BLT Sandwiches

For dinner tonight I wasn't really ready since we usually eat between 5:30 and 6:00 and when I walked around the corner to find my kids eating sprinkles because "I'm hungry, can we have dinner?" -James. So I open the fridge and then the freezer and they are both a little empty. Gotta think of something fast and something the kids will eat. I started going through the meat and found bacon and since James considers this a food group this should work. And we all know that Logan considers tomatoes a food group, so we ran with BLTs. Logan ate the tomatoes faster then I could cut them up!
I put bacon and lettuce on James sandwich and immediately the lettuce was on my plate. The bacon kept falling out of his sandwich and he kept adding it on. After countless pieces of bacon being added to his sandwich I cut him off and he ate his sandwich until he ran out of bacon. Half a sandwich left!

Logan got bacon and tomatoes on his sandwich and guess what the bacon hit the floor!

In the OVEN?

Kids do the funniest things. You never know where you might find your keys or their bottles, although in my house its kinda the phones and the vacuum attachments. Things just have a way of always surprising you! Logan's newest thing is that he loves playing in the oven and the cups. He is so proud of himself when I walk into the room and the oven is full of cups and tupperware.

I walked into the kitchen and he ran to the oven and took out this green bowl. I had hopes that maybe he had learned that it wasn't OK, but instead...

he was proud! Stinker!

Almost there!

I started refinishing my glider about a week ago, sewing a little here and a little more there. I am seeing an almost complete project! My mom picked me up the Velcro yesterday so I could finish the pieces that I had already finished sewing. Here's my empty chair...

Now remember this is my first time refinishing a chair. Its hard work! It's not perfect, but it will look good while I sit there for hours and hours everyday.

Wall Hanging

About 2 moths ago I realized I couldn't find my favorite nursery bedding. I had been watching it at Pottery Barn for months and as each piece would go on sale I would buy it until I had the whole set...well since I can't find that I figured I would just start over again; I've got lots of time on my hands, right? Well the fabric sat and sat and sat until now. I have started James in preschool to help with his social skills and need to a set schedule which has given me a little extra time to work on such things to which I feel is a life saver. I love Pottery Barn Kids and Land of Nod and have been able to pull a lot of inspiration from them. This is the top half of a wall hanging I started that I saw in the Land of Nod catalog a few months ago and fell in love with it. Making it however has turned into an experience.

These are completely unfinished. Just cut and ironed. I will just do a simple top stitch around the edges and call it a day. In the catalog it was cut strips instead of the squares like I have done. I just don't consider myself to be a quilter and it was way beyond my level of B.S. (and my mom's). As I look at this I don't want it to be exactly square or even by any means, but I did want it to be a little center, may have to go back to the ironing board! Tell me what you think!

The crib bedding will be made out of this same material with the green viney one as the base. So far I only have plans of making the bumper and the skirt, but depending on how much time and fabric I have I may try a sheet. Looks scary!

Too small?

The past 3 weeks Logan has been falling out of bed which is not a big deal when its a crib mattress and its on the floor. But this unzipping his jammies is still fairly new. You can't really see it from this angle, but his bum is on the floor. Seems so uncomfortable! How do kids do that? I have been wanting to pickup a twin mattress, but haven't had the means or the time to do so. I just want something like a foam mattress since this is a toddler bunk bed the top bunk is shorter then Logan and he already has to bend to get into bed. One of these days. Until then we will just sleep half on and half off the bed!

Tomatoes

My Logan loves tomatoes. I bought a little container of tomatoes for salads this morning and I threw away the empty container before sitting down at the computer tonight. I mean this kid loves tomatoes. I caught him sneaking tomatoes after naps. He had pulled the container out of the fridge, grabbed his water cup from the table and was filling his cup with tomatoes. He was one happy boy though. Its funny that this morning I caught James sneaking cookies and I catch Logan sneaking tomatoes when the cookies were more easily accessible.

Creamy Pesto Tortellini

By the time I thought about dinner it was too late for what I had planned. So while picking up James from preschool, dropping off the recycling, and picking up a Dora the Explorer movie from the library I had to think of something quick and simple. I have had a creamy pesto at restaurants, but never tried to make it. It wasn't like theirs, but it was tasty!

