A Christmas Themed Breakfast

I was browsing Pinterest back in November finding cute holiday crafts and recipes for the upcoming Christmas season. You know though how you always Pin stuff and then completely forget about it though?! That's what I did. But luckily I was scanning through my food board this week for new things to try with the kids and there it was, these holiday themed pancakes. We even had ALL the ingredients [because they're super simple + honestly you could use whatever you wanted I think!] The kids *loved* watching their daddy cook these and they even more so loved designing the faces of the snowman, reindeer and none other but Santa himself!

I've seen things like raspberries used in place of the strawberries for Santa's hat, blueberries for the eyes, a round chunk of cheese for the reindeer's eye, and much more! This took my husband maybe ten minutes top to cook the pancakes and just a few extra for the bacon. I *highly* recommend trying this with your little ones, regardless of their ages! Or heck, do it just for you because what's better than Cool Whip spread all over a yummy pancake?!

Enjoy, Y'all! I would LOVE to see your photos if you try this at home. Tag @ashley_glass on Instagram and use the hashtag #ashleyglassblog so that I can see it! And comment below with which one was YOUR holiday favorite. Merry Christmas, friends!

Goals [and Cookies!]

I am literally down to the wire until I am no longer doing the typical seven hour work day, and I literally can't believe it. Y'all, a year ago I started pinning things to a board called 'Homeschool,' and now I'm like, aw, crud, I haven't planned a dad blame thing! This week I started reaching out to other stay at home moms, seeking some schedule and curriculum advice, and I'm not panicking {yet} but I do feel a sense of urgency to come up with a PLAN.

I know I would get REALLY good at staying in pajamas all day, not brushing my teeth until noon, failing to change the kiddos into regular clothes, and honestly, forgetting to eat lunch because I won't have a set lunch time of 11:30-noon, like I did at work. While I think I'll celebrate my independence and freedom for a few days, I really hope to set some goals and follow THROUGH. So stay tuned... because I'm sure I'll have an update for you guys in a few months {progress? Or #epicfail?} EEEK.

1. Eat breakfast [at the table] with the kids and read a devotional while they eat
2. wash my face and everyone's teeth [maybe throw in a shower?] ;) 
3. start a routine of school work with them / letters, sight words, science projects, SOMETHING...
4. read aloud daily, other than at nap/bed time
5. go for a walk or play out back before naps
6. if laundry gets done, put it AWAY. this never happens [am i the only one?]
7. eat lunch. be healthy. take care of me. 
8. if i don't make it to the gym, do at least one Suzanne Bowen workout a week
9. write for at least 15 minutes a day, whether journaling or in this space
10. cook/prepare 1 meal a week, since my husband is THE chef of the household

Goals are good, right? I never keep New Year Resolutions [I've only kept ONE in my entire life, see that Pin of my One New Pie a Month grid here!] But I think goals are important for everyone. I have a lot of dreams and visions for 2017, and I'm excited to share more of those LATER. But for now, I'd love to hear what YOUR goals are as a mama or a wife. Do you stay at home full time, work from home, work outside the home? I'll still be doing photography + blogging, so I'll definitely be working from home, but I am beyond ready to lighten my load a little bit and have my children be my *main* priority. 

DON'T GO JUST YET... because here is a brand new winter cookie recipe that you should bake ASAP. Chocolate Snowballs, which came from Better Homes and Gardens Christmas Cookies magazine.

1 c. butter, softened
1/2 c. powdered sugar
1/4 c. unsweetened dark cocoa powder
1 tsp. vanilla
1 tsp. orange zest
1/2 tsp. salt
2 + 1/4 c. all purpose flour
1 c. miniature semisweet chocolate pieces
1 c. powdered sugar
{for the record, I would use sweetened cocoa powder OR regular chocolate chips next time, just because i like things on the sweeter side}

1. in a large bowl, beat butter w/ a mixer on medium to high for 30 seconds
2. add next 5 ingredients (through salt)
3. beat until combined, beat in flour, and stir in chocolate pieces [dough will be CRUMBLY]
4. hand-knead the dough until it's in the shape of a ball and cover.
5. chill for 30-60 minutes or until easy to handle
6. oven should pre-heat to 350
7. shape dough into 1-inch balls, place them 1 inch apart on ungreased cookie sheet
8. bake about 15 minutes or until they're just firm and the tops aren't glossy
9. cool on wire racks
10. place 1 cup powdered sugar into large ziplock and add cooled cookies to the bag. shake gently to coat
 

Voila! Easy first winter cookie recipe and the kids loved them.

Disclaimer: my husband totally made these. I was completely stressing out over our dog's surgery and to keep from crying, I took myself to the park for a walk and when I came back, these were in the oven. I married a keeper, guys. A real keeper.

Reese Elisabeth Turns Three

How did this happen? How did three years fly by SO quickly? September 14, 2013 our daughter decided she was ready to be born and in five speedy hours, she graced us with her beautiful self. We were surrounded by so many friends and family, and most importantly for me, my sweet Mama [and Dad and brother Nathan] were here for the whole thing! They missed my son's birth just by minutes, so with Reese, they decided to be in Kentucky an entire week before she came! We missed them at her third birthday party, but my goodness how loved this little girl is! 

