Recipe

I am always looking for new recipes my family will eat- and that aren't super time consuming. My friend Sarai sent me this one on Pinterest and I made it last night so thought I would share it! Philip really liked it and Joy came over for dinner and seemed to like it too:) 

8 chicken thighs
6-8 large potatoes, cut in quarters or halves 5-6 carrots, cut in 1-2 inch pieces
1 onion, cut in quarters
15-20 garlic cloves, whole
Kosher salt
Black ground pepper
4 tsp ground pepper or 5 cloves garlic, crushed 1⁄2 tsp paprika (optional)
3-4 Tbsp olive oil.
Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 375F. Line a baking sheet with foil or even better, parchment paper.
   
2. Thoroughly wash the potatoes & carrots with a scrubber and cut them in smaller pieces. Pat dry with a
   paper towel.
   
3. Rinse the chicken under running water & also pat dry with paper towel.
   
4. Add chicken, potatoes and carrots, onion & garlic to the lined baking dish and sprinkle with salt, ground
   pepper and garlic. Drizzle with olive oil. Toss everything to coat.
   
5. Place in the oven and bake for 1 hour 20 minutes. Check for doneness, if the potatoes and chicken thighs
   are soft and easily pierced with the fork they are ready.
   
6. If the chicken and potatoes have not browned up as much as you would like, turn the broil setting on the
   oven and broil for 5 minutes. Watch carefully, or they will burn.
   
7. Remove from the oven and serve right away in the baking dish or transfer to a warm serving plate.
   Recipe by Let the Baking Begin! at http://letthebakingbeginblog.com/2014/05/one-pot-chicken-potatoes/ 

CLICK HERE

to see full recipe
I used baby yellow potatoes and 1/2 an onion, and maybe a little more pepper:)

ENJOY! 

Oh and I got these beauties this week too ;) 

6 months!

Happy Half Birthday Little Man!!! 

His personality is starting to come out a little bit and we are thoroughly enjoying his sweet smile and infectious giggle. 

weight/height: 

Weight: 17lbs 13 oz (56%) 

Length: 27.5 in (82%) 

OFC: 44.5 cm (69%)

size: he is wearing 6, 9 month or 6-9 month clothes. Wears size 2 diapers and size 3 at night. Once this box of size 2s are done we will move up to 3:) 

nicknames: P-man, lil buddy, ParkerDoodle, my sweet boy 

physical: his eyes are still blue. His hair is starting to come in thicker and is a light brown sometimes blonde. He still has no teeth but chews on everything. 

eating: We are moving on up in the food department! He has now had sweet potatoes, peas, avocado, carrots and squash. He LOVES food and if you eat around him he just watches you from hand to mouth. He is taking 6 ounce bottles at 7,10,1245ish, 4 and 745. He has started taking 7 ounces before bed and sometimes before nap. 

sleeping: he is back to sleeping most of the night. He goes to bed around 8 and wakes up around 5 but will go back to sleep with his paci until 630-7am. He takes a nap in the morning and then a big nap from 1-4 in afternoon. He usually stays awake until bedtime in the evenings. He sleeps in his crib in his zippadee on his stomach. 

play: 

his biggest milestone this month is that he can sit up *almost* by himself. He topples over some but for the most part can sit there and play. 

He loves blowing raspberries 

He LOVES to laugh and giggle. Ainsley has even started trying to make him laugh which makes my heart almost burst. 

he chews on everything. his fingers, your fingers, whatever he can get his hands on

He loves his daddy- his whole face lights up when he sees him and he tracks him around the room whenever he can. 

I am so in love with this little boy. He makes me so happy and I can't believe he is already 6 months old. 

Football, Valentines and Hair

We had people over for the second annual Overall Super Bowl Party. Every year we accumulate more and more kids and the chaos grows and grows haha:) I can honestly say I did not see one play or even one commercial. I did, however, eat more than my share of Ryan's stuffed jalapeños. 

Ainsley had her three year check up and she did great:) it was her first "big girl" check up. All 4 of us went, since i had to head into work after her appointment. Dr Nelson was very impressed and happy with her. and she was happy she didn't have to get any shots this time.  She weighed in at 28.4 lbs (25%) and 37 1/2 inches (54%). 

Ainsley also had "doughnuts with Dad" at school, and Pop went as her date. They of course both loved it, even though Philip was sad to miss out.   The same day she had her Valentine party at school and came home with lots of sweet Valentines. She gave her friends swirly straws (her favorite). 

She also got her first "haircut" and by haircut I mean Donielle cut maybe an inch of hair. total. Ainsley just had this really long piece in the back and it had to be cut. And it took me days to get her to agree to getting it cut. So we eased into it with just a very small trim:) That night she laid in bed and I watched her pull the back of her hair checking to see how much was gone. 

Valentines Day weekend we just hung out at home, spent Saturday in Georgetown, we went to church then enjoyed being snowed in. Philip worked all weekend but did bring his girls special doughnuts Saturday morning. 

Parker has become the happiest sweetest little baby and I could cuddle and laugh with him all day (not that his sister would let that happen:) ). With the exception of last night he has been sleeping much better and we are all on the upswing from the cold that took over each of us this week! 

poor Parker was crying and Ainsley's solution was that he needed stamps 

Her Knight Dance

Every year, Lexington hosts a Father/Daughter Dance called "Her Knight". It is a non-profit event put on by volunteers for girls ages 2-12. Due to it's popularity it is now held at Keeneland. They have 4 sessions, 2 on Friday night and 2 on Saturday night. They request the smaller girls go to the earlier dance, so Ainsley and Philip got tickets for the 4:30 dance. 

Ainsley was woken from her nap a little early so I could do her hair and help her get ready for her special date with her Daddy! 

Seeing the pictures of all the Dads and their daughters was such a sweet thing to see. Ainsley and Philip were both so excited. She was in awe at the princesses that she got to meet. Chik Fil A provided dinner, there was a professional photographer and they were given a keepsake necklace at the end of the evening. 

Ainsley came home and told me all about how she met Anna, Elsa and Cinderella. Philip said she was a little wild once she got around her friends Avery and KK, but said they had such a great date together. I can't wait for to continue this tradition every year! 

Parker and I had our own little date and met my friends Alison, Jordan, and their sons at a restaurant for dinner