one sunday morning...

We woke up to something exciting and special.

Something we don't wake up to every day.

It was magical and fun.

Something that gives us warm and fuzzies.

















xo

girls night...

A chick flick, the new issue of Rachael Ray and a little bit of heaven.
That's what a pregnant lady enjoys when her hubby goes out for the night.
Now, it's not a common occurrence that my husband leave me for a night of frolic, but tonight is special. Tonight is his nephews "man party"... aka: Bachelor Party. He's getting married next weekend.
So, this is what I look forward to when I have an evening (and the remote) to myself.




First things first... I kissed JB and told him to have a good time.

Then, I ran back inside and gathered my necessities.


See, make-up isn't even required for an evening like this.

I even invited Haley and Mae Belle.

Wait a second... did you see that?

Pure heaven, I tell ya.

mmmmm...

xo

Baby Bump Update at 21 weeks... with a special treat!

So, here I am at the doctors office today. Just moments before Haley snapped this photo, I was weighed and had my blood pressure taken... oh yeah... and I also had to pee in a cup. Just thought I share everything with y'all... like Pioneer Woman says, "Just keepin' it real".
Notice the content look on my face... I was pleased with myself and the fact that I've only gained one pound since my last appointment four weeks ago! Yea me! Not that I'm trying to watch my weight gain or anything... I mean, my latest craving is mini-Snickers, and between me and my kiddos we've gone through two bags in about a week! Maybe y'all shouldn't know that? hmmm...
Anyway, the nurse was in an extra generous mood today and decided to share my total weight gain thus far. Maybe they do that at the half way mark just to keep you on your toes. I don't know. But at a total of nine pounds so far I now have a plan for the rest of this pregnancy. And I say this as I sit here and snack on Sweet Tarts.


This next image is the "treat" of this post. Yes, that's my bare belly and what you're about to hear is baby "J's" heartbeat. Since JB... aka: Daddy... couldn't join us for today's visit, we took this video for him... and y'all.

And since I am at my half way mark, I thought it would be fun to document a photo of me in the beginning... here I am at only 5 weeks.



And now at 21 weeks.

Well, that's about it for now. Here's one last photo of my swollen face... I think I need a hair cut.

Lots of Love...
Ralonda

my new favorite thing...

Being pregnant and all, it seems I'm always searching for something different and refreshing to quench my thirst on these hot, Dallas, summer days. Something other than my usual water with lemon or unsweetened iced tea with lemon... blah. And not to mention, something other than a Coke... I need healthy or at least semi-healthy right now. But I must admit... I still have a Coke every now and then. I just can't help myself.

I have had these IZZE things before, and thought they were good... but for some reason right now I find them YUM-O! Especially this flavor, Sparkling Clementine... mmm, mmm!

So, next time you're at the grocery, pick some up... because, although I love you, I'm sorry, but I won't be sharing mine!



xo
Ralonda

Happy Birthday Theron!

Fifteen years ago today my little boy entered the world. Where did the time go?

My Little Boy
I remember when you were my little boy,

An extension of my very being.

My every waking moment belonged to you.

One evening when I called you to supper,

You came to the table all grown up.

Where did all the in between go?

Too soon I was to let you go.

Now, I shall always call you "my son"

But in my heart...

you'll always be my little boy.

2 months

1st Birthday in Estes Park, Colorado.

2 years, playing in mommy's make-up

2 years (almost 3), Meeting "Bobby YaYa" for the first time.

3 years

4 years, "Cat Boy" Meow!

7 years, Playing Bingo at the Second Grade Valentine's Party.

8 years

At his 9th Birthday Party.

11 years (almost 12) Hanging out with big sis, Kacie at the lake.

With mom and her van!

With his best bud, Jackson, in my van.

12 (almost 13) years.

14 years, Being silly with lil' sis, Haley.

14 years, Hanging at the water park with his best bud, Jackson.

Showing off all his hard work with lil' sis.

Happy Birthday My Son.

I Love You.

fiesta chicken enchiladas and neapolitan parfaits...

I'm no Pioneer Woman when it comes to cooking and photography. However, I do love to cook and take pictures, and share my experiences with you. So, you'll just have to bare with me here on my photography knowledge, as I aspire to one day be as good as PW.

I made these last night and they were good. The only thing I will change next time is the amount of onion that the recipe calls for or omit them altogether. See, JB is not very fond of onions... "It's a texture thing". Other than that, he approved. And let me tell you, if I make something new (which I like to do often) and JB cleans his plate, then it makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside, and then I want to... well, never mind.

Did I also mention that, more often than not, I like to make things that are EASY ? Don't most of us? Oh, and I also must mention, that I usually don't make up my own recipes... I'm not creative or brave enough for that. But I will take a recipe and change it up a bit from time to time.

Here's last night dinner...

