My Lovely Little Layla

I haven't had played with pictures in a while.  This was one of my first using textures. 

Practice.Practice.Practice

Her Happy Day is Coming

Gabrielle got her first birthday card in the mail yesterday. It was from Geoffrey at Toys R Us! Now we have to make a trip out there to spend her gift card that came with it. A whole $3 for my almost three year old girl. To be honest she just loves to go and play with all of the toys, she could care less about buying anything.

Can you tell by her cheeser smile how excited she was to get mail? She's been carrying it around since. So this is proof, all kids love to get their own mail :-)

Baked Garlic Chicken

Super Easy / Super Good

Easy Garlic Chicken Recipe - Food.com - 5478

I used two large chicken breasts, cut them in half, and pounded them out. Everything else was the same. It will look like the picture once you take it out of the oven and it sits for a few minutes.

Fruit Snacks

Six Sisters' Stuff: Homemade Jello Fruit Snacks Recipe - http://pinterest.com/pin/120612096241476134/

Working on these now! Hope they come out good and then I'll go find some molds to make a bunch of them.

Updated: Found the jello molds & ice cube tray. I used the large package (6 oz) of jello, 3 envelopes of gelatin, & 2/3 cup of water. Yummy!

Next is to use fruit juice.

Get Out

Last night was the first night all week where I got to tuck Gabrielle into bed. Every other night she's told me, "Mommy, get out! I close the door." Because she wants to do everything all by herself. I even pleaded with her, and told her I wanted to give her kisses and cover her up. She told me No and gave me kiss at the door.

I realize that the picture below had nothing to do with the story. But isn't she cute in her Super Why cape?

Coffee Please

Coffee in the mind of a two year old.

This would be her dinner in my drink. Yumm! German pancakes anyone?

Rain in the desert

Gives you rainbows!

I love stormy weather, especially since we don't get that much here in Vegas. That and big beautiful green trees and mountains.

Jared hates lightning, the girls get exited when they hear thunder, and Ethan wants to go play in the rain.

I'm kinda sad I missed the double rainbow that day. But this one is still pretty.

Dress Phase

This week has started the dress phase. The only problem, you've grown since. So guess what you are getting for your birthday?!?!?!?!?
During this phase you have broken two hangers and refused to accept that they are now for  Layla. Layla is still in her rough and tough stage so dresses aren't her thing yet.

We have teeth

At 14.5 months we finally have two bottom teeth breaking through.

I really hope for (our) your sake they come in fast and in big groups. Teething sucks and I hate to see you in pain. It is no fun for anyone! So let's cross our fingers for these little pointy suckers to hurry up.

Chatter box

Layla can now repeat:
Apple
No
What
Potty
Ball
Baby
Boom
I did it
I fine
Yay
Ewwww
More
Bite
Cailou
Doggie
Mommy
Daddy

This was all that I could think of for now. Some are clearer than others, but boy is she in a hurry to grow up.

Monkey

Really.... Can we put weights on her ankles to keep her off stuff?

Snuggles and Chocolate

Is it so bad that all I've wanted to do all week is snuggle in bed with my girls and munch on chocolate?

Too bad I can't loose weight or make money doing that. I'd be a skinny buff chick with moolah!

Getting in the spirit

Halloween candy!

This is what Ethan picked or and bought for me at the Party Store. Does he knows his mama or what?

Layla's 1st Birthday Party Pictures

Here are a few more pictures from Layla's Birthday party.  Thank you EVERYONE who made it and those who kept us in your thoughts for the day.  We love you all!!!

#39 Crock Pot Baked Potatoes

Crock Pot Baked Potatoes

Super Good / Super Easy

This is a really handy trick to hold on to for those really busy weeks.  Baked potatoes are good for everything.  Lunches, Dinners, Sides....whatever!  They even taste better this way, because they steam in the foil so they hold their juices in.

