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Thursday, July 25, 2013

bowling.

Kristin and I took the girls bowling this afternoon.  It was all of their first time and I think they had a really good time.  They're getting to an age where they are able to do more and it's a lot of fun.






They were so sweet cheering for each other and excited when they knocked a pin down.



{Payton}



{Grace}



{Parker}  They tried one round without this contraption and then we saw them sitting around.  They are SO neat and made the game much more enjoyable.  :)




Sweet Grace.





Parker got this Wonder Woman headband thing in her Wacky Pack at Sonic on Monday and has pretty much not taken it off since.  Geoff loves this.  He loves superheroes and is excited that she is showing interest.  Even in Superman (which is his favorite).



He slept for the first 30 minutes or so which was nice...then he watched for about 15 minutes.  So he was good.  :)


{Parker}



Grace won!  I'm not sure of the final score, but this was on the 9th frame and she was winning with 89. The girls did have bumpers but we did not.  Next time we will just let the girls play by themselves, but it was fun to play with them this time.







Monday, July 22, 2013

back to work

I started back to work from my maternity leave the weekend before last.  The days leading up to my return- I was pretty surprised with myself and how well I was handling it all.

I'm not sure if it's that I hope to be working only part time here in a few weeks?  Or that I actually like my job and enjoy working the wonderful people that I work with?  That I'm leaving them with their father to care for them?  Or that going to work is actually easier than being home with all 3 alone?  Ha ha ha!  {true story}

So one of my favorite things when I'm at work is getting pictures from Geoff.  The next 3 are from the first day.  I had surprised the girls with new My Little Ponies at their place at the table for them to find when they woke up along with a note that I wrote each of them.




And one of a happy baby boy in his bouncer.


This past weekend....I got a picture of big boy in his bumbo.  This was his first time....and when I looked at the picture I immediately thought, "What???  He's not old enough for this?  Where's my newborn???"


Our 3.  Love this one.


Sunday he took all 3 out to get a few things at Wal-Mart.
The girls got new sketch pads and Nolan was just hanging out 'watching'.


And somehow.....Grace 'accidentally' wrote on his head.  Poor guy.  :)



And then I got this.  This video.  And teared up a bit.  So sweet of Nolan....and also of Geoff and things he says and how he talks to him....and then to send it to me to make my day.


A little afternoon painting.


And then Sunday night on my way home....I get this next from Geoff as he was trying to put Nolan to sleep.  So funny.  Little stinker.


And since I've been working (really it's been since I've had Nolan)...I know the girls have been lacking in individual attention from us.  So this morning I had an eye doctor appointment for myself and I decided that Parker could go with me and then we'd go out for lunch afterwards.  Well- we went to the appointment and then to Target just for fun...and then to Sonic.  Yes, Sonic.  In my head- we were going to go to Chili's and sit on the same side of the booth.  But she chose Sonic and to eat outside.  So eat outside at Sonic we did.


We had a good time just visiting, and it broke my heart to leave Grace behind because it made her so sad.  When we pulled out of the driveway she was just smiling and waving....it was SO sweet.  Then Geoff told me when we got home that she watched us until we were out of sight...and after she turned around to go back inside she lost it.  So sad, bless her heart.  But I know they each need this time and next Tuesday will be her time.  Can't wait.

So thankful for my husband....who- in my absence- provides care for our 3 kids (and me) with nary a complaint.  Blessed.


Friday, July 19, 2013

Freezer Meals

Freezer meals have saved me so many times.  It's a home-cooked meal....but not necessarily one that I prepared on the day I want to eat it.  It's a win-win.  :)

I usually prepare 2-8x8 pans at a time...one for that evening, and the other for the freezer.


I will admit, though, I am kind of in a rut with my freezer meals.  So I am linking up with Kelly's Korner today in hopes to share something that others might enjoy, as well as, get a few new ideas of my own.

One of my favorite meals are these Cheese and Chili Enchiladas.  

My mother-in-law first made us a similar version of these after we had Grace, and since then, we've been hooked.

These are SO easy to prepare, too!

