Wednesday, September 28, 2011

Our Summer Craft

This post is titled "Our Summer Craft" because that is how many crafts we did.  One.  One little craft.  I wouldn't even call it a craft as I  had to do nothing but provide water. 

I had great plans for our summer.  I was going to be a super mom keeping my kids busy and blogging about our memories. I had a ton of crafts pinned on pinterest, websites, etc.  I envisioned both of my kids participating equally.  I was so excited that Madeline was finally old enough to do some more fun things with Brooke. 

I decided to just start out with watercolors.  Easy enough and I didn't have to buy anything for it.  I set them both up in the kitchen and was so excited to see them both doing the same activity! 



A few minutes in it was still going well.




Then this happened:  



Craft time over!  Madeline is on restriction and only can use Color Wonder markers with supervision.  Brooke did crafts alone for the rest of the summer.  Hopefully by Christmas craft time we can try again :) 

Crockpot Wednesday!

I have family in town so I am not doing my Crockpot Wednesday today.  However, I will post one of my favorites for the crock pot!  This is a great one especially for fall!

Slowcooker Cranberry Pork

Enjoy!!!

Wednesday, September 21, 2011

Crockpot Wednesday!

It's crazy Wednesday in my house again!  Time for another Crockpot dinner!

First let me review last weeks dinner I did.  I had never tried it before.  Hawaiian BBQ Chicken.   This was AWESOME.  3 ingredients and so easy.  It was great served over rice.  Definitely adding it to our rotation!

This week I am trying yet another recipe from Pinterest!  Orange Chicken .  If you try any of these and like them let me know or offer your review in the comments for others to see :)

Monday, September 19, 2011

Surgery #2 for Madeline

Madeline has been monitored by her birthmark Dr., Dr. Waner, for the past few months for some spots that have showed up on her leg.  They started to show up at around 8 weeks old and have continued to pop up over the past year.  Some are darker and some are lighter.  They start at the knee and go all the way down her leg, her ankle, and onto the bottom of her foot.  Here are some not so great photos (its hard to get her to sit still!)







Dr. Waner is not really sure what is causing them, but for now is considering it a venous malformation of the leg.    He decided he wanted to try laser surgery to see how the marks would respond.  Curtis and I were unsure of what to do.  Treat now or wait it out?  I wish I could predict the future and know if this was going to bother her in her teenage years.  The marks are growing with her, which means they will cover a large portion of her leg as an adult.  We ultimately decided to do the surgery for several reasons.   First, the younger skin responds better to the laser treatment.  Second, we wanted to treat it before it became an issue for her socially.  Last, and the biggest, is that we won't always live here and have access to Dr. Waner.  I trust him 100% and would only want him treating her. 


Here are some pics of her surgery on Friday.  We had to wait a long time so I was so glad the hospital clown showed up for a while.  He entertained them for a good 20 minutes!




Here she is with daddy ready to go in.  Her surgery was delayed so we were all happy when it was finally time!



Here is the after.  It looks pretty bad but it doesn't hurt her.  I guess I didn't realize how many spots she actually had until they were all darkened from the laser.  The Dr. wants to see her back in 3 months but said her skin responded very well and hopefully she won't need a second treatment.   I will post an update on her leg in a few weeks to show the fading! 

Wednesday, September 14, 2011

Crockpot Wednesdays!

Wednesdays this year are our LONG days.  Brooke has school until 2:30 and then dance from 4:30 to 5:30.  This puts us home around 6.  That means there is no way in hell I am cooking dinner on Wednesday nights.

I have decided to do Crock Pot recipes on these days.  That way we can walk in, eat, and the kids can go to bed :) 

Here is this week's recipe.  It was found on pinterest and I have found some awesome recipes on there!

Hawaiian BBQ Chicken

I will review next week whether or not it was a worthy recipe to enter my rotation :)  Happy Hump Day!

Monday, September 12, 2011

Brooke's First Day of Pre-K

Brooke started Pre-K on September 9th.  Finally!  Unfortunately our summer was not all that exciting and we were all ready for some sort of normal routine.  She is now going full day for 3 days a week so this will be hard for her!  She still naps!  This year she will have Music, Spanish, Gym, Library, and Science!  Busy day! 

Here she is on the front porch.  She would barely sit still!


Here is last year's pic before Nursery school.  Definitely more of a baby face!


More silly faces...

 Striking a pose.





Let's not leave out Madeline.  Here is her current face that she makes when you tell her to smile:


Sunday, September 11, 2011

10 years ago

10 years ago I went to sleep in one world, and woke up in another.  I was 21, newly engaged, fresh out of college.  I was living with  my friend Shauna in our very first apartment (that was pretty crappy by the way). 

My phone rang sometime around 5:50 or so.  It was Curtis.  I thought he was calling to tell me his car had been broken into again.  He worked the 6am shift (east coast call center) for Nissan at the time.  He was on the road and trying to understand what they were saying on the radio.  Curtis said “they are saying a plane hit the World Trade Center”.  I was thinking small two seater plane.  He wanted me to turn on the tv to see what was up. 

Shauna was asleep still.  I was quiet so I didn’t wake her.  When I turned on the TV both Towers were on fire.  I was so confused.  I thought he said a plane hit one tower.  As I listened to Diane Sawyer talking, I was quickly realizing what happened.  I told Curtis I wanted him to leave work since he was almost there and worked near the airport and some oil refineries.  He said he was fine and went in. 

