Happy Valentines Day!

Teeth!

Little man has sprouted two bottom teeth!  With them comes lots and lots of drool as you can tell:)

 

 

SNOW!!!!

"Happy Birthday to Grandma Dear"- Emma

Happy Birthday to You Grandma/Mom!!! We love you so much and are so thankful that you are our Grandma and Mom:)  Sorry it took all day to get your birthday post up... it's been a full day ordeal! ha! We attempted to take the pictures first thing this morning.  I'm afraid we didn't get the "perfect" picture:) But since you're their Grandma I knew you would love every picture anyways! So... for your viewing pleasure... here is your traditional birthday photo shoot with your grandbabies!


Take #1-
Me: "Emma, would you please hold the sign so Grandma can see that we are wishing her Happy Birthday?"

Emma: No response...just the following face followed by a hissy-fit because she didn't want to hold the paper.

Take #2:
Me: Alright! (trying to sound super excited so Emma would think it was fun) Let's have Colt try holding the paper! He'll do a great job!
Emma: "Okay...Colty hode the paypuh"

After Take #2 Colt attempts to eat the paper and then it gets thrown on the ground.  So,

Take #3:
Me: "Okay (still trying to sound upbeat to get the perfect picture!), the COUCH is going to hold the paper! It will be perfect! Smile guys!!!"

And right as the camera was clicking Emma says, "I have to tee-tee."

Potty Break and then



Take #4: I've stopped talking at this point and have just resorted to making crazy faces and noises to get their attention. As you can see it didn't work. Emma is more interested in making sure her pants are buttoned from her recent bathroom break and Colt who usually laughs at everything I do is beginning to lose interest as well.

Yes...there is one more "Take".  I had to give it one more try... here's what they thought about it...

They most definitely aren't the best pictures but we sure do love you Grandma and want to wish a Happy Birthday! We love you!!!! :) :) :) :)

Long post :)

Hmm where to even begin this post! How about with a few pictures about what we've been doing this week!

Coloring...lots and lots of coloring and crafting. Notice...all the colors that Emma picked out are either pinks or purples..my kind of girl!  :)

I had been wanting a special place (besides the fridge) for Emma to hang her artwork and for us to hang our "letter of the week."  I had wanted something very inexpensive (inexpensive as less than $5) AND I was so excited when I was in Super Target last week.  I found cork-boards for $2.50 a piece! 

In other news the weather has been chilly and gray here the past few days.  We've pretty much just been staying at home all day enjoying our cozy home!  Em loves to look out the window at our neighbors as they come and go throughout the day.

 

A couple of weeks ago I came across a blog (can't remember which one for the life of me) where the woman was doing what she called a "Pantry Challenge."  Basically you use what you have in your pantries.  It forces you to be creative in your cooking and also saves money since you are using what you have instead of buying more.  So, this past week we've been living out of our pantry:)  And I must admit it has been fun!  What's even more fun is naming what you've made.  Every time I make something I like to call it the name of the food plus Delight ha! Like tonight for instance... we had Mexican Bake Delight. It makes it sound more appetizing since I'm basically throwing crazy ingredients together...don't you agree?!  Now...just in case anyone is wondering what Mexican Bake Delight is I'll share my very own recipe ;)  I'm sure there is something similar out there...let me know if you've made anything like it!

Mexican Bake Delight ;)

1lb Ground Beef made into Taco Meat

1 Can of Cream of Celery Soup

Package of Tortillas

Shredded Cheese (I used 3/4 a package)

Green Peppers-I used half a pepper

Onions-I used a fourth of an onion

Saute the green peppers and onions. Mix the Taco Meat and Cream of Celery soup together.  Then in a 9x13 I put down a layer of tortillas. On top of that beef mixture. On top of that cheese 1/2 of the cheese you're using. Another layer of tortillas, more taco meat and then your green pepper/onion mix. And on top of everything a thick layer of cheese.  I baked it at 375 for 20 minutes. 

