Stay At Home Day

Saturday is a 'stay at home day' according to Myah and Maysen because they don't have school. However, we haven't really stayed at home much today. I'm hoping we'll be more home bodies tomorrow after church.
This morning, I washed all of the sheets and remade all of the beds just as I do every other Saturday morning. In between loads and making beds, we had craft time--two crafts today, though they were small.
1) Valentines Frame (Target-set of two for $2.00)

2) Heart Mobiles (edited idea from Kelle Hampton)
Heart Ribbon, Heart stickers, Foam Hearts all purchased at Hobby Lobby

Earlier in the week, I overheard someone at work talking about how admission to Reiman Gardens was free this weekend. I called over there yesterday to double check, and they said 'yes, with a canned food donation.' When we went this past summer, we missed the Butterfly Garden because we weren't aware that it closes half an hour before the rest of the gardens. I figured, today would be a great day to go! The conservatory was also fun to see because it gave us a preview of this summer's theme : Picnics and ANTics. We learned all about Ant colonies and were able to watch ants gather leaves to decompose into fungus in their ant farms. We'll have to go back for the full display this summer!

Next stop: Dairy Queen!! The Dairy Queens in Ames, Story City, Nevada (and other surrounding areas) were having a Blizzard Alert! 1/2 price blizzards for today only! Who can pass that up?? That's like a new holiday, right?? Brandon had cookie dough, I had peanut butter cup....and the girls had a little of each!
We headed on home for a short nap (we all needed it to be longer)....and then off to a gymnastics birthday party! So much for a 'stay at home day,' huh!?!?! What does your 'stay at home day' look like??

Dancing Queens

Last weekend, when Brandon and I were on our getaway, our princesses were having a dance party (among many other activities) with Kiki and Ric. Check them out here!

What's Cookin' Wednesday

Things are cookin’ again here at the Smith household. I actually have dinner plans tonight with my girlfriends from work (we’re going to La Fuente!!) so Brandon will be in charge of dinner for tonight! However, I’m preparing a crockpot meal tonight that I can plug in tomorrow to have ready after B gets home from basketball practice and the girls and I get home from dance. We’re having Sloppy Joes! The recipe I use is from the Asbury United Methodist Church (my hometown church) cookbook. Marilyn Castle (mother of my sweet friend Mandy (Castle) Schwarck) submitted the recipe and it’s the one my mom used as I was growing up. Speaking of Mandy, she’s the one who offered to design the new blog header (coming soon)! Don’t I have the greatest (and most talented!) friends!?!?
Anyway….here’s the recipe of what’s cookin’ at my house……what’s cookin’ at yours??

Barbecue Hamburger (Sloppy Joes)

2 lb Lean Hamburger (I use 93-95% lean)
1 Medium Onion, chopped
1 T. Vinegar
1 T. Worchestershire Sauce
½ tsp. Dry Mustard
4 T. Brown Sugar
½ cup Ketchup
2 T. Lemon Juice
½ cup Water

Brown Hamburger and onion; drain. Add remaining ingredients. Simmer 1 hour.

Note: I’m going to brown the hamburger and mix with remaining ingredients and chill over night. I will then plug in my crockpot tomorrow for a few hours so the meat will be ready as we arrive home in shifts :)

Weekend Getaway!

Well...I survived it! My first night away from my children where it was someone other than my husband taking care of my pride and joy.
At the end of December, I confirmed a date with Kelsey and Eric and made reservations at a hotel in Des Moines for Brandon and I to insure that this weekend getaway was actually going to happen.
Sign above the kitchen sink in our hotel room.....perfect!!

On Thursday, I received an email from Stoney Creek Inn, where I had made our reservations, that they were 'ready for our stay' and if there was anything they could do to make our stay more enjoyable, to let them know. Totally out of character for me, I emailed them back explaining the purpose of our stay (a couple's retreat....first night away from our kids...third child on the way) and requested a free upgrade. Wish granted...just like that...all I had to do was ask. I had booked us for a Standard King room ($89 per night) and we got upgraded to an Extended Stay King Room at the Cottages ($180 per night) for no extra cost. It had a full kitchen, a bathroom bigger than the one in our hallway, and a couch seating area with a second flat-screen TV in a small room just off the bedroom.

