Today's a holiday! 

This is what's happening at our house! 

Daddy's been gone since Friday! 

There were lots of hugs and snuggles tonight! 

We're so glad he's home! 

Happy Valentine's Day! 

I hope you have a day full of love today and everyday!

Remember that no one loves you like HE does! 

Lots of love, 

The Barfield's

Kyle.Amanda.Konrad.MaryWesley

Every Day with the Barfields

 Lots of joy…that's what's been going on around here lately. We have had some pretty awesome weather. Konrad has been so excited to get out and play. We've had picnics, pond time, and now…well there's an ice storm. However, that just means extra time for this mama to finish Valentine's for Konrad's class…and… extra time to clean before our guest arrives this weekend. Here's what we've had going on lately... 

Day 36- We had a cutie and a football player at our house. Konrad had to wear his football jersey, so he and Grandaddy could play football. 

Day 37- We had a surprise visit from Bibby. She came just in time for me to whip up some supper. I wish someone could come entertain my littles every night, so I could cook supper quickly and peacefully. She read to them. Konrad clearly was in charge here. 

Day 38- The weather was absolutely awesome. Of course, we had a picnic with our NuWay. What's better than a NuWay hotdog and sweet tea?!?!?!

Day 39- Well, can you say that your 78 year old grandmother bought her a new pair of UGGS this winter? I can. This lady knows she has style. I mean she dresses to a "T" every day. I just thought it was hilarious when she came over to show me her new boots. 

Day 40- Another beautiful day! Konrad enjoyed finding every stick around the pond and throwing it. This little boy might live at the pond when he gets older. 

Day 41- Get organized, Amanda! Well so far we've stuck to it, but church is cancelled tomorrow night. I guess i'll move all the meals up a slot. I love having a written menu to hold me accountable. 

Day 42- My sweet, Mary Wesley, is seven months today! Where has the time gone? She is growing so fast. One of the sweetest babies I know!

I'll share two more pics from the week below. We had a lot going on this week. I've been thinking about my girl's high school bible study a lot the past few days. I have the privilege of teaching their bible study on Wednesday nights. I have the best group of girls around. We have the best time together, and honestly I look forward to it every single week. Things are so different in their world than in mine. I can't fathom a lot of things they face each and every day. Things are much different now from when I was their age. Last week we sat and talked about "life". Things that were going on at home, at school, in their relationships. A lot of times I just sit in listen. Then i'll fire a bomb in the conversation. The look on their faces is priceless. They love it though. It's like they crave to hear truth. They crave someone to tell them that their thinking is not true, and this is really what's true. If we can't give our children and youth the truth then what do we have to give them. The truth is what we all want. It's the only thing that sets us free. Are you walking in truth? Are you craving someone or something to tell you that what you're doing is wrong? And, then let them gently tell you that there is hope and freedom. God's Word is truth. That's where the answers are. The look on my girl's faces when I point them directly to the problem they are facing in God's word is like watching a fireworks show. That's where we have to turn to be set free. 

Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.

John 8:32

Mary Wesley loves to be outside too. She loves grass. I love when babies and explore new things! 

Mary Wesley went to her first basketball game this week. She was terrified of the buzzers, whistles, loud people, and loud clapping. Pretty much the whole thing scared her. She did warm up a little bit, but one and half games was plenty for her. She loved watching the cheerleaders. What does that mean?

Check back on Friday for the concluding post of "Getting out of Tow-Packing the Littles"! 

Get Out Of Town

Taking the Leap

Ok, so let me just start off by saying my intentions for this two part series of getting out of town and packing for little ones is not to intentionally ruffle any feathers. Just because I don't mind leaving my children for a few days doesn't mean that it is right for everyone. This post is really just to offer encouragement if you have been thinking about going on vacation and helping you know how to pack your little ones so you aren't worrying about different things. Ok, so don't be sending me hate mail or saying mean things about me! :) I also want to say that I LOVE MY CHILDREN! They are absolutely one of God's most precious gifts here on earth. I love spending time with them. I have the privilege of being home with them almost every single day. We try to make the most of every day. I LOVE them!
Now, you can keep reading. 

