Photo Friday - Baby Love

Sigh. Is there anything sweeter than a 6-day-old baby? I think not. Enjoy.

Adorable.

On the Menu - Grandpa's 80th Birthday

Last Thursday marked my grandpa's 80th birthday. Being that he and my grandma are both avid golfers, I thought we needed a special cake in order to celebrate the occasion (even though Grandma said, "You don't need to bring anything!!!" as Grandma's usually do). I saw a pin for a similar cake on Pinterest and thought I would give it a try. I will admit, I made this cake simply to attempt to decorate it, which actually ended up being pretty simple. I used boxed red velvet mix and store brand canned icing (which I tinted green). It still turned out yummy (and cute). :~)

Happy Birthday Grandpa!!!

Photo Friday - First Snow

It's seems insane that we JUST had our first inch of snow on February 13th!! I was pleased that we were able to FINALLY use our snow boots and winter coats, but I would be lying if I said I actually enjoyed the effort it took to get our two snow monsters all bundled up. I never did figure out how to actually get their thumbs in those darn mittens!!! Thank goodness the effort was well worth it. :~) Not only did the boys have TONS of fun (especially watching Mommy run around with the dog), but oh lordy did they EVER look adorable!!! Enjoy!

Emmett and Owen - First Time in the Snow!

 

On the Menu - Chicken and Dumplings

We are currently in the midst of our VERY FIRST snow day of the year!! Can you believe it? The day before Valentine's Day and FINALLY we get to put on our snow boots and get out there!!! According to my meal planner, tonight's dinner was supposed to be "steak fajitas", BUT this cold wintery day whispered in my ear and said, "Make the chicken and dumplings, it will warm your body and your soul."  So, alas, I succumbed to the voices and HERE is the recipe. Enjoy.

Crock-pot Chicken and Dumplings

Ingredients

2lb carrots (peeled and sliced into "coins"

1 bunch celery (washed and chopped)

1 medium onion (peeled and chopped)

4-5 boneless skinless chicken breasts (still frozen)

1 can cream of chicken soup

1 can cream of celery soup

1 box chicken stock (sometimes I add a bit more)

salt, pepper, and tarragon to taste

butter (probably a couple of Tbs)

2 small cans of refrigerated biscuits

Method

1) Layer all ingredients (except the butter and the biscuits) in the crock-pot in the order listed above.

2) Allow to cook on low in the crock-pot for at least 8 hours.

3) When the chicken is thoroughly cooked, removed it from the crock and shred or chop it into pieces (I shred).

3) While you are shredding (or chopping) the chicken, add the butter to the crock-pot and stir, if you want more liquid, now is the time to add it. (add either water with a bit of chicken bouillon or more stock)

4) Return the chicken to the pot and stir.

5) Cut or tear the biscuits into 2 or 4 pieces (depending on size) and place them on top of everything in the crock-pot.

6) Cover and continue to cook until biscuits have reached a dumpling-esque consistency. (about 30 minutes)

7) Serve in bowls and enjoy the yummy goodness.

In hindsight, I really should have taken pictures while chop chop chopping away, but I sure didn't do that!! Maybe tonight I will remember to take a picture of the finished product and add it later. I mean, we all know we basically eat with our eyes. :~)

**  Hint: USE crock-pot liners. OMGoodness do they EVERY save time!! **

Photo Friday - March for Babies

You might have noticed a new addition to the blog, the little March for Babies banner over to the left right. See? Right over there? -----> (I seriously wrote left first!) For those who aren't in the know, our boys were born prematurely at 30 weeks and 4 days gestation (a full term pregnancy is 40 weeks). I'll spare you all the details and statistics, some of which are on our team page, but the beginning was a bit rough. It took tons of work and immense amounts of support to get our "littles" to where they are today. Currently, they are 18 months old and ornery as all get out, but just LOOK where they started!!!! 

If you would like to join our family in thanking March of Dimes for contributing to the growth of our little monsters, you can do so by clicking on the banner to the right. We would love to have you on our team, but if you are not in the area or cannot walk, PLEASE consider making a tax deductible donation! Thank you!!!

