Thankful for Haircuts

Bieber Fever

We ended this long holiday weekend with a first...HAIRCUT!  D has traded in his bieber-like locks for a shorter more sophisticated look.  His Aunt/Godmother works at an amazing children's salon called Snip Its.  It is over the top adorable and super fun.  They do birthday parties for girls and do their make up and hair!  The haircut went about as well as I thought it would.  Full of screams, suckers, animal crackers and tears.  I was shocked that it was a 3 person operation!  Aunt Missy did an awesome job, he didn't sit still for longer than 3 seconds the whole time.  She even used a neck trimmer!  Here are a few pics I snapped in between entertaining, holding arms and being in charge of the sucker twirling.  

One last look at those long locks

The first snip!

There was even a prize at the end!

Bakecation*

The holiday season is upon us and I am baking up a storm.  I baked a pumpkin pie for both sides of the family and to enter one into a contest at work.  A few years ago I was feeling overly domestic and decided to bake a pumpkin pie from SCRATCH!  Cooked the pumpkin, made the crust and it to everyones surprise turned out well.  It wasn't the prettiest pie you had ever seen but it tasted great.  I mean if I can do this anyone can do this.  Here are some pictures from my recent bakecation* and recipe.

Recipe (Makes 2 9inch pies):

1 cooked pie pumpkin - cut, seeds removed, cooked at 350 in a pot with lid and little water (cover the bottom of the pan) for one hour or until soft.  Once cooled scoop out the filling and puree in food processor.  

Mix together - 

3 cups of pureed pumpkin 

3 eggs

1 can of evaporated milk

1 1/4 cups of sugar

1 t of cinnamon 

1 t of cloves

1 t of allspice

1 t of vanilla extract

1/2 t of salt

Pour into your crust bake at 425 for 15 minutes then reduce to 350 for 45 minutes.

Hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving! 

  

*Bakecation = taking some vacation time from work to bake  : )

Happy Adoption Day!

Did you know that November is National Adoption Month and today is National Adoption Day?  Well, it is!  My full time job is in adoptions.  My job deals a lot with families in the final stages of their adoption process.  I help make families (and make them legal)!  It melts my heart every Monday when I watch these families being created.  Hollywood adoption have always been fascinating to me, thank you Angelina Jolie.  The latest celebrity adoption trend seems to be domestic adoptions e.g. Kristin Davis, Denise Richards and Mariska Hargitay.  I have some sweet friends in Tennessee that are on a waiting list right now to adopt a baby from Africa!  Since I only see the final stages of adoption it has been neat to follow their process through her blog.  (Her kids are super cute too!)  Enjoy and have a great weekend!

The Most Wonderful Time of the Year

Christmas, it's soooo close.  I can't wait!  I am so sick of all the complaining; "Christmas stuff already", "It's not even Thanksgiving yet", "blah blah blahhhhhh".  The proof is in the figgy puddling - "It's the most wonderful time of the year".  There is even a song that says it, so it must be true.  Why wouldn't you start celebrating as soon as possible?  My husband loves the cozy feel of our house at Christmas that for his birthday(which is Halloween) he asked to decorate the house!  The fun Starbucks cups, Williams Sonoma Peppermint Bark, the decorations...I love it all!  Back to the Starbucks, have you tried the Peppermint Mocha?  It's like Christmas in a cup.  Are you ready for this holiday season?

D's 1st Christmas last year

The question this year is 

how do I keep this away from that?

Our "soon to be terrorized" Tree

Nap Time (12 months)

He was fully and properly dress when I left him...  

                                                        

Tailgate Time

Fall is in full swing.  It is one of my favorite times of the year.  Bring on the leaves, cider and tailgating!  Marrying a baseball player he was unaware of this foreign affair.  After his first OSU tailgate a few years ago he was hooked!  Don't let me mislead you that we are the hardcore every game, rain or shine tailgaters. (But we do enjoy hanging out with those people!)  These pass couple weekends have been packed with football games and tailgating.  We did our first Browns tailgate which was amazing!  Our friend coordinates his tailgate menu with the opposing team.  (Is that genius or what?)  And I busted out for the first time "Marg" our sweet Margaritaville machine.  What you don't have a traveling margarita machine that's charge is good for 60 drinks?  Get one NOW!  Happy tailgating y'all.          

Me and Marg

Go Browns!

Andy's first OSU game

After the Buckeyes big win!

Tailgating Must Haves:

Layers of clothing
Margaritaville
Cooler - Monogrammed of course!
Emergency Kit containing the following:
Wine opener
Wet Ones
Tissues
Bandaids (learned this the hard way when Marg fought back...)

Don't forget to thank a veteran today!  

Happy Veterans Day!

Happy Anniversary

I know first birthdays now an anniversary.  We are a baseball family and we go big in the fall and jam as many events as possible in the offseason.  Today is our 5th wedding anniversary.  We have been through a lot in these 5 short years.  A short stint in the minor leagues, 6 different addresses and one sweet baby boy.  It's hard to believe it all started with a chance meeting in Siesta Key over spring break, yet we only lived miles from each other while both attending Kent State.   We have survived with God, love and a stiff drink sense of humor.  Even when we are arguing it always ends with laughter, even when inappropriate!  I am off to celebrate this anniversary at my second job!  Oh the joys of a working mama...  

Andy - Thank you for a wonderful five years and I'm looking forward to many more!

Memory Lane 

Columbus 2006

Ann Arbor 2009

Thanksgiving Eve 2005

Halloween 2009

California 2007

Chicago 2008