March for Babies!!

Yep, it's that time again friends.  The March of Dimes March for Babies is fast approaching, it's April 29.  This year, we are trying to raise $200 to help fund research to prevent premature birth.  I have been blessed with two healthy children, and will be carrying the third when we do this 6 mile walk.

If you'd like to donate, click the link below.  If you'd like to join us, please let me know - it's always more fun to walk with friends.  (But, be prepared, it will be a slow paced walk, I'll be 8 months pregnant!)  There are games, food, activities for kids afterwards.  It really is fun!

Merry Christmas!

In our family, pretty much from October til the end of the year is very busy.  Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, parties, school break... We really like to do as much festive holiday fun as we can and this year was really great for it - not too cold.

We went to the Festival of Lights at the Zoo (and, a side note, the zoo membership is the best thing we buy ourselves each year.  As a family, we use that probably more than anything else.)  We also did Breakfast with Santa, which is a yearly tradition now and almost caused a catastrophe because Jackson forgot to turn in the RSVP thing at school... but it worked out in the end!  We went to Sharon Woods Holiday in Lights... so many fun things.  (Next winter, I want to take the boys to Fountain Square.  I chose not to this year because pregnant Mommas should not ice skate!  I wonder if we will be able to convince Granny to babysit the new baby while we have big kid time??)

We made gingerbread houses (which was not my idea of fun, and it also was not my idea and also was not fun for me!)  The boys had a blast though and that's what really matters.

   



On the Christmas lists this year, from Jackson, a remote control helicopter, an Ultimate FX Lightsaber, legos... you know, the usual.  On Parker's list?  A big brown bear, more hot wheels and an up and down thing.  And, yes, we're the best parents ever because we got all of it!!

Thanksgiving

As always, we have so, so much to be thankful for.  We are all happy and healthy and together.  We have jobs and homes and food.  (And, I didn't have to go to work on Thanksgiving... yay!)

And, as always, we had way too much food and way too many leftovers, but it was so delicious.  The best part of this Thanksgiving?  Family.  Wait, that's what I say about every holiday but it really is true.  I feel so lucky to have such an amazing group of people to surround myself with and to raise my children with.  (If it really does take a village, I think we're good to go.)

Halloween - it's Batman and Robin

I allowed Jackson to choose the costumes for this year.  Jackson chose Batman and Robin.  Or Robin and Batman rather - he chose to be Robin and for Parker to be Batman because apparently on the Lego Batman game for XBox, Robin does some cool move, so he's by default cooler than Batman.  Alrighty then.

We did a ton of Halloween themed activities - Trick or Treat with the dinosaurs, Boo at the Zoo, Darby's birthday costume party... so much fun!  (And, I love Halloween, so it's right up my alley.)

Fall Soccer 2011

Jackson LOVES soccer.  Loves it.  But, he really wanted to play football.  Sadly for him, he told me he wanted to do soccer not football, I paid the fees, signed him up, four months went by and he decided he wanted to do football.  Um, how about no?  So, we compromised.  From this point forward, he will play Spring Soccer and Fall Football (and those fit nicely with my like for patterns.)

For my birthday, Ben bought me a new lens for my camera, which just happens to be perfect for catching cool soccer shots even when Jackson doesn't know I'm shooting him.  It's awesome and I'm really glad Ben gave it to me early so I could use it during the tournament weekend.

Random Food

You know how people who are really good at cooking or baking take pictures of their food and post recipes?  Well, I'm not that great, my food isn't Food Network worthy, and it doesn't always turn out like it's planned, but it tastes good and we all eat it, so I call that a win.

I think I will start posting random recipes so everyone can try this new stuff we're digging.

First up... cupcakes

It's a lot easier if you let two adorable little boys help you!  And, this is really technically cheating, these first ones are just boxed cupcakes with canned frosting, but we did it as a family, so that's important too.

 

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We love cupcakes!!!