Easter Egg Hunt

Yesterday Mom, Sarah, Sophie, Ella, and I went to the Waterloo Outlet Mall for an Easter Egg Hunt! I think it was poorly organized, but that is OK... the kids didn't notice!

Sophie went in with the 3-5 year old group. She did awesome this year! While she was picking up eggs she said, "I am going to share these with Ella since she missed her turn." What a sweetie! We got there a few min late, and missed Ella's age group...

Here is Ella with an Egg! She had a really hard time holding the eggs with those tiny little fingers!

HAHAHAHA! I said, "Sophie, can you put your arm around Ella so I can take a picture?" This is what she did!! She had candy in her other hand! Ella thought it was funny!

How CUTE are they!!

We stopped in Carters to get some things... Ella sat in this chair by herself and played blocks with Sophie! What a big girl! (don't worry... I kept a hand on her!)

Lastly we went and had a picture with the Easter Bunny! Sarah told me not to post this picture... but I think it is really cute!!

Happy Easter Festivities!

Blogs, Babies, & Bitterness

WARNING: This post is just me venting. It is not positive, uplifting, or fun.

BLOG: Noun: an online diary; a personal chronological log if thoughts published on a web page.

Seeing as though a BLOG is an online "diary" I thought it would be a good place to share my feelings. Today I went to 2 baby showers. One for my friend Leah who will be having a little girl. Another for my friend Staci who will be having a little boy. Now, I have ALWAYS loved baby showers. I think they are so much fun! I love all of the cute little games that are played... no matter how cheesy they are. Let's admit... most baby shower games are! I also love to see the sheer joy/panic on the mommy-to-be's face as she opens her gifts. I say joy because the little things are so cute and fun. On the other hand I say panic because you can always see that little twinge of "wow... I am having a BABY..." You know... that feeling of what was I thinking! I also love all the talk of babies. I love discussions of names, and all the advice that is shared. I love every moment, and never want it to end!

Today I had totally different feelings and I feel like a horrible person. As all of you know last year was a really hard year for Andrew and I. We lost 2 little ones of our own. One in August and one in November. I'd have to say, there is nothing like losing a baby. It is the hardest thing I have ever been through. Not a day goes by that I don't think about our babies. I see pregnant women and cannot help but stare. I see newborns and my heart aches. As I sat in those two baby showers today I felt myself constantly bitting my tongue as to not let a single tear fall. I hope no one noticed.

I am very proud to say that I held myself together very well. I kept a smile on my face, participated in all games, and even helped with the gifts. I am not saying that I didn't want to be there... I did. I am SO HAPPY for Leah & Staci. I love them and support them, and cannot wait to meet their little ones, Maggie & Jason. I am grateful that I was invited and was able to share in the excitement.

I guess the feeling that I felt most was jealousy. How horrible am I?!?! I want that big belly (or at least an excuse for the one I've got!), I want crib sheets, and diapers, a swing, a crib, burp cloths, and clothes up the wazoo. I want that "pregnant glow" ... and most of all I want to meet the little ones that I know are waiting to come to join Andrew & I.

Ok.. I just needed to vent.

Happy Birthday Andrew!

Andrew's Birthday was March 16th.

He turned the BIG 24!

We celebrated on Monday the 15th with my family! Dad made this wonderful cake, and Mom decorated it! We had a lot of fun, as it always is when you are with family!

We spent Andrew's birthday together. He wanted to go out to dinner, so to Applebee's we went! We celebrate everything at Applebee's!! We had a great time! I HAD to have them sing to Andrew... they brought him this little sundae!

Here's to another year!

Happy Birthday my love!!

St. Patrick's Day Treat!

So, my friend Adele has an awesome cooking blog and she inspires me! (http://simplydeliciouscooking.blogspot.com)

I have been looking at these since she posted them in mid January :) I finally decided to make them! I had to alter the recipe a little to make them work as cups instead of bars... so here it is:

Peanut Butter Cups

1/2 cup butter, melted

1-3/4 cups powdered sugar

1 cup peanut butter

3/4 cup graham cracker crumbs (About 5-6 graham crackers)

1/2 cup butter, melted

1 cup semi-sweet or bittersweet chocolate chips

1. In a small sauce pan melt 1/2 cup of butter.

2. Remove from heat and stir in the powdered sugar.

3. Add the peanut butter & graham cracker crumbs.

4. Stir until creamy.

5. Line a tart pan with small cupcake cups.

6. Spoon in mixture about 3/4 full.

7. Place in refrigerator to chill approx. 15 minutes.

8. After the peanut butter mixture has chilled move on to chocolate steps...

9. In the same sauce pan, melt 1/2 cup butter.

10. Stir in chocolate chips until very soft. Remove from heat and sir until the chocolate is smooth and shiny.

11. Spoon into cups over the peanut butter layer.

12. Return to refrigerator until chilled.

I packaged them up as so and gave them to my family as a St. Patrick's day treat!

