Progress?

Griffin was moved to the table today. We've avoided it for a long time for several reasons

• throwing food


• throwing silverware


• dirty hands everywhere


• feet on the table

We decided he seems to be throwing "less" food, he always climbs up on the bar stool at the island and I'm really, dang sick of looking at the grubby highchair in my kitchen. Adults sat on each side of him for pizza tonight. He's going to require a watchful eye...He still puts his feet on the table.

*note-he's not necessarily throwing the real fork here in this picture per say. Just swinging it around like a weapon. Neat.

Fuel

Sleeping in now means 7am??? I guess??? I wouldn't say I agree or want it that way, but it just is what it is. Not so much that I'm woken by the kids but my body wakes me. It's old-feeling, creaky and my back starts to ache and I can't turn into a comfortable spot after a certain time. Depressing in a way. So, up we are and fuel is necessary.

Who knew free could be so much fun

Stopped into Home Depot the other morning for light bulbs and found out we were just in time for a kids building class. We all sat down and played and the kids loved it!

Quick dinner

I found this recipe the other day on one of the recipe blog sites I check several times a week. Thought it sounded good and had pretty much everything in the pantry so made this tonight. It was really easy and really good! I substituted a couple things, whole corn instead of creamed, an egg instead of egg beaters, so maybe I wasn't quite as "light" as the recipe noted but it didn't make a difference to us! Yum! Of course the kids didn't even try a bite! I made them mac and cheese.






Here's a link to the website where I found the recipe in case you want to try it. Lots of fun recipes and way better pictures than I took!

http://pointlessmeals.blogspot.com/2010/10/chicken-tamale-casserole.html

Daylight Savings

While losing an hour of evening at night is hard there are some pleasant parts of daylight savings. This was sunset on Sunday night, just before we sat down for dinner!

Lots of days, we wish we had a bigger house on a bigger lot, further out of town. But I do need to remind myself that we still have a pretty great set up with a path and some wooded area just outside our back door. Pretty beautiful!

Setting Sun

We've been squeezing in as much time outside as we can the last few minutes before dinner and sun set. It's cool but nice and we have all really enjoyed the long fall we've had! Winter will be hard for all of us, especially Griffy and Hannah....I guess I should say Griffy and Hannah will probably drive the rest of us crazy cooped up inside all winter! Fortunately we've been able to avoid that so far during these mild fall evenings!

Griffy's New Trick

Griffin has learned to make a "sad" face. It's the funniest thing ever!!

Happy Halloween

Siblings

Tonight, P was so good to her brother while they played in the BK playland. She helped him up to the slide numerous times and went down together, played together, took care of each other. It was so fun to watch. I'd hear her say "G are you okay? Do you need a kiss?" and when he said "yeah," she would give him one! I heard her say "G do you wanna go down the slide again?" and he'd say "YES! C'mon!" It was really wonderful to see and be reminded how good she is to him and what a great kid she is! They both can be! Here are some shots of her being such a sweet big sister this summer.

Thanks!

When you surround yourselves with incredibly creative and talented people, they can really make you look good!

http://kiddiewhampusphotos.blogspot.com/

I am thankful for all of my wonderful friends, but a special shout out to Kim and Bonnie, because they made us all look pretty darn great! And all at the same time! That is no small feat!

Making memories

We feel like fall is officially here, school starting, breezy, cooler weather, weekends filling up again. Another tradition is pictures. Gotta get proof we all survived another year for both of the kids! We went this morning to see Kiddiewhampus and though it was a cool, breezy morning, I think we nailed some! I am expecting better results than what happened during breakfast this morning!

Anxious!

I am having the HARDEST time waiting for end of day when Lane tells me it's appropriate enough for me to go pick up miss P! She is just getting out of class now and heading to afternoon care and I should let her meet a friend and see what it's like but I want to run in there now and see how it went, what she did, if she made a friend, if she still looks like....this.....!

Here's to Kindergarten!

