Happy Halloween!

Happy Halloween!
I hope everyone had a fun and safe Halloween! For Halloween this year we went to a block party hosted by our friends from church Tim and Mel. We didn't get to stay long because it was Eden's bedtime, but we had fun helping set up and get ready for it. For her first Halloween Eden was a little ladybug. She was so cute in her little outfit. She wasn't so fond of the hat (her little ladybug antenas) - she kept taking it off and putting it in her mouth. She did pretty good until we tried to take pictures of her. We discovered that she really does not like grass - haha. We sat her down in front of some hay bails and pumpkins they had set up in their yard, and she sat in it only for a moment before she let us know she wanted up!! On the way home from the party she cried pretty much the whole way home letting us know we kept her out a little too late.
When I was growing up, my parents created a Halloween night tradition that we always looked forward to. When we were little, we would dress up and go trick or treating, but once we were a little too old for that - we enjoyed this tradition. We would always go to our favorite chinese restaurant, Panda Garden, then go to Barnes & Noble. At the bookstore we were allowed to get one book. This was always so much fun and a great childhood memory. Since we didn't get to stay long at the block party, Nick and I ordered some chinese from Panda Garden and enjoyed a part of my family's tradition as well!!

Here are some pictures from the evening!

*ps...sorry we haven't posted Eden's 6 month photos, we are in the process of getting those done. We were suppose to do them last weekend, but Nick got sick and then passed his cold onto me, so we will have those up soon. Thanks for staying tuned!

Happy Half Birthday, Eden!

Can you believe it? Neither can we. Our little bundle of joy is now 6 months. I was watching some video we took of Eden when she was just a few weeks old and it is AMAZING how far along she has progressed since then. As of now, she is still the VERY busy girl she always has been except now she is doing the following: rolling over, grabing anything in site, jabbering (all the time), trying really hard to sit up (I give it one more week and she will be doing it on her own), scooting (she hasn't mastered the arms so it's just the legs pushing her around with her face to the floor - haha) starting solids, oh yeah and TEETHING! That's right Eden sprouted 2 teeth last week! One has come through more than the other and it's so cute. She's been quite the handful as I'm sure it bothers her, but so far not as bad as I think it probably could be. We have been so blessed by her and can't picture our lives without her. She is so much fun and it's so amazing to see her growing and learning beautifully!

Here are some pictures I took of her this morning. It was chilly which made me excited because I got to put her in this cute little outfit - perfect for the weather. Enjoy and stay tuned for Eden's 6 month photo shoot!

I've Been Tagged!

I have been tagged by my sis-in-law to post the 6th picture off the 6th file of my pictures on my computer. This is a pretty funny picture. It is a little blurry, but this is Nick and I at his fraternity's (BYX) formal in December 2006. I think it was like a couple weeks before we got married. We are so crazy on the dance floor, but we always have so much fun!!



Erin, Jenn, and Melanie...tag your it!!!!

Eden's 5 Month Photo's

Last night we took Eden's 5 month pictures. It was so fun. She did great and we got some great shots of her. We took her to this little park with fountains and pretty bridges and they turned out soo cute. Here are several from the shoot - the rest we will put up on my website in the next couple days. Click HERE to check them out!

Yummy, easy, and healthy crock pot meals!

I just LOVE my crock pot!! We use it at least twice a week. Here are some yummy recipes that are super easy!! I am all about easy recipes with easy ingredients that are pocket friendly too. So here they are...



1.) Chicken and Dumplings
Ingredients:
-1 can 98% Fat free cream of chicken soup
-Boneless, skinless chicken breasts
-1 Can bisquits (any kind, I use grands or HEB brand)

Directions:
-Pour cream of chicken soup in the bottom of your crock pot
-Fill empty can of chicken soup with water, add to crock pot
and stir
-Lay chicken breasts in crock pot and sprinkle with salt and pepper
-Cook either on low for 6-8 hours, or high for 3-4 hours
-30 minutes before you eat use 2 forks to shred chicken in crock
pot, then add biquits (cut up to size of dumplings you like)and
allow to cook for 30 more minutes,then ENJOY!

2.) Pot Roast
Ingredients:
-Rump roast
-Potatoes (opt.)
-Carrots (opt.)

Directions:
-Season roast with salt & pepper or your choice of seasoning
-Place roast in crock pot and cook on low for 6-8 hours (My mom
cooks her's on high for like 45 minutes first and then switches to
low for the rest of the time and it's great that way, but if you
don't have time it turns out great the other way too)
-*You can also slice your potatoes and carrots and put with roast
and they turn out really yummy. ENJOY!

3.) Beef tips (Thanks to the Mosiers)
Ingredients:
-1 package stew meat
-1 can 98% fat free cream of mushroom soup
-1 packet french onion soup mix

Directions:
-Pour can of cream of mushroom soup into crock pot
-Fill half of the empty can with water, pour in crock pot and stir
-Add stew meat and stir
-Cook on high for 3-4 hours or low for 6-8
-*Serve over rice or egg noodles ENJOY!

4.) Love Soup (stew)
Ingredients:
-1 large can stewed tomatoes
-1 can tomato paste
-1 large can tomato sauce
-1 package stew meat
-2 potatoes (chopped into bite size pieces)
-1 cup carrots (chopped)
-1 cup frozen corn
-1 cup frozen green beans

Directions:
-Add all ingredients to crock pot and stir together
-Cook on low for 6-8 hours
-*Serve with Jiffy cornbread (a great fall time meal!) ENJOY!

5.) BBQ chicken sandwiches
Ingredients:
-Boneless skinless chicken breasts
-1 bottle of Masterpiece BBQ sauce

Directions:
-Place chicken in crock pot and smother with BBQ sauce
-Cook on low for 6-8 hours or on high for 3-4 hours
-*You can shred this up and serve on hamburger buns or just
leave whole and eat with your favorite veggies or salad

***You can make almost any kind of chicken in the crock pot. Just buy your favorite marinade, mix together honey and mustard, or just pour some good ole' cream of mushroom on top and there you go!

- I hope you get to try these recipes and ENJOY!!

Joyfully His,
Carissa

Bittersweet

Saturday was a bittersweet day for our family. We said goodbye to my older brother and his wife Kristin and their baby on the way (Cayden). Collin and Kristin were our neighbors and we loved being so close to them. Collin took a new job in Fort Worth and I know that God has amazing things in store for them there. We will miss you guys and we love you!! Pray for them as they transition in the coming months to a new city, new job, new house, and new baby. That's a lot so keep the prayers coming!!

Love ya'll!

Carissa, Nick, and Eden

After a long day...

We CRASH!!


I just LOVE it when Eden falls asleep on my chest. It's so cute and I just want to freeze time and hold her forever.

Here are some new pictures of my sweetie pie!! Notice she is getting more hair - yay!