Thursday, October 29, 2009
Traditions
I have many traditions from my childhood that I will be passing onto my kids but I would also like to start some new ones! I would love to hear some of your family traditions for Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas...that is if you're willing to let me steal them :-)
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
The Great Pumpkin!
Tonight I watched The Great Pumpkin with my boys...it was a very special moment for me. For 6 long years I watched this wonderful cartoon with my husband and animals always wishing that the next year it would be with children, as well.
I had such a wonderful childhood...filled with so many special memories, so there are alot of things that make me very nostalgic for those days. I have always wanted to pass those feelings and memories onto my own children. But, year after year passed with no kids on the way so I lived the holidays through my nieces and nephews, trying to create memories for them.
Now, the wait has ended! One of my childhood traditions was started tonight for my children! It's surreal! Tonight my home felt complete. I can't wait for the rest of the year to pass on more holiday traditions and start new ones.
I had such a wonderful childhood...filled with so many special memories, so there are alot of things that make me very nostalgic for those days. I have always wanted to pass those feelings and memories onto my own children. But, year after year passed with no kids on the way so I lived the holidays through my nieces and nephews, trying to create memories for them.
Now, the wait has ended! One of my childhood traditions was started tonight for my children! It's surreal! Tonight my home felt complete. I can't wait for the rest of the year to pass on more holiday traditions and start new ones.
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Irresistible
After the boys were born the Dr. advised against sex for 6 weeks....while I had no problem with this because it was the last thing on my mind, my husband squirmed a bit. After 6 weeks passed he became very handsy...and today I figured out why he couldn't wait any longer!
I am irresistible. Can you blame the guy? I mean, this is what he came home to today: pj pants still on, t shirt with no bra and large sagging boobs hanging to my sides, a large dark spot on my shoulder (baby spit), 1 broken nail on each hand, hair that dried in a scrunci while I slept last night and teeth that were not brushed until 11 pm tonight! He's a lucky man.
I am irresistible. Can you blame the guy? I mean, this is what he came home to today: pj pants still on, t shirt with no bra and large sagging boobs hanging to my sides, a large dark spot on my shoulder (baby spit), 1 broken nail on each hand, hair that dried in a scrunci while I slept last night and teeth that were not brushed until 11 pm tonight! He's a lucky man.
Monday, October 26, 2009
In the Spirit of Halloween...
Here are some of my "spooky" photographs. I was looking through my old photography from college and found these pictures that made me thing of Halloween.
Sunday, October 25, 2009
REAL FOOD....well, kinda.
We got the ok from the boys Dr. to start trying some cereal out on them! Yay!! Something different! 4 months of bottles was getting very old! Joe and I were so excited when we left...sad, but true. It meant we got to change up the routine and that they are turning into little people now...woohoo!! Not to mention how exciting it will be for the boys to actually get to start eating something instead of drinking smelly formula!
We started with rice cereal. Parker did very well. He looked a little freaked at first but soon start moving his mouth like he was chewing....so freakin cute!! Chase was a different story. He screamed. He didn't not like it. He turned bright red. We gave up and hoped for better results the next day.
Turns out, after a few days of trying that Chase prefers oatmeal. So, a week later and they are both doing the motions of eating and actually getting the cereal down. I can't wait to give them fruit!!!
We started with rice cereal. Parker did very well. He looked a little freaked at first but soon start moving his mouth like he was chewing....so freakin cute!! Chase was a different story. He screamed. He didn't not like it. He turned bright red. We gave up and hoped for better results the next day.
Turns out, after a few days of trying that Chase prefers oatmeal. So, a week later and they are both doing the motions of eating and actually getting the cereal down. I can't wait to give them fruit!!!
First time having cereal
Joe cracks me up in these pictures
messy faces
Friday, October 23, 2009
Learning to Cook
Over the years my husband has taken on the role as house cook while I have been the baker. My hubby likes to cook and Lord knows I wouldn't want to take away something that makes him happy..wink, wink! But, now that I am a stay at home mom, cooking a meal for my family is apparently the right thing to do...sigh!! So, I must learn to use ingredients other than sugar, vanilla and butter! And so I have tagged pages in the MANY cookbooks and cooking magazines that I have always been obsessed with (weird, huh?) and started trying out recipes.
