Getting a little crafty...

Well, Valentine's Day is the next holiday, so what better time to put up a few decorations while taking down the Christmas decorations.  Okay, who am I kidding, I just don't have any regular decorations for our house, so I have to use holiday decorations.  But I have made a couple new ones this year in an attempt to counteract all the dinosaurs that are slowly quickly taking over our house. 

 

The hearts are made out of left-over candy canes from Christmas.  And the red things (although you can't see them very well) are felt fortune cookies with candies inside.  They make a nice little centerpiece on the table.  I do have all the supplies to make a Valentine's wreath, now just need to find the time & energy.

And the boys canvas boards are finished and hanging in their rooms.  Sadly, this was the first (and only) thing we have hung on their walls.  The decorating will come along soon enough right, so what if it is 6 months later...

By no means are they perfect in any way, shape, or form--but they are not supposed to be.  The boys both had fun helping and getting their hands & feet all messy with paint and finding fun animals to decorate them.  They were both excited when we finally hung them on their walls.  

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Oh sweetness!

Sweet potatoes are Dylan's new favorite toy!  And it keeps him so entertained, I haven't even moved the box of them---however, I often find sweet potatoes laying around the house.  Oh what fun!

Seriously?!?  Who needs toys when you have sweet potatoes???

And just look at this sweet little boy when he wakes up in the morning...his messy bed head is a good indication that he slept good.  Connor tells him that he has 'funky' hair.  Which is true.

 

 

Dylan makes such silly faces.  He makes us laugh...hope he made you smile today too.

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The sun is out!

Poor Chris hasn't seen the light of day in 3 days!  And today is his 11th day of working in a row!!!  Weekends, long hours, and the start of his grad classes again...oh joy!

However, we have been enjoying the mid 50 degree weather and have spent some time outside & even made it to the park.  Connor & Dylan both loved the slide!  

We love you Daddy!  And miss you terribly!

Love,
Your 3 favorite people

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Recipes

So, I have tried a few new recipes in the last week and wanted to share them with you....

Last night I had some ground beef and couldn't think of what to do with it.  My first thoughts were Mexican casserole, meat balls, hamburgers, or sloppy joes.  None really sounded good, so I went searching and found a recipe for Beef and Bean Chimichangas.  They were pretty good, although I didn't have all the spices or the chili beans, instead I used kidney beans and they turned out good.  I didn't use all the mixture, so I will have to come up with another use for it.  Perhaps on top of nachos?  I also steamed some peas and carrots so we at least had a few veggies with dinner and the boys loved the peas.  They both gobbled them up and had seconds, thirds, and maybe even more.  It was pretty funny.  Connor liked how they 'pop' in his mouth. 

I also made a roast in the Crock Pot this week, but I have never used a recipe.  But I did attempt to make gravy (because Chris likes it, I hate it).  It didn't turn out, which not sure if it is because I left it on the stove a bit long or not.  But the roaast and veggies were good.

I have continued to try a few gourmet mac & cheese recipes, such as Fancy Macaroni.  I thought the bacon would seal the deal, but they boys said it was 'just okay'.  They prefer my regular, boring Mac & Cheese.  No fancy cheeses for them.  So, I agreed to attempt my borning, no recipe Mac & Cheese adding onions and bacon next time.  I thought the gourmet mac & cheese was really good, but I couldn't convince the boys.  Oh well.  They like their food pretty simple.

Another favorite recipe this week was a Minestrone soup, it was delicious.  It had bacon, kale, and fennel, among the normal minestrone soup ingredients.  However, I just realized that I already returned the magazine to the library that the recipe came from.  And I didn't write it down.  I guess I will have to go find it again.  It was tasty and perfect for the cold weather we have had lately.

I found the delicious Cinnamon Rolls recipe online and thought I would share it.  They are mighty tasty!

And lastly, this morning I made my favorite muffins.  Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins are more like a dessert, but at least they have bananas and yogurt along with the chocolate chips :)  This is a favorite of Connor's as well...go figure.  And since Chris is at work again today, we decided these would be a great treat for us.  And they were indeed. 

Enjoy!

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Christmas Day at the Baker House

Well, it has taken me two weeks to upload and go though all of our Christmas pictures...we took a lot! All 4 of us had a wonderful Christmas that was very relaxing and low key!  Just the way we like it.  We ate delicious cinnamon rolls for breakfast and Prime Rib for dinner.  Oh, and I never got out of my jammies...which of course, is my goal for every holiday!  Dylan woke us ALL up quite early that morning, ready to see what Santa had left.  He was thrilled that we let him wake up Connor and Connor was just as thrilled to have a laughing Dylan sitting on top of him tickling him.  Here is what the boys woke up to...

The boys must have been EXTRA good this year!

We opened the stockings & presents from Santa...

Santa decided to go green and not wrap any gifts this year...Yah Santa!

Santa brought Connor a tub of dinosaurs, dinosaur pj's, mega blocks, shark toys, stickers, and a few books.

Santa brought Dylan his own drawing board, wooden choo choo train, and some books.

And this Santa looks like he enjoyed his cookies and milk, while the reindeer ate most of the carrot:

We let the boys play with their Santa toys, then decided Chris & Connor should go get our Christmas Starbucks, so off they went while Dylan & I played.  It was delicous and Connor came back covered in Starbucks stickers.  Chris had a few on him too :)

Then the paper ripping, bow pulling chaos that has become Christmas began...

 

 

 

 

 

 

What fun they had!

I think it may be very clear that dinosaurs are well liked in the house.  Maybe.  Just maybe there is a slight obsession.  You be the judge...

