Shopping Spree!

I do not know what came over me but I went to Ann Taylor LOFT and found so many cute things for spring/summer. At first, I went to the sale racks like I always do but I sometimes feel like I get a bunch of different things and never know how to put it all together. So...I decided to venture to the stuff not on sale...*gasp*. As they were ringing it all up I almost had a heart attack but in my defense (at at least my defense to Jimmy) I have hardly bought any clothes since before I was pregnant with Cecilia and that was over a year ago! I did buy a few things after I had Cecilia to get me through the transition but now those are a little big and I wanted some cute new things! My favorite purchase is a pair of white denim cropped pants.

When I got home from my little shopping trip my bathing suits arrived from Lands End. I would say SCORE for the most part. The one-piece fit a little small so I am going to return it for a bigger size. The two piece was great. The top is a little lower cut than I am used to but still fits nice. I love the swim-mini and I think I might get a regular bottom too.

Good causes, good weekend!

Cecilia is napping and Jimmy and Jimmy are out for a bike ride so I have a few quiet moments to blog (though should probably be doing laundry or something!). Friday Jimmy and I helped with a fundraiser at church, Night in Ole Italy. A fancy name for a spaghetti dinner! The dinner and the silent auction (which had great items, including a week in the Bahamas!) raised approximately $11,000! Wow! Over the past four years this event has raised almost $50,000 for the new youth building at our church. We have such a generous church and community! The event was a lot of fun. Jimmy made salads all night and I helped with the desserts and cleaned tables. We made some new friends, too!

Later that night I went down to the Isle of Hope marina for another fundraiser for Camp Sunshine, a camp for kids with cancer. What a worthy cause!

Six month appt and stats

This morning we went to Dr. Stone's office for Cecilia's six month appointment. First, Dr. Stone just moved to a new location and it is AMAZING! I wanted to move in. They did such a great job renovating, have room to expand, a baby well waiting room, another well waiting room and a sick waiting room. It is so bright a cheery and they even have a cute children's store, Pollywog, attached.

Cecilia had a great check-up and a clean bill of health. They gave her 4 vaccines, one oral for rotavirus and then three in her little legs. She has some chunky legs but she still screamed her head off. You just feel so bad for them!



Cecilia 6 months: HEIGHT 27.7 in (97%), WEIGHT 19.12 lbs (96%)


Jimmy 6 months: HEIGHT 27.3 in (75%) WEIGHT 18.14 lbs (75%)


Jimmy and his "bed"

Summer is right around the corner...

and that means that the pool will be open! We love going to the neighborhood pool and we see lots of our friends. Plus, this year we can take the golf cart! But that also means...finding a new swimsuit....Does anyone like shopping for bathing suits? Maybe when I was 13 and could fit into anything at the department store. This year, to save myself the time and the horror of trying on 100 bathing suits and finding nothing I am going straight to Lands End and ordering online. I am 32 and I am a mom. I cannot do string bikinis, high cut bottoms or little coverage. I need a little lift, a little tuck and definitely some coverage. I need to feel like my suit won't fall off while chasing after a 3 year old. I want something flattering but not too grandma. I think Lands End is the best place to find comfy and cute bathing suits. I have always been a fan of the tankini but might try a one piece this year. I might even try one of the swimMini. It is a bathing suit bottom that looks like a cover-up.

New Camera

We purchased a new Nikon Digital SLR. I just figured out how to get the pictures uploaded. Nothing too exciting going on lately. We had a good weekend. Friday Jimmy went to the Heritage golf tournament at Sea Pines in Hilton Head. Jimmy and I had a date night at Sundae Cafe on Tybee. So yummy! Some of the best food in the area some say. Saturday we tried out the new Loc's Chicken and Waffles in Sandfly. Can someone please explain the idea beyond chicken and waffles? It is basically a breakfast/lunch place it was good and so convenient! We cleaned out our utility/office room and got a few things together for the yard sale Jimmy's parents neighborhood is having this weekend. Sunday we went to church and Sunday School. The Sunday school class is helping out with a fundraiser for the Green House (youth building) on Friday called "Night in Ole Italy." It's a spaghetti dinner and silent auction. Each year they have raised over $10K! I will be helping out with the dessert table.

That is all from here! Here are few pictures from our new camera!

Not a great picture but I thought he looked so cute in his seersucker pants!


Floor time! She doesn't stay sitting very long. Won't be too long before she is crawling!


Crazy morning hair


This Jimmy "fishing" complete with fishing "pole" and "tackle box"


Hanging out outside watching daddy and big brother play soccer and ride bikes

6 months!

Has it already been six months since our sweet Cecilia arrived? She is sitting up, though always wants to lean over and pick up toys so often ends up rolling around. She can roll back and forth from her stomach to back and back to stomach. She is babbling more and is all smiles most of the time. She is really reaching for things, especially my hair! Ouch! She is holding her own bottle. Little Jimmy is so sweet to her and loves to give her hugs and kisses, especially right when we are getting buckled in the car he likes to give her a little pat and a kiss. He also likes to help get her bottle ready. When I am going to the counter to fix it he always says "Can I help?" and "I go get my chair." He pulls up one of the kitchen chairs to the counter. When we are riding in the car it is so funny because Cecilia will crane her neck so she can look at her big brother. We go to the doctor on Thursday so I will give you her stats!