WIMW(Th) - Printable Valentines

Admittedly, I don't go all out decorating or preparing for Valentine's day. I have been known to make a special dinner (with menu) and/ or a fancy dessert, but other than that our house goes on as usual. Now, don't get me wrong, I actually LOVE all of the pretty pink and red (and saucy black) that goes along with the holiday, and who really could resist the chocolate filled cardboard hearts, right? BUT, everything I "plan" in regards to V-Day is like super-very-ultra-last-minute, or at least I think that's the technical term. I'm horrible. :~( 

Even though I haven't gotten a darn thing for my family, I did put together a little something pretty (and printable....and mildly, okay maybe WILDLY cheesy) for you, my seven, (and whoever else is lurking out there). Enjoy!

Wordy Bird Design's FREE Printable Valentines.

Cough, Cough, Sniffle, Sniffle

Sickness has been spreading though our home like wildfire. Uhg. So today's lame post it brought to you by Kleenex brand Kleenexes and, of course, the number 3.

I haven't even THOUGHT about what I want to serve for dinner this week. Honestly nothing sounds appealing, nothing except this:

A nice bowl of hot and sour soup, or as I like to call it,

"The Cure".

 Seriously, sorry I don't have anything better for you (or for my family) this week. We REALLY need to stop passing this junk around!

 

Photo Friday - The Other Side of the Lens

As you may remember, I am trying to become a better photographer (hence, Photo Friday). The best way to become better at something is to "practice, practice, practice", so I have been taking an abundance of photos lately. While looking through and editing the photographs my husband and I have been snapping, I started pondering something, something I never really thought about until now. For every photograph, there is a photographer. Simple right? For every moment caught on film, for every yawning newborn, for every beautiful sunset, for every first kiss as husband and wife, and for every last breath captured, there is someone on the other side of the lens sharing in the moment. There was somebody reveling in that beautiful sunset, it didn't just fall on blind eyes, SOMEONE was watching. There was someone adoring the brand new baby whose soulful eyes gazed straight into the camera. There were proud parents clapping, smiling and cheering while commemorating every "first" caught on film. SOMEONE was there, someone was living their life on the other side of the lens.

Here is just a breath of the moments we have been living. Enjoy.

WIMW - Grandma's Birthday Gift

Don't worry, she's already received it, so I am not in jeopardy of ruining any kind of surprise. :~) Also, pretty sure my mom doesn't read my blog anyway, or she would have already seen the pictures included in the gift! Anywhoo, a while ago (before Christmas) I came across this pin on Pinterest.

Original Pinsperation

 I had every intention of making something like it for Christmas presents, but I never actually got around to it! Thank goodness, my mom's birthday is in January so I hadn't already forgotten the pin. There isn't a link to any kind of tutorial with the pin, so I kind of had to come up with my own. In the original, it looks as though it was simply a wood plank painted or stained and then the words must have been PAINSTAKINGLY applied by hand (NO WAY I was going to do that!!!). Here is my version of the project. I will explain, roughly, what I did after the jump. I was running behind as usual, so I didn't take any "during" pictures. Also, sorry for the poor picture quality, it's really quite ridiculous.

My version.

Okay, so I am going to try and explain how I made this (in ten simple steps). Here goes nothing.

1) I bought a raw wood plaque from Hobby Lobby.

2) I measured the face of the plaque (the whole rectangle, I worried about the corners after the fact).

3) I created a document the size of the face of the plaque. (I use PhotoShop, but MS Publisher would be just as easy)

4) I added a background to the document, but really, if you wanted you could just print text on scrapbook paper or something like that, and I added the text.

5) I printed the document on linen look cardstock, placed it onto the plaque and folded the corners to see where they needed to be cut.

6) I uses Mod Podge to adhere the document to the plaque, covering the back and the front of the paper completely (note, the red ink runs....boo). I also Mod Podged the edges of the plaque.

7) After the Mod Podge was dry, I painted the edges of the frame (and slightly over the edges of the paper).

8) When the paint dried, I Mod Podged over the entire project again.

9) Next, I used Amazing Goop Craft Glue to attach the tiny clothes pins to the plaque.

10) Finally, I painted the top of each clothes pin and embellished them with (you wont believe this) clip on earrings with the backings removed!!! The earrings were in a bucket of old costume jewelry which didn't sell at a friend's garage sale. So glad I picked it up!

My mom really seemed to like the gift. Hopefully this little project will spark some creativity in your life as well!