Sooooo..........

Let's see who still actually looks at my blog..... 
I was looking at old blogs for a particular picture (that I didn't find) and got all gushy inside at how good I used to be at posting here on the good ole blog!! My babies have grown so very much since I started this virtual scrapbook. It made me sad and mad at myself all at once. I need to get my sorry self to sit at least once a week and put something on here!!! So here's my first attempt!

 Gracie's new glasses (well they were new this day)

 My girlies before the haircuts

 The beach bums...with their cuz Park. They love him so much!!

 Me n My Mags riding the roller coaster at the beach

A great pic w/the 4 generations of women in my family!!

Pinterest - Failures and Successes

So the Pinterest craze is something that I use to pass time or zone out but occasionally I find a few real jewels on there. BUT on occasion I also find some "Pinstrosities" to quote one of my new favorite websites (http://pinstrosity.blogspot.com/). The only things I've tried are a few cleaning ideas and recipes. So I thought I'd share a great recipe and one that didn't do so well.

This one my girls love and I've actually made a few times:
http://whataboutpie.blogspot.com/2010/10/pepperoni-rolls.html

This one was a total fail. Not sure if it was b/c I just plain ole burned them or the temp is just too high for these little guys. I think if I could get it to work it might be really good and healthy.
http://pinterest.com/pin/72198400246497093/

I didn't take a picture but only about 5 of mine weren't burnt like little squash hockey pucks. hahaa...I think I might try them in my Pampered Chef Chip maker too. That might be easier.

Anyway, just thought I'd share w ya. I promise to try to post some pics of my babies and play catch up soon. :)
We have a relatively busy few days ahead so should be fun and exhausting all at the same time so I can't make too many Blogger promises!! ;)

Blogger

I know I'm a blogging failure. My children have even blogged since I have (to which none of you commented on how adorable their posts were - shame on you - hahaha kidding, kidding, no hate mail please)!!

Anyway, I just read that Blogger is adopting a new look and interface. Just thought I'd give ya a warning. I tried it out for a few minutes and about lost my mind. Maybe it wont be as hard as it seems but good ole Google has decided to mess with a good thing so if ya see me post crazy stuff or my background disappears or whatever, you'll know why!!

Ok so it's ridiculous that I post to complain about Google, I know, but maybe it will inspire me to get back on the horse and post again!! Life has just become too busy and with that comes the guilt of me not documenting my family's life anymore!! :( Shame on me!!!

Have a great day everyone!!

About Me

Hi, my name is Clara Paige! I`m 9 years old. I like fast things like, corvetes and jetskies. But I also like girly things too. Me and my sisters cheer at Cowboys Cheerleading Center in Pehlem. We love it there! We get trohys and mettles! It`s really,really, really FUUUUUUN!!!!!! See you next time. BYE!!!

ALABAMA DAY

My school celebrates alabama day to show that we love alabama. We went room to room lreaning about diffret  things. Some of the things we did was lrean about nascar and alabama state park and Hellin Kalre and the usa raockit and the penut fastsavill and last of all martey gras. but what I loved most was that we all had fun.              MAGGIE

about me

Hi my name is Gracie! I am 7 years old. Here are some facts about me; I love corvet`s, babys, rainbow`s and a buttuful day. I have two sisters Maggie and Clara they are the sweetist sisters in the world. I hope you love me as much as I do! bye!!

Buckaroos 2012

 Since I've been such a blog slacker you have not had the pleasure of seeing how fantastic my little Cheerleaders have been doing this year. We started Competitions back in November 2011 and we've moved our way up each time. You've never seen anything like a group of proud mommies see their baby girls come in 2nd out of 8 tough teams like we did last weekend!! Well let me tell you, we threw caution to the wind and celebrated like they had won the whole darn thing!! We took pictures like they were celebrities. We were basically asked to get of the floor. Haha! This team has worked their little tails off this year and despite size and some strength issues out of their control they have become as Coach Kara stated, "a force to be reckoned with." You gotta love that!
We are proud to be a part of the Cowboys Cheer Center family and I am proud to be a Cheer Mom. Ridicule should you wish, but since we started this adventure, we've experienced that Competitive Cheerleading is - athletic, challenging, rewarding, tough, fiercely competitive, character building, etc. - it is a sport folks! ;)

 Here are my sweet Cowboy Buckaroos at their last competition where they racked up that 2nd place trophy!

 Love this picture of my smart, sassy and energetic cheerleaders! 

Gracie, Clara Paige and Maggie

I will admit part of the fun for them is putting on the make-up. ha!

 

Check out these sassy yet cute-as-a-button dolls but don't let them fool ya. They are a team of hard working Cheerleaders! 

 The Pyramid! It looks great here don't ya think?!  They hit it every time at competition but it's been, shall we say, a challenge for the girls this year. BUT they are working on a new and improved one for the next competition b/c our girls are working hard and gonna rock it out next time with harder moves and a full extension (cheer talk-sorry)! They are tiny but mighty! I think we get extra points just b/c they are so darn cute. haha - but I'm biased I know!
This was our 2nd competition- placing 3rd out of 9 teams. Again, you would have thought we'd won nationals, we were so proud of them!!

 Not sure why this one is so small but this is after our 3rd place finish in December and let me tell you those girls were stoked! 3rd may not sound like much to you but out of 9 tough teams we were jacked up about getting that placement! I love how close all of our girls have become this year. They truly are a team and look out for each other. Isn't that part of what it's about? It is for us anyway. I cherish seeing the character building up in my little girlies!

