Yum!

Just finished baking a batch of monster cookies. Found a recipe online and tweaked it a bit, as usual. I'm happy to report they taste quite great. They are also gianormous! YUM!

Now if I could just locate the PERFECT delish chicken recipe to make for my family on New Years Day.

You know it's a good dinner when....?????

It's quite typical that we require partial undressing after meals at our house for a certain individual. The other night we had watermelon, among other things. The past several days, Griffin has decided it is really fun to put his hands over his head, put food on his head, throw food behind his back, throw cups behind his back...I could go on. Needless to say, after this post-dinner clean up, we had to remove a shirt and do an extreme wipe down (and later a bath), when I noticed a little piece of watermelon in the strangest place!!!!!

How Time Flies

I'm spending the night getting ready for the official first birthday party for my baby! Miss P also gets another bit of a celebration with the family she hasn't seen since her big day. I felt really depressed and sad about them turning 1 and 5, about 2 weeks ago, almost teary at different times. I guess I'm over it, because tonight I really don't feel much of anything about it. Just looking forward to some time with my family and a chance for them to laugh at all the funny things that the kids are doing, and of course, the cake! Half pumpkin, half chocolate and the cream cheese frosting comes later-probably in the am because I'm getting tired!

How does that happen?

Have you ever let your kitchen get so trashed, because of a quickly thrown together dinner and the dishwasher needing to be emptied? What that is the case at our house tonight. We are all sitting in the living room, with our backs facing the kitchen, avoiding it and pretending that it doesn't look like a pig pen. There are pots and pans to wash, counters to wipe, papers to put away. It's beyond overwhelming. I'm afraid if we don't do something tonight, that the dog will get into something tomorrow while we are all gone. I would like to go out and get the coffee pot ready for morning and make a lunch to take to work, but then I'd have to fester in the rest of the mess! And...that...is why I'm on the computer right now! AVOIDANCE!!!

Overwhelmed!

Somehow, the summer got away from me. I am officially disorganized! We all just do whatever we have to survive around our house! There is no method to our madness. It's been kind of a soul-searching kinda couple weeks. My first baby turned 5 on Thursday. I was feeling sad and sentimental about it for at least a week prior. I am so proud of her and amazed at how grown up she is and how much she's changing but it's sad to see her grow up and think of how fast the time has gone. That leads me to feel sad that my baby baby is turning 1 in two weeks. Now, HE has grown fast! He has changed leaps and bounds the past several months and when people say the first year is a blur, I agree. This first year is even more of a blur than it was when Peyton was born. This really makes me sad! Even though I'm excited to see how he changes and grows. It's just kind of unbelievable to see how much he's changed already in this first year.

I spent a couple hours tonight, feeling overwhelmed by technology. I uploaded a bunch of photo's to snapfish. Not because I love the site, but I just don't have time to research and find something better and I'm so behind on printing pictures. $50 later, that's sorta caught up. Then I decided to save a bunch of pictures off of my camera and onto the computer, so I could clean off my memory card. Once I started on that, I knew I needed to get my act in gear and save pictures onto a CD, so I could throw them in the fire-safe box. So I literally spent an hour saving pictures from the past year and 8 months. It actually feels REALLY good, but I think to myself, how can I keep up? How will I feel if I forget to save some event or monumental moment so my kids can't see it when they get older? What if I save all these things in all these places I feel are right, and then realize, later, that these spots are obsolete years down the line? I have anxiety about losing memories and history! I freak myself out worrying about it. If I had time, I would research some more and come up with my game plan for archiving memories. I'm taking suggestions, so please let me know if you have any good ideas!

Looking so grown up! (before & after!)

Peyton has been asking for some time, if she could get her hair cut. Lately it's been requested that it be "like mommy's." Well, yesterday we finally agreed to let her cut it. This was her first real haircut ever. We've had the ends trimmed up a few times a year since she was about 2 but that is yet. Yesterday we probably took off about 4 inches. It was a little sad. She was very excited, but it was slightly traumatic for me, maybe because she changed instantly, and looks SO MUCH more grown up!!! She is pretty happy with it!

Found NEMO!

