Bunch of Stuff

Holy Cow.. Blogging Coma

Well, Im back. Trying to gather what has been our life in August of 2014 

Ill make it short an sweet (hopefully)

Our garden this year has been lush with gorgeous veggies and herbs, and we try not to let a thing go to waste. We made a TON of zucchini cakes one night an tossed them in the deep freezer. I cant wait to find these on a night I dont feel like cooking in the fall. 

Baby P

My sister was here with her precious absoutely perfect baby for a few weeks, and we were just eating him up and loving getting to know our new cousin

Quinoa

I've been turned. I love it.. much better than couscous. Every party or family gathering this summer, and someone always made a quiona dish. So I put together my own spin on it, and it is so good.  Its like a blank canvas really. I just threw together what I had, mixed it with a really yummy red pepper dressing and I was picking at it in the fridge for days.

Surprises

If you follow me on Instagram, I love packaging stuff and giving little packages to people/customers.

Well, our previous Nanny surprised ME one day with the cutest little care package... and a sweet note with it saying how much she thought I needed it.. Boy was she ever right! I love everything about this gift and she is one of thee most thoughtful people I know. Thank you Shea Shea!!!

Cleveland

Well...Andrew's sleep habits and skin, ear and allergy issues had had us about fed up and we decided to take him to the Cleveland Clinic for an objective view and some tests. 

We spent 4 days in Ohio, and he was seen and tested and found to be allergic to a bunch of things... too many to name, Nuts being one main concern. None are extreme but as he grows they could get worse or better we just dont know. 

The fact is he has never ever slept through the night. No, never. 

Im not sure if this is part habit, and part allergies/ears? Who the hell knows. 

We may be headed for another ENT appt in the fall to the clinic to rule out sleep apnea/adenoid issues. Overall he has been sleeping I guess better (knocking on my wooden coffee table)... But the issues are not resolved. Im thankful it isnt more serious.. but also it does bother him at night and I just want he and I (ahem!!!) to get some solid sleep.

The kids were in their glory. A bonus visit to Ohio!

This and That 

So we're back and getting ready for school in a few days now.

The kids have been so funny lately, getting along and Sass being a little momma to her baby brother. 

We've enjoyed the festivals and parties in our village

And Daddy and I even got out for a date night after we got back from Ohio... boy did we need it.

Visiting relatives, and swimming

Running the kids like dogs, hoping A will sleep well.. Sass is a non-issue.. best sleeper ever... 

Completing some Etsy orders.. clothespins and custom stool coming soon

And lastly crossing off the last few things off our summer bucket list.

This week we conquered pancakes.. 

Andrew was a fan 

So thats about it.. 

Im getting ready to be Momma to a Kindergartener.

Im not ready

So not ready. 

Thankfully she is. I even asked her. "do you want me to drive you on your first day, or do you want to take the bus?". She quickly said... "take the bus!".. My big girl has come a long way since crying her eyes out at Nursery School and Pre-K. 

So its the beginning of a whole new world for all of us. 

packing lunches, bus stops, taking care of just one... it will be weird... but change is good.. and I think our girl will embrace it head on. 

Shortcakes in Mason Jars

I had never made shortcake ...ever. Until today. 

I had fresh cream, and fresh berries. 

I pinterested a bunch of shortcake recipes... and in the end I looked on the back of my Bisquick box and tried that recipe... and it is so so good, and easy. 

Shortcake Recipe

2 1/3 cup bisquick

2/3 cup milk 

3 tbsp sugar

3 tbsp butter (unsalted) melted.

Mix all ingredients, drop by spoonfuls on parchment.

Bake at 425 for 10-12 minutes or until golden.

Let cool

Split in half to assemble shortcakes.

I washed a bunch of berries & mason jars.

And made some homemade whipped cream

I used this recipe.

Ahhh. 

It is a very happy fridge shelf indeed. 

I made about 5 different size jars.. and I had leftover shortcakes and froze them.

They are so so delicious..

A good naptime/craft-time snack.

I think I will be making these a lot this summer.

January Happenings {Crafts, Cooking, & Coughing}

Just a few things that have been happening around here

Last weekend we headed out to the county produce store for some fresh veggies, meats, and they sell a lot of bulk items, so we got a huge bag of onions and potatoes

The kids were really good...

Even our Gouda Girl here below...

It was pretty miserable that weekend, so Daddy cut Samantha some wood, and she had a great time just painting it!

 

Since I went to the produce store, I had all the ingredients to try a new pinned recipe

Tortellini Vegetable Soup from Williams Sonoma

It was so good.. and just tastes so healthy

I paired it with another pinned recipe for Honey Oat Bread..

The bread was just as good as the soup if not better

Moist and so flavorful.. It was a perfect meal.

Little Mister has not only been walking, trying to run, but also getting into plenty of trouble..

I dont think Samantha EVER touched a cord, or outlet.. we barely baby proofed.

Not him..

I caught him in the act.. just look at that guilty face.

He knows when he's being bad for sure.. 

Sissy is loving all things dress up lately.

And I added to her obsession by snagging the shoes she has on here..

She now thinks she looks like one of the Fresh Beats.. and dances all around the house singing ...

She was over the moon when I brough them home for her...



Prep for Andrew's party.

I love the site Garnish. As I was about to place an order, I realized I can make one of their products..

and I got out my popcicle sticks, stamp, and stamp pad.. 