For WEEKS she talked about having a "Princess" themed party but kept saying that she really wanted a "Frozen" cake. So I found a picture of the cake and she was so excited. Nords Bakery has been our go-to for our kids' birthday cakes, and they went out of this world with this one! It looked even better than I dreamed, and Reese LOVED it! I thought if we did simple pastel cupcakes, they would look elegant enough and they definitely DID, thanks Kroger!

Shari's Berries sent THE most delicious treats I think I've ever tasted, their cake pops being my absolute FAVORITE. Within seconds of Reese blowing out her candles and us cutting the cake, the hand-dipped strawberries and cake pops were GONE. [I actually told one of my nephews that I really needed the *last* cake pop because I wanted to save it and eat it later that night, ha!] They even sent Reese her very own mini cake, decorated so tastefully with sprinkles. [We enjoyed the treats so much and got SO full at the party, that we saved the mini cake for her actual birthday--photos to come since her birthday is two days away] ;) 

I remember the second my sweet girl was set in my arms, staring down at her as she so easily nursed, and I thought, "She's done it... She's completed our little family, and I am so in love." For the first few months she was quite possibly the easiest baby in the world, which is saying something because her brother was textbook Babywise. She had some funky spurts, maybe a little colic or just tummy sensitivity, and I'll never forget our first Christmas with her... it was the first Christmas I didn't make it back home to Michigan because she was sleeping so terribly and I was way overly stressed out. But really, she fit so well in our family--she was the cuddly baby I had prayed so hard for, she slept perfectly in my tired arms, and I held so tightly to every single month of her babyhood. 

Now here we are... three years later, and I'm holding perhaps even tighter to the toddler years. The LAST year we will have a toddler! As exhausting as some of those two-isms and threenager bouts are, how I love these stages!! Reese wore her Frozen Ana dress for her party this year and later that night I told my mom, "She was just SO happy the entire time." Everything about it really was just magical." 

ProFlowers sent us some gorgeous bouquets for this special event and everyone complimented how gorgeous they were. They also lasted for an entire week after the party and there's probably nothing I love more in my house than fresh, beautiful flowers. 

Some of my best friends and ALL of our local Kentucky family made it for the party, and I was just reminded of how incredibly blessed we are. Even my brother and sweet sis-in-law came from Nashville, which meant SO much to Reese (and ME!) The cousins all cheered her on as she opened gifts, and at the end, she opened her very special doll house that my parents sent her. 

Reese Elisabeth. Our little firecracker, our adventurous spirit. She's beautiful and brave, curious and intelligent. And I thank every single one of you who help us love her! 

Favorite Phrases:
"Mommy don't put your hair up!!!!!!" [okay this one is actually most despised phrase...but hush]
"I love you to the moon and back." 
"Are you sweaty, Daddy?!" 
"I like your shirt. I like your hair. You look SO pretty!" 
"I poooooooped!" 

Favorite Books:
Pinkalicious
Pat the Bunny
The Bible Storybook
Frozen Songbook

Favorite Songs:
Fight Song
Stand by You
Let it Go
Oh Holy Night
Silent Night
Sunshine
Moon Song [I don't want to live on the moon]

Meals With my Man: Rustic Peach Pie

2015 was my year of pies. It was the first New Year's Resolution I've EVER kept. I'm a little sad to say SINCE December I haven't made another one until this week, with my handsome hunk of a husband. Full disclosure: he came up with this recipe and did most (ahem, all, ahem) of the work, (except for rolling out the crust)...What can I say, I have probably used up all my die-hard-pie-baking-motivation with the twelve I did last year! ;) 

Ingredients:
6 Fresh Peaches
1/3 Cup Flour
2/3 Cup Sugar
1Tsp Cinnamon
2 Tbsp Half & Half
¼ cup Brown Sugar
Store Bought Flat Pie Crust (to save time), OR you can use my Grandmother's recipe here

Directions:
-Bring a pot of water to a rolling boil. Score the bottom of the peaches with an X, not too deep, just enough to pierce the skin. Place in boiling water for 60 seconds, and remove with a slotted spoon. When the peaches are cool enough to handle, gently peel the skin. Slice the skinless peaches into eighths, or whatever size peach you like.
- Place in a large bowl. Add the flour, sugar and cinnamon to the peaches and gently toss until combined. Roll out the pie crust into a 9 inch circle. Pile peaches in the middle of the crust leaving about 2 inches of crust to the edge. Fold the edge of the crust around the peach filling. Brush the edge of the crust with half and half, sprinkle crust and top of peach filling with brown sugar.
-Bake at 375 degrees for 30-35 minutes or until the crust is golden brown.  

This recipe works with many different fruits, blueberries, strawberries, apples, etc. Don’t feel confined to peaches! If you've given this recipe a go, leave a comment! We would love to hear what kind of fruit YOU used!