We ate them for a week and all there was to do was reheat in the microwave and add whatever yummys to them.  I like chili and cheese, and then plain ol' loaded with all of the fatty deliciousness of butter, sour cream, cheese, and don't forget the bacon.

Directions:
Wash and dry potatoes.  Poke with a fork, and wrap in foil.  Fill up your crock pot, put the lid on, and cook for 8-10 hours on low.



**Please see the link above for full directions and pictures! 

#38 Taco Bake

Taco Bake

Super Good / Super Easy

This thing was unexpectedly delicious.  We had it two nights in a row.  And NO ONE complained :)  Those are the kind of dinners I like.

Changes I made:
Ground Turkey
Added Black Beans
Grilled the tortillas
Garnished with Sliced tomatoes, sour cream, and taco sauce

Ingredients:
1 pound ground beef
1 packet taco seasoning
* water as called for on back of seasoning packet
3 large flour tortillas (8-inch size)
1/2 cup Salsa Con Queso
1 1/2-2 cups shredded Mexican cheese blend

Directions:
Brown and crumble ground beef. Drain excess grease.
Add in taco seasoning and water (following directions on back of seasoning packet).

Once the taco meat is ready, turn off heat and add in 1/2 cup salsa con queso.
Give it a good stir until thoroughly combined.

Preheat oven to 350F degrees.
Spray an 8-inch round baking pan with nonstick cooking spray.
Layer the bottom of the pan with a flour tortilla.

Now add about 1/3 of the ground beef taco filling on the the first layer.

Then add 1/3 of the shredded cheese.

Continue until you are done with all the layers: another tortilla, more taco mixture, more cheese.
Bake at 350F degrees for about 15-20 minutes.
Until cheese is melted and edges are slightly golden brown.

Allow to cool for a couple of minutes.
Then slice and serve.
I like mine with some sour cream and diced tomatoes on top.

**Please see the link above for full directions and pictures!

Poor Georgy

No where to go and no clue what to do.

The girls have emptied or all of their toy boxes and are playing nice. So the mess is
okay.

Mommy's Little Helper

I love.love.love that you love to help me clean!

Silly Girl

You've turned into such a lovey little girl and a big chatter box. We are still working on understanding everything you say, but we are pretty good at picking out words to get the gist.

You are remembering a lot more, as in when we plan something for the following day you wake up excited to do that.  That works in my favor most of the time because that means you are understanding that we will plan on doing something later and that it will happen.

Your terrible two tantrums are in full swing. Loud and dramatic are the two best words I can think of to describe them. When you are tired they are very dramatic and long. Layla and Ethan get on your nerves and then you are just plain loud.

Layla has learned to stick up for herself so it isn't as easy for you to get what you want from her anymore. So the shoving and hair pulling has begun. I imagine we've got another 16 or so years of that to look forward to.

Poor Ethan can be sitting there and you yell at him. Then there are the other times when he trys to sneak subtle annoying things and gets busted. He still hasn't mastered the art of not getting caught yet. And with you and Layla on his case he doesn't stand a chance.

Bed Head

Even babies get bed head :-)

Potty Time

Cause pooping on the potty is way better than pooping in the tub.

#37 Gooey Butter Cake

Chess Squares | Kevin & Amanda's Recipes

Dangerously good / Super easy

Oh.My.Goodness.Someone.Take.This.Away.So.I.Will.Stop.Eating.It.

Changes:
FF cream cheese
Yellow cake mix was from scratch instead of boxed

Ingredients:
1 box yellow cake mix
3 eggs
8 oz cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, melted
4 cups (1 lb) powdered sugar

Directions:
Preheat oven to 300 and spray a 9×13 dish with cooking spray. Mix cake mix, melted butter and one egg to a soft dough. Press into the bottom of the pan. Mix powdered sugar, softened cream cheese and remaining two eggs until smooth, about 1-2 mins. Pour on top of crust. Bake at 300 for 40-50 minutes until top is golden brown.

**Go to the link above for the step by step directions and the pictures that make this dessert look as amazing as it tastes.