Happily Ever Mock

Oh hey, Friday! Pics from the week, 8

Yeah! Friday!!! It doesn’t quite seem like Friday to me, but I will take it! I hope you have a fun weekend planned! Ours is fairly low key! I am working Saturday night, but the rest of the weekend I intend to get some Christmasy things done! A bit of shopping and HOPEFULLY I can convince Christopher to help me put our tree up! I just know Hallie is going to love looking at all the lights!


So, on to some Oh hey, Friday business! Here are our pics from the week!

1.


Showing off her new Tshirt!
She makes ME happy!















2.

3. We made Indian hats at Playgroup this week! 



















4. Hallie flirting with our new friend Jude!

5. This video of Hallie also had me totally cracking up this week! Girlfriend is getting so big! And learning so much! It’s insane how fast it’s all going! 

In fact, my little peanut is 5 months today! We are going in for a weight check today! Be looking out for her stats on Monday! My guess is right around 11 lbs 4 oz….but who knows! 

Have a great weekend!
<3 Kelly

DIY Kids Christmas Gift Idea

This weekend when we were out of town, we got to play with Christopher’s cousin’s little girl Taylor! She is just the cutest kindergartner you ever saw! She has so much personality and a HUGE imagination! 

So Christopher’s Aunt pulled out the coolest thing! They are called story stones! Have you heard of them?
They are little stones with a picture painted on one side.  You put them in a pile, picture side down, and each person takes a turn flipping over a stone and adding to a story by using the picture on the stone that they chose.  
Here are the stones that we were using: 

Stones: Campfire, Ladybug, Sailboat, Tree, Car, Ice Cream Cone, Flowers, Mountain, Sun, Cactus,  Balloon, House.  

Even the adults had fun playing and we had some wacky stories! 

I got to thinking that some of the kids on my Christmas list might really enjoy these.  But instead of purchasing them from Etsy, like Christopher’s Aunt had, why not make a personal set for each kid on my list?

For instance, my friend Callie’s little boy Aiden loves baseball and rocket ships, so why not make stones with those pictures for him? He apparently loves to tell stories, so hopefully this is a Christmas gift that can spark his imagination!

The best part of this gift is, while it is a really nice and personal gift, it’s relatively inexpensive to make.  I got a 3 lb pack of stones at Hobby Lobby $3.00! And everybody has paints around their house, right? If not each color is about .77 cents! 

I got started last night, what do you think? Maybe not quite as good as the originals, but I think the kids will really enjoy them!
So Far I’ve Made: Balloon, Pizza, Egg, Mermaid, Snowman, Pumpkin, Baseball
Flowers, Kite, Pencil, Gift, Rocket, Sun, Ice Cream, Ladybug, Bubbles, Mountain
Snake, Tree, Apple, House, Sailboat

           
Speaking of Christmas gifts, don’t forget to come back next Wednesday for the Christmas Countdown Linkup!
<3 Kelly

Oh hey, tuesday! Ha! Pics from our weekend!

We just got back from a really nice visit to Houston yesterday! 

When we first got in, we got to celebrate Christopher’s Grandpa’s 93rd birthday with him! 

Here is Grandpa with SOME of his grandkids and great grandkids! 


We went back to Grandma and Grandpa’s after the party to help him with the iPad! Here’s Hallie and Grandma

 We got home WAY WAY passed Hallie’s bedtime, but this little trooper got a 2nd wind and she was rolling around on the bed shrieking and laughing! Silly baby!

The next day, Christopher and I went out to help Grandpa again and visit some other loved ones while Memi and Aunt Melissa babysat! They had so much fun! This is Hallie in Christopher’s Great Grandpa’s Candy Pot! It was so nice to get this sweet picture while I was missing my baby girl! This was the first time I’d left her for more than a couple hours!
When we got back, we spent a little time with the family, then met up with good friends Sindi and Justin for a late lunch!
After lunch all of Christopher’s Aunts came over to play with Hallie! We had a lovely dinner and played with Taylor! Christopher’s cousin’s little girl! She’s precious! 
We had such a nice time! Hope everyone else had a great weekend!

Oh hey Friday, Pics from the week! 7th Edition

Happy Friday people! We have a busy weekend ahead!!! We are making a quick visit to Houston, as well as a family photo shoot at my Mom’s. She wants a picture of her whole family for the house! 
Another thing for my list this weekend is to buy Hallie more clothes! She went through a HUGE growth spurt this week and no longer fits in her newborn onesies! It’s insane, it was like over night! 
So, because all of the 3 month clothes we got at her shower were for summer, this kid practically needs a whole new wardrobe!