Well, we caved! While dropping the dog off to get her nails clipped, Peyton cornered mom and dad again about her own pet, and asked if she could get a fish like her cousin Spencer. Well, I guess we didn't see too much it might hurt and we finally agreed. She could hardly contain her excitement! She chose a red betta and has decided to name it Nemo...the only fish name she's able to ever come up with! She decided to decorate his real bowl with a purple flower and red/pink/purple rocks. We didn't move him to the official bowl up in her room until right before bed (A bribe!). He was swimming like crazy and she fell right to sleep!

Loves to Eat!

Griffin is growing bigger every day. He is sitting up a little bit with someone to cover him from behind in case he sways, and he's so close to crawling it's not even funny. He can get up on all fours and rock back and forth. He has even moved an arm forward as if to take a "step" a few times. Oh, and he likes to hold his own bottle! His favorite activity lately has been eating, as long as he's hungry but not too hungry. There is a fine line! So, tonight we hit it just perfect! He was hungry, entertained by it, and totally excited about his sweet potatoes and mashed banana. He sat up and kept leaning forward and taking huge, messy bites and going "mmmnnnnhh!" "mmnnhhhhhh!" So easy to please!

An Unusual Memorial Day Weekend

This is the first time, in at least 8 years for me, probably more for Lane, that we haven't been up at the lake for Memorial weekend. We always go, the weather is always cold and usually rainy, and we always have a great time. So this year, the cabin is being rebuilt and we hear through regular progress reports, that it's getting closer to complete every single day...but was not ready for inhabitants this weekend. We knew we could crowd Grandma Evy at her house but guess we just felt like it was a lot of work so we decided to stay home. The weather's been beautiful and we've had some low key hanging out time. Watched a couple movies, slept in a little bit, did a little housework and yard work. It has been really nice to have no big plans and just do what we feel like as the day goes on. The kiddo's seem to be enjoying themselves as well!

Hmmnnnn....

Just caught Peyton in the kitchen making herself a lunch. Asked her what she was making and was told "You know...healthy stuff." Went out to investigate and found her on a chair in front of the microwave trying to figure out how to melt a chunk of Velveeta on a piece of bread. She'd found the cheese (Hannah's favorite kind-as she described it), used a butter knife to chop a chunk off, put the cheese back in the fridge and gotten it all up to the microwave! In some ways, impressive, in some ways very frightening!!!

Oh, and Griffin has started crying when I leave the room the past few days. It's totally adorable! Lane is less than impressed, has been calling him a big mama's boy, but I feel kinda like a celebrity and have been enjoying being the favorite for now!!!

Girl Time

Yesterday, I went to see Seven Brides For Seven Brothers at Chanhassen Dinner Theater. I met my sister, mom and grandma there for dinner and the show. We even had time to go to caribou before and have a coffee and visit. It was really fun and really unusual to have that kind of uninterrupted time with any of those women who are all so important to me. It was great actually! The play was a hoot, it was really fun. It was so much like the movie I used to watch as a kid and the dancing was really wonderful. It was kind of a late night, especially for a Sunday but was well worth it. Got a couple pictures of us at dinner and one of the four of us, so we can remember our little "girl's only" date!

How Cute!

Have you ever looked out the window, to see the cutest sight, a dad and his daughter on a bike ride together? Tonight while I was doing dinner dishes, I looked out my back window and saw my sweet pea and my hubby riding bike. I knew they were going, but it was kind of surreal to look out and seem them off together on a real-life, official bike ride! I think that might have been the first time that she actually went on a bike ride with someone, both of them on bikes! It was a very cute sight! Warmed my heart! It amazes me every day to see how grown up she's becoming.

Overdue update

Going back to work 2 weeks ago has kicked my butt. I have no time to chat with friends, no time for house stuff, and the nights go so fast that I never feel caught up on anything! But...life keeps on going and I am finding time to enjoy little things. Here's a list of several things that have been going on, making me happy, proving that all is well!

