It's been awhile ~

Hello there! I have been away for quite some time....months! But for good reason. You see i have been very busy these past few months baking. A baby that is. Yep, that's right i'm pregnant. :-) In fact very pregnant....like half way done. Baby #3 is on it's way and we couldn't be any more excited. Most of my friends already know but for the few of you that i don't personally know that is the reason for the long hiatus. The first few months were a doozy. I have been sicker with this baby than i ever was with my first two. Plus i had my other 2 littles to look after. I have been pretty tired too. But know i think that i'm over the Morning sickness and i'm getting some of my energy back. We found out not to long ago that we are expecting a little GIRL. And my daughter is over the moon to be having a little sister.   I wanted to start sooner but i just couldn't find the time to take pictures and post and update on the new edition.  But i'm going to try to start having a weekly update {just for me to remember}.  Like i said we are all so excited about our new little baby girl.  What a blessing!!!

                                                      I'm 20 weeks! (Half way there!)

                                                        Pregnancy Highlights:

How Far Along: 20 Weeks

Size of baby: Baby H is the size of a melon!

Total Weight Gain/Loss: Gained 8 lbs

Maternity Clothes: Already busted out the maternity jeans back at 10 weeks.  Wearing some maternity tops and still in regular dresses!

Gender: GIRL!

Movement: I've been feeling the baby a lot more lately...and loving it!!

Sleep: I'm so tired - that I sleep pretty good!

What I miss: Coffee and Sushi.

Cravings: Mexican and Chineese food. 

Symptons: Right now just tiredness, the metallic taste in my mouth and a little bit of heartburn

Best Moment this week: Just being so thankful for this baby!

I have another ultrasound on the 30th and i can't wait to see this little baby girl again. 

Socialization ~

Socialization....that is my topic for today. Ladies/Mommas i have a few questions for you. I know where i stand on socialization of my kids. But sometimes i do question myself. And i don't know quite where to start with my questions. But here i go and i really need your feedback. :) My reason for this is that i recently heard from someone i know that has a child that just got over having Hand Foot and Mouth Disease. She made a comment that just struck me....it went like this. " I know there are germs at playgroup & play dates but his socializing is more important & those germs just help his immune system"....he is 1 i might add. Maybe it is just me....but that statement just didn't sit well with me. I have been thinking about it all morning. Socializing is more important than the health of your child?

Ok...so here are my questions?
Play groups / Play dates from ages 1 to say 4? Do you think it is important? My children interact with other kids at church. I'm a stay at home mom and they have me all day long. We go to the park. They see their cousins several times a year. But is that enough? Once i start a curriculum with my daughter through Homeschooling she will be involved in 1 activity. Has this been/ is this enough? My children are very well behaved {for a 2&4 yr old} and talk to anyone. Ok...so i'm going to leave this short and just see what you guys have to say. Thanks! :)

Cheesy Cornbread Pudding ~

I found a new recipe over the holidays for Cheesy Cornbread Pudding and didn't get a chance to use it but it looks to be very good. I love Cornbread and i LOVE cheese so how could this be wrong. HA! I haven't been a very good blogger over the past few weeks. The holidays came and went...and it is well into January. Have lots of new things in store for this year. But that will have to be for another post. Today i'm on limited time and would like to share this recipe that i found {even though i haven't tried it}.

Cheesy Cornbread Pudding

1 small can corn, drained
1 14 oz can cream-style corn
1 box corn bread mix
1 cup sour cream
2 eggs
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese


Mix all ingredients together minus 1 cup of shredded cheddar cheese in a medium sized mixing bowl. Pour into a greased 8 x 8 inch baking dish. Sprinkle with remaining 1 cup of cheese and bake at 350 degrees for 45 min to an hour.

Looks easy enough and makes me want to go make it right now! It is on the list for this upcoming week. I will let you know how it turned out. :o)

Santa's "Nice" List ~

Whew!!! December is a busy month! And i'm trying to cram in as much "Family Memories" as possible. Homemade ornaments, homemade christmas cards, cookies, baked goodies, driving around looking at christmas lights and going to see the Jolly fella himself. One day "Buddy" the Elf brought the kids something fun.....a Gingerbread Choo Choo Train! The kids were uber excited to dive into that project. Me...well i knew that it would be tricky getting the littles to actually put the candy on the train. SO here are a few pictures ....