Before I got married my best friend and I would take off to the beach or Atlanta to shop in a heartbeat! I mean we would make a last minute decision and GO! We each would grab our pillow, down comforter, and some clothes and be headed to the beach in NO TIME! It didn't matter. We could do that. I mean we even packed up and moved to Argentina for a month. We are that crazy!!!

 Then we met our soul mates and got married...things changed some. We still would give our husbands at least a week notice and then head on out...destination...maybe the beach...maybe Atlanta...maybe just to Tanger for the day. Our husbands were ok with it, because we asked and gave them a heads up plenty of time in advance.

 Then...I had my first baby...LIFE CHANGED! (Of course, it changed for the better.) But...I have to tell you...it didn't stop us! HAHAHAHA! (I'm laughing at myself right now, because Lindsey and I are so crazy.) What would we do? Well we packed Konrad up and headed off...Can you believe it? Sometimes our husbands would go and sometimes they wouldn't. Occasionally I would leave Konrad with a grandparent. (I'll get there in a minute.)

Then, what happened? Well, I had another baby...Baby number 2! We STILL go on trips. With two kids, sometimes I leave one and take the other. Sometimes I leave both. And yep...still other times...we take both!!! We still go on trips!

And now...I have two kids, and she has one. We haven't been to the beach or Atlanta yet, but we've been out...multiple times! And yes...we have a beach trip planned...soon! I'm telling you...nothing has stopped Lindsey and I yet from enjoying some time at the beach or off to shop. 

Why is that? Why do we continue to do the things we love?

We made a promise a long time ago...when we each got married, when we each had children...we WOULD NOT let that get in the way of doing things we absolutely love to do! Is that selfish? No, I don't think so. We would never leave our husbands or children if we thought we didn't need to. Trust me...there have been plenty of times I have said NO and plenty of times she has said NO. 

We respect each other. We each understand. 

Our marriages and our families come first! 

I say all of that to say this...it's healthy to get away some times. It's good for your mind, body, and soul to have some YOU time. You need to have fun with your best friends even after you have children. Listen, if i didn't have friends I would be in a mess. My friends encourage me all the time. They steer me on the right path. They pray for me. Friends are IMPORTANT!

Now, not only is it good for you to have some girl time with your best friends, but it's absolutely mandatory to have some time alone with your husband. I remember before I got married someone gave me some great advice..."Always have one date night a week with your husband!" Now, Kyle and I don't have a date night every week, but we make time for ourselves as much as possible. Just being able to have a conversation where we are both not exhausted and with no interruptions makes getting away WORTH IT. Communication is important in a marriage!

Kyle and I have never had a problem leaving our children with close friends or family to enjoy time for ourselves. Maybe it's because we believe in God's sovereignty. Our children are gifts from the Lord. They are ultimately HIS! He has numbered their days. He is in control of ALL THINGS! In order for us to be the very best parents, we have to take time for ourselves. When you are constantly pouring into your children and trying to raise them in a Godly home…sometimes you need a little break for God to fill you back up.

Where ever you find yourself in this post,  whether it be married or not, having children or not, I really hope you take time for yourself to rejuvenate, get away, have YOU time…i'll be honest…going to the grocery store by myself is considered getting away and having "me time." Maybe you aren't comfortable leaving your child/children yet. That's fine, but make time for you, and if you're married make time for you and your husband. We're all in this together. We are all different. We have to encourage and help each other a long on this beautiful journey God has us on. I'm just sharing with you some ways I think will help you have healthy friendships and marriages even with children in tow.

I hope you will check back Friday to see how I have a peace of mind when going out of town by packing my children to a "T"! Have a great week! 

Breakfast Ideas

Breakfast-it's the most important meal of the day!