Tonight I made Cannellini Soup and Oven Chicken Salad. I started this about 5 minutes before twin feeding time...note to self: must learn to schedule my day! It was a very hectic night but for the most part the food was good and the hubby was impressed!
Cannellini Soup
3 15 oz. cans of cannellini beans, drained and rinsed
6 cups chicken stock, veg. stock or water
2 cloves garlic, sliced
2 Tbs extra virgin olive oil
1 medium onion, chopped in a medium dice
2 ribs celery, chopped in medium dice
4 ripe tomatoes, cut in small pieces (I used 2)
1 tsp kosher or sea salt
1/4 cup fresh parsley, roughly chopped
1 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
1. Place beans, stock and garlic in a large pot. Bring to boil, reduce to low heat and cont. cooking for 20-30 minutes, stirring occasionally.
2.Meanwhile, heat a large skillet over medium high heat. When the skillet is warm, add olive oil and saute the onion and celery for 5-6 minutes until soft and translucent. Next, add the tomatoes and salt and continue to cook another 3-4 minutes.
3. Add the vegetable mixture and parsley to beans. Cook another 15 minutes or so to meld the flavors together. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese.
Oven Chicken Salad
2 cups cooked chicken, cut into 1/2 inch cubes
2 cups celery, thinly sliced
2 cups 1/2 inch bread cubes, toasted
1 cup light mayo
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
1/2 cup sliced almonds, toasted
2 Tbs lemon juice
2 tsp dry minced onions
1/2 tsp salt
1.Heat oven to 400 degrees. Spray a 2 to 2 1/2 quart oval baking dish with nonstick cooking spray
2. In a large bowl, combine the chicken, celery, 1 cup of bread cubes, the mayo, 1/2 cup cheese, the almonds, lemon juice, minced onions and salt. Spoon mixture into prepared baking dish. Top with remaining bread cubes and cheese.
3. Bake for 20 minutes, until bubbly, Serve warm or at room temp.
Tonight I made Cannellini Soup and Oven Chicken Salad. I started this about 5 minutes before twin feeding time...note to self: must learn to schedule my day! It was a very hectic night but for the most part the food was good and the hubby was impressed!
Cannellini Soup
3 15 oz. cans of cannellini beans, drained and rinsed
6 cups chicken stock, veg. stock or water
2 cloves garlic, sliced
2 Tbs extra virgin olive oil
1 medium onion, chopped in a medium dice
2 ribs celery, chopped in medium dice
4 ripe tomatoes, cut in small pieces (I used 2)
1 tsp kosher or sea salt
1/4 cup fresh parsley, roughly chopped
1 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
1. Place beans, stock and garlic in a large pot. Bring to boil, reduce to low heat and cont. cooking for 20-30 minutes, stirring occasionally.
2.Meanwhile, heat a large skillet over medium high heat. When the skillet is warm, add olive oil and saute the onion and celery for 5-6 minutes until soft and translucent. Next, add the tomatoes and salt and continue to cook another 3-4 minutes.
3. Add the vegetable mixture and parsley to beans. Cook another 15 minutes or so to meld the flavors together. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese.
Oven Chicken Salad
2 cups cooked chicken, cut into 1/2 inch cubes
2 cups celery, thinly sliced
2 cups 1/2 inch bread cubes, toasted
1 cup light mayo
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
1/2 cup sliced almonds, toasted
2 Tbs lemon juice
2 tsp dry minced onions
1/2 tsp salt
1.Heat oven to 400 degrees. Spray a 2 to 2 1/2 quart oval baking dish with nonstick cooking spray
2. In a large bowl, combine the chicken, celery, 1 cup of bread cubes, the mayo, 1/2 cup cheese, the almonds, lemon juice, minced onions and salt. Spoon mixture into prepared baking dish. Top with remaining bread cubes and cheese.
