I got one for the Christmas card, ya'll!

There is nothing I love more than seeing ridiculous pictures of my mother-n-law. Especially a Christmas-Card-worthy one like this:

This week my niece is down this week and we are all enjoying getting to spend time with her, but I think Rilyn is the most excited. 

I love seeing these two together. 

P.S I love seeing Rilyn's Instagram posts. Her #'s crack me up. 

Why sending my daughter to camp breaks my heart just a little....

When we moved back in to our house a couple of months ago I got rid of bags and bags of toys, mostly Barbies and dolls. I have been a bit sentimental lately about the kids growing up. I really didn't need to know that her My Life Doll that she just HAD to have was in there. Or the Barbies. Or her princess tiaras. Or her My Little Pony collection. Nope. Don't tell me.

I was promised I would miss having to constantly comb that dumb dolls hair, or put it in pigtails. Or sing that "Hot Dog Song".

And sooner than I could imagine, everyone told me it would happen, and look it's happening.

Here I am about to send my soon-to-be 10 year old off to camp for the first time.

Don't even bring up the fact that she is also leaving Elementary school for the Intermediate. 

DON'T. YOU. DARE.

Listen, I realize people send their much younger kids off to camp all the time, but ya'll this is the first time I am letting her go off to camp. The first time, like, ever.

Honestly? I'm a wreck.

She has earned this and deserves this no matter how much I want to selfishly deny her the privilege. She is a straight A student and in the GT program. She is the best big sister I could of ever asked for. She is most responsible kid on this planet. She, more than the others, deserves this much needed get-away.

Now, I realize most kids these days have been going to camp since they were school age. In fact, one of her classmates is on her 3rd summer camp this summer. But to us, this is a big deal. For me this is huge. Secretly, I want nothing more that to cancel and make her stay home. As if somehow that would make her stay little and stay my baby. Somehow...

I remember when she was a toddler, it was all about Mickey Mouse Clubhouse. Goodness, how many times did we have to dance (and sing!) the Hot Dog dance?

Then we were livin' #thatpageantlife for a long time. This girl had major personality (and a crazy smile!ha!) We traveled and traveled so she could do pageants and in every pageant she placed either 1st or 2nd. Man, we were proud of our real-life princess.

Then there was the actual Princess stage. Everything had to be Princesses for her 3rd birthday party: the outfit, the cake, every-single present. I even special ordered an adult princess costume  and my cousin dressed up as Cinderalla, because CINDERELLA HAD TO BE THERE, OKAY!

But, just as I'm typing this I am sure God is having a good laugh at me; the girl who started a blog to document all the funny, stressful, craziness of raising her daughter. Now, that same girl is writing about freaking out about sending that same daughter off to camp as if she were going off to college!

What the heck?!     

#getittogetherroxielong

This is a big deal for Rilyn. But probably even more so for me. As a mom, this is definitely one of those times when I can hear the flipping of the pages as one chapter is closed and another is opened. I will have to remind myself to enjoy every single bit of this new chapter right down to her asking my 100 times if she can shave her legs yet. I will have to remind myself that this chapter, too will pass quickly and I will miss it. And before I know it I'll be looking back at a picture of her and think, "aww... she was so little....look at my almost ten year old!"

But, in the meantime, I'll quit crying over how stinkin' cute she was with her missing front teeth and go dig around in her baby box and find an old bib with her name on it and beg her to wear it just one more time while we watch an episode of Mickey Mouse Clubhouse.

Faux distressed/ vintage door!

First let me just say, if I would of known that in less time that it took me to make King Ranch Chicken tonight, I could have a distressed door I would of done this a long time ago!

When we were first rebuilding our house after the fire we knew the style we wanted, however, when you have a crappy insurance company that takes OVER SIX MONTHS to pay you for your house and you have to have to pay to build a house out of pocket, you cut corners. And unfortunately,  that meant I was NOT getting the vintage/ distressed super awesome front door that I would of loved.

I couldn't find a picture of our exact door, but here is basically what we have:

I picked these paints up from the craft section at Walmart for .50ea! And the brush was  a whole $1!

Five minutes in- I realized i never took a before picture so I snapped this:

I also realized was wearing my favorite white capris so I took my pants off....

right in the middle of the living room. 

#ihopetheneighborsdontneedsugartoday 

Raigen was curious as to why I was pants-less. 

Rilyn asked if it was something I  learned from Pinterest. 

And CJ was excited, he said, "dang mom, I didn't know you loved camo so much you wanted to paint our door camo!"

Um.... #notthelookiwasgoingfor

And .... the finished product:

I love it!

And it matches perfectly with our living room:

Creamy Italian Chicken

This is probably our favorite meal. It is so good and I get zero complaints when I make this. Do you know how hard it is to make something all SIX people like?

I found this recipe online, it was originally a crockpot recipe. I have found that it literally takes no time to make, so we normally skip the crockpot and make it stovetop. If you know me, you know I love a good quick recipe! Being a busy working mama of four, I don't have time to slave for hours over the stove. 

Side note: Why does dinner take a hour to make, only for them to scarf it down in three seconds, and then all the sudden I have two weeks of dishes?

Creamy Italian Chicken

Ingredients:

4 chicken breasts -diced        

1 packet dry  Italian dressing ( Sometimes I use a packet and a half.)