-Griffin continues to eat better and better, loving more foods. He loves peas, sweet potatoes, squash. Not as excited about the fruits though. He actually goes "Mmmnnn" when he takes bites!
-Peyton has been quite the little piggy rascal with nicer weather. She comes in at night with dirt all over, including covering her face. She has also had several "injuries" because she's been doing things she shouldn't...like climbing tree's, playing swords...mostly rough boy stuff. What the heck?!
-Griffin is starting to push himself onto his hands and knees, and rounding his back. It is going to be very busy here, very soon. I sense he'll be crawling quickly. Wonder when sitting up might happen?
-I had big plans to plant a garden this year, assumed I'd be home for the summer. Well I have decided to do some planting even though I won't have time to maintain it. We planted some lettuce and beans inside last week and they have grown INSANE already. Peyton is getting a TOTAL kick out of it! Even if we don't produce anything to eat, it's been entertaining.
-I am loving my new closet organizer system. It makes me feel much more prepared for work in the mornings. I have actually been picking out clothes each night before work. Now if I could just loose the remaining baby lbs so I could fit into what is in there!
-I'm taking a baby sign language class next weekend. It got pushed from the original April date, so I'm anxious and excited to see what it's all about.
-I signed Peyton up for a few things this summer and I'm so excited for her, I can hardly stand it. Swimming lessons, Vacation Bible School, and a week long camp at the YMCA!
-I do actually think I'm going to end up enjoying my new job, just wish that the weird in-between training time was over with so I knew what I was doing and could dig right in.
-I had the most wonderful Saturday with some of my girlfriends this past weekend. It was long overdue. Made me miss a few I didn't get to see, but I sure enjoyed all the laughing and talking. It was fun and I can't wait to do it again soon. Even had a couple glasses of wine that were tasting delicious and going down really easily!

I could go on, I'm sure! Have a million things to do around the house, they nag me constantly. But I'm finding I have to force myself into getting into bed and trying to get some rest...it's required. Wish I had more time to catch up with everyone more now!

A couple more!

Well, Kim keeps teasing me with random pictures of my kids! I get about one a day from her, and if I do say so myself, each one is cuter than the last!!!

A Sneak Peek!

Here are a couple pictures from our Saturday photo shoot! Can you tell which baby is which?!? Landon, left...Griffin, right! What funny little twerps!

A Fun Saturday

The kids and I had a fun day. We spent several hours with my friend Kim and her mom, who both dabble in photography. And by dabble, I mean they are much more serious and take really cute shots! They were in the market for a girl model, so Peyton and I gathered up several outfits and went and did some posing. We also got some fun pictures of silly Griffin, and best of all...some pictures of Griffin with Landon, who was born the day after Griffin. Kim and I spent hours and hours together when we were pregnant with those two, so it's been a riot getting to see them both growing like weeds! Stay tuned for some pictures from the photo shoot! I got a chance to see a few before we left today, but know there will be so many to see. Can't wait!

Thank You God

Sometimes, your kids just bring it ALL into perspective. I don't always feel like I'm doing a very good job of parenting, I get impatient, I feel selfish, I am overly tired, but somehow, they are resilient, and they make the most of the good I do provide. I'm thankful for that!
Today, sitting around, watching the nasty winter weather, Peyton and I were feeling stir crazy. All day long she asked if there was a rainbow, and finally, around 4pm, the sun peeked out for a minute! She asked if she could look, so I sent her to the deck to see...and there it was! A faint rainbow to the east! She was so excited! I heard her squeal and then say "Thanks god! Thanks, your the BEST God! Thanks for the Rainbow!" That sweet little comment, so innocent, but so simple and true, was just the thing to make me feel like even when I'm not doing my best, I still have WONDERFUL kids!
Her simple pleasure made me think of all the things I'm thankful for in my life right now. It was a great way to end our afternoon!

Online "friends"

I've been spending A LOT of time online lately. More than I would like to admit. But, I have to say, it makes me feel like I'm reading a book, searching and learning and researching things I think to check out...all day long. I have found several sites and blogs that I totally love and am sucked into checking on a daily basis. I have brainstormed about what we might do this summer when the weather gets nice. I'm attempting to plan a garden, for the first time. Planting things that are easy growing and not too high maintenance for Peyton and I to try our hand! I've checked out HGTV, Ebay, for decorating ideas. Looking for some fun accessories for Peyton and Griffin's bedrooms. And probably my most favorite lately, is my online food journal. I've attempted to use this site before and gotten sidetracked. But... I love to food journal. I find that I have much better luck eating decent when I'm carrying around a little notebook with EVERYTHING in it. So this site...sparkpeople.com allows me to do just that, but I'm able to see a lot more nutritional info pre-calculated for me. It's AWESOME! I highly recommend it to anyone who just wants to pay better attention.

Little, Round Fella!