 

Here are my girls with their awesome Coaches, Kaitlyn and Kara! Our girls wouldn't be where they are without this special duo! They have worked our girls hard but loved them much at the same time. I've been very impressed with the maturity and dedication they have given to our little ones. In the grand scheme of things our girls are the smallest competitors for our gym but so far have made such a big impact and so much of the credit goes to our Coach Kara and Coach Kaitlyn. Love you guys!

 Here's a shot of the girls waiting to begin their routine at the competition last weekend at the BJCC! Don't they look adorable? I have more pics but will have to load them and post again soon!

And here they are the 2nd Place team with their coaches!

It takes a lot of work, time and yes money for these little angels to get to this stage of competition but after all the tough and stressful practices and issues, it is so well worth it to see our babies faces shine when they do well and to know they are proud of themselves!! 

This is our 2nd year with Cowboys, we've made a home where our girls have grown in so many ways and made relationships that will last and I'm happy to be a part of such a fun and rewarding program. 

 We are a Cowboys Family!

More pics to come!

Just some good advice...

I know I'm suppose to be keeping you up to date with my family's happenings but I just needed to take a minute to post a thought or two I found on Pinterest. (That's another subject I could spend a whole post or two on - Pinterest -ha) Anyway, I've found that worrying and over-analyzing things might be one of the things I need to seriously work on. I have lots of things on my mind and lots of people on my heart lately and I'm trying to keep my perspective clear so I can focus on what matters in my life instead of being bogged down with life and all it brings so I can be a light to those who are on my heart and around me. And I think the best way to shine is to pray with passion and be grateful to My Savior. Remembering our blessings and where they come from is so very essentially important to me right now and hopefully it is to you too. I fail consistently with this but remembering that I am not perfect and he still loves me strengthens me greatly. I am never alone!
I guess I just feel the need  to renew myself right now. Don't we all need that at times? I need to take moments each day to re-focus and remind myself who's I am and how important He is to me.

I also opened up my Bible app on my phone yesterday and this what I read:

 " So here's what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. Don't become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You'll be changed from the inside out." Romans 12:<sup>1-2

This is from the Message but isn't it an interesting way to read this passage? Being changed from the inside out sounds so amazing and refreshing. Letting God work in us is what he wants. Reading this helped clarify where my heart needs to be and how it needs to get there with these issues that are weighing on me.  There's so much more I could say but I just don't have time. Maybe another time. Sorry to have rambled but I feel better for having shared.
Have a Great Week Eveyone!!</sup>

Yes it's True

I have let a New Year come and go and I've just fallen off the blog wagon. For someone who was so proud of her blogging accomplishments I have let myself down in the cyber world of personal blogdom. However, as I do not really make resolutions I do intend on doing a better job this year of documenting my families memories, journeys, adventures and accomplishments. It just seems life has take a turn for the busier and I'm finding myself either running from here to there, doing household chores or succumbing to my exhaustion. haha...

Anyway, here's to a fantastic, healthy, happy, drama-free, love-filled, Christ-seeking 2012 for my family and the same to yours!!!

This is just a cute shot of my girls back in the fall at Auburn. It has nothing to do with the New Year but I just thought you'd like to see their sweet faces!!

My Salsa Recipe

So it seems I have at least one talent that other people really seem to enjoy. I have been asked many times and even threatened to share my SALSA recipe with the world so here it is.  Enjoy!!

1 ripe tomato chopped
1 14 oz can of diced tomatoes
1/4 white onion chopped
3 garlic cloves (I use 1 fresh clove and 1 tsp of minced)
2 tsp jalapenos (I use the jarred kind instead of fresh)
1/4 cup chopped cilantro (can substitute parsley- but I don't)
1 lime juiced
1 tsp salt
Pepper to taste

Hint - 1 tsp of sugar if the tomatoes are too acidic

Combine all ingredients and mix well. I use my food processor to get the fine consistency.

I usually add extra salt to taste.

There you go. That's all there is to it. Good luck on all your Salsa adventures!!

Just some Fun Pictures

OK this will bring to an end my endless parade of pictures from our Disney trip but these were just too fun and cute to pass up from our last days in the parks.

 Two of my sweeties carrying their balloons back to the room.

 You almost can't take a bad picture of the Castle. It's just so pretty and magical.

 Stitch was a hoot. He cracked my girls up with his crazy antics. They were all fast friends!

 Just too stinkin' cute for words.

 Modeling some rather fancy mouse ears!

 Checking out the parade from Cinderella's Castle.

 A great shot of Donald. Oohh I didn't see the scantily clad lady behind him though!! hahahaa.....Sorry

 One last family shot in the Happiest Place on Earth!

 We didn't want to leave and head back to reality but alas we had no choice.

And reality is was.... the air conditioning in the van went out when we were a couple of hours from home!! Those were some of the hottest hours of my life. My girls were so hot they had nothing left to do but fall asleep!! And that ends our magical adventure for 2011!!

I'd go back in 2012 if they would let me ;)

Love You Daddy

So Wednesday marked the 3rd anniversary of my daddy's death. As time goes on, the pain subsides but the memories of that day are hard to run from. For the most part it was an ok day but hanging over October 26th will always be that event that was the worst day of my life. However, I look at this picture and see what is absolutely the definition of what I remember of my dad: smiles, love and selflessness!! I was truly blessed with unbelievable parents who sacrificed and loved so much that I only hope I can raise my babies half as well as they did.

 I love you and miss you Daddy so very much and I am honored to be your daughter and fortunate to have all the wonderful memories of you!!