While most mornings Kyle and I eat granola bars, Konrad eats yogurt and fruit, and Mary Wesley eats her baby food, there are some mornings that I have time to cook a nice warm breakfast. I wish I had all these healthy breakfast ideas, but I don't. They are hearty, fattening recipes that my family loves. A lot of times when we are on family vacations I will volunteer to wake up and cook breakfast. It's so easy, and i'm up with my kiddos anyways so...why not? During hunting season this past year, I was cooking breakfast a lot. The guys would expect a nice meal when they got through shooting ducks, deer, etc. They chose my cooking over NuWay....sometimes! NuWay is a tradition around here. By the time the kids and I are waking up, Kyle is coming in the door with breakfast he has picked us up from NuWay. 

Anyways, so today I am going to share just some QUICK, EASY breakfast meals you can cook on those special mornings or on those nights when you are craving a breakfast meal. 

The first recipe is a no-brainer. You've all eaten it before.

-The beloved Breakfast Casserole-

Sausage Crescent Breakfast Casserole

1 can of Crescent rolls

1 lb of pork sausage

6 eggs

1/2 cup milk

good pinch of Salt and Pepper

1 1/2 cups of cheddar cheese, shredded

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

Brown your sausage in a pan. 

Whisk your eggs, salt and pepper, and milk together in a bowl. 

Lay the Crescent rolls in the bottom of your sprayed (I use PAM) 13X9 dish. Pour the sausage on top of the crescent rolls. Next, pour your egg mixture over the sausage. Sprinkle your cheese on top. 

At this point you can cover and refrigerate till you are ready to cook. 

Then just put it in the oven for 25-30 minutes uncovered. 

Simple and Delicious! 

I normally serve this with my Cream Cheese Grits!

Cream Cheese Grits

These grits are a hit! They are so rich and creamy! 

Cream Cheese Grits

4 cups of milk

1/2 teaspoon of salt

1/4 teaspoon of black pepper

1 teaspoon of hot sauce (optional)

I cup of quick cook grits

2 tablespoons of butter

1/4 cup of cream cheese

1 cup of cheddar cheese, shredded

Bring milk, salt, pepper, and hot sauce to a slight boil. When milk is bubbly, reduce heat and whisk in the grits. Continue to whisk till they are thick (about 5 minutes). Next add cream cheese, cheddar cheese, and butter. Stir till melted. Taste and add any necessary seasonings!

You'll never make regular grits again!

Rich and Easy! Enjoy!!!

Another breakfast casserole I like to make comes from one of my best friends, Molly Farmer. I can't remember if she made this for me or just told me about it, but it is super easy and delicious. My mom likes to call it "Lake Martin Casserole" because it was such a hit and easy to whip up before a long day on the lake.

Sausage Crescent and Cream Cheese Casserole
1 can of Crescent rolls
1 lb of sausage
1 block of cream cheese (softened)

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees.
Spray an 8X8 pan with PAM. (You can easily put this in a 13X9 pan...just double all the ingredients.) Place half of the crescent dough on the bottom of the pan.

Brown your sausage in a pan.

When the sausage is cooked place the block of cream cheese in the pan. Stir until cream cheese it's melted.

 Place mixture on the top of crescent rolls.

Layer the last of the crescent dough on top.

 Place in the oven for 15 minutes.

QUICK.EASY. DELICIOUS.
Thanks for sharing, Molly!
I hope you all enjoy this.

Other ideas I have for breakfast are popping a batch of Pillsbury cinnamon rolls in the oven. Serve with some cooked bacon and scrambled eggs! How easy is that?
I have recently found these Pillsbury Blueberry Biscuits at the grocery store. Let me tell you what I do. I pop these in the oven. Then I put cream cheese icing on top of them! Oh my goodness...They are  AMAZING! Serve them with some bacon and cream cheese grits!
QUICK.EASY. DELICIOUS.

Let me know if you try any of these breakfast idea. I can promise you they are all delicious. We love breakfast food around our house. Maybe you could surprise your family with a nice Valentine's day breakfast! :)
Next week I will be presenting a two-three post series on packing tips for your little one while you go out of town. Let's admit it...some of you mama's need to pack a little bag and get out of the house for a night or two!
Hope you all have a great weekend!

