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!
Thanks for sharing!! Fun!
Yes, we do love seeing your sweet family life. And thanks for sharing your Mothers hot dog sauce. I just wrote it down and can’t wait to try it. I am sure anything your Mother makes is good! God Bless you all!
Perfect post! I smiled at each picture. The love of family is something that is such a blessing. I look at Parker and think of what all of you give her and what she has brought to you all!
That Guardian Service pan sure brings back memories. My mom had a complete set and we used it for just about every meal. I have most of it and still use it so I guess it will be like good cast iron and get passed down for many generations.
I enjoy hearing and seeing your family, Rhoda– Parker is a little doll. Thanks for the hot dog sauce recipe, it looks delicious and I’m certainly going to try it next time I make hotdogs. I had forgotten about putting tinfoil on the burner plates. My mother used to do that. I just may start putting it on mine, too. I’m tired of scrubbing them.
I smiled seeing the foil covering the stove elements. Parker is just adorable. Those cheeks! Thanks for sharing. I love reading about your lovely family!
Parker looks just like her dad so Iris will look like your side of the family for sure. Love seeing photos of your Dad; I’ll bet he’s itching to get outside gardening this year
He sure is! Has already been out cutting his grapevines and plowing the garden.
Precious family! Thanks for sharing them with us!
Love your family updates! Treasured pictures that you and your family will enjoy over the years to come! ❤️?
I love seeing your family life. Really brings it home that you are a real and normal person. For those of us who have lost our parents its a special treat to see yours doing so well. They are adorable. And that little Parker – too fab!!
Rhoda, I’m not even hungry but started salivating when I looked at your plate. I’m making a note of how your mom fries potatoes and her wonderful sauce recipe. She looked so pretty at the restaurant all decked out in those necklaces. My favorite posts are the ones about your family. I feel like you live next door to me. I’m excited for Parker’s little sister to be born. I know you realize just how blessed you are to still have your parents. I can just feel the love in your family.
There’s nothing on this earth as precious as family. Yours is just too sweet. I love the “rocky” horse and will have to give that hot dog sauce a try for sure.
Rhoda i enjoy your family so much they remind me of mine ,but i have lost all of mine and miss them so much ,i am glad u enjoy spending time with them for they are precious, Parker is so precious looking forward to seeing the little one .Thank you for sharing your family and your mom’s wonderful recipes
I so enjoy following along with you. Your family is so down to earth, reminds me of my own sweet parents who are no longer with us. My mother did indeed use the tinfoil on her stove burners and my dad too loved his garden and had a large one with a variety of produce each year. The hotdog sauce sounds perfect, thank you for sharing with us! God bless!
Such a beautiful family. The love is obvious. Rhoda, I think you must have learned the fine art of accessorizing from your mama! Her outfit is so pretty in that first picture. Your poor daddy…my fair, freckled skin is starting to require more trips to thedermatologist too. Really enjoyed your sharing today. Thanks!
How fabulous to have four generations all together, there is nothing, in my opinion, as wonderful as family and spending time together. I loved reading this, it has put a real smile on my face, thank you 🙂
Love potatoes done that way. My hubby and daughter got me a dehydrator for Christmas and I plan on dehydrating some this way and then all I will have to do is fry them. They will be ready for me. We also like this sauce on our hot dogs as well. Sometimes I add just a bit of horseradish to it for a change. LOVE seeing your family especially your Mom and Dad. They do seem like a sweet couple! My husband and I celebrated our 40th annv. on Sunday. Just doesn’t seem like it’s been that long. I feel old. lol
Loving that FINE china! 🙂 Hey you want to spend ALL the time you can when you can finally get together. It’s been about 3 years since I’ve seen my sister and I’d be doing the SAME thing if she got to come see me. ALSO you, our Mom and Dad need to live close to me and that way you wouldn’t be but an hour and half from your sister in N.O. 🙂 Good luck to her in April! OHHH and your Dads face… I know how he feels I keep having to get them taken off me to. 🙁 Had to have one surgery already on the things. THAT isn’t fun when it’s on your face. I thought I was going to have to do another one but he said he thought he had caught that one in time to not to have to do surgery. THANK the Lord!!!!!
I love hearing about your family. I feel like I know them!
What lovely photos of your loving family. Thank you for sharing them.
Smiles
I always enjoy your posts about your family, Rhoda! Just when I’ve sworn off hot dogs and potatoes, you show your mom’s meal with that awesome looking sauce! Hoping that your sister will be in tip-top shape when little Iris arrives!
I enjoy the family updates, thank you! Your chip and hot dog lunch has me drooling, there is honestly nothing better in my opinion. Your mom’s cooking reminds me of my grandmother’s cooking which I still have the honor of being blessed with.