What's In a Smile?

I've been thumbing through some of my pictures lately, and I can't help but concentrate on a couple of things I've noticed with Ginger B lately. Please allow me to list them, for I do love a list.

1. Silliness!! When did my child become such a funny, beautiful, strange face-maker?? Seriously!! It does totally match her little personality, and I do hope she holds on to it as she gets older. However, I would prefer a little more serious facial expressions for Christmas cards, senior portraits, and wedding pictures.

2. Gap! As in the big one in her front two teeth. Never in my wildest dreams would I have ever thought that a gap could be so precious!! Obviously, she loves it too because she's constantly showing it off.

Smile on, sistah!!

Happy 4th!

Happy 4th of July from the Fords!!

Fun in the Sun!

It is H-O-T outside!!! We Ford gals are very delicate, so we like to stay in the air conditioning. However, we do love anything that has to do with water and staying cool, so we filled up Ginger's sprinkler mat and she had a ball!! Well, at first she resembled a cat being put in a bathtub, but once she realized the tall sprinkles wouldn't hurt her, she enjoyed it. Hope you are enjoying your summer! It's slowly creeping away :( Sniff, sniff!

I'm beginning to think I'm on the phone too much! She loves carrying her little cell around and holding it up to her ear.

Stayin' cool!!

Sweet!!!

Good Eats!!

This past weekend I made two incredibly delicious desserts, Butter Pecan Bundt Cake and Lemon Blossoms. They couldn't be any easier to make, so you have to try them!!!

Butter Pecan Bundt Cake

*1 Butter Pecan Cake Mix

*1 container of coconut pecan frosting

*1 C milk

*1 C oil

*4 eggs

1. Combine cake mix, milk, oil, and eggs together and then add frosting and mix some more.

2. Pour into bundt pan and bake at 350 degrees for 50 minutes.

It is so moist! The great thing about this recipe is that you can mix and match different cake mixes and frostings.

Lemon Blossoms

Muffins

*1 pkg of yellow cake mix

*1 pkg of instant lemon pudding mix

*4 eggs

* 3/4 C oil

Glaze

*4 C confectioner sugar

*1/2 C fresh lemon juice

*1 lemon zested

*3 tbs vegetable oil

*3 tbs water

1. Mix cake mix, pudding mix, eggs, and oil together and pour into mini muffin tins, filling each only half way up.

2. Bake at 350 degrees for 12 minutes.

3. While muffins are baking, combine confectioner sugar, lemon juice, zest, oil, and water together to make the glaze. (Make sure you sift the conf sugar to get rid of little lumps.)

4. As soon as the muffins come out of the oven dip them into the glaze and place on a cooling rack or baking sheet to dry. (I recommend letting them set for at least an hour before placing them in containers.)

If you love lemons then these will be right up your alley!! Paula Deen made them the other day, and I literally sat with my mouth open the entire time. They are deeeelish!!! (And super duper easy to make!!!)

Lemon Blossoms

Four Lovely Years

Four years ago, I married the love of my life. Hutson is a wonderful husband and father, and I love him more today than I did when we married. He makes me feel beautiful and loves me despite my short comings. I couldn't ask for more!! Happy anniversary, Hutson! I love you!!!

2006- engagement pic

2010- birthday trip to the zoo for baby girl

Happy Father's Day!!

I am so very blessed to have such a wonderful relationship with my dad. I love him with all my heart and wouldn't trade him for any other daddy in the world!! I've decided to list the top 5 reasons he is the best:

1. His heart- My dad truly is a wonderful example of God's love. He loves unconditionally. He has taught me compassion, humility, and forgiveness.
2. Protection- While I was in high school and college, my dad made me call him when I was leaving to go somewhere and call when I got there. This was very frustrating at times, but I clearly see now why he did it. Also, he constantly made sure my car was running smoothly by checking the oil and tires. This may have made me a little spoiled :) Right, Hutson?? :)
3. Humor- I undoubtedly received my sense of humor from my father! We love the same sitcoms and laugh at the same jokes. Uncanny!
4. Respect- I have the utmost respect for my dad!!! I can remember as a child waiting for him to come home and knowing that I was going to get a spanking for something that I had done. He would give me the ever-so-popular "This is going to hurt me more than it will you" speech. And after spanking me, he would reassure how much he loved me and why he disciplined me. As a parent, I truly, truly respect this!!
5. Papa- He is the best Papa in the world!! He loves my daughter with all of his heart and shows this by spending tons of time with her. He comes over at least once a day to play with her. Ginger loves her papa!!

Happy Father's Day, Daddy! I love you!!!

My daddy and me

Papa and Ginger

I also want to wish my hubby a Happy Father's Day!! He is such a good daddy, and I love watching him play with Ginger. He has no idea that I listen to him talk in silly voices and make up hilarious songs while he is bathing her at night. He is so wonderful with her!!! I love you, Hutson!!

Hutson and Ginger

Show Us Your Life: Proposal Stories

I'm a huge fan of the blog Kelley's Korner, and every Friday she has a segment called "Show Us Your Life" where she gives readers the opportunity to share about themselves and link their blog to hers. This is the first time I'm "linking." I couldn't pass up sharing our engagement story.

In April of 2005, I was student-teaching in Columbus, and my boyfriend, Hutson, was working in Greenville. (Obviously a long-distant relationship...boo!!) I treasured every weekend that we could spend together. We had talked about getting married and even looked at rings, so I was convinced that he was going to propose any day. After several weeks of not dropping to one knee, I had kind of given up hope and become frustrated. On April 30, Hutson had made plans to come home and see me; however, at the last minute, he called and said that a buddy of his wanted him to come fishing in Oxford. I was livid!! My friends called me and asked me to go to the movies and out to eat. We went to see A Lot Like Love and then to eat at The Veranda. I had complained to them the whole night about how upset I was that Hutson would choose fishing over being with me. They completely agreed and convinced me that this girls' night was what I needed. As we walked into The Veranda I got a little sentimental and said, "This is where Hut and I had our first date," and as I turned the corner he was sitting in a booth with flowers. He was in a suit and tie (which is totally not him!). I was still oblivious to what was going on and turned to my friends and said, "Look! Hutson's here." They nodded their heads and walked to the back of the restaurant. (I love that they were in on it the whole time!!) He then walked up to me and proposed! Sweetest proposal ever...despite the fact that I wanted to punch him in the face an hour before. The funniest thing about the proposal was that Hutson couldn't decide if he wanted to get down on one knee, so the entire time he's asking me to marry him he is doing awkward lunges up and down trying to make up his mind. He is the best!! Love him!!

Hutson and I at our rehearsal dinner

Four years later and a beautiful baby girl!!

So, how did your "honey" propose??