Well, the monkeys (I mean kids) are asleep and quiet. The house is picked up and a bit of laundry was done and put away. She went to bed quietly and was tired tonight and didn't think or talk much about the big day tomorrow. I am ready to crash after feeling up and down for weeks preparing for tomorrow. I think the morning will be really exciting and a little sad for me, just after we leave her at school. But hopefully she knows just how excited we are for her starting this new journey and how proud we are of the special 5 yr old she has become!

Ahhhhh, Weekend!

There is just nothing as good as ice cream after dinner on a Friday night, after a long, first week back after vacation!

It's been so hot here and everyone at our house is ready for the weekend! Bubba woke early this morning feeling feverish and whiney but a dose of motrin hidden in some chocolate milk has seemed to really turn things around (as a giant bouncy ball is chucked at my face while I sit at the table!). Big plans, laundry, groceries, afternoon Twins game on Sunday! I think we'll pick up some more sweet corn this morning and have some bruschetta chicken and sweet corn for dinner and of course, freeze the rest. Think I may run through Trader Joe's this morning too for a couple things...of course, this is all AFTER we go to Han's for a morning pastry! It's good to be home and relaxing! Happy Weekend my friends!

Corn, glorious corn!

There is something about doing the things that take me back to times spent with my grandma and grandpa! I stopped by a farm on Sunday and got some corn so we could freeze some and it was delish! We ate several ears on Sunday night and then more on Monday before I boiled up the remaining ears to freeze. I tell you what, this is the easiest thing to do, but it brings me such joy and comfort. Seeing those quart baggies all stacked up just warms my heart and makes me think of time after time, leaving my grandma and grandpa's when they'd send corn home with us to eat because it always tasted so great when they froze it. They'd send it home with my parents for us, send it with us to college, and even sent it home for Lane and I to have after we were married. It honestly makes me want to go buy more and fill my entire freaking freezer up with corn, just to open it and feel like I'm getting a big, giant hug from them every time I look! I know....I kind of sound like a freak with hoarding tendencies when I say that, but seriously, it gives me the strangest comfort!

Gag

I just had to come home and give Griffin an immediate bath after learning that he dug poop out of his diaper during nap time today at daycare. I could see it under his fingernails. Barf!

He looks much better now. I can almost forget the grossness.

I think it is time...

I'm working to talk myself into getting the bubba hair cut. I looked at him tonight, playing, and saw it curling over his collar, and I really sort of thought it might be time to make his first hair cut appointment. Last night when I combed it after his bath, I had to go through a snarl in the back. I don't know if I'm ready to have it cut!!

Tie Dye

Did you know you can tie dye with sharpie markers and rubbing alcohol?

Hot Lights

I can tell I don't know what is popular and trendy anymore. Peyton has been asking for light up shoes for about 2 weeks. I mentionedhem to Kim, who knows way more than me, even though she has boys and no drama-queens, and she informed me I must be talking about Sketchers. So, we headed to Famous Footwear this morning and found Hot Lights by Sketchers! (And some other Disney princess, light up, gaudy ones) Needless to say, we came home with a pair since I told her days ago that we'd be going shopping for them. I have to admit, I really didn't expect them to be as expensive as they were! I don't often spend that much on shoes for myself! But she has no clue about how much they were, just that she thinks they're pretty and there was something pretty great about seeing her excitement over them! Fortunately Lane also didn't see the price tag, because he was busy picking out a pair of black converse shoes for Griffy. On the way out, I also happened to find a really cute pair of subtle leopard print loafers on sale for $19! Worthwhile trip!

Precious Times

These are the memories I'll have for ever and ever. Seeing my bubba with my 92 yr old grandpa. I could watch Grandpa watching Griffin all day long! They gave each other funny looks and he called him "Tiger" while Griffy tried taking his cane or stealing things off of his walker tray! They are adorable together!

Crafts=More fun than house work!

On a whim...makin' play dough! Too bad we don't have more kool aid packets! Tomorrow we are spending the day together and we'll be running for a couple groceries so we can continue with our play dough making projects and create a whole fruity smelling rainbow's worth!

(don't worry about the band-aid...something about a sore nose?!?)

Happy Valentines Day!