3. Bake for 20 minutes, until bubbly, Serve warm or at room temp.
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Things I Don't Need...But Had To Have
Since starting with Kraft 2 years I have accumulated some "Kraft Cash" from various sales contests. I never really kept track of the "dollars" until 2 weeks ago when I told my boss I was not coming back to work. I scurried to find my password to the website so I could redeem my "dollars" before it was too late. After hours of looking through an online catalog of things I could purchase with my dollars I came across a few Must Have's.
The first item added to my cart was the Charlie Brown Holiday Collection on dvd. God these shows bring back warm, cozy, wonderful feelings. I remember being so excited when they would come on as a kid...sitting on the couch snuggled in a blanket, knowing that the holidays were right around the corner! And, to this day I still watch them every year always wishing I had kids to pass that feeling on to! Instead, I have tried to pass it on to my niece and nephew. Every year they come over sometime in December and stay the night with Aunt Amy and Uncle Joe. We light a fire in the fireplace, drink hot chocolate, decorate the tree in the room they sleep in, light a fire in the fire pit, go look at Christmas lights and watch a Charlie Brown Christmas!
Well, now I have my own children who will snuggle on the couch to watch It's the Great Pumpkin, A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving and A Charlie Brown Christmas. I know these shows come on every year and I can dvr them and watch them over and over but that just wont do....I HAD TO HAVE the box set!
My niece and nephew watching A Charlie Brown Christmas at our house
The second item I added to my cart was a Keurig single cup coffee maker. I have eyed these things for years! What a cool idea...make different requested coffee's for your guests or family with the touch of a button. If someone wants decaf, another wants flavored coffee or cocoa then all I have to do is insert a little cup of grinds and it's done...no multiple pots of coffee...GENIUS (it doesn't take much to impress me)!
The coffee maker came with a box of k-cups to try. There are all types of roasts, flavors, teas and cocoa. There are also many more to chose from on their website! Too bad I don't like coffee!! I already own a hot chocolate maker, a coffee maker and an espresso maker...I add TONS of sugar and milk to coffee if I do drink it or I add chocolate and whipped cream. So do I need this appliance? Some would say no...but it makes Hot Chocolate and Chocolate flavored coffee so I HAD TO HAVE it!!
The other items that I had to have were a Dirt Devil Broom Vac to add to my collection of cheap, no suctioning stick vacs, a set of cookie sheets for ALL of the cookies I plan on baking this year and lastly, Samsung's version of the Ipod touch. I actually had nothing to do with the last item..my husband decided he HAD TO HAVE it!
The first item added to my cart was the Charlie Brown Holiday Collection on dvd. God these shows bring back warm, cozy, wonderful feelings. I remember being so excited when they would come on as a kid...sitting on the couch snuggled in a blanket, knowing that the holidays were right around the corner! And, to this day I still watch them every year always wishing I had kids to pass that feeling on to! Instead, I have tried to pass it on to my niece and nephew. Every year they come over sometime in December and stay the night with Aunt Amy and Uncle Joe. We light a fire in the fireplace, drink hot chocolate, decorate the tree in the room they sleep in, light a fire in the fire pit, go look at Christmas lights and watch a Charlie Brown Christmas!
Well, now I have my own children who will snuggle on the couch to watch It's the Great Pumpkin, A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving and A Charlie Brown Christmas. I know these shows come on every year and I can dvr them and watch them over and over but that just wont do....I HAD TO HAVE the box set!
My niece and nephew watching A Charlie Brown Christmas at our house
The second item I added to my cart was a Keurig single cup coffee maker. I have eyed these things for years! What a cool idea...make different requested coffee's for your guests or family with the touch of a button. If someone wants decaf, another wants flavored coffee or cocoa then all I have to do is insert a little cup of grinds and it's done...no multiple pots of coffee...GENIUS (it doesn't take much to impress me)!
