Workout Diva's, Birthday Parties and Turner Visit

I have got really behind on my blogging again, but it has been pretty busy lately.

A couple of weeks ago, Courtney decided to work out.  So she dressed Avery up in some workout clothes too, and Avery copied everything Courtney did.  Pretty funny!  Here are a couple of pictures after the workout.

Avery turned 1 year old on March the 7th.  She is getting to be a big girl!   At the last minute, we decided to have her a little party before church on Wednesday night.  Kelli Mitchell met me there Tuesday night to set up decorations and to decorate cookies.  She was a HUGE help in getting this party together.  Couldn't have done it without her.  Thank you Kelli!

Avery's "smash" cake

Avery acted all shy when we were singing to her :)

Courtney had to work for a while, but she made it to the party just in time to help Avery open her presents

Becky and Alice

I think I counted 31 total that were there.  That is LOTS of friends for a 1 year old :)

All the little girls at church love to hold Avery.  And Avery loves for them to hold her.

Happy first birthday Avery Mon'triell Davis.  We love you!

This past weekend the Turners came to visit and I can not believe that I did not take one picture!!  I guess we were too busy visiting and having a good time, that I completely forgot to get my camera out.  Courtney did, however, take some pictures with my new iphone. 

She did get one good one

 The rest of the pictures Courtney captured while we were eating Sunday lunch with the Turners and Butlers at one of our favorite mexican restaurants.  They are not really ones that I would have chosen to take for memories, but at least they are pictures...

 a distorted Erin

 Five head and hunchback

 Those are some long fingers I have and some little hands on Molly

We enjoyed the Turners being here, and as usual, were so sad to see them leave!  Come back soon!

Hannah + Jim = Love 4/Ever

This past Saturday, my mom and I gave a bridal shower for my sweet cousin Hannah at my house.  Hannah and Jim will be married in April in Mexico and then will have a reception here in Paris in May.  I really can't believe Hannah is old enough to get married, even though she is 26, all grown up and a wonderful RN.  Seems like just yesterday I was babysitting her and her sister.  Really makes me feel old!  Hannah had a GREAT turn-out at her shower!  I think I counted 30 people, and one or two more may have slipped in after that.

I had fun getting everything decorated for her shower.  I was wanting her to feel extra special.  I had planned on doing more than I did decoration wise, but simply ran out of time.  Rod told me there was such thing as "overkill" and that it looked like a prom.  And he also said my wedding cake cookies looked like Christmas trees.  I think he was just wanting to eat them - which he did.  My mom was a HUGE help in getting all the food ready.  She did most of that while I did the decorated the cupcakes and cookies and finished hanging the decorations.

I made some tissue pom poms and flag banners from scrapbook paper.  I always struggle with decorating my mantle with that unattractive TV on it.

Each guest recieved a votive candle as a party favor

I LOVED Hannah and Jim's engagement pictures and used several of them for decorations.

I purchased some towels off of Hannah's registry and made a towel cake.



 Courtney was a big help decorating...that is her under the blanket on the couch

The dessert table had cupcakes, cake balls, cookies, mints, nuts and strawberry malt balls

The food table had fruit kabobs, veggie cups, chicken salad sandwiches, tortilla roll-ups, cucumber cups and taco dip cups.  I wish I would have got a picture of the whole table with the decorations, but some how missed that

The beautiful bride to be and her mother

Staci, Denise and Hannah

Hannah with two of her childhood friends:  Erica Barnes (who I also babysat a time or two) and Smurf.  Sorry, I didnt' get Smurf's real name, but she expecting a baby boy in May

Very good turn out

Avery even came :)  Avery's mom and my cousin graduated together

We played a game and each guest also wrote down their favorite recipe for Hannah

Courtney had no problem writing down her one and only recipe for the new bride's cookbook

Not just Ramen Noodles, but DELUXE Ramen Noodles.  Not really sure what makes it deluxe though?

Hannah got many, many nice things

I found this cute wreath idea on pinterest.  I would have never thought to spray pain a grapevine wreath!

Congratulations Sherry Hannah Bell soon to be White!  I wish you and Jim a lifetime of happiness.  And maybe around this time next year we can have a baby shower :)  I love you sweet cousin!

Brownie Surprise

I thought I would share a super EASY recipe that I found on Pinterest. I have made this several times and it is always a hit.  I changed the name of the recipe since I did not think the other name (slutty brownies) was very appropriate.

1 Box of cookie mix

1 Box of brownie mix

3 eggs

1/2 cup butter or margarine, softened

2/3 cup oil

1/4 cup water

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.  Grease the bottom of a 9 x 13 pan. 

Follow the instructions on the cookie mix box.  Layer cookie dough on bottom. 

 Layer Oreos on top of cookie dough. 

Follow instructions on brownie mix box.  Add brownie mix on top of oreos. 

Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes. 

Best served warm and with ice cream!

Weekend Update

We had a pretty laid back weekend.  I worked for a little while on Saturday (for the 4th Saturday in a row - but who is counting) which was absolutely no fun.  The only good thing about working weekends is comp time, which will come in handy this summer - and then I won't have to burn all of my vacation time.  Then I spent Saturday afternoon grocery shopping, cooking and cleaning. 

Sunday was our monthly singing at the nursing home.  Some of our young boys led singing and our youth made valentines to hand out to the residents - which were a big hit :)

 

 Little Ryan Butler is growing up!

For the last couple of years, we have invited friends over for a super bowl party.  While I had good intentions to play hostess again this year, super bowl weekend snuck up on me and I did not have a chance to plan a party.  Plus, I had to get Rod packed and ready for his trip to Tennessee this morning. 

I did not even make any good appetizers.  Well, I did make tortilla roll-ups for Courtney.  But the rest was just pre-made snacks that I heated up.  I did at least get out my football platters - to put my store bought (gasp) cupcakes and cookies on.

Our mini super bowl party included:  Courtney

Rod

 and Avery

and these two fizzled out pretty early

And the Giants WON!!  Everyone who knows me well, knows that Peyton Manning is my football man.  And if he couldn't be playing in the super bowl, who better to play than his little brother.  So I was rooting for Eli all the way - in the house that Peyton built as they announcers kept saying :)

Hope everyone had a great weekend!