Cleaning House

I haven't exactly been too great at keeping up on my housework lately. I don't enjoy the never ending process and haven't quite figured out how to stay on top of it and everything else that needs to be done. There are a lot of other things I would rather be doing...like playing with my kids, taking them to playgroups, serving, running errands, going to the gym, working on my hobbies and being crafty, etc. So one day, when we have a little extra money, the first thing I will do is higher a maid to help me. I feel that it would be money well spent. I know I should learn to find joy in my responsibilites...but oh how productive I could be if I didn't have to worry about the messes that constantly followed me, nagging me that I needed to take care of them.

This becomes a bigger problem when I realize it is holding me back. I finally, after weeks, got around to mopping our floor. It was hard work...that involved not just the usual sweeping & mopping, but also scrubbing food off of the walls, tables, chairs, blinds, anything within the kids reach. It took me all morning (of not playing with my kids or getting to the gym or anything) but I finally got to it. Then that night, after I threatened my family that their food better not leave the table or else, PJ handed Dylan his first bowl of food and spoon. My first thought was, "what is the world is he thinking??!?" Then I stopped and realized, "what in the world was I thinking?!?...how could my baby be over 16 months old and he doesn't regularly feed himself???" Well he does actually feed himself...but only finger foods. I realized how awful this was...because I didn't want to worry about more messes I haven't been letting him discover runny foods and spoons in all their glory. I was put in my place. And Dylan didn't do all that bad...

...I'm going to try harder. But I'm not letting go of my dream...one day I will have a maid!

lolly.brand Model

Laura's done it again! She came out with some new fun colors for her clothing line shirts that Brynn couldn't have been more excited about. It makes her happy. And it makes me happy to know that my kids get to wear unique shirts created by their Auntie.

You can see this latest addition on the website...just make sure to scroll down...

http://lollybrand.net/shoplollybrand.html

Also, check out the blog entry dated 12.01.09 where you can see Tyler having cupcake fun with Auntie Laura over Thanksgiving. He was so proud of those cupcakes he helped make...he even gave up a trip to the park to stay home and help her make them :) All while wearing his brand.L T-shirt she gave him.

Tyler's Sing-A-Long

Today Tyler's preschool class did a 'sing-a-long' for the parents...but really they just sang some of their favorite songs for us. This video was one Tyler has been singing a lot lately about making pizza - one of our favorite things to do at home - hence them wearing their chef's hats they made.

This next video is of Tyler being disruptive. Yep, he struggled at the end. I really hope this isn't how he always is, his teacher said he isn't but who knows if she felt like she could tell me the truth. PJ has been worried that he's going to grow up to be the class clown, but I haven't been worried about that until now. This is his favorite song and we love to have him sing it. But instead of singing with his class he decided to constantly tap the little boy next to him and then say "NOTHING!"...goodness...where did he get that from?!?!

Then when we got home he wanted a snack so he sat down at the table. I told him I was going to get Brynn at the bus stop and when I got back we would have a snack. Guess he couldn't wait...all the singing and being disruptive apparently made him very sleepy...

Baked Chicken Taquitos

This is a new recipe, but sure to be a long time favorite. It is fast, easy, and delicious because it uses flavors I love. Katy introduced it to me when she made it for us when we were there for the birthday weekend. I've already made it again and ever-so-slightly-tweaked it to meet our needs. So here is my version...

Baked Chicken Taquitos
4oz cream cheese, softened
1/4 cup green salsa, overflowing
1 Tbsp lime juice
1 tsp cumin
1 tsp chili powder
1 tsp onion powder
1 tsp garlic powder
3 Tbsp (at least) fresh cilantro, chopped
2 cups shredded cooked chicken (I used two 13oz cans)
1 cup (at least) monterey jack cheese (or use peperjack if you want a little kick)
16 small flour tortillas

Heat over to 425 degrees. Line a baking sheet with foil and lightly coast with cooking spray.
In a bowl, mix cream cheese, salsa, lime juice and seasonings. Stir to combine and then add cilantro. Add chicken and cheese and combine well.
Place 2-3 Tbsp of mixture on the lower thrid of a soft tortilla, keeping it about 1/2 inch from the edges. Then roll it up as tight as you can. Place filled taquitos seam side down on the baking sheet. When ready to bake, spray tops lightly with cooking spray and lightly sprinkle with salt if desired.
Place pan in oven and bake for 15 - 20 minutes or until crisp and the ends start to turn golden brown.
Taquitos can be served with beans, salsa, sour cream, guacamole, shredded lettuce, tomatoes, etc.

Special Request Video

Our different Grandma hasn't seen Dylan walking yet (yes he finally starting walking the week of Christmas)! So she asked that we get a little video of him. Sorry, this is really dark for some reason, and not very exciting...but here he is walking!...

Christmas Outfits

So sad story...
In preparation for Christmas, my sisters and I spent way too many hours shopping for matching Christmas outfits for all 9 of the cousins to wear to church together. That was hard considering we had the age range of 7 years to 8 months to work with. But we did it. And Grandma so graciously funded this adventure. Unfortunately, basically everyone got sick, and only a handful of people were well enough to go to church that Sunday. So all the hard work went to waste and the cousins didn't get to wear their matching outfits all at once. Brynn had been especially excited to wear the matching dresses with Madison. Very disappointing! But still...don't they look cute...

We took our outfits back this weekend so that Grandma could at least see 5 out of the 9 together. But for some reason we weren't able to get a picture of all 5 of them together.

