Merry Christmas from Us...

Fabulous Photography by Barn Door Photography and cards by Erin Condren :)

Game Day!

I'm linking up with one of my FAVORITE bloggers today...I just LOVE appetizers!  And FALL!!!

This is a favorite of mine, great for fall and seriously I could make a meal out of it! 
It is a "crowd pleaser"!

Hot Chicken Enchilada Dip
2 cups chicken breasts - cooked and shredded package
8 ounces cream cheese
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
1 package taco seasoning
1 bunch green onions - chopped
2 cans Rotel tomatoes
1/2 pound Mexican cheese - processed cheese

Mix all ingredients together in a crockpot,
Cook on low for 3-4 hours, stirring occasionally.
Serve with tortilla chips.
(HINT: as a time-saver, canned chicken breast, or pre-cooked Oscar Meyer chicken strips work great).

AND...If you need a fun "Game Day" accessory...check out my etsy store MY RECYCLED BOUTIQUE several options for Game Day scarf necklaces!

Game Day Scarf Necklaces

I've opened http://www.etsy.com/shop/MyRecycledBoutique

Send your friends over for a GAME DAY scarf or any scarf in ANY COLORS to add some fun to your wardrobe! 

$18 for the necklace and $2 for the flower pin

 

Barrett's Nursery Tour (FINALLY!)

I never shared these pictures (because I'm ultimate blogger slacker supreme) but started on this post forever ago and am trying very hard to get caught up!

So...we moved to our little rent house when I was 34 weeks pregnant with Barrett, which made this nesting Mama a little nervous, so the FIRST thing I wanted done was his nursery!  The "theme", if there even is one, is all centered around this AH-MA-ZING hand stitched map of the United States that Brad's grandmother made, starting in 1953.  I love EVERYTHING about it and knew if we had a boy it needed to be used!  It was in a yucky frame that had been chewed by Brad's former dogs and was not preserved in any way!  So I took it to Michael's and they framed is beautifully and it is preserved for the next 50 years!  It has wonderful detail and the coolest thing is because she started it in 1953, Alaska and Hawaii are not part of this map.  I registered for some coordinating items from Pottery Barn and wanted the colors to be navy, barn red, and chocolate brown.  Americana...but not screaming God Bless the USA!  HA!  My Mom helped add rickrack to the bed skirt and found this great dresser at a consignment store and my in-laws helped purchase that and my other set of in-laws purchased the crib, so this boy was rotten before he was even here!  It also helped that it was June when I was shopping for decor and many stores had "vintage-y" looking fourth of July items for sale!   I am so happy with how it all turned out! 

***Update - the cute tall bookshelf, star accent table & glider stool is a "no go" with this very active boy we have on our hands...the rearrangement includes a really cute toy shelf that he loves to destroy in 2.5 seconds!

I hope you enjoy the extremely belated little nursery tour...

 

 Crib with PB bedding, monogrammed quilt from my girlfriends and framed map

Bookshelf with fun Americana decor, books, toys, etc.

 

  Star table (painted and cut by my fabulous friend Shelley and her family!),

lamp, glider rocker(purchased on Craigslist for $50!!!)...

 Changing table, shelves with mementos...

  

 Fun hooks from HobLob for 99cents!!

 A custom sign by one of my classroom parents!

 An amazing custom pillow from one of my dearest high school friends Lora!  LOVED this!

This was special to Brad because it was on his Grandfather's casket at the funeral.  The flag in the flag box on the shelf is also from his Grandfather. 

Barrett truly is part of a wonderful heritage!

Hope you enjoyed the "tour"!  I just love having a boy!

Barrett's Monthly Photo Shoot...

How has this flown by so quickly?!

The 12 month shots included a mustache!  HA!

Barrett, You are ONE...