If you're ever looking for a great place to stay....with excellent hospitality, I encourage you to try Stoney Creek. Since we were staying at the Cottages (which is actually a separate building from the main lodge), we got a more upscale hot breakfast in the morning where the concierge made omlets, belgain waffles, and french toast upon request. We also got a little goodybag outside our door on Sunday morning with a bottle of water, small bag of Sun Chips, and a twix.

Our actual getaway, started by dropping off the girls at Kiki and Ric's around 1:30. After giving them the low-down, we were off. Our first stop: Babies R Us. I know, I know....the purpose was to have time AWAY from our kids and take time for us. However, we couldn't check in until 3 and we don't have a Babies R Us in Ames. Besides....once you're a parent, you're always a parent. We purchased a laundry hamper and changing pad cover for Miss M's room as well as an outfit for her to wear home from the hospital.
Our next stop was Valley West Mall where we spent MAYBE 10 minutes...no joke. We just weren't in the mood to shop....we didn't really need anything.....that wasn't the purpose of our trip.....we were tired. So we headed to the hotel. Once checked in, we took a nap--an hour and a half nap. Exciting, aren't we!! We are totally ok with this because 1) we were together and 2) we are used to getting a nap on Saturdays. With as busy as we've been lately, and as busy as we will become once Baby M arrives, we deserved a nap.
When we woke up around 5, we were planning to call Texas Roadhouse and put in our name since they allow you to do call ahead seating. The line was continually busy for 15 minutes so we decided to drive over there (just across the road) and see how long of a wait it was. 80-90 minutes. We weren't willing to wait that long, so we drove around to find someplace else. We ended up at Brickhouse American Grille. Besides having to miss out on Texas Roadhouse's amazing rolls, we were totally pleased with this location. When I ran into Texas Roadhouse to see how long the wait was, there was blaring loud music and about 100 people waiting to be seated...not exactly the relaxing escape I was looking for. At Brickhouse, the lights were dimmed (but not too low), the music was at an appropriate volume, and there was a perfect amount of people there. I shed my first tear when a couple was seated across from us with their 2 1/2ish year old daughter. I didn't cry, but I missed my girls. So I texted Kelsey to see what they were doing--they were building a fort in the basement --and I felt better.
Before we left for dinner, we tried to check which movies were available for rent from our hotel room. Unfortunately, their movie programs were down for the weekend (the one disappointment we had with our hotel choice). We decided to go to the early showing of Little Fockers. It was cute...not great...but cute. I did shed my second tear during it because they have twins, which always gets my heart strings, and it made the movie a little more relative to Brandon and I.
We went back to the hotel and had lights off by 10:30---like I said, we're exciting :) We were able to sleep in--or at least lay in bed until almost 8:30 with out anyone calling from the next room 'Is it wake up time?' We picked up the girls around 10:00. We had a great time!!

Once back at home, we were back to the old routine--making the menu for the week, buying groceries, and doing laundry. The girls wanted to do a craft, so we began working on their Valentines.

A little early, I know, BUT it's things like this that I just want to get done in case I should deliver early. I'm starting to nest a little bit and get my 'ducks in a row.'