Fiesta Chicken Enchiladas

1 Tbsp. butter or olive oil
1 small onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced ~ The recipe actually called for one clove, but I love garlic so I use two.
4 cooked chicken breasts, shredded ~ I cheated here... I bought a rotisserie chicken from Albertson's and pulled the meat off the bone. Hey, like I said, I'm no Pioneer Woman.
1 can Black Beans ~ You could also throw in some corn... I would have loved to, but JB doesn't like corn, "It's a texture thing".
1 1/2 cup your favorite salsa, divided
6 oz. Cream Cheese, cubed
1 Tbsp. chopped cilantro
1 tsp. ground cumin
2 cups shredded cheddar & monterey jack cheese, divided
8 flour tortillas

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Heat butter or oil in large skillet on medium heat. Add onions and garlic; cook until tender. Add chicken, beans, 1/2 of the salsa, cream cheese, cilantro and cumin; mix well. Cook until heated through, stirring occasionally. Add 1/2 of the cheese... or more if you love cheese; mix well.
Spoon mixture into each tortilla; roll up. Place, seam-side down, in a 13x9-inch baking dish sprayed with cooking spray; top with remaining chicken mixture, salsa and cheese.
Bake 15 to 20 minutes or until heated through.

Serve with Spanish Rice and Salad.

Please don't pay any attention to my old, old pan... I desperately need new cooking ware. It's one of those things that I keep putting off. Sometimes a new pair of shoes just makes more sense.

And then, this is what I served for dessert. They were super-de-duper easy! In fact, while the pudding was setting in the fridge, I took the time to climb to the highest shelf in my cabinet, pull out some fancy glasses and wipe them out. Believe it or not!

Neapolitan Parfaits

About 9 fresh strawberries, divided
1 pkg. Instant Jell-O Chocolate Pudding mix, prepared and chilled
1 pkg. Instant Jell-O Vanilla Pudding mix, prepared and chilled
Cool Whip Whipped Topping in a can

Slice the strawberries.
Alternately spoon the pudding into dessert glasses. Cover with layers of strawberries.
Top with Cool Whip and one strawberry.
Enjoy!

xo
Ralonda

tie-dye, parades, good friends & tarts... Happy 4th of July!

It's been a tradition of mine since my now grown daughters were little to tie-dye t-shirts with my children for the 4th. Although, I must admit, some years it was just plain easier to run to Old Navy and pick up matching shirts for us all. As the years have flown by, my kids are now grown (one with a baby of her own) and half grown and scattered here and there, it's harder to keep the traditions going... but I try. So you can imagine my excitement this year when I mentioned tie-dying to Haley (my youngest who's 12... but not for long with her baby brother due to arrive in late November) and she jumped at the idea. She was so psyched that she made two shirts! That makes a momma feel good!
We even got our neighbors, Tanya and lil' Sadie in on the fun.

Here are Haley and Jackson (my 13 yr. old step-son) bunching and dying...

Here they are proudly displaying their creations waiting for our neighborhood parade to begin... Doesn't Jackson look excited? He is on the inside... he's just going through that early teen phase... ugh!

Here I am with my adorable loving hubby. I have what you call, in-a-rush-get-everyone-up-early-to-make-the-parade-unwashed-pregnant-lady-sweaty-wind-blown-hair!

Let the fun begin...

Look! There goes lil' Sadie in her custom shirt riding in the parade... Go Sadie Go!

Here we are (Haley, Jon, Me & Jackson) having fun catching all the candy... Remember, Jack is haivng fun on the inside!

Haley's little friend, Erin and her mom and dad...

Here's my good friend, Mary Ellen and her guy, Tommy chillin' out in the shade...


Here's my best friend, Amy with her hubby, Brent and the youngest of their six children, Tommy... how'd they get so lucky to only have this morning? Yea Tommy, wave that flag! Can you see what his shirt says? It says "Lock up your daughters"! LOL

They even brought their Oscar-Dyer-Wiener-Dog along for the fun...

Here's Erin and Haley enjoying the fun... and candy!

Back at the house we enjoyed these Cream Cheese Tarts (and other good food), a little swimming (in our new fancy pool) and the company of good friends... I didn't get many pics at the house because I was just plain wiped out and HOT!

Here's Haley and Sadie cooling off... I told you our new pool was fancy. It's even got a bench and those much needed cup holders!

Watch out y'all! Tommy has the water hose!

We wrapped up the days celebrations with fireworks out in the country at Jon's brothers house (and no, I didn't get any pics out there either... by then I was more then wiped out... I was exhausted).

But let me just say how comical it is to me that you can give grown men explosives and they suddenly turn into giddy 13 year olds.

This was the final picture of the night (thanks to Haley)... A lovely one of me squinting because the flash was too bright for my exhausted eyes... I was way beyond ready for bed.

Good night America... and Happy Birthday!

xo

Ralonda