Scenes from our Sunday

1. Pip is in LOVE with this book. It is always in her bag of tricks and I read it to her at least once a day. Today I realized I actually have it memorized.

2. Pip has been on a pear and sweet potato kick this week. She is still not a fan of apples. Tonight on a whim I tried giving her rice cereal again and she LOVED it. So maybe she will change her mind about my favorite fruit after all.

3. A lot of the baby books talk about letting your child learn to feed him or herself. It helps with food introduction, choking, and independence. As you can see Piper has no problem asserting her independence. Clean up is a doozy though. 

4. Our friends loaned us a jumperoo and Pip is obsessed. She is a bit too short for it, (she is a small fry after all), but that is nothing that a throw pillow can't fix. She will bounce for up to 30 minutes! I think Jeff and I might love it just as much as she does :)

And so I cooked.

I really hate to admit this, but I have started to love cooking! I feel at home in my kitchen. With music on, pots boiling, pan simmering, veggies chopping, and the dishwasher (always running now! It's all the baby stuff I tell you), I feel at peace.

 I cook to feed my family and to control the quality of food we consume. I cook because I like to try new foods. And I cook because in truth I really don't enjoy eating out, especially with a baby. In the words of my father-in -law, it's like trying to eat a nice meal while holding a 15 pound watermelon. (Truer words have never been spoken).

Cooking has become a time to turn my mind off.

And so yesterday I cooked.

And we will be eating so well this week.

(FYI: I try to cook 6 meals on one weekend day and then eat those meals throughout the week. The other two days we will eat take-out or leftovers).

Dinner #1: Sausage, apple, onion stuffed acorn squash.

I made one squash (sliced in half it serves 4). We split one for lunch yesterday and will eat the other half later this week.

Dinner #2: Roasted, loaded, sweet potato soup.

Do not skimp out on the toppings, the marscapone, goat cheese, and bacon are where it's at.
(We had this for dinner last night and I would gladly eat it for all of my meals today)

Dinner #3: Turkey Apple Cheddar Sliders. 

Follow this recipe, and make 16 sliders instead of 4 burgers. The sliders freeze really well and we will eat 4 for dinner this week (2 each) and freeze the rest.

Dinner #4: Cheeseburger Soup

Liquid cheeseburger. Enough said.

Dinner #5: Eggnog Waffles

I found pumpkin eggnog at Publix. And then I needed to find a way to use it. It helps that we really like waffles in our house. These also freeze really well. Just reheat in toaster over for easy dinner/breakfast.

Dinner #6:  THANKSGIVING DINNER!

I am cooking Thanksgiving this year so dinner #6 will not be made until Thursday. And the leftovers will be enjoyed for weeks to come! I am in the process of finalizing recipes and a shopping list. I do think pumpkin risotto will be making an appearance on our table this year!

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I have it good.

Today was a fantastic day. My students were engaged. My lab worked perfectly. The weather is amazing. We had just enough food to make dinner tonight and I could put off the grocery store for yet another day. Along with having food, clothes, and a few nickels to rub together my family is healthy and happy. Yep, I have it good. 

Thankful

I started out this month with great intentions of taking time each day to blog about what I am thankful for. And then life happened. So on thus Tuesday night, while dinner cooks in the over, and a very active 6 month old plays in her walker, I will attempt to catch up.

1: Facetime. This summer I splurged and purchased the iphone 4. For those of you who know me I am pretty frugal and my husband is down right cheap. A $200 iphone purchase is rather extravagant for us. But the iphone has facetime and for that I am thankful. Facetime allows us to real-time video chat with my Mom on an almost daily basis. From 700 miles away my mom has seen Piper's first bath, first laugh, first real food feeding, and first time in the walker. The iphone makes distance a mute point and for that I am thankful.

2: My camera. My camera is like my left arm. It is used daily to capture those everyday wonderful moments that could easily go un-photographed and forgotten.

3: My husband. In just 6 months my husband has transformed into a loving father who is an excellent diaper changer, bath giver, bottle maker, and night-time story teller.

4: Modern Family. I LOVE THAT SHOW. It is the highlight of my Wednesday nights and as much as I like to pretend I am not Claire, I secretly love her wardrobe.