The coffee maker came with a box of k-cups to try. There are all types of roasts, flavors, teas and cocoa. There are also many more to chose from on their website! Too bad I don't like coffee!! I already own a hot chocolate maker, a coffee maker and an espresso maker...I add TONS of sugar and milk to coffee if I do drink it or I add chocolate and whipped cream. So do I need this appliance? Some would say no...but it makes Hot Chocolate and Chocolate flavored coffee so I HAD TO HAVE it!!
The other items that I had to have were a Dirt Devil Broom Vac to add to my collection of cheap, no suctioning stick vacs, a set of cookie sheets for ALL of the cookies I plan on baking this year and lastly, Samsung's version of the Ipod touch. I actually had nothing to do with the last item..my husband decided he HAD TO HAVE it!
Monday, October 19, 2009
Happy Early Halloween!
I couldn't wait till Halloween to post this picture. Another blogger mentioned the website Picnik for fun editing so I had to go play. I could spend hours on this website...it's alot like photoshop but free!!!
Friday, October 9, 2009
Things that make me happy
1. The boys have slept 10+ hours the last week...YAY!!!!! I never thought it would happen!
2. It's 57 degrees in Houston! I want to light my fireplace and make pot roast. I am going to sit on a rain soaked chair in the backyard when I finish this and enjoy the cold weather!
3. It's holiday time and I have kids!! I love the holidays and every year I have tried to create memories for my nieces and nephews, now I get to start doing that for my own kids! I will carry on traditions and create new ones. I would love to hear other blogger's holiday traditions.
4. On that note...we are taking the boys to the pumpkin patch tomorrow. They will have no memory of it but I will and there will be 47 pictures for them to look at when they are older!
5. There are some new shows that are actually good this seasons. I am really enjoying The Middle and Modern Family.
6. Speaking of tv...I am so happy that Roseanne is back on Nick at Nite...granted it's on at 2 am but I still find myself awake at that time.
7. I decided to be a stay at home mom....while this makes me happy, it also scares the crap out of me.
8. Alabama football!!! We are ranked #3 just after Texas....my husbands favorite team. We are hoping they both go to the championship game...the boys will surely be clad in Bama outfits!
9. We left the boys for the night at grandma and grandpa's last weekend so we could go enjoy some dinner and drinks with friends. I was so nervous and sad but really needed to go out and unwind. We had a great time and jumped that hurdle.
10. My pets...my first children. My cats don't really have an opinion on the boys but my dogs are wonderful with them. I feel guilty alot because they don't get all of our attention, they have to share it now. But, they are getting more used to the new family dynamic and we shower them with love everyday.
2. It's 57 degrees in Houston! I want to light my fireplace and make pot roast. I am going to sit on a rain soaked chair in the backyard when I finish this and enjoy the cold weather!
3. It's holiday time and I have kids!! I love the holidays and every year I have tried to create memories for my nieces and nephews, now I get to start doing that for my own kids! I will carry on traditions and create new ones. I would love to hear other blogger's holiday traditions.
4. On that note...we are taking the boys to the pumpkin patch tomorrow. They will have no memory of it but I will and there will be 47 pictures for them to look at when they are older!
5. There are some new shows that are actually good this seasons. I am really enjoying The Middle and Modern Family.
6. Speaking of tv...I am so happy that Roseanne is back on Nick at Nite...granted it's on at 2 am but I still find myself awake at that time.
7. I decided to be a stay at home mom....while this makes me happy, it also scares the crap out of me.
8. Alabama football!!! We are ranked #3 just after Texas....my husbands favorite team. We are hoping they both go to the championship game...the boys will surely be clad in Bama outfits!
9. We left the boys for the night at grandma and grandpa's last weekend so we could go enjoy some dinner and drinks with friends. I was so nervous and sad but really needed to go out and unwind. We had a great time and jumped that hurdle.
10. My pets...my first children. My cats don't really have an opinion on the boys but my dogs are wonderful with them. I feel guilty alot because they don't get all of our attention, they have to share it now. But, they are getting more used to the new family dynamic and we shower them with love everyday.
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