For Baby Libby's Parents

Recipe 1 Crock Pot Chicken:

4 boneless skinless chicken breasts
salt
pepper
1 cup chicken broth
4-6 slices swiss cheese
1 (10 1/2 ounce) can cream of chicken soup
1 (10 1/2 ounce) can cream of mushroom soup
1/4 cup milk
2 cups Pepperidge Farm Herb Stuffing
1/2 cup butter, Melted
Season chicken breasts with salt and pepper and place chicken breasts in crock pot. Pour Chicken broth over breasts.
Put one slice of Swiss cheese on each breast. Combine both cans of soup and milk.
Cover chicken breasts with soup mixture. Sprinkle stuffing mix over all.
Drizzle melted butter on top.
Cook on low for 6 hours or high for 3.

Simple Grilled Salmon - you can broil instead of grill.

1/4 teaspoon olive oil

1 (4-ounce) salmon fillet

Pinch of salt

Pinch of lemon pepper

Wedge of lemon
Preheat grill to medium heat. Rub olive oil over salmon, coating evenly. Sprinkle with salt and lemon pepper. Grill salmon over medium heat about 6 minutes on each side, or until it flakes easily when pierced with a fork (for ease in turning salmon, a grill basket coated with cooking spray or a wide metal spatula can be used). Remove any skin. Serve with a squeeze of fresh lemon juice.

Catchin' Up Picture Style

Since Jessica is complaining that no one blogs anymore, even her, I thought I would post some pictures. I have been having issues with our home network in getting pictures from our shared drive to this blog, so I am doing this the "dirty" way - you know taking the actual memory card and connecting it RIGHT to my computer. Crazy, I know. So here are some extremely random shots of my girls.

Sunday, Aubrey is very sad because GTaw's Hammock is down for the season.

Saturday, Molly was reading a book.

Last weekend, in the leaves in our yard. Aubrey likes to pose.

This is what happens when you ask Molly to smile.

Seriously, Aubrey poses all the time. I don't like this pose.

Mama Said There'd be Days Like This

But seriously?
1) Baby girl still sick with fever, have to go to work for a few hours anyway.
2) Stop at gas station, wait in line, get to pump - NO FREAKING GAS!
3) Traffic backed up about oh you know 20 out of the 30 miles I drive.
4) Elevator is OUT at my building, in downtown Baltimore, with lots of stairs and my laptop I make it, only to find:
5) THERE IS NO DIET COKE!
And the biggest reason my morning isn't great:

I have 16 minutes stuck in my head from HSM3 (the way we play tonight, is what we leave behind, over and over and over and over and over again).

So let's talk about the good things:
1) Margartaville came on the radio
2) Hubby talked Comcast into lowering our bill by more than half - getting core channels only and ending up paying LESS than when we just had Internet.
3) Made everyone at work laugh.
This:

So Cute and So Volatile

This morning Molly was being Molly. Doug turned to her and said, "You are so cute and so volatile".

I can not get over how TRUE that statement is.

I needed to preserve it...so here you go.

Planning and Cuteness and Random

... but not planned cuteness.

So HSM3 comes out this weekend and I am taking Aubrey, she really wants to see it... well maybe she doesn't know what it is but I want to see it, but let's go with the first way I wrote it.

Also, tonight is the Halloween Party at the club. But it starts at like 5. Doug is taking the kids and I will meet them after my late meeting. A hay ride in the dark should be lots of fun?? But why do they plan these things when it is hard to ge there?

I have a bone to pick with the pre-school Aubrey goes to. On Wednesday (29th) they want the parents there at 3:30 so the kids can get their costumes on and trick or treat around the business units. So if Doug or I can't take off (which is looking like the case), Aubrey can't go. That is just not fair! Why plan activities that require parents when the reason Aubrey is there is because she can't be with her parents?!?! Is that just me?

Costumes and Usage:
Aubrey got a beautiful unicorn costume for her birthday, and I was able to find the exact same one on ebay for 2.99 in Molly's size. They are very cute.

Where do you go trick or treating? Do you go? We don't know what we are doing this year but have 4 halloween parties plus ZOO BOO so they will get LOTS of use.