Jimmy at 6 months-June 2007:




Here are a few of Jimmy playing in the backyard:

The Masters

I had to work on Saturday, but Jimmy got to go the THE MASTERS! I know, so lucky...for him! I mean, where is the justice?! Jimmy has had the opportunity to go many times thanks to some good friends who have tournament passes. They say it might be the hardest ticket to get in sports. Even the waiting list is closed. Why would anyone ever want to give them up?? Augusta is only 2 1/2 hours away so an easy day drive.

I am so happy that Phil Mickelson won!

Two years ago, I did get the opportunity to go to one of the practice rounds. The golf course really is so beautiful. Amazing, really...and I don't even golf! When you are there you feel as if it is the same as it was 50 years ago. No corporate sponsors or tents, inexpensive beer and food, nothing flashy at all. Here are few pics from when we went to the practice round.

Queen of my Domain

I have staked my claim to www.savannahkatie.com!

I also learned of a Web site that will turn your blog into a book: Blog2Print. Blogging has turned into my version of scrapbooking but I was afraid that years or even decades from now it might be gone. I plan to do a book(s) for each year. I hope that one day someone will find it interesting and maybe even learn something from my daily life. One day it will be history!

Happy Easter!

We had a wonderful Easter with our family! It started off with the Easter baskets this morning (the Easter bunny came!), church, then brunch at Ginny's house. Ginny made a yummy shrimp and wild rice casserole (recipe at the end). So good!

This is the last time I can dress him up like this and he was not too happy about the shoes. He kept walking on his tip toes.


Before church. The azaleas are almost in full bloom.



Mimi and Papa Joe with their loves.



Basket full of eggs from the Easter egg hunt.



Sweet Cecilia. LOVE her dress!



Family photo. This was the best one!



Big Jim and Lil Jim


Aunt Gin Gin, Amelia and Uncle Marty (or Mah-tee as Jimmy says).






The three James Marion Kelleys.


Shrimp and Wild Rice Casserole

1 (8-ounce) package wild rice
1 pound medium shrimp, peeled and deveined
2 tablespoons butter
1/2 green bell pepper, seeded and chopped
1/2 onion, chopped
1 (10 3/4-ounce can) condensed cream of mushroom soup
2 cups grated sharp Cheddar
Salt and pepper

Directions
Cook the rice according to package directions minus 1/4 cup water. Drain and cool.

Bring 2 cups water and 1/2 tablespoon salt to a boil in a medium saucepan and cook the shrimp for 1 minute. Drain immediately and set aside.

Heat the butter in saucepan and saute the pepper and onion until soft, about 5 minutes.

Preheat oven to 325 degrees F.

In a large bowl, combine the rice, soup, 1 1/2 cups of cheese, shrimp and vegetables. Add salt and pepper, to taste. Mix well. Spray a 9-inch square aluminum cake pan or an 11 by 7-inch glass casserole dish with vegetable spray. Place the mixture in the pan and top with remaining 1/2 cup cheese. Bake for 30 minutes, until bubbly.

"all swiss"

We bought a new piece of art yesterday. I have admired Katherine Sandoz's work since I first started working at SCAD 10 years ago! A student and then professor at SCAD, Katherine has a broad range of work, but I have always loved her paintings/illustrations of people. This "couple" resides in our kitchen and will greet you when you walk in the kitchen door. We are trying to decide what to name them. We are thinking Sven for the guy and still thinking for the girl. It is fun to make art your own.

This little girl is 32!

I had the best 32nd birthday and it is because I have the BEST family and friends! It all started this past weekend with a visit from Whitney and John (see previous post). Tuesday night I went to dinner with Eliza and Maria at Mellow Mushroom. They treated me to dinner and a few beers. Thanks, guys!

Jimmy and little Jimmy had a cupcake, cards and a present for me in the morning. The office had a birthday breakfast for me and everything was so yummy! We have breakfast for birthdays because it is difficult for all of us to leave for lunch and everyone always seems to be hungry in the morning, we don't have to worry about refrigerating or cooking anything and we can snack all day. One of my favorites and ALWAYS a staple at the office breakfast is Amanda's Coffee Punch. I have copied the recipe below.

Coffee Punch

6 qts chilled coffee

6 cups Half and Half cream

1 lg can of Hershey's syrup

1 3/4 cups sugar

6 qts vanilla ice cream
Directions:

Mix first 4 ingredients. Chill.Let ice cream soften and then add it to the other ingredients. Serves 78 (that is not a typo - I usually half the recipe) punch cup servings.

Serve this at your next brunch and everyone will be asking for the recipe. Go ahead and print some to hand out. It is that good! Even Mary, who NEVER drinks caffeine, partakes in the coffee punch.

We had dinner at my parents and my mom made my favorite. Chicken Paprikash. A Hungarian dish that my Grandma Parr used to make and I love it! My parents gave me a gift certificate and a new flat iron for my hair.

I was feeling the Facebook love all day! My brother even sent me a gift card to Target!

It was a great day...but am I really 32?