Well, the braids turned out to be ITCHY!  And did not last past the pictures, but everything else about preparing for Famous American Day was so fun!  We have had so much fun together reading "Little House in the Big Woods."  I have been surprised how much Ella has enjoyed it, she does not let a day go by without reading.  But who would not want to hear about fighting bears and jaguars, making butter from scratch and playing outside in piles and piles of snow!
But somewhere along the way, 'Famous American Day' turned into 'Famous American Girl Day.'  Ella is at the age where a lot of her friends are starting to get American Girl Dolls.  I still have my American Girl Doll from when I was a little girl, ready to give to Ella, but the thing is, Ella does not play with toys, or dolls.  Around October when the huge influx of catalogs started filling our mailbox, we got an American Girl catalog about twice a month.  I would flip through the pages with Ella looking at all the dolls.  Ella lasted about 2 minutes before she was done looking at the magazine, with absolutely no interest in having one of her own.
I knew when her friends started talking about their American Girl dolls Ella would start to show a little more interest.  However, she will not be getting one (either mine or a new one) until she is on her knees begging (okay maybe not on her knees, but some serious pleading!) for one because I know this girl and toys do not hold her attention.
The other day one of Ella's friends was over after school.  As they were in the kitchen coloring, I lingered at the sink washing the few dishes left ever so slowly.  I love to be close so that I can hear the conversations that are going on.  Usually they are hilarious.  Ella's friend began telling Ella that this year she was going to have a small birthday party at her house because her big birthday present was to go to Atlanta and get her very own American Girl Doll!  Ella sat quietly for a moment thinking.  (I could just imagine the wheels turning in her mind, she has heard all about American Girls Dolls and how much all of her friends love theirs.  We also have been talking a lot about Famous American Day and she is going to be a Famous American that is a girl).  After a brief moment of thinking Ella replied, "Well, I am going to be a Famous American Girl on Famous American Girl Day."  From that day on 'Famous American Day' became 'Famous American Girl Day.'  Ella was so proud of herself to be a Famous American Girl and just could not break it to her that she was not dressing up as an American Girl Doll.
But I do think that it cured that desire that she had to be a part of this "thing" (American Girl Dolls) that all her friends were talking about, without having to buy her a doll that I know would just sit in a basket under the bed.  Right now we are very happy with our Famous American Girl costume and it will get played with way more than a doll ever would!




Yes, I did make this little outfit.  My rule is that I do not make costumes.  Just too much time for something that could possibly only be worn once.  But for some reason I just got really excited about making this.  My initial plan was to make a very simple apron and bonnet.  But as I started planning and making, I got a little carried away.  I could tell I had not sewn in a long time because my simple apron turned into a pinafore (which I really love and so does Ella.  I think it will probably turn into a summer dress).  And then the pinafore had angel sleeves, piping and buttons.  And then I found myself buying a pattern for a super cute bonnet (it was only $1)!  I just love to sew too much to stop at a simple apron when I have the time (and materials on hand) to create something really cute that I know Ella will love.  Ella was a big helper on this project and so proud of her costume!  That extra detail was totally worth the smile on her face!!!

Ella's Handstand.  This year in gymnastics has been a little different from her previous years because you do not move on to a different class until you finish all the skills, where before you moved up with your age.  Ella has been practicing her gymnastics every night, she does not forget about even when I do!  Two nights ago, it all just clicked with her handstand.  She has been really good at handstands, I usually just have to help stop her legs so she does not flip over all the way.  But she nailed it all on her own!  And now she has IT.  I was really hoping to capture her gigantic smile, but her skirt blocked her face.  (Also notice Sara Wells on the side in Ella's skirt.  You never know what this girl is going to enter a room wearing!  Lately she has been into Ella's clothes).

Oh Angry Birds!  I know I have said before that Miller is obsessed with Angry Birds.  Well, Miller is also obsessed with having t-shirts that promote whatever he is obsessed with (what 4 year old boy isn't).  Well, this t-shirt was a long time coming.  One day we were at the store to get it and because of his bad attitude we did not get it.  Another day we went to the store just to get it and, you guessed it, they did not have his size.  I told him we would order it on-line and for some reason the shirt he wanted could not be ordered.  So, I searched around a little and found that Kohls carries Angry Bird shirts for kids.  Miller survived a torturous day of errand running and was finally rewarded with his Angry Bird t-shirt (don't worry, he got one for Murray so they could wear them together).  I did not allow him to wear it to church today, but those are the only 4 hours he has not had it on since we spotted it at the store.  Here is Miller being Angry.