And I have been trying to post pictures of Saturday's Navy Game and the goats, but having issues. Plus, I once again lost the data on my phone... fun times people, fun times.

And the Cuteness from Sunday Morning:
Sunday morning Aubrey has said a couple of things that are melting my heart.

1) Aubrey leaned over and kissed me, then put her hand on my cheek and said,
"Mommy do you know how much I love you?".
I said, "how much", she said as she shakes her head up and down, "a really lot".

2) Molly took a little nap and when she woke up I gave her and Aubrey a taste test of the cookies. Aubrey accidently knocked Molly down and Max ate her cookie and Molly started crying.
Aubrey took Molly's hand, led her over to the couch, got on her knees, put her hands on Molly's face and said,
"Molly, when Max takes your food you say, "Drop it Max", then you tell Mommy Maxie ate it and you don't have to cry and Mommy will gladly fix it".

And not to leave Molly out:
3) Saturday night as I was snuggling Molly during bedtime routine, she says, "I missed my mommy, mommy".

Halloween Prep

Aubrey did not get a "friends" birthday party this year. She had about 7 celebrations but none with "friends". This is so very sad. She did get an invitation for a school friend's party in November and we are VERY excited about this.

Some friends we haven't seen in WAY too long - maybe a year or more? are coming over on Saturday (they have girls the same ages as our girls (2 and 4)). Not knowing this Aubrey asked if we could have a Halloween Party, and I am putting the 2 things together!

Menu (has nothing to do with Halloween)
Chicken Fajitas
Avodado and Tomoato Salad
Spanish Rice
Chips and Salsa
Halloween Cupcakes with Funfetti icing
Margaritas
Pumpkin Pie Dip

Craft Ideas
Salt Dough Ghosts
Evil Eye Baskets
Bony Beads
Decorate Pumpkins - with sharpies or markers?

If any of the crafts work out I will post pictures!

So Emily, where have you been, you ask? Here, working through life as a crazy person.

• Email address was hacked and had to change it
• Cell phone lost all data after Molly licked it - hate that I lost a TON of phone numbers (basically everyone I have added in the last 8 months)
• Bronchitis for me, Sinus infection for Hubby, now Molly has a cough, Aubrey just got over a cough and cold
• Trying to figure out how upset I should be with the losses to our retirement accounts (and you could say, "what loss, did you sell" no we didn't sell but still scary maybe?)
• Going to join WW in the next couple weeks - gaining weight like an idiot.
• How do you put away summer clothes when it is 80 degrees? Blah.
• Started Aubrey in swim lessons - she is doing GREAT! I love it!
• Aubrey is great - her 4yo stats - 42 inches, 40 lbs! None of her 4T clothes fit - unless you want skirts and dresses that don't cover your underwear... and don't get me started on her size 13 feet.
• Molly is Molly. Don't know what to say about that. Other than she has grown about 6 inches in the last few weeks. Her 2T halloween costume is too small for her. But of course LA is helping me out with that :)
• I twitter more than I blog these days. Did you know Santa and Mrs. Clause twitter? Really keeps you in touch - and reminded me only 77 days til Christmas!
• HA, how is that for randomness?

Halloween Bunny

Driving home from swim lessons today:
Aubrey: Where does the Easter Bunny live?
Mommy: In a magical forest.
A: But what can he eat?
M: in the magical forest in his hollowed out tree, well right next door is a special farm that makes carrotts that give that easter bunny energy to make all the eggs
A: That doesn't sound right, are you sure he is real?
M: Of course he is (thinking WTF)...
A: Well then there must be a Halloween Bunny, what does that one bring, again?

HOW DOES THAT CHILD TRAP ME, EVERY. SINGLE. TIME!!?!

M: Well honey, I have never heard of a Halloween Bunny, I don't think there is one.
A: Most importantly Mommy, that forest is too big for just one bunny.

Failures and Triumphs

I was potty training Molly this weekend, we gave it a great effort and will keep going but let's just say it was not a success (and that eating Molly poop makes Max barf).

BUT, as easy as it would be to wallow at home, just the 2 of us for 5 days without cooking or cleaning - I didn't do that (well maybe yesterday I did, but not today)!

