playroom.makeover

Can I tell you how excited I am about our playroom makeover?!  I have been wanting to seriously organize everything for a long time, but I just couldn't figure out how I wanted to do it.  

I started to doing some research, and I decided to browse the Container Store for some ideas.  Have you seen their prices?  Yikes!  So, I sent Josh this picture:

You know, it WAS on sale for $350 (and it was just the shelving and that container on wheels...no containers)...now back to the regular price of $450.  What?  You think that's too much?  I do.  I figured my handy-dandy hubby could figure out how to do it for much less. 

And what do you know...totally happened.  Thankfully, we had 4 of those shelves in our barn already that weren't being utilized.  That saved us a pretty penny in itself.  We had to purchase one extra shelf (which hasn't arrived yet...it will this week and will be the highest shelf), the brackets, and the containers.  There will also be 3 larger brown bins under the shelving that will house toddler toys, dolls, and stuffed animals.  The store where we're buying them has them on order, but they haven't arrived yet.  SO EXCITED!

On our girls' weekend a couple of weeks ago, we hit an IKEA, and I purchased all of the other containers!  Love them.  Love them.  Love them.

We'll see if our organization lasts.  I'm hoping so because I love it!

Now, I just have to talk my sister into working her publisher magic and making me some labels for my bins! 

baked potato soup

I made this recipe last week one night, and I thought it was pretty good.  I ate it the next day, and I thought it was really good!  It is an extremely basic recipe, but a great "go-to" for baked potato soup.

I almost feel like it might be missing something to really make it stand out, but I'm not quite sure what that might be.  Maybe I'll figure it out when I'm not pregnant...and if you know what it is, please share!

Baked Potato Soup
2/3 c. butter
2/3 c. flour
1 t. dried minced garlic {or a couple minced garlic cloves}
7 c. milk
6 large potatoes, baked, cooled, and cubed
1 1/4 c. shredded cheddar cheese
8 oz. cream cheese
1 lb. crisp bacon, crumbled
2 bunches green onions (optional)
salt and pepper to taste

1. In large pot, melt butter.  Stir in flour.  Heat and stir until flour is smooth (this will probably look a little pasty).  Add garlic.
2. Gradually add milk, stirring constantly.  Reduce heat and simmer for 10 minutes (stir frequently or the milk will start to cook onto the bottom of the pan). 
3. Add potatoes, cheese, and cream cheese.  Stir until cheese is melted.
4. Garnish with crumbled bacon and diced onions.

Notes:
-This is a fast recipe if you have your potatoes and bacon ready to go!
-If you like bacon as more than a small amount of garnish (we do!), or if your kids just eat the bacon when they're done with their soup...I would recommend doubling the amount of bacon.  We had enough for our meal but could have used more for our leftovers.
-It says to have your potatoes cooled...I didn't...and it turned out great!
-I didn't use the onions...not a big fan. 

Comfort food at its finest...enjoy!

Update: I figured it out...garlic.  Updated the recipe, too. :)

a.zillion.things.made.in.china

Loved this conversation with my girls this morning....

Claire:  Mom, this says made in C-h-i-n-a. What does that spell?
Me:  China.  That toy was made in China. 
Claire:  Meredith!  We have a toy that came from China!!!
(Me thinking:  Wow.  My children are soooo not in the know about things made in China.)

The conversation goes on as we pick up lots of their toys to see where they're all made:  Mexico, Switzerland, lots of Chinas.  I inform them that lots and lots of stuff is made in China. 

A bit later...while picking up the pieces to 8 puzzles that Amelia dumped (of course)...

Meredith:  There must be a zillion pieces here!
Me:  Probably not quite a zillion.
Claire:  Is a "zillion" a real number?
Me:  No.
Claire:  Did we make it up?
Me:  No, someone else made it up, but lots of people use it.
Claire:  Who made it up?
Me:  I don't know.
Meredith:  I bet they made it in China. 

Classic.

amelia-isms

This girl cracks me up.  Period.

Don't get me wrong.  She completely wears me out and makes my days crazy.  However, she's in that stage where she's talking about everything.  I can understand about 90% of what she's saying.  The general public understands about 30% of what she's saying.  

Being that she's so "Amelia" right now, I thought I'd share some of my favorite Ameliaisms of the time-being.  

1.  She's in the midst of potty training, and when she goes potty, she gets a skittle (ONE skittle).  Each time she goes to the bathroom, she always looks at me and says, "Three, four, five?"  Like maybe this once, I'll give her a few more! :)  The best part?  It sounds like this..."Free, fo', fi?"

2.  Whomever was in the bathroom prior to Amelia, usually has left it "stinky" (even if they really haven't).  Amelia, however, doesn't always say her "s" sounds so well...they come out more like "k" sounds.  So, people "kink" instead of "stink".  

