A day in the life...: Rolling in the Deep

*Disclaimer New Recipe and new pictures at bottom*

So yes the Easter bunny came!!! It feels like almost a month ago, but we have been super busy!! He brought Sarah Beth some candy (really for mommy and daddy) and a bunnykins figurine. For those of yall not familiar with Bunnykins, they are little figurines made by Royal Daughton and can be bought at jewelry / fine china stores and lately have been hard to find. The Easter bunny always brought Melissa and myself one, so when he found one for Sarah Beth, he knew she had to have it! We went to Church, had with Grandaddy and Nana and had supper with Grandy. A busy but fun day. SB LOVES seeing her grandparents!

The following weekend we traveled for to Lake Lanier Islands for a business meeting. This was the first time Sarah Beth has stayed in a hotel with us and the first time in a while we have traveled somewhere other than the grandparents house (the grandparents are nice enough to have some things for SB so we don't have to pack as much). This was also going to be SB's first trip to a pool. A lot of firsts in one weekend I know. The hotel was amazing for SB and not so much for us. She thought it was a big slumber party and got a kick out of popping her head above the pack and play and seeing us. We cut off the lights, stayed very still and hid under the covers, but the first night we could hear her jumping in the pack and play till 11 (bedtime is at 8) and the second night she jumped till 10. Much to our surprise she still popped up ready to eat breakfast each morning at 7:30 as always! As for the packing. There is so much stuff for a baby AND the royal wedding was that Friday morning. Aunt Teensy was in town and watched the wedding with me. So needless to say, SB and I were not quite ready to leave when Dutch got home and we had the truck FILLED when we left. This led to another story I will discuss later that Melissa likes to call "one step closer to 30". Last the pool... I ran ALL over town looking for a baby float and made 2 trips to Target in a week in anticipation of the pool. I was too my wits end by the time I had gotten the float, sunscreen, hat, swim diapers...the list goes on and on. All this work and she hated the pool the whole first hour. By the time she got use to it, we had to go get ready for supper. At least she has done it!

The next weekend was wedding numero uno for us this wedding season. Dutch was in a wedding in Homerville... what you say?? My North GA husband in a wedding is South GA? For those of yall clueless as to the location of the wedding. It was in the swamp in between Waycross and Valdosta. We stayed with the Lee family in Bickley. SB and I enjoyed this ALOT! I got to spend a good bit of time with them which is hard because they now live far away and my cousin Brinson was in town from Texas so it was even better! My parents, Aunt Teensy and Cole also came to visit and gave me Mother's day gifts. It pleasant surprise for my first Mother's Day. While SB and I are hanging out with all my aunts and uncles, Dutch is shooting skeet in his tux in the pasture (which was beautiful) where the wedding ceremony was taking place. I got him back sunburnt and with an achy shoulder. But the city boy as he was called outshot all those Homerville and Baxley boys!!! The wedding was beautiful and it was nice to get out a little. All of my Aunts babysat for us. For actual Mother's day. Dutch gave me an evening off (we traveled all day back home from Bickley) and cooked a great meal for me that evening. That was ALL I wanted! I love Dutch's cooking, especially his greek salad!!

Now for this week...and "one step closer to 30". This week we looked at all the traveling we will be doing this summer between the beach and MANY trips to Lake Blackshear we decided we needed something, more room than my Ford Edge could provide. This led to the purhase of.... you guessed it... a minivan! Oh My God! I refused but after looking at them and then looking at SUVs you cant beat the price, gas mileage and space...unfortunately for me. However, having driven it a good bit this week I have fallen in like (not in love yet, but getting there) with my minivan. So this has been our month. Also, new kind of milestones for Sarah Beth...she "talks" ALL the time and loves to sing to herself when she should be napping in her crib. She can also stand by herself pretty well but refuses to take a step. She can crawl so much faster and LOVES to crawl with Raider so walking has come to a stand still. I bought her a toy to walk and push this week along with a kiddie pool so we will see how this helps!

I am also including a new recipe and pictures. I LOVE collecting and trying new recipes. Sometimes as in this case, it becomes a family favorite. Other times...not so much. Because I have gotten such a response on the recipes I thought I would include another crock pot one. This is for pot roast. It is a combo of my mom's/Joycie's and the recipe from 5 Star Day, an amazing restaurant in Athens (5 Star Day's was featured in the Athens Banner Herald a couple of years ago).

Pot Roast

2-4 lb boneless chuck roast
1 C Flour
1 Tbsp Onion Powder
1 Tbsp Garlic Powder
1 Tbsp Salt
1/2 Tbsp Pepper
14.5 oz can of drained diced tomatoes
1/2 onion, chopped
Water

Combine and mix flour and spices in a bowl. Dredge meat in flour mixture.
Place meat in crockpot and pour rest of flour mixture in crock pot.
Add tomatoes and onion in crockpot.
Add enough water to reach the top edge of the meat.
Cook on low for 8+ hours.
*Serve on top of rice - the Poitevint way (or plain with mashed potatoes on side with the gravy - Dutch's favorite).
*2-3 potatoes chopped and 1 carrot chopped can be added with tomatoes and onions if desired.

This recipe might I add is Dutch's FAVORITE and what I cook for his birthdays as his "meal."