Today's Menu:
Breakfast: Eggs with Dill and Pepper scrambled

Lunch: Whole wheat tortillas with Low Fast Vidalia Onion Dressing, chicken, lettuce, tomatoes, and cucumbers (served with Pirates Booty and Apple)

Dinner: Marinated Flank Steak, new red potatoes with rosemary, sauteed mushrooms and cheesy rolls

Dessert: Molly and I are making cookie icing sandwiches.

Tomorrow: Shrimp, penne, asparagus

Tuesday: Spaghetti and Meatballs with Caesar salad

Wednesday: Bertolli Froze Meal (9 minutes to make)

Thursday: Pizza Night

Friday: Burgers and Sweet Potato Fries and Green Beans

Besides meal planning, cooking, some baking, I also put together a Consignment pile of clothes and cleaned out my closet for the fall! I may start on Aubrey's closet when Molly goes down for a nap! Did I mention the 17 loads of laundry? That is how many you have to do when your child pees on everything, everywhere, all day.

I do have to say that a few days of just me and Molly is quite eye opening - she is the sweetest cuddliest kid when she isn't trying to keep up with her sister and follow her everywhere!

Oh, and in order to complete the randomness that is this post... I won a pair of pink Uggs for Aubrey on ebay last night... 40 bucks baby!

In The Morning

In the morning I will make sure my daughter wakes up with a smile on her face.

In the morning I will let my daughter have a cupcake for breakfast.

In the morning Aubrey will open 4 presents for her 4th birthday.

In the morning I will make sure we have everything we need for the dinner Aubrey decided we were having:
Bologna Sandwiches
Dill Dip with Pretzels
Kool Aid

In the morning I will take Molly to school and Aubrey to her 4 year check up.

Four years ago "in the morning" was a new life, it was a new family, it was 3 not 2.

In the morning I will wake up with memories of the first time I saw Aubrey, memories of breastfeeding a tiny child, and now that same child stands next to me, and her head reaches my breast.

In the morning I will mourn the babyhood that is gone as I rejoice in the girl that has come in its place.

People ask for Pictures which calls for Picture People

Molly (2) has NEVER been cuter!

My Aubrey Girl (almost 4)

Together!

I used Jen's advice from the Hair post and did both girls hair that way! I have done it on Aubrey with 3 a number of times over the last week - she calls it 'princess hair'. I did it to Molly for the first time at the Picture People while her daddy held her down :)

Hair Decision Input Requested

I need help. Molly has bangs. I was going to try to grow them out. But she won't keep a barrette or tie in them for very long so do I:

1) Give up and just cut them
2) Keep up the dream and just live with not seeing her eyes very often
3) Other options?

I really need input here... yes I am a dork and stress about silly things.

Updated: Took the girls for haircuts last night... we walked out looking like nothing had changed :) Molly's is a little more square around the bottom, bangs are still growing, untouched. Aubrey's was just trimmed a little bit.

THANKS!

Cows are Fast Part 2

A couple months ago, I met a cow on the road. A fast cow.

Yesterday, driving home from the pool, in the same spot on the same road, we saw that same cow; with 2 teenagers who had a stick, trying to get the cow to move.

We stopped, Doug rolled down his window and asked about the cow. It was their cow. And he does live on our road. And the cow's name is.... BURGERS.

I can't make this stuff up.

Not My Proudest Moment

At the pool today, 2 little girls (older than Aubrey) were playing with Mermaid Dolls. They were using our buckets and our ponies. Aubrey went over and introduce herself and sat down. And the girls were not nice to her.

I watched the whole thing and tried to stay out of it. But when I heard the little girl call Aubrey a stupid face, I went over there. I asked if everything was OK. Aubrey told me that the girls wouldn't let her play.

I asked the oldest girl what was wrong, she said, "my mommy doesn't let me talk to strangers so I can't play with her".

To which I replied, "Well, where is your mom, let's get introduced so you can play nicely". The little girl wouldn't go for it so I said...

"Fine, Aubrey if they don't want to share with you, let's grab our buckets and ponies and go play over here". And I dumped their dolls, took our buckets and ponies and walked away.

And I talked to Aubrey about sharing. And I felt like an idiot. Another mother did come up and say I handled that well... but it didn't feel like it.

