Winter Recap

 
D loves the bath, he even pretends to wash his hair.  I'm pretty sure this means he is a baby genius.

 Kitchen Adventures: POPOVERS- Yummy & impressive, Dr. Oz pizza, and Chicken & Noodles
Get your popover pan at your local Williams-Sonoma! 

 

 We are trying to get D to use his utensils.  He loves them, has no idea how to use them but refuses to put them down even while drinking.

Our little helper, he pushes his highchair into the kitchen.  This happens many times a day, always ready to chow down!

 
We had my sister-in-law's birthday bash at our house.  Check out her bday sign, I made it myself!  (Pinterest alert!)

My college roommate's mother retired from Kent State. So D and I headed to my favorite town to celebrate the retirement of one of my favorite people.  It was so nice to have Miss Gina on campus when we were in school.  She has a way of making you feel like the most important person in the world.  Because of this trait I picked her to prep me before I walked down the aisle on my wedding day.  We went to eat at one of my old stomping grounds, Ray's.  It was a bizarre moment going into the bar and asking for a highchair instead of a long island.

Just textin' some ladies.... 

My brother-in-law is the President of the local Little League.  A few years ago he introduced us to the amazing fun that is known as "Night at the Races."  If you love gambling and fun this is the event for you!  We look forward to this every year.  My best friend Brionna even got in on the action this year.  We are thinking derby hats for next year!  










Spring has sprung and mama wasn't ready for this crazy warm weather we've been having, forcing D to wear "short shorts" from last summer.  Who would have thought Ohio would be a Spring Break hot spot??

Happy Spring!

Our Weekend

D let us out for the night - Watch out!

Once in a blue moon the stars align and we get a night out.  With a baby, 2 jobs, and endless housework it is hard to work in time to go out and enjoy ourselves.  Andy's high school friend Pat was turning the big 3-0 this weekend.  He is Irish and born on St. Patrick's Day, how perfect is that?  He and his wife had a little girl 2 months before we had D.  Being parents of a young child they were in tune to how important it is to plan ahead.  So when we got the invite for his party weeks earlier we couldn't book a babysitter (my parents) fast enough!  I went as far as scheduling my hair appointment around it.  Our friends were even kind enough to let us stay with them, oh it couldn't have been more perfect!  Pat's dad got up and told the sweetest story about how Pat was born around 11am and the St. Patrick's Day parade stepped off at 1pm and he walked in it!  Beaming with pride he held a sign that read "It's a boy", my heart melted.  They even had an Irish band, it was a great night in honor of our very own St. Pat.

Yay to a night out with friends!

Since my parents kept Dylan over night we headed down there to visit with my brother and sister-in-law and my nephew Henry after the birthday bash.  It had been awhile since the boys had seen each other.  They had a blast!  It is so fun to watch them interact, now that they are both wild toddlers.  Upon our arrival Henry announced to Uncle Andy, "I want you to stay here for a long time."  My heartaches that we don't live closer but I know an hour is a lot closer than some families.  Many people can't wait to get out of their small towns they grew up in.  Well, I did leave mine, lived all over the country and ended up an hour north of it.  It was fun, I learned and saw a lot but after D came I would give anything to live there again.  I miss the comforts of knowing everyone that drives by.  But I am in the process of making the city I live in feel like home by waving and introducing myself to everyone.  I may be known as the town weirdo but hey at least they'll know who I am!  ; )

Hope you had a great weekend and have a good week ahead! 

Homemade

As the days of cold weather are coming to an end that also means the end of the comfort food.  It's hard to serve up a hot bowl of Frito chili pie on a humid day in August.  These cold days and comfort food maybe while my shorts were tighter than usual while we were in Arizona.  It was cold this past Sunday so I took advantage to make one of my favorite homemade cozy meals — homemade chicken and noodles.  I had never heard of such a thing until I met Andy and it is my favorite meal his mom makes.  I successfully (and surprisingly) made it for my mom and sister-in-law for mother's day a few years ago.  Time consuming but totally worth it.  Well, this time I made it, I had a helper - The Kitchen Aid pasta roller!  This thing was so much fun, I loved it.  It is like play dough for adults.  I had noodles and flour everywhere.  Andy even got in on the action.  Here are some pictures of my new toy and the recipe!

I "kneaded" some help kneading

Let the fun begin!  

Recipe

NOODLES!

Noodles (from Kitchen Aid)-
3 1/2 cups Flour

4 Eggs

1/2 teaspoon Salt

1 tablespoon Water (may need more to bring dough together)

Mix/knead together, roll out thin until dry or use pasta roller!

Chicken-

Boil chicken in water in large pot (whatever parts you like, I use legs and thighs ) for 45 mins 

Remove from water and keep water (you'll be cooking the noodles in that)

Mashed Potatoes-

Peel and boil potatoes until cooked and mash (duh)  

Cut dough into noodles once they have dried out or they will already be in noodle form if you used pasta roller.  Put into "chicken water" and simmer for 15 minutes.    Add a can of chicken stock if needed.  Salt and pepper to taste.  

Ain't no party like a...

Miss Diane party cause a Miss Diane party don't stop is the most fabulous party ever!  We have a wonderful family friend that turns anything she touches into something fabulous.  She is a well put together lady, that once you meet her you'll just want to spent all day with her!  Her gifts are easy to spot at any party always being the most beautifully wrapped.  My bridal shower gift had foliage in it for pete's sake!  She has one gorgeous daughter, that was married the fall I had D (still holding a grudge against him for forcing me to miss the wedding).  Her bridal shower was nicer than some wedding receptions I've been to.  When I heard the exciting news that she was expecting I couldn't help but wait by the mailbox for my invite to the baby shower.  Not even a snowstorm kept Andy's two sisters and I from going.  And this party did not disappoint!  It was a day filled with many gifts, wonderful hostesses and Greek treats for miles.  The grandma-to-be showered the mama-to-be with many sentimental gifts with poems perfectly paired with each one.  They were so beautifully written, bringing tears to the crowd.  It was a wonderful shower and this baby girl is so blessed.  It was a beautiful day with a beautiful family.

Our Gift (I'm very into twine at the moment) 

Acting like Oprah,
giving her some of our favorite things:

My pick - Johnson's Vapor Bath, our Dr. recommends not giving cold medicines under 5, so this fills that void

Pam's pick - Aquaphor - it's a cure all in their house, soothes anything!

DESSERTS! (and Pam)

They've got the grandparent-to-be glow, so happy for them!

A sweet moment between sisters-in-law

So much fabulousness!!

One of my favorite gifts of the day, too cute!

Can't wait to meet Baby C this spring!