Ode to the Newton's

This weekend really was one of those delicious ones full of family, friends, babies, and children (crying cause they had so much fun they don't wanna go home), and some classic down-home girl activities on the Rox.....

Seriously y'all a delicious weekend with the fam....and speaking of delicious, can I just say that I am oh so proud of my attempt at a classic Newton family recipe.. Proudly brought to you by.....

A very special old school measuring cup from Gma Newton's...I wasn't lucky enough to ever get to cook with her or even know her really well at all, but I've heard so many inspiring stories about what a great southern lady,  wife, and mother she was. She was apparently a FABULOUS cook which my M-I-L totally takes after... :) Luckily, she shares recipes and secrets with me!

Um yea....pretty much the backbone to all Austin, Newton, Batten, Allen, and other Various Clement family cooking....It is a must-have for your kitchen!!!!!

So, as any true southern girl would do for their husbands who love jelly and such, we will stock up for the winter. So I spent a lovely Saturday morning heading out to the Brooks Farms in Timberlake with my fave M-I-L (mother-in-law for y'all that aren't in the loop) to pick my own strawberries. Now, my hubby loves to get down on some delish strawberry preserves that his Mama makes (and his lovely Gma made before her). So I attempt Grandma Newton's recipe and get down with my first round at canning things this year! Wooo hoooooooo...Hey it's what we are supposed to do................

 Let me just stop for a minute and pay tribute to this right here.....

"I'm an old southern woman! We're supposed to wear funny hats and grow things in the dirt! I didn't make the rules!"

Gotta love the classic verses from Steel Magnolias....

 So Anywho...., nothing made me more excited than the pop...pop....pop......pop..pop of the lids sealing so that I knew my canning adventure was a fo' sure success....Now here's what we got....... Wooooooooowheeeeeeeeeeee

You daggone skippy this is some good stuff!

Not only did I concoct a classic newton Recipe on Saturday......I got to actually get down Sat. night with some of my fave Newton/Austin "hostages." 

The two newest hostages.....and oh how we love some football.....good day for representin' our teams via super comfy T-shirts

Most of us ladies deemed ourselves the hostages over Christmas this year.....we are married to the Newton men...lovers of all things fried, battered, canned, jellied, or made by their Mama's.....Hey...we love em' anyway! Other than losing Grandma last year, all the times I have spent with the Newton family have been extreme fun! 

So naturally, when we get together we do it RIGHT!

Beginning with some seriously good groceries.............then some real life...on the Rox...activities! 

A little Corn hole Action.........

check out my super-hot hubby gettin down to some corn hole.....

brotherly love....this is serious stuff

 Some lightnin' bug catchin'.......

.....And some FROG catchin'......

Who knew my baby would be such a lover of 'God's Creatures'? ...and amphibians for that matter...and she loves bugs....it's this planet we are on ...i swear it is.....;) 

 All I gotta say is...at least we can say these children grew up doing the same things we did....chasing lightning bugs, catching frogs, and crying cause you had so much fun you didn't want to go home.... Seriously, the most precious thing about families is children and babies...which is why we like to squeeze them as shown here.....

what a widdle sweetie pie!

"Auntie (that's me) you seriously need to go get my paci...and some bug spray....thanks"

Q-T-PIE! Eden capturing lighting bugs!

Mimis... as shown in this photo are of the special kind....they think everything we do is shweeeeeeet! We need more of those.....

 And finally....we have the "men folk"............most of which sit around catchin' up (cause they are too full to get up and actually move.....) or, they wanna get in on the action and skunk their son in some corn hole

Exhibit A.....to the right...Wayne Austin......actually smiling.............enough said.......

catchin' up? or waiting for round 2 with the dessert table?

So, as you can see...... as long as you keep us well fed and well entertained we are quite the happy crew. There gives me no greater joy than sitting around, sharing stories, and making new memories with new family. I love to hear them tell stories about Mr. and Mrs. Newton and the lovely memories they all have of them. I think they would both be proud of how this family has turned out and they would be so proud that we are all still hanging out and having a good ol' time. So here's to you Newton family.... <3 XOXOXO