Part I: The GOOD

Part I: The GOOD.

Our Easter was happy. :)

Harli looked adorable

and we took a million pictures.

My FAVORITE! :)

My two besties.

We are so grateful for Easter, reasons which we celebrate it, and all that it brings.

Such a wonderful time of year.

Rain, anyone?

Friday it rained-scratch that- it poured. So much so, that we had a river in our backyard.

Thank GOODNESS our house is high enough we didn't flood.

I've never seen so much [rain] water!

We had tornado watches, sirens, the whole bit too... Kind of crazy.

The water from our neighbor's house was rushing so fast it not only looked like a river, but it sounded like one too.

(Mike was shoveling leaves away from the fence so the water could flow better)

Almost up to his knees!

Gotta love this crazy Mississippi weather! :)

Crawfish season.

This is why I love the Spring in the South, y'all. Really. Not only do we have 70-80 degree weather already, but we have good 'ol Southern cookin'. Loooooooooooovvve me some Southern food.

There is a place in Memphis called Fat Larry's that is number one on my list. THE best barbeque I've ever had. So good. I always get the fried pickles, bbq pork, and coleslaw. I know, I'm drooling on the keyboard too just thinking about it.

While we're not in Memphis, there is a place here in Starkville called The Little Dooey that we like. It's a super famous bbq place that is a close second... Last night we went there because we wanted to try crawfish for the first time. I loved it. It was just like bite sized lobster. I told Mike we have to go back every date night until crawfish season is over, it was that good; and that I want to learn how to cook them so when we come home in the summer we can have a crawfish boil for everyone! :)

[These pictures aren't very good because I took them with my phone. But I was that excited about eating crawfish... I just felt so Southern! :)]

It was only $3.50/lb - can you say 'woohoo for cheap dinners?' ha ha

As long as I didn't look at their beady little eyes I was good.

I can't wait to share it, y'all!!

It's official.

Dear home, I'm coming your way, baby!!!!! June 11. Be there. I can't wait to see you. Love, Me.

Heeeeere she isssssss!

When your baby is teething, you learn to appreciate moments like this one when they're actually laughing and not crying/bitting/slobbering a river/fussing. :) [I forget how not fun teething is. Just come in already, you dang teeth!!]

She's learned how to squeal too. Oh my. So funny at times, but

not so appropriate at others - ie: sacrament meeting, the gym, etc.

"Who, me??"

Mid-squeal.

Mommy loves you, baby girl. ...and your high pitched squeal.

Zoo!!

Saturday, we drove to Memphis to go to the temple. After, we decided to go to the Memphis Zoo with our friends Jason & Jamie. (This zoo kicks the pants off Hogle Zoo. The animals were very active.)

My favorite. Love me some giraffes.

Ok, so I guess it was a tie. I like zebras too.

This was Mike's favorite part. The grizzly bears. Their "habitat" was really big and so cool! They were very active... Just before this picture, the one on the far left stood on the rocks and jumped on top of the middle one and started playing. So cute.

The polar bears.

...And Mike doing the 'Lion King'.

Harli says "Really Dad? You better not drop me!"

(Everyone loved her glasses and hat. She probably got as many ooh's and aah's as the animals!!)

Elephants. (Duh.)

You have to look close, but the monkey at the bottom was a mama with her baby. You can see the cute little baby's head poking out on the right. :)

I kind of get hungry for Panda Express every time I see a panda bear now. ha ha

Jamie & Jason

What is the zoo without a ride on Daddy's shoulders?

These guys were kind of creepy. All the big cats were for that matter. They were all pacing back and forth the whole time, staring at people. Scaaary!

The middle tiger was really pretty. He was orange and brown stripped.

You can see him a little better in this picture (he's on the left).

We had so much fun! I can't wait to go back again!

Yes, she is her Mother's daughter.

I laid Harli on the floor the other day (on her back), walked out of the room for a minute, and when I came back, I found her enjoying the TV. Oh boy. I think I've created a monster.

People. You have to try this. Really.

I bought asparagus the other day to eat with our Sunday dinner. We usually eat it with hollandaise sauce, but I usually buy the mix because I didn't know how to make it. When I was at the store, I forgot to buy the mix, and didn't really remember that until the asparagus was in the pot boiling last night... So I thought I'd look it up online to see if it was easy enough that I could make it homemade. Turns out it was. And it was 10,000,000,000,000 times better than the mix. (Sorry McCormick. You're out.) It was even good on the pork chops. Mmmmm. --Thank goodness for leftovers!

This is the sight that taught me how:

http://www.thekitchn.com/thekitchn/recipes/recipe-how-to-make-hollandaise-sauce-044743

She called for heavy cream, which I didn't have, so I used half-and-half instead.

She also called for lime juice, which I didn't have, so I used lemon juice.

It still knocked my socks off. Mike liked it too. You'll have to try it.

(What a post... all for hollandaise sauce.)

(Almost) A Southern Belle.

You know you're living in the South when you feel the need to say 'y'all' instead of 'you,' 'you all,' 'you guys,' or any place else you could stick it - just to be sure the cashier will understand you.

Baby food.

I've been on a baby food making kick lately... The first time I tried it just to see how easy it would be and if I could even do it... It turned out pretty good, and Harli likes it much better than store bought food, so I guess if I have the time, I might as well. :)

It is really easy to do. You just have to steam the vegtables or fruits and blend them. I put most of it into ice cube trays and freeze them and then after they are frozen, take them out and put them into freezer bags. It makes it really convienient when I go to feed Harli becuase I just pull a cube out and stick in the the microwave on dethaw for 2 1/2 minutes and Ta-Dah! Baby food.

Blending the broccoli

Carrots, Sweet potatoes, Applesauce (Miss Harli's FAVORITE! ...that's why I don't really bother with the ice cube tray portions on that one. She could eat it for every meal if I'd let her.), and Zuccini-Spinach

Johnny Jump Up!

Grama Vandercook sent Harli a Johnny Jump Up.

I. LOVE. IT.

It's hot pink. Can you get any more girly??!!

She loves it too. :)