Dinner... is served?

I had tonight's dinner all planned.  It was going to be healthy and delicious and something my kids would just love.  That was the plan at least.  I started the meal off by making homemade biscuits (that's from scratch!!) They were made healthier by trading Almond Milk and Coconut Oil for the traditional milk and shortening.  Now you're probably thinking that that's where I went wrong, but no the recipe said I could!  So I mixed up my dough and it was perfect, not crumbly, not too wet.  I rolled the dough out on a floured surface like you're supposed to do, using my newly acquired rolling pin.  And I cut my biscuits using a cookie cutter.  They were small, so maybe the cookie cutter wasn't big enough.  I don't know.  But I thought eh we'll give it a try. I'll reveal my pictures later.

Then!! I made Greek yogurt Mac and Cheese.  This was my expectation.  Pinterest failed me.

And much like with the biscuits I stuck to the instructions to the letter! But alas, the result was... well sad.

My kids' reactions were mixed.  Brennan refused.

Yeah the bulge in her napkin is the biscuit.

Cian had no qualms with eating this, but then again he ate his own poop the other day (long, disgusting story).  So... don't know what that says about my food.  In my opinion, nothing tasted horrible.  My husband and I agreed that the biscuits would be awesome in place of communion crackers, so hey have that going for me!

Oh well.  Tomorrow we try Cauliflower pizza!!

- Lindsay

Life on Harvey Lane

A little over a year ago I decided to stay home with my babies and be a stay-at-home mom, and I have loved a large portion of those minutes.  Since I've been home, we moved into a much larger house that sits on about 6 acres of land.  We lovingly (and jokingly) call it the Kelley Farm.  We've tried to do several things while we've been here.  I say tried because if I'm the one doing it... it has most likely failed.  See, I never imagined I would be a homemaker.  But I've found that I really do love it.  I just don't have the skill set for it.  I've tried gardening, I've tried writing books (I have 5 partially written) I've dabbled in drawing, I've tried photography

  I've tried sewing.

I've tried cooking.  And I've tried raising chickens.  We still have the chickens but because of my massive fear of all things crawly, such as spiders (I'm cringing just writing the word), they are now in the care of my husband.  Even those, who are nearing 6 months old have yet to produce a single egg, but they're very pretty.  

I've decided that much like Rome, my homestead will not be built in a day.  So I'm going to try something that I'm really REALLY not good at and stick with it.

So, right now I'm going through a couple of phases.  I say phases because I, like my one year old son, have a very short attention span when it comes to my hobbies.  Right now I'm really into baking, so I'm going to either try biscuits or bread this week we'll see...  And I got some bushes for my front flower bed.  The trick there isn't getting them in the ground.  That usually gets done.  It's keeping them alive after that.  That's the tricky part. 

So, MAYBE, I'll keep you updated on this skill-growing experience.

Till Next Time.
Lindsay

Times... They are a Changing

Bren at the salon showing off her hairdo.  Yes those blonde sprigs of hair up in a ponytail count as a 'do.'

Wow life is changing like crazy.  First if any of you don't know, I am now a stay at home mom.  This was Brennan and I's first week home and it was amazing!  We swam like little fish this week.  And had so much fun.  I'm just so blessed and grateful to be able to spend this time with my soon to be children. 

Next month we will be moving into a much needed, bigger house.  We're so excited and the timing couldn't be better... this way I don't have to move anything.  We went and got our first matching furniture set this last week, definitely feel like adults now =). 

Then of course after that is the arrival of our baby boy which will of course be so so amazing.  I'm 32 weeks along right now and everything is going well.  Other than it being so hot out, the two of us are doing really well.  The last sonogram is next week and I'm hoping he'll actually let us see his face this time instead of hiding behind his hands.

Like I said life for us is changing and rapidly but in the most amazing and pretty nerve racking ways but we wouldn't have it any other way.

Birthday Bash!!

Brennan had a birthday a few weeks ago and we had an awesome time celebrating it!  She apparently did too!! She kept swiping her high chair and licking her hand trying to get the most out of her frosting.  We found purple in her ears, nose (for days) and of course clothes and hair.  She does love her treats!!

Mmmm... that's some good frosting

What? Do I have something on my face?

Sugar Coma

The Years Are Flying

We are always told that the older we get the faster time goes.  I didn't really not believe people who said that, but I also kinda thought they were full of it. =)  But as I'm looking back through pictures of Travis and I eight years ago when we started dating (Feb 13th), it still seems like not very long ago.

Then I look back at our wedding pictures four years ago and think 'man I remember every part of planning that' from coming home from Colorado to show Mom and Dad my ring to dress shopping with Mom, Sarah, and Shelly Kebert (because it wouldn't have been dress shopping without Shelly =)), to of course the actual day when I saw Travis in a tux for the first time... you know since he wouldn't go to prom with me (last time I promise hehe).

 Then there was the day almost a year ago when I looked into the eyes of the biggest blessing God has ever given us. 

So these years, though they're flying by have been so so amazing.  God has blessed us so, so much but on a more personal level He's blessed me with a life that was of course not at all as I had planned but so much better than I ever dreamed.  And he's chosen to bless us again in a huge way.  Well I guess not huge, at eleven weeks the baby is pretty small about now.  =)

Chicago Baby!!

This little Kelley family just got back from their first family vacation. Brennan is now an experienced traveler. She rode in a car for twelve hours, (where she discovered her hands and let me tell you she was amazed!) rode on a train, (loud but she can still sleep on it, so she's okay with it) and discovered the many social benefits of a crowded rush hour bus. We went to museums galore and had a blast! It was really amazing how much she changed in a week just by noticing other people and things. We also had a mini photo session with mommy because well... I felt like it! So you get to see the results of that as well!! Next up... Bren's taking the world by air!

A bunch of random pictures because I'm not very good at keeping on top of things...

Well almost two months have passed since our last post.  My little family has been pretty busy!!  We had Brennan's dedication, then Mother's day, Travis and I's 3 year anniversary along with lots and lots of wonderful moments in between!  I know most new mom's feel this way, but I just keep being amazed at how much God has blessed us!  Every one of Brennan's little smiles makes my heart smile (yeah I just said that, nerdy I know...).  She's done several sounds that were probably intended as a laugh but the other day she truly did full out laugh and she just froze and looked around like 'who did that?'  She's decided finally that she DOES like Alle.  She wasn't really sure about her for a while, but upon closer examination (and by closer examination I mean literally Alle keeps getting in her face) it's been decided.  So now I leave you with a bunch of Brenny pictures and a few others!!

Smiley Baby
So it's a bit foggy but that face!!

Kisses

Mommy and Her Girls
So this wasn't technically taken on mother's day, but this is my mother's day picture!

YUM
Those thumbs... can't beat em.

Big Girl in a Little Chair
You can't read her shirt but it says 'Daddy Loves Me' and she's just reiterating that!  She's all like 'ME.  That's right.  Deal with it.'  Brennan gets pretty defensive when she's talking about her daddy...

'Come on Mom'
She's exhausted but had to take time for a picture!!

Smiles
YAY!! Shopping Trip!

Brennan and Friends
 she just loves them can't you tell?

Squirrel.
Alle on our trip to the lake.