One More Resolution

One more...I want to run in more 5ks and eventually do a 10k!! Happy running!!

Goodbye 2012....

2012 was great year for our family! We welcomed our first son, Eddy, in March and celebrated our 5th wedding anniversary. Our son is awesome! He has the best personality and has been such a joy!! Our jobs are going well. I looped up to 5th grade with some reservations. I now love it. If you know me, you know math is my specialty and science...well you know. I actually love teaching it and my kids love it too!! I had a parent email me telling me how much her daughter loved science and couldn't stop talking about what we do in class!! Eddy's job is going great as well. Can't wait to see what 2013 has in store for us!!

A Walk to the Park

So yesterday we took the boys (Eddy and Mason..lol) on a walk to the park. Eddy loves going on walks and especially when the wind blows in his face. We went to the neighborhood park which is really nice. Eddy likes swinging in the swings!! So halfway home, Eddy started to get a little fussy. So instead of pushing a crying baby through the neighborhood, I carried him. Walking a quarter of a mile with a 20 pound baby is an excellent workout!!

Cristina turns 30!!

Last night I went out and celebrated Cristina's 30 birthday!! It was so much fun!! We started out at a friends house and went out to some bars. We also went in a Cadillac escalade!! #winning. We have some good times last night!!

Christmas Present

Loving my new crockpot!! My old one has been retired due to its overuse...was cracking down the middle and had lots of tomato stains due to lots of yummy chili. This one is digital and nicer!! Thanks Mom!! We are making crockpot beef and broccoli (thanks Pinterest). Will keep you update on how it tastes.

Finally Figured it out!!

After many years of boiling eggs, peeling them, and squishing half of them due to my lack of being able to peel them, I have finally figured out how to peel them and have them still look like eggs. I boiled them for 12 minutes. After the timer went off, I poured out the hot water and then added cold water and 1 teaspoon of baking soda. I let it sit alone for a bit and then I peeled them. Voila!!! 6 perfect eggs!!

Eddy's Favorite Bolognese Sauce

I made this for Eddy starting at 8 months and it is a hit! But, he eats anything so I guess it doesn't matter...lol. Here is the recipe from The Healthy Baby Meal Planner by Annabel Karmel.

My First Bolognese Sauce

1 tbs. olive oil (I use Pam spray)
1 small onion, peeled and chopped
1 garlic clove, crushed
1 medium carrot, peeled and grated (I use baby carrots, about 8 or 9, and slice them thin)
1/2 celery stalk, finely chopped
1/4 lb lean ground beef
3 medium tomatoes, skinned and chopped (I use Hunts Diced, no salt added--1 cup)
1/2 tsp. tomato paste
2/3 c. unsalted chicken broth
3 tbs. tiny pasta shapes (I use DaVinci Pasta Stars)

 Heat the oil, and saute the onion, garlic, carrott and celery for 5 minutes. Add the ground beef and saute until brown, stirring occasionally. Stir in the tomatoes, tomato paste, and chicken broth. Bring to a boil, then simmer for 15 minutes. Meanwhile cook the pasta shapes following the box instructions. Transfer sauce to blender and puree to whatever consistency desired. Drain pasta, mix with sauce.

Ingredients

Saute onions, garlic, carrots, and celery (forgot to buy...still tasted yummy)

Add beef and cook until brown.

Add tomatoes, paste, and broth..bring to a boil.

After 15 minutes, I take off heat and let cool a little bit before I puree it.

I love this thing! I have used it to puree all of E's food.

I only poured half of the mixture in. E likes his food a little bit chunkier.

Looks a little gross....lol.....but it's really tasty!

My sister uses these for her kids, so I use them too!

I use about 2 tbs. stars for his dinner.

I added 3 tbs. bolognese sauce. He ate the whole thing!!

After dinner, we have desert aka fruit. He had bananas tonight!

The Best Baby Cookbook Ever!!

My sister told me about this cookbook, The Healthy Baby Meal Planner by Annabel Karmel. It has a ton of healthy recipes for babies starting at 6 months and going to to toddlers. Eddy has loved everything I have made from this book! I highly recommend it for first time moms.