The recipe is basically the same if you want to make them into Peanut Butter Cup Bars. You just spread the peanut butter mixture in a 9x9 pan. Then use 1/4 cup butter and 1/2 cup chocolate chips for the top layer.

I found that they taste better straight from the fridge! When served at room temperature they were a little melty in your hands!

This is an AWESOME recipe! Thanks for sharing Adele!

My fridge...

This is a current picture of my refrigerator... You'd think I have several kids in my house...

No.. my husband seems to think milk is the best thing on earth... he drinks it like it's water. I have to buy 2 gallons at a time so I don't have to go to the store every day!

Happy Birthday Sarah!

Sarah's Birthday was on March 10!

Happy Birthday Sarah, I love you!

(I think this is a really good picture... but she is going to KILL me for posting it!!)

I made Sarah a cheesecake for her Birthday. It was REALLY good!

HAPPY 31st Birthday!

I hate SNOW..

Just a few pictures of my car this morning. It took me 25 minutes to dig out. SERIOUSLY! The pictures do no justice... I had to climb in the passengers side and rock my car out. UGH. Then I was soaked and had to go in and change my clothes and shoes. GRRR... I hate snow...




NO JUSTICE... This is the spot after I rocked out of it... then off to work. It took me twice as long to get there as normal. HORRIBLE HORRIBLE WEATHER!

PHOTO TAG... YOUR IT!

Thanks Kylee!
Here you go... the pictures I just took from this photo tag. For some reason this blog is being weird... it won't let me type between the pictures.... SO:
Self Portrate: I took this myself on the way to the hospital when Ella was born... it was 4 in the morning! :)
Closet: Wow... I am embarassed! What a MESS!
Refridgerator: Sad... I really need to go shopping! The funny thing is, there are 3 bottles of soda in there. We don't really drink soda... they have been in there for weeks... maybe I should throw them out!
Kitchen sink: Funny that there is a bottle and baby spoon in there, considering I have no children... I had Sophie & Ella today... just have not gotten to the dishes yet... oops!
Shoes: Ahh... my favorite shoes... I got them for like $5 at Target... they are children's size 5! I LOVE IT! (they are not my favorite to wear per say... but I love that they were cheap and children's!)
Bathroom: Just cleaned it tonight... tiny little bathroom!
Favorite Room: My living room, I had to take it at 2 angles so you could see it!

The laundry room is downstairs... I am too lazy to go take a pic of it... it is not mine anyway... just the complex. And I have no kids... so obviously I don't have a pic for that either!










There you have it!! If you just looked at this post.. I TAG YOU!!! Now, DO IT!

My Nieces!

Seriously... I have the CUTEST nieces in the whole world!

Unfortunately Sarah was not feeling well today, but that meant I got to take the kiddos! We went to Wal-Mart and then to McDonalds and then back to my apartment. They were so good!

Sophie watched Marry Poppins. I don't think she really liked it. She likes to "play" Wack-a-Mole on my DS... so she did that a little too!

Anyway, I caught Sophie doing this... she had her feet on the window (it was cold)... I hear... "Ahhh... that's refreshing!" ... she is HILARIOUS!

After a nice long nap, and some garden vegetables & apples n raspberries ... Ella was a happy girl! She always is! CUTENESS!

I was trying to take a picture of Ella and Sophie came and got right in front of her... so, I got this BEAUTIFUL shot!

And one more of Ella, doing what she loves. She was actually looking out the window!

I have the best and most beautiful nieces in the world! I love them SO Much! Thanks for letting me watch them today Sarah! <3

He Rocks My Socks

Happy Valentines Day

Like I said in my last blog. I hate Valentines day... that's ok. This year though, was not so bad. Andrew did a pretty good job.

Our day:

I left this on the door the night before with his present right in front of it. I thought there is NO WAY he can miss this! So... he gets up first (to make me breakfast) and walks right past it!! What the heck! He is not a morning person, I'll give him that... but really? You really missed that HUGE sign on the door?!?! So, I had to redirect him and he found it!

After opening his present he went back to the kitchen, and I went back to "sleep". Then I woke up to this... two "hole in ones" with a heart shaped center, the holes made into french toast, and OJ! YUM-O!!

After breakfast we went to church. It was nice.

Then went and delivered all of our Valentine Treats! We went to Lynda & Joe's, Sue & Dick's, and Mom & Dad's! It was so nice to visit with everyone!! Tons of fun! Sarah, Chris, and the kids got theirs in the morning when we picked up Sophie for church!

I got to spend a little while at my parent's house while Andrew went home teaching. Yes... my husband left me to do home teaching on VALENTINES DAY! Whatever!

But he made up for it with dinner!

The table... set with 4 tea light candles. My life must revolve around "4 tea light candles" ... see the post about going to Andrew's parents if you don't know what I am talking about!

We had really yummy pork chops, a baked potato, and (the best part)... asparagus!

We steamed the asparagus and then I put butter, honey, and almonds in a pan. Browned the almonds and then added the asparagus for the last few seconds! It was MAGNIFICENT!

Thank you for a WONDERFUL Valentines Day... full of YUMMY food!

I LOVE YOU!