What's Cookin' Wednesday

As a working mom, one of the biggest frustrations I have each day/week is what to make for supper. After I've been at work all day the last thing I really want to do is come home and cook a meal. For years, Brandon and I would come home and stare at each other asking "What are we going to eat?" Most days we'd end up eating cereal, or 'scrounging' as we would call it, or we'd go out to eat. This gets really old and expensive.
When Myah and Maysen were little I was making something for them to eat, and a different something for Brandon and I. I hated it!! Now that we all eat the same thing, I've decided to be more organized in this part of my life (I'm organized every where else, but just couldn't get this act together).
I was hearing people on TV as well as my friends talk about making a menu. Personally, I thought that seemed a little outrageous....I mean, who wants to decide what they are going to eat on January 31 on January 1? Definitely not me. So I modified it and have started planning a week at a time.
On Sunday afternoon or evening, I sit down and evaluate the week. What nights are we going to be home? What are our favorite meals that I want to have in mind? What ingredients do I already have on hand? What's on sale this week? Then, I plan what we will eat for each night....usually just the main dish and then I find side dishes as I go. This routine has been especially important since Brandon started coaching and is gone most evenings.
We are usually all home on Monday and Wednesday nights (basketball games on Tuesday and Friday, M&M have dance on Thursdays) so I plan big family meals for those nights. I still serve the occasional fish stick, hotdog, can of spaghettios, and canned soup on the other nights, but give a mom a break will ya? I'm trying here!!
Anyway, I'd like to try a new series in this blog: 'What's Cookin' Wednesday?' I'll try to share what I'm cooking that day, and I'd love for you to share some of your favorite recipes with me! I'm always looking for new, EASY, recipes that are loved by my friends. I'm not really one to look in a cookbook and pick something out...I want something that's tried-and-true. Crockpot recipes are especially welcome.

Here's what I'm serving tonight:

PIZZA SOUP!
Ingredients:
1.5 pounds browned lean ground beef (I use 93% or 95% lean)
1 large jar of spaghetti sauce (I use Ragu Chunky Mushroom)
3 cans tomato soup
1 can water
1 tbsp Italian Seasoning
Mini Pepperonis (as few/many as you'd like)
Sliced Mushrooms (fresh are best, but canned work, too)

Mix together in the crockpot (I do it the night before). Cook on low for 6-8 hours. Top with shredded cheese and Fritos! (You could use saltine/oyster crackers instead, but give the Fritos a try.....I'll bet that's what your kids prefer!)

Note: you can add anything that you'd like on pizza (green pepper, onion, sausage, etc)

Beware: of the mess the melted cheese can make on your spoon :)

This is a hit at my house, and a good alternative to chili. I like to eat chili, but have a hard time making it because I never know what to add or how much of it to add. I have to admit, I am a cook that pretty much abides by a recipe.

What's cookin' at your house tonight??

Rounding out 2010

Since my camera is back in my possession I want to fill you in on our last week of 2010.

On Wednesday, January 29, the girls and I headed up to Okoboji for a few last restful days of winter vacation. Brandon had basketball practice everyday so he stayed behind in Ames. We don't spend much winter time in 'Boji, though I did live up there for a year and a half during my student teaching and my first year out of college when I was subbing. Okoboji has always been a 'Magical' (for lack of a better word) place for me. It even holds that quality for me in the winter. It's just a nice escape from the ordinary. It's a nice time to enjoy some of our favorite restaurants without it being completely busy and crazy. We even tried a few new places, which is always fun as well. The first evening, M&M wanted to play on the deck in the snow. Since we hadn't really had much snow in Ames they were really excited to have some to play in. This pregnant mama even helped them make a snow man! It turned out looking like a snow triangle, but since I'm sort of shaped like a triangle these days, it seemed appropriate:)

On Thursday, we took the girls to an indoor waterpark at Bridges Bay Resort. Since we have a home in the Lakes Region, we spend a lot of time on the lake and outside on the deck in the summer. It was the perfect chance for us to try out this water park. The girls (and might I add, everyone else) had a great time!! It wore them out for a great nap :)
Maysen and Papa in the Lazy River.
C and Ric helping the girls cross the lilypads.
M&M loving the waterslides!


On Friday (New Year's Eve), we headed back to Lake Mills and rang in the New Year snuggling with family, putting puzzles together, and watching Despicable Me.

