NEW RECIPE

I haven't posted any new recipes in a while, but I have been cooking quite a bit since I made the original declaration back in August. The kitchen is definitely not as intimidating as it used to be, which means, I don't have to call Marc everytime I start to work on something. Like the old saying goes - "Practice makes Perfect". Well, maybe not perfect, but no one has gotten food poisoning yet.

I whipped this super easy recipe up last night. I think it was called "Lasagna Style Ziti Bake". Basically, you brown some meat with onions, cook some pasta, and mix it together with pasta sauce, spinach, ricotta cheese, and parmesean cheese. Then put it all in a 9x13 dish, cover with Mozzarella and bake for 15 minutes. YUM!!!!

A 9x13 dish yields a LOT of food, so we froze half of it, and will be having leftovers of the first half tonight.

TATER'S COTERIE

I have been invited to join an artist's coterie that has been organized by a high school classmate, Dave Fox, with whom I shared MANY an art class. He and I, along with quite a few other old artistic friends, have reconnected through the wonderful world of Facebook.

Please check it out HERE.

CAN YOU GUESS WHAT THIS IS?

Did you guess?

I know it's extremely gross, but I thought it was funny.

It's Luke's first Booger wiped on the wall above his bed.

GOOD HOPE

This past Sunday, the Faucheux Family went back to church.

And, we went to a new church. Marc's roommate from college, John Higginbotham (who actually lives only a half hour from us on his family's farm) invited us to try his church. It's a small Southern Baptist Church called Good Hope. The congregation totals only 83, and has now grown by four. They have a nursery for the kids, which lets Marc and I enjoy the sermon, Marc really enjoyed the way the Minister delivered his message.

This past Sunday, the Higginbotham's were celebrating a very special occasion. Their oldest son, John David, was being Baptized. It was so wonderful that we picked this particular Sunday to be our first Sunday. After the Service, they invited us to join them for John David's Celebration Lunch. So we headed off to Charlottesville, to enjoy a wonderful lunch with an incredible family. John David had in attendance - his parents, John and Tracy, and his younger sisters, Lilly and Willow. Tracy's Mom and Aunt were also there. John's brother Page and his wife Ainsley were there, as well has his parents, Lynette and Sam, and his sister's boys Joe and Andrew. There was also a family friend, and rounding out the group were the Minister Kyle and his wife Bonnie. All in all, there were twenty of us. We sat at the end of the table with the Minister and his wife, so I had a very nice conversation with her. It meant a lot us that they included us in this so very special day for John David. You could just see how proud he was.

We are both very excited to go back this Sunday and become members of this special little congregation.

FLIKR

Hello everyone! I just wanted to bring your attention to the new "flikr" button that is at the top of the right hand column. If you click on it, it will take you to my home page there. Once there, if you click on the "Photostream", you will be able to view photographs I've taken since this summer. I don't post everything I do here on the blog, especially if it doesn't have to do with the boys.

So take a look, and please enjoy!!

GOODBYE TO THE TIGERS... UNTIL NEXT SEASON

New Years Day was the final game of the season for Marc's beloved College Football team - the LSU Tigers. They were matched up against the Penn State Nittany Lions in the Capital One Bowl.

All four of us were all decked out in our finest LSU apparel, but of course, Luke had to be just like Daddy and also wear his hat.

The two of them always cheer LOUDLY for their team.

Luke's obviously not happy with the call

Unfortunately, the Tigers were eaten by the Lions with a final score of 19-17.

Can't wait for next season... only 9 months to go.

GEAUX TIGERS!

PROJECT FLASHBACK

In the Summer of '06, I worked on the following project. It was my last, before the pitter-patter of little feet could be heard.

Could you tell it was miniature before you saw the last picture?

NAKED GREY

?????... LOL

When I opened the door to Luke's bedroom to wake him up from his nap this afternoon, I saw something red peeking out from under the covers. I thought..."Awww, how cute. He's sleeping with one of his new mittens (rather than a stuffed animal) that his Daddy got him for Christmas. So, of course, I immediately had to get the camera. It was upstairs, so I had to be extra quiet in retrieving it, so I wouldn't wake him.

Once I got in the room, and up close enough to take the picture - this is what I saw...

He was actually wearing the mitten (NOT one of the ones Daddy got him for Christmas). I was laughing so hard (quietly of course so as not to wake him), that I couldn't keep the camera still - hence the picture being a little fuzzy. Some of my giggling must have leaked out because he woke up. I then proceeded to pull down the covers to discover he was wearing both mittens.

Now I know his room gets a little chilly at night, but could he really be that cold in the middle of the afternoon?

THE FIRST HAIRCUT

Well, we finally did it. We took Luke for his First Haircut. He was in desperate need of one, due to the fact he looked like he was either wearing a hair piece, or was sporting a serious comb over (note the family Christmas picture above).

We took him to the Mineral Barber shop, where Becky Sparks had the honor of performing the task. She usually cuts Marc's hair, and a lot of our gentleman neighbors are also clients of hers.

Once Luke was up in the chair, it looked like at first it wasn't going to go well. But in true Luke form, he was the perfect customer. The only thing he seemed to really not like was the cape, and when she finished with the razor, he got a little jumpy.

His first Lock of hair.

Becky gave Luke this adorable Certificate.

Oh So Handsome!!!

I actually got a little teary-eyed because he doesn't look like my baby anymore. He's now a little boy. But, of course, he'll always be my baby.

WHAT A FACE

... AND MORE CHOO CHOO

Still working with the "Choo Choo" them from yesterday, while Grey napped this morning, I made this train for Luke.

Then after lunch before they both went down for their afternoon naps, Grey got to join in the fun.

Could they be any cuter?

I don't think so!!

CHOO CHOO

Gotta love the imagination of a child.

NEW YEAR... NEW & FIRST EXPERIENCES

Last Saturday morning, the day after Christmas, Grey Daniel had his first Big Boy Bath. He's a half a month earlier than his big brother was when he had his first, but he's also better at sitting at this age then Luke was.

This evening, January 1, 2010, the boys took their first bath together. I snapped some quick photos, and then took a little video. Grey was very quickly frightened, due to Luke just moving around way too much.

Another first for Mommy - this was the first time that Grey reached for me. I'm sure he was wanting desperately to be rescued.

We'll try again in two days. I'm sure Grey will become more and more accustomed.

MIDNIGHT... WELL, ALMOST

This is what a certain 2 year old looked like at

11:57 pm, December 31, 2009.

Yes... I know we're horrible parents, but we let Luke stay up to help us ring in the New Year.

In this picture, he's on the Dining room table, and he's got his arms outstretched because we were hugging our guests, Keith & Linda Myers, goodnight, and he was a little jealous because no one was giving him hugs.

Happy New Year

and don't forget to eat your cabbage!!