Oh What a Weekend at the Lee House!

Be sure to salt those onions!  Just look at that buttery goodness, my mouth is already watering!
Cook on medium heat, stirring occasionally, until onions are translucent and celery is tender.
While onions are cooking, blanch carrots and potatoes.  (Just in case, blanching is when you cook vegetable very quick.  Add the vegetables to boiling water, cook for a very short time and then immediately put vegetables in an ice bath or under cold water to stop the cooking process).

So, first you want to get your water ready.  Always add salt!!!  Put a lid on and try to to peek until you see the steam sneaking out the lid.
Chop your carrots and potatoes.  It is important to get them pretty small and to get the carrots and potatoes about the same size so that they will cook uniformly.
When the water is boiling, add carrots and potatoes.  Cook for 4 minutes.
Drain hot water and immediately submerge in ice bath (or take the lazy way out and put under running cold water).
When onions and celery are done (this should happen about the same time as carrots and potatoes are done), add flour to the onion/butter mixture.
Cook flour about 4 minutes (still on medium heat) until you have a blonde roux.  When the mixture turns a very light caramel color, you will know you have a blonde roux.
Add chicken stock and bring to a boil.  Be sure to stir to get the lumps out.  Reduce heat and simmer about 5 or 6 minutes...
until sauce starts to thicken.
Add 1/2 and 1/2 and cook 4 or 5 minutes.  Salt and pepper to taste.  Be sure to taste because this is the best time to get the flavor right!
Chop cooked chicken.  (I have said it before, but my favorite way to cook chicken that is going to be used in a dish is to cook it in the broiler.  It takes about 15 to 20 minutes on the second rack in my oven. I heat my iron skillet in the oven with a little bit of olive oil and then add the chicken that has been salt and peppered.  The flavor beats the heck out of the boiled chicken that we all grew up with!)
Add chicken, carrots, potatoes and peas to sauce (I usually am not exact with the amount of vegetables that I add, but I have found that if you add too many potatoes, they don't quite get cooked all the way.)
My family is a pastry dough kind of family.  I have tried pre-made pie crust, homemade pie crust and pastry dough.  We always like it best with pastry dough.  I use the store bought kind, maybe one day I will make my own, but for now, the store bought is good enough!

Make sure to grease the dish you are going to cook the pot pie in!  If not, all that delicious dough will stay in the dish and not make it to your plate!  Line your dish with pastry dough (or pie crust).  I take my pastry dough out of the freezer when I start cooking and let it thaw out.  Then I usually have to stretch it out a little bit so that it will cover the entire dish.
Pour in the delicious filling (that you have tasted and made sure there is enough salt and pepper because at this point there is no going back).
Bake in a 350 degree oven for one hour and then let sit for about 5 minutes before eating.

Now I am not going to tell you that this is a quick, 30 minute meal.  It will take about 45 minutes of constant work in the kitchen.  I usually have to turn on the t.v. for the kids when I am making this.  But, if you can chop vegetables and stir vegetables while they are cooking, then you can make this!  You can even make it ahead and then cook later that night (just be sure to take out of refrigerator about 20 minutes before you cook it.)

And I will tell you, the results are worth it!
Just ask the Lee Kids...
And trust me,
these are some tough critics!

There is nothing like taking a little break from craziness,
and then taking a little bit of that craziness with you where ever you go!

Although, we have been doing a lot of that lately.


Give up???


We spent a good part of today looking for a New Rental House!


Yes it is true, we are moving again!  The family who owns the house we are renting is moving back to Birmingham.  We do not know when we will be moving or where we will be moving, but we will be packing up again in the next couple of months.

This house has been a great house for our family. When we first found out we were going to have to move after only a few weeks from the Yellow House that was next door to our "House" (I don't even know what to call our original house anymore) we could not imagine how that would be a good thing.  But this house, rental #2, has been a great house for our family.  While we really are still in a little bit of disbelief that we are moving again, we know that God is good, and this will be good for our family.  My prayer is that over the next few months I will trust in what I know to be true!

We spent the past few days

preparing...
 and tasting...


 Valentine Treats.

Today our day has been filled with

love...
 love!