Mom to Mom {Playgroup}

Recently I joined a playgroup.

Before Andrew was born I worked full time, and had not tried to join any groups before then.

Now that Im a newly SAHM, I realize the importance of really getting out.

I've attended a few events so far, and I've really enjoyed myself.

Andrew is to small yet to know what we're doing, but Samantha has fun learning how to play, share, take turns, etc.. Of course all this will go into hyper-mode in a few months when school starts for her.

But I find if I get my kids out ... especially in the AM for a few hours, it makes for a happier house later in the day.

So in attending these playgroups, I have ALWAYS come to find at least one mother who has had a baby with Colic as well! And I tell you.... NO ONE knows what you've gone through other than people who have gone through it themselves... you cant even begin to imagine, or begin to understand unless you've lived it.

A few conversations makes you feel so great and really helps other moms know their not alone. It felt so good to hear another mother say..."My son/daughter slept with us for the forst 4 months too," "He/She would cry all day long .. for hours... I was going out of my mind" "We tried Colic Ease, we tried acid reflux meds" "All I would do was pace the house holding him/her for months"... Gosh it was so nice to hear that my unimaginable lifestyle a few weeks ago was the same as so many other Moms out there.. And you look back and realize.. hey... this made me a stronger mom.. Now even on Andrew's crabbiest days.. I dont even stress out in the least... Because I went through HELL...and I'll take a no napping/crabby/teething baby....(with maybe a glass or two of wine.. haha)

So playgroup has been good. And the Moms I've met have been so sweet, and real, and wonderful to talk with.

This week we had a pool playdate and it was so much fun!

Next week we'll be at the pool again.. We cant wait!

WILW {June 27, 2012}

WILW
Linking Up with Jamie HERE

The Pioneer Woman's Flat Apple Pie.

It came out great. Its very rustic looking, which I love.

The dough/crust is what makes this pie.

I made one pie and froze the additional crust it made.

And drizzled Caramel Sauce over the piece before I shoved it in my mouth at 11pm last night...

TMI???

Thai Chicken Noodle Salad

I found this in an old FOOD magazine by Martha Stewart.

One thing that this recipe calls for is Vermicelli Rice Noodles.. which I've never cooked with.

You kind of just soak them, instead of boiling them.

It was a different style of dinner for sure.

Samantha got a pass for this meal...she got to have something a litte more American..

My New Pastry Cutter

I had not owned one before yesterday.

I made the pie crust WITHOUT it.. and noticed it wasnt blended as well as it needed to be

So im looking forward to making the crust again.. the right way with my pastry cutter...

New Bling

Momma needed some styling for summer...

New Cupcake Recipe
Im loving that the two kiddos were very very good this morning while Momma tested a new cupcake recipe!
I got the recipe from Pinterest of course...
Annies Eats!

The Great Outdoors

We've been having so much fun soaking up the summer sun..

I thought I'd capture a few good memories from the last few weeks

Samantha is knowingly obsessed with the Wizard of Oz
She found her own "yellow brick road"...(in front of a law office)
Everytime we walk by... or stroll by... we must take a few walks around..
or skips.. as she always does
Colored Chalk...

We love playing with chalk..

Making Chalk Roads, Chalk Paint..(dipping chalk into water...and making a paste, Chalk Wizard of Oz Ruby Slippers, Emerald City.. etc..

Feeding ducks...I dont think this will ever get old..

This is her and Daddy's thing..

Such a Dadda's Girl

And me and Andrew are enjoying ourselves too..

He's such a sweet snuggle bunny.

Andrew LOVES the water...

They've been chilling in our little baby pool.. but we just got a bigger one..

The HOT HOT weather has subsided for the last 5 days or so... but when it comes back I look forward to getting in the pool with the kids too..

We love summer!

GO GO GO Weekend!!

Weekend.. It was a busy one!

We were GO GO GOING....

We started off our Friday night in a little town not far from ours

There is a little "Main Street" area and we walked around all the shops.. ate dinner, and walked a little more..

One of the amazing shops was this cupcake bakery

I was  in... L..O..V..E..

Its my mecca.. If I can not own, just work at a cupcake place at some point in my life, I'll be a happy girl..

There cupcakes were moist, delicious.. and amazing flavor.

I got a Nilla Birthday Cake to go.. after sampling about 4-5 free mini cupcakes.. I see that's how they get ya...

Vidlers.

You have to Google it.. I cant really explain

They have so many things from toys, housewares, gifts, odds and ends..

I found these cupcake papers and cookie cutters.. and some gifts.

We came home and everyone was pooped...

Saturday we did some errands, and then took the kids to the "big" park

Its big because compared to the one we can walk to.. the equipment is bigger... thats all..