What you need:
corn tortillas
cheddar cheese
large can chili (I use Wolf Brand)
1 can Rotel (original or mild depending on your tastes)

To prepare:
-Mix can of chili and rotel in bowl.
-Warm tortillas in microwave between 2 moist paper towels just enough to soften them (I usually just do about 6 at a time for about 25-30 seconds).  If not, they will break apart as you try to roll them up.
-Fill corn tortillas with grated cheddar cheese.  Make them as full as you want.  Roll them up and place seam down in a greased aluminum pan.  You could use 1-13x9 pan or 2-8x8 pans.
-Once pan is full- pour the chili/rotel mixture over enchiladas.  Cover with more cheddar cheese.
-Warm in 350 degree oven for about 30 minutes (until cheese is melted and bubbly).  ***If you freeze this and put in oven while still frozen- I would cover with foil and put in 350 degree oven for about 1 hour...then take foil off and leave in for another 20 minutes or so until all cheese is melted and center of pan is warm.

Variations: fill these enchiladas with taco meat instead of the cheddar cheese!

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Other meals we freeze:
-Lasagna
-Pasta Bake (I take penne pasta and leftover spaghetti sauce and layer with cheese in an 8x8 pan and freeze)

____________


And to go along with these yummy enchiladas.....try making these delicious Easy Graham Cracker Pralines!  They seriously take about 15 minutes to make.  And are so good.



Thursday, July 18, 2013

This and That

From my phone...

 Grace helped me pick up the living room one morning so that I could vacuum the rug.  I looked up and saw this....



One morning Parker started drawing me pictures of dresses that she wanted me to sew for her.



 More pictures of my baby sleeping....(believe it or not, we do put him down to sleep for most of his naps)




One night as we were winding down watching a show before bedtime....Grace crawled up next to Nolan and shared her blankie with him...




Nolan still sleeps in the pack-n-play in our room.  Sometimes he sneaks his little arms out of the swaddle.  Sweet boy.




 Somebody was happy seeing their reflection in the mirror!




So I started back to work this past weekend.  Geoff sent me these pictures in the morning.  I'm not sure who was more nervous about the day...me or him.  But all survived!  :)




I worked Saturday and Sunday....then had Monday off.  I think Middle Sis missed me the most....and so I took just her with me to run errands that afternoon.  She loved it.  So did I.




 Father & Son



The girls have started getting stir crazy hanging around the house so much lately.  The weather has actually been decent...but with Nolan and nursing and such...it's just a lot of work to get all 3 out on my own.  
And today was one of those days that within 30 seconds of the girls waking up...I found myself counting down the time til bedtime.  Not good.  There was arguing, timeouts, and spankings all within minutes of waking up.  No exaggeration.

My sister called and her day started out similar.  So we buddied up and decided that I would go to her house for the afternoon and watch Nolan and the baby she watches...while she took our girls to the pool.  Here's Nolan napping in the rock-n-play in her playroom.


All of this to say....so thankful for family and living so close to all of them.  We definitely couldn't do all we do without them.



 Fruit snacking.
Sometimes putting the fruit in fun "muffin tins"...makes eating the fruit more fun.  :)

Monday, July 15, 2013

the boy



I decided that after his 2 month post...I was no longer going to do a weekly post like I did for his first 8 weeks.  But at the end of last week- I felt like I hadn't taken his picture in a while and that already....so quickly....he's changing so much.



New last week:  we had some difficulties with nursing that I was going to write all about just to vent, but now the moment has passed and so it seems unimportant.  I never knew about "nursing strikes"...but Nolan had one last week and it made me sort of upset for many reasons....not to mention a little nervous leading into my first weekend back at work.  In a nutshell- I think we are past all of this and even after working all weekend, we seem to have picked up where we left off (thankful to the Lord for this).



New this week: my baby has pretty much outgrown his 0-3 month clothes. {sniff sniff}.  I knew they were getting tighter, but last night I tried to put him in a 0-3 month sleeper and poor guy.....his toes were squished down and unable to straighten....and the arms of the shirt almost went to his elbows.  He seriously grew an inch over the weekend, I think!  So today- the plan is to pack up all of the 0-3 month clothes and move in the 3-6 month clothes into his drawers.  He's still in size 1 diapers, but by the time we finish the mega box we have now- I think I'll be buying size 2.



Sleeping: we usually get him down between 7:30 and 8:30 and has been waking up between 3:30 and 5:30, eating, then going right back down.  I'm pretty happy about this.

Napping: still inconsistent....usually only 45 minutes at a time.  But he's having longer periods of happy awake time, so in another month or so I'm thinking we'll be on more of a morning and afternoon nap schedule with maybe a catnap in the evening.



This boy has completely stolen my heart.  Thankful and blessed that he is growing and healthy.  But it's all definitely bittersweet.



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