Update on E

E had a great first Christmas!! He was surrounded by lots of love and lots of family. He eats everything! His faves are bananas, blueberries, peaches, cheese puffs, chicken, sweet potatoes, and beef bologonese sauce. Pretty much he eats anything! On Christmas, Aunt Nicole fed him a decent sized portion of mashed potatoes. His new thing now is launching himself backwards when he gets upset (not cool at all). Working on that one...

Mason

Our dog Mason is one of a kind! We have had him since he was 8 weeks old. He is really good with E!! He loves giving him kisses and watching him play! His birthday was December 24, he turned 7!!He's getting old and gray!

Mason!

 

 

 

 

Sooo tired from opening presents!!

Cousins!!

I love the fact that my sister and I have kids that are close in age. Growing up, my sister and I were both close with our cousins. There are 10 cousins and there is only a 10 year age difference between the oldest and the youngest. We had a blast growing up! I want our boys to have the same thing! Luckily, we live close and are able to travel to see each other!

Eddy-9 months, Jack-2 yrs old, Dillon-almost 9 months (he and Eddy are 10 days apart :))

The Boys with their Great Grandma

My grandmother is the best!! I am so glad that she has gotten to see us have babies. I remember the best part of going to my grandma's house was to get Werther's Originals from the breadbox and the gingerbread men cookies made by Pepperidge Farms. And obviously hanging out with her and grandpa. We were blessed with amazing grandparents. I love her so much!! Here is her with only 3 of her great-grand kids (I think she has about 16, with 2 more on the way!!)

This was the best one..haha...Eddy, Jack, Great-Grandma and Dillon.

Christmas 2012

We went down to Palm Harbor to be with family for the holiday. It was a great time! My sister was home with her family, had Christmas with both sets of grandparents, Eddy's sister came in town, and my mom made a most delicious Christmas dinner. To top it off, she made pumpkin bread, which is mine and my nephew's favorite. Below are some pics! Hope everyone had a nice holiday!

Eddy and his cousin Dillon.

Extra special present...haha

Dillon--the most chill baby EVER!! Just hangs out..always happy!!

The best pic I got of Jack and me :)

Thanks Grandma Suzie and Grandpa Eddy!!

Matching jammies!!

Somehow got a bow on the butt.

Aunt Natalie's little reindeer.

Opening presents with Aunt Natalie :)

Playing in the boxes!!

Making Cookies with Jack

My sister Nicole's oldest son Jack and I made sugar cookies for Santa. It was a blast! He was really good at rolling out the dough and putting the cookie cutter down. Maybe future chef?!?!

Showing Jack how to get a little bit of flour..lol

Spreading the flour....such a good listener!!

"Mom---Aunt Missy said no shirt?!?!" Lol

Expert roller

Showing him how to put the cookie cutter down.

Just a pinch of flour :)

Yay!!!

Laying our cookies on the sheet to be baked.

Christmas Town at Busch Gardens

Sunday night, we went to Christmas Town at Busch Gardens. E loved the lights!!! He was absolutely mesmerized by them. We had such a good time!!

The best family shot we got :)

Eddy and daddy looking at lights

My handsome nephew Dillon and I

Eddy and me!!

King Jack

This is my nephew Jack. He is the best!! He gives the best hugs and smells so sweet!! Love him so much :)

Christmas Jammie's!!

Look at me in my Christmas pajamas!!

E's 9 Month Update

Eddy has his 9 month appointment Thursday. Everything's great! Dr. O says he's perfect :). He's now 21 pounds and 29.5 inches long. He is in the 75th percentile for head and weight, but the 90th percentile for height. Should we call Coach K???

Hard Boiling Eggs

Hard boiling eggs can be a difficult task. How long do I cook them for? How will I know when they are done? Well I tried 2 experiments today. I boiled the first batch of eggs for 6 minutes, starting the timer after it boils for the first time. I boiled the second batch of eggs for 12 minutes, again starting after the water boils for the first time.  The first batch of eggs were way underdone. The second batch was just right!

Eggs cooked for 6 minutes.

Eggs cooked for 12 minutes.

After you boil them can come even the more difficult task. My sister pinned this idea on Pinterest, adding 1 teaspoon of baking soda to the pot of boiled eggs. After the eggs were done, I poured out the hot water, added cold water, and then added 1 teaspoon of baking soda. I let them cool for a few minutes and then I peeled them. They came out pretty good!!