Trick or Treat!

We took the girls trick or treating tonight!  We were the only ones on our street trick or treating, so everyone was trying to give us all their candy, no thanks, trying to stay healthy and the girls can't eat it (we won't let them I should say!)  The girls had fun.  After they picked out their candy, they blew kisses to everyone, it was really cute!  We only went to 4 houses because we didn't want a ton of candy, it was very cold, and we had to walk far to get to each house.  At some houses we went to, the couples were all, we heard there were twins on this street from so and so, but we didn't know where.  Everyone was extremely nice!  We went to a neighbors house across the street who just adore the girls, it was nice seeing them!

When we got home, we let the girls have a couple m&ms and a bite of daddy's kit kat.  It was a "special occasion."  My hubby does not like the girls eating candy!  I was telling them, if you eat too much you will get juvenile diabetes.  They were looking at me like mommy, you are crazy, we are 17 months and you never give us sweets! 

I am also not promoting taking candy from strangers, just people we know, so we tried to go to all the houses of people at least my hubby and I knew.

I hope everyone had a great Halloween! 

Ready to trick or treat!

Determined to open the candy!

Mommy, I don't want no stinkin' m&ms, I want this (no way it has pb in it!)

Please mommy!

Fine, I will just take it to daddy!

Daddy always gives in to his baby girls!

Five for Friday- Food!

1.  Mini apple pies.  I made mini apple pies and they were delicious.  I made them in crescent rolls and they turned out better than I thought that would!

2. Frankenstein rice krispies.  I made these for our play groups recipe swap.

3.  Witches hats.  I had my husband eat one of these.  He said they were too sweet but good.

4. Cold BLT dip.  No other words than amazing!  This dip was delicious! 

5.  Halloween trail mix.  candy corn, peanuts, and m & m's!

By the way, I got all these recipes from Pinterest, I LOVE that website!!  I will post individual instructions on each of these recipes soon!

Pumpkin carving!!!

Last year, the girls were only 4 1/2 months when we carved pumpkins.  They just sat in their bumbos and watched mommy and daddy.  This year it was a different story!  This year's carving was so much fun, and the girls loved it!  Pumpkin carving is one of my favorites things to do, especially cleaning out the inside!  I don't know why, I just love it (maybe that is why I am in the medical field!)  Well, I have a new partner, Zoey!  Zoey loved playing with the the gooey insides!  Harly also liked cleaning it out, as long as it did not touch any part of her body but her hands.  Everytime a small piece landed on her foot she freaked!  Here are some pictures!



Don't mind the mess in the background, we have finally moved onto redoing the laundry room! yay!!



yet another fall fest!

This past weekend, we went to Pettitis to get pumpkins and let the girls run around.  What we did not know is that there was a halloween parade that day, so there were a lot of kids.  We decided not to participate and let the girls play in the corn sandbox, they got it all to themselves for about 30 minutes.  We had a lot of fun, only pet peeve (sp?) is that parents should not allow 10 year olds in the corn sandbox.  They were kicking and throwing it everywhere and their parents were just standing there. Very irritating, so we pulled the girls out and they cried :(, we didn't want them to get hurt though.  Here are some pics, enjoy!

 (We always dress them the same, but we let them pick their costumes out!)

Deserve

I have received some cards and gifts for my birthday.  In all of them, everyone has written "deserve."  whether it was a gift, money, day to myself, they all described it as "you deserve it." 

As I think, I wonder, why do I deserve it.  What have I done to deserve it.  My job title is a mother, I also pick up 1-2 shifts at the hospital a week in the evenings when daddy is home.  Everyone tells me I am a wonderful mother, I am doing a great job raising the girls, and for all my hard work I deserve it.

I need another word, because I don't "deserve it."  My children deserve it.  They deserve to have loving parents.  They deserve to be raised in a happy, loving, and protective household.  They deserve parents like daddy and me.  All children deserve loving parents, but some do not get the opportunity to have that.

This is my calling, I was called to be a mother, this is what I have always wanted to be.  I have been blessed with two amazing children and hopefully more in the future.  I am here to raise my children, to teach them about life, God, love, respect, honesty, and most important to be happy!

So, as I sit and look at these cards and gifts, I am trying to think of another word other than deserve.  Maybe a short break to be a grown-up for a day? 

 

Birthday weekend!

We celebrated my birthday over the weekend!  It was a very nice!  Friday night I picked up a shift at the hospital and didn't get home til 1:30am, so Saturday morning, daddy and the girls let me sleep in.  We got moving pretty early and took a trip to Menards, its about and hour south.  After Menards we were going to go to the fall foliage festival, but decided not too since the girls were ready for a nap and Zoey was not feeling well (she refused to eat and drink all day Saturday, and was running a slight fever.)  We decided to drive to Hudson and have my birthday dinner at Tomato grill.  We walked around, went into a couple shops, and then stopped at Main street cupcakes.  We got there around 2 and they only had 12 cupcakes left, and let me tell you the reason they only had 12 left is because the cupcake was so delicious. We just got one to share because we are not big sweet eaters.  My hubby doesn't like sweets but he pretty much ate the entire cupcake, so that means it had to be good!  After that we let the girls run around for about an hour and they had a blast!  I love this little town, it is going to be our new hangout spot to just walk around (we can't really afford anything in any of the stores!) 

