4.30.2010

Foto Friday











We are right around the corner from some nice hot days which means heading over to the great grandparents pool to cool off.  Here's our bathing beauties showing off their new suits. 


4.28.2010

Marshmallow Catapult

Yesterday the new issue of Family Fun came in the mail.  I was flipping through it and came across the How-To make a Marshmallow Catapult, immediately I looked over at the Hubs and showed him it and said this definitely was an Emma and him craft!!!  He agreed and later in the evening he grabbed the materials needed and him and Little One set about making it.  It took some tweaks to get it just right and we only had mini marshmallows, but they worked perfectly.  They would stand/crouch across the room and try and fling them into the other's mouth.  Needless to say - many laughs were had.

4.26.2010

Happy 3 Months Avalynn!

Dear Baby Girl,

It's hard to believe that you are already 3 months old & what a wonderful addition you've been to our little family.  Every week as I look back you change so much.  You're only waking up once during the night.  You love to be rocked, swinging, or bounced to sleep.  Many nights Daddy or me has to stand and do the bounce hop with you to get you to sleep.  You are a very healthy girl, and are now weighing in @ 16lbs 6ozs and 23 1/2 in.  You're currently in 6 months to 6-9 month clothes.  I actually just sold your newborn and 0-3 month clothes at a yard sale this past weekend.  It was very sad for me to get rid of those items, but you'd be amazed at how baby stuff can take over your storage and we just don't have a ton.  I did save the outfit we brought you home in to give you someday.

You have the ca-utest dimples when you smile and you are full of big gummy smiles for us.  Your big sister loves talking to you and seeing you smile back at her.  And she loves giving you tons of kisses.  You are such a happy baby and only fuss when you are hungry.  I'm so happy and proud to say that I'm still able to nurse you and will cont. as long as possible, hopefully until your 1.   You love to suck on your hands/fingers.  You can really go to town on them, it's so funny some of the loud noises you can make.

In the past week you've started using your legs to move yourself around when you are on your back.  And when on your belly you now squish your legs under you, butt in the air and push forward.  I don't think it'll be long until you are rolling over.  And you are hanging on to your activity gym dangling toys more and rattles by themselves.  It's amazing the differences in the last week.

I want you to know that you are such a wonderful blessing in our lives and I've been waiting for your arrival since my 1st of 3 miscarriages after having your older sister.  I can't even begin to explain the bond I have with you and the amount of love that I feel for you.  Love you so much!

4.25.2010

1 Blog, 1 Tree = Carbon Neutral



In honor of Earth Week you can go to this site and get a tree planted to help neutralize the carbon dioxide emissions of your blog.  It's super simple - so head on over and post about it!

4.24.2010

Peanut Butter Chocolate Cookie Squares

When prepping the menu for Baby Girls luncheon I was on the hunt for some new desserts that were simple and yummy.  A good friend of mine in my mom group posted this recipe and I decided to try it out.

Ingredients:
- Package of refrigerated peanut butter cookie dough or you can use the packages in with the baking stuff where you add an egg and water/oil.
- 1 bag of semi-sweet chocolate chips
- 1 bag of peanut butter chips
- can of sweetened condensed milk
- Optional: 1-1 1/2 cups of peanuts (didn't try this, think it's great without needed it)
- 15x10x1 pan (I used my medium cookie sheet, and two packages of the cookie mix)

Directions: Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Spray pan.  Smoosh the dough out flat covering the whole dish/pan.


Sprinkle the chocolate chips on top.  Drizzle the sweetened milk all over.  Sprinkle the peanut butter chips. 


Bake for 20 mins.


Let cool and cut into 1 inch squares.  I got 88 out of my pan.  Serve and enjoy!

These were such a humongous hit and I still have some left over, this recipe makes a ton and you definitely want to make sure you're making it for an event and not just because - because I promise you'll want to eat them all!

I'm linking up to these parties.

4.23.2010

Foto Friday




Two of the most beautiful girls' in my world - I love them so much!!!

4.22.2010

DIY - Wreath made out of...

coffee filters.  A couple months ago I came across Lindsay's tutorial on making the bookpage wreath.  It was instant love.  A few weeks ago Lindsay had $5 Challenge up, you had to create a something out of only spending $5 and whatever you had on hand.  When browsing through I came across Lynda's blog post where she made the wreath out of coffee filters.