Let me tell you...it is SO DELICIOUS!!!  I made some fresh guacamole to go with it...yum yum!

Oh and for dessert Emma "made" Valentines Day cookies (love us some break apart cookies!)  We let her dip her cookies in milk tonight. :) Little toot was in heaven!  Oh and just in case anyone was wondering... she has worn this necklace EVERY DAY ALL DAY since her birthday last weekend! Aunt Kaitlin, thanks for such a great gift :) :) :) Every morning she wakes up and asks to put her "jewly" on.

And of course what's a post without the little man.  Here he is fresh out of the tub tonight.

 

Mmm could just eat him up! He's the proud owner of two new bottom teeth! 

Time to get the house around for our day tomorrow! Happy Wednesday!

Pictures for Daddy and Grandma :)

Hot Pink Cake, the Number Two and Naked Marshmallow

This past weekend we celebrated Emma's 2nd birthday!  I know that you always hear parents talk about how fast your children grow up...but seriously, I can't believe it has been two years since she was born!  I love my girl!!!
We decided to do something a little different this year.  Last year we had a great first birthday party. However, I just wasn't in the mood to plan anything this year and wanted something a little more low-key and laid back.
So here's how we spent Emma's birthday this year...


Friday night I began to bake her cake.  Every time we would mention that her birthday was coming up she would talk about cake.  And when we would ask her what kind of cake she wanted she would say, "a hot pink cake." SO, Friday night I had this grand idea that I was going to make a rainbow cake with pink icing.  I must admit I was secretly looking forward to cutting open the cake and everyone oooing and ahhhing over how beautiful and awesome the inside of the cake was. Well, long story short I am NOT a cake maker (Angie if you are reading this please look past the next picture...it is SO embarassing!). Pride goeth before a fall eh'!? :) I have no idea what happened. None whatsoever.  I greased my pan.... I waited for the cake to cool.... I attempted to remove the cake from the pan... and THIS is what it looked like after I tried to reassemble it.










Absolutely the worst cake I have ever seen in my life! The next morning Emma woke up and asked for "Hot pink cake" for her breakfast :) So I just gave her a bowl of the rainbow scraps and she was just as happy.    

She opened a few presents...

 Then we headed off to IHOP for something a little more substantial than rainbow cake scraps

Just a little side note: we were so blessed to have Emma's Aunt Bekka, Nan and Pop join us for all of the birthday fun!

After a DELICIOUS breakfast at IHOP we headed to the Aquarium.

 

Emma's favorite part of the aquarium was the otter exhibit.  They had it set up where the otters swim right up to the glass.  She sat there for quite awhile while they swam back and forth!

 

After the aquarium we headed home for an afternoon of naps. Actually, the kids took naps and I attempted to make another cake for the celebration supper :)  And...again, still not sure what happened but the cake kept falling apart when I tried to remove it from the pan.  Bekka and I were able to to "glue" it back together with frosting.  It's amazing what three jars of frosting and pack of sprinkles can do :)  For Emma's birthday supper I made her favorites... Homeade Mac n' Cheese and Brats. Yum yum ;)

 

At the aquarium Emma's Nan told her she could pick out a stuffed animal for her birthday.  They walked around the shop and Nan would suggest different animals but Emma would just look at them and put them back.  When Nan picked up the otter Emma grabbed it and and decided that was the one.
Back at home as I was laying Emma down for her nap I was talking to her about her new stuffed otter.  I told her that we needed to come up with a name for her otter.  Here's how the conversation went:

Me: You need to think of a name for your otter.  What do you want to call him?
Emma: Ummmm... Naked!
Me: No...we are not going to call your otter "Naked." Think of another name.
Emma: Ummm... Marshmallow!

So... the otter's name is now officially Marshmallow.  :)  He can thank me now or thank me later that his name isn't Naked!

We had such a great day celebrating Emma's life! :) I am so blessed to be the mommy of such an amazing little girl!!!

Hope everyone is having a great beginning of your week!