I was then alone.  I decided to wake up Shauna.  This was bad.  She said she just remembers me standing in her doorway saying “You need to get up.”  The next few things are a blur.  I remember watching TV with her and I know at some point I got ready for work.  I had a pager for work that had a news feed at the time.  I remember getting pages saying that people were jumping from the building.  I didn’t tell Shauna because I remember she was getting upset.  Then the Pentagon was hit.  We panicked.  Shauna just kept saying “ I don’t know what to do!”.  We were 21, adults, but this was the first time we actually had no guidance in a dangerous situation.  We wanted our parents.  I know I called mine at some point but I don’t remember what was said.  We also called our friends who were still in college.  We knew most of them were not awake and had no idea. 

I then left for work after the Towers had fallen.  I remember thinking to myself “why am I going to work???”.  Driving to work was eerie.  Everyone was crying in their cars, etc.  I also kept looking up at the sky waiting for a plane to drop.  At this point I am not sure if we knew about the 4th plane or not.  There were rumors swirling around and since we lived in Los Angeles we were considered a Target. 

I remember leaving work early.  I just didn’t feel right pretending like everything was fine.  Shauna and I went out and put gas in our cars and went out to dinner to stimulate the economy.  That night we were terrified to go to bed.  I didn’t want to go to sleep.   We ended up pulling out the sleeper bed on the couch and sleeping together there with the tv on.   I woke up in the middle of the night and heard a plane.  I panicked again.  Air space was closed!  Later I would realize it was a fighter jet patrolling the area.  We slept out in the living room for months.  I think I just didn’t want to be alone in my room if something happened.  I also had to sleep with the TV on. 

Shauna and I have a bond and I always think of her on this day.  We were each other’s support system.  We had to figure out what to do. 

Every year I watch shows documenting 9/11.  I don’t want to shut it out and ignore it.  The people who lost loves ones that day can’t, so I don’t think I should either.  Living in NY for this event is also very sobering.  There is a memorial around the block with the names of the people from my town who died.  I pass it every day.  Curtis and I want to go to the memorial at Ground Zero at some point too.  I would like to pay my respects. 

I remember how the country was in the weeks following.  We would be driving along and fire departments would be lining the streets with their boots out asking for donations.  It would make me cry but I was proud of my country and proud to give money to the fire fighters.  I wish that feeling was still in the country today. 

Last night when I put my kids to bed, I realized that they will never know a world before 9/11.  Before terror on our soil was something we didn’t think about a lot.  Before we had to be searched and take our shoes off when flying.   Before code yellows and oranges and reds.  I hope they never have to feel the terror and fear we all felt as we watched the events of 9/11 unfold before our eyes.  I envy their innocence.  They don’t yet know what happened today.  It’s just another day to them.   One day they will ask me.  I will have to explain what happened and why.   I still don’t know how I will find the right words, but I hope I can explain it in the best way possible. 

Thursday, September 8, 2011

One year Post op! Goodbye Hemangioma!

One year ago today, Madeline had the hemangioma on her head removed.  I can't believe its been that long!  We are so glad we made the decision to have it removed.  After a full year you would never know she ever had anything there. Her hair completely covers her scar and her hair line is completely normal.  A big thanks again to Dr. Waner and his staff for doing such a wonderful job!

Here she is a few weeks before surgery. 

  
A close up:

Morning of surgery (she looks so little here!)


Right out of surgery:


One week post op:


3 months post op:


7 months post op:



Here she is today!  (Excuse the messy shirt!).

Tuesday, September 6, 2011

Meal Plans week of Sept 5th

I cannot believe its September already!?! Sorry this is late.  I am still recovering from the hurricane LOL. 

Monday:  Grilled brats with home made pasta salad
Tuesday:  Baked Ziti with Garlic Bread
Wednesday:  leftovers
Thursday:  Grilled filet mignon, roasted peppers, and risotto cakes
Friday:  Buffalo Grilled cheese (regular for the kids) and tomato soup
Saturday: Chicken enchiladas with Spanish rice

Monday, September 5, 2011

Recipe Reviews

I have tried two new recipes lately that I have had a few questions about so I give you my thoughts.  I also have a new one I found that I will be adding to my favorites list. 

First recipe: Crispy Chicken and Bowtie Pasta

I was really excited to make this because it looked delish!  The pasta portion of this was very very good.  Loved it and the kids did too!  I had some issues with the breading on the chicken.  It was soggy, not crispy.  I also had issues with the breading staying on.  I think next time I would skip the crispy chicken part (and the time it takes to do it) and just throw some grilled chicken on the pasta.

Second recipe :  Slow Cooker Root Beer Pulled Pork

I was really excited to make this.  I love recipes that have random ingredients, and root beer plus pulled pork would qualify.  This wasn't terrible, but I just have a lot of other pulled pork type recipes I would choose over it.  The flavor was okay, I just felt it was missing something.  I would definitely say try it once.  We put it over rice.  You can also put it on bread for a sandwich.

My new favorite recipe:  Mini Meatloaves

I changed this slightly using turkey meat and breadcrumbs instead of ground beef and oats.  It still tasted great! Super easy!  I also baked them in large muffin tins (mine made 6 mini meatloaves).  I will be adding this to the "My favorite recipe" tab on the right :)

LinkWithin

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...