I knew then that I had to make this, I have tons of extra coffee filters just laying around.  I mixed up a light green paint color and painted the ends of 3 bunches of filters.  Then the Hubs and me separated them.  This was the longest process.




This is the back of the wreath.



Front view - with the back done.



At first I decided to just finish a complete section, which was a good starting point for the rest of the front, but then I preferred doing rows and filling it in that way.


Like this, and for the next row, I'd glue it inbetween the two previous points.



Afterwards, check all around it and fill in if needed anywhere, mine needed it around the outer middle.  Here's the finished product.


And hanging up on our living room door - needless to say, I LOVE IT! The green tips are very subtle, and you can't see them in this photo, but think it looks great in person.  I got nice compliments about it when we had the luncheon after Avalynn's baptism on Sunday.











Make it Yours @ My Backyard Eden &



DIY Day @ ASPTL & 

4.21.2010

Operation Healthy Mom - Week 5

I'm down .5 lbs this week, making a grand total of 3.2 lbs.  I've been substituting healthier options of my normal sweet bad things I've been indulging in.  My two new favorite snack and dessert is first Wheat Thins Tomato & Basil, 15 crackers (1 serving) is 3 points in weight watchers, these crackers are SO ADDICTING!  And Turkey Hill has some of the yummiest Frozen Yogurt, I tried Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough, 1/2 cup (1 serving) is only 2 points.  Score!!!  Next time I want to try out PomBlueberry Chocolate Truffle - looks so yummy.

Next week's challenge is to add in some exercise, either walk 3x's times this week or 3 workouts on the Wii.

4.20.2010

Avalynn's Baptism

This past Sunday the 18th we had Avalynn baptised.  It was one of the most beautiful things I got to witness as a mother.  Hearing the words of the ceremony, created a deeper feeling within and was a great reminder. 

Avalynn relaxing morning of.


Showing off her beautiful dress.


Lighting her baptism candle.


Wanted to post a picture of the tissue paper flowers I showed you How-To in this post.


My parents and us - minus Oldest, she was too busy playing with her cousins.
 


The Hubs parents and us.

4.19.2010

Friend Makin Monday

This week Amber asked us "What is our idea of a perfect date?"  Let me count the ways. 
  • Definitely, an overnight trip, either a couple hour drive up the New England coast or a couple hours south to a little beach town.  Either way, on the water is a must. 
  • The bliss of dressing up, grabbing a nice dinner without have to worry about our 3 yr old staying seated, behaving, eating her dinner, or the youngest one, being content in her carrier or worry about when her next feeding time is, just pure adult dinner. 
  • Go window shopping with the Hubs. 
  • Some fishing or crabbing. 
  • Watch the sunrise and then head back to bed and sleep as late as we want. 
  • Overall, just some one on one time!!! 
If you want to join in on the party, head on over to Amber's and link up! 

4.13.2010

On Hiatus until Monday the 19th

Things have been busy around here, we're getting ready for Baby Girl's baptism this coming Sunday.  Between getting the house ready outside and deep cleaning, shopping and lots of meal prep I'm having minimal computer time.

I will respond to all comments and emails next Monday.  Hope everyone has a great week!

4.09.2010

Ultimate Blog Party 2010

Ultimate Blog Party 2010

Over at 5minutesformom they are having a party. Lots of great link-ups and hundreds of prizes!

My top 3 prizes would be: Cushie Pushie Breast Support Pillow (USC22), The Get Fit Pack (105), & The Next Egg Pillow (30).

And if my top 3 were already chosen I'd love one of these prizes in no particular order, or anything related to younger children/family. (USC 61, USC- 60, 53, 43, 10, 3, US -95, 92, 84, 73, 47, 36, 33, 32, 20, 18, 17, 11, 8, 7, 6, 4, 2)

Go on over and link up, create your prize post and enjoy meeting lots of new people!!!

Foto Friday






Baby Girl is becoming so much more active, and she loves playing on her activity mat.

4.07.2010

Operation Healthy Mom - Week 3

This week I'm down .5lbs.  Which I'm happy with, I've been doing some research about losing weight when nursing and they said  1lb a week is great, since I can't really cut out a bunch of calories.  I'm looking into Weight Watchers for Nursing Mother's Plan.  But I don't want to pay, so am still researching it. I did it years ago but don't have my materials anymore.

Also, instead of having a stash of diapers down here, I moved everything up to Baby Girls room, forcing me to do the stairs several times for throughout the day.