1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened

1-2 cans cream of chicken soup (depending how cream cheesy you want it)

Sauté the chicken in a skillet with salt and pepper. I always sprinkle a little garlic powder, too. Next, add cream cheese, Italian dressing, and cream of chicken soup and heat it until the cream cheese is completely melted and incorporated. If you feel the sauce is too thick you can thin it to your preferred consistency with a little milk. Serve over pasta or rice.

I serve this with steamed broccoli and yeast rolls.

Rilyn wanted to know why I buy yeast rolls and I told her it was because they are SO GOOD!

She then asked if yeast rolls are so good, what is a yeast infection and why is it bad to have?

 #thanksyeastinfectioncommercial  #thanksalot

1. 
   

Oh... just a normal night at the Long's house.

CJ, "Mom, Ryker just gave me purple-nurple and then he licked my leg."

Rilyn, (eating leftover pizza because he just CAN'T eat homeade pinto beans and rice that I just slayed in my Instant Pot,) "thank you mom so much for not making me eat what you cooked. You're seriously the BEST mom!"

The Facebook Direct Marketing Fail.

First of all let me just say, I know direct marketing is a touchy subject; of course, us moms want to support our friends.

We support your attempt to make extra money, have something going on outside of mommy hood, or build that #girlboss empire.

I don't even mind the online "Party Invite" or the fact that every other post you mention how you are full of energy, haven't slept in 3 days, and you just ran a marathon all while  you just cured your kids chickenpox with an oil. #doesntbotherme

But, if ONE MORE PERSON SENDS ME A FRIEND REQUEST FOLLOWD BY A PRIVATE MESSAGE JUST SO THEY CAN TRY AND SELL ME SOMETHING I AM GOING TO LOSE IT.

Listen, a few months ago, a friend request popped up on Facebook. I accepted—we had several mutual friends, her profile seemed legit, and-hey! I’m down for more cute kid pics and viral funny videos.

Plus- I thought she may have just seen one of my amazing videos. I'd wanna be my friend, too.

Anyway, ya'll it wasn't TWO SECONDS AFTER I ACCEPTED THE REQUEST that a message popped up: "Hey girl you are absolutely gorgeous. I know this sounds crazy but I couldn't help to see how beautiful you are."

Weird, I thought.

Is she a lesbian?

 I'm not sure I even know her.

This felt premature.

So, I kindly thanked her and told her my makeup consisted of: Wet N Wild and Elf. I even told her which Dollar Store I buy it at.

Because I'm nice like that.

Then exactly four minutes later she put my worries to rest and basically told me I was an ugly spotted Dalmatian when she responded, "Hey, wouldn't you like a foundation that gives you complete coverage, with out the uneven spots, but doesn't have that heavy/oily look?"

"Girl, I just wanna let you know if you get $50 or more of makeup your name will be put in a drawing that I'm having for my customers. You will get a chance to win ....
Lip Bon Bon's (cherry cobbler)!!!!Eeeek!"

I've never been so temped to buy something in my life. I mean, this girl is clearly cut out for sales.

I responded, "So.... are you telling me my makeup looks like cake batter? Say it ain't so. In that case, SIGN ME UP!!!! "

"Not."

(I'm still waiting for her to sign me up.)

But, lets face it, its not just strangers, most of the sales pitches I get are from old high school friends.

Like:

Facebook lady I haven't spoken to in 10 years, "hey girl! how are you?!"
And I'm all like, "this feels like a trap..."
And she's all alike,  "lol! have you heard about Beach Body?"

Or: Accept a friend request to a woman I kind of knew in high school and just like that I instantly receive a invitation to a LulaRoe/Essential Oil/Jamberry/Shakeology party.

#theygetmeeverytime

I don't even know which of my 1197 Facebook friends are really my friend. #sad

Yall, I'm still waiting for high school friends to start selling something I could actually use. Like naps. Or babysitters.

But seriously, I have one question, do people who sell oils/leggings/makeup/dishes not know about Amazon Prime?

#becarefulmomsoutthere

Ryker's 2nd Birthday- Fire Dog Themed

This past Sunday we finally got a chance to celebrate our little guy turning TWO!

His party was originally two weeks ago but when he suddenly came down with mono, we knew we had no choice but to reschedule.

Our guy loves all things "firecuck" and puppies so I knew we were doing a fire dog theme!

Ya'll this was the most stressful party, ever! It was pouring all morning and we literally got soaked (hints the hat I donned all day!) setting up, but we were having the party with or without rain! Any by the grace of God the rain stopped and the sun popped out just as we were done setting up! I had so many cool ideas but with the nasty weather a lot of them just weren't possible,  but overall it turned out cute.

I am literally overwhelmed at all the people who, despite the nasty weather, still made it out to celebrate out little guy! Thank you, all from the bottom of my heart!!!

This week is also our church's VBS so to say I am exhausted is an understatement. So if this post seems very unorganized, its because it is. LOL

Special thank you to my mom for helping me set up and Livingston Volunteer Fire Department and our favorite KK for setting that up! He was so excited when that firetruck pulled up just for him and all the other kids loved checking it out, too!

What a special party for our favorite two year old!

IN NO ORDER- RYKER'S 2ND BIRTHDAY PHOTO DUMP:

THE END!