Rough Week on the HEALTH Front

I'll admit it....I ate a kit kat bar WHILE watching The Biggest Loser on Tuesday night. How horrendous and obscene is that!?!?! I am such a hog! It's been a bad week for healthy eating. The kids have colds and we're also putting down the smack with Peyton about staying in her room all night long, so I've been up a lot overnight and tired during the day. There was also that depressing snowstorm that rolled thru. So I've been spending a lot of time at home, in the house, comforting tired or fussy kids. I do have some willpower some days, but this week, it is just not there. I'm hoping to turn another new leaf over tomorrow. If not, I'm really going to start feeling pathetic!

Mommy and Me Day!

Okay, maybe the mommy and me day was even more for me than for Peyton, but she and I had a great time. It was past due, allowing her some one-on-one time, not having to share with her brother. She deserved it and I think she had a blast. In true girl fashion, we went shopping! The days events included:

*a donut breakfast (her favorites)

*a trip to Ridgedale Mall to make her build-a-bear. She also decided, randomly this morning, that she needed some socks with stripes. So we figured we'd keep an eye out!

*her first stop was Claires (she saw it when we walked in and HAD to check it out) because she thought they'd have socks. She chose some butterfly hair clips, new ponytail holders and a pkg of bracelets.

*then we wandered the mall, taking the glass elevator, the escalators, making some wishes at the fountain.

* we went to Build-A-Bear for our first time! She chose a Hello Kitty doll and striped ensemble!

*headed into Gap to find some socks-5 for $10 :)

*then we wandered the mall again....taking the escalator another 3 times or so.

*then she wanted a snack, she had some candy for a quarter!

*We went to lunch. She wanted a hamburger so we hit Culvers for that and ice cream!

*She also wanted to grocery shop-one of her favorite activities-so we stopped for a few essentials.

*Lastly, she asked a couple times to get her hair cut. I called the salon and we were able to get in at 3:45! Perfect timing for one last "girly" thing before picking her brother up from daycare. Rachel always spoils her, brushes it a lot, washes it in the big sink, cuts and drys it. I thought she was going to fall asleep in the chair after all that primping!

Here are a couple pictures of our day, including tonight when she decided to put on her striped socks, hold Holly the Hello Kitty and wear her pj's that matched! It was a nice day and she was exhausted by the time dad got home and read her a bedtime story tonight!

Just one of THOSE days!

I sense that Miss Peyton dislikes Monday morning just about as much as her mom. After a busy, BUSY, fun filled weekend, she was cranky! She didn't sleep great and woke up early and ornery. She got it in her head that she wanted to go outside at 7:45am and check for the newspaper (the one we don't receive during the week!), so I let her. Headed out shortly after she did when she informed me that she wanted to stay outside. She asked if she could just stay "out here for a little bit for some piece of quiet." She told me she just needed a PIECE of QUIET!

How funny is that!

All Dressed UP!

I'm lucky if I can get Peyton into a dress about three times a year. I can usually win on Christmas, Easter and maybe a wedding or such. Well today, she's wearing a dress! She has bee invited to go to a little birthday afternoon with the neighbor girls. They're going to McDonalds to play and eat, then going to see The Velveteen Rabbit late this afternoon. I didn't tell her about it until yesterday afternoon, and every ten minutes since, she's asked if it was time to go. We are walking her over there at 3pm this afternoon. She was showered and insisting on a dress by 9am today :) It might be another LONG 6 hours!

Sweet Nothings!

After preschool this morning, while we got into the car and were waiting for this big snowstorm to start, Peyton asked a pretty sweet thing...goes somethign like this...

Peyton: Mom, is god tired right now?
Mom: Is god tired right now?
P: Yeah, is he?
M: I don't know, why do you think that?
P: Well him must be tired because he isn't having it snow right now.

Kids say the darndest things!

A Healthy Compromise? I think not!

So Peyton wanted Mcdonalds after preschool today. For multiple reasons (down one job, unhealthy, her consistency in not finishing, possible plans with a friend later) I said not today. She huffed and puffed and was a big grouch in the car until I distracted her with a quick stop at the pet store. Then she came up with "A Plan." She has a lot of these lately. She agreed on a sandwich in a shape, but not a circle. She decided...in the car that she'd have jelly and use the christmas tree cut out. She then said "Mom, I have another idea!" "Let's do circles on the tree to decorate. How about chocolate chips!" Well, I veto'd the chocolate chips and tried wracking my brain to determine what we could accesorize with that would be less unhealthy. All I came up with were some old Fruity Pebbles in the cubboard. Needless to say as I watched her eat her "sandwich" I thought to myself, would a couple of chicken nuggets and a chocolate milk really be any worse?!? (I think Griffin also thought her sandwich looked good!)