3.  Being that she's fully 2, she insists on doing everything herself.  "I do."  "I do."  "I do."  Often times, you'll hear me (in my grown up voice) say, "Mommy do." :)

4.  This girl LOVES to hide under blankets.  If you leave her in her bed to go get something for her before she goes to sleep, you will most definitely come back to her sitting straight up in bed under her blanket.  It's completely predictable, and I find it rather adorable (most of the time).  

5.  She copy-cats anything and everything her big sisters do.  E.v.e.r.y.t.h.i.n.g.

6.  I'm pretty sure she would be happy to brush her teeth all day.

7.  She can't be left alone for longer than about 2 minutes or she'll have something completely undone.  Whenever she's missing for any length of time, I can pretty much bank on having to clean something up! 

Oh, how we love our Little Miss.

really.OLD!

The girls were playing in Amelia's room today.  Meredith came running out...

Meredith:  Mom!  We found some statues back in Amelia's room.

Me:  Statues?  What kind of statues?

Claire:  They're in a box.  I think they're old. 

Me:  Bring them out, and show them to me.

I was trying to figure out what statues were back in Amelia's room.  I don't put many things back there. 

A minute later, the girls come running back out with a familiar box.  I recognized it as one of Josh's trophy boxes from when he was in high school.  His mom gave it to him not too long ago, and I didn't know what to do with it.  It ended up on the floor of Amelia's closet.

Meredith:  This is the box! 

Claire:  Do you know what statues these are?

Me:  Yes, those are from when Daddy was in high school. 

Meredith:  (gasps...and uses a tone in which you would think they found buried treasure) These must be REALLY old!!!

Based on their reactions, I think I might have to check to see if Josh is still alive and well when he gets home from work. :)

pregnancy.brain.round.4

I was out shopping with a bunch of my friends the other day.  Prior to checkout, I was showing them some things that I had picked up. 

One of my findings were some picture frames that I wanted to purchase for the kids' pictures.  I had 3 in my bag. 

And all of a sudden it hit me..."Jackie!  4 kids!  You are getting ready to have your 4th child...you will need 4 picture frames!!"

If I hadn't been playing show-and-tell, I would have walked out of that store with only 3 frames.  Not typically a big deal, but we were in a store that is 3 hours away from my house!  That could have been a problem. 

I promise that I'm not in denial about this baby! :)

pregnancy.brain.round.3

The other night, I was sitting up in bed.  I glanced down at my belly and thought, "Wow, I must have eaten a lot today...my gut looks really big!"

And then I remembered that I'm pregnant.  Total mush between my ears!!

baby.#4

Can I say that I'm in love with this baby already?!!  My baby has the cutest feet...check 'em out...

My only 3-D picture that turned out (baby was face-down and he/she had to be face up to get any face shots).  This baby is going to have to learn not to be camera-shy really fast!  Mommy will be here waiting with her camera in hand when you arrive! :)

And we have a sweet face as well...

I love to see my babies' faces!  I can't wait to kiss all over those cute little cheeks.  

I have a sealed envelope (stating the sex of this baby) that's waiting patiently to be opened on Christmas Eve.  I don't really want to know what we're having, but seeing these ultrasound pics gets me excited!  

On a side note, Claire was able to feel the baby move for the first time tonight.  She was so excited.  Before she went to bed tonight, she kissed my belly and said, "I love you baby...I felt you move tonight!" (She said it in her baby-talk voice and everything!)  It was so sweet. :)  This baby is going to have the BEST big sisters ever!  

november.menu.plan

I'm still not sure what happened to the months of September and October, but here we are in November already!

Nov. 1-6
11/1: honey glazed pork chops (new)
11/2: breakfast casserole w/ blueberry muffins
11/3: deer steaks
11/4: maple roasted chicken w/ sweet potatoes
11/5: frozen pizza
11/6: corn dogs

Nov. 7-13
11/7: no cooking!
11/8: pancakes and sausage
11/9: chicken patties
11/10: breakfast hawaiian pizza (new Rachael Ray)
11/11: lasagna (new)
11/12: leftovers
11/13: almond chicken and rice

Nov. 14-20
11/14: tube sausage
11/15: taco pie
11/16: leftovers
11/17: chicken parmesan
11/18: homemade pizza, burger/pepperoni
11/19: chicken manicotti (freezer meal)
11/20: chicken pot pie (new)

Nov. 21-27
11/21: grilled ham
11/22: roast
11/23: cheesy ham and pasta bake
11/24: tacos
11/25: Happy Thanksgiving!
11/26: skillet penne and sausage supper
11/27: happy birthday to me!  I better not have to cook. :)

Nov. 28-30
11/28: deer and noodles
11/29: leftovers
11/30: cheesy ham chowder (new)

Other Recipes
chicken ranch quesadillas (new)
twice baked potatoes
baked potato soup (new)
pumpkin bread
caramel apples
pumpkin pie
hot cocoa cake (new)