And on the way out, I made sure that the little girl saw me talking to her mother - who I ended up casually knowing.



What would you have done?

Unspectacular Tag

Here are the directions from the Meme from Lyds.:
1. Link back to the person who tagged you
2. Mention the rules on your blog
3. Tell about 6 unspectacular quirks of yours
4. Tag 6 people following bloggers by linking them
5. Leave a comment on each of the tagged blogger's blogs letting them know they have been tagged.

Here are my 6 unspectacular quirks:
1) I secretly steal my kids snacks. And I don't tell. And I don't share. This includes french fries to Barbie "fruit" snacks to bites of their pizza/hamburger/whatever.
2) Sometimes I think having the right pair of jeans means I don't need to lose weight.
3) Whenever I eat something with high fat or sugar or have a beer, I actually make a decision before taking a bite, "Eat this or be thin" and then I eat it. And always regret it.
4) My husband is better at taking both our children out than I am. Or does it more often or is more comfortale doing it. Either way...
5) I drink too much caffeine and soda.
6) Aubrey knows that I don't sew and tells me that Ms. LA will fix her tights/skirt/shirt, etc. I don't correct her because she is right.

Random 7 - I don't like doing these because what if I took it too far or it is too weird?

I am not tagging... but do it, it is fun.

Mollyisms

I keep thinking I need to write this down so I don't forget...

When looking at a picture book and Molly sees a pair of shes she says, "Don't Fit" instead of "shoes".

When asking about a barrette for her hair or if I am brushing her hair she says, "Haircut"

When she sees the shape of a star she says, "Starfish"

When she wants me turn on the water while she is brushing her teeth she says, "Wash your hands" instead of Turn On Water.

When she wants the door closed she says "door open", light off is "light on"

When she wants me to help her she says, "Help you mommy".

When she wants me to wash her hands off she says, "Me wash your hands mommy".

When she wants to do something herself she says "I-SELF", but 3 seconds later she says, "help you mommy".

She says thank you when you hand her something or put her somewhere, even if it is the time out chair.

She still uses the sign for please when she says please.

She says I love you, a lot.

I have a BLOG?

Really, cause I am sure you thought I forgot. Ever feel like with every step you take forward you are still 2 steps further than where you are trying to go?

- We are in our second week of pre-school and it is good, but 2 distinct drop offs and picks ups 3 days a week is a little hard to get used to.

- How do you find out about activities for your kids in your area? And how come once I do hear about something, registration is totally closed? But really - HOW do you know what is available and what to look for??? I am looking for Aubrey and for Molly for the fall - dance/swimming/soccer, etc. Thoughts? (I have looked at Little Gym which has cheerleading which I think Aubrey would love but no Saturday hours, Little Gym might have something for Molly, swim lessons has no Saturday hours, not sure I want to do dance because Aubrey bugged out of that last year... the "zone" rec site I looked at didn't look like they did soccer until age 5)

-And how much is too much, how little is too little - in terms of activities.

- I still haven't blogged about our Maine trip, which was great. Below are some pictures.

Molly, so big!

Aubrey

Us at Clam Cove

Molly at Broadcove, collecting her version of treasures

Doug showing the girls how a lobster trap works

Just some of the treasures we found on our trip around Magic Island (Richmond Island) and the 3 beaches we visited!

-This weekend we did the great bed switch of 2008. I kept the girls in their own rooms, we took down the crib, moved the toddler bed from Aubrey's room to Molly's room and got a new bed for Aubrey. We went out with the intention of getting a queen or full bed for Aubrey since I had a comforter and sheets to fit that. We ended up paying half of the cost of the day/trundel bed from Ikea because it was in the As Is section - and there was nothing wrong with it! But that meant I needed to get bedding for Molly. Last night was the first night they both slept through the night.

- Our niece is on her way to college today, CRAZY! I remember my first trip to Maine, she was 10 and we went to Ferry Beach and had a blast walking around and making up stories.

- My office is moving into our new office space tonight, this is the office that my gym is in the same building so really, zero excuses are coming for me. Oh, and my parking space is in that building too... so no more half mile walk - good and bad.