Sunday was a little rough.  We were going to go to the mall and another little festival that was going on right down the street, but it was raining and outside.  We decided to lay low today and just make a trip to Pettitis to get pumpkins.  On the drive to the garden center, Zoey threw up everywhere.  I have never seen so much puke come out of such a tiny child.  We turned right around and got her home and cleaned up.  Daddy and her layed together, while Harly and I ran to the store. 

It was the girls first time ever being separated.  We had to pull Zoey's carseat out to wash it.  As I was putting Harly in her carseat, she looked over and pointed and said "sissy."  It broke my heart, I didn't think she would realize that at 16 months but I was wrong.  She was very quiet in the store and just held her lovey and sucked her thumb, I could tell she didn't know what to make of this adventure.  Here are some pics from Saturday.

Fall!

I love fall!  It is my favorite season!  If there was a state that was 50's and 60's year round, I would move there in a heartbeat!  Here are the reasons why:

1.  It is my birthday during this season!

2. My anniversary with Ian!

3.  It is sweatshirts and sweats weather!  I am not a person who likes to dress up, I am a t-shirt and jeans girls!  Fall is my favorite!  I love wearing jeans and a sweatshirt!  I love, love, love it! 

4.  It is beautiful outside when the leaves are changing colors!

5.  Thanksgiving!  Food, food, food! 

6.  My other favorite part about this season is all the fall festivals!  Ian and I before we had kids did all the festivals and now that we have kids, it is a lot more fun!

7.  Its crock-pot season!  Love cooking with the crockpot!

8.  Last, I think my kids are absolutely adorable in their puffy vests and jeans! 

I could probably add more to this list, but I will just leave it at this!  I LOVE FALL!!!!

Crock-Pot Chicken Cordon Bleu

One of my favorite recipes in the crockpot is chicken cordon bleu!  Here is the recipe!

Ingredients:

6 boneless/skinless chicken breasts
1 cup of milk
1 can of cream of chicken soup
6 slices of ham (one for each piece of chicken)
6 slices of swiss cheese (one for each piece of chicken)
1 package of stuffing mix
1/4 cup of melted butter

Directions



1.  In a small bowl, mix together soup and milk.  Coat the bottom of the crock-pot with the mixture.

2.  Lay chicken pieces on the bottom of crock pot, covering it with ham and swiss cheese.  Pour remaining soup/milk mixture over chicken. 

3.  Sprinkle stuffing mix on top, and drizzle melted butter over the top of this.

4.  Cook on low for 4-6 hours, or on high for 2-3 hours.

** I substituted the chicken breasts with chicken tenderloins because that is what I had available.  i was able to fit about 10 in the crockpot.  I just made sure that all of the chickens had a slice of ham and cheese.**

My taste testers!  i made home-made mashed potatoes with this meal!

What you do with one you have to do with the other one, no matter what it is!

I forgot to take a pic of Ian's and I's, but the girls also had this for dinner, this is theirs!  I like the tenderloins better, because literally fell apart with the fork which is perfect for the girls!

fall outdoors!

Taking a walk in the WAY back with daddy!

(my favorite!) Holding hands while sitting on the bench!

Love them!

Look at me mommy, I can run!

Mommy, I just threw the ball to daddy!

I just heard a doggie!

going to get the ball she threw to daddy!

The girls love going outside with daddy!  It also gives me a chance to try and get some pics of them and to just relax.  Daddy also really enjoys it!  So this past week, we took advantage of it since it is going back to rainy cold weather here!

Family fun fest!

On Sunday we went to the family fun fest at Patterson.  We had a lot of fun, but it was extremely hot so we did not stay too long.  The girls really enjoyed the apples and their favorite part was the sandbox!  Here are some pics from our day!

they loved going down the slide, it got tiring after about 10 times!

 The next two pics are of the girls sharing sand!

 Playing with the hay!

 Riding on the wagon! We held them going to the fun fest, but on the way back they wanted to sit like big girls!



Titi's baby shower!

This past weekend was my sister's baby shower!  She is having a little boy!  I am so excited and can't wait for him to be here!  The girls were so good, especially since they were running on only an hour nap.  We got to see a lot of family and friends we don't get to see often! Her good friend also made the trip in with her two little girls, they are absolutely adorable and my girls had a lot of fun with them!  I was helping, watching the girls, and running around so unfortunately I did not take any pics.  I did take a pic of their bedding (sea turtles is the theme!), and a photo of her belly!  Here they are:

Hopefully she won't kill me for this pic! 

Titi and Uncle Ryan-  We had a blast with you both.  We can't wait to see you at Thanksgiving!  We hate that you two live so far away, but when we are together it doesn't feel like we spent one day apart!  Titi rest up because baby Gavin will be here before you know it!  Can't believe you are 32 weeks, you don't look it at all!!  We love you both so much!

Happy Babies!

This past week, we finally got our girls who we know back!  They have been so happy, molars are through!  The girls are rarely ever fussy, they really are very happy children!  Thank goodness, cause if they weren't I don't know if my hubby would have more!  But he does (not anytime soon though, couple years!), we have very happy children!  Here are a couple pics from this past week!

I love to empty all the bins!



I love playing dress up, this is my necklace!



LOVE my johnny jump up!

LOVE jumping with my sister!