Friday Randoms

 

Totally randomness today!  

Is it spring yet?  Isn't the first day of spring this next week?  Where is my warm weather???  I bought some shorts today, do you think I'm ready for warmer weather?  Yes Ma'am!

I've had three friends have their babies in the last week.  There is a baby boom around here. 

 Ryan and I enjoyed playing downstairs in the basement this afternoon while Colton napped.  We played trains and did a number game.  He knows his numbers so well.  I'm so proud of him.  

I'm ashamed to say I still have my valentine's decorations out.  I finally pulled out my spring/Easter stuff. Hopefully it will get put out before the Easter bunny arrives.

We talked about Easter crafts with your kids yesterday at Mops.  I'm so excited to do some in the next few weeks with Ryan.  He somewhat understands about Jesus and why we celebrate Easter but we mostly focus on Jesus is Alive!  

I shopped for the boys Easter baskets the other day.  I'm pretty sure I got everything except I want to get Ryan the Jesus Storybook Bible.  We have a wonderful toddler Bible my best friend gave him when he was born but the storybook Bible goes into more details and has beautiful illustrations.  I think he's going to love it.  

We have loved story time in Ryan's bed.  I love listening to him talk and tell me about his day.  That is the time he really opens up and tells us about things, about his day or what happened during the day.

Lastly, I made these cookies for my friend Jayne's whose sister turns 50 next week!  Loved making these!

Oven Tacos

 Matt LOVES mexican food.  I like mexican but not crazy about it like Matt.  We eat a lot of taco salad around here.  Even Ryan enjoys taco salad.  I usually serve it with tortilla chips but I recently came across this recipe on pinterest for oven tacos.  We tried it last week and it was a big hit.  

Ingredients:
2 lbs ground beef
1 small onion diced
1 package taco seasoning
1 (8oz) can of diced tomatoes
1 can kidney beans
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
8-10 hard taco shells

Optional condiments:
lettuce
tomato (diced)
salsa
guacamole
sour cream
olives, sliced

Directions:
Preheat oven to 400 degrees

In a large skillet brown ground beed and onion over medium-high heat.  Drain off any excess liquid.  Return to pan, add diced tomatoes and kidney beans and taco seasoning.  Mix well and let it simmer for 5-7 minutes.

Spoon the taco meat mixture into the taco shells and place into 9x13 inch baking dish, standing up.  Sprinkle cheese over the top of the taco meat in each shell.  Place into the oven and bake at 400 degrees for 10-12 minutes or until the cheese has helped and the tacos are heated through.

Remove from the oven and top with any optional condiments for serving.

Day in Our Life

I love to do "day in the life" posts so one day I can look back and see what our days were like when my kids were little.  I'm sure others might find these posts boring but I love reading other peoples "day in the life".  I thought I would post today what a typical day in our life looks like.  

 

This morning I got up around 7:20 and showered and got ready for the day.  I got the boys up around 8:10.  We got dressed and came downstairs for breakfast.  Matt went to the gym early so he was already gone.  

The boys played for a little bit while I got everything together to leave.  We left a little after 9 for preschool.  It was purple day at school so Ryan was excited to wear his sorta-blue-could-be-considered-purple shirt.  One of friends even brought in purple cupcakes and purple juice for snack.  

We dropped Ryan off and Colton and I headed to Target before Little Gym.  I needed to get a few things for their Easter baskets.  I feel like March is flying by.  Easter will be here soon so I didn't want it to sneak up on me.  

Colton loves Little Gym.  He always gets so excited when we drive up to the building.  He has the best time and plays so hard.  After LG we headed next store to Kroger.  Colton does really good in the store and loves to snack on the free samples.  He is so sweet.  I love getting to spend one on one time with him.  

We pick up Ryan at preschool at noon.  He is always excited to see us and tell me about his day.  The boys ate a great lunch while I unloaded and put away the groceries.  Colton loves blackberries just like his Nana.  

The boys went down for their nap a little after one and I finally sat down for the first time today.  I changed and went downstairs to run on the treadmill.  I usually run four miles on the treadmill during nap time on tuesday and thursdays.  After I finished my workout around 3 I finally ate lunch, showered,  did my quiet time and threw in some laundry.  

The boys got up around 4.  We hung out upstairs for a little bit while I went through the spring/summer wardrobe.  With the weather warming up I'm can't wait to put all the winter clothes away and bust out the spring clothes. 

We went downstairs to play and wait for daddy to get home.  Matt got home around 5:30.  I started dinner while Matt played with the boys.  We had grilled pork chops, green beans and mac n cheese for dinner.  Thankfully everyone ate well!

Matt helped me clean up the kitchen then we played and chilled with the boys.  They were busy building towers and car tracks all over the family room.  Matt took the boys up for baths around 7:20 and I started on some cookies I needed to make.  

I fell into bed tonight so tired but so full of joy with these boys and Matt who bring so much love and joy to my life.  