Creamy Pesto Tortellini

1 pkg. refrigerated 3 Cheese Tortellini

1 5 oz. container of your favorite Pesto

1/4 cup Heavy Whipping Cream

1 small Tomato, diced

Parmesan Cheese, if desired

Cook the noodles according to packaging and drain. Place back into the pot add pesto and heavy whipping cream, stir until well coated 1-2 minutes. Remove from heat add diced tomatoes and serve. My boys love anything with noodles, so this was a real winner tonight.

There were other recipes on line that suggested making a white sauce and adding the pesto in the same fashion, but I didn't want to have to think. I believe, however, that it would have been much more creamy if done with a white sauce instead.

Because he's so darn cute!

Logan at lunch talking about his noodles. He loves pesto!

Sunday Pictures

James needed some family pictures for preschool this week and since we don't really have any that we have agreed on I thought I would attempt some this morning. It is not easy taking your own pictures. Seems like the boys will smile super big and then by the time the picture is taken they have moved on to picking their noses or hitting each other. I looked super cheesy, but they were looking pretty cute!

This was the boys getting ready for the shot! I love that Logan is reading a DVD insert like its a newspaper. He was also talking, obviously reading us the news!

Accidentally had the timer set on this. It was really sweet until 2 seconds before the flash went. Logan wasn't sure having James hand around his neck was necessary.

Showering alone

I have long since forgotten what its like to shower alone. It used to be James that would crawl in after a few minutes, but he has out grown that a little bit and now I get Logan. For a while I had both. This morning I was so excited thinking I had out smarted both boys, but half way shaving my second leg a little one crawled in! This does make the entire process a little more difficult when you learn we are showering in a stall shower. It makes the lathering process a little more interesting when Logan likes to sit right in the middle to play with the drain. One good thing about this process is I usually have a guaranteed 3-5 minute head start on primping since they like the hot water so much!

Logan doesn't really understand the importance of drying off or towels! Always quick to get them off! Even the big ones!

Almond Lovers Chocolate Chip Cookies

I have never used almond paste before and really had no idea what to expect, but it was super easy to use and very tasty! I wish I had some almonds on hand to chop up and add to these, but they were pretty fantastic and easy to make!

James helped me and we doubled the recipe using half butter half Crisco and instead of using the suggested 6 ounces we used the entire can of 8 ounces. I love almonds and figured it wouldn't hurt to add the rest!

Almond Lovers Chocolate Chip Cookies

1 cup Butter, soft

3/4 cup Sugar

3/4 cup Brown Sugar, packed

3 oz. Almond Paste (although I used 4 oz and loved it)

2 Eggs

1 Tablespoon Vanilla

2 1/2 cups Flour

1 teaspoon Baking Soda

1/2 teaspoon Salt

12 oz bag Chocolate Chips

3/4 cup chopped Almonds (I didn't add them, but they would have been great)

Preheat oven to 375. Beat together butter and sugars until well combined, light and fluffy. Add the almond paste in pieces and mix until well combined. Add eggs and vanilla, mix. Add flour, baking soda and salt. Mix until combined. Add chocolate chips and chopped almonds. Scoop onto baking stone with a medium cookie scoop. Bake for 10-12 minutes. Let cool on baking stone a few minutes and then transfer to cooling rack. Makes about 3 dozen.

Since I doubled the recipe and I love having A cookie when I want we scooped all the cookies onto jelly roll pans lined with parchment paper and put them in the freezer to harden. Once they're hard I put them into gallon sized freezer bags and then pull them out as I need them. I love doing this and have given them as gifts or treats when I am taking a meal into a family. That way they can be used when needed and they'll always be hot and fresh!

Oh and just a hint I usually write what they are and up the baking temp by 25 degrees if I am going to cook them frozen. Seems like they take so much longer to cook if I follow the recipe when doing it frozen and I can use the same baking time if I just add a few degrees to the frozen ones!

The Playground

This morning after gymnastics we had a play date at the park. The weather was good for spring on Whidbey Island, slightly blustery and there were lots of kids to run around with. James and Miles have only been in gymnastics together for a few weeks, but they are a perfect match.