I wanted to share this site, where 8 women are competing to lose the most amount of weight in 8 weeks, it's called The Flab to Fab Blogger Fitness Challenge.  If you have a moment go check out their progress.

4.06.2010

DIY - Tissue Paper Flowers

Next weekend on Sunday the 18th we are having Baby Girl baptised.  I'm beyond excited and looking forward to celebrating with our families afterwards back at our place.  Since Hubs is still laid off (entering 5 months now) I decided to scrounge around and come up with some inexpensive decorations that I could make.

I went to the Dollar Tree and picked up two packs of tissue paper.  Can't beat $2 for this project.  Already had on hand the floral wire, wire cutters, and scissors.  I made two different sized flowers.  The first you will see is using the full sheets of tissue paper.  The 2nd version I just cut the paper in half.


I started off by pulling out all of the pink pieces and lining them up. 


I started accordion filing the paper, approximately 1-1 1/2 inches wide.



I then cut the both ends, so they were rounded.



I wrapped a piece of floral wire around the middle and started pulling up the layers.  This is half of the flower done.



Here's what the full flower looked like.



Here's the 2nd version - using half a sheet of tissue paper.



Forgot to take a picture, but for this flower I cut a pointed arrow on each end.  Here's half the flower pulled.



Both of the flowers completed.



I have a few more to make and plan on hanging these from the ceiling over the food tables in our dining room.  I can't wait to see my vision come together! 

4.05.2010

Friend Makin Monday

I'm joining in over at Amber's Friend Making Monday this week.  This weeks topic - Favorite Things About Easter (share your experience).

This year was lots of fun as Little One really got into the egg hunt.  She made the cutest sound of excitement when she found one.  She loved her basket and the big gift, a water/sand table.  Baby Girl loved her play mirror for tummy time.  She loved seeing herself and made the cutest little squeals of laughter sounds.
The girls' goodies.



The girls posing with their baskets.  Unfortunately, this is the best I could get Little One didn't really want to cooperate - hence the silly expression. 


Then we headed to church.  It was a good service.  Here's our holiday family picture.


After we came home to change we headed to a great lunch at the Hubs grandparents.  We had a lovely afternoon with the family.  Hubs cousin brought their bunny - Little One loved him! 


Afterwards we headed over to my parents.  Little One had another egg hunt and loved going through the baskets.  Nothing like this triumphant look when you find an egg. 


Even though every year I dread running around the whole day, at the end of the day when I'm at home again looking back we are so blessed to have wonderful families we have.  I truly believe that the kids brings the holiday cheer back into the holidays, because there is nothing like seeing their enjoyment and excitement.  

4.04.2010

Happy Easter

Just want to wish everyone a Happy Hoppy Easter with your families.  We have a fun day filled of activities and seeing lots of extended family with good food.

4.03.2010

DIY - Inexpensive Wall Art

We re-painted our bathroom in February and I needed some new wall decor on the cheap.  My Aunt gave me two nice big black picture frames with nice double matting in them that she didn't want anymore.  And while, I was out at the craft store a couple weeks ago I browsed the aisles looking for something inexpensive to fill in a picture frame with.  I happened across the $1.99 fabric squares and loved this mosaic one I found.  In my excitement to get started I forgot to take a before picture.

Items Needed:
- Paint & foam brush
- Spray adhesive
- Fabric
- Arm muscle

I painted the black frame white, color I had on hand.  Then I separated the matting as I just wanted the top one to show as it's white.  Sprayed the black matting and fabric with the spray adhesive.  Smoothed it on and then folded it tight around the back.  Sprayed white matting to attach to the fabric front and popped it in the frame.

I love the colors and they bring out the green in my new paint color, as depending on the light it sometimes looked green, blue or gray and I wanted it to have that green look all the time.


I'm linking to: 


DIY Day @ ASPTL

4.02.2010

An Easter Tradition

I must say one of the greatest things about having children is creating traditions for the holidays.  I definitely knew that once Little One was old enough we were going to start coloring eggs for Easter as one of ours.  Last year was the first year we did it.

This year was even more fun, she loved creating different shades and there were lots of "ooh's and ahh's" over her creations.  I had some fun with the wax crayon that came with the kit and put her name, Baby Girls, and some hearts on 3 eggs without her knowing.  It was one of the most exciting things when the egg dropped in and her name appeared.

I love seeing children's joy, it's like nothing else in the world and one of the greatest things to witness as a parent.

Here's the pics from the evenings egg coloring festivities.