Birthday Trip

Last week was my dad's birthday. Tomorrow is Jack's birthday. And since we had a three day weekend right in between the two, we decided to head over and celebrate with them. (Well really I decided...PJ couldn't go).
Katy was very cute and did a race car themed birthday party. They started out Saturday morning by decorating boxes and turning them into their race cars...

And so they were legal she made them their very own drivers license...

And then they could drive on over to the Drive In for a showing of CARS...

...complete with popcorn and juice! They spent quite a bit of time in their cars and I had to break the bad news to a dissapointed Brynn and Tyler that their cars were just too big to come home.
Tyler always gets so excited and into things. Well, when it was time to open presents, Jacks presents, he was still very excited. And before Jack could finish unwrapping one Tyler would swoop it out of his hands fast as lightening and rush it over to show Aunt Katy what Jack had gotten. I couldn't get him to calm down but for some reason Jack didn't seem to mind too much.

And look at the great race car cake she made...

It was a great weekend! Despite the crazy kids we always have a good time...except maybe the one morning where Katy was scared for my kids life because I was beyond grumpy at them after the three of them combined together the night before to not allow me to get any sleep...everyone knows I need my sleep or I'm not a happy girl...you'd think they would learn after all these years...not tired mommy = happy mommy! So leave mommy alone at night unless you REALLY need something important...

Sorry, didn't mean to go off on that tangent! I'm just saying is all...

Thanks for a fun weekend! Its always worth the trip!

Snow Day!

Finally! Our first real snowfall! The kids were SO excited this morning when they woke up and saw all the snow outside. And to make things even better school was cancelled! So we got to stay home and play. We waited for the sun to come out, and for Dylan to be ready for his nap, and then we got ready. Seriously, it took us an entire episode of My Friends Tigger and Pooh just to get dressed. We had heard the weather report and so had stopped by Target yesterday to get shovels and snow pants. But the kids fought me on everything - they didn't want to put on the scarves, or put their gloves on before their coat, or wear their coat but rather their jacket. They didn't understand that I knew what I was talking about because I used to do this all the time. But we finally got dressed and they lasted a lot longer than I thought they would. I was thinking they'd last all of maybe 5 - 10 minutes. But really they stayed out as long as it took me to shovel the driveway (which wasn't as easy as it sounds since they were putting the snow back on as fast as I could shovel it off).
Brynn (when she figured out a snowman wasn't going to happen with this snow) loved making snow angels and Tyler discovered that his truck made an awesome snow toy!

Oh, and this didn't work so well either but I had to let her try...

...they are still discovering and learning about snow.

And then to top off the day, yep even better than the hot chocolate once we got inside...Daddy came home early!

And the rest of the day was all about indoor football lessons...

Teaching Brynn how to 'stitch' something up (new Build A Bear Kit)...

And setting up and playing with our new computer camera (thanks Petersons!!)...

It was a good day. Unfortunately it left my daughter, who used to like school, wishing it gets cancelled again tomorrow!...me too...but just because I don't want to bundle everyone up and have to leave the warm comfy house...its cozy cooped up in here all together...

The Last of the Christmas Pictures

Below are some random pictures from our Christmas trip:
-Uncle Clay took charge when it was time to deliver treats to the neighbors. Brynn, Jared, and Madison were very obedient helpers.

-Somehow PJ, admid my more reasonable logic, talked my mom into buying some nerf guns. And then my dad(?!?!) had her go get some more. They were very fun. Here PJ is training Jonathan and then poor Brody got in on the action.

-'Sitting' a little close to the TV I'd say...

-Don't worry as always there was plenty of reading going on too...

-This was our 2nd Annual Family Jeopardy game. We turn in questions about ourselves and everybody else, Dad compiles them into Jeopardy format, and we have a grand old time learning new things about each other, reminiscing, and bring up past memories. This year it was boys versus girls and somehow, despite entering the Final Jeopardy down points, the boys managed to win. Still not sure how Jonah managed to miss the entire game while dealing with a sleeping child ?!?...

-Group Shots...

(me and my sisters, not sure why we were gathering on the stairs...I think to say goodbye to the Detros, the kids hanging out in Jacks room)

-New Years Eve has always been my least favorite 'holiday'. I know, party pooper. This New Years we went to dinner and when we got home Uncle Steven set up a little fireworks show for the kids. They loved it. Then it was off to bed!

Homemade with Love

I love making and giving homemade gifts. There is something unique and special about them. But this Christmas I started to doubt my enthusiasm when I began feeling overwhelmed at the task list I had created for myself that included scrapbooking, sewing, jewlery making, sewing, baking/cooking, and more sewing. I didn't know if I could get it all done or have the time to enjoy doing it. But in the end, it was worth the effort, especially when I recieved some amazing homemade gifts myself. Here are a few examples of gifts homemade with love this year...

My newest necklace design:

Another stuffed animal with matching blanket for baby Steven to be born in March:

About 13 pairs of pajamas, and this year I let the kids color snowmen for their T-shirts that we later ironed on:

As part of a gift to Lyndsay & Jonah I had sewed them aprons...well how fun to open a gift to me from my other sister Katy, and she had also made me an apron out of the same fabric I had chosen for Lyndsays...too fun!:

My sister Katy made all of the cousins matching super hero capes!...
Lyndsay made Brynn about a gazillion of these hair clips that Brynn now calls her "pretty hair flowers"...

Lyndsay also took these adorable wooden animals and turned them into outlet covers for Dylan:

Other homemade gifts not pictured:

Hot pads to go with my apron, pumpkin butter canned by Lyndsay, playing cards made out of pictures from everyone in the family, and of course, the scrapbook calendar for the Mom.