You all are so gracious to enjoy and inquire about my family, so this year I’m going to try to do more posts and updates on my parents especially, with Lauren and Parker as well. With the addition of baby #2 to the family, it’s going to get more exciting in our family as we welcome another little girl to love and dote on. We have thoroughly enjoyed having Parker around and watching her grow and learn. She’s a little doll and her age at almost 2, is adorable to watch. She’s like a little sponge and I’m sure life will continue to be adventurous with her around.
Lauren and Parker were home over the weekend, for a very short visit. Lauren wanted to bring Parker home one more time before she turns 2 and can’t fly for free anymore. Life is about to change now with 2 little girls, so I do not think she will be flying home a lot from here on out. Driving will be in their future, which means less trips to Georgia. We will all have to make more trips down to New Orleans, I’m sure. Baby Iris is due April 30th and my sis will head down there for a few weeks to help out.
We try to take mom and dad out to lunch pretty often, since she feeds us so much, so we went out to their favorite fish place last week. I took advantage of them getting dressed and going out to take a recent picture. Dad looks like he’s been beat up, but he’s really healing up from the dermatologist. He’s been dealing with skin cancer on his face for at least 20 years and they keep going back and cutting more every few months. He’s a trouper (duly noted spelling) and handles it all in stride. They are in remarkably good shape for their age and I’m happy to have longevity in our family genes.
Back to the weekend, we spent some time at my sister’s and mom and dads. Of course, Parker is always the center of attention and we love just watching her. She loves dogs and Buster especially. We have to watch her with Buster in case she gets too rough with him. She is not a gentle little thing, but tends to be rough at times. He loves playing tug of war with his toys.
Lauren’s baby bump is really showing now. Three more months to go!
Mommy and daughter.
They haven’t taken her spring horse down to NOLA yet, but it will go on the next truck trip down. I’m sure she will enjoy it when it gets to her house. She had fun bouncing up and down.
Someone has to help her bounce now, but eventually she’ll get the hang of it and can grow with it even more. My poor sis has had a hard time of it lately. She had hip replacement surgery in December on one hip and then on top of that a kidney infection, so she is trying to get well and we are hoping that she recuperates completely very soon.
Sweet smiles! Parker is really talking now and it’s so cute to hear her put words together.
She’s into everything, as you can imagine. She loves getting into Nana’s porch cabinet and finding toys.
She also loves to draw and has her own toys at mom and dad’s house.
Sitting in great-grandaddy’s lap, just like her mama did at that age.
Getting kisses from Nana.
And when asked where Baby Iris is…pointing at her mommy’s tummy. We’ll see how she does as a big sister. We are not sure she’s ready for that yet.
Here’s a feast to share with you! Now, don’t be too jealous, this is one of our family faves and we served it on the good china. Mom has always fried up potatoes for us and sometimes French fries, but a lot of the time, she just cuts them round and fries them up. These are almost like potato chips and we had hot dogs to go with it. I asked her if she had a slicer to cut these up, but she did it by hand. She spoils us!
Bruce had grilled some ribs and brought those over to share.
Hot dogs at our house would not be complete without my mom’s special sauce. She has been making this for us since I was a kid and we love it! Here’s how she makes it, it’s a mixture of mayonnaise, mustard, and ketchup.
Equal parts mayo and mustard, then add ketchup til it’s a golden yellow, not too much though. Add chopped dill pickle and onion. That’s it!
We absolutely love this mixture and it’s perfect on hot dogs!
Fried potatoes, mama style!
She has a Guardian pot that she has always fried potatoes in that came from her mother. I don’t ever remember not seeing this pot in the kitchen and it’s always used for deep frying. It’s definitely well seasoned!
Does your mom cover her electric stove plates with tinfoil too? Mom has always done that as long as I can remember.
My plate!
We said the blessing and Parker clapped. The girl can eat.
She finished up with a healthy muffin for dessert. Lauren feeds her really well and is trying to keep her on a good healthy food track as long as possible.
Parker remembered the drawing feet game from Christmas and insisted that they do it again, so Lauren obliged. She took off her shoes and socks to get ready.
Then grandaddy helped her put her socks back on and she watched her mom build a wall with the blocks.
Her favorite game is pushing down the blocks, of course. Isn’t that what kids do?
It’s always a joy when they get to come home for a visit and we revel in it until the next time. The next time I see Lauren and Parker will be after Baby Iris is born and mom and I will go down there for a few days to see everyone.
Thank you all so much for being interested in our family and what all we do. It’s been such a nice surprise to me that y’all are so interested in that part of my life and I’m happy to share with you. Family is the best and I have an exceptional one!
