Ch Ch Cheerio...

The Crime Scene looks a little somethin' like this!

So, I got up at 5 am and went to "Boot Camp" and then came home to my little guy, who never fails to give me yet another run!

He is already obsessed with the broom...so I don't think he really felt like this was a punishment to help mom clean it up. He was thrilled about it!

I am teaching him to use the little broom to sweep the crumbs in the sweeper...Again, he thought it was a treat. Totally backfired!

Clean-up over...time to start wrecking this drawer! Oh the joys.

Papa Craig

This is a sad day for our family. This marks the day that 3 years ago my dad passed away. He is missed each and every single day and I think about him ALL the time. He was an amazing man. Intelligent, giving, caring, loving, and always had a joke at hand. He had a passion for cooking, which I especially miss. I wish so much I could ask his advice when I am diligently working in the kitchen trying to have the same passion....still not there quite yet. He was so great at shopping. He had a talent for finding the best deals and would spend Sunday afternoons clipping coupons! I think about all our great times and feel so sad that my kids will not know him in this life. I think about the rough patches as well and how much it helped me to grow, but still makes my heart ache. What a battle it was for all of us. The disease. The illness. Alcoholism. Frustration. Anger. Pain. Hurt. Hope. But, ultimately LOVE made it all better. Time can heal and it has for me. I am comforted with the knowledge that there is a plan. What a blessing it is to know that I will see him again one day. Until then, I will just keep on missing him...

Fondue...Delish!

We had our friends over for a fondue party on Valentine's Day. Since we weren't getting babysitters and going out for a romantic evening, I realized that a night of decadent chocolate would be the next best thing...with no guilt because it is the chocolate lover's holiday! (I must give credit to my sis Amber for giving me the idea....because they were doing the same that night!) Anyway, we had strawberries, bananas, angel food cake, cinnamon bears, donuts, and marshmallo's, all dipped in CHOCOLATE!! Mmmmmm Mmmmmm Good!

ps. Don't make fun of the beautiful flowers that Dave so sweetly got for me that are in my blender for a vase. I am pretty sure I threw all the vases away when I moved and haven't needed one until now! Too funny!

One more thing....a shout out to my hubby Dave for an amazing Valentines day. He was creative and made a check gift certificate on Microsoft that took him like "an hour" He is getting me scuba diving lessons for our trip coming up in April. I thought I was okay with this and now I am having doubts....I dunno if this is a good idea for me or not.

4th time is a charm!

This is a shout out to my BFF Christina *Griffith* Palmer....who is wonder woman in my eyes right now! We have been friends since our teenage years and still talk on the phone 14 times a day. She is one hot mama....and isn't quite done! She has 3 boys; Weston 6, Cade 3 1/2, and Tanner 21 months....and she is due July 28th with baby #4. She just called me with the news that, "she is not having another boy!"...which means that it is a GIRL!!! At this point, it is like having your first baby all over again...time to shop for girl clothes and decorate the nursery. No hand-me-downs for this little tot! Don't get me wrong, her boys are fantastic and she loves them, as do I....but there is something special about having a girl, and for her apparently....the 4th time is a charm!

Christina: "I am sick about this. I seriously have butterflies in my stomach" (on her way to the ultrasound)
Christina: "I know that it is a boy....again."
Christina still only 16 weeks pregnant says "I could have another baby. Ya know, if this baby is a boy." pre-ultrasound. Pregant and potentially talking about another pregnancy after this one....HELLO!
Christina today after the ultrasound said "I am SOOOO done. I for sure have closure now!"

Ya think??

CONGRATS and much love to you girl. Can't wait to throw you that GIRL baby shower! Love and miss your face so much...

Lin

Sweetness...

Okay...so I LOVE it when people post recipes on their blog so I thought I would return the favor. I made these tonight and have to say that they really were good. It is a little more effort than traditional slow cooker meals, but SO worth it...promise!

SWEET SMOTHERED ENCHILADAS

2 1/2 lbs Chicken or pork
1 pkg flour or corn tortillas (I like corn in this recipe)
2 (15 0z) Cans mild green chili sauce (Las Palmas is the best)
1 Cup Brown Sugar
1 Can black beans, well drained
1/3 lb Monterey Jack cheese, grated

Put meat in slow cooker with 1/3 C water. Season with salt, pepper, and garlic. Cook on high 4 hours or low 8 hours. Remove from cooker and drain. In large bowl, shred meat, add 1 C green chili sauce, brown sugar, and black beans. Set aside.