This picture just makes me giggle!!

Happy Birthday Lane!

Peyton was so excited for Valentine's and her dad's birthday! She had a party at school and daycare, then had a party for her dad on Saturday. We made him the best cake! A chocolate ganache layer cake with raspberry filling. Lane was also sweet enough to bring flowers for me and flowers for Peyton. She was so excited!

Family time was fun, Lane's favorite meal turned out good, cake was AWESOME! Happy Birthday Babe! We love you!

Oops!

Lane and I made the mistake of singing "shake your bootie" to Peyton recently and ever since, she wanders around saying "shake your boobie." Right now, she's leaning over her brother in his swing, saying "You love me..." and tickling him under his armpits while singing "Shake your boobie, shake your boobie."
I've corrected her more times than I can count and it hasn't made a lick of difference. I'll let you know when social services calls!

Growing Up

Griffin rolled over last night! Three times, from his back to his tummy. He has such strong little legs! We all got excited and did a little cheer, even Peyton! I want to take some video of it and post it ASAP, but haven't quite learned how to do that yet. He's 3 mo, 3 days today. And already rolled over. I cannot believe it. He did it three times too, so it's hard for me to think it's too much of a fluke. What a big boy!

Wish it was SPRING!

Is it bad that I bundled up the 3month old for a walk outside this afternoon? We waited til about 3pm when it was like 34 degrees and the sun was still out. I decided to bundle him and wear him so he could keep warm from my body heat. We took the dog and unfortunately Peyton's scooter too. Managed to walk the block along the sidewalk that was actually fairly clear of ice. There were a few slippery spots I could have done without-especially having the dog drag me across them, wearing my kid. But we made it. Peyton slipped once. I also had to pick up dog crap. Love that part! But...Griffin seemed to really enjoy it. Had his plug in the whole time, slept part of it and just watched nervously and calmly the rest of the time! What a good sport. And it felt great to get out and blow the stink off of ALL OF US. This has been ONE LONG WINTER!!!

A Valid Complaint

I hate hate hate hate hate HATE the milk jugs from Costco. I mean, seriously, who designed them? They have the weirdest pour opening ever. It's huge and ill-placed and unless the jug is 3/4 of the way empty, I spill and waste milk.
Cost is great compared to the grocery store and in this economy it's almost worth it, but if you'd add up all I've spilled, I'm starting to wonder if I'm really saving a damn dime! It drips down the jug, it over-shoots the vessel you are pouring into almost everytime, and it's very hard to accurately aim.
I may do my research to locate a customer comments address. I mean SERIOUSLY!

It's been awhile since you went to church when...

Today, I committed to attending church this weekend. Of course, I've accepted being lutheran, so we planned to head to Zion at 5:30 tonight instead of attempting to make a morning service. More low key, laid back, less people...
So, we go and Peyton does great half way through. Then Griffin decides to very LOUDLY fill his pants and sound like he's having a full on blow out. Then, offertory comes along and Peyton is all excited. Lane hands her the envelope, then hands her a kleenex because she's been picking her nose. Then she hands Lane the envelope back and the woman comes along with the offering plate. Peyton quickly puts her kleenex in the plate, Lane puts the envelope in, and...all this happening in front of my eyes...the woman continues on. It was like I didn't even see or get that it happened until after when Lane whispers to me "SHE PUT A KLEENEX IN THERE!!!"
After that she loudly whispered that it wasn't "that exciting at all" to be at church and she kept asking if we could leave.
I thought it would be good to get back in the swing of things, since we are doing a fair amount at the church already but I guess she expected crafts and snacks and games or something. I'm not sure I have the confidence to go again next weekend!!!???

The 44th President

Where were you when Barack was inaugurated? It was an exciting day, you couldn't help but feel it in the air. I was glued to the tv. Was reminded that it would be fun for my children to recall where they were when this history was made! I know I will NEVER forget, for more than one reason!