Bucket of dinos, along with more, some little & some big!  He had been wanting a Stegasaurus.

 

Dinosaur backpack came with matching rain boots and rain jacket.  Too cute.

Just a few of the dinosaurs around the volcano.

 

Even Dylan loves dinosaurs.  Although, I don't think he has a choice.

Get Ready.  Get Set. Go...

Dylan & T.Rex are racing.

Okay.  Maybe it will be a fight instead of a race.  Connor was making the T.Rex move and roar with the remote control.  Oh joy!

And then there was Elmo...

 

Dylan was amazed by Elmo.  He tells jokes and sings songs.  It is pretty cute.  We left him in the box for awhile because Dylan was having so much fun pushing Elmo and the box around.

Happy First Christmas to our wonderful little Dylan...

Loving the bow.

Brothers hugging is just too precious for words...

We hope y'all had a wonderful Christmas!  We sure did. But I think that is kind of obvious seeing all the smiles on the boys' faces.  We were spoiled this year with lots of fun toys, books, gift cards, money, clothes, and everything else.  We are very fortunate and thankful for all our wonderful friends & family.  We are truly blessed.  We love you all.

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Day 3 of the New Year

Day Three: New Year's Eve the boys were in bed fast asleep by 8pm, I was out by 9pm, who knows what time Chris came to bed.  Needless to say, we watched the ball drop that morning when we were all up.  I was wondering about the end of 2009 and start of 2010, since I had a sinus headache that was incredibly painful and uncomfortable.  I tried to sleep it off and finally after trying lots and lots of home remedies, I got rid of it.  So, I must have a sinus infection, but that isn't bothering me too much.  But that headache...yuck!  Talk about painful!  I would rather have been in labor!  We did manage to get some of the Christmas decorations down, with only a bit more to go.  I was so sad to throw the 5 poinsettas in the trash---they were all still alive and thriving.  I don't think I have ever kept anything alive that long.  I am amazed!  So, now looks like we will have to find a few houseplants and give those a try.   Any reccomendations???

I am working on some painted canvas artwork for both the boys' rooms.  The paint is drying, but they should be done and up on their walls within a couple of days.  Maybe.  Chris said my idea was a little too girly, so we shall see.

Connor's Dinosaur party invites are done and ready to be put in the mail.  And I was fooling around taking pictures of the invites.  (Yes, in manual). 

And since Chris went to work today, I was on my own with the boys.  We played a lot.  Read a lot.  Fought a lot.  Dylan now climbs up the stairs.  Oh my!  And Connor does what he wants.  Oh my!  Bring on the walking/running/climbing...Bring on the 3's.  I am ready.  Not.  I now know for certain this year is going to filled with challenges, but they will be fun and memorable.

However, after begging, pleading, and threatening, both boys took a decent nap.  I was able to do a quick work-out.  Amazing, yes, I know.  Santa brought me a DVD of Last Chance Work-out from Biggest Loser.  Jillian is very intimidating, so I didn't quit.  I didn't want her jumping through the tv...she did threaten to once or twice.  Chris said he didn't want to hear me complain about how sore I am.  I will try to hold in my complaints, but my arms are already starting to ache...just a little.

I have managed to put a few meals in the freezer even.  Those include cinnamon rolls, fajita quesadillas, and waffles.  Yum.  And I baked some banana walnut  pecan bread (recipe called for walnuts, but we had pecans) this afternoon (a new recipe that I had gotten from Starbucks) and tomorrow night will be Minestrone soup (also a new recipe).  Tonight Chris made some shrimp scampi.  Yum.  Connor ate about 12 shrimp...guess he really likes shrimp.  On the first one, he even ate the tail.  He said it was a little crunchy, but not too bad.  Ewww.  

So, off to a good start.  Let's keep it up.

I would say I am doing pretty well with the resolutions!

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New Year's Resolutions

It is that time of year again to think about resolutions.  My oh my!

[Here were my resolutions for 2009:  Hobbies I would love to take up such as sewing, quilting, photography, baking, and scrap booking. All the while, having a bigger vegetable garden (and starting from seeds this year), canning, getting ready for the new baby, and completely organizing our house.  I didn't do so great.  I am ready for a fresh start.]
 

For the record, we did start most of our garden from seeds.  I attempted quilting.  I did some scrap booking.  I somewhat organized the (old) house.  And I did manage to keep up with the blog....150 posts, just to be exact.

Here are my excuses (in no particular order):

Moving.  Selling a house.  Buying a house.  Living in a hotel for months.  Connor.  Dylan.  Chris working/going to school.  Having a baby. 

This year I resolve to...

*Take my camera off the auto setting.  I am truly terrified of the manual setting, but I am determined!  (If anybody has any good tips, lessons, advice, etc. for doing so, I am all ears.) 

**Chris' New Year's Resolution is to brew his own beer.  Or at least that is my resolution for him.  (If anybody has any great words of wisdom for this hobby, I am certain he is willing to listen.)

***Our family resolution is to set a budget & stick to it, which means no frivolous spending, which in return means very little Starbucks.*** 

Along with the resolutions, I have several goals...much like the previous years:

Canning, making food from scratch, trying new recipes, becoming organized, reading more books, having a clean house, doing some home renovations, working out, and gardening.  

We had a wonderful 2009, which lots of fun and excitement and we are thrilled to see what 2010 has in store for us.  I am sure both Connor & Dylan have lots of wonderful plans to excite and entertain us in the next year.

I will continue to keep you updated with photos (hopefully better), funny stories, crafting projects, and just the randomness that is our family.  Oh and of course, I will share with you my love for food.

Happy New Year from our family to yours!  May 2010 bring you love, joy, and happiness!

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