 

Not bad huh?

Im thinking either for Cake Pops or Rice Krispie Pops

And in the Department of Breastfeeding..

We're on bottles exclusively during the day.. and last one before bedtime.

During the night he'll nurse only for comfort, I doubt he's getting more than 1oz. but it comforts him.. so thats the way life is right now... I am letting him wean himself out of that stage, or until I go crazy.. whichever comes first...



 

We toured our sparkly new YMCA this week.

Its a huge complex that we've joined to try it out.. and we're also having Andrew's birthday party here!

This is the zero depth entry pool.. kind of like a beach.. it gradually gets deeper and stops at 3 feet in the far end.. I cant wait to take the kids here!

It warmed up a LOT this week.. but was rainy most days..

So... Pinterest inspired craft time for me and Sista..

Heart Crayon Making..



We just cut up old crayon pieces, and she fit them in the heart mold.

Bake @275 for about 10 minutes and then let them cool.. pop em out .. and voila!

It was so nice on Saturday that it reached over 60!

Flip flops were calling my name as I stepped out to go grocery shopping..

Ahhh I love warm weather!



 

And this weekend its been WARM WARM WARM

Andrew looooved it.

He walked and fell a little outside for the first time yesterday. (1/11/13)



 

Samantha however... is fighting a little flu bug or something..

Coughing, and Fever ... so we're hoping she'll get better soon.

 

I had to make a late evening run to walgreens

She dispises liquid medicine again... she's so stubborn too .. you cannot talk this child into taking it.

 



 

So I tried these .. plus gummy vitamins for bribery...

I hope she's feeling better soon. She's usually pretty good about fighting off a cold within a day or two...



On The First Weekend in December...

This is how we spent the first weekend in December!

Its beginning to look a little like Christmas in our house.

This year since a certain 10 month old would be quite a danger with a live tree .. we opted for one of our spare faux trees... mounted and pushed back and away from certain destructive hands...

 

Grammy came over and the girls decorated the tree together..

Andrew was napping but when he woke up... he was so excited he didnt know what to do..

He let out a "boof ... buuu ... buuuu .. " it was so cute.

I definately think this was the way to go though.. I'd be running into the living room every 2 seconds.. or held prisoner guarding the tree and saying "NO" for the next 4 weeks.. um, no thanks...

Poor Andrew and his ears..

He can barely sleep anymore.. naps sometimes only last 5-10 minutes.. and then he's a bear because he's so tired.. We have an appointment with the ENT next week to hopefully discuss and move forward with tubes if this 4th antibiotic doesnt work

Samantha and I also decorated and she did some tasting.. of our first Gingerbread House!

She loved putting all the candies on..

She also helped me make a batch of sugar cookies this weekend.. I froze them though.. and will decorate em in a few weeks.. 

Sunday seemed like I was in the kitchen a lot too..

We made a big batch of homemade soup..

 Naan Bread

And a Mini-Batch of my favorite

Southern Living's Chicken Enchiladas

they went right in the freezer for another quick meal .. all ready..

 We finished up the weekend with a little grocery shopping...

and I had to hand over my purse again ... this time she had her own cart!

I love that girl!

The official countdown to Christmas is moving closer and closer now that we're in December.

Yeay!

Begin & End with Cookies... {Our Weekend}

Our Weekend in Pics.

It started off with cookies .. and ended with cookies...(read on...)

 

Friday I nearly forgot I signed up to add something to Samantha's school's Fall Festival and craft/bake sale. I was supposed to participate in the craft fair.. but.. no time.. I tried.. but maybe next year.

 

Saturday I took SJ to the festival

She had a ball..esp in the bounce house...

Donut bobbing was also fun for her.

It was getting cold and cloudy around 11 though.. so we left.

 

Daddy and I were feeling spontaneous..

and we decided since it had started raining...to go for a little road trip.

We packed up the car with two tired kids and snacks/gear.

We drove about 1 hour away to Rochester.

They just got a Trader Joe's .. and we decided to check it out.

I LOOOOVE trader joes... I used to live within walking distance of one in Ohio.. why didnt I ever walk there?? And in NC we'd make a stop every time we drove to Raleigh. But now Wilmington has one!

It was pretty nice though when we got there.. no rain!

The fall foliage was very pretty although you cant really tell from my pics to much

 

We had fun..a few trying episodes.

Daddy ended up waiting outside while SJ and I finished up shopping

 We left with 4 bags full of goodies!

 

Some new stuff I tried was their Cookie Butter (below)

I made pumpkin pancakes and spread the cookie butter over it.. mm heaven...so so delish!

 The kids both passed out about 1/2 way home until we pulled into the driveway greeted by huge sopping raindrops.. It was a really rainy Saturday here.

Sunday was bright and sunny and upper 60s!

The kids played outside in the morning while I started baking/cooking ALL DAY..

I loved nothing more..

Sunday Sauce...

I add a bunch of green peppers.. then once theyre cooked, I blend them along with some sauce in a blender, and return to the mixture.

The house smelled so good all day.

 I made Homemade Oreos and Chewy Oatmeal Cookies too..

We had Grammy over for dinner, and she helped us with baths after.

I ended the evening with a huge glass of milk and two enormous homemade oreos.

So I ended our weekend as it began, with cookies.