Anyway, on to Oh Hey, Friday business! (Tell me if she looks bigger to you!)


1. So Hallie was dressed all “Fancy” on Monday and she fit the roll perfectly! Everyone was saying she looked like a scene from “Breakfast at Hallie’s” (Ps excuse my messy dresser!)


























2.) She was “Pretty In Pink” on Tuesday! I think this might have been where the growth spurt hit. She slept ALL day on Tuesday!


























3.) On Wednesday I discovered Hallie LOVES peek-a-boo! She loves it even more when Mommy comes under the blanket too!

4.) Hallie all dressed up for the cold weather we have been having
 5.) Sitting like a big girl, visitng Nana

Fall Soups

Sorry I have been a bit MIA. I have been a little sick lately!

The good news is, that due to sickness and the (FINALLY) chilly weather here in Big D, I have 2 yummy Fall soup recipes to share with you!

Cream of Mushroom Soup
Ingredients:
2 cups fresh mushrooms – cleaned and chopped finely
1 tbsp olive oi
2 Cloves of garlic finely chopped
1 tbsp butter
1/2 tbsp thyme 
2 tsp Worcestershire sauce
1 cup chicken or vegetable stock 
Salt to taste
1 pint Heavy Cream
Freshly ground black pepper to taste
Fresh parsley garnish

Directions:
1. Heat olive oil in bottom of soup pan. Add butter and lightly sauté garlic on medium heat. 
2. Add in mushrooms, thyme, and Worcestershire sauce. Cook over medium heat for 5 minutes, or until the moisture from the mushrooms disappears. 
3. Add in chicken broth. Stir occasionally until broth boils, then reduce heat and simmer for 10 minutes.
4 Season with salt and pepper to taste
5. Finally, add heavy cream, and bring to a simmer. Turn heat off.

Tortilla Soup

Ingredients:
2 cups of diced cooked chicken
8 cups of chicken broth (I like to use the bouillon cubes/follow directions on bottle….but any broth will do)
1 can of tomato sauce (also adding 1 sm. can of tomato paste thickens it up.)
1 medium sized white or yellow onion, chopped
4 roma tomato, diced
1 bunch of cilantro, chopped
2 cloves of garlic, minced
3 Jalapeno Peppers Chopped
Garnish with:
fried flour tortilla strips (just fry tortilla in frying pan until golden)
shredded cheddar cheese
Fresh avocado slices
Can Serve over rice

First spray bottom of a large soup pot with cooking spray. Put thin layer of olive oil at the bottom. Cook garlic and onion first stirring occasionally until translucent. Add all other ingredients starting with broth.
Simmer on medium heat for about 30 minutes.

Enjoy!

Currently November

Hey there everyone and Happy Tuesday! For today I thought I would give you a little look on what is going on here at the Mock house lately!  


Reading: I am still on the wait list at the Library for Sophie Kinsella’s new Shopaholic! So right now I am 3/4 of the way finished with Where’d You Go Bernadette by: Maria Semple. It’s pretty good! Witty and thrilling at the same time! Love that there is a mystery aspect of it! 

Watching: Still Binging on Gilmore Girls via Netflix! Also who watched Big Bang last week! My heart just melted at Sheldon! So cute. I also have been watching Dancing With The Stars and I have to say that I hated last nights results! Grated I think I will be saying that almost every week now because almost everyone left is AMAZING! 



Working on: Everything Christmas! Lists, shopping, slowly getting ready to decorate! (It would already be up but I think my husband might think I was crazy! 

Looking Forward to: Tons of family time in these next 2 months! We are headed into Houston for part of this upcoming weekend, and then My Mother in Law will be back here for Thanksgiving, as well as family on my Mom’s side coming in for a visit! Then before we know it, it will be Christmas! 🙂
I also cannot wait to see the Christmas pictures we took for our Christmas cards! Hallie is just precious! 
Here is a sneak peek:


Loving: That some people are starting to get all their Christmas decorations out! Even if I can’t get ours up until closer to Thanksgiving, at least I can enjoy those (fellow) festivity nuts on our street! 

11-10-12

Today I have been married to my amazing husband for 2 years! 
I thought it would be fun to give you a glimpse at what this day 2 years ago was like for us!


First, a little background about us:
This coming February we will have be together for 10 years! 
He proposed on our puppy’s birthday after 7 years of dating.