(written in July - just getting it together to post)

Dear sweet Barrett,

How is it possible that you are ONE?  It feels like yesterday that we found out I was pregnant and realized that our family would grow to include this amazing miracle and make us complete!  And then we found out you were a BOY and I didn't know if I was "boy Mom" material, but you have shown me that I really am!  You are the ultimate connection between your Daddy and I and you tie our family together so perfectly.  I cannot imagine my life without you.  What a gift we have been given!  I love this quote below, it is so very true. 

Love - Mommy

"Making the decision to have a child is momentous.

It is to decide forever to have your heart go walking around outside your body."

Elizabeth Stone


A few things to note about ONE YEAR OLD BARRETT...and some pictures from his first few days this time last year.

Barrett - you are sweet, spunky and oh so cuddly.  You give slobbery kisses, say "hi" and "bye" sounding like a true Texan.  You wave, do your hands round and round for Wheels on the Bus, put one hand high in the air when we say "Praise Jesus!" and two hands high in the air when we say "SO Big!".  You flash a sneaky grin when you're getting into something or about to do something mean, like bite or hit.  You pat me on the back and hum along when we rock and sing at night.  Your favorite toys are LOUD, but you would choose a book over anything any day!  You love "Claire Claire" and "Sis" (Anna Claire and Shelby) and getting into their toys.  You enjoy your time with your grandparents!  You started your second year at preschool twice a week and love to see your friends.

You say versions of ball, book, dog, juice, bottle, water, Anna Claire, Shelby, Mommy, Daddy, bird, down, "shoo" for poopy, bath, mouth, cookie, Nana, Pop, Grandad, Grandma, Stella, Dixie, car and I'm sure more I haven't caught on to yet!  You are way more verbal than Mommy was expecting!

You wear a size 4 diaper, you weigh 30lbs.  You wear 18-24 month clothes and some 2T shirts.  You wear a size 5.5extra wide shoe.  You walk everywhere!!!  You are trying to climb on things.  You are a GREAT eater!  You eat ALL table food and ANY veggie known to man!  SO PROUD!  You are drinking Lactaid whole milk.  You are a champ at using any sippy cup and have one bottle at night.  SHHHH... you're my last baby, so I say its okay!  And you still use a pacifier and like to have three - four pacifiers and your blue puppy at night to sleep.

 Sonogram...its a BOY!

 Last HUGE belly shot!

Mommy's first time to hold all 9lb 10oz of you!

Angel...

 Can you see how proud of you we are?

Precious newborn Barrett...

Our sweet trio!  William Barrett Duff...YOU ARE LOVED!

Galveston

In July we took a little trip to Galveston for four days.  Now I am a bit of a beach "snob" from growing up always going to Destin, FL but all-in-all this trip didn't disappoint!  I did long to sink my toes into WHITE sand from time to time...but my family had a great time and that is all that mattered to me! 

 Our view from our balcony.  We were on the 12th floor. 

This picture is our actual view of another condo next door, but we stayed at the Galvestonian. 

I liked it because it was affordable, clean and has a private beach on the East side of the island...away from the seawall.

 The really nice pool area!  We enjoyed many swims here, especially after dinner!

Our family beach picture!  It is so hard to get a good one these days, but I thought it was pretty cute! 

We were all SO glad Shelby was able to come on this trip with us!

We ate at a fun Mexican restaurant, Salsas, on Barrett's actual 1st birthday!  He was being serenaded with HAPPY BIRTHDAY, by the mariachi band, with a tortilla in his mouth! 

Sounds like a great way to celebrate a birthday to me!

A dinner out...getting our seafood fix!  These faces are my world...

Playing on the beach...Barrett was sad that I wouldn't let him eat the sand!  HA!  The girls had so much fun digging, searching for shells and splashing in the waves.

A bicycle built for five!  Fun times!

(Not to mention Daddy had a broken toe and was doing most of the peddling.  It made for a VERY interesting ride.  He'll do ANYTHING to make these three happy!)

They had a new Pleasure Pier amusement park that stretched over the ocean and the girls had a lot of fun riding rides!  I have more pictures, but I'm obviously behind blogging, so I'll stop for now. 

So glad we had a fun and safe trip...love making new family memories!