5: Uncle Robert. He came for two weeks this month to celebrate birthdays, help out my Grandparents, and spend some much needed quality time with Piper. He kept us updated on the stock market, new books at Barnes and Noble, and the Wall Street Journal. We miss him now that he is back in Jersey, but we look forward to his return in January.

6: Rockin' Elmo. Pip loves him. He provides daily entertainment and he allows me to steal away a few minutes for myself while Pip bangs on her tambourine.

7: Community Season 2 on DVD and surprises from the hubs. He found said DVD on super sale at Target and brought it home Monday night as a surprise. We have been watching an episode a night and it is hilarious. I love that it has given a new nightly routine and a few more inside jokes to share.

8: Our waffle maker. Saturday morning waffles are my favorite as well as breakfast for dinner on week nights. Jeff is a big fan of the banana variety. I like that it means a healthy meal is on our table in less than 20 minutes.

9: The pups. They are always happy to see me. They are always willing to go for a long walk, even in the rain. They keep my side of the bed warm. They are the best alarm clock money can buy. Even with the time change they still somehow know when it's 5:00 AM

10: Pip's walker. She LOVES her new toy. It squeaks, buzzes, plays music, allows her to move around the house. Her walker has given her a taste of independence and girlfriend is loving every second of it.

11: Thankful for KRISTIN! She is one of my most favorite people and I am so grateful she is in my life. She is an amazing baker, a great listener, and a thoughtful friend. She always thinks of others first and is willing to offer her help to anyone in need. I am going to miss her so much when she takes her dream job.

12: My job. This year is not ideal and I am not loving everyday. But I am grateful I have a job that allows me to have nights and weekends off. I am able to arrive home by 3:30 and spend my afternoons taking family walks, cooking dinner, and playing with my girl. My job allows me to have summers off and travel during the holidays.

13: Thankful for Harper. Pip's BFF is currently growing and getting ready to make her debut. I am very thankful that Danielle has had a healthy pregnancy and that Pip will soon have a friend to grow with. I am also excited to have a friend to share Mommyhood with. It helps when someone else understands and is going through it at the same time.

14: My mom. Growing up I highly undervalued my Mom's brilliance. Now that I am "in charge" of my own household and I have to make the decisions I realize how hard adulthood and parenting really is. Thankfully my Mom is only a phone call away and her advice is still amazing.

15: The white noise machine. It blocks out all noise from  phone calls, doorbells, barking dogs, and the fed-ex truck. The white noise machine makes 7:30 bedtime possible AND elongates naptime. I am a happy mom.

16: Smores. I know it sounds crazy, but this summer and fall smores have been our dessert of choice. They are the perfect bite of gooey, crunchy, and sweet. They can be made in the oven or around a bonfire. They make me think of my summers at camp and Missionette weekends.

Stay tuned for 14 more days of thankful!

We are still alive!

I would apologize for my lack of updates, but truth is I'm not sorry. I'm exhausted. The month of October (and the last two weeks) were my marathon. And just like a real marathon it left me feeling proud that I finished it but VERY VERY tired. We had visitors, we celebrated birthdays (4 of them!), we caught the flu (all three of us), I tried to host a baby shower, we cleaned the porch, we had another set of visitors, and then I crashed.

It has been 6 weeks since I have followed by daily routine, 6 weeks since I have worked out properly. Six weeks since I have felt like me.

Today is a much needed down day and I look forward to getting back to my routine tomorrow.

Also, SOMEONE TURNS SIX MONTHS OLD TOMORROW! And we WILL BE CELEBRATING!
Stay tuned!

Here Comes the Bride!

One of the best benefits of our growing school is new blood. This year we hired 6 new teachers and I can honestly say I love working with each of them. 

Brianna, our new 7th grade team member is getting married THIS SATURDAY! 

And as my school's part-time party planner, aka faculty social chair, I was asked to put together a small bridal shower. 

We celebrated her BIG DAY with cupcakes, punch, and mad-libs.

 Congratulations Mrs. Shaner! 

Kicking off a month of THANKS!

Each November, when holiday preparations start to take over my life, and my stress level creeps a little higher. I like to take time to remember THANKSGIVNG. And why we take time on the 4th Thursday of the month to give thanks.

So I ask, What are you thankful for?