We were married at our Church, a Catholic Church here in Dallas:

Here are some pictures from the ceremony:
 The walk

 The kiss

 Our parents

 The Bridal Party
(Left to right: My cousin Karley, My friend Callie, My sister Katie, My Friend Joyce (Maid of Honor 1) , My friend Sarah (Maid of Honor 2) , Me, Christopher, Christopher’s friend James (Best Man), His friend Bobby, His friend Brad, His friend Chris, His friend Chance, His brother Adam, Flower Girl- Sadie, Jr. Bridesmaid-Cleo, Ring Bearer Aiden (Callie’s adorable son) 

Details: 
The Flowers- My Aunt Jane made my bouquet

One of my somethings blue, a heart on my ring finger
The Dress
The shoes…yes, my ballet shoes
I made my garter, also blue!
The rings…Fun Fact, mine fits exactly inside his! 
A gift from my parents, this beautiful doll

Reception: 
Centerpieces
Bride’s Cake
Groom’s cake
We got our favorite Dallas Band to Play! Monkeyshyne! 
The favors, also a local favorite..and still the only soap I will buy!
My Girls!

I feel so lucky that 2 years later I am still Married to my best friend! He is goofy and sweet and makes me laugh.  He provides for our family and is the most amazing Dad to Hallie! 
Here is to MANY more years!
Happy Anniversary Christopher! 
I love you,
Kelly 

Oh hey, Friday! Pics from the week edition 6

Happy Friday!! I hope everyone has had a great week! What’s on tap for your weekend?


Tonight we have Hallie’s Memi coming to visit and we couldn’t be more excited! We are going to spend our whole weekend hanging out with her! Then Sunday morning we have our family Christmas pictures! 


So on to oh hey Friday business, it was an eventful week!


1. Monday: Hallie tried rice cereal for the first time…she didn’t like it though!

2. Also Monday: We played with Hallie’s friends Luna and Parker, also we matched, it was pretty cute!

3. Tuesday: Hallie is so funny with this darn turtle! I think she thinks it is her real friend! She totally talks to it! So funny! Also Check out this kid! She is practicing sitting up! HOLY COW she is getting too BIG!!! 
4. Wednesday: I am not kidding when I say Sadie is her favorite person in the world! I think she wants to be big like her! She will stare at Sadie until she looks at her and then her whole face lights up with smiles! BTW, how cute is that vest?
5. Thursday: My heart seriously explodes when this baby smiles at me! In that first picture, Hallie is playing with a sensory bottle that we made in playgroup this week! It has oil, water, food coloring, sparkles and beads! She loves looking at it!

Everyone enjoy your lovely weekends!!!
<3 Kelly

The Many Faces of Hallie: Deep thoughts by: Hallie Mock Vol 2

Deep thoughts by: Hallie Mock-

” I put everything in my mouth…except rice cereal!”

“Toes are a delicious snack.”

“How many times do we need to play Pat-a-Cake before I actually get to eat the cake!?”

“All day, everyday, people wait on me hand and foot, it’s good to be a baby”

“Sweet pea, princess, angel, baby girl…what is my true identity!?

“So the dog moves and barks….explain the unicorn!”

It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year!

Good morning ladies and gentlemen! 
If you know me well than you know, I am a Christmas nut. Yes, I am one of those crazies that listen’s to Christmas music year round. My Dad and I actually have a annual contest going to see who breaks down first and puts on the Christmas tunes, like it’s a badge of honor. I usually win! It usually starts in late January or early February when the yearning for the Christmas spirit to come back!
If you ask my husband he would tell you that I love Christmas so much that I get super sad when it is over and can’t put away the decorations unless he takes them off the tree for me…still then it’s hard!
Aaand in case you missed it, one year I dressed the dog and myself up as Christmas Elves for Halloween and then had my Aunt take pictures of us, to put on a Christmas card for family and friends!

Okay, I hope I haven’t scared you away! Maybe I should have prefaced with this:
This year, I am happy to announce that I will be co-hosting a holiday count down link up!
Here are my lovely co-hosts:
Danielle from Sundaes and Spaghetti 
and 
Beth from Our Pretty Little Girls 
(PS don’t forget to follow them!!) 
Here are the details of this fabulous Blog Party:

The link up will start on Wednesday November 26th and go through December 24th. We are inviting you to link up with us and share all the fabulous Holiday fun you are having!. Whether it be a fun recipe to share, a cute holiday themed craft or a family tradition that is dear to your heart! We want to hear about it!

If you want to party too it’s easy.
Just add this button to your posts and come link up with us!

Blog


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I am so excited to see what everyone has to share!!!





"You know, "Jingle Bells". You know, "Deck Them Halls" and all that stuff?



So I'll see you November 26th, Be there or be a Grinch!



<3 Kelly