Recipe

I really have nothing to write about today, but I wanted to at least post something for the day. How about a recipe? This is for all you hardworking moms with very little time to prepare dinner-uhh..that just about covers everyone, right?!

This is an easy, delicious crock pot meal perfect for the winter (or whenever) and you can make it super healthy or just healthy!

Here goes:

Ingredients
1-2lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts
1 can cream of chicken soup
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1 box Uncle Ben's fast cooking long grain and wild rice original flavor

All you need to do is turn the crock pot on low, add the chicken and 2 soups, mix it up, then go to work! Let it cook all day (8hrs) and when you get home mix it up again and shred the chicken up with a fork. Now just cook the rice and spoon the chicken mixture on top. Add a veggie and some rolls and voila-yummy home cooked meal!

We ate this last night, and I forgot how much I enjoy it! Also, it makes enough to have two dinners (for two people anyway!).

Try it and see what you think!

Yummy Snack

While I am sitting here eating lunch, I thought I would mention this great new snack I am eating. Stacy's pita chips! I would highly recommend them, but they are a little on the expensive side. My favorite is the cinnamon sugar baked chips. Give them a try! There are several other flavors, too, but these are the only ones I have tried.

Sleeping with the Baby

How many people told us when we had Gabe to NEVER start the habit of co-sleeping? That it would be the hardest habit to break and we would regret the day we started? Too many to count. So here we are 2 years later and Gabe is right there in the bed with us. It didn't start out this way. Gabe was an excellent crib sleeper until he was 1 year old, with just an occasional transfer to our bed in the middle of the night. Then when he was teething so bad, he would wake nightly around the clock and end up in our bed. No problem. Then we introduced the choo choo bed around the 18 month mark. He still slept in his crib, but the toddler bed was also in his room waiting for the switch. By his 2nd birthday we had him napping and sleeping in his new bed which was a HUGE accomplishment.

So where did things go wrong? I don't know. Secretly I have to admit I liked having Gabe in the bed. He used to stay still in the middle and sleep, well, "like a baby". Lately, however, he is all over the place kicking and rolling and hitting us. Not cool. Gary and I are miserable in the morning. Also, up until the last two nights he had no problem going to bed in his room/bed, but would still wake in the night to climb into our bed. But these past two nights he has had to fall asleep in our bed!!! Noooooo

We are in trouble. How did we get so off course? It is hard at the end of the day when you are tired and have things to do (cleaning, cooking, school work, etc.) and then have to struggle with the whole bed situation. No wonder parents opt for the easy way out-like we have. I know Gary is hating this so much, so tonight we will really have to be firm about bedtime. I think what has happened the past two nights is that we fight so long about bedtime, that we start to worry he is up too late now and getting over tired. Then it's like lets just do whatever gets him to sleep. We will see what happens tonight. We have got to get back on track or Gary is going to have to build Gabe this "baby cage" in the picture!

Gift Idea

We attended a birthday party Sat. for Gabe's good buddy, Kaden. It was his 2nd and he and Gabe have sort of grown up together. Anyway, my friend Allison bought him this adorable washing machine that is hillarious. It has the wash cycle, spin cycle, and a drying cycle. Plus it is black and "stainless" so it is very gender neutral (not that it really matters since Gabe's favorite is a hot pink vaccuum!). Anyway, it actually goes through the cycles with noise and lights and everything. Allison called me the day she bought it and asked me if I wanted one for Gabe. Of course, it was only $7!!!! So he played with Kaden's at the birthday party (photo) then was super excited to see I had one for him as well. First item in the washer-his socks. Second item-his little men action figures. They go round and round and round, and Gabe loves it. I am curious what he will think to put in there next!

I forget the brand name, but the box was blue and pink-you can't miss it. I would highly recommend this for any child around this age, boy or girl! They also have a really cool coffee maker of the same brand, but we didn't get that one. It looked just as cute. Anyway, this is keeping Gabe occupied until the next new toy.

Silly Gabe

I finally have this whole video thing figured out! The problem is, it only holds 100 MB and most of ours are no less than 150. So here is a random video we filmed months ago, but it fits the time slot. I will try and keep that in mind if I post any more. This is just a typical silly Gabe video. We will consider this a "test".

Waterworks

Yes, I changed the template again, and I think I like this pink look (for now!)

Now you are wondering why I have this AMAZING picture of Patrick Dempsey posted here. Why not? Just Kidding. This is in reference to the most emotional episode I have seen of Grey's Anatomy last night! I think I was also in an emotional mood, but I started crying 20 min in until the end. Did anyone else see it? Next weeks show looks pretty good, too!

Snow Day!

Here are some fun pictures from our snow day on Tuesday!

The last one is my favorite.

Gary had just thrown a snowball at Gabe and it hit him right in the cheek. Luckily he was a pretty good sport about it. I can't believe how lucky we were to get this unexpected snowfall. Is it too much to ask for one more?