Heat oven to 350, greas 9x13 pan, and warm tortillas.

Pour 1/2 C green chili sauce into prepared pan. Place 1/3 C of meat mixture in center of each tortilla, roll, and place in pan. Pour remaining green chili sauce over the enchiladas, sprinkle with cheese, cover with foil, and bake 25-30 minutes or until cheese is melted and sauce is bubbly. Yum!

I swear it was sooo easy and they really tasted delish!

Bubble Gum Birthday Party Fun!!

MACIE GIRL is now a 3 year old! We weren't going to have a birthday party....but it sorda kinda turned into one! I had ordered a Strawberry Shortcake cupcake cake (woah, say that 5 times!) and then decided that I would make my own because the little tot is obsessed with bubble gum...it is the best bribe that I have these days! We had a few of her friends over and had a pizza party! Macie was thrilled with all the attention on her...and of course all the treats! She definitely got the sweet tooth from her mama! She got to open her presents and was so impressed with all her gifts! She got an easel with an art kit, a little mommy baby (thanks bumma Mags!) a princess castle, which....truth be told was a re-gift give. Dave bought it for her last year when she turned two and we put it way up high because she was too little....so she got it again this year! Games, movies, bubble gum, paint, and a ballerina (thanks Cromar's!) that she is obsessed with right now. All in all it was a great day....and now we have a whole new adventure to look forward to as we enter the 3-s...and NO not another baby quite yet. I have already noticed that she starting to imaginative play more often and talks with her dolls and reads books and LOVES to be bossy to Dalan. She is such a sweetie and we are so lucky to have her! Happy Birthday Moosie!

Mace turns tres!

3 years ago my life completely changed when little Macie Allin was brought into this world. I can't help but always associate her birth with a very hard time in my life as my father passed away suddenly 13 days later. I love celebrating her birth...and it is a tender time to also reflect on my father. Macie was my little miracle baby that definitely helped me so much to cope and get through that trial. She is a blessing in my life and continues to keep me on my toes....and is now entering the even sassier years, glorious 3 year olds have to offer! What a sweet girl she is, so animated, and full of life. She is my shadow and LOVES to be with mom.

In the parenting class I am taking, it was emphasized to "LOVE being a MOM!" Sometimes, I am pretty sure we all struggle with this thought and just want our lives to be EASY....and selfishly it is hard to give our time all the time. Carlene Tanner taught me to cherish these moments. To use these moments of sometimes frusturation and heartache and happiness and take the time to teach. What a great privelage it is to teach my children to put their hands in God so that when my children don't walk with me and are grown....HE will. I love that and it is so true. It brought me to tears to think that at times I get so "annoyed" and "bugged," but I will one day look back and wish I could crawl into their beds at night and just LOVE the challenges that life throws at us each day.

I know I went off on a tangent there....but the real purpose for this little post is for Macie Moo's Happy Birthday!

Pictures coming soon of the "Bubble Gum Birthday Bash!"

M-I-C-K-E-Y....M-O-U-S-E!!!

Handy Manny and his Tools!

Amber & Eliza
Donald Duck, Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, and Goofy!
Girls Night Out!
Eliza and Macie....still playing at 10:00 pm!
I had to include this picture of Dalan and his poor little cheek. He looks like he got in a fist fight...but really he fell off my kitchen table, I know it sounds horrible and it was... I know also that Dalan needs a haircut badly. He looks very neglected doesn't he??

Little Einsteins
Macie and I
Macie & Eliza


PLAYHOUSE DISNEY LIVE came to Boise for one night only...Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, My friends Tigger and Pooh, Little Einsteins, and Handy Manny!!! My friend Amber and I took the girls, Macie and Eliza for a night out on the town. It was so fun to spend some mommy daughter time with Macie. I am not going to lie, I almost cried seeing her excitment with the Disney characters. It made me even MORE excited for our Disneyland trip we have planned later on in the year. We ate dinner at Red Robin, husbands and little boys included...then we were off to the show! We decided that ice cream would be our finale on a cold winter night and it made for the perfect ending!!