Ragan congratulations on your first of many deer.

christmas 2010: part 1

Christmas Eve we usually spend at John's grandma's house but since things are a little different and Aunt C is out of town we went to my mom and dad's house. My brother is still in town so we hung out with he and my niece Brittany and of course our regular crew around here.

brooke and britt

When we got home Cand B decorated a couple of cookies for Santa...Ragan gave him some from the other day she made at our cookie party.now I know why the big guy is soooo, well, BIG...