Logan climbed the slide over and over again. Wasn't that easy with the cowboy boots on, but like any other boy he keeps on going. I am amazed how big Logan is getting. He loves being an independent kid and having the freedom of being big.
You can't really see it in this picture, but he's got 2 new teeth just coming up. One on the bottom even out the bottom three and a molar on the top. I knew they would all come in at the same time. That's the way we roll around here. We are late with all our developmental stages so its almost to be expected.

Hank

About a month ago Curtis walked in the door with a puppy...not just a cute little fluffy puppy but a 40 pound 15 week old puppy. Hank is a Black Russian Terrier and at full grown weight he will be about 150 pounds and stand around 28-30 inches tall. Hank is a playful puppy and loves playing with the kids.
Usually they have a much longer coat, but because Logan loves hair too much and I hate dog hair that clings to everything in your house (don't want to have to brush him all the time either).

Sleeping

Its been a long time since the boys were both able to sleep through the night...sadly. I usually get James some time during the night to snuggle in with me and/or Logan thinks he needs a bottle 2-3 times a night. But for the last 2 nights I have been allowed to sleep alone all night and both boys have slept through the night! Makes me glad that they are taking all the craziness that is going on in their lives and not stressing over it. Being a single parent isn't easy, but I feel like we've never been better. We all have our moments when life isn't great, but recently we've been having a lot of good times here in our little house. We have a great yard that will soon be fenced and we've had some unbelievable weather to play in it. Our water hasn't been the clearest, but we just look past the brown and pretend we're swimming in Deer Lake.

Tonight we ate dinner at my parents beach house along with my adopted grandma, her son and my sister and her family. There were a lot of people for that little house and 2 dogs to liven things up- that or maybe it was the 4 kids 5 and under running around. It is always fun to get together and let the kids play on the beach and have some good food. I do enjoy a good salmon and we have been blessed to know the right people with the right talents. My little brother fishes, but is only up here 2 weekends a year. But our adopted grandma has a son that fishes in Alaska and always brings home too much. So you mix some BBQ Salmon, sun and family...it spells a good time!

Sour Cream Banana Muffins

Here's another cooking post! I love banana bread, cake, muffins, cookies...the list could go on. I found this recipe and had bananas leaving us, so I figured no better time then the present. I have never tried a sour cream recipe before and its a same. These were so moist and yummy!

Sour Cream Banana Muffins

1 cup Sugar

1/2 cup Butter, melted

1 Egg

2 cups Flour

1/2 cup Sour Cream

1/2 teaspoon Baking Soda

1/2 teaspoon Vanilla

4 very ripe Bananas, mashed

Mix and bake at 350 for 25-28 minutes. Makes 18-20 muffins.

I didn't take out the second pan right when it beeped and they got a little color to them, so I think going for the 28-30 minute mark might be better!

Seven Layer Brownie Bars

I was playing online the other day looking for new fun crafty sites when I found these brownies...and how could you not try them out? Wow, amazing! Plus the recipe is beyond easy, minimal clean up and fast too! This recipe came from becomingbetty.blogspot.

Seven Layer Brownie Bars

1 stick Butter, melted

1 box Brownie Mix

1 cup Shredded Coconut

1 cup Butterscotch Chips

1 cup Semi-sweet Chocolate Chips

1 cup chopped Pecans

1 can Sweetened Condensed Milk

Melt butter in a 9x13 pan in oven set to 350. Sprinkle brownie mix over melted butter. Top with coconut, butterscotch chips, chocolate chips and pecans. Drizzle with sweetened condensed milk. Bake for 30 minutes.

Logan had a big first today. He sat down on his potty chair and went
potty. None of it went into the bowl, but he hosed down that bath mat
like a pro! We gave him lots of clapping and cheers and boy was he
proud.

My boys love pasta!

Pasta has always been an easy sell on these boys. I can put pretty much anything with it or on it; they will eat it and love it! I asked James to smile and he gave me this cheeseball smile! Wonder where he gets that from??

He'd never done this before but for the entire meal he kept his foot on the table. Doesn't look very comfortable and those socks are disgusting. This was Logan's 3rd helping of pasta!

Still can't help wearing our food. I guess I can't really say anything about that. I have been caught many of times with food on my belly these days.