But Sassy has a name for all the parks..

From the big park.. you can see the hospital where I was born, AND the window I looked out of, from my birthing suite.... during our 25 + hours of labor 5 months ago..

I had to walk behind the park a little and find my window with Andrew.

In all the pain, scary moments, etc.. It sounds CARAZY... but I'd go back to that day to remember my sweet baby being brought into this world..

The big guy was pretty chill all weekend..

He's so much fun... and getting bigger by the day

{daisies in our yard}

Saturday Afternoon

We went to Joseph's 5th Birthday Party

{Andrew 6.23.12}
Samantha got right in the pool with Grammy.. It was about 3 feet .. so she thought it was pretty neat that she was standing.

Cousins Clare and Joe opening gifts for Joe

The theme was Dinosaurs!

The cake was delicious white with strawberry filling!

The girls

Clare and Samantha

Clare taught Samantha how to "belly swing"...

Sunday

The Botanical Gardens

I'd never been!

We found out there was a Thomas the Train Exhibit until July 1st

So we thought it was a good place to take the kids..

So we packed a lunch and headed there around 10am

They were really really good the whole time.

I snapped a few pics of some interesting and beautiful flowers and plants.

Orange Orchids

The Thomas Exhibit

It was pretty cute, and interactive.

There were buttons all around on boxes that kids could press to activate the trains.

Outside there was a children's garden and they had crafts going on.

Samantha made a hat and a flower out of coffee filter and pipecleaners

I fed Andrew in the car while Daddy and SJ had a little picnic lunch on a small hill outside the Botanical Gardens.

{our happy boy}

Samantha went back to the Children's Garden one more time before it was time to head home.

Naptime was next ....

And that was our busy weekend!

Grilled Pizzas

We love making homemade pizzas.

But its way too hot to fire up the breadmaker

So I bought two kinds of Naan Bread, and we had all the ingredients on hand

We decided to try grilling them!

First Up:

Barbeque Chicken Pizza

BBQ Sauce

Cheddar Cheese

Chicken Pieces (cut or torn)

Chopped Scallions/Green Onions

Assembled and ready for the grill

Second Pizza:

Mushroom and Pepperoni

Pizza Sauce

Pepperoni

Mushrooms

Mozzarella Cheese

Oh, and a sprinkle of Oregano at the end..

The grill was on low, and we moved them to the top rack shortly after b/c the bottoms were getting burned. Next time we're gonna start on the top rack and move to the bottom to finish them off...

They turned out super crispy and delicious..I definately see us doing more of this soon!

WILW - {Slippers & Sleepers}

Here's what Im Loving Today!

Our DIY Ruby "Sandals"

SJ has ruby slippers (target brand maryjanes)

So anyways.. she wears them all over the house.. even on 90 degree days with socks..

For her 3rd Birthday I know she'll want to wear some kind of ruby slipper to go along with her Dorothy dress.

So this is my DIY Ruby Sandals attempt

Old Navy Red Sandals - $2.00 - (30% off sale!)

Red Glitter Glue - $1.00 - Dollar Tree

Red Glitter ( 2 tubes of red) for $1.00 - Dollar Tree

and voila!

Im loving a better sleeping Andrew

Last night we put him down at 9:30.. and he slept till 7:15 am..

this is the FIRST time he's EVER slept this long in his little life.. EVER..

My first reaction was, OMG is he breathing??????????

He was fine.. all cuddled up..

And he even rocked his naptimes today as well..

When Baby's happy......MOMMA's happy!!

 Im semi-loving his first cereal feeding...

Its almost bittersweet.. first food.. oh dear .. and so it begins, next thing you know its Puffs, Veggies, Cheerios.. oh dear .. this baby is growing so fast.

We waited till I think 6 months with SJ.. But Andrew is twice her size, and already 20lbs..

Im taking it slow and following our Dr's guidelines.

1 TBSP to start.. and I think he swallowed about 1 tsp, then got mad, so I took him out of the Bumbo...

We'll try again..

Ok y'all may think im nutso.. Im loving Macarons

But I was watching "GIRLS" last night on HBO (another love)

and she was eating a Macaron..

I've always been fascinated with them..

NO ONE in our area sells them, bakes them, they are no where to be found.

Sad

I mean, dont they look amazing?

 Do I need to travel to a big city to actually taste one of these?

I looked up some recipes, and they seem a bit complicated.

Maybe I should have tried making them in my single-gal-living-in-an-apartment days...sometimes I wish I could go back for just one day.. haha..

Anyways.. they look amazing... I hope I get to taste one or several someday.

Im lastly loving this cute fabric i bought recently for burp cloths

The anchors & gators are for Andrew

The other two will be gifts :)

And thats all Im loving for now!