Lately

 Last week was super busy!  I made about 160 cookies last week.  I probably over committed myself because I stayed up late every night working on cookies and Matt put the boys to bed every night (not that that's a big deal but we usually switch bedtime duties every other night).  

I LOVE doing cookies but I don't want it to ever interfere with my time with Matt or the boys.  Making cookies are my outlet and my therapy.  I don't consider myself an artistic person at all but I get in the zone when I'm working and love to create.  It's very rewarding for me and I hope to continue to make lots more cookies.  

Friday night we meet our friends the Krafts for dinner before small group.  The kids had a blast and we enjoyed the company.  We had some time so we swing Graeters by to get ice cream.  Ryan was sitting with the girls but decided he wanted to sit at mommy's table.  He came over to sit down so Jillian jumped up to pull her chair up beside Ryan.  She is crazy about him.  It's so cute to watch those two.  

Saturday I went to a baby shower in the morning.  It was so fun to sit around and chat about pregnancy, babies and being moms.  I made these woodland creatures for the shower.  

Yesterday was beautiful.  Finally the temps raised above 40 degrees so we were thrilled to play outside coat-free.  The boys had the best time playing on the swing set and riding their bikes.  Colton loved pushing the mower following Ryan on his bike.  I can't wait for more playtime outside.  

We took to the boys to grab a quick bit last night and they were so good.  Ryan seriously inhaled his hamburger.  Since he ate so well we let him get a milkshake for dessert.  We had a fun time and it was a great end to a good weekend.

Love these cupcake cookies!  

I made these camo cookies for my friend Laura.  They turned out cute!

And everyone loves the sesame street cookies.  I made these for sweet little Zoey who is turning two this week.  These cookies are cute but they definitely take me longer to make.  

Cookies and a Snow Day

I have been swamped this week making cookies.  I'm working on four orders this week.  I made these pretty cakes for my friend Valerie who is celebrating her one year wedding anniversary.  

Spring is just around the corner (hopefully) and my friend Jayne asked me to make these adorable bikini cookies for her college-age daughter who is headed to spring break next week.  

 Speaking of spring....yeah we got about six inches of snow last night.  Preschool was cancelled and bonus Matt's classes were cancelled.  We hung out all day in our pi's and played.  We took the boys out this morning and they had a blast shoveling and sledding down the driveway.  

Even though I feel like I was working on cookies most of the day it was nice to have a day at home.  

This afternoon I saw this idea on Facebook of putting snow in a big bowl or bucket and letting the kids play with shovels, spoons and cups.  

I thought the boys might like it so we tried it out.  Jackpot...they loved it.  They seriously played in it after naps til dinner and then after dinner til bedtime.  They basically were just eating it but hey, whatever makes them happy.  

Such a great idea and so fun.  I'm really hoping this is our last snow day of the season

 because I am SO ready for spring!  

First Dentist Visit

Ryan had a dentist appointment this morning.  It was his first dentist appointment so I was a little worried at how he would do.  We've talked about it the last few days in preparation for his first visit.  

This morning he told me he was excited to go to the dentist. 

 At first he was a little hesitant and wanted to play with the toys in the lobby but all the cool dental stuff lured him in.  He started off brushing his teeth at the little sink with a new lightening mcqueen toothbrush and toothpaste.  

His dental assistant Miss Tracy was awesome.  She gave him the grand tour and showed him everything.  She showed him all the tools they were going to use and explained everything that was going to happen.  I totally think that helped him get comfortable and not be scared.   Ryan loved brushing the fishes teeth.  

I really thought we would go see the office, get a tour and that he would NOT go for the whole plaque scrapping and teeth polishing thing.  Thank the Lord I was wrong!  He was a total rockstar and did amazing!  He tolerated it all and sat so still.  

I am so proud of him!  Dr. Mueller said he has beautiful teeth and a great skeleton!  Yup, she really said that.  She said the spacing in his teeth is perfect and exactly what they like to see!  Yay!  Praying he has straight, good teeth just like his daddy (who hardly has cavities and never had braces).

 Since C bear was there we decided to get his teeth looked over as well.  He was not so agreeable as his big brother.  Since he doesn't have many teeth it didn't take too long and not too many tears were shed.  All four of his incisors are coming in, boo.  All in all he did well and I'm glad to have the first visit behind us.  

Dr. M did say Colton's teeth do not have that space like Ryan's so he will probably need braces later, boo!  Looks like C bear not only looks like me but has my mouth as well.  I have a small mouth so my teeth were crowded and I had braces for two years.  Thank goodness he doesn't use a paci or suck his thumb.  

I'm so thankful they did great today!  We decided to take them to a pediatric dentist instead of our family dentist and I think that was the best thing for them.  The staff were awesome!  They cater to kids and I know it helped the boys feel more comfortable and at ease.  

 

Happy Birthday Grandad

Happy Birthday Grandad!!!

Today is my sweet daddy's birthday!  I wish we could be together to celebrate today but we will celebrate in a few weeks when we get to see them!

My daddy is the most giving and caring person I know.  He would do anything for me, my brother and Matt!  We love you dad and can't wait to see you soon!