- I have been tagged and I have a cool website to share so those will come hopefully later this week!

- Ahhhh, that felt good.

Labor Day is Coming

... and that can only mean 3 things:

1) Time to shop for fall shoes for the family
2) Time to get out my Christmas Spreadsheet and start the budget/gift
buying process
3) Time to put away the white shoes, shorts, and capris

Hard to believe how fast it all goes...

What does Labor Day mean to you?

The Worst Part

As a working mom who commutes about 30 miles... the worst part of the end of summer is the time it will add to my commute. This week is probably the last week that the drive will be 30 minutes. It will double when schools are in session on Monday.

While I will miss hot summer days at the pool, I am already enjoying the cool mornings. And while I will hate the city in the winter and the cold, I can already see Spring and the blooming of my tulips...

But did I mention the doubling of my commute time?

IN OTHER NEWS
Have you heard about the Stephanie Meyer Twilight books? I started them on vacation and am already on book 4. So good.

Singing in the Car

I sing in the car. I admit it, I full out, BELT IT OUT, I do it with gusto and arms and bopping.

And so does my oldest daughter. It is awesome! She picks up lyrics to songs faster than I do. It is amazing.


Her favorites to sing in the car right now:
Dancing Queen (ABBA)
Operation: Working Vacation (Sugarland)
Joey (Sugarland)
Knowing Me Knowing You (ABBA)
Pocketful of Sunshine (N. Bedingfield)
Umbrella (Rhiana)
Three Little Birds (Marley)
I Will (Kraus)

And Molly loves the "froggy song" by BNL. "Froggy song Mommy, Froggy song"

I find such joy and fun in having my girls sing with me! Especially when Aubrey jumps in with lyrics I didn't know she knew or were paying attention to... and when she jumps in with something new she has a very impish grin she flashes at me in the mirror like she knows I will be surprised and excited.

Welcome Home or Stay In Bed or Monday's Suck

I really couldn't decide on a post title. And I haven't blogged because I haven't had pictures. Well, I still don't have pictures but I felt like blogging. It was a conundrum really. Am I capable of blogging without photos?

Anyway, we got back Saturday night. I watched the end of the women's marathon - AWESOME, and Phelps - unfreakingbelievable! So very cool to be able to say he is from Maryland.

Sunday we did the groceries, pool, unpacked, laundry, prepare for pre-school, etc. Plus I started back eating well and excercising which brings me to the post title and my Monday.

• Alarm goes off at 5am- because the next few weeks are crazy in terms of schedule. And I want to excercise and this is the only time I figure I can do it.
• I jump out of bed, get changed, and head outside with my iPod.
• It is freaking pitch black dark. Remember, Maine is further south so at 5am it wasn't that dark.
• I walk a little ways and remember that there are no lights on my road and it is kinda freaky so jump back in bed.
• Get up at 6, shower, start blowing drying hair.
• This is when my morning really starts.
• When the WASP gets tangled in my hair (flipped upside down) and stings me twice in the freaking neck right under my ear.
• And it hurts. It really hurts.
• Scream for Doug. He comes up, grabs a credit card and scrapes my neck and tells me to make a paste from Baking Soda and water while he battles the wasp in my bathroom.
• And it hurts. It really hurts.
• I make the paste too runny and run out of Baking Soda but manage to get some on and it does help.
• And it hurts. It really hurts.
• Doug gets the wasp, comes and puts some stuff on my sting
• Then I get the girls dressed, Doug gets them breakfast. I pack my new laptop bag, I pack up all of the stuff Aubrey needs for the first day of her new school, pack my healthy lunch, and get going - ON TIME!

Then I have to go to work. Well, after dropping Molly off and hearing her say, "Where sister go" and having my heart break. Then dropping Aubrey off at her new school - which I don't even get a hug good-bye, and then crying when I thought I wasn't going to be emotional at all.

And now I am at work, eating my healthy lunch and trying to figure out how I get a walk/run in tonight...

An Aside: And really what I want to know is, how do working women do it all? How do I figure out how to get all of my work done - which right now really requires 60 hours per week -get my kids where they need to go with in service days, half days, plus the Carnival at Aubrey's school this week, and LIFE?!?!