Andrew Update

Quick photo update... talking & other topics coming soon :)

He discovered he can play peek-a-boo with the bag on his head.  It was adorable.

Opening and closing the baby gate is a favorite activity.

A couple of days ago he really wanted to wear his hat while he was eating breakfast, lol.

I babysat Marlie and Reed earlier this week.  First time with 3 kids under 3.  It was fun!  And short, thankfully ;)

He's now fully walking :)

Loves closing doors.  In this photo he's moving my flip flop out of the way.  It was a great exercise in problem solving :)

Walking...

Walking...

 Walking...

 Pause to eat a cookie :)

 This is a little bag that my friend Laura gave me (filled with goodies) for being in her wedding a few years ago (hi Laura!).  It's the perfect size for Andrew to carry around with his cars in it :) 

  This is Andrew standing up from having crawled a few feet.  He's standing up without holding on to anything... the newest development in the walking adventure :)

Snow :(

I have so many things that I've been wanting to blog about recently... most of which revolve around all the adorable and awesome things Andrew has been doing.  But since I have less than a minute this morning and shouldn't have even turned on my computer (and yet here I am!) this will have to suffice for today...

THIS is just one reason James and I miss being in PA!  Snow!  And enough snow to not have it be completely melted under your shoe when you walk on it :-P  And perhaps more importantly, the adorable little snow-suited boy in these pictures is our awesome nephew who I miss miss miss!  Don't those photos just make you want to scoop him up and squeeze and snuggle him and kiss all over his little cold face?!?

We love you, Titus, Jen, and George!  And miss you very much!

Pre-Christmas Visits

So my parents visited us before Christmas and James' mom visited for 2 weeks at Christmas.  I've been negligent in sharing the photos that we (and Aunt Misty) took, so here they are!

So I asked Misty to do some 'artsy fartsy' type shots and this is what we got...

 I love those precious toes :)

  (he's pushing his blue hippo down the hall to see Daddy)

(You're supposed to be able to tell that it's me and James in the background)

And I love this one because it's two of my favorite people!

Next time we'll get together when there's good light so we can do more photos :)  Thanks, Misty, for being willing to try even when the light is terrible!  We love you :)

Menu Plan Jan 16...

It may be a day late, but at least it's here!  Saturday I baked bread with a new recipe and I loved the result!  I'll include the recipe at the bottom of this post :)

Monday: Taco soup (from the freezer)
Tuesday:  Tomato and Pesto Chicken with pasta
Wednesday: Steak and potatoes
Thursday: Taco Salad
Friday: Chicken Pot Pie

Kathy's Whole Wheat Bread
makes 3 loaves
*Combine the following in a mixer bowl:
3 cups wheat flour
1/2 cup sugar
2 Tbsp salt
3 pkg dry yeast
4 Tbsp gluten (I didn't have any so I omitted this)

*Heat the following in a saucepan until very warm (120-130*)
2 cups water
2 cups milk
1/2 cup oil

*Add the warm liquids and 2 eggs to the dry ingredients and blend on low speed until moist.  Beat 3 minutes on medium speed.

*Stir in 5-6 cups white flour, by hand, then mix with mixer.  (I used bread flour since I didn't have the gluten mentioned above)

*Separate into 3 bowls to let rise - double in size
*Stir down, put in pans (I lightly sprayed mine with oil), rise 20-30 minutes
*Bake at 375* for 35-40 min.  (My two loaves in dark metal pans took 35 min exactly and the one in the glass pan took 40.)

Menu Plan

Sunday: trying a new Baked Salmon recipe, steamed broccoli, rice
Monday: Chicken Corn Soup (from the freezer)
Tuesday: Lemon Rosemary Chicken Bake
Wednesday: Taco Salad
Thursday: Greek Chicken, salad, homemade pita
Friday: Steak, steamed broccoli, new recipe for potatoes