taco melts.

Sometimes getting dinner ready on time is an adventure in our house. Especially now that Cayden has soccer practice twice a week at 6. That doesn't really give us enough time to eat before (and I mean, do I really want my four year old running around at soccer with a full belly?). So we need something quick for after.

These taco melts (while not the prettiest thing I've ever made), certainly help when in a time crunch. Add in the fact that you use Pillsbury Grands Biscuits, and it's even faster! I'm talking 30 minutes from start to finish. Another bonus? The boys like them. With sometimes picky eaters, trying a new recipe can be a huge fail. But thankfully, they both love biscuits, so that made this a huge success!

We don't eat a lot of red meat in our house, so I was easily able to adapt this recipe to use a veggie crumble in place of the beef. I was also out of salsa, and while I think I would have loved it in the melts, those little picky eaters of mine might have objected to chunks of tomato in theirs. And maybe I'm not the most talented in the kitchen, but you can see from the photos above that there is no way I could keep my biscuits mashed together. I also had a ton of meat leftover...

So while they're not the prettiest, I did decide that next time the boys could help me make these. I'm sure they'd love squishing out the biscuits into big circles. And getting to choose how much cheese went into each melt? They'd be in heaven for sure.

Do you need some fast recipes for those crazy nights? Check out this Pillsbury recipe booklet with tons of new ideas for you to try. Let me know what your favorite is!

I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls Collective. The content and opinions expressed here are all my own and are not indicative of the opinions or positions of General Mills. Compensation was provided by General Mills via Clever Girls Collective.

cayden beatboxes.

Y'all, I completely forgot about this video that we took of Cayden on our way to Tenneessee back in mid-August. Jeremy will break out beatboxing on occasion, and now Cayden does it too. So, we captured it on video while in a moving vehicle. It could possibly make you sick, so just close your eyes and take a listen. It's good stuff. Promise.

roll tide: 2013

It's that time of the year again. I even managed to already have a pumpkin spice latte! But anyway, football time! And the boys are representing their team today – both with a lovely "Roll Tide!" randomly escaping their lips. Happy college football, y'all!

(For years past: 2012, 2011, 2010 & 2009)

picturesque.

We were blessed to be able to travel east (way east) this past weekend to Wadley, Alabama. When were told it was in the middle of nowhere, that was more correct than it could be. The drive over was absolutely beautiful. Rolling hills, small towns, vast areas of nothing more than trees... And when we arrived at our destination? So worth the two hour drive.

Why would we drive two hours east randomly on a Saturday in August? To visit our friends Tom and Jennifer of course! We were invited to Jennifer's parents house for the afternoon, and we're so glad we took the time to go. The house was completely breathtaking. A cabin with a full 360º porch with swings, hammocks and rocking chairs everywhere you looked. A fabulous chicken coop in the back yard; the boys even got to gather fresh eggs! (And now they want their own chickens. We might have to see what can be done about that.)

After exploring the house area for a bit, Jennifer took us on a jeep ride through some of the other property. Y'all, we were so far out that all you could hear were bugs and one of the two creeks that run through their property. The boys were thrilled to walk through the creek barefoot. And all of the rocks! Sawyer was in rock heaven.

When we came out the other side of the creek, there was a huge pecan tree with two tree swings. Sawyer wasn't having any of the swing action, but Cayden? Oh, Cayden was in swing heaven! Once he mastered how to hold on and sit on the seat properly, he was laughing and squealing with delight.

After a bit more exploring, we set out for dinner and Jon Boy's Smoke House in Roanoke. I'd say this was probably the most authentic southern roadhouse I've ever been to. Small town atmosphere where our waitress knew our hosts (down to what they ate and drank). It was covered in old garage signs and posters, with small antiques tucked away here and there.

Overall, we were so glad to make the trek there and back. The scenery was perfect, and the day away from the social media world was very welcome. It didn't hurt that we got to hang out with two of the coolest people we know on top of it all.

first day of 4k.

Y'all, I felt like supermom this morning! I got up, cooked pancakes for the boys, packed Cayden's lunch, took first day photos AND got out the door on time! Amazing! Until I got to work and realized that I forgot to pack myself lunch. Or any snacks. Cue sad violin.

But, BUT!, first day of 4K for Cayden! We were talking up school this morning at breakfast and he gave us the sad, "But I want to stay with Sawyer all day." Sigh. It's tough being four and your parents are making you do something out of your comfort zone. Heck, even I started getting a little misty-eyed. Since we left daycare in March to have Nana watch the boys, this is literally the first time we've left Cayden anywhere for an extended period of time in six months. And my mama heart almost got overwhelmed with that this morning.

Instead of letting that feeling encompass my thoughts, I said a little prayer and put on a bright face for my oldest. And at drop-off? You'd never know he was unhappy about going to school. He jumped down out of the car and walked into school like a big boy. I'd loved to have lingered a bit and watch him walk all the way in, but I was the first car in line at that point, so I said another little prayer for Cayden to have a good day, and drove off.

Don't you love the bag the school provides is as big as Cayden? They have three year olds that have to carry these bags too. It's adorable. Oh, and for some fun comparisons, first day of school last year.