The front of the train was decorated by little man. UMMMM....yep, he ate most of it. HA!


The back was little girls to decorate all her own. And she did a wonderful job.

Little girl did most of this side too. And actually has some candy on it .

And here is a front view. IT CRACKS ME UP!

And there you have it folks....Train wreck 2011 i mean Lovely Gingerbread Train 2011! It ain't perfect but i love it. :o)

I don't know about you but i STILL have a few gifts to buy. I bought most of the littles christmas gifts early this year and thank goodness i did!! I can't believe how fast certain toys fly off of the shelves.

The kids wrote a list for Santa this year....Items on that list include Woody, Jessie, Art Easel and a Inno Tab. What are some of the Hot items that your kids put on their list to Santa this year??

North Pole Breakfast 2011~

Oh the excitement!! :o) "Buddy" the elf came to us from the North Pole for a special breakfast. What a wonderful...fun filled morning we had.

The kids woke up to find a table filled with yummy goodness from the North Pole!! And who brought us this Christmas Breakfast asked my little girl????

Well that would be the little elf i told her. Buddy? Buddy's back?? Yippee!!! Just look at that face!!


At the North Pole they have Snow covered donuts and gingerbread men for breakfast. And we got to enjoy these treats this morning.

Along with Hot cocoa topped with yummy marshmallows. Buddy seems to like marshmallows...maybe they are his favorite?? hehe!!

I know they were this little fellas favorite. He was so excited that he got to drink in a "big" cup.

I watched as this little guy took his first taste of Hot Cocoa....REAL hot {warm} cocoa {not cold chocolate milk}.

Buddy left a sweet letter for both the kids letting them know that he is watching them and reporting back to the "Big Jolly Fella".

And beside the letter he left them a little gift. SOCKS of course to keep their little piggies warm all winter. :o)

All in all the North Pole Breakfast was a HUGE hit. The littles L*O*V*E*D it and now we have a new family tradition to kick off the christmas season.

Lots more family fun in store this month leading up to Christmas. Hopefully things won't get to crazy around here and i can share some of the fun. Happy Holidays!!!

Thankful~

This year has been a hard one for this family. But all i can do is thank GOD for all the blessings he HAS givin us. I have so much to be thankful for. HAPPY THANKSGIVING! I hope you all have a wonderful fun filled family gathering eat until you bust Holiday!!!

Sammies ~

I'm a sandwich lover. How about you? I reciently found a new recipe for Hawiian Sweet Roll Ham Sammies and tried it out a few nights ago. And let me tell ya....they were yummy!!! These would make good snacks for game night or for a church pot luck. Warning....it is very onion-y! IF you don't like onions don't try this. I happen to love onions and with this hot sammie the onions is what makes it so yummy. .....


Hawiian Sweet Roll Ham Sammies

What you will need:
1 Pk of 12 Hawaiian sweet rolls
1 onion minced
1 stick of butter
3 tbs of dijon mustard
2 tsp worchestire sauce
3 tsp poppy seeds
Half pound shaved ham
8 slices of swiss cheese


Start by chopping or grating an onion. I use the hand chopper from Pampered Chef. I get a pretty fine mince.

Melt a stick of butter and then add the onions to the butter.

Add three tablespoons of Dijon mustard to the onions and butter.

Add two teaspoons of Worcestershire sauce and stir completely.

Then add three teaspoons of poppy seeds and let simmer for a few minutes, until onions are soft.

Grab a package of the Hawaiian Sweet dinner rolls and cut the entire thing in half length wise.

Place the roll bottoms in a aluminum foil lined 13 by 9 pan. Spread the onion mixture on the entire bottom. You will want to save about 1/4 of the mixture back.

Grab some shaved ham, about a half a pound, and seven to eight slices of swiss cheese. Put the ham on top of the onions and then add the slices of cheese.

Add the roll tops on the cheese.

Now, with the remaining onion mixtures, spread over the top of the rolls.

Cover with aluminum foil and refrigerate until ready to use. Bake on 350 degrees for 20 minutes, covered with foil.

When you remove from the oven, slice down the roll lines.