Giveaway winners posted for Creating Success at Home! Robin is the winner and has not emailed me back!
Beach Club giveaway winners have been posted too!
Just a note about giveaways! If you enter, please check your emails, because you wouldn’t believe how many times I get no reply from the winner and have to choose another one! I don’t want you to miss out on a great prize!
Thank you for sharing!
Each time you post family photos – especially of your parents – I cannot help but get teary-eyed. These photos are so much like my own parents – except my mom died in 2012 and now my dad (about the age of your father) is in long-term care and doing so poorly. I want to remember the precious final years we had together and so itch to go back several years and cherish the time we had. People – try not to get caught up in the ‘busy-ness’ of life that you don’t do justice to your parents and grandkids. Rhoda, I know you are more than grateful to still have your parents – and that they are in relatively good health. Take care of them and keep on posting. AND the photos of your mom’s potatoes and the ‘fryer’ remind me of my late mother-in-law – another great cook from that generation. Love them all.
Thank you, Becky! I’m happy to share my parents and family with all of you who have lost yours. Family gets more precious with each passing year.
Rhoda, we had frozen little bitty fish last night for dinner and I was telling my husband how I could use a good dose of what some of our Februarys have included which was a nice jaunt down to Gulf Shores, Alabama and daily going out to eat the most scrumptious fish…so many I never even knew existed.
So when I opened up your post and saw the first picture of your Mom and Dad the room around them told me yawl were out at a fishery in the South.
Loved your family photos, going to be a Nonna in August for the first time. Your pictures increase the anticipation.
Oh and that hot dog…I know it has got to be lunch here, that looks amazing!
Love your family update. Your mother’s cooking is so similar to my Mom’s. I can almost taste all of it and I miss my folks absolutely every day. Parker is going to be a wonderful big sister. Thankfully she will have time to adjust and love baby Iris before she is big enough to “invade” Parker’s floor space. Thanks for sharing.
I’m the crazy mom of 7 who wants to remind everyone to cut the slices of hot dog (like on Parker’s plate) in half or better yet, quarters. We’ve had our scares, believe me, and I just want everyone to be safe and sound. Lovely update. That hot dog sauce is so intriguing…
http://health.usnews.com/health-news/blogs/on-parenting/2010/02/22/kids-and-killer-hot-dogs-3-tips-to-prevent-choking-on-food
Thank you for mentioning this. I’m an occasional visitor to this blog, and actually read through the comments to see of anyone else noticed this. Our rule when ours babies were this age was that the food had to be cut to the approximate size of their thumbnail. (even bananas)
It is easy to see that the love runs deep in your family. Thanks for sharing with your readers!
My Mom did that too, covered the stove top rings in foil. Easier to keep clean.
What a beautiful family.
What a nice family! Your mom’s “chips” look dangerously delicious! I think my boys would love your mom’s hot dog sauce – I’ll have to try it out!
Your posts about your family are so endearing. I never comment on blogs but I think I almost always do when it’s your parents. And your sweet nieces. I had to smile over the foil lined element on the “stove”. Why is it the best cooks have basic ranges and often the ones with red knobs never even get turned on?!? LOL!!!
Sweet memories for all! And, there is nothing like Momma’s cooking. I always enjoy seeing that and know she loves feeding her loved ones.❤️
I so enjoy following you with your blogs. You have a great writing style that makes everyone feel like family. And…what a beautiful family!
I have never heard of this hotdog “sauce”. I’m sure I would like it:) Here in Springfield, Il we have a horseshoe–start with bread on the bottom(varies from Texas toast to hamburger buns) then your meat of choice(hamburger, ham, chicken, buffalo chicken, etc) cover this with fries then cover with melted cheese sauce(every restaurant has their own “secret cheese sauce”). Yes, basically…a heart attack waiting to happen. But, mmmmm….so good!
Thanks again for sharing!
Rhoda, you and your family are just the best!!!! I love your posts when you feature your sister and niece and her little one and your folks….I am feeling like you’re all a part of my family!!!! The pictures are so sweet. I love the name Iris! can’t wait to see and hear about that new baby girl! Thanks always for such a great blog. Just love your family!
Rhoda, I just don’t know where to start. My heart is so full just seeing your post of the family. Life is so short not to love family. Just keep sharing. May you and your family be blessed by His wonderful grace!
Beautiful post of your family! I love that you share them with us. I feel like I know them and it’s fun to get updates. Parker is so pretty and getting so big. Your parents are so precious. Thank you for sharing updates.
Rhoda – thank you for sharing your precious family with us. And I am going to try that hot dog sauce!
Your dad is not a trooper, he is a trouper. Please look it up. Bloggers all over misuse the word trooper.