My little guy and I watched Holiday Baking Championship over Christmas and it got him thinking that he wants to learn how to make “the big cakes with lots of frosting.”

He came in the kitchen while I was making dinner tonight to inform me that he’s going to be a baker when he grows up.  

“That’s great! You want to finish dinner?”

“Baker, mom, not cooker.”

“Got it. Can I be your assistant?”

“You sure can, I’ll need a ride to the shop.”

“I’m your girl. Can I taste test all your treats?”

“I’ll have paying customers for that. But you’ll have to pay the people.”

“The customers?”

“No, the 30 people who work for me. You do the business, I’ll do the baking.”

I think I just got a raise. I know the benefits are great!

#BakerNotCooker #LoveMyGuy #TheFrostingIsHisFavorite #BakingForKids #Baking #FutureChef #HolidayBakingChampions #FoodNetwork #CookingEncouragesMath #EncourageKidsToBake #KidsSayTheDarndestThings #OutrageouslyOrdinary 

My favorite snow days are the ones where fresh powder blankets everything for the day, and then goes away the next. #ImAHappyGirl #ILoveSnowDays #SnowCream #RaleighSnow #OutrageouslyOrdinary

I love the snow and am glued to the window to watch it fall.  I’m also watching the show… I have one dog who thinks the snow in the backyard is a big fat turkey dinner made just for him. The other one who thinks the yard is under attack and is barking at every single snowflake. 

Every. Single. Snowflake.

Love these snow days!

#SnowDays #SnowflakesAreHuge #WorthTheWait #SnowInRaleigh #DogsPlayDays #OutrageouslyOrdinary 

My heat is broken and snow days are on their way … It’s like the Lord is blessing a Netflix binge in bed.

#Amen #FindTheBlessings #Netflix #TheCrown #MyBedIsMyFavoritePlace #OutrageouslyOrdinary 

My dog just turned her nose at the expensive food, then sat in front of it licking herself for five minutes.

I’ve never eaten dog food, but it can’t taste as bad as what she’s licking.

#DistinguishedPalate #JustSayin #Dogs #BackToTheStoreTomorrow #TheBoyDogLovedIt #OutrageouslyOrdinary 

When you’re stuck in a room with your kids for hours, you cave and do those Facebook quizzes… but what sweet answers!  It’s inspired me to give them a little quiz every year to see what they are into and how much they have grown.

WITHOUT prompting, ask your child these questions and write EXACTLY what they say.

The Daught 11 yrs old
My Guy 7 yrs old

What is something I say a lot?
The Daught  Cheese and rice! (in place of bad words)
My Guy I love you 

What makes me happy?
The Daught When I use my elbow to massage your back (It’s her trick to stay up later, win-win)
My Guy When we’re home (simple but so true)

What makes me sad?
The Daught It hurts your heart when we fight
My Guy When we’re not home

How tall am I?
The Daught Almost as tall as I am 😁 5’8″
My Guy 2 inches taller than Grace 

What’s my favorite thing to do?
The Daught get massages and have me walk on your back
My Guy cuddle with us

What is my favorite food?
The Daught I don’t know, salad
My Guy lasagna
(Both wrong, correct answer is carbs)

What is my favorite drink?
The Daught sweet tea and coffee
My Guy Bai watermelon drinks

If I could go anywhere, where would I go?
The Daught The Maldives
My Guy Ireland

Do you think you could live without me?
The Daught hmmmmmm, no (grounded!)
My Guy big nope

How do I annoy you?
The Daught When I try to hide something, you know it. You’re all-knowing (and don’t you forget it!)
My Guy sometimes when you’re trying to be funny, that can be annoying (ha!)

What is my favorite TV show?
The Daught It used to be Grey’s Anatomy but… do you watch tv shows?
My Guy you don’t really watch tv

What is my favorite movie?
The Daught Sing, you love that pig!
My Guy Sing, ’cause you sing every song

(I haven’t been able to share My Cousin Vinny with them quite yet)

What is my favorite music to listen to?
The Daught you like everything you can sing with
My Guy Christmas music

What is my job?
The Daught you run our school
My Guy to keep us safe ❤

How old am I?
The Daught 36
My Guy 38

What’s my favorite color?
The Daught most of the time it’s green
My Guy green and blue

How much do you love me?
The Daught this much (arms out wide)
My Guy big as the sky

#KidQuiz #KidsSayTheDarndestThings #OutrageouslyOrdinary 

I had a leftover bag of ice in the freezer that was taking up too much room so I thought I would pour it in the ice maker. It was frozen solid so I banged it against the fridge once to loosen it up.  I gave it one more good smack to really break it apart, splitting the bottom of the bag in half and sending ice all over the kitchen floor. As we were getting it all cleaned up, the Daught looks at me with a big smile and says, “The good news is the kitchen floor is super clean now. The bad news is, this is crazy funny and is going to come up again later. Probably in front of other people.” #TheSarcasmIsStrongInThatOne #AlwaysLaughAtYourself #WatchingForTinyPuddles #DontCryOverSpilledIce #TheDaught #OutrageouslyOrdinary 

I have lived in my house for 12 years. I know her, she knows me.  Much like a family member, I have gone blind to her wrinkles, scrapes and scars.  

Until I have someone new coming to visit. Then every scratch, stain and imperfection lights up like a flare. 

The “crap corner” as I lovingly call it, with all the papers, mail and, well, crap that accumulates on the counter.

The toys that I find in hidden places all over the house that reminds me of one of those Highlights Magazine hidden pictures pages.  

The once white couch that has morphed into a more sandy color, with its many, many pillows that cover specific spots on the cushions but always seem to be laying on the floor where the fallen fort was built.

That stain on the carpet from six Thanksgiving’s ago that keeps coming back no matter how many times I’ve shampooed it.

The layer of dust on the ceiling fan blades that can only be matched by the blanket of dust behind the TV.

The grubby fingerprints on the walls heading towards the kids rooms that make me want to bathe both the walls and the children.

And that big scratch on the wall that has the perfect picture hanging over it to hide it until I can get the whole room painted.

As I look around the house and soak in all my blessings, I can’t help but think the shabby chic look was a trend long before it became trendy, in houses across America that chose family over the fuss.

#FamilyOverFuss #LivedInLook #KidsMeanMoreThanClean #SorryNotSorry #PlayTimeTrumpsChores #BlessTheMess #LaundryNeverEnds #MagicErasersReallyAreMagical #OutrageouslyOrdinary 

#HappyNewYear #ThisIsYourYear #HappinessHumorAndHope #OutrageouslyOrdinary

We wish you a wonderful Christmas full of love and laughter!  May the new toys entertain the kids long enough for a good nap, may there be plenty of batteries in the drawer and may all the recycling fit in your trash can!

Merry Christmas!

#MerryChristmas #MountainsOfWrappingPaper #NapTimeIsComing #TheMostWonderfulTimeOfTheYear #ILoveTheirGiggles