Saturday, January 1 was the Christianson Christmas gathering. As a tradition, all of the grandkids/great grandkids have to sing songs before we are able to open gifts. My Aunt Kathy had some animal hats from the church Christmas program that the great grandkids wore...they were too cute. This year, we had a mock Nativity complete with my cousin Joseph and his girlfriend Mary (no joke!). Can you say adorable??

32 Weeks

I got my camera back this weekend so I'll be updating the blog throughout the next few days.

I'm 32 weeks pregnant today, and should deliver 7 weeks from Tuesday unless I go early for some reason. The acid reflux is starting to set in at night and it's hard to find clothes (even maternity ones) to cover my belly. When I was pregnant with M&M, I was on bed rest at this point in time so it's a bit strange for me to still be working full time AND chasing two 3-year-olds!!

I Resolve...

I left my digital camera at our final Christmas get-together so I can't share pics of our 'boji trip, New Year's, etc until I get it back. So....you're stuck with just my words instead.
It's a new year at the Smith household, and everywhere I suppose-but it's a year with a big change in store for us. We will be welcoming baby M in just 8 1/2 short weeks. I've got a few things to get done before then, but I suppose, for the most part, I'm ready for her arrival. I mean we've been through this before, we have plenty of clothes, and all of the necessities. I also have two little helpers who are ready and eager that I didn't have the first time around....life is great!
However, seeing that countdown (8 1/2 weeks) makes me panic just a little bit because there are a few things I want to get in our routines before she arrives. I'm not concerned about not being able to love all of my littles enough because my heart is bursting all of the time for all three of them. My concern is that they know and feel that love all of the time. I don't want M&M to feel that baby M (am I going to have to start calling them M&M&M???) has taken anything away from them. I want there to be parts of the day and routines that M1 and M2 (maybe that works?) know are just for them and those are their special times with mommy. BUT I also want M&M to be seen more as separate entities than I think they have been in the past. Brandon and I work hard to see them as individuals, but I think it's hard for other people to do that.
Ok....I'm rambling.....what I really want to do is to put my New Year's Resolutions in writing so I'm more apt to do them. Here we go:
1. I will try to watch a little bit of the nightly news each day. Brandon and I never watch anything at the time it actually airs (thanks to our DVR) unless it's on Nick Jr. Sadly, there is no news on Nick Jr. I am very much out-of-touch with the world.
2. I vow to get M&M's teeth brushed more than the twice a week that's been happening. Embarrassing, yes, but true that is only actually happens this often with an adult helping and making sure a good job gets done.
3. We have added more story time to our nightly routine. We've had to get jammies on earlier and pile onto mommy and daddy's bed earlier to fit it in, but it wasn't happening nightly as I wanted it to. We still watch a half hour of TV before bed, with a story before the show. We have also added our bedtime prayer and a few nightime songs (Moon, Moon, Moon and Twinkle Twinkle Little Star). The girls have clung to these rituals very tightly already in just the meer week we've been doing them and they don't let me forget....I love being held accountable, I really do!
4. I plan to arrange a special day to spend with each of my children individually. A special outing or event that is just for them to be with mommy and daddy alone. I saw Jon and Kate do this and I think it's very important so that each child's interests and hobbies get noticed and explored. This mostly focuses on Myah and Maysen this year as the baby will have plenty of one-on-one time.
5. Lastly, I will continue to "let things go." My life is going to get crazy...really fast. I need to settle down on my control-freakishness and just let things happen.

There you have it folks....my resolutions. I'm looking forward to a wonderful 2011.

For those of you who read my seven secrets....
Brandon and I will be having a weekend getaway in a few weeks where both of us will be away from M&M overnight at the same time. In more than 3 1/2 years, this hasn't happened. We have reservations made to ensure it will actually happen so stay tuned for that experience. My sister and brother-in-law are very excited to have the girls overnight. Don't worry, we'll be only 9.1 miles away (according to www.maps.com). I will survive it!!

What big thing do you have planned for 2011??