We spent the day hanging out and planning a little lunch celebration for Lane's birthday tomorrow. Peyton helped me make banana bread, then sugar cookies (didn't they turn out cute?!?!) and then we worked on a birthday cake. The house has smelled good pretty much all day long! After Griffin went to bed we did a quick once-over and cleaned up the toys and clutter and vacuumed. Tomorrow, Grandma and Grandpa and Kelly and Dustin are coming for lunch and birthday cake!

How'd he get all the curls?

I want to know how he ended up with all the curls and she didn't? When I was little and had crazy curly hair, I hated it. I'd practically give an arm for my little girl to have it now!!! Instead, as Lane likes to call it, we got HOCKEY HAIR!

Ouch!

Toy box - 1, Bubba - 0

(10 hours post crash)

Finally!!!

I finally made some time to putz in my scrap "closet" and I accomplished a page! It helps that I spent over $100 in two shopping ventures for new embellishments and papers...got the creative-ish juices flowing! It was fun. I think I'm heading back down to the cave now, even though I should fold laundry and go to bed!

Things I'm lovin'.....

Since Valentine's day is just around the corner, I've been thinking about lots of things I love right now. Here are a few:

• crockpots-I'm making a roast on Monday!


• uni-ball pens


• dark chocolate-I could eat 15 doves a day. Seriously


• girl days with Peyton


• when my kitchen table is totally cleared off and wiped down-very unusual!


• scrapbook supplies-I'm addicted to buying, then am awful about using them


• weekends-this one has been especially relaxing!


• my tiffany bracelet


• Griffin's hair after his bath

A couple recipes and more ways to use your kitchen gadgets!

Okay, I'm no photographer but I have done some pretty good cooking the past couple of weeks! I decided to take a few pictures and post these recipes I've found and adjusted a bit over time. They are both super fast and not all that bad for you!

Chicken Picatta

1 lb chicken breast, cut up
lemon (for the juice) or refrigerated lemon juice
2 T olive oil
1 T butter
1-2 T flour
white wine
1/4 -1/2 C water
2 T capers (I like to add extra!)
artichokes (I like the extra small, and this recipe can be made without too!)

Saute chicken in the olive oil, then remove chicken. Add butter and flour to pan and brown. Then add lemon juice and wine. Slowly add some water until it's a great, saucy consistency. Add the capers, artichokes if you like and chicken back, combine and warm and serve over your favorite pasta! Tonight, we had it with light cheese ravioli, and i calculated the picatta and 3/4 C of the ravioli to be only 7.5 points! YUMMY!

Jambalaya

1/2-1 lb chicken breast, cut up (I like golden plump frozen breast strips, dump in the pan frozen!)

Sausage (some days we use turkey smoked sausage, some days Mexican sausage for kick! I usually only use 2 links of brat sized, or just about 1/2 of a ring)

1 sweet pepper, orange, red, yellow, whatever-diced

1 C brown rice

1 can diced tomatoes

water

Saute the chicken and sausage, add the pepper and soften. Then, mix in the rice, diced tomatoes and about a 1/2 c of water. Cover and simmer for 10-20 min. I've made this with both brown or white rice. White cooks faster but the brown is so much better for you and you can't taste the difference here. I'd add some heat if you don't use the Mexican sausage, some pepper flakes or hot sauce. This is Lane's favorite dish, almost! This is one that he cannot stop eating and has several helpings of.

And lastly...for those of you with lots of kitchen tools and gadgets, I just wanted to suggest one more way to use your berry colander.....

Happy Cooking!

Shirtless Saturday Night

Just another wild and crazy Saturday night at the Johnson house! Both kids were in bed by 8p and the rest of us sat on our behinds watching crime tv. I woke myself up at 10p, 15 min after I was waiting for the mystery cliff-hanger! Said "were they guilty???" I was told no, and marched up to bed!

Hoot, Hoot

What do you think of those clear, acrylic stamp sets that you find everywhere now? I just bought this set a couple weeks ago when I was craving some owl theme. It's an adorable set, but I'm not sure how I feel about the stamps themselves. I don't feel like they collect as much ink as the rubber stamps and I also think they are a bit blurry, maybe softer, so if you don't press real evenly, they may fatten out? I'm going to keep playing, though, because the set is really super cute!