Every Day with the Barfields

I hope you all are having a great week. It's been interesting around our house the past seven days. Lots of blessings and changes are taking place around our house. From snow in our yard to wild rugs in our house to the best toddler entertainment in our own front yard...we have had it all going on here on the farm. We're continuing to make make memories and learn to take hold of all our blessings each day. 

Day 29- SNOW DAY 2014~ We had SO much fun playing in the snow. Konrad absolutely loved it. He threw snow balls, had a sled ride, and made a snowman. It was Konrad and Mary Wesley's first snow! Fun, fun, fun day!!!

Day 30- "Rise shine and give God the glory, glory!" Those were the first words that came to mind when I woke up to this beautiful view. The snow was still there, but the sun just gave me a glimpse of the blessings God gives us each day. 

Day 31- This little boy was SO happy to see the sunshine and be able to play outside. He played with that ball for about an hour straight. He loves his dogs too! 

Day 32- We're living a little on the wild side here in the country. We have been wanting a rug for our living room since Mary Wesley is starting to crawl. Man, has it been nice! She loves being in the center of everything.
Happy Birthday to my sweet Julia!!!

Day 33- We ran outside after naps to play till the sun went down. Konrad was so excited! I even let him play in the water. He was SOAKED! He wanted a picture with his cats. He tortures these cats ALL.THE.TIME. We have the cats to kill all the mice. I have to say...they're doing a really good job. Anyways, this was a rare moment where Konrad wasn't dragging them around or hitting them with a stick.

Day 34- Konrad is watching the guys get ready for planting pine trees. Having not one but two forms of machinery in our front yard was pretty much like having Disney characters in our front yard. He was in little boy heaven!
Happy Birthday, Uncle Wesley!!!

Day 35- Konrad is teaching Jordy how to shoot his gun.
City boys have a lot to learn here in the country.

I'm noticing that there are no pictures of Mary Wesley on the blog post today. Sorry for that. I love her as much as I love Konrad. I'll be sure to take some pictures of her for the post nest Wednesday. Raising children is a huge opportunity and blessing! I am so thankful for my two children. I'm depending on God to help me be the best mother I can every single day. I am calling on Him to guide our steps as a family. I've been begging Him to give me patience and grace when it comes to disciplining my 2.5 year old boy. (Sigh)
And Kyle...He helps me see that this is exactly how God wants it to be. Always relying on HIM to help us...Always allowing God to guide our steps...Always believing God will provide...
Always making God the center of our home.
God is with us every single day. We can't do this thing called parenthood on our own. We have to rely on the Lord to help us. Staying in His word and encouraging each other will help us make this huge blessing of parenthood bring God ALL the GLORY!
We are blessed, we are blessed, we are blessed! 

Happy Birthday, Wesley!

Happy Birthday, Uncle Wes!

Who is this uncle we talk about?

He's my youngest brother.

He's our mama's favorite.
He used to rip the tails off of lizards just for fun.
He put our dead fish in his pocket because "it was safe there."
He was always friends with EVERYONE in grade school. 

He's got skills.

He's got more plaques on the wall than the rest of us.

He never worries.

He rarely gets upset.

He loves no matter what.

He always sees the brighter side of the situation.

He's as close to a replica of my uncle Wesley that you'll ever get. 

He came as a blessing when our family was grieving.

He makes us laugh all the time. 

He likes to cook PERFECT food.

He will never forget the summer of 2013. 

He's smart. 

He doesn't see black or white.

He's never in a hurry.

He feeds our cats, because we always forget.

He likes to leave "surprises" in our basement. 

He enters my kitchen saying, "What's cooking, Good Looking?"

He always eats what I cook.

He has a girl friend that has stuck with him through thick and thin for 7 years.

He's my daughter's name sake.

He loves Jesus.

We hope you have an awesome birthday, Uncle Wes! 

We love you so much!