Our Christmas

We had an amazing Christmas. The kids really enjoyed everything this year.  Brooke was all about opening presents, and Harrison was all about playing with them. They still have one more round of opening to do, and Rob and I still have our Secret Santa exchange to do with my siblings. (My younger brother is in India, so we're waiting until they are back in the states.)

On Christmas Eve we enjoyed Mass with my parents and dinner, chicken and dumplings, after. They got to FaceTime with their uncles and open gifts from them, as well as open a few gifts from Grandma and Grandpa, and one from their Great Aunt. 

When the kids woke up Christmas morning, they were able to open one gift and have their stockings. Everything else had to wait until that afternoon. They were so patient. We were impressed! We headed off to the in-laws for gifts and brunch with them, and were home in time for naps.

After naps they open gifts and played all afternoon. My parents came over to watch them open and let them open their gifts from them. They finally opened their last gift 15 minutes before bed time. It was a long day, but so much fun! I'm already looking forward to next year.

Quite possibly my favorite picture of the day. I'm sure she'll hate this when she's older.

Harrison's favorite gift is definitely his mini Dyson. He has it with him all the time, and even wants to bring it to bed.  He cries when Brooke plays with is. Brooke's favorite is the Leap Frog Counting Train. They both like their tee pee, but I think the dogs like it more.

I hope everyone's Christmas was as blessed as ours. I feel so fortunate to be able to make all of these memories with H, B and Rob. Now it's on to 2014. Happy New Year!!

Enjoy the Little Things

I was going to upload pictures from Christmas during nap time today, and then this happened. 

(Sorry for the blurry picture. Blackout curtains don't make for great pictures)

Brooke often falls asleep while nursing before nap time, but Harrison almost never does. Even on the rare occasion when they do both fall asleep, I move them to their beds. I usually have things to do while they nap, and I think they sleep better when they have their own space in their beds.  

Today is no different. I have all of the ingredients for broccoli quinoa bites in a bowl ready to be mixed and baked. As I'm writing this, both kids woke up and couldn't fall back asleep laying with me. Now they're in their cribs and most likely won't nap anymore. Nap time ruined. 

But that's ok, because this is probably the last time they'll both fall asleep in my arms. The last time we'll get all sweaty snuggled up in bed together. The last time I get to watch their sweet little bodies twitch and hear their sweet snores right in my ear. 

Next week we start weaning and nap time is the first to go. If every nap time between now and January 1st is ruined because they fall asleep snuggled up with me, I'd be ok with that. It would make for some long afternoons, but knowing I got that snuggle time in would make it ok. When they sleep snuggled up with me, they're still my babies and not two rambunctious toddlers who never hold still.  

I think we'll all do just fine with weaning. Part of me is really excited to be done nursing, but the majority of me wishes we could continue forever. (Well maybe not forever, but for a while longer.) With the end in sight, I'm going to make sure I enjoy every snuggle, hug, and carress they give me. And I won't complain about the punches, kicks, head butts and hair pulls. 

Merry Christmas

The last week has been crazy busy. Finishing up all of the last minute Christmas details, throwing a Nutella themed game night and all of the fun that goes along with a new puppy, more about that later. Now the presents are under the tree, everyone is in bed and I can breathe a sigh of relief.

I am beyond excited to enjoy Christmas with Harrison and Brooke tomorrow.  It's off to bed so I can try and get some sleep. I feel like I'm more excited about Christmas for my kids than I was about Christmas as a kid.

Merry Christmas to all, and to all a goodnight.    

19 Months

I'm going to skip my usual lengthy post about what H and B have been up to for the past month.  It would read something like: They got more teeth and said a few new words. You get the idea.  Here are a few pictures from their 19 month mini photo session.

Snow, Birthdays and Babies. So Fun!

We had such a fun weekend. It wasn't too busy, but it was packed with fun. On Friday Rob's cousin and his wife had their sweet baby boy. Rob and his cousin are very close, so Baby B feels more like a nephew than a cousin. He and H and B are second cousins. I got the chance to go to the hospital to meet him on Friday, and he is as cute as can be.

Late Friday evening the snow started falling and by Saturday evening we had about 7 inches of snow on the ground. The snow didn't keep us from getting out to celebrate our dear friend, Sophie's, 3rd birthday. She had a Sophia the Third princess party complete with princess games, face painting and a real live Snow White.

 The birthday girl

Harrison wore wings and played with balloons almost the entire time.

Brookie played with Miss Kim when she wasn't eating cheese crackers.

CAKE!!!

This is what B looks like on a sugar high.

H and B checking out the puppies.

Chihuahua puppies. LOVE! They were so tiny.

On Sunday we hung out around the house and checked out the snow. B cried every time she fell over, and Harry pretty much despised the entire experience. At least Tyson loves playing in the snow.

We did venture out Sunday evening so the kiddos could meet Baby B. Brooke was really into him and kept pointing to him. Harrison did not like him at all thanks to an insane case of jealousy. He was attached to my side the entire time we visited and he cried while I held the baby. I guess that means Harrison isn't interested in a sibling anytime soon.

I hope you all had a great weekend, and for those of you close, I hope you're enjoying the snow. I'm loving it! Now it's time to watch the Steelers hopefully win this football game.

We Love Kitties

Today was our local shelter's Holiday Open House. I plan to make it a yearly outing with the kids. I think it's important for them to know about all the amazing things our local shelter does. Not only finding homes for homeless pets, but community outreach, education, etc. Obviously they don't understand any of this yet, but we're starting the tradition early.  

I posted a few months back about up cycling old t-shirts into rope dog toys. I finally got around to making all my old tank tops into rope toys. It's super easy to do and a great way to use old shirts with rips, tears or stains that you can't donate to Goodwill. 

We packaged the rope toys with some blankets, treats, and a bag of kibble. 

Photo courtesy of FWACC

We didn't take the full tour of the shelter, but we did go check out all of the kittens and doggies looking for homes.  It was great to see that most of them already had families they would be going home to soon.  

The kittens were definitely the highlight for H and B.  I'm pretty sure they would have been willing to stare at the kittens all night if I would have let them. 

On a more serious note, as tear jerking as the ASPCA commercials are on TV, Sarah McLachlan gets me every time, a monetary donation goes much further when given to your local SPCA or humane shelter. It is so important to donate to your local shelter. Whether it's a monetary donation, or a donation of your time. Even something as small as donating towels and blankets you don't use anymore, can make big difference. If you have the means, please consider helping out pets in need.  

  

Tasty Tuesday - Spinach and Artichoke Lasagna - Slow Cooker Style

I find most all of my recipes on Pinterest, and this one was no exception. I've made a modification of the original recipe a couple times now, and both times it has turned out phenomenally well. I judge how a dish turns out by how much Brooke will eat. Both times she has gone to town on this lasagna, and both times she's been willing to eat leftovers. I of course really like it to, otherwise I wouldn't have made it a second time.

The first time I made it, I made a vegetarian version. It was really good, but it was so much food. I had to throw away leftovers because we couldn't finish it all within a week. When making it the second time, I knew I needed to cut down the recipe a little since I was just making it for Rob, the kids and I. I also added chicken the second time around since I would be feeding any vegetarians with this go round.

Spinach and Artichoke Lasagna

2 chicken breasts, cooked and diced or shredded
6.3 oz jar basil pesto
1 cup frozen chopped spinach, thawed
7 oz artichoke quartered artichoke hearts
10 oz ricotta cheese
2/3 cup parmesan cheese
1 egg, beaten
2 cups shredded mozzarella
1 box oven ready lasagna noodles
1 jar Classico alfredo sauce (any variety will do)

The ricotta mixture and chicken mixture

1. Mix diced chicken breast and pesto together in mixing bowl.

2. Pat spinach with paper towel to remove excess moisture.

3. Slice artichoke hearts into small pieces. Mix with spinach, ricotta, parmesan, and egg.

4. Pour 1/4 sauce into the bottom of a greased slow cooker. Break pasta noodles into pieces and cover sauce with noodles. ( I use three noodles per layer)

5. Spread half of ricotta mixture on top of noodles. Spread half of chicken mixture on top of ricotta mixture.

6. Top chicken mixture with another layer of noodles. Pour half of remaining sauce over the noodles. Sprinkle 1 cup of mozzarella over sauce.

7. Repeat layering starting with the ricotta mixture.

8. Cook on low for 3 1/2 to 4 hours.

9. If you want your cheese on top browned, remove ceramic pot from the slow cooker basin and place in oven. Broil until the cheese is browned to your liking.

10. Return to slow cooker and let set for 10 minutes before serving.

Notes: I used a rotisserie chicken, just the breasts, from the store when making this. You could also use grilled, pan sauteed, boiled chicken, etc. The original recipe calls for a mixture of 4 Cheese and Garlic alfredo sauce. I did use both, but I don't feel it adds anything to the dish. If you use two jars you wind up with half a jar of each left over, so I simplified it for the recipe. I used a 14 oz can of artichoke hearts. I used half for the recipe and froze the rest for the next time I make this, because I will be making it again. You will not use an entire box of noodles. I used approximately 6 ounces of noodles, half a box.

H and B going to town on their lasagna.

The end result after two helpings a piece, and demanding to eat some of mine.

We did have some leftovers with the recipe, enough for 2 servings instead of 6. Rob said he liked this batch better than the first time I made it. Probably because there was no meat in it the first time. My hubby loves his meat. If you want to make a vegetarian version, omit the chicken and add the pesto to the ricotta mixture. Follow the rest of the recipe as instructed above.

Happy Cooking!!