Easter

We went to Lise and Jon's house for Easter. Allyson and Harrison had a great time with the eggs. Wish we could have gotten more pictures, but our memory card was full and I didn't get a chance to delete older pics. Anyway.Ally showing off her purple egg.

Ally found a candy in a plastic egg, she was very proud.

Emily Smiling

Emily is really starting to let her personality shine. She's very happy as long as she's not tired, and will let you know vocally when nap time or meal time is. Ally is really starting to take on her big sister role. She loves being around Emily and holds her hand whenever possible.Ally trying to sleep with Emily.
That's Emily's happy face, we get this one a lot.
She's just so dang cute.

Just a Great Weekend

The family went out to the Flowertown Festival this weekend, had a blast, here are a few pics:

Dad, the only way to travel...
Ally really likes the trains, this was her second.
Ally became one of the Po-Po for a while.
Sunday we did some yard work. I have a feeling we'll be doing a lot more this year. Ally just thinks we're playing in the dirt.
Emily was just happy to be there.

Emily's 4 Month Picture

I'll just let the picture do all the talking........

And just because I forgot to upload this one a while back, here is a picture of Allyson with Santa.

Chicken Bog a la Phillips

Ok, I admit we lifted the main recipe from Paula Deen, but I think our's is much better and tastier.

Serves: A lot depending on if this is the only thing severed (4-6 servings) or as part of a larger meal (could be 10-12 servings)

• 3 lbs Chicken on the Bone (the bones make the boil better, but you can probably use de-boned too)
• 1.5 lbs Smoked Sausage cut in 1/2 inch Sliced Pieces
• 1/3 cup cooking Sherry (more or less)
• 1 cup Onion Chopped (that's usually 1 large onion or two smaller onions)
• 1/4 cup Butter (1/2 stick)
• 1 1/2 tsp Salt
• 1/2 tsp garlic powder
• 1 1/2 tsp ground black pepper
• 1 tsp ground red pepper
• 2 tsp season-all (or other seasoned salt)
• 3 bay leaves
• 4 cups (32 oz) Chicken Stock
• 4 cups water
• 3 cups raw white rice

Place Sausage, Onion, Butter and Sherry in large stock pot. Cook on medium high until onions are limp and translucent.

Add all seasoning, and bay leaves, then add chicken, chicken stock, and water. Bring to a boil, cover and cook at a low boil for 40 minutes.

Remove the chicken and set aside to cool for a few minutes. Add rice to the stock pot and return to boil, stir well to keep the rice from burning to the bottom and to scrape any seasoning on the bottom. Boil for 10 minutes.

Reduce heat to a simmer, cover the pot and simmer for 15 additional minutes. Be sure not to burn the bottom of the rice.

Pick the meat from the chicken, discard the skin and bones. Shred or otherwise cut up the chicken in large chunks.

Remove the bay leaves from the rice and mix the chicken into the pot.

New Blog, Maybe

I'm trying out tumblr.com as a new residence for our family blog, it seems to be a idiot proof blogging site that may be more suited to our needs.

http://phillipsfamily.tumblr.com/

Family of Four

Just an update on how we are all adjusting to a family of four. Emily is now 2.5 weeks old, and is weighing in at 9 lbs. 9 oz. She is a great little eater and sleeper. She's even good about letting us sleep 4-5 hours straight at night.

Ally is a great big sister. She comes home from school every day and gives her little sister a kiss. "She likes me, mommy" Ally says every time Emily stares at her. When Emily cries, Ally likes to help me soothe her with a calming, reassuring voice: "It's okay Emily. It's okay baby girl." Allyson has started her battle of wills with her daddy. Last night I was laughing hysterically at Reed arguing with Ally while giving her a bath. Then I started crying hysterically when he got upset I was laughing. My hormones are obviously still not balanced.

I spend my days nursing Emily, watching t.v., catching cat naps on the couch, and trying to keep up with the girls' laundry. My new wardrobe consists of nursing bras and pajama pants, so I'm not generating much laundry of my own.

Reed is working from home the rest of the year, so I am very lucky I at least have some adult conversation during the day and someone to watch Emily so I can grab a shower. He has been just as fantastic a dad this time as he was when we brought Ally home from the hospital. He lets me go to bed after the last feeding and gets Emily to go to sleep for her 4-5 hours. He brings her to me in the middle of the night for her feeding, then puts her back to bed. Reed takes such good care of all his girls!

Here are some more pictures for you all to enjoy (if I can figure out how to post):