If you don't {change} up the routine,

you aren't living.

Seriously, I have my kids on such a routine, its sorta sick sometimes.  I have always been the mom to make it home for naps and not plan anything past 6 pm.  It has seriously caused a lot of "I can't make its, no thanks, maybe next times, etc."  However, I am very proud of my kids' sleep routines and feel like good sleep makes for a good kid. Little did I know what I have been doing with both A&A is sleep training.

Sometimes our routine prevents me from "living," so when its possible, I make the effort to change things up in ways that don't completely throw off their routine.

Like an early pick-up from school with a surprise Icee:

Anderson's first experience & first brain freeze 

Sure, why not? 

Fighting over pretzels {like there wasn't enough to go around}?               

  & Anderson's infamous Avery hair pull: 

& Avery requested a picnic and set everything up.  Spaghetti was on the menu, so it made for the messiest picnic ever----but SO FUN & such a great change up! 

whats cooking? {buffalo chicken rolls}

So, I cannot take full credit for these bad boys.  I originally found this recipe but then realized I didn't want to make my own dough.

Therefore, I opted for the easy way out with frozen yeast roll dough.
{that stuff is brilliant}.

Meet my version of Buffalo Chicken Rolls:

What you need: 

1 large chicken breast {boiled} approx. 2 cups 

1/2 cup of hot sauce {approx. 1 small bottle} 

1 cup of crumbled blue cheese 

1 cup of shredded cheddar 

1 stick of butter {eeekkk} 

1 package of frozen yeast dinner rolls 

Directions: 

1) Pre-heat oven at 400' 

2) Boil chicken, break up once cooled 

3) Defrost frozen dough {just keep bag out while cooking and breaking up chicken}  

4) Add Chicken, butter, cheeses, hot sauce

5) Roll dough out as pictured 

6) Add one weeping teaspoon of mixture 

7) Roll up and pinch top and sides of dough 

8) Bake at 400 for approx. 18-20 minutes 

9) Mixture yields about 20 rolls {leftovers for quick lunches? yes, please!} 

10) Serve with ranch 

If you need an easy change up to dinner, 

I promise you these are fabulous.  

XOXO, 

Kate 

dinner@8. {sweetheart}

I was going to do our dinner@8 on Valentine's Day, but between the 70+ heart crayons and 3 dozen cupcakes for the kids, I must say that I had 0 creative energy left.
Luckily, Chris' mom {bebe} offered to keep the kid's Saturday night so I knew all my focus could be put on our {sweetheart} dinner.
Remember Miss Rebekah over at a bit of sunshine? 
{love her idea of dinner@8}
If you haven't had the chance to go read all about it---go have at it.  {loveliness}.

There have been many recipes on Pinterest that have caught my eye, but when my husband bought some pork chops last week, I knew I was destined to make Rachael Ray's Mashed Sweet Potatoes, Pork Chops with Cider Gravy, Sautéed Apples and Onions. 

Funniest story about shopping for my ingredients.  

In the produce section, I looked everywhere for fresh Thyme. 

{not gonna lie, I didn't even know what I was looking for---I was by the spinach}.  

I finally looked at a lady and said, "Mamn, do you know what Thyme is?" 

She looked at her watch, was ready to tell me the "time" & then we both burst out laughing.  

{awesome} 

For decor, I used these free printable Straw Flags over at Wedding Chicks.

& edited them in Picnik: 

Threw a piece of burlap on the table & 

used my awesome paper placemats from Cake Vintage. 

{might I add, my bff, Meghan from Megalovesdesign is a kinda a big deal there}. 

We had daffodils bloom last week so I ran outside and clipped some off.  

{oh, our East Tennessee weather is confusing all the flowers}...

It was a perfect dinner.  

& was nice to eat a different meal together---something I don't think either of us would ever order if it was on a menu. 

How was your dinner at 8? 

XOXO, 

Kate 

                                                                 

{happy} valentine's day, my loves.

{our weekend}

was beautiful.
my kids are the coolest things ever.
& having my husband on Sunday only made things cooler.
{gonna be spoiled with him having next weekend off too}.
Sighh, I could get used to that.

Our newest 'tradition' when the hub is off on a Sunday is going to Shoney's breakfast buffet.
{yup, total redneck}
but we love it.

Avery and I made heart crayons using my sister's tutorial.
We had so much fun and she took pride in helping make something for her friends.
{even Anderson tried to help eat the crayons}.

Enjoy the photos!

     

XOXO, 

Kate

i collect. Pyrex & some...

Jumping on to the i collect link up over @ Millie Morgan Media.

Also contributing over at Pyrex Collective II. 

Here you will find all the lovelies my parent's and sister got me for Christmas.
{everything else you have seen already}.

love.my.collection.
must.have.more.

XOXO, 

Kate

jumping on board {11 days late}.

Yeah, its the 11th, but what the heck, I'm jumping on board. 
Day 11. MAKES YOU HAPPY.

She is crazy beautiful.
& annoying talks a lot. A. LOT.

Insightful.
Intelligent.
Bossy.
Seeks way too much love & approval;
"mom, you're still happy, right?"
{I hate when she says that}. makes.me.want.to.cry.

She loves & remembers her family;
{even those who have forgotten her}.

She can sing along to just about anything,
but begs me to listen to Girl Talk 
{um sorry babe; move ***** get out the way is not appropriate}.

& is truly the coolest.  let.me.repeat,
THE COOLEST 4 year old ever.

& that folks, is 

what.makes.me.happy. 

XOXO, 

Kate 

So true...

image via here. 

XOXO, 

Kate

{on almost bursting into tears every 5 mins}

Seriously, what is up with my hormones anymore?
After I had Anderson, my hormones were all over the place.
{after about 8 months I saw some improvement}
 atleast with my ability to remain somewhat stable.

However, more recently, I drop the kids off,
get in my car and it takes everything in me to not burst into tears.
{seriously. every.day}

Then today, while heating up my lunch, there was talk about snow.
I said, "gesh sounds like Pittsburgh weather."
Someone said, "you are from Pittsburgh, how did you end up here."
{of course I give my last 10 year summary of living in Knoxville}.

Blah, blah, blah...
"I was going to do this with my degree, but didn't, bla...bla..bla...
& here I am, still just an ISC."

Coworker said, "well you did have 2 kids in that time too,
so you aren't just still an ISC."

"yes, thats true."
{had to come sit at my desk to eat and blog stalk}
because I almost burst into tears.
again.

DIY